LAMBcast #66: Scream 4

We had a full house of five LAMBcasters on board to discuss the latest installment of Wes Craven's once-upon-a-time-hip teen slasher franchise - would we think this one continues the tradition or falls flat? Nick, Jason, James, Dylan and Simon break it down. Also - we bid adieu to the LAMB of the Week and unveil our new segment: Rants of the Week. Be sure to let us know what ya think!

Also on tap:

* Trailer Talk: The Change-Up
* Last LAMB Standing

Music provided royalty-free by Kevin MacLeod's Incompetech website. Big thanks to Kevin for providing this service. The LAMBcast loves feedback, too. Either here in the comments section or to blogcabins@yahoo.com or to our Facebook page. Also, we're on iTunes, and would still love a review, even if it's a bad one.

Thanks for listening!

And then...

The State of the Cabins (2/16/11)

Movies watched for the first time (non-theatrically) since last week:

Blazing Saddles
I believe I stated earlier that this is one of those films that I feel like I'd seen prior to actually having sat down and watched it. Over the past three decades, via partial viewings and clip shows and audio clips ("Where the white women at?"), I probably have seen 75% or more of it. And let me tell you, that is not the best way to experience a "seminal" comedy such as this.

I don't think I chuckled more than twice while watching Blazing Saddles. I wanted to like it - I really did - but damned if the thing just ain't funny, or at least not funny anymore to me. I've seen Alex Karras punch a horse, I've heard Cleavon Little proclaim "Excuse me while I whip this out," and lord knows I've ogled the bosom of Robyn Hilton (the governor's, uh, aide) more times than I can count.


So I'm sad to say that I did not terribly enjoy Blazing Saddles, much as that may surprise some and at the same time shock none. That said, I can appreciate it for more the humor it once carried with it, since it's actually about something - something that can't be said for so many spoofs that followed it. Underneath all of the sight gags and toilet humor, Mel Brooks actually brought with him some political commentary, and had a great leading man in Cleavon Little, who could convey more with his eyes to the audience than most people can with a thousand words. How he didn't have a bigger career is the double twist of irony that Brooks unknowingly served - in his Old West, the black man could become the sheriff, but not in the Hollywood of the 70s.

Then again, one of the true joys of Saddles for me was seeing not one but two veterans of the Fletch franchise - Little co-starred in the oft-ridiculed Fletch Lives, and Burton Gilliam (Lyle in Saddles) had a small-but-recognizable role in the original.

Fletch's Film Rating:

	Expectation: "It's in the hole!"
	Reality: "You seem a decent fellow. I hate to kill you."

LAMBScore:

Music I'm currently obsessed with:
* The new DeVotchKa is almost here! The new DeVotchKa is almost here! The new DeVotchKa is almost here!

Okay, so there are only about two people that I know that even care about the above statement, but damnit, you should care! DeVotchKa is great, and their latest album, 100 Lovers, is due out March 1. You can listen to the full album in its entirety on NPR until that date. Give them a shot!

Book I'm currently reading:
* Manhood for Amateurs by Michael Chabon.

Nearly finished with this, and I've decided that overall I don't like it. Perhaps it would have helped had I been familiar with and/or read many of Chabon's earlier fiction work, but frankly, I don't care about the details of his personal life or the story of how he came to be the man that he is today.

What bothers me, though, is the way he romanticizes, nostalgicizes, sentimentalizes every seemingly innocuous thing that's either happened to him or his children, turning each and every anecdote (about baseball cards or telescopes or basements) into some sappy love letter to "fill in the blank" - be that a former father-in-law, his own father, his grandfather, et al. It's suffocating me.

I don't know if it's just because I'm not a quote-unquote connissuer of books the way that I am of movies, but I generally like every book I've read since I started reading pretty heavily a couple years ago. And I've enjoyed bits and pieces of this one, like the Lego chapter I detailed last week; there have definitely been parts that have made me think, and there are many, many times where I feel a kinship to the way Chabon thinks. But damned if his ways just don't piss me off and make me think him some kind of bookwormy priss. My least favorite book since Snuff, which looking back, wasn't nearly this hard to get through (and was practically a novella).

Things to Click On
* Simon has completed work on a massive task of his: cataloguing every The Simon and Jo Film Show to date. I made something similar in Excel for the LAMBcast some weeks back but have yet to transfer it online. Expect it soon. (Screen Insight)

* Cut. Print. Review has started a film podcast (Film Spiel) and has two episodes up thus far. I've given them a listen and hereby proffer on them my stamp of approval. Anders and his partner Dave are an engaging duo, providing entertaining yet b.s.-free film reviews of the latest releases (to hit Australia). Worth a listen. (Note: due to some hosting issues, both the main CPR website and the Film Spiel site are down right now, but you can get the details on the Spiel's Facebook page, if you like).

* Stevee counts down her Top 10 Crushes (basically). I'm a bit shocked with her number one - he might be a good actor, but he seems pretty doofy to me. (Cinematic Paradox)

* Kano (Keith) has been kicking major ass on his "50 to see in 2011" list. We're not even through February, and he's already seen and reviewed (at least) 18. I'm right about on pace, with 8/50 seen. Though seeing The Fugitive and Tombstone so long after their release is hurting his opinions towards them, at least somewhat. (Kano's Lay-Z Boy Theater)

* Hatter's fun "Falling for the First Time" series (in which I'll be a future participant...once I see the film I've agreed to see) continued with Mr. Tom Clift this week, who caught Ghostbusters for the first time. Did it survive the hype? (The Dark of the Matinee)

And then...

The State of the Cabins (1/26/11)

Alright - talk about timing! It's time for The State of the Cabins, here just hours after that old State of the Union thingy that everyone's talking about. Of course, this State is much more important, right?

Changing up the order of things on here just a bit...

Movies watched for the first time (non-theatrically) since last week:
None! Truth is, I'm more than halfway through both Fanboys and Croupier (there's a double feature for you), but not finished with either. Ought to make this section all the more packed next week...

Music I'm currently obsessed with:
* I already owned the album this song is on (that's right, Community fans, I'm over 30, too) and loved the song, but its inclusion - and damn near takeover - in The Fighter has head it in my head for nearly a week now. What a kickass tune, and one that only gets better with more and more decibels. So crank it up!



Book I'm currently reading:
* Finally finished Stone Cold last week. Fun read. I know Jess has read these books, so she might be the only one that cares about this, but here goes. Of course I think about who the cast of characters should be played by whenever I read a book. My choice for "Oliver Stone," the lead character in The Camel Club series? That's right - "the most interesting man in the world."

My pal Buffett35 lent me his copy of The Green Mile, and that's what I'm on now. It will sadden him to hear that I'm not going to wait a month between reading each of the six parts in the serial novel, but that's what happens when I have them all available to me. Currently on book two, and it's a good read. A bit slow, plot-wise, but that's only to the service of the characters and atmosphere, and King paints a terrific picture (of a bleak situation and locale) and introduces you to a colorful cast of characters. One gripe? I get it, it's a magic mouse. Hurry on with that storyline or move on. He's making me wait too much for some good Coffey stuff...

Things to Click On
* If you are a LAMB member and have not yet taken the LIONS for LAMBs poll for 2010, DO IT NOW! The link can be found here. (the Large Association of Movie Blogs)

* Ross v Ross has officially hit the big-time. See Ross McG's interview with Black Swan director here.

* David turns 3! Wish him a Happy Blogoversary (something I still need to do)! (Hoping for Something to Hope For)

* A special nod to Simon and his humongous project in which he's putting up a post a day about each film in his DVD collection - why it's there, if it should stay, etc. Fun, but daunting. Here's the first one, from a couple weeks ago. (Screen Insight)

* If the Best Picture nominee posters told the truth. A feature after my own heart. However, there's one giant issue I have with this - they declare The Fighter as "The Wrestler But With Boxing," when that "truth" surely belongs to Black Swan (with ballet subbed for boxing, obviously). (The Shiznit)

And then...

LAMBcast #47: Due Date

Could this be the shortest LAMBcast ever? Dylan, Jess, and...well, that's it! Jess and Dylan tackle Due Date, plus throw in all the other stuff listed below, and manage it all in less than 37 minutes. 'Nuff said.

Also on tap:

* Listener Feedback
* LAMB of the Week
* Trailer Talk: Kung Fu Panda 2
* Remember the Time
For the LAMB of the Week, we take a look at LAMB #341, Screen Insight:


If you'd like your site to be a future LAMB of the Week, hit me up via email and I'll add you to the queue.

Music provided royalty-free by Kevin MacLeod's Incompetech website. Big thanks to Kevin for providing this service. The LAMBcast loves feedback, too. Either here in the comments section or to blogcabins@yahoo.com or to our Facebook page. Also, we're on iTunes, and would still love a review, even if it's a bad one.

Thanks for listening!

And then...

LAMBcast #45: Paranormal Activity 2

Nick (host), Jason and newcomer Simon of Screen Insight (and co-host of the LAMMY-nominated podcast The Simon and Jo Film Show) get all kinds of controversial while discussing Paranormal Activity 2.

Also on tap:

* Listener Feedback
* LAMB of the Week
* Trailer Talk: Scream 4
* Remember the Time

For the LAMB of the Week, we take a look at LAMB #196, Film Forager:



If you'd like your site to be a future LAMB of the Week, hit me up via email and I'll add you to the queue.

Music provided royalty-free by Kevin MacLeod's Incompetech website. Big thanks to Kevin for providing this service. The LAMBcast loves feedback, too. Either here in the comments section or to blogcabins@yahoo.com or to our Facebook page. Also, we're on iTunes, and would still love a review, even if it's a bad one.

Thanks for listening!

And then...

The State of the Cabins (10/6/10)

Things to Click On
* filmgeek took me for a trip down memory lane. You might like taking it, too. (Final Cut)

* Think you've given a certain cash-grabbing director enough of your money? Shawn has, and I sure have as well. (7 Dollar Popcorn)

* Anytime I become aware of a post that's been written in my honor, it gets a link here. Nick counts down his Top 10 Sports Movies (note, Nick does not like sports, hence some of his wacky choices). (R2D2)

* Weird - when I started the LAMBcast, I thought I was following a number of great ones that I ended up loving. Turns out, a group of us all started at just about the same time. The Film Cynics just celebrated a year (no commemorative post), as did Simon and Jo. Happy birthday to us all (and here's hoping that Simon, Jo, Steve and/or Brian can all make it onto a future LAMBcast). (Screen Insight)

* Kai and Heather are back with another tag-team Top 10 list, and it's another kickass one. (The List/Movie Mobsters)

* And finally, another list: Alex counts down her Top 5 Teen Comedies. You gotta love anyone that loves Better Off Dead this much. (Film Forager)

Movies watched for the first time (non-theatrically) since last week:
* None!

It's all Dexter, all the time at Casa de Fletch. Close to wrapping up season 2, and I'm currently mildly upset at the awesome Netflix for only having those first two seasons available via Watch Instantly. Gonna have to go all old school and get a single disc at a time from them for seasons 3 and 4. Boo.

Music I'm currently obsessed with:
Nothing comes to mind this week. Revisited The Postal Service's great (and only) album, Give Up this week. Still waiting for another. For whatever reason, Death Cab just doesn't do all that much for me, but P.S. I love. Weird, I know. Here's a homemade music video to my favorite tune off the album, "Nothing Better." (Sidenote: Every time I listen to it, I wonder if Gibbard's lack of sports knowledge is responsible for the "third quarter" line in reference to a soccer match - in which there are no quarters - or if it was intentional.)



Book I'm currently reading:
* Per Jess (I believe), I'm reading David Baldacci's The Camel Club. It's a political conspiracy theory thriller (page turner) that I imagine will read similarly to a Dan Brown book, minus the puzzle aspect (I've not read a Baldacci novel before).

It's alright so far. I'm not engrossed with it, and am put off a bit by the occasions when Baldacci condescends his readers by doing something like writing "RPG" and then two sentences later explaining what that is (it's all done very unnaturally), but otherwise I imagine it'll be a breezy read.

And then...

30 dAyS oF cRAzY: Full Metal Jacket

Simon, he of Screen Insight and The Simon and Jo Film Show, has been quite the avid classic film watcher as of late, devouring the catalogues of Spielberg, Allen, the Coens and others. So it's no surprise that he's gone and watched FMJ, either. How did it stack up? Stay tuned throughout September for nuttiness and zaniness of all varieties - click here for the full lineup, and click here for prior entries (which won't do you much good today, what with this being the first - madness!).

"These are great days we're living, bros. We are jolly green giants, walking the Earth with guns. These people we wasted here today are the finest human beings we will ever know."

Introduction

As many can see from my choice of films, the films I choose to watch is more for their importance in film history than for the current trend of zeitgeist. Perhaps I am watching the back catalogue of a highly influential director (Speilberg, Hitchcock, Lean), perhaps it is an international-inspiration (French New-Wave, Italian Neo-Realism, Contemporary Latin-America) or it is simply one of those 'must see' films. Full Metal Jacket, and most of Kubricks work is in the latter category. Fact is, though I choose to watch these films, in some cases it is a bit of an effort (a family member asked recently "How on earth can you watch a film in the morning? films are for the evening!" Answer, it is the love of film and focus of understanding film that drives me...). So, sometimes, I put one of these films on and realise that it is actually, from the get go, something that I am hooked on. In these cases, I will often pause the film and save it to watch it with Sarah... or Sarah will promise to watch it on a later date. Suffice to say, this is one of those films that became one of my favourite films almost instantly - and within a week, my passion for the film inspired Sarah to watch it on her own.

The Duality of Man

On his head is a symbol or peace and, next to it, the words "born to kill". This complete conflict, two polar-opposite attitudes to war, is what roots itself in the themes of this film - these two stances are what makes men so conflicting in their stance towards war and violence. They can make a man go mad.

Set during the Vietnam war, the first 40-minutes of the film is exclusively set in the boot camp, on American soil, as the new privates are grilled through their paces by Hartman (Lee Emery). Hartmans attitude is aggressive and violent - everything that war is - beginning the soldiers career in a completely controlled and inhuman environment. We specifically follow Prvate 'Pile' - an overweight, gun-obsessed soldier - who Hartman takes great pleasure degrading and insulting. This culminates in Private Pile killing himself - after having killed Hartman. A complete shift in the film as we now move to follow Joker (Modine) as he is deployed to fight in the war.

Pop-War

The sondtrack is rooted in pop-music, making the whole film that much more surreal: Rolling Stones and Nancy Sinatra playing over hyper-masculine men training and flirting with prostitutes. The small sections of score used is composed by Abigail Mead.

The complete contrast between the unified, clean and controlled environment in the boot camp completely contrasts with destroyed, burnt out buildings of an uncontrolled war. When we move into war territory, the camera becomes more disorientating - handheld and rough, almost like documentary footage as we see stark silhouettes across the war-torn landscape

A Real Finale

It ends it horror as a woman is revealed to be a sniper - can Joker, Mr "Born to Kill", kill this female sniper? The world is a different place - the environment is different. Soldiers choose to fight, they choose to defend, the choose to have the constant conflict of 'peace' against 'brute force'. This woman clearly does not choose - her hand has been pushed to protect herself and her family.

Having watched this a few years ago, and only revisiting it now through this review, it makes me desperate to get stuck in again. The entire film you wait to see the 'war' within the film genre it resides - but we see the madness of war and the madness of training men for war.


Tomorrow: Andreas (Pussy Goes Grrr) walks up Jacob's Ladder.

And then...