Thursday, October 30, 2014

Movie Night: Halloween Horror Movie Marathon

Every year we marathon horror films during the month of October, with one big push the last week where every night without fail we watch a scary movie. I say we in the broadest sense possible. While the tradition started when Twincess and I were living in Los Angeles, it has grown and evolved to all who care to join. Many of the sisters Funkowitz have joined at various points, friends can come and go as they please. But perhaps most important of all, is the addition of RC as my consistent and most wide eyed companion on my voyage through the dark side.

He started showing interest last year, but this year throughout October he was the one asking for more and more. His insatiable love of monsters and the strange has only fueled his desire to learn more about this endless well that is horror cinema. And while I obviously couldn't share the entirety of my favorites with the young lad, his experience perfectly demonstrates what I love so much about film. That film as an art form or media style is something that brings people together, it's something that can cause discussion and bond people over similar experiences. Like an old family recipe there are films that are passed down through generations. My dad showed me Abbot and Costello Meet Frankenstein when I was about 10 years old, I immediately loved it and it was something we have shared since. I showed RC the film this year and it was amazing to see just how much he fell in love with it. He even requested we watch it again immediately following the film. An amazing experience to experience the same feeling my dad must've felt when he showed me the film, and we owe it all to cinema.

As for scary movies in general? Well to hear ore of my thoughts be sure to listen to the PORTEcast in which we talk about a few of our favorites as well as my thoughts on scary movies in general. The short version? Being scared is a good thing, and something that we shouldn't try and protect our children from.

So without further ado here are some of the highlights from this years marathon.

Beetlejuice - started with this one this year and RC fell in love with this too. Watching this film amazes me just how weird and dark and fucking brilliant Burton could be. This is such a unique story inhabited by characters you hate and love and goddamn Keaton is impeccable.

Sleepy Hollow - the start of Burton doing strange adaptations? Well here we still have his mean streak throughout as I challenge you to find a film with more decapitations. Beautiful looking film thanks to Lubezki and maybe the last time we've seen Burton show off his true talent.

Drag Me To Hell - Raimi going back to his roots. This is less gory and more gross, don't worry there's plenty of blood but plenty of cat sacrifice and other fluids too

Trick R Treat - wonderfully charming passion project from the writer of X-men. This film is in love with Halloween and explores the holiday and it's tropes. This is scary and fun and some nudity for good measure.

The American Scream - a documentary on three "haunters" and just how much love they out into decorating their homes for the holiday. The film is full of lovable weirdos and we see the toll it takes on their families as well. Not really scary but full of heart and you see just how much people love the holiday and how it brings people together.

Abbot and Costello Meet Frankenstein - just perfect. Shame on you if you haven't seen it

Witchin and Bitchin - have you heard of Alex De La Iglesias? Cause if you haven't go watch everything possible, if you have, this is his newest film. I imagine then that you've stopped reading and gone to find this film. This man bleeds out exuberance on the screen as violence and humor and heart spill all over the screen. He perfectly blends insanity with great filmmaking. He inhabits a strange world and he invites you to join him on a journey through his psyche . Oh yah this film is about witches... And silver Jesus.

The Exorcist - do I really need to say anything?

Halloween - Carpenter is such a badass, this film has so much inventiveness and cinematic flourishes. So much of what we see now is because of this movie. Also casual nudity is missed.

Re-animator - campy perfection. No one is making films like this anymore. I love how over the top this film is, equal parts hilarious and grotesque, rising up in my favorites. Also, boobs.

The Shining - the closer...always.

Bence

One last thought - so what did you watch this year? Oh yah this little movie made an appearance too.

Monday, October 27, 2014

PORTEcast (10/27/2014) - Sorry, we ran out of candy. Would you take some raisins instead? Was the middle finger necessary? - Halloween Part II



PORTEcast (10/27/2014) - Sorry, we ran out of candy. Would you take some raisins instead? Was the middle finger necessary - Halloween Part II

 It is time to wrap up the holiday known as Halloween. This time we address some serious subject matter... Horror films and the usual films that are watched around this time of year. Sadly, we could not get Bence to go further into his love for Scooby Doo - Monster Island. Instead, we spend some time discussing The Thing, which in retrospect is a much better topic of conversation. I am going to leave you with the new drinking game for this year's Halloween. Every time that an Elsa comes to the door, you must take a drink. Prepared to be drunk by the third group of kids. Happy Halloween!

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Friday, October 24, 2014

PORTEcast (10/24/2014) - Give me some candy! Halloween - Part I




PORTEcast (10/24/2014) - Give me some candy! Halloween - Part I

Halloween is a relatively awesome holiday. It has pumpkins, it has cobwebs and decorations, it somehow elicits a conservation about the detective abilities of Tony Shaloub. Seriously though, Halloween is a pretty great holiday and this episode (and Monday's) will discuss number three in the American holiday hierarchy. The result of this discussion is arguably the funniest PORTEcast to date with highlights including Manny crying like an old lady among others. 

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Monday, October 20, 2014

PORTEcast (10/20/2014) - The oeuvre that is Anderson



PORTEcast (10/20/2014) - The oeuvre that is Anderson

 Not many people can do what Wes Anderson has done. He has created a career out of creating whimsy and focusing on the exploits of lovable losers. I defy you to leave one of his movies and not feel happy. With that being said, Wes Anderson is the focus of this entire PORTEcast. We examine his entire body of work, beginning with Bottle Rocket and ending with The Grand Budapest Hotel. As a side note, we are creating a new drinking game, every time that Bence says "Oeuvre," you must drink. Also, reading the word counts.



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Monday, October 6, 2014

PORTEcast (10/06/2014) - Creating the Next Generation of Nerds



PORTEcast (10/06/2014) - Creating the Next Generation of Nerds

When did it become cool to be a nerd? Manny says it is nothing more than Madison Avenue hawking its wears on the unassuming masses and Bence makes the argument that parenting plays a large role in the development of the next Nerd generation. This episode examines the factors that influence the cultivation of nerd tendencies. In particular, parents are actively sharing the books, films and television shows that were important to them. In this episode, Manny and Bence share some of the cultural items that turned them into the coolest nerds on the block and how this has influenced their creation of miniature future nerds (their kids) as well.

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Friday, October 3, 2014

PORTEcast (10/03/2014) - Animation for Adults

 


PORTEcast
(10/03/2014) - Animation for Adults

For the longest time, adults only had the Simpsons as the only form of animation strictly for their age bracket. Then came South Park and a lot of shows that failed to catch on. Yet, now there are some great animation that contains a lot of adult themes and humor. Wazzman, Bence and Manny discuss some of their favorite animated shows outside of the Simpsons and South Park. Plus, all of the shows selected are quite different in terms of style, structure and even humor (even though Bence's selection is quite blue -- No, it isn't Hentai... Get your mind out of the gutter). I would mention what those shows are but that would spoil the fun.

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