Happy New Year Everyone!

Just wanted to get this in as the clock is counting down......to everyone who reads this blog, and/or listens to the podcast, thanks a bunch.  Your support and kind words (and hell, even negative words) mean a lot.  Have a safe and happy new year and lets all make 2011 the best year yet......and these guys also wish you a happy new year...

Wear: well hey a new guest-category for the moment...

Yeah, I know "Wear" isn't one of the categories, but when I saw these shoes, I couldn't help myself....

Check out these kicks....

Watch: La Horde aka The Horde

It's always nice when a movie you are eagerly anticipating goes from "unknown status" on netflix to being on your coffee table within a few days time.  Such was the case with today's movie:

2009's La Horde aka The Horde

La Horde is a french zombie flick. The basic story is that a group of  thugs killed including two Nigerian guys and some east European guys have killed a cop and are now held up in  a large apartment complex, hiding out.  The cops "family" of partners have devised a plan to go hunt down the gang of thugs and take revenge.  When the cops show up to the complex, things don't go according to plan, a couple of sub-plots change the motivations of certain characters, and oh yeah.....a zombie apocalypse starts up.   As you would guess, the survivors must team up if they think they have any real chance to survive.

This violence in this movie is brutal.  From shotgun blasts to the face, to the sheer amount of bullets some of the characters take, to a face being repeatedly being slammed into a concrete foundation, this movie does not hold back at all when it comes to the kill scenes. Oh did I mention the old man with the military-grade mini gun mowing down zombies trying to make their way to the survivors in a narrow hallway? Yep.

For those wondering about the zombies themselves, I would say they are a cross between 28 Days Later and REC style zombies.  As is the overall movie itself.  It has the claustrophobic feeling of REC, with the fast moving, vicious zombies.  I also appreciate the fact that there is no origin of the zombie plague, it just starts happening, and keeps happening.

Once this movie is more widely seen, I really feel some of the kills and "I'm making a stand" scenes will be looked at as pretty iconic for the genre.

The zombie killing action starts pretty quick and doesn't let up.
I highly recommend this film. Add it to your netflix que right now!

(Jean-Pierre Martins as Ouessem hacking zombies to bits)

Play: COD: Black Ops (still and/or again,..yep)

I know, I know...I've blogged before about this game.  Well, between this & Madden '11....that is pretty much my share of video games for the time being.  I am almost done with Ratchet & Clank, but you already know what's going on with that, and Resident Evil 5 is shelved until my friend gets it so we can play co-op.

I've been playing the zombie mode a ton lately, and my wife and I got my brother in law a blue tooth for Christmas, so now when we play we can communicate, which is really the best way to go for this game mode.

Also, our mutual friend "Big Mike" is pretty damn good at the game.  So far it seems the key is finding the little mystery weapon box and landing a high -powered weapon from it before you draw the teddy bear.  Once you have one of those guns, you can mow down the zombies like crazy, it really changes the dynamic of the game.

I still have yet to really invest time in the other level of the zombie mode, which is the one where you can play as one of four ex presidents.  It reminds of the bank robber clan in Point Break...haha...hell, maybe that is where they got the idea from in the first place.

If you see me online throw me an invite....

An undead item from my Christmas Haul.....

Once I saw what it was, there was no other choice but to unwrap it and hang it up at my home workstation immediately...

Jealous? I understand.

Gifts like this are one reason I know my wife loves me!

Watch: Red State teaser trailer

If you pay attention at all to Kevin Smith's current goings-on, then you will know he has a new film coming out called Red State. I don't know much about the movie yet, but it was written & directed by Kevin Smith and that is definitely when he is at his best.  The trailer is definitely intriguing and  makes me want to see more. A lot more.  It really gives off a creepy, claustrophobic vibe, which is good if you are making a horror flick.  Check out the trailer...



Oh and by the way you should definitely check out all things SModcast related!

Watch: Netflix Random Viewing #2: Tokyo Gore Police

Since I'm waiting on The French Connection 2 in the mail before I do a blog post on that franchise, I figured what better time then to do my second installment of Netflix Random viewing.  

For this entry, I watched 2008's Tokyo Gore Police

You may recognize the lead actress in this film if you have seen Takashi Miike's Audition.  Although, Eihi Shiina's is the lead again here, do not expect another movie that takes ninety minutes to setup any kind of payoff.  In typical Japanese extreme cinema fashion the action & gore start from nearly the beginning of the movie and doesn't let up until the credits are rolling.  A few weeks back I took a look at The Machine Girl (here) and while I found both movies to have a similar quality I will say right up front that Tokyo Gore Police blows away the former, in just about every aspect that will make you absolutely love or hate both films.

Not only is this film gory, but in the campy fun way, it is also strange & bizarre.  The plot is actually refreshing and somewhat of a departure from the usual "the gangsters killed so-and-so, I want revenge" Sure, there is some aspect of that in here, but it is not quite that simple.

The basic premise is that in a not so futuristic Japan, the police force have become a privatized force.  There is an elite unit within the force who hunt engineers.  "Engineers" is code for villains who have genetically engineered their bodies so any wound they receive, regenerates into a weapon (think the mutated body gun from Videodrome for a slight comparison?) The main character's father was on the police force before it became privatized and was strong opposed to the privatization, which ultimately led to his murder.  Along the way our hero learns there is more to the story than she thought and it leads to even more action and gore and weirdness.

Least to say, again with a movie like this you know pretty much exactly what to expect, so I don't really think many people who choose to press play in the first place aren't going to enjoy it.  If that happens, then well hey at least you got a new and bizarre experience out of it, right?

I highly recommend this flick.

I noticed that  Eihi Shiina also happens to star(but is not the lead I think) in 2009's Vampire Girl vs. Frankenstein Girl which judging by the title is going to be another exercise in gore, splatter, macabre and mayhem! Haha.  That may be what I use for my third installment, but maybe not because I don't want to get stuck in the same theme or genre everytime I do this.  I'm definitely watching it though.

Watch: French Connection - (tbc)

Just watched The French Connection.  It was awesome.  I will make a post about this in a couple of days but the sequel is on it's way and I'd rather just make a single post with comments on both, so look for that in a day or so.....non-related posts will still go up regularly....


That is all....

Listen: Retro Flick Fillet Episode 6 - Spreading Christmas Jeers! It's posted

I've been away for a few days. My internet was down for the count.  Well I'm back, and it's pretty perfect timing because me and the crew just recorded episode six of the podcast this past Sunday, and it has just been posted.

Listen in as we give our thoughts on the classic Christmas Story.  The horror-comedy Gremlins.  And lastly, the Bill Murray one-man show known as Scrooged!

Be sure to get into the Christmas spirit yourself by giving.  Giving FEEDBACK that is!  retroflickfillet@hotmail.com

As always you can just follow the link in this post, or click the link on the podcast feed to the right of this post.

I hope you all enjoy it!  We've got big plans for 2011, some of which are included in the discussion during this podcast!

Listen here:  http://www.idiotpod.libsyn.com/retro-flick-fillet-episode-6-christ-twist-mas-

Watch: Black Christmas on TCM....aka brief Horror movie history lesson #1

I was just channel surfing and came across the classic Black Christmas starting up on Turner Classic Movies(TCM).  This movie is definitely a classic.  I would say it is Slayer to Halloween's Metallica.  Does that make any sense? Let me explain!

In the 80's there were a couple of kick-ass thrash bands. Slayer & Metallica.(among others) but these two were pretty much the tops as far as music quality in the genre went.  As time went on Metallica seemed to find the commercial success that Slayer never achieved, including eventually gaining crossover success with not so metal fans.  Anyways, this is a bigger discussion for another time.  Insiders will probably say Slayer was just as good if not better at their craft, and just as influential to the metal scene today(the real metal scene, that is) however the casuals who are more tourists to the genre, will mainly remember the band Metallica alone because of radio play and how much they are generally in the rotation in casual circles.

So in Summary:

  =   

aaaaand,,,,

  =   

Got it?

Aren't history lessons great?

No time for movie thoughts/review right now, cause I wanna watch the movie dammit.

P.S. You should too!

Watch: Exit Through the Gift Shop

Netflix recently added the documentary "Exit Through The Gift Shop" to their instant streaming list.  This doc has received much hype on the festival circuit and praise from just about everyone I happen to personally know. A couple of nights ago I finally had a chance to sit down and watch it(which is a miracle considering the issues I have been having with my ISP as of late...grrr)


"Exit" is the story of Thierry Guetta, french immigrant living in Los Angeles.  He has been living life with cameras and video cameras documenting just about every s tep he takes.  Everyone close to him got so used to it, they mostly forgot the camera was even there.  Eventually Thierry becomes drawn in to the street art world and culture, and wishes to document it.  Not necessarily make a film or documentary, just capture it on film.  Eventually after some time, he befriends and gains the trust of such street artists as "Space Invader" , Shepard Fairey and "Banksy"(who was pretty elusive). 

Eventually, standing on the sideline filming is not enough, and Thierry starts to try his hand at street art, and then eventually goes on to have a huge opening of his gallery of work in Los Angeles which lead to him selling right around a million dollars worth of his artwork.

Many people who have seen this documentary question if everything is being played straight.  Is this just an elaborate hoax?  Is Thierry just a wannabe con artist, ripping off the ideas of others?  Is this really just a big prank on the art world itself. After all most street art by it's very nature is meant to be anti-establishment and against the norm, not something to be co-opted and sold to the highest bidder.

There are many layers to this film,
but no matter what your personal opinion is on what exactly is going on, the fact is
this film is damn entertaining.
If you have netflix, do yourself a favor
avoid the movie theater this round and watch this instead!!!

Play: Ratchet & Clank A Crack in Time aka sidequests how I loathe thee

So a few months back I traded in a bunch of games, Gamestop was having their buy two get a third free promo.  Picked up a few games one being Ratchet & Clank: A Crack in time

As a fan of all the previous installments, for the most part it has been no different this time around.  It looks stunning on the 1080p display.  The sound effects are cool and deliberate and the writing provides the same comic relief I have come to know over the course of the series.

Of course with this series the biggest thing you anticipate is the weapons, and they don't disappoint here either.  Bigger, crazier, more effective weapons.  They are all fun enough that you want to continually use them so they upgrade through their five levels and eventually morph into an even strong version of themselves.

With all the said my main gripe is the system used to upgrade the space ship.  You have to collect these little robot helpers called "Zoni"  they are scattered throughout the universe.  Some can be found on the planets you visit, during regular linear mission play, others you have to collect on random moons where they are the main objective of the visit.

Now, in theory this isn't a problem.  What I have a problem with is that in order to get to the final stage(s) of the game, you have to collect all 40 of the zoni(s).   You don't even know this though, until you are about to enter the final run.   Up to this point I was getting by just collecting the amount I would need for the next upgrade, which was usually anywhere from 3-5 zoni per upgrade.  Well this put me at 18 Zoni as I was approached the final stages.  Here came that familiar message "you must upgrade Zoni to penetrate the force wall"  Ok, whatever, let me go to a few planets gather up some zoni and be on my way.....right?  NOPE.  I need 40 zoni for the next ugrade?  WTF ? AHHHHHHHHHH....NO!

So basically now, I am going to have to spend a good few hours backtracking through the game, visiting every obscure planet and moon in search of zoni, or as I like to call it...the thing I like the least doing in the damn game.  I wish the game would have hinted that I needed all 40 to begin with, so I would have made sure to collect them as I went. 

I also don't appreciate how this kind of forces you to do all the side quests.  I much prefer the system of lets say Mario Galaxy, where you need 50 stars in order to take on Bowser and beat the game, but there are a total of 100 stars in the galaxy so you can go back and get some replay value out of the game afterwards, but still have the satisfaction of beating the storyline w/o having to do it.

So that minor(major) gripe aside, I really love this game.  I know the majority of the blog entry might have been spent on the gripe part, but let me re-iterate, this game is pretty damn awesome.

Highly Recommended!

Listen: Something new for the podcast part 1....

Last night, the internet was down, I was watching TV and saw a scene in movie that inspired an idea for a new segment on the podcast. Don't want to say too much about it here until I run it by my co-hosts since it is their show as much as it is mine, but I have a pretty good feeling they will like the idea.  It's also going to be an avenue for the listeners to get involved in the show.  If all goes well, I will post details about it this Sunday in the blog post, and I am sure it will be discussed during the show itself as well which will be posted early next week.

So keep your eyes peeled!

Listen: Episode 6 of podcast recording this Sunday

Just a quick reminder that episode 6 of Retro Flick Fillet will be recording this Sunday.  As it is December, we will be doing a Christmas related show.  Three movies that are either directly related to Christmas, or at least have the "holiday spirit" in the movie somehow.

I expect it to be posted early next week.

Because our last episode was kind of rushed last time due to a family emergency, we plan to take our time, and have a lot of fun with this episode, really flesh it out and fill it with content.  We encourage any listener feedback to be sent in by this Sunday that way we can include it in our show, which figures to be the final show of the year. 

Don't worry, we'll back in January.......

Oh and once it is posted, you can expect the usual, blog post announcement, it should also show up in the podcast feed to the right of the blog, and of course it can be found on the podcast's website  www.idiotpod.libsyn.com

We also plan on eventually securing a domain for the show and building an actual website.  That is just going to come down to a time issue, so look for that in 2011....

All feedback for the show can be sent to retroflickfillet@hotmail.com

Thanks guys!

Watch: A Prophet

Have a pretty killer movie to let you guys know I just saw.

From 2009,


A Prophet. Directed by Jacques Audiard.

The story follows 19 year old French-Arab Malik El Djebena who is beginning a six year prison sentence.He's been in the juvenile system throughout his life, but this is his first trip to the big house.  He is reluctantly taken in by the Corsican prison gang and is given the immediate task of killing a high profile muslim prisoner that is in transit to the prison. 

The movie follows his rise in the Corsican gang ranks, but also the internal struggle of never truly being accepted by the Corsicans.  The movie has some double-turns, that aren't necessarily to be considered "twists" just moreso developments in the story.

In the movie's final act there is a pretty tense and gritty scene that takes place outside the prison walls when Malik is given a day out from the prison.

I found this movie pretty good. The style is a lot different than what we come to traditionally think of prison/mafia dramas such as American Me or Bound by Honor.  I didn't feel it was over-stylized at all. In fact there was almost a lack of the feeling you get from a lot of mafioso dramas that they are trying to project a "cool" effect. This produced more of a "foreign prisons suck" feeling.  You never really got the "being in the prison gang does have it's advantages" feeling either. There was little give and take between Malik and César Luciani.(head of the Corsican gang) it was much more of a "I am letting you live because you do what I ask, don't forget that" feeling, and later in the movie it is even acknowledged by Malik. I have noticed that seems to be a big difference between American and foreign movies relating to the mob.  In American films there tends to be a need to partly romanticize the idea.  Sure, it usually turns bad at the end, but like drugs, "it was a hell of a ride while it lasted" where as most of the foreign flicks dealing with the mafia seem to be more about pain and despair and you never get a sense that the protagonist in the movie is having a good time. In prison Malik finds salvation in learning to read & write, from fellow inmate and eventual friend, Ryad.

I am definitely interested to check out netflix and see what else this director has in store for us.

I highly recommend A Prophet to everyone.

Watch: Dexter season 5 finale!

Dexter season 5 wrapped up last night. Some found it a little underwhelming, but admitted it was mostly due to the horrific ending to season 4. If everyone looks back through the entire season, there are still some story lines that were started that could very well continue into season 6.

For starters, they never solved the investigation into the drug dealer brother of the guy Deb shot. They got sidetracked with the entire Jordan Chase investigation. So they could always pick up on that later.

Also, the new cop on the crew, that Laguerta brought in. Her role for the most part was pretty minor, but much like Quinn was the new cop last season and then played am ore prominent role this season, the same can happen for officer Manzon.

One of my favorite parts of this season was Peeter Weller as Detective Liddy. As soon as he appeared on screen my first thought was "OH SHIT, ROBOCOP!" Hahaha. He played the scumbag corrupt detective role perfectly.

Also, Julia Stiles was a pleasant surprise. She did a fantastic job of playing the broken woman known as Lumen.

Overall another solid season. Can't quite say it was as good as Season 4, but still a very entertaining time. Looking forward to Season 6 to see where they go from here. They have some storylines they can continue, but the way they ended the season also gives them the chance for a fresh start, sort of the way Season 3 began.

Rumors are that Season 6 is the final season, but I hope not.

Watch: Another reason you should own a PS3!

The days of the 360 vs. PS3 debate are long over.  I've said my peace on the subject, and honestly in 2010, I think there are valid reasons to own both and it really comes down to which set of exclusive game franchises you prefer.

With that said, each console from time to time will present pretty damn solid arguments as to why you should own their console.  Here is a good one from Sony-PS3:



Ok yeah I know, the teaser doesn't reveal much at all, but after the original Uncharted came onto the scene without much hype at all and took us all by storm, and then the second installment BLEW OUR FRICKIN' MINDS, from here on out until a reason to believe otherwise, all Naughty Dogs studio really has to do is mention they are working on a new title in the series and it will send productivity in the workplace down by at least 20% worldwide.

Can't wait!

Watch: One of Us! One of Us! One of Us!

Tod Browning's 1932 classic "Freaks" is uploaded on youtube in it's entirety in five parts.
Do yourself a favor and watch it.  A definite "must watch" for horror-junkies.
I'll embed the first part in this blog entry and link the other four parts. So you better watch it, fools!



Part2!
Part3!
Part4!
Part5!

....your fucking welcome, chums!

Watch A Zombie....like you've never seen on film before! *trust me here*

For my submission into the 2010 Zombie Walk parade, I am going to have a little fun with my entry. Instead of the usual zombie-related debates(walking vs. running; what's better Night or Dawn, etc etc) I am going to pose a question that is probably the furthest from anyone's mind, and quite frankly might get me run outta town by all you zombie loving fans. Hell I am still questioning the bomb of a question I am about to pose to the Zombie-fan community. Fuck it, here goes:

Can it be argued that, Weekend At Bernie's 2  is a Voodoo Zombie movie, and not merely just a comedy?

Before immediately registering on this website to cue up some rapid hate mail responses. Watch the trailer, provided for you right here...



All the elements are there:

• Bernie is Dead
• Bernie is up and walking around...but still, dead
• Bernie has risen due to voodoo
• Tropical island setting
• Impervious to pain and traditional pain infliction
• Has no trouble existing under water(doesn't need to breathe)

I'd say the only element clearly missing is an appetite for Brains, but that could easily be explained because Bernie is not part of the zombie apocalypse, or infected by a "zombie disease" here is merely a victim of post-mortem black magic aka VOODOO~!

Also, come on, Tery Kiser's performance as the living dead Bernie Lowmax must be considered one of the best performances by an actor portraying a member of the Living Dead in the history of film.  He was pretty convincing as a dead guy.

So what do you guys think?  Is my premise plausible?

Should we all hold out for....

Weekend At Bernies III: Bernie gets HUNGRY!

Feedback is appreciated!

Watch: This is my idea of a Christmas flick.....

After that all I can say is....

MERRY FUCKIN' CHRISTMAS!

Look: half brother of "Watch" my lame attempt at drawing....

So I was at a school awards ceremony tonight. They wanted to get all of us involved, has some Q&A to fill out on this large yellow butcher paper type stuff. I actually answered the questions like a good samaritan but then got extremely bored and this is what resulted....

Sooo...the lesson is....don't make me bored or you will get more!

Listen/Watch: This video caught my eyes & ears today

Listen: Splattercast! (plus announcement)

So I've been listening to this podcast for awhile now horror-move based, with a few deviations once in awhile.  I really like their style because they come off as a group of friends just having a good time with the whole experience.  That's not to say they aren't quite good at it.  They are over 200 episodes in.  That is a rare feat in the world of podcasting.....

Check 'em out!

Dead Lantern is their website!

Well anyways the announcement is that our podcast has been given the huge oppurtunity to present an award for their annual Splatcademy awards show this year.  Best Horror Videogame category!  Pretty big honor!

Thanks fellas! We owe ya at least one, that's for sure.

Watch: Ok, more like "Look" but trust me it's worth it...

 

No explanation needed. Found this at TheNerdist blog 

Sometimes I love the internet more than life!

Fucking Genius!

Watch: Netflix Random Viewing #1: Machine Girl

Something I will be doing from time to time is watch something on netflix and post my thoughts about it here.  I am not sure if it will always be what is traditionally considered a "review" but more just my initial thoughts.  The plan for this is to be something I have never seen before, something a little off-beat or off the wall.  Doesn't have to necessarily bat-shit crazy as the flick I watched tonight, but still....you'll get the idea:


Netflix Random Viewing #1:   
Machine Girl

 

Tonight I watched Machine Girl on netflix.  I had heard about this flick awhile ago.  I think it might have been on an edition of Chris Gore's "Asian Underground" segment on Attack of the Show, but I can't be sure, since it has been awhile.

This is a movie that some might qualify as japanese exploitation, or possibly "extreme-cinema"  It is one of those movies that is hard to label, but when you press play, within about ten minutes you know what you are in store for.   I don't think this is the type of movie you can like either.  You are either going to love it, or want to turn it off immediately.  It is straight genre-schlock(as I put it to a friend via text last night *wink*)  Me personally....I get a kick out of this stuff.  You have to know what you are in for with these types of movies and either accept the cheesy, cartoony, over the top nature of them, or just don't bother watching.  I am not even sure if these movies are made with all involved playing it straight or not.  I am leaning towards no, but it is Japan afterall, maybe they sneaked in a hidden metaphorical meaning in there somewhere that my feeble american mind cannot grasp due to my lust for gore!

To the movie:

The plot as you can expect is pretty paper thin. Afterall you don't come to this flick after reading the description for plot and/or character development.  It is your typical, "Yakuza killed so and so,  almost killed me, I survived and now I am going to hunt you down" story of revenge!  If you really desire a better plot description you can follow the imdb link I posted earlier in this post.

What matters is if the movie delivers on what everyone wants.  The answer is a resounding yes.  Lots of action, lots of gore and a MACHINE GUN ARM! Did I mention human finger sushi? Yep!  That is really all you can want out of a movie like this and you get lots of it.

Glad that my first netflix random viewing was a success!  I highly recommend this.

Watch: Wallking Dead season 1 in the books!

Last night was the season finale of The Walking Dead.  It wrapped up a quick six episode pilot season.  The Walking Dead is based on the graphic novel by Robert Kirkman.  The show has been a very big ratings success for AMC through the first season, with a new record broken last night for the finale.  The first season has made it clear that the TV show will deviate from the comic when it feels necessary. 

The zombie apocalypse is not exactly a new idea.  It has been around for a long time in cinema and literature.  The key that makes The Walking Dead a success, both as a comic and a tv show, is that the author Robert Kirkman seems to be a true fan of the sub-genre and source material.  While he might lack in some areas such as specific pieces of dialogue, he makes up in overall storyline.

The first season was merely a peek at what's to come, and for the most part in my opinion, held back any major events(well besides the beginning of the zombie apocalypse in the first place, of course).  

The biggest split in opinion thus are within the fanbase has been the two major events from the show that were not in the comic(how not surprising). If had to pick the weaker of the two events, I would say the CDC ending to the finale was a little lackluster.  It felt a bit rushed, but it is somewhat understood given the very short time frame of the first season.

As a huge fan of the comic, I was pretty excited from the moment I heard it was going to be turned into a tv series, especially once I heard AMC would be handling it, considering their recent track record with new series.  The show has not disappointed me yet overall.  There are spots here and there you can pick at, the writing can be questionable in some spots, and yes we do get doses of cheap-looking CGI in spots, however I think the series is off to a solid start and cannot wait to see what is coming next.

The series has been renewed for a second season, but we are a good three quarters of a year before it debuts. 

Watch: Redskins vs. NY Giants aka "Why Me?"

'Skins travel to NY today to play the Giants.  At 5-6, any realistic playoff chances rest on winning today's game(and realistically, every game from here on out).

In 2005 the 'Skins pulled off a five game win streak to close the season and make the playoffs, however that team was much better than this group.

The Giants are pretty banged up, which is really the only reason to give the 'Skins a chance in this game, but the Skins have lost 4 in a row at The Meadowlands....so yeah I am not holding out much hope.

Retro Flick Fillet episode 6...coming soon!

Sorry I failed you blogosphere!  Got way to late to que up a netflix movie and not expect to fall asleep.  I will try again tonight.....with that said....On behalf of Doug, Shawn & Myself, we have a special message and request regarding the next episode of Retro Flick Fillet podcast: 

 

Our December/Christmas-y themed episode will be taping in about 10 days.We are giving the listeners an opportunity to help us pick out what flicks to review for Christmas!We will be reviewing three movies.Have some in mind,but would love to hear your suggestions!Just leave a comment on this thread or email... your suggestions along with any other general show feedback to retroflickfillet@hotmail.com  or leave suggestions on this blog.  Or you can even find us on facebook by searching for Retro Flick Fillet.  Same with Twitter; @RetroFlickF.  You can leave suggestions at both of those websites if you so choose!

 

 

 

 

Watch: Oh Distractions, how I wish I could quit you!

I know, I know...get to that damn random netflix movie already.  Well ok people, but tell me you wouldn't be distracted if you were channel surfing and came across THIS:




*focus focus focus focus......*

Watch: UFC vs. Strikeforce - Live dueling cards for first time

Tonight both UFC & Strikeforce competing live cards for the first time.  UFC's TUF finale on Spike, and Strikeforce had a pretty major card on Showtime.  UFC will easily get more viewers due to being on a basic cable channel compared to a premium subscription channel. 

I watched both cards, neither live due to the magic of DVR.  I was able to watch both cards in rapid "only the fights, fast forward everything else mode"  While both cards delivered, I would give the slight edge to Strikeforce, due to the three devastating KO's that ended the fights in Strikeforce.  Not to mention the epic comeback by Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva when it looked like he was about to be a victim of a KO himself in the 1st round of his fight with Mike Kyle.

Congrats to Jonathan Brookins for winning TUF finale and the UFC contract.

This isn't really an MMA blog so there is no need to go over the details of the cards. I am sure you saw them.  My other thoughts on the fights can probably be found in other discussion forums I participate in.

Now with the fun stuff out of the way, time to mix up a drink and get started on the netflix instant view.

Watch: I have a choice to make....for tonight's viewing.

Tonight I have a pretty open night to watch whatever. once the fights are over.  I am either thinking Dark City or finding something random on Netflix.  I really want to watch Dark City again since I have the blu ray and haven't watched it since it first came out on VHS so many years ago.

The thing is, I know with a movie like Dark City, it is an investment.   Not a movie you can simply have on, while other things are going on around you.....

Want to help me decide?  Thanks!

Play: My so-so skills at online gaming

I've been playing Madden '11 a little bit this morning, and have come to realize that I don't play online against good competition enough to consistently stay good.  This is not like riding a bike.  You have to keep at it more consistently in order to get  better and more importantly STAY better.  The same goes with a game like Call of Duty.

Now, I don't want to make it seem as though they aren't fun if you aren't winning.  Not the case. I still have fun regardless. I just recognize my winning pct. goes up and down depending on how frequently I am playing.  This is why I really enjoy games that are starting to put online Co-op into their games.  And not just a side quest or a few randomly generated missions.  I mean the actual main storyline or in Black Ops case, the entire zombie sub-game(both modes).

Back to some zombie slaughtering!

Watch: BeerBong

Totally forgot I had posted this gem a few years back......

Play: Black Ops....

In about ten minutes.....PSN: cryptkeeper666   hit me up if you have a PS3.

Watching: Top Chef All-stars episode 1

Wow. I totally geek-out to this show waaay too much. It is a cooking competition show for christ's sake. Emmy-award winning and all....but still....

If you are like me and have been watching this show from Day 1, it is pretty exciting to see the best competitors out of the ones who didn't win their season, back to compete against each other for a second chance. Hard to believe it has been this many seasons of the show already.  Only one episode in and as the ol' cliched saying goes "you can cut the tension with a knife"

Listening: Film Junk Podcast #294

Today at work I listened to Film Junk podcast #294

If I was ever to make a more straight-forward serious movie podcast, this would probably be the model I'd use. These guys are really good at what they do. I've been listening to it for a couple years now and am pretty entertained regardless of whether I have already seen half of the movies they are talking about.

I enjoy the podcast I do. Mainly cause it is me and two friends. We are way too goofy to do a show like Film Junk, and way too knew at it to pull it off(well Me and Shawn, Doug is a pro and also hosts and produces The Season Pass podcast)

We are just a few friends who like to get together, share our love of movies, and bullshit with each other once a month. No credentials, no background in the film industry etc etc.

So yeah, if you listen to my podcast, and wondered what podcasts I enjoy. Film Junk is one of the tops.

Watching: The Battle of Los Angeles (trailer)

Ok, so I'll admit, there is a lot to like about this trailer. The attacks raining down from the sky look crazy good. The shot of the battleship being demolished is cool. The night-vision "OMG FRENZY" sequence is also pretty nice.

The problem is, we have seen trailers like this before. Preparing us for the best movie ever, only to get suckered into mediocre fare.

It looks for for the time being Alien Invasion flicks are Sci-fi's answer to the huge wave of Zombie and hybrid-Zombie flicks.

I've seen Monsters, it wasn't horrible but definitely disappointing. Haven't seen Skyline, but the reviews were bad, and I'm talking Battlefield Earth awful.

Playing: broken PS3 controller :(

Playing:There she is.  This is a controller that is less than a few months old.  Right out of the box with the PS3 slim.  I thought maybe the battery was dead, so I dug out one of my old controllers that was chewed up by Shadow, and opened up both controllers, switched the batteries. Nope.  Not the problem.  Must be the motherboard itself inside the controller.  Dammit.   $50 value.   At least Gamestop is known to have lots of used controller on hand.  So as it stands I still have one dual shock 3 controller and then one non dual shock controller on hand.

Watching: I have the Ultimate Fighter 2hr finale taped, as well as Top Chef All Stars.  Also Drinking Made Easy.  I think that will take care of any tv watching for tonight.  Cop Out probably tomorrow night.


Reading: Current issue of Game Informer.  Neat article on the Top 20 characters over the past decade.

Will probably be playing Black Ops later tonight.  PSN ID: cryptkeeper666   hit me up!

Tomorrow is Friday, *yay*

Watching: The Runaways

Tonight I watched The Runaways.

This is the story of the talented but short-lived band The Runaways. Now be forewarned, if you are interested in anything about the band besides Joan Jett & Cherie Currie you aren't going to get much out of this film. Basically that is my biggest gripe with the film. You'd think the rest of the band was just a few cardboard cutouts digitally inserted into the movie to fill out the band. I understand that Kristen Stewart & Dakota Fanning were the top billed actresses, however this was supposed to be the story about the band and not just them. My favorite performance in the film is by Michael Shannon who plays Kim Fowler, the bands founder and and sleazy manager.

The film follows the typical format you'd expect. Fame at a young age can propel some while destroying others. Joan Jett goes on to rock & roll infamy later in life, while Currie returns to a relatively pedestrian life by hollywood standards. I am not sure why the closing character "where they are now" summaries did not include anyone else from the band, especially considering Lita Ford went on to have a pretty successful career after the Runaways disbanded. I believe Lita Ford wanted nothing to do with this film, but don't quote me on that. Joan Jett was listed as an executive producer.

The film itself is not bad perse, but I just felt it really missed the boat on exactly what it is supposed to deliver. I wanted to know more about the band itself. The background of all the members, what they all were thinking, what they all ended up going on to do later in life.

There is an excellent documentary floating around the internet called Edgeplay: A Film About the Runaways'. It's on youtube, broken up into multiple parts. If you are actually interested in the history and story of this band, I recommend watching that at least as a companion piece. It features extensive interviews with every member of the band besides Joan Jett, who oddly enough decided not to participate. However there is plenty of perspective out there from her in various other outlets, that it doesn't come off feeling like something is missing the way The Runaways does. The documentary really seems to give off the vibe that any "good times" in this band were heavily outweighed by the bad times. Also, it really makes Kim Fowler come off as a much bigger scumbag than he is portrayed in the film. If he accounts from all the ladies are accurate, he got off rather easy in the film.

Overall, I give this film:

2 angry-rebellious teenage chicks out of 5.

Go find and watch the documentary as a companion piece or even instead of the movie.

Organization?

In the "near" future, I might be trying to organize and focus this blog on something a little more specific.

Up to now it has been pretty random. It has felt more like extended facebook posts of randomness. Not that is bad I guess. I mean it is my blog afterall, no one is forced to read it, however I kind of want the blog to reflect something different, a re-occurring theme even.

I am thinking of changing it to a TV/Movies/videogames blog. Basically give my thoughts on what I am currently watching & playing. Since my podcast is about "retro" stuff, I can make my blog more focused on current stuff.....

Yeah that's the ticket.

To clarify, I am not saying I am only going to mention things that happen to brand new. They might be old or new or whatever. It will just happen to be whatever I am currently doing....

'Skins....yeah umm....ugh

'Skins lost because they couldn't stop a 40+ year old QB from gaining 8 yards on a 3rd down.....wow. Just pathetic...what can I say really?

The team is well on it's way to another 6-10 - 8-8 season.......

"next season"

It's aaaaalways next season.....ugh.

Podcast on youtube.....

So I did a test run on some vlogs, and I am going to hold off on attempting them until I have better equipment and until me Doug, Shawn, & myself have time to actually collaborate on making something.

So instead, what I am going to do is upload all of our podcast episodes to youtube, and starting with the current episode(5), I am going to add pictures to it that are relevent to the movies being reviewed. I will play around with some video editing software and see what I can come up with....

Here's hoping it comes off presentable.....

Episode 5 is up....

Retro Flick Fillet episode 5 is posted......David Fincher flicks....

Enjoy!


http://www.idiotpod.libsyn.com/retro-flick-fillet-episode-5-david-fincher

P.S. something might be wrong with the feed on the blog, for the podcast, so just use the link above for now.

Now, I must get some sleep!

So full.....so many leftovers

Yep. It's like that!

Happy Deep Fried turkey day!

It took me to the depths of my patience, but we found a turkey deep fryer last night....yes on Thanksgiving-eve......our fault completely for waiting, but I made it happen.....

So the deep-fryer has just been assembled.

Problem #2.....I have zero experience with propane, propane tanks and how to check gas flow and light the burner and all that jazz.....I have been BBQing since I could stand, but I am a charcoal guy....So basically I hope I get it all figured out.....Luckily it will only take a little over an hour to cook this sucker, so I have plenty of wiggle room time.....

For now...time to cook up some hot buttered rum and enjoy the hot drink on this chilly day!

*cheers* & Happy Thanksgiving all.....

Lack of Sleep + work day = uh-oh.....

I made an error in judgment last night.....did not get nearly enough sleep....and now I head off to a job where I sit around, type, and listen to podcasts......

Wish me luck.

Did I forget to mention?

The podcast recording of ep. 5 has been delayed to next weekend. Which also means the vlog has been delayed until then as well since I am cruising solo this weekend. Sure, I could have thrown something up just to do it, but naaah.

No worries, everything shall be back to normal next weekend!

Redskins win!

Nice effort by a team coming off of a demoralizing defeat last week.....the team showed their toughness and showed they are not giving up on this season.

Redskins are 5-5 and still very much alive. Two huge tough games left against the NYG....

Next up Minnesota @ home....winnable game.

Here we gooooo,,,,,

So this is my first official blog entry from the new(old) computer. Yep it is back in my possession and upgraded and running like new.

Picked up a cheezy speaker set up for it that will be upgraded eventually, and probably a webcam as well.

Dunno if I will ever get used to the tiny backspace button though,,,,yuck.

Oh and the podcast got delayed until next weekend.....so yeah there's that....ok....

Nope....of course not.

It'd be nice if I was typing this blog from that other computer I was supposed to have back by now, but of course, it just couldn't be!

The computer is technically fixed, but now the trouble of not having an OS for it. Windows XP on the original hard drive is jacked up, so there is nothing for the new hard drive yet. So the yeah, computer is fixed, but I need to have a plan of what to get on the new drive. Oh and spending $200+ on Windows 7 is not one of the options....haha.

Computer #2 coming home tonight.....

*cross your fingers*

If all goes well, I get my computer back from the "shop"(friend's house) today...been a long journey with that one, but looks like all is about to be well....now to find a spot for it....hmmm......

*update coming tonight*

To Vlog or not to Vlog?

Well, considering it took me long enough to get into the world of consistently blogging, I have mixed feelings about stepping it up a notch by starting to vlog.

If I start it, I don't want to half-ass it. That doesn't mean I want daily content going up all the time, however if I vlog, I want it to be significant. Not "important" perse, but I don't to get into a habit of throwing up videos of me saying "hello" and making goofy faces for five minutes and calling it a night. Haha.

I know regardless of what I post, most people who see it will think of it as pointless and dumb, which I am fine with, I just want whatever I create to be significant to me.

With that said, if time and cooperation with technology permits, I think I will create and attempt to post(immediately following) my first vlog this Saturday right before we record out 5th episode of the podcast. We are recording this episode over here, so I will probably put Doug in the vlog as well, I am sure he won't mind. Eventually once Shawn gets out here, he can be a vlog too.

So, look forward to some meaningful content on a weekend for once....!

Been a few days.....

Now that I've returned to full-time work(for the rest of 2010) I am going to have to figure out how to fit in daily blog entries under a new schedule. Don't worry, I still have plenty of nonsense to ramble on about, just gotta figure out how to get a new routine down in order to blog about it...

'Skins are on MNF this week...so today I can sit back and relax for football Sunday.

Also, the job is going fine. Pretty simple data entry job.

Returning to podcasts with open arms(and ears)

So ever since I've been unemployed, I admit I have slacked off listening to a bunch of podcasts. Not that I am obligated or required to or anything, but I do enjoy some of them very much.

The thing is, without the free time to kill, it can get difficult to find 1-2 hrs(per show mind you) to sit around at simply press play without having to pause it every five minutes because something comes up.

Well, through the rest of 2010, I'll likely be employed, and if the first day of work is any indication of what's to come, podcasts a'plenty will be playing in my cubicle!

YIPPEE!!!

So I made some chili today...wanna see?

So it's the last day of relaxin' until I start a new job tomorrow, which will last through the holidays....good timing as I wasn't sure exactly where we were going to come up with the extra cash for Christmas. Problem solved! Data Entry job! Those are the best, because I know going in it is something I won't have a problem with.......

So I spent the better half of the morning making some homemade chili. I had to make 2 crockpots of it since Jen takes hers without Bacon or the hot stuff.....It's cooking now and will be ready to chow down on this evening. I can't wait to dig in....now if I could just find that cornbread mix, we'll be set!

Here is the base: Onion, green pepper, cumin, cayenne pepper, dried oregano, black pepper, salt, chili pepper,bacon



Here is the chili once the ground meat, and tomato sauces, diced tomatoes and tomato paste has been added, but as you will see, there is one ingredient still waiting


Here is the final ingredient being added to what is going to be a delicious dinner!

Black Ops...in an hour

'bout to go leave to pick up COD: Black Ops....servers better be prepared, dammit. Not like when Modern Warfare 2 was released and you couldn't get online due to server overload....arrrgh.

Wish me(and a few million others) Luck!

Job for the holidays! *woot*

Well I just got called for the job I mentioned a few posts ago. Looks like it's a go! They want me to start Wednesday @ 8am.....looks like I will have the extra cash I need to get me through the holidays! NICE!

Once I start I will let you know exactly what I'm doing. "Data Entry" can mean lots of different things, something I have learned throughout the years!

The Walking Dead.....get to keep walking!

http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/11/08/amcs-the-walking-dead-renewed-for-13-episode-season-two-as-second-episode-big-ratings/71238

Walking Dead renewed for a 13 episode season 2....

Ratings were again huge for the second episode.

I am really digging the show so far. I consider it a companion piece to the comic, not a replacement, so if you like the tv show, get out there and reward Kirkman for his hard work and buy the comic too. This s how is proof that you can turn a comic into a quality show without just shooting everything frame by frame exactly the same.

Kudos to all involved!

Monday musings....ep 5 of podcast recording date & movies

So even in their bye week, the Redskins manage to lose. Brandon Banks had knee surgery, expected to miss 2 weeks, and Chris Horton goes on the IR.....*yay* bye week!?!

Went disc golfing over the weekend for the first time in awhile. Lately I have either been working on Saturdays or the weather sucked too much. Did decent. We played doubles, and ended with a tie. We par'd the course, which is decent for me. Missed a few birdie opportunities along the way, but also made a couple long birdies through some rough patches of nature, so that was cool.

Besides that, just spent the weekend relaxin' watched a bunch of football, laughed as the Cowboys probably put the final nail in the coffin for their season. Wade Phillips fired, Garrett promoted. As if that is going to work....Eagles & Giants both won, so that's not good.

Going to be making homemade chili tomorrow to have for dinner the next couple of nights. Nice chilly weather is a great time for homemade chili. I can't wait. Always remember the bacon! I think I will post some pictures and maybe list the recipe.

Our november podcast will be recorded on the 20th, and we are reviewing Seven, The Game, & Fight Club. In case you didn't get the connection...they are all David Fincher directed flicks. Panic Room was considered, but not all of us have seen it, so it got nixed.

Screwdrivers, it is!

After my last post of "serious business" I figured I can't let a Friday come & go without something more light-hearted...so just doing a final check-in today to say I will be getting buzzed drinking screwdrivers and playing Madden 11 and other games tonight!

If you have a PS3, my PSN is Cryptkeeper666 send me a msg!

Best left to the professionals....

It's another Friday *yay* Out of all the things I could comment about today, nothing will match the quality of the segment from Rachel Maddow's program last night regarding misinformation in right-wing media. So instead of my usual random musings about nothing, I think I will post both parts of that segment here. Please watch and think about it for awhile before you just believe what you hear on TV next time(especially cable news).....

Part 1


Part 2

Job update...could it be?

I may have a job for the rest of 2010.....I will probably find out tomorrow...will update as soon as I can......

Peace!

Election post-game....other stuff?

Oh yeah...the election happened *yawn*

That ends the election post-game wrap up!

I am in the mood to make some homemade chili in the crock pot? I have a pretty decent recipe, and of course don't forget the bacon!

Anyone have any killer chili recipes?

Halloween post-show report....

So, Halloween was a success. Watched some weird, scary, & bizarre flicks. Not to mention the series premiere of The Walking Dead, which was incredible!

Time to turn the page and enter Chapter 11 of 2010: November!

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, which means I will probably be picking up extra hours at the kennel, since right now 91 cats are scheduled to be in there for Thanksgiving.

Of course if I happen to land another job that point will be moot anyway.

I have no idea about Thanksgiving plans.....I am guessing, phat gathering at Jens parent's house, that is usually a gimme!

Mediocrity continues....ugh

Redskins lose to the garbage Lions. This team refuses to get out of neutral. Anytime they do something well, it should be considered a bonus because they never seem to be able to sustain it......

4-4 halfway through the season, going into their bye week. I have no problem with the record itself, as .500 this early in the season is fine, but it is how the team is performing overall that is frustrating, such is the life of a "Skins fan.....

Time for the remainder of Halloween to try and get my mind off football for the rest of the night.

3D: 3 x the lame....

Lets just say....3D continues to be the biggest ripoff at the movie theater......

I went to see Saw 3D last night, and the film itself was decent. Solid way to end the series, while of course keeping it open for when the studios decide they need something to rake in the bucks.

However the "3D" was an obviously afterthought which is dissapointing because thus far it has usually been the horror genre that takes advantage of the technology the best and delivers the most entertainment from it.

There was no need to even do it in 3D, if THAT was all that was going to come of it.

The movie was just fine without it. Films like this(not to mention the ridiculous $4.50 surcharge just because it is 3D) is one of the many reasons I will continue to seek out the 2D versions of film whenever available.

Halloween lineup finalized....

So I am pretty sure I know what I am going with for Halloween. Sunday morning I will be at Buffalo Wild Wings for the 'Skins game, and then once I get home and guests arrive, whoever they end up being, I will start the horror flicks.....

Frozen
House aka Houza
The Gates of Hell
The Beyond
Trick R Treat
The Walking Dead (season premiere on AMC)

That should pretty much take us into the night. Depending on how early/late we get started, I might end up having to show 1 or 2 of the flicks after The Walking Dead. We'll see....

I hope everyone else has some fun plans for Halloween as well!

Check this podcast out, yo!

I am really diggin' thenerdist podcast at www.thenerdist.com

Current episode is #42 w/guest Brian Posehn!

Brian Posehn brings the funny, as usual!

Check it out!

http://www.nerdist.com/2010/10/nerdist-podcast-42-brian-posehn/

Help us choose which flicks to review for Episode 5 of Retro Flick Fillet

So, after we got done recording our Halloween-themed episode, we were thinking naturally we could do a Thanksgiving episode for November, and Christmas episode for December. Well of course Christmas-themed movies are no problem, however Thanksgiving movies are another story. I mean I am sure there are plenty of movies that take place over Thanksgiving, or give mention to that time, but I can't think of many where Thanksgiving is the central theme, let alone ones the three of us have seen. (I don't think the Thanksgiving play in Addams Family Values counts, ha)

So for November, instead we are going to let the listeners help us decide with three choices that we came up with:

1)Fincher trio - Fight Club, Seven, The Game (Panic Room could be a sub if necessary)

2)Early James Cameron - Aliens, Terminator, The Abyss

3)John Carpenter/Kurt Russell team-ups: The Thing, Big Trouble in Little China, Escape from NY

So if you read this blog, you can leave a comment on what you think we should review, or you send your pick to the official email of the podcast retroflickfillet@hotmail.com (along with any other feedback on anything related to the show)!

Subway breakfast sandwich.....

So I had one for the first time. 6" is definitely plenty of sandwich for breakfast. I got the sunrise melt(I think that is what it is called).

Eggs, Turkey, Bacon, Cheese...I added tomatoes and black olives.

Pretty good. And you get a good amount for the price.

Try one when you get the chance.

Houza

Aaaargh, the status of "Houza" aka House, the japanese horror flick's status on netflix went from "now to "short wait" nooooooooo, screwing up my halloween viewing plans.....argh.....dammit.

Ep4 of Retro Flick Fillet has been posted *yay*

This episode we review three classic slashers, widely known as "The Big 3" Halloween, Friday the 13th, and Nightmare on Elm Street.

You can either simply click on the feed link(to the right of this very blog) or go to the podcasts website @ http://idiotpod.libsyn.com/

Enjoy the show!

Also, if you have some feedback, positive or negative, any at all, send it to retroflickfillet@hotmail.com


P.S. I think I am going to add a feed on here for my Retro Flick Fillet twitter account as well.....(your welcome)

'Skins win a stinker....

Well it was a stinker on offense for both teams. Each team seemed they were ready and willing to give the game away, however the Skins had I believe 6 takeaways. Wow.

DeAngelo Hall sets an NFL record with 4 ints!

4-3 after Week 7, and a share of second place or first place depending on the outcome of the NYG/DAL game tomorrow on MNF.....

@Detroit up next.....uh oh!

UFC 121......good show....new champ!

Cain Velasquez is the new UFC HW champ. Basically dominated Brock in every way possible. Rest of the show was pretty good too. Got other things to do now....so lets just say. Good show!

Been a good October for horror programming...

Not counting all the good horror flicks in the theaters right now. It looks like this has been a turnaround year for horror on tv as well.

AMC's marathon of the Friday the 13th series has been a blast, even though edited, if you have seen them before, you know what's coming and can recount it in your head perfectly fine. Most of all the uber-cheesiness is still there as well.

A&E's BIO channel aired a really spectacular look back at the Nightmare on Elm Street series.. TCM has shown tons of old hammer-horror. IFC is airing the complete Dead Set series, and well Halloween Night is the premiere of The Walking Dead.

Not to mention any of your own local channels broadcasting halloween specials. If there was a petition to bring back annual airings of Garfield Halloween special, I think my name would appear first.

I am sure I am missing a bunch of stuff as well...

Is there a reason to buy or own movies anymore?

I was browsing my amazon wish list looking to see which items had dropped in price. My very next move was to check my netflix que. During this process I realized that just about every item on my wish list was available on netflix instant, and those that weren't, were still available to get in the mail in disc form.

It kind of made me wonder, why do we still need to buy and/or own movies anymore?
Is there still something special in physically owning a movie, even though realistically my friend or neighbor who doesn't own it, still pretty much has the same access to the movie that I do, without spending the $19.99 or so to buy it?

Is there still an inherent value to being able to stare at your dvd shelf and say "wow I own that movie, look at that beautiful thing sitting there, glowing, I can throw it on any time I want" Back in the real world, the likelihood of you watching that particular movie more than once or twice over the next year is very rare. In fact I can say for a fact I have movies on my shelf that "I love" and seemingly am happy I own, but at the same time have watched barely once since I bought it.

For the few movies you do like to watch over and over....and over. I am willing to be that premium cable or netflix or similar services(not to mention the illegal methods) can provide you with all the access you want to them. Honestly, if I scanned my dvd shelves and had to throwaway every single movie I haven't watched more than twice since buying them, I would probably have maybe 5-10 left. This is out of a collection of approximately 200 dvds/blu rays.

Another issue with owning movies, is that as I get older, I find myself with less and less time to actually sit down to watch a movie any longer than 90 minutes, let alone a movie I have seen already. I am a master at catching movies I have already seen on HBO or Showtime, and watching 15 minute pieces of them at a time for nostalgia sake. If you know me, then yeah you can vouch for that statement. That is mostly how my movie-watching is done on the couch. You'd think being out of work, and only working part time for my mom, that I would have tones of free time to sit around watching movies, but amazingly my time seems to get burned up on other things.

I just want to wrap up by saying, that if the music industry is the model of the future, then I would say we are probably five years(or less) from digital media dominating the at-home movie market as well. How rare is it now for people to actually go out and by physical CDs? I can't really name anyone I know off-hand that buys them. They certainly still buy music, but it is being downloaded, in digital form. Movies are a little bit trickier, because the files are much bigger, especially in HD format, however the future is going to bring us internet speeds that make today's broadband look turtle-slow, so I would say in time, that will no longer be an issue either.

Are we less than one generation away from DVD shelves being a thing of the past?

PS3's new netflix layout....

So today is the day that netflix instant went disc-less on PS3. Well nevermind that so much as the new layout is pretty awesome. The way genres and sub-genres are listed makes searching much smoother. Plus the search function is a lot better as well. Also, a lot more movies seem to be available in HD and even 5.1 now.

Time to hit up some of those classic horror flicks for the month of October!

The better team won.....

Colts too advantage of their opportunities, the 'Skins did not. Another close game ends in a loss. This franchise is turning around though, there is light at the end of the tunnel.

But one thing that was unforgivable, HB Sweep on a 3rd & 1? Running into the strength of the Colts Defense(speed). Mind-boggling.....

Other than that, 3-3 after the toughest 3 game stretch on the schedule. Not too shabby....

NFC East update before kickoff.....

The Giants & Eagles both win, putting them into first place. Cowboys lose and fall to 1-4, and are in the basement alone regardless of what happens with the 'Skins tonight. So that takes away some pressure for at least a week.

Hopefully the Redskins can pull an upset, this is probably the toughest game on their schedule because of Haslit's "bend don't break" style of defense. Not sure that will work against the best QB in the game, Peyton Manning.....

We'll see...........

Oh forget to mention....Ep4 has been recorderd.

Retro Flick Fillet episode 4, the halloween special has been recorded. It should be up within the week, so keep a look out. You can find it on it's official site, or just keep checking back for the podcast feed directly to the right of each entry of this very blog! In case you haven't heard it yet, give it a try. Just look for the link to the first three episodes on the Retro Flick Filet feed to the right of this blog entry, and enjoy, and send us lots of feedback whether you enjoy it or not!

Beer and more beer...plus friends, family & football

So I might have mentioned before in an earlier entry, but this Saturday me and Jen are hosting Ruben's 28th b-day party here, which will include a keg of Heineken. Yes, a keg. It's not even like we are inviting 50 people or anything, but the way I see it, any leftover beer can be used the next day for football, which brings me to this Sunday of football.

Two huge games that call for drinking and yelling at the tv take place. The Cowboys vs. Vikings is an obvious choice here. Both teams are 1-3 and desperately looking for a win. The Cowboys also have the revenge factor in mind after the beating the Vikings game them in the playoffs, and I believe Keith Brooking also whined about it a little saying the Vikes were being jerks about it in the closing minutes of the game. Funny how this is coming from a guy who regularly acts like a typical jock D-bag during the game and during the pre-game. I mean have you seen any of his truly lame pre-game "hype" speeches? Wow. And then you have the Vikings, who are in equally desperate need for a win. Brett Favre seems to be hurt or just really sore in the elbow, but I am sure he will find a way to get himself on the field. Should be a good game, it's in Minnesota. Obviously I am rooting for the Cowboys to lose.

Then you have a game with local flavor to these parts, Oakland Raiders @ 49ers. Two fan bases located within mere miles of each other. They basically occupy each other's space. These two teams are separated by the Bay Bridge and some water. I have friends/family who are fans of both teams, and it will be pretty wild in the living room once this game kicks off.

Of course the dilemma is, both games are on at the same time. Well that is what *cough*alternative means*cough* are for. Because of the fan base, no doubt 49ers vs. Raiders will be on the 50" plasma, however Vikes vs. Cowboys will be on the other TV in the bedroom, and probably also playing "somewhere else which I will not speak of"

Then after the preview games are done, my 'Skins are in for a challenge in a showdown against Manning & The Colts on Sunday Night Football.......by this time I am sure everyone will be drunk all over again...it will be like the party from Saturday never ended......

So hopefully I survive and this blog continues next week......I usually still do some entries on the weekend, but who knows what state of mind I will be in starting tomorrow.

Everyone have a fun & safe weekend!

P.S. Do I need a "drop your keys here" jar for Saturday? Hmmm....

P.S.x2: Apple Hill trip is being delayed I think. Not 100% but looking like it. Plus hell, 84 degrees tomorrow? Umm forget that....I like it to be in the 70's for outside endeavors.

A few thursday morning tidbits

Just read that starting Monday October 18th 1080p & 5.1 Surround sound AND no Disc needed for Netflix on PS, awesome! It's about time really, but hey, better late than never, right?


Today, I worked a half day because....I start the cleaning project to get the house into shape for the big kegger on Saturday. First stop is the bathroom, which will be a mighty task. been awhile since we did a "thorough" cleaning of it.

After I am done cleaning I am going to be gathering paperwork for a state job app. Office Assistant job for the state. In the health department of Folsom Prison, however the position is not actually located at the prison, I don't think. It is a Sacramento address, so I assume this is like an off-site administration building....*crosses fingers on that part*

Ok time to get the day started!

Getting defensive about Madden '11,,,,,

This will be short, but I just wanted to say that I am starting to play better defense in Madden '11, which is really a lot more of an arcade-y installment in the series. It is ridiculously easy to run an offense and put up points but very hard to play consistent defense. Most games I play have turned into shootouts. I'd imagine this was the design on purpose because most people at least if they are scoring 30+ points a game they will be having fun playing regardless if they lose, but barely scoring 10 points isn't fun to most people, hell even when they win.

I still have an awful record overall,(only those with the privilege of playing me will know it) but keep in mind it took me awhile to get the new style down, and I believe I am on a 4 or 5 game win streak...

Watch out for Cryptkeeper666 !!!!!!!

Still looking for a job......

While my part time work is helping us keep afloat, I am still in the hunt for a full-time job. I heard something about the economy being really bad right now ,eh?

I passed a few state exams, signed up with a few employment agencies and scour craigslist and careerbuilder daily......no luck yet.

I certainly enjoy not working, more time for stuff I enjoy doing, however not having the money to do other things I like kind of sucks. Plus "keeping afloat" is getting annoying.

Hopefully something hits soon. With the holidays coming up, maybe some companies will be looking to add to their work force.

Who knows.....

Apple Hill update

This Saturday I am headed to Apple Hill. Turns out a lot of family is going to. Just found out my uncle is going and my sister is coming as well. Weather should be around 78 degrees and sunny. Looking good! It also falls on a Saturday after pay day so we will have some extra spending cash for stuff to bring back! The cider is amazing.

Leftovers again....

Pan-fried pork chops w/applesauce on the side(of course)
Spinach
Candied Yams

Sweet Tea!

...and now for a skinny cow ice cream sandwich I heisted from my mom earlier today!

Darkest Simpsons couch gag intro ever.....

This was from last night's episode of the Simpsons. You can look at this in different ways and take different meaning from it. It is certainly dark, and seems to be another swipe at Fox. I am surprised this got approved, but I am glad it did....check it out:

Summing up NFL Week 5.....

Redskins win.....Dallas loses! Me = happy!

Would have been nice if NY Giants & Philly lost, but I guess it is not wise to be to greedy!

Next up a showdown with the Colts on SNF.....it is a game I think the 'Skins could win, but honestly ending up 3-3 with the difficulty of the schedule so far would not be that bad.

It's Sunday show time...starting with DEXTER!

Redskins win...remain in 1st place....

Another week, another game comes down to the wire. Finally the 'Skins are the ones to make the game-winning field goal. How many times over the past few seasons have we seen where our FG kicker had a chance to either win, take the lead, or ice the game and on a pretty manageable distance.....glad to have that monkey off the team's back.

Next week, vs. Colts on Sunday Night Football....another huge challenge.

Buried....

.....was awesome.

Goodnight world!

Tonight I get.....Buried! Tomorrow Ep4 of Retro Flick Fillet....

I think the flick "Buried" has won the lottery of which movie to see. A bunch of horror-related stuff out in theaters right now. Most of them look bad or just "meh" though. "Let Me In" looks good and has got a lot of great reviews however, I have seen the original in theaters and not even that long ago. I don't need to spend another full price admission to see a remake, especially so soon afterwards. "Buried" is only playing at one theater in town.

Tomorrow I am headed to Doug's house to watch some movies and then talk about them on our 4th episode of Retro Flick Fillet! I am hoping it gets posted while it is still October since technically it is a theme that matches with October, and some of the luster might go away if it isn't posted in the next couple of weeks.

That is probably it until Monday, although since I am home for football, I might check in here throughout the game on Sunday and afterwards......

Isn't it about time cable networks start showing uncut movies?

It's halloween month, and with that comes a huge increase in horror movies and horror-related programming. The problem is, most of the channels featuring this programming are cable networks that edit everything. With certain networks such as AMC, FX, Comedy Central etc etc....starting to slide towards showing more of the "adult content" during shows/movies that were made with, ya know...ADULT CONTENT, isn't about time for other networks to follow suit?

CHILLER channel, I am staring at you. Your lineup of movies and shows is pretty swell, actually,however the fact that you show movies edited, HORROR MOVIES OF ALL THINGS, kind of defeats the purpose.

Maybe one day it will be safe and common for regular cable networks to show movies and shows uncut, the way they were and are intended to be seen!

Chiller: Scary Good? More like Scary...just ok!