Every Bugs Bunny Ever: Tortoise Wins By a Hare (1943)

Posted on May 16, 2023 by Felix Vasquez

2023 marks the 85^th Anniversary of Bug Bunny’s first animated appearance in 1938’s “Porky’s Hare Hunt.” Debuting originally as Happy Rabbit, Bugs eventually became one of the most iconic animated characters of all time. In honor of the landmark anniversary, we’re discussing every animated appearance by Bugs Bunny. We’re big fans of Bugsy and we hope that you are, too.

Follow us on this massive journey where we discover and re-discover Every Bugs Bunny Ever.

Tortoise Wins By a Hare (1943)
Directed by Chuck Jones
Written by Tedd Pierce
Music by Carl W. Stalling
Animation by Ken Harris

I don’t know entirely what the animators and writers had intended for Cecil the Turtle, when all is said and done. If he was intended as a villain, then they didn’t do a very good job, as with the sequel to “Tortoise Beats Hare,” he still comes off like a reluctant hero. If he’s intended as the hero, then there’s not a ton of logic behind making Bugs Bunny the villain. I get that they wanted to jump on the Tortoise and the Hare fable, but these pair of shorts where Cecil and Bugs race never works out in Bugs’ favor. Once again Bugs comes off petty, conniving, and kind of dumb. They’re traits that you figure the writers would have left way behind back in “Elmer’s Candid Camera,” but they insist on giving us a follow up to “Tortoise Beats Hare.”

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BAD MOVIE MONDAY: THE ROOM (2003)

Posted on May 15, 2023 by Jeremy Knox

Today’s ridiculous regal refuse is very special to me. I first heard of this film almost twenty years ago after I mentioned to a friend that I was having a lot of fun watching weird oddball stuff like Zardoz, Exorcist II, or The Manitou. He then proceeded to give me one of those “YOU GOTTA WATCH THIS!!!” speeches, suggesting the title that I’ll be reviewing today. It is a true powerhouse of trash that went on to redefine what bad movies were for the internet age of fanboys and film bros. And so I present to you THE ROOM.

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The Mother (2023)

Posted on May 12, 2023 by Felix Vasquez

Niki Caro is a fine director who doesn’t exactly utilize her talents in “The Mother.” It’s a movie that feels so very meticulously calculated as a means of reforming Jennifer Lopez’s film career from drama and comedy star to action star. Sadly, Caro’s direction is flat in what is pretty much a run of the mill mix of action adventure and family drama. “The Mother” has a ton of potential behind it, and presents seeds of interesting ideas. It just all gets lost in a haze of sub-plots, all of which are under developed, or left dangling in the air without much fallout.

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The Bootleg Files: Mondo Trasho

Posted on May 12, 2023 by Phil Hall

BOOTLEG FILES 831: “Mondo Trasho” (1969 underground comedy directed by John Waters).

LAST SEEN: On Archive.org.

AMERICAN HOME VIDEO: As a VHS title.

REASON FOR BOOTLEG STATUS: Music rights clearance costs are too high.

CHANCES OF SEEING A COMMERCIAL DVD RELEASE: Not likely.

It is difficult to appreciate “Mondo Trasho” today because the 1969 work was the first attempt at feature-length filmmaking and it pales in comparison to the classic works that he would be churning out during the 1970s. Even Waters has been harsh on his film, claiming in interviews that it was overlong – “It’s got 20 minutes of good footage in it” he said about the 90-minute work – and complaining that his black-and-white cinematography was overexposed.

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You Have to See This! Shiva Baby (2020)

Posted on May 11, 2023 by Felix Vasquez

Streaming on Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max

It’s unreal that Emma Seligman is a newcomer director when watching “Shiva Baby.” She manages to build and introduce us to what is easily one of the most chaotic and absolutely uncomfortable movies I’ve ever seen. “Shiva Baby” is a master class in making its viewer absolutely uneasy and anxious as Seligman just revels in amping up the anxiety to every single bit of her narrative every minute. Seligman, despite making “Shiva Baby” her work of absolute love, is not one who ever lets her characters off the hook. Despite focusing the entirety of “Shiva Baby” on her central protagonist Danielle, Seligman has a great time making her squirm, panic, and just about heave in sheer horror as she twists the screws on her throughout “Shiva Baby.”

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