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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 ****

18. Earth vs. the Flying Saucer (1956, USA) Fred F. Sears -

a must see

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 ****

23. My Blueberry Nights (2007, Hong Kong) Wong Kar Wai -

a must see [B-]

Remove the David Strathairn section and this would have been grand…

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.

29. Island of Terror (1966, UK) Terence Fisher -

a must see

If you dig Fiend Without a Face then this is for you. A very underrated little monster movie... Sillicates!?

30. The Sun Also Rises (2007, China) Jiang Wen -

a must see [B]

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