Cat's Blog

I am was very sad to wake up early this morning and hear the news that actor Corey Haim had passed away. He was a cute boy actor who had a big part in my childhood and I watched so many of his movies and I did follow the ups and downs he went through. I will always remember Corey Haim's hotline commercials at the peak of his Teen Beat days, and I am sad I never got to make a call. (What girl didn't have a crush on this cute guy?)

I love so many of his movies like THE LOST BOYS, and LICENSE TO DRIVE and then he did films like FAST GETAWAY (with Cynthia Rothrock), DREAM MACHINE and WATCHERS which I remember renting from VIDEO ART. One of my favorites of Corey's is PRAYER OF THE ROLLERBOYS which I saw in the theaters the Friday it came out.

For all these movies Corey Haim will have a fond memory in my heart and that's how I'll remember him, the cute, funky guy who was quite silly and charming on the big screen.

R.I.P. Corey Haim

NEW MOVIES:
69. Hot Millions – 2/19/10 – Aero
70. Rudo y Cursi – 2/20/10 – DV-R
71. Shampoo – 2/21/10 – New Beverly
72. Penitentiary 3 – 2/23/10 – New Beverly
73. Disco Godfather – 2/23/10 – New Beverly

74. The Crazies – 2/25/10 – AMC Century City
75. Spetters – 2/26/10 – VHS
76. Moonbase – 2/27/10 – VHS

RE-SEES:
27. Cold Turkey – 2/19/10 – Aero

28. Razorback – 2/21/10 – New Beverly
29. Boogie Nights – 2/21/10 – New Beverly
30. Pandemonium – 2/22/10 – VHS
31. Intruder – 2/24/10 – VHS
32. Breaking Away – 2/24/10 – New Beverly
33. Bottle Rocket – 2/24/10 – New Beverly

34. Videodrome – 2/28/10 – New Beverly

35. Into the Night – 2/28/10 – New Beverly

Total Movies seen so far in 2010: 111

STATS:
Total seen in Feburary of 2009: 23 NEW and 4 RESEES = 27 TOTAL
Total Movies seen in Feburary 2010: 53

NEW TALLY - CAPTAIN EO
7 times

CAPTAIN EO is a 3D movie made by Disney, Francis Ford Coppola, George Lucas and Michael Jackson and it first played at DISNEYLAND back in 1986. It features Michael Jackson as the infamous CAPTAIN EO. He has a strange crew of a two-headed creature, IDEY and ODY, the cutest flying creature FUZZBALL, HOOTER our comic relief, and a robot Major Domo. Together they are on a mission to deliver “the gift” to the Supreme Leader (Angelica Houston). Now if you think it sounds corny, I don’t care, it’s a sci-fi adventure that was the coolest thing ever in its day. Michael Jackson was doing what he did best, singing and dancing and bringing people together and I still think its pretty cool now.

Back in August or September of 1986 my family and I had gone to Disneyland on a random weekend, we had annual passes and were just going to go. When we got there we realized there was something special going on, the taping for the CAPTAIN EO TV special. There were musical performances going on at the park, there were actors around and they would all be seeing CAPTAIN EO which hadn't opened yet.

It was later that night, while my sister and mom were on the Submarines, my dad and I were by the MAGIC EYE THEATER watching the crowds, hanging out and Soleil Moon Fry was off in the distance. (This is all part of the EO memory) Suddenly the cast members started ushering people into the theater and my dad and I got in!

Once inside there was a director there who started to direct the audience saying move left, move right, reach out like you're grabbing something. They said it was for the TV special and once he was done we’d get to finally see what CAPTAIN EO was all about.



The lights went down and the movie played, lasers zapped overheard, smoke filled the theater, lights seem to jump from the screen, everyone was immersed into this adventure of the rag tag bag. I wish I could exactly recall my thoughts then, but I loved it and my dad did too. As soon as we got out we found my sister and mom and went back in again all watching together as a family unit. From that day on we were all EO fans.



When the official date of CAPTAIN EO's return to Disneyland was announced I knew I had to be there, I couldn’t miss out. It was a moral imperative. (It is sad that it took Michael Jackson’s death to get EO back to Disneyland, but at least EO is here to show off Jackson at a peak point in time and remind us of those good old days we get nostalgic about.)

So, the night before EO’s grand opening I had heard people were lining up at midnight, and they were having a special line just for those who wanted to see EO first thing. Now I’m crazy, but I didn’t run down to line up at midnight, instead I arrived at Disneyland on Tuesday morning by 8:30 a.m. and got in line. Michael Jackson fans surrounded me, parents had kids dressed like Jackson, people were wearing their favorite Jackson tees and a few folks even had their Fuzzball toy on their shoulders. The crowd was buzzing and anxious.







There was an announcement that all those in line were sure to get into the first official show, which would be at 10 a.m., and we had to sign releases because there was filming going on at the theater.





Around 9:30 the line was let in and ushered down Main Street. There were some cameras around to capture it all and people cheered “EO-EO-EO”. Once at the theater yellow (safety goggles) glasses were handed out (I miss the original purple glasses) and we all walked down the ramp and up the stairs to the theater doors. I instantly flashed back to all the years ago when I saw EO those first times...the posters were on the walls, and EO logo on the TV screens, it’s like it never left and I had the biggest grin on my face.





Then the original intro video of the behind the scenes making of CAPTAIN EO started to play. This was so fun to watch, what a time capsule of the 80's with men and their mustaches and the girls with frizzy hair and hot pink leotards. Everyone loved it and the first sight of Michael Jackson brought on more cheers. I filmed it on my little camera and below you can see a clip of the end and hear the crowd reaction.



Once inside the theater, every seat was filled and the Cast Member did her intro spiel announcing there were some actors also in attendance and she explained EO was back almost exactly as it was in 70mm with “some” of the original effects. The crowd was ready, people were quoting lines, joking about the character of Hooter or doing the Michael Jackson “whoooo!” and cheering some more.



When it all settled down CAPTAIN EO began to play. I swear I was on the edge of my seat. It was a dream come true to be back at Disneyland watching this movie again.

At that first moment when Michael Jackson appears on screen everyone whooped and hollered again. The movie was just as it was before, but there was difference with some new theater effects. Using what was left behind of the 3D Honey I Shrunk the Audience the theater seats now rumble and thump during parts of the film. It’s cool when that happens during the ships crash landing but was a little silly as it jumped off beat during the big song. Still, all that matters was EO on the screen.

Yes I could go on more about what was exactly different in the show, like no more lasers zapping around the theater, lights coming from different place and the excessive bouncing, but it’s really all about the crowd gushing over CAPTAIN EO all over again and young kids seeing it for the first time.



It’s funny no one reaches out much anymore to try and grab what’s popping out before their eyes. I swear the whole theater did that back in the 80’s. But now as 3D is just another movie thing that’s just kitsch I guess.

As soon as the film ended everyone stood up for a standing ovation. The cheers went on for a while until Cast Members got everyone to sit back down so the Media could clear out first.

CAPTAIN EO LIVES AGAIN!

Before I left the “happiest place on earth” I had seen CAPTAIN EO five times. Yes, five times! I sat in the middle rows the first three times and then went to the front row and the back row after that. Every time the theater was packed and every time the people cheered when Michael first rises up on screen. Kids loved it and some kids were scared thanks to the Supreme Leader with her long fingernails snapping in your face. People talked about seeing it way back when; there was a lot of reminiscing going on and the vibe was positive. Folks love Michael Jackson, the King of Pop!

Being a spoiled Disneyland pass holder I returned to Disneyland the next day too and watched it two more times. Yes, the theater was full both times, and that second viewing had a great crowd. I even spotted a guy with a MJ sparkling glove.

Whatever you may think, the 80’s will never be forgotten. I hope that CAPTAIN EO sticks around for a long while. I want to watch it again and again...

“WE ARE HERE TO CHANGE THE WORLD.”

Captain EO at DLAND 2/23/10

I haven't posted a video of something I like in a while and I came across this earlier today, a music video that happens to feature some cool people, the Gulagers! Yes, Clu, John, Diane and Tom who frequent the New Beverly Cinema too! So I had to share.


Nico Vega - Gravity

Nico Vega | MySpace Music Videos

NEW MOVIES = TOTAL 68
55. Lemora: A Child’s Tale of the Supernatural – 2/10/10 – Egyptian
56. Blood & Roses – 2/10/10 – Egyptian

57. Gun For Hire – 2/11/10 – DVD
58. District 13: Ultimatum – 2/11/10 – Sunset 5

59. Valentine’s Day – 2/12/10 – Arclight
60. The Exiles – 2/12/10 – New Beverly
61. Killer of Sheep – 2/12/10 – New Beverly

62. The Big Clock – 2/13/10 – New Beverly
63. All That Heaven Allows – 2/14/10 – New Beverly
64. Summertime – 2/15/10 – New Beverly

65. Where’s Poppa? – 2/15/10 – VHS
66. Star 80 – 2/16/10 – New Beverly

67. A Face In The Crowd - 2/18/10 - Egyptian
68. Wild River - 2/18/10 - Egyptian


RESEES = TOTAL 26
22. Lifeforce – 2/9/10 – New Beverly
23. Return of the Living Dead – 2/9/10 – New Beverly

24. The Last American Virgin – 2/14/10 – New Beverly

25. Buffalo ’66 – 2/16/10 – New Beverly
26. Casablanca – 2/17/10 – New Beverly


Cat's Blog Update: I know I'm behind in my blogging when it comes to sharing the details on these screenings I've been tallying, and I MUST get back at it. There's been some cool Q&A's and fun stories that I'd love to share, so I will do my best and do some writing! In the mean time please check out my new project which has distracted me from this place, it's CAT READS COMICS!

Tally Ho! How many movies have you seen this year?

As I am counting up my movies I am trying to get my act together to blog about all these viewing adventures! Yup! It's coming!! Yup! Stay tuned! Till then, read on here...please...

As of this moment the movie viewing total is this:

NEW MOVIES = 54
42. Bright Angel – 2/1/10 – VHS
43. Angel – A – 2/1/10 – DV-R
44. Asylum – 2/1/10 – VHS
45. Ultimate Avengers: The Movie – 2/2/10 – DVD
46. Husbands – 2/3/10 – New Beverly

47. This Is It – 2/4/10 – DVD
48. Brighton Rock – 2/5/10 – Nuart

49. Revanche – 2/5/10 – New Beverly
50. The Virgin Spring – 2/5/10 – New Beverly

51. Dead Birds – 2/6/10 – New Beverly

52. Carnival of Souls – 2/6/10 – Online (the auteurs)
53. Dear John – 2/6/10 – Paseo Colorado

54. Life Begins – 2/7/10 – VHS

RE-SEES = 21
18. Gloria – 2/3/10 – New Beverly
19. Pee Wee’s Big Adventure – 2/7/10 – New Beverly*

20. Frozen – 2/7/10 – Chinese 6

21. Paradise Alley – 2/8/10 – VHS

*The day I saw Pee Wee's Big Adventure at the New Beverly, I also saw some THREE STOOGES SHORTS: Hoi Polloi / You Nazty Spy! / No Census, No Feeling / Calling All Curs / Three Snappy People

A grand total of 75 movies all in all. Yea! I am happy! Planning on more re-sees this Tuesday night with a Dan O'Bannon tribute at the New Beverly with RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD and LIFEFORCE, a double feature at the Egyptian on Wednesday and there looks to be a midnight movie on my Thursday night...wanna guess what that midnight movie will be?? Hint, it's not my usual fare...

Stay tuned for more movie count round-ups and rambling! The year has just begun!

GET MORE OUT OF LIFE...GO SEE A MOVIE!

The Pee Wee Herman Show is wrapping up it's run at Club Nokia this weekend (Sunday, February 7 is the last day).

I went to the show this past Tuesday, February 2 with my sister, Sara, her best friend and my roomie. It truly was one of the best times ever!

This was my first time at Club Nokia and it was cool and swanky. The floor was set up with folding chairs, and our seats were pretty close to the stage though a bit off to the left side. All four of us were more then a little excited and anxious for the show to begin. I must say that my sister and her best friend are a crazy pair of Pee Wee fans and I was so happy to be there with them that night as it really added to the fun! And it was an extra special suprise, also proving just how small a world it is, as I was surrounded by more familiar faces in my row and the row in front of me, they were all fellow BNATTERS!!!

The show started a bit after 8, Pee Wee came on stage, said hello and had everyone join him in the Pledge of Allegiance. He went behind the curtain and the show began! I have to say when the curtain went up and the Playhouse was revealed there as a surge that went through the crowd, everyone just gasped. I was giddy and grinning ear to ear.

The show is very similar to the HBO special with Pee Wee giving his wish away to Miss Yvonne with Jambi's help. This time though it also features more TV Playhouse regulars like the King of Cartoons, Cowboy Curtis, Conky, Magic Screen, and Chairry. It's funny, silly and fantastically awesome. I loved seeing the original Jambi (John Paragon), Miss Yvonne (Lynne Marie Stewart) and Mailman Mike (John Mooy) up close. Honestly, seeing Pee Wee was better then I could have imagined.

All in all it was an extra fun blast seeing just how much fun my sister had, she was laughing away again and again.

Since we had bought tickets for the original run which was supposed to be at the Fonda and dealing with the location/ticket change drama-rama we were treated the Pee Wee meet and greet after the show!!!!!



This was sort of a dream come true, especially for Sara because she's always wanted to meet Paul Rubens / Pee Wee Herman. I am serious when I said she was a fan! She even had a card for him, which her daughter Celia drew and Celia is totally a P.W. fan herself.



The Q&A started a while after the show, Pee Wee / Paul Rubens came on stage and then wandered through the audience taking questions and telling stories. It was a real treat and fun when he found a few kids and asked them questions. Imagine being a kid and you can say you've had a conversation with P.W. Herman!



Paul explained why the theater was so cold, because he doesn't want to sweat and be sweaty like he was in the HBO special. He is not taking the show on tour but has looked into a Broadway run or a PPV event, but most of all hopes this will help him get motion on his two Pee Wee movie projects.



I may be biased but I'm so glad Sara got to ask her questions and share a statement before the night wrapped up, they were the best. She shared a dream story (ok a bit geeky, but FUNNY), asked about his big long smooch in Big Top Pee Wee (which we saw in it's full version at a test screening) and gave him that super cool card! I was ecstatic just watching it all happen.

As Paul said goodnight he sincerely apologized for the ticket mess up and expressed how happy and honored he was to see so many people come out and enjoy the return to the Playhouse. He really meant it all, you could tell.

Now I only wish I could go back and watch the show again a few more times! I really do hope a new PEE WEE movie happens because who couldn't use a good laugh and silly fun?

Thank you Pee Wee! It was FUN - AAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! (Yes, FUN was the word of the day!)

As January 2010 comes to an end I've seen lots of movies and have managed to stay true to my movie a day goal. Last year in 2009 I had seen 40 new movies and 7 re-sees by the end of the month.

Now in 2010 it's 41 new and 17 re-see, a grand total of 58. I'm glad I'm ahead of last year but also feel like I should be watching even more...I know my fellow Tallyteers have been mighty busy.

2010 New Movie Total: 41
35. Pickpocket – 1/26/10 – New Beverly
36. Diary of a Country Priest – 1/26/10 – New Beverly

37. Reflections of Evil – 1/27/10 – Egyptian

38. The Hindenburg – 1/28/10 – New Beverly

39. Gone in 60 Seconds – 1/29/10 – VHS
40. Hurt Locker – 1/30/10 – DVD
41. Happy Birthday To Me – 1/31/10 – New Beverly


2010 Re-See total = 17 movies
11. Blazing Saddles – 1/24/10 – New Beverly
12. Cat Ballou – 1/24/10 – New Beverly

13. Tapeheads – 1/25/10 – IFC
14. The Taking of Pelham One Two Three – 1/28/10 – New Beverly

15. The Goonies – 1/29/10 – Nuart

16. 500 Days of Summer – 1/31/10 – New Beverly
17. High Fidelity – 1/31/10 – New Beverly


Also a bonus to my big screen viewings - I got to see 3 Clu Gulager shorts at the Egyptian:
John and Norma Novak – 1/27/10 – Egyptian
A Day With the Boys – 1/27/10 – Egyptian
Fucking Tulsa – 1/27/10 – Egyptian

John and Norma Novack (A ROCK OPERA) and Fucking Tulsa were actually made to pitch a full length film.
I had seen two of them at the New Beverly while FUCKING TULSA which was a new view. The short A DAY WITH THE BOYS can be found on the DVD of GEORGE WASHINGTON, which I still need to pick up myself.
I took notes of Clu's Q&A and will have to write that up soon.

February is already shaping up to be a solid month and word on the street is my birthday movie at the New Beverly (come March) is going to come through and I couldn't be more excited. (I am so spoiled!) Stay tuned film fans and I hope you can join me at the movies!

Two weeks ago in this month of January, at the New Beverly, director Stuart Gordon presented a few of his favorite films programming a couple of nights. He even came on out to watch them and share why he chose the films he did.

It all began on January 15th with a triple feature: NIGHTMARE ALLEY followed by THE SWIMMER and a midnight screening of Irréversible.

It was an excellent night and as memory serves, a good crowd came out, more folks showed up just for THE SWIMMER and the midnight line for Irréversible was long...but I'm getting ahead of myself.

Stuart Gordon came down to the front to kick of the show, he introduced each film offering some insight as to what he liked about the movies. First off he thanked the New Beverly and said he felt like a kid in a candy store very excited to be seeing movies he had chosen on a big screen.

With NIGHTMARE ALLEY Stuart admitted he had never seen it projected and he called it "one of the weirdest films ever made." He talked about Tyrone Powers, who's the lead in the film, it was Tyrone who got the rights to the book to make the film. I didn't know much about NIGHTMARE's director, Edmund Goulding, but Stuart said he was actually known for having orgies where he'd hire men and women for orgies and then direct them.

NIGHTMARE ALLEY is quite good, I saw it last year at the Egyptian and am a fan of the Carny element and Tyrone Powers. Tyrone is Stan, a man with big ambitions to be famous, but ego is a dangerous thing! Convinced he can use his "mentalist" act for big bucks his con game is turned back on him and he's crushed. When one climbs so high they have a long way to fall and NIGHTMARE shows just how low can a man can go. It also shows what a "GEEK" really is; would you bite the heads off chickens? NIGHTMARE ALLEY is absolutely a great noir tale. (On another side note, Clu told me he hadn't seen it before and really dug the film!)

Next up THE SWIMMER, starring Burt Lancaster. The tagline for the film is "When you talk about THE SWIMMER will you talk about yourself?" Burt is Ned Merrill and he's a man facing a crisis which doesn't become evident right away. He has returned to his old neighborhood of rich folks and suddenly decides to swim his way home, using the stream of pools that lead to his house. Along the way Ned interacts with those from his past and we get a glimpse of the man he was and the memories he clings to. It's a very personal journey and a heartbreakingly sad. I had never seen the film before and was rather stirred up by it.

Stuart said he first saw the film when he was 21 years old and has been living the movie ever since. He mentioned how the director Frank Perry was fired from the film over creative differences and Sydney Pollack was brought on board.

As midnight rolled around a mostly new crowd filled the theater to see Irréversible. Stuart said he first saw the film on DVD with his wife and felt that director Gaspar Noé had "raised the bar" while his wife offered "or lowered it." Stuart shared the times he met Gaspar Noé and talked to him about his first film and later Gaspar told him their conversation inspired the next film which was I STAND ALONE.

"Time Destroys Everything" is the quote that starts Irréversible and that quote actually fit very well with the previous two films as Stuart also mentioned. It's interesting how Stuart's picks of his favorites were sort of randomly paired and that first night really all meshed.

I had never seen Irréversible, I missed it when it first came out and then never felt like watching it on video. I had heard the hype, all the talk of a long rape scene and wasn't afraid to watch the graphic subject matter, I just knew I'd rather see it on a big screen when I could. (SPOILER WARNING - IF YOU'VE NEVER SEEN Irréversible - I'M TALKING ABOUT THE PLOT POINTS)

It's a very harsh, raw and graphic movie with all it's violence. The backwards storytelling was well done and extremely effective. It's hard to say "like" with a movie that has such violence and the rape scene. It's extremely intense, though I felt much more disturbed with the beginning (which is the end) where the rapist is being smashed with a fire extinguisher. It's a revenge film and then as you see what comes before all that, those first words "Time Destroys Everything" make it all more heartbreaking when you reach the start. It's amazing storytelling and while that impact can be overwhelming intense it's a movie that should be seen. It gets a 5 rating on my scale of 5 (best).



Stuart's next movie night was TRUE GRIT with A.I. and truth be told I'd never seen A.I. all the way through before!

Stuart was there on Sunday for the show and said how he's a big fan of John Wayne and TRUE GRIT. He talked about the book on which it was based and mentioned the Coen Brother's upcoming adaptation. He then shared stories he heard about Wayne and Dennis Hopper working with director Henry Hathaway. Stuart was most excited that his daughters had come out to join him in watching TRUE GRIT as they hadn't seen it before and he dedicated the screening to them.

TRUE GRIT is a good western and you can't go wrong with John Wayne! Wayne is Rooster Cogburn and he's a marshal who's been hired by Mattie Ross (Kim Darby) to find the man who killed her father. Mattie is in charge on this journey really pushing Rooster around but Rooster does admire her spunk. I really do enjoy watching Westerns and this one was solid.

I have to say finally watching A.I. from beginning to end I really got caught up in it and then wished I had my own Teddy Super toy. In A.I. David is a robot child who loves unconditionally and wants love back. When his mother pushes him away he goes on a journey to find the Blue Fairy to be a real boy to earn the love he wants in return. By the end I was teary eyed.

Stuart said there were two things he knew about A.I. that #1 it would make him cry and #2 it's like one more Kubrick movie which he is glad to have.



The finale night of Stuart's picks was AMADEUS the director's cut. During Stuart's introduction he talked about the mystery that surrounded Mozart's death at the age of 35 and how he had written 600 pieces of music by that time. Stuart felt the movie really humanized Mozart who was like the first rock star.

Now, I always dug this movie and had seen it when it came out on T.V. (Thank you Cable and uncensored viewing habits!) Tom Hulce is Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and F. Murray Abraham is Antonio Salieri. It's Salieri who's telling the story of Mozart and how their lives paralleled while he was so jealous of Mozart's talent. The laugh that Tom Hulce uses throughout the movie is what most remember about it and people were giggling before and after the movie. (New Beverly Julia was with Stuart during his intro and she asked the New Bev crowd to do the laugh and a few folks were brave enough to do so.) Seeing AMADEUS on the big screen was excellent, the music, performances and acting all come together so well and they don't make them like that anymore.

It truly was great to see Stuart Gordon at the New Beverly and I hope he makes a return too with more of his favorites! He was so nice and chatted with folks while he was there. His picks were fun and I really did enjoy hearing what he liked about each film.

In February the New Beverly will present a few films programmed by Jason Reitman starting on the 19th thru 25th and I'm most excited for the BREAKING AWAY and BOTTLE ROCKET double on the 24th! Stay tuned and come on out to watch movies!

Time to do a little cross promotion! This year I decided to start up a new blog all about comic books so that I can get my act together and make some progress in my constant resolution to read more of my comic books! Yup!

Thus: CAT READS COMICS is my place to rattle on about comic books and my collection. I've put up my weekly pull list and so far have written a few pieces the past few Wednesdays:

KRYPTON CHRONICLES

THE DESTROYER

2010 - Marvel Movie Adaptation

Please check it out and tell me what you think! I do love my comic books and just want to share the love!

YUP!

Remember: COMIC BOOKS KICK ASS!