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Films seen in April
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01. Death to the Tinman (2007, USA) Ray Tintori [short] -

Excellent

Easily the best short I've seen in a long while...

02. Ricco the Mean Machine (1973, Italy) Tulio Demicheli -

a must see

03. Death to the Tinman (2007, USA) Ray Tintori [short] - 2nd viewing; no change in rating -- Available on iTunes... SEE IT!

04.13: Game of Death (2006, Thailand) Chukiat Sakveerakul -

worth seeing [C+]

If you like far-out Manga-style madness, this is pretty much the film for you. It lacks the craft that people like Park Chan-wook put into their work, but it certainly doesn't skimp on the ideas...

05. Borderland (2007, USA) Zev Berman -

has redeeming facet [D+]

06. The Deaths of Ian Stone (2007, UK) Dario Piana -

has redeeming facet [D]

08. Strawberry Shortcakes (2007, Japan) Hitoshi Yazaki -

a must see [B+]

If you are a fan of Hong Sang-soo, you might want to track this down. This pretty much plays like a Hong version of Sex in the City.

09. The Ruins (2008, USA) Carter Smith -

a must see [B]

10. Battle Royale (2000, Japan) Kinji Fukasaku - 4th viewing [last viewing July '05] no change in rating *** - Although it is safe now to call this one a classic, I just have too many issues with Fukasaku's reckless narrative to shout masterpiece.

12. Great World of Sound (2007, USA) Craig Zobel -

worth seeing [C-]

13. Death Wish (1974, USA) Michael Winner -

a must see

14. Count Yorga, Vampire (1970, USA) Bob Kelljan -

has redeeming facet

15. In the City of Sylvia (2007, Spain/France) José Luis Guerín -

Masterpiece [A]

16. Inside (2007, France) Alexandre Bustillo & Julien Maury -

Excellent [A-]

Brutal is an understatement. This is extreme horror, but unlike Frontiere[s], there is more than just visceral gore thrills to be had, and this one will give (or should I say take) with repeat viewings.

17. In the City of Sylvia (2007, Spain/France) José Luis Guerín - 2nd viewing [three days ago] no change in rating ****

19. Late Chrysanthemums (1954, Japan) Mikio Naruse -

a must see

20. Death to the Tinman (2007, USA) Ray Tintori [short] - 3rd viewing; no change in rating ****

21. Death to the Tinman (2007, USA) Ray Tintori [short] - 4th viewing; no change in rating ****

24. Dark Night of the Scarecrow (1981, USA) Frank De Felitta -

a must see

25. Terror Train (1980, Canada) Roger Spottiswoode -

has redeeming facet

26. I Bury the Living (1958, USA) Albert Band -

Excellent

Marred only slightly by a forced ending (see Tourneur’s Curse of the Demon), I’m very surprised that this doesn’t have a stronger reputation. Not only does the story display those incredible literary flares that distinguishes these late-Hollywood horror films (perhaps the reason Stephen King is such a fan), but the relatively unknown Albert Band directs the entire thing like a master, showing subtle restraint as a he coolly juggles the psychological with the supernatural. Yet another gem uncovered on DVD.

27. Jigoku (1960, Japan) Nobuo Nakagawa -

worth seeing

Like Horrors of Malformed Men we have a few BRILLIANT sequences mixed in with a bunch of incoherent story.

28. Tourist Trap (1979, USA) David Schmoeller -

worth seeing

I can see Sam Raimi loving this and parts of it do pop-up in his Evil Dead films, but as a whole this film wears on you fast and by the time we have people running for their lives, it's hard to really sustain much interest.

31. Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007, USA) Jake Kasdan -

has redeeming facet [D-]

32. Romance & Cigarettes (2005, USA) John Turturro -

has redeeming facet [D+]

33. 30 Days of Night (2007, USA) David Slade - 2nd viewing; no change in rating ***

34. Death of a Cyclist (1955, Spain) Juan Antonio Bardem -

worth seeing

35. Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (2007, USA) Sidney Lumet -

a must see [B]

36. Big Alligator River (1979, Italy) Sergio Martino -

has redeeming facet

37. Angel Heart (1987, USA) Alan Parker -