Shaun Berk's 10 Movie Recommendations- 206th Edition

Welcome to the 206th Edition of my series. This week I pay tribute to the late Boyzone lead singer Steven Gately. Last week, I had my audition for AMERICA'S GOT TALENT in Chicago which my mom tried out for as well on an individual level. If they want me for tv again, I'll get a call in January or February and I honestly really don't know one way or the other if they will. On some levels I don't want to do it but in the end feel if I can do it again, I got to try and make the most of it since I know I can.

Walkout (2006): I start now with a movie which was presented by the Multicultural Center at Ball State University. MIAMI VICE alum Edward James Olmos directed this HBO movie which centers in '60s California and Mexican-American students stand up for their right for a better education. Alexa Vega stars as the real-life Paula Crisostoma, a high school senior who did have it made pretty well but still was willing to sacrifice everything to stand up for the rights of other minority students. She then organizes exactly what the title says and along with five other schools in the East L.A. area all stage a walk out to protest. There were times I felt the movie was rather unorganized but it still worked very well with heartfelt direction of Olmos. I also liked at the end when the real-people were reflecting on their extreme event which garnered lots of negative and positive publicity but contributed to some long-term positive results.

The Last Angry Man (1959): I found this on TCM and am glad to present you with Paul Muni's last film. Long before our reality tv show craze, we had this story of a young journalist whose uncle Dr. Sam Abelman, played greatly by Paul Muni, is a very dedicated and aging local doctor who has his practice in his home on the slums and tends to the poor and needy. He gets the idea to profile his uncle on a tv show. Abelman is reluctant but decides to do it but the producer of the show, played by David Wayne, has a hard time due to Abelman's reluctance. Billy Dee Williams makes his film debut as the troubled Josh Quince who Dr. Abelman refuses to give up upon. Luther Adler is also good as Dr. Abelman's rival but friend who is more focused on the money end. I was glad to see a Paul Muni marathon going on TCM as I feel he does not get the recognition he deserves.

Newsfront (1978): I now go to the great IFC channel where I found this really neat Australian film. This focuses on a group of cinematographers who risk their lives to get newsreel footage that used to be shown before movies in a movie theater. Wouldn't that be cool to just limit the previews and to allow a couple short films and something like this so we can get our $8 worth or whatever it is to get into a movie nowadays but I'll get off of that. It also focuses on the lives of two brothers who work for rival companies and their family lives through the years. This was very well put together and has a lot of real footage that real-life people got including one where a guy was filming a Japanese sniper who was then killed by him showing this was not an easy job just to get a few minutes to put in a segment before a movie.

Porky's Double Trouble (1937): This is my short film for the week which features Porky Pig. Public Enemy #1 just happens to be a pig and sees the resemblance when seeing Porky who is a teller at Worst National Bank. He sees Porky as his key for the getaway and was a very interesting Looney Tunes short that features the mafia which gets pretty violent and even a bit raunchy. It might garner a bit of controversy if put out today. I got this from the dvd of SAN QUENTIN. Mel Blanc provided the voices for Porky, Petunia Pig, and even the gangster pig.

The Spookshow (2008?): This is a movie that my Myspace friend Bob Ignazio sent me which is an independent film that he wrote. This movie centers around a nightclub owner with a dark past. He puts on many bands but sees that people are dying. We then have a sub-plot where a guy is having an affair with another woman which really dismays her when finding out. Considering the limited budget they had, they pulled off a pretty decent independent film. I'm sorry if I did not do justice with my description. I enjoyed the guys in front of the bar who were trying to stop people from coming to the concert. This really is not for everyone and is not really in my main genre but is still entertaining.

Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964): This is my Toho film for the week which pits the two title Japanese icons against each other. A typhoon causes Mothra's eggs to go ashore and a greedy developer finds these which causes the eggs to hatch but then we get Godzilla whom they enlist Mothra to defeat him. Some say this is the best of the Godzilla films and this one was very entertaining. I never realize that TNA wrestler Samoa Joe's entrance music really resembles the musical score for this movie which might have been intentional.

The Fifth Element (1997): Luc Besson directed this sci-fi action film which stars Bruce Willis as futuristic cab driver Korben Dallas who by chance has a very strange girl, played by Milla Jovovich, drop in on his cab who turns out to be the key to saving the world. Ian Holm plays Father Vito Cornelius who is also after her to try to save the world but they must go against the evil Mr. Zorg and his cronies. I enjoyed Gary Oldman as Zorg. Tiny Lister plays the president of this town who enlists Korben Dallas. This movie was a very well done futuristic film with a good set, good dialogue, and action. I really felt that Chris Tucker really brought the film down. Granted, he is perfect for the part and I do not condemn him for portraying the part but I felt it was unnecessary comic relief for the film that was already somewhat comedic. Some may disagree with me on that but that is our freedom in America. Luc Besson actually wrote what the language that Jovovich was speaking and was apparently quite into it. I also really liked the music written by Eric Serra who has worked quite a bit with Besson and is very underrated in his field in my opinion. This was a very fun sci-fi action film.

Billy Elliot (2000): This is my tribute to Steven Gately whose song I BELIEVE was featured in this film. This is my British film for the week and glad to have included this. Jamie Bell stars in the title role who lives a difficult life in the 80s and has a father who expects him to follow in his footsteps by becoming a boxer or some kind of sport. Billy then sees that he is not his father and sees in his building the ballet classes which he discovers is his real passion. Jamie Draven was great as Billy's father who is going through a lot with his job striking and really wanting his son to be like him and slowly realizing that he needs to support what his son wants. Not only does Billy have a journey to face but his father takes you through his own journey of understanding his son and excepting something that he does not really like or understand for the sake of his son. Julie Walters plays Billy's instructor who really sees potential in him. I am putting my rare label of beautiful on this character study which also has great performances. This is something I would love to see the musical which has been done recently. Also to those kids out there, do what you love to do and don't let ridicule get to you. Also to the parents, let them choose what they want to like.

House on Haunted Hill (1959): I haven't done Vincent Price in a long time and I figured this would be a good fit for my contest. Vincent Price is a millionaire who offers five people $10,000 dollars if they can spend the night in the home. When the doors close many strange things start to happen which makes everyone question each other. This was a nice, atmospheric horror film with Price great in the lead role. Carol Ohmart plays his unloving wife who is just as conniving. This was remade 40 years later which I have not seen.



Blood: The Last Vampire (2009): I watched this expecting to just include it in the contest I am in but I found myself really liking this and decided to put it in here. This is based on the 2000 short Anime film of the same title which I really did not get into this month. Gianna Jun plays Saya, a vampire/human who is taking out one vampire at a time. Allison Miller plays Alice, a general's daughter who joins Saya in her fight against the vampires. This live-action film has a lot of gore, plot is not great but I had a lot of fun. This selection will probably garner some mixed opinions but oh well.

Well, that is it for this week. Tell me what you love and what you hate and stay tuned for the 207th Edition which is one closer to the 4 year anniversary of my blog and it includes a documentary, a French film.

HORROR MOVIE MADNESS: BAD BABY EDITION- WEEK 3

1. The Spookshow (2008, 2.5 stars, 2 points): This is an independent film from myspace friend Bob Ignazio which takes place around Halloween and has a vicious killer. The movie has quite a bit of gore to it.

2. Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964, 3 stars, 4 points): I am requesting four points here because a group of elementary children were endangered during the fight between the two monsters.

3. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931, 3 stars, 2 points): Fredric March plays the title characters here and is pretty raunchy and violent for the time.

4. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1941, 3 stars, 2 points): Spencer Tracy plays the title part here in what was pretty much a remake of the 1931 film but focusing more on Hyde's emotions rather than him as a monster. It does have some strange and suggestive imagery one scene when he is becoming Hyde.

5. Wasson's Haunted Corn Maze (2009, 2 points): This is a haunted corn maze being put on by Muncie Civic Theater that I have taken part in some which costs $10. This is such a great contest to put events like these. My facebook friends Marty, Lisa, Bob, and Jennifer participated in this with me.

6. The Fifth Element (1997, 3 stars, 2 points): I know this is mostly sci-fi but I am trying to get this one counted because of the element of people trying to save the world and mankind, especially towards the end. I felt there was a possible apocalypse element to it.

7. House on Haunted Hill (1959, 3 stars, 2 points): This atmospheric film needs no explanation.

8. Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1996, 3 stars, 1 point): Decent introduction to the series I grew up with.

9. Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1996, 3 stars, 1 point): The second part to the pilot.

10. Blood: The Last Vampire (2009, 3 stars, 2 points): No explanation needed here

11. Revenge of the Creature (1955, 2 stars, 2 points): The tragic hero returns and is captured and brought to an aquarium for everyone to see. I liked the first one a lot better but this entertains and Clint Eastwood makes his film debut in a bit role. I have come to feel that the Creature and King Kong are a lot a like in that they both mind their own business but man has to come in and interupt their lives and both of them known how to love women as well.

12. The Creature Walks Among Us (1957, 2.5 stars, 2 points): This time the tragic hero is captured by scientist and is given more human organs to breathe air instead of water. When will they just leave him alone?

13. Little Shop of Horrors (2009, 2 points): This is the current production at Muncie Civic Theater which is the great musical about the man-eating plant who sets out to take over the world.

14. Dance of the Dead (2008, 3 stars, 2 points): While everyone is doing ZOMBIELAND and some SHAUN OF THE DEAD, I might be the first to pull out this zombie comedy for this contest. This was actually quite entertaining.

15. Hard Candy (2005, 3.5 stars, 4 points): I believe this should fall under the category of torture where a 14 year old girl takes a man hostage believing he is a molester and tortures him to no end. Ellen Page is great in this movie with Patrick Bateman also good. Ellen Page's antagonist/protagonist, whatever you want to see her as, character is 14 so I am seeing about 4 points on this one.

16. Bedazzled (2000, 2.5 stars, 2 points): In this Brendan Fraser comedy, Elizabeth Hurley plays the Devil which is a character. I guess that is the closest I have to a "loophole" this week.

17. God vs. Satan: The Final Battle (2008, 3 stars, 2 points): I found this one on the History channel which explores the battle between the two from the viewpoints of the Christians, Jewish, and Islam so talks a lot about Hell and Satan so I am hoping to get points here plus there are lots of specials on the starting this week that pertain to Halloween.