2014 in review

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 7,200 times in 2014. If it were a NYC subway train, it would take about 6 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

One Year a Blogger!

It’s been exactly one year now since I started this blog, the thought occurred to me as I found myself constantly giving people my opinions on the latest and greatest films I had just seen, thinking to myself “why don’t I just do reviews”. I didn’t know whether it would stick and if I would just find myself doing this for a month or so (like most five-minute wonders I show interest in), but a year on I can safely say I think I will continue to do this. I didn’t ever think people would want to read my posts, especially not as many as I have doing so now, so I am amazed to nearly have gained 6,000 views and 253 great followers over the past year. I have just finished celebrating my 18th birthday along with the official end of my exams and college years this week, over the next year I will hopefully be focusing more than ever on film as I attempt widen my knowledge and portfolio to gain experience for the film industry where I desire to work.  Blogging has helped me a huge lot, its made me develop a writing style, whilst also feeding my passion for film, but mostly by reading other’s posts and other’s commenting on my posts its made me realise what I need to do to get to the next step. With that in mind I would like to thank all of those who read my blog, even if its just secretly, and a bigger thank you to those who continue to comment and like! Hopefully I will be closer to my goal and dream career this time next year, but I will most definitely be posting just as I’ve done today and the previous 364 it followed.

 

Genre Grandeur – Fight Club (1999)

My contribution to Rob’s Genre Grandeur! If you haven’t contributed yet, or you don’t follow his blog I highly recommend the two!

MovieRob

Thanks for Liam from Liam Does Film  for his contribution to this months Genre Grandeur – Crime.  If you don’t already know Liam and his site, I strongly urge you to take a look at it.  His site is filled with tons of movie reviews, his own personal movie reviewing challenges and 5 Star Films.

It still isn’t too late to participate in this month’s genre.  Just shoot me your review to crime@movierob.net before the 25th and I’ll post it.

Here’s Liam’s review of Fight Club (1999)

Fight Club (1999)

Genre: Drama

Director: David Fincher

Writers: Chuck Palahniuk, Jim Uhls

Starring: Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, Helena Bonham Carter

Rating:★★★★★

Fight Club is something special, a film which is like no others in terms of story, action, characters and the ridiculous detail that has been sweated over to make everything just that extra bit phenomenal. It is a film which…

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Top Ten Movies: Liam Does Film

Here’s my top 10 list I did for Zoe over at her blog! Everyone who haven’t added a list yet should join in!

The Sporadic Chronicles

Another great top ten list was submitted to me by Liam over at Liam Does Film, and it is a fantastic list in my opinion! If you don’t already follow Liam, head on over to his site right now to check out some wonderful reviews and film discussions!

Should you be interested in submitting a Top Ten list, draw up a list of either your top ten personal favourite movies or a top ten list by a specific genre/theme and send it along to me at sporadiczoe@hotmail.com. Hope to see a few more lists!

It is very hard to narrow down your favourite films; this following list changed a number of times. I chose films which I have seen a number of times, but yet they still impress and amaze me on each viewing and have become a mild addiction. If you haven’t seen a film on this list…

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Hidden References in Eli Roth’s Hostel (2005)

Eli Roth wanted to make a big claim to the cinematic community with his 2005 release of Hostel; he wanted to make it known that he is an expert of his genre, a well-knowledge film-maker and an admirer of the all time classics. Hostel very much entertained the typical zeitgeist audience when released with its mass gore and special effects, but for the cineastes and genre fans he played homage to many films and included references to others keeping them occupied and a part of an “in-joke”.

The master that is Quentin Tarantino presented and produced Hostel and his name appearing on the opening credits wasn’t his only involvement within the film. As the three backpackers check into their new Slovak hostel in the background Samuel L Jackson’s iconic speech from Pulp Fiction is being played on the TV. It is also suggested how our antagonists stalked the halls of the slaughter house whistling could be a link to Tarantino’s Kill Bill.

Eli Roth also referenced the Kubrick and horror classic, The Shining. The boys are given room 237 which is the same hotel room which is forbidden in The Shining, something which is obviously not a coincidence. Alongside one classic is another as the film uses the same score from Hitchcock’s Psycho. The closing credits to Hostel plays homage to the opening credits of Psycho using the same style score but slightly giving it a modern twist.

Wanting to state his knowledge and ability to recognise his background, Roth referenced two very small but classic British horror films. The sex scene between Josh and the Slovak roommate is a direct link to the sex scene within The Wicker Man 1973 as our priest gets seduced through a wall by a form of witchcraft. It is referenced by the iconic music played over the top. Film of the same year, Don’t Look Now 1973 is also referenced clearly, the final scene in Don’t Look Now sees our protagonist chase a figure in a red coat, in Hostel Josh and Paxton looking for Oli start to chase a guy wearing the same Orange coat, the two scenes follow the same structure and even have similar settings.

Eli Roth also chooses to have many cameo’s including himself. In a bar scene at the beginning of Hostel, Eli Roth can be seen smoking and smashing a bong whilst laughing. Japanese director Takashi Miike also plays a role as the guy who Paxton asks “what’s it in like in there” too as he stands outside the unknown slaughter house. Extending his knowledge to that of Japanese Film finally the last reference is that to Suicide Club. The end scene which sees a Japanese woman jump in front of a train is a clear homage especially to shots where we see fellow passengers sprayed with blood, it is also the only reason Roth made that very character Japanese.

Did you spot any of these references?

Personal Favourite Film Soundtracks

It recently occurred to me how the films that I have been watching lately have had brilliant soundtracks and ones which I have been listening to over and over again. So here is a list of my personal favourite film soundtracks.

I re-watched the Tarantino Classic Reservoir Dogs not so long ago and it once again reminded of how brilliant the all 70’s soundtrack is which sees “Stuck In The Middle of You” be played in time to Mr Blonde cutting someone’s ear off. Sticking with Tarantino it is only fair to mention Pulp Fiction which sees some unconventional songs such as “Jungle Boogey” turn into a classic moment.

500 Days of Summer also holds one of the best soundtracks which is one of the main highlights to the unusual non-stereotypical rom-com, with song “Sweet Disposition” constantly being in your head after. Similar film Juno also brings to the table a very up-beat warm soundtrack that again is a highlight and credit to it’s film.

Most recently in cinema’s both Inside Llewyn Davis and Her have produced amazing soundtracks which I have not stopped listening to as well as a high standard to 2014 films. Inside Llewyn Davis really shows off folk music and Oscar Isaac’s talents whilst Her’s mixture of synthetic scores and songs such as “The Moon Song” is just beautiful and rather complimentary to Spike Jonze’s creation.

Two of my all time favourite films also hold two of my all time favourite soundtracks. Drive is brilliant with such a upbeat award winning score with songs “Night call” and “Real Hero” being amongst the highlights.  Donnie Darko my all time top film holds a great score which compliments and foreshadows every event with the famous and iconic “Mad World” being the highlight.

Do you agree? What are your personal favourite soundtracks?

I NEED YOUR HELP: Open discussion on The Farrelly Brothers

I have chosen to look at the work of The Farrelly Brothers for my film coursework looking into their repeated use of portraying mental illness and disabilities within the comedy genre. However I need to conduct primary research about my three focus films which are, Me, Myself and Irene, The Ringer and Dumb and Dumber asking some specific and general questions, any responses would be great. More so if you could pass this on your blog and get others involved that would very helpful.

Me Myself and Irene (2000)

Did you find the idea of Charlie/Hank being described as a “Schizo” offensive or unfair?

Did you find yourself comfortable laughing during Me, Myself and Irene?

Would you class  Me, Myself and Irene a good comedy or an exploitive release?

The Ringer (2005)

The Ringer casted disabled actors instead of portraying them within the film using able bodied actors, was this more correct?

Has The Ringer changed your views on those with disabilities?

Who did you find yourself laughing at the most within The Ringer?

Dumb and Dumb (1995)

Would you consider any disabilities to be present within the film?

Is there any attempt at offence within Dumb and Dumber or in your view was it a funny silly humoured comedy?

Answering any of these questions would be a great help, the more obviously the better, thank you.