Archive for month: March, 2012

I’ve been thinking a lot about sex lately. Well really, who hasn’t? Let me be more specific, I’ve been thinking about sex in the movies a lot lately. I don’t have a reason as to why I’ve been thinking about this but I’ve come to the conclusion that, generally, I don’t really like sex scenes in my movies. Don’t get me wrong, I’m no prude. Far from it. As Woody Allen once said. “Sex is the most fun you can have without laughing”. I do enjoy a good erotic sex scene when it’s appropriate, say like in films such as 9 Songs, The Lover, Secret Things or 9 1/2 Weeks. But I find that in your regular films (regular?) sex scenes either bring the film to a grinding halt or they are so unbelievable that I can’t help but role my eyes. If I’m watching an action flick or horror film (we all know what happens to folks who get it on in horror films) I don’t want to have my film interrupted (filmus interruptus?) by some cheesy – and they are almost always cheesy – sex scene. Like really, you’re going to knock everything off that kitchen table to go at it instead of going to the couch or bed or the treehouse in the backyard? And how long did it take you to light all of those candles? There must be over 200 candles burning in that room. It must be very hot and probably most of the oxygen has been sucked out of that room and you’re going to pass out any moment now. There are exceptions of course. One that comes to mind is in the film The Name of the Rose – great little sex scene with Christian Slater’s apprentice monk character and a local girl who has broken into the castle looking for food. It seems real(ish) and is pretty hot. These are just some thoughts roaming around my tired brain lately. Any films that you can think of that has good sex scenes that actually add to the film instead of being a distraction or an excuse to get an actress naked? Let us know. Next week we can talk about the lack of penis’ in the movies if you like!

On another note, we wanted to say welcome to the Commercial hood to Via Tevere Pizzeria Napoletana who just opened up on the corner of Victoria and William St.. We tried to go on Friday but it was rammed so we’ll have to check it out on another evening. It’s about time we had some quality pizza over here!

New Releases for Tuesday March 27th

Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked – Are you really going to make talk about this? I have nothing good to say so I choose to plead the 5th. You know who you are if you want to watch this. The only thing that could redeem this would be some inappropriate sex scenes. Some good chipmunk on Jason Lee scenes? Think about it!

Confucius – Raunchy comedy about a guy heading off to university with the hopes of losing his virginity to some sexy, bouncy coeds and joining a fraternity made up of misfits and party animals. Only problem is the Dean wants to shut down the frat…oh sorry I was thinking of something else. Chow Yun-Fat plays the titular philosopher in this biopic. I doubt (and hope) that there aren’t any sex scenes in this.

Corman’s World – Doc about the famed director producer responsible for such fare as Piranha, Bloodsport, Peter Bogdanovich, Grand Theft Auto, Peter Fonda, Big Bad Mama, Martin Scorsese, Death Race 2000, Jonathan Demme, Night Call Nurses, Ron Howard and about a thousand other things.

A Dangerous Method– Lots of facial hair on display here as Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung square off in a cage match over the affections of an insanely overacting Keira Knightly. This is the kind of film by David Cronenberg that I don’t really care for. Check out the trailer here for his new flick, which is more my speed (warning! Has sex, violence and giant rats!) [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=DCFB-WPe9Ic[/youtube] Also on the Blu Ray.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close – Heavy duty drama about a nine-year old kid who searches all over New York for the lock that matches a mysterious key left behind by Tom Hanks, who died in the World Trade Center on September 11. Sandra Bulloch is on hand as well to cry and yell and stuff. Also on the Blu Ray.

Monster Brawl – Ok. The best way to describe this I guess is…eight classic monsters fight to the death in an explosive wrestling tournament set inside an abandoned and cursed graveyard. You weren’t expecting me to say that now were you? And no, this isn’t a documentary. But it is Canadian so it has that going for it, right?

Revenge of the Electric Car – Kind of a sequel to Who Killed the Electric car from a few years ago. This one looks at the resurgence in said title vehicle. Unfortunately there are no scenes of electric cars taking actual revenge on anyone.

Todd and the Book of Pure Evil Season 1 (Season 1 and 2 at Cambie) – Fun Buffy-style TV show that follows stoner metalhead Todd Smith, his crushee Jenny, his best friend Curtis, and the geeky Hannah, as they search their high school for a mayhem-causing Satanic spell book, while being opposed by Atticus, the evil guidance councillor. Supposed to be quite a good time. Don’t believe me? http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/53594/todd-the-book-of-pure-evil-the-complete-first-season/

Wallace and Gromit: A World of Invention – TV show featuring everyone’s favorite claymation, cheese-loving duo.

Old Stuff Just In…

Deer Hunter – Blu Ray
Story of a Love Affair

Coming Next Week

Being Elmo
War Horse
Snows of Kilimanjaro
Space Dogs
Toast
Private Eye
Chasing Madoff
We Bought a Zoo

Recently Viewed and Recommended

Game of Thrones
Skin I lIve In
Senna
Melancholia
Tinker Tailer Soldier Spy
Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
The Housemaid
Young Adult
The Muppets

Mad Men finally got back onto the air Sunday. I’m hoping that it doesn’t take too long before we get our hands on the DVDs and Blu Rays! Here’s some fun graffiti mocking the ads for the new season. Enjoy – http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/26/the-funniest-mad-men-subway-poster-graffiti-video_n_1379652.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003#s813268&title=The_Original

That’s it for this week folks. Have a swell week, enjoy those sex scenes and remember, keep watching.

Black Dog Video

Well it’s been an onslaught of relatively bad news coming down the proverbial pike this past little while (and that doesn’t include sitting in a cat-piss soaked blanket first thing this morning and blowing out my ankle playing hockey the other night). Looks like the Ridge Theatre is slated for demolition. So sad, as it was a fine theatre that had been around since the 50’s. I hadn’t been in a while since they strayed away from some of their more eclectic programming but I liked that it was always there. That, in addition to the closing of my favorite sushi restaurant, Aki, and the problems the Rio is experiencing, has made for a no-so-great start for Vancouver this year. At least this week is an excellent week for DVD releases. That’s something, right?

Oh and don’t forget that the DVD sale continues at both stores this week. I’m hoping to add more to the coffers at both locations later this week so keep your eyeballs peeled.

Kids are out of school for a couple of weeks. You know what that means…drop by, grab a few flicks for the kids and a bottle of schnapps for yourself.

New Releases for Tuesday March 13th

Absentia – Half-decent looking horror number about a woman who’s husband mysteriously disappeared seven years ago, so her and her sister think it might have something to do with a weird tunnel behind their house. Well duh. It took them seven years to check out the weird tunnel in their backyard? Only in horror films…

Adventures of Tintin – Senior Spelbiergo’s animated treatment of the beloved cartoon guy. Never read any Tintin so I can’t say much about it. Well, that and I haven’t seen the flick. Heard it’s pretty good though. Also on the Blu Ray.

Bag of Bones – Latest Stephen King adaptation (I think that’s about the 308th adaptation of a Stephen King work) finds a writer (dreamy Pierce Brosnan) returning to his Maine (has King every travelled outside of Maine?) cabin by the lake following his wife’s sudden death. Ghosts and nightmares and weird fridge magnets ensue. Typical King stuff.

The Descendants – The Clooney is living in Hawaii (oh poor George) and has to deal with his daughters after his wife is injured in a boating accident. Doesn’t sound like much but it’s from the Alexander Payne (Election, Sideways) and was nominated for a pile of Oscars. I’m hoping for good things. Also on the Blu Ray.

Dish and the Spoon – Nice little indy number finds Greta Gerwig, reeling from an affair her husband had, hatching a plan of revenge with the aide of weird teenager. Weird teenager? What?!

Happy Feet Two – Freaking more dancing penguins. Ask ask you, why? Strangely it’s from the same director who made the Road Warrior! Also on the Blu Ray for some reason.

The Killing – American miniseries based on the (probably) far superior Danish miniseries of the same name. Seems like it’s a crime thing as investigators try to solve a murder. A murder most foul!

Melancholia – Nazi aficionado (hah!) Lars Von Trier brings us the end of the world as he know it. Cool. Worth the price of admission alone for the striking images at the beginning and the end of the film. Everything in between is pretty good although I grew a tad weary of Kirsten Dunst’s moping around. Charlotte Gainsbourg rocks in this flick. Well worth a look as it was one of last year’s most interesting and better films. Also on the Blu Ray of course.

My Week with Marilyn – Solid drama the checks in on one Marilyn Monroe as she hangs and acts with one Lawrence Olivier as they make The Prince and the Showgirl. Acting is the prize of the day here as Michelle Williams throws down a fine Marilyn and Kenneth Branagh plays a great Sir Larry. Also on the Blu Ray.

Scooby-Doo: Music of the Vampire – Ruh-roh! Something’s afoot for the Mystery Machine gang. Nothing a few Scooby snacks won’t cure I’m sure.

Shades of Ray – Comedy drama finds an American guy who finds his Pakistani dad at this place after being turfed by his wife. Can you say culture clash? Drama and comedic hijinks, I presume, ensue.

Stuck Between Stations – Yes it is indeed based upon that fine Hold Steady song. Former high school classmates reunite by chance during a chaotic party-filled evening. “If it’s going to be that kind of party, then I’m going to stick my dick in the mashed potatoes!”

@suicideroom – A dude spirals into the dark nether regions of the internet after an embarrassing moment at a party or something like that. Supposed to be a pretty good “cautionary tale” of a life online. The internet’s going to kill us all!

The Swell Season – Music doc that follows the kids from the film Once as they tour around with their band, fall in love, out of love, deal with fame, life on the road, bad food and everything in between.

Three Musketeers – Because the other 34 adaptations of this story weren’t good enough. I haven’t seen it but I can’t stop saying the lead’s name – Logan Lerman. Say it. It’s fun. Logan Lerman. Hee-hee.

Thorne: Scaredy Cat – The second adaptation of the mystery crime fighting guy. Supposed to be quite good.

Young Adult – Very good comedy/drama finds Charlize Theron as a more-than-somewhat unhinged writer who goes back to her hometown to woo back her high school flame. Problem is, he has a nice wife and a fresh baby. Many uncomfortable conversations and situations and whatnot ensue. Patton Oswalt kills it as a broken man who she barely remembers from back in the day. One of the better flicks I’ve seen this year. Check it out. Also on da Blu Ray.

Old Stuff Just In…

Rubin and Ed (Yay!) “I am king of the echo people!” “My cat can eat a whole watermelon.”

Coming Next Week

Carnage
Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Proie
The Muppets
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
The Sitter
Hop

Recently Viewed and Recommended

Young Adult
Melancholia
Game of Thrones – S1
Nurse Jackie – S3
Shameless – S1
The Descendants
My Week with Marilyn
Senna
Drive
Our Day will Come
50/50

Here’s an interesting tidbit you might be interested in;

Who’s a fan of the original Planet of the Apes? Everyone? I thought so. Well here’s some home footage that Roddy McDowell shot on the set and what not not. Cool beans…http://youtu.be/lCm74dnwujk

That’s it for this week folks. Oh and thanks to all of you who brought in food for the food bank last week, even the person who brought in a small can of tuna to erase their $8.00 late charge. At least it wasn’t a can of creamed eels.
Have a great week everyone.

Black Dog Video