Andrew Leavold, a cult video store owner, goes on the search for a mysterious movie star from the Philippines, the 2’9” action star Weng Weng who did less than a dozen films but left a huge mark on his fans. Leavold through his documentary shows the star’s childhood, rise, and fall until his untimely death. Written by Andrew Leavold and Daniel Palisa (as Daniel Haig) and directed by Leavold, it follows its director’s journey from Australia to the Weng Weng’s native Philippines where he finds footage of the star he had never seen, movies he had never heard about, and plenty of people ready to talk about the star.
Tag Archives: Biography
Five Items on Our Movie Buff Holiday Wish List
It’s that time of year again, and as always we have a mile long list of movies and pop culture items that we want to add to our collection. Since you’re anxious to know what we have on our wish list this year (come on, admit it), we thought we’d post a snippet of movie items that we’d love to have on our shelves to entertain us in to 2017.
While we do indeed review movies for certain companies, the views expressed in this list are 100% our own. However, if you want to give us a holiday reward, don’t hesitate to buy your favorite titles through these links, allowing us a royalty to help pay for the site and whatnot.
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The Trail of Dracula (2016) (DVD)
It’s funny how I know so much about Dracula and still can’t get enough of the character or the concept no matter where I turn. Intervision’s “The Trail of Dracula” is an hour long look in to the history of Dracula through the ages. There are tons of interviews and accounts from the creation of Bram Stoker’s novel, and the unauthorized adaptation called “Nosferatu,” right down to his pop culture influence in the modern age like “Vampire Hunter D” and “Castlevania.” While I would have loved a more thorough examination of the vampire legend and its various incarnations of cultures all around the world, “The Trail of Dracula” explores how Dracula eventually was crafted.
Citizen Kane (1941)
The American Film Institute (AFI) will mount a special 75th Anniversary screening of the restored master at AFI FEST, the Institute’s annual film festival in Hollywood, on November 13th.
Who’s to know what would have been gained had anyone ever discovered what Rosebud meant? All we ever really know is that, like the faceless reporters that pounce on the death of Charles Foster Kane explain, it probably never really would have mattered. What ever piece of the puzzle would have made Charles Foster Kane feel whole was lost a very long time ago. We can never really pin point when and how, but why that gave him immense satisfaction and the feeling of completion was gone. As we gander at the endless piles of trash Kane collected over his years, as well as speak to the endless people Kane eventually began to collect, it’s pretty clear nothing could ever really give Charles Foster Kane a sense of fulfillment or make him feel complete.
The Last Pinoy Action King (2016) [Horrible Imaginings Film Festival 2016]
Filipino cinema has its own culture and during its action heyday, actor Rudy “Daboy” Fernandez was one of the biggest, if the not THE biggest action star the country ever saw. The documentary explores his films, his fame, and his life. It also explores action cinema and cinema in general in the Philippines at the time of his rise to fame and his reign on action films. Documentary co-directors Andrew Leavold and Daniel Palisa, who previously made the Filipino cinema documentary The Search for Weng Weng put together a very informative piece on a beloved actor.
I Am JFK Jr. (2016)
John F. Kennedy Jr. was the rare American who spent his entire life in the public eye. But despite constantly being seen in newspapers and on TV since infancy, most people never heard him speak until a speech at the 1988 Democratic National Convention, and even fewer got to know him well. This documentary attempts to give us a better idea of who Kennedy really was, but the subject ultimately disappoints.
Hostage to the Devil (2016)
Father Malachi Martin is fighting for the soul of those who have been possessed. In his battle, he encounters fake and real cases. One of the latter is the one of a young girl he truly believes is possessed. Hostage to the Devil tells the life story of Father Malachi Martin through interviews and videos of his work. Written by Rachel Lysaght and Marty Stalker with Stalker also directing, the film has a very even style with the interviews all shot about the same and the way they are shown with straight on interview style and overlays on photos and images gives the film a very straight forward feel.