Much of what we do and say has consequences. Every step we take in human relationships from body language to even the most minute word has a profound impact on how we see one another and approach our lives. “Within a Blink of an Eye” astutely examines such a factor in the human dynamic, while also examining the concept of fate.
Author Archives: Felix Vasquez
Slimed!: An Oral History of Nickelodeon’s Golden Age [Kindle Edition]
“They still throw slime around. But it’s very beautiful slime. Heavily art-directed slime. That’s what changed. Grown-ups took control of the slime and made it pretty.”
It’s surprising that a book about the Golden Age of Nickelodeon is not only so formal, but completely by the numbers. It feels like “Slimed!” began life as an in depth interview about the network and then eventually turned in to a book. Matthew Klickstein can never really decide what kind of book he wants to give his readers, all he seems to know is that he loves Nickelodeon from the period of the mid-eighties to mid-nineties, and nothing else matters. Hell, the writers and executives that worked at Nickelodeon recall the introduction of “All That!” as an omen of change for the network for the worse, and how no game show could ever capture the fun of “You Can’t Do That on Television.” While I’ll admit the show is fantastic, I laugh at the inclusion of “Legends of the Hidden Temple” as a show that was never as good as the aforementioned series. That show was excellent.
Battle of the Year (2013)
The only thing more shamelessly stupid than the utter self-congratulatory premise behind “Battle of the Year” is the god awful product placements. One thing about these stupid dance movies it that they’re a gold mine for corporations to advertise to an audience that likely can’t afford their crap. So we’re shown images of Braun in the background in the first minutes of the film, Josh Peck has a new Sony Ipad because “It’s the future,” he tells main character Josh Holloway. Then there’s an insert of him renting “Planet B-Boy” on Netflix, menu and all.
Vic (2006) (DVD)
The late Sage Stallone directs what is easily one of the most tragic short films I’ve seen in a very long time. It’s a merciless and unforgiving look at Hollywood and the sadness of growing old, and the effect it can have on someone who was once revered for their youth. “Vic” stars Clu Gulager as Vic Reeves, a classic film actor who is now committed to doing bit parts in indie films and gore flicks for a measly paycheck and relies on loans from producers to get him through the week. With only only his dog to care for, Vic searches all of Hollywood for companionship when he’s not looking for a job in the movies.
Airborne (1993)
Director Rob Bowman’s 1993 inline skating dramedy “Airborne” is the most nineties-est film of the entire decade, and damn it, I love it. It’s so 90’s, it automatically cancels out “Empire Records” and “Clueless,” combined. I suspect Warner and Bowman expected to begin a brand new nationwide rad inline skating craze with “Airborne,” by pandering to their love for all things extreme and edgy of the sport. Including long hair, surfing, flannel, hockey, and an extreme final race that’s so extreme it’s extra-eme.
Fervid Filmmaking: 66 Cult Pictures of Vision, Verve and No Self-Restraint [Paperback]
In the interest of full disclosure, author Mike Watt is a friend and respected colleague who sent us a PDF of his latest book for review. This is nonetheless an objective review of his book “Fervid Filmmaking.”
You have to give it to author Mike Watt. His book isn’t built around 66 great films, or even 66 of his favorite films, but 66 films of importance and relevance that really say something about the genre they’re representing. Take for example the entry in to “Survival of the Dead” by director George Romero. While I’m often a Romero apologist, author Watt really does manage to break down the specifics of the film, and cite past interviews with director Romero to paint “Survival” as a film made by a man perpetually chained to the sub-genre that made him a horror icon.
The Big Gundown (1966) (Blu-ray/DVD/CD)
Lee Van Cleef is a man who makes it look easy to dominate the screen with his presence, no matter what the film. “The Big Gundown” is purely a western thriller for the Lee Van Cleef fans that want to indulge in the sheer finesse and charisma of Van Cleef when he takes turns as the hero. Or in this case, the anti-hero. Van Cleef takes on the role of John Corbett, a man who is not afraid to gun down people that threaten him, but is never trigger happy. He is one of the best bounty hunters in the west, and is a man devoted to his duties. As Corbett, he’s asked by an aristocrat to hunt down a vicious criminal named Cuchillo. He’s wanted for raping and murdering a young girl, and is currently on the run in the west, giving the law a difficult time of finding him.