Origins: Plus Trailers

22 07 2010

This entry in “The Origins Project” comes from Tom Clift of “Plus Trailers.” Tom is an Aussie who led one heck of a LAMBcast on Pixar a few weeks ago – so epic it had to be split in two!  His site is great too, looking at the future but also glancing back at the past.  Be sure to check out his site and read his answers!

What movie began your love affair with cinema?

My favourite film of all time is Christopher Nolan’s Memento – I remember watching it and then halfway through thinking to myself: “this is the best movie I’ve ever seen”. I’ve loved movies since I wasa little kid, but my passion for “cinema” probably began when I was about 14. I bought myself the book “1001 Movies You Have To See Before You Die” and read it cover to cover, and I started trying to watch as many of them as possible. Memento was one of the first from the book that I watched.

When did you start blogging?

December 2008.

Why did you start blogging?

In my second last year of high-school a bunch of us put together a weekly student newsletter, and I began writing reviews for that. It only lasted two issues, but I just kept writing reviews and posting them to Facebook. Eventually I decided I needed a better home for them, and so I started my blog.

What has kept you going?

Getting feedback from people. It’s always a great feeling knowing people are reading what you write. Also I just plain love writing and getting my opinion out there!

Has there been a particular person (or people) that has helped you along the way?

All the people over at the LAMB have been big sources of inspiration.

What’s the best part of being a blogger? The worst?

The best part is the sense of community. I’ve joined the LAMB, participated in of a couple of different movie podcasts, gotten pretty active on twitter, etc. It’s awesome being able to discuss films with passionate individuals from all around the world, and I’ve had the chance to interact with a lot of pretty cool people. The worst part is probably the sense that your site is never going to be noticed amongst the thousands of blogs out there.

Has blogging increased or diminished your passion for movies?

Definitely increased. I see so many more movies now because I always want to have a new review up on my site. Being part of the blogging community has also made me aware of smaller movies that I might not otherwise have heard of, which I always appreciate.

What’s your proudest moment as a blogger?

Probably being part of the first ever episode of the LAMBcast. Getting to talk over Skype to bloggers on the other side of the world from me, who I’d never met before, was a pretty cool experience.

What advice would you give to someone looking to follow their passion? To someone starting a blog of their own?

Don’t use white text on a black background! I’ve always regretted picking that template for my own blog, but I’m too lazy to overhaul the whole site now. One of these days I’ll get around to it. Aside from that, try and be as active in the blogging world as possible – if you want people to find your site, go and find theirs!


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Categories : Marshall and the Movies, The Origins Project

Origins: CyniCritics

21 07 2010

It’s another two-for-one special today for “The Origins Project” with Matt and Luke for “CyniCritics.” I’m only just discovering their site, but I sure do love their honest and often brutal takes on movies.  The two writers are good friends, and their two takes coexist beautifully.  They have a very versatile site that sports much more than just reviews.  They give especially great answers, and it’s fun to read them play off each other.

What movie began your love affair with cinema?

MATT: When I was really young, I loved Batman Returns and the Lion King. I think the “moment” when it happened was the beginning of the Lion King in the movie theater.
LUKE: The first film I went to on my own was Pirates of the Caribbean in sixth grade and I remember just how fantastic it looked on the big screen. The beautiful landscapes, the Hans Zimmer score and Johnny Depp were all too much for me to forget. I starting paying attention to how the movie was put together rather than just what entertained me, which ended up entertaining me in a whole new way.

When did you start blogging?

MATT: February 2010.
LUKE: That’s the date we started on WordPress with CyniCritics, but we blogged on MySpace years earlier unofficially with a few movie entries.

Why did you start blogging?

MATT: Luke and I thought it would be a good way to develop our skills for our (hopefully) future careers
LUKE: I saw a really nerdy friend on Facebook do music reviews on video and they were just awful. I figured it was about time I started doing film reviews now that there were better mediums than MySpace out there and I could for sure put together something better than that kid did. Besides that, I really like writing about movies.

What has kept you going?

MATT: I enjoy writing about movies.
LUKE: Matt. If I didn’t have him to push me this would never work out. On your blog you don’t get graded, paid or told what to do by your mother. With him around, I feel obligated to post things in a way. Also the success keeps me going. Knowing that when you put out something interesting or well written, people will read it and respond. That’s a good feeling.

Has there been a particular person (or people) that has helped you along the way?

LUKE: Like I said, Matt has help motivate me and does some proofreading for me now and then because I am awful at spelling and grammar.

What’s the best part of being a blogger? The worst?

MATT: The best part is having discussions about the things you are passionate about. The worst is that it doesn’t pay, and also when people view your opinion as stupid just because it’s different than their opinion.
LUKE: The best part is when you write something you know could be published in Entertainment Weekly or the paper. There are sometimes when I feel I could write seven pages about a movie, and it’s great writing. But the worst part is when it is the opposite of that, when you go to start a review or post and nothing comes after hours of sitting in front of the screen.

Has blogging increased or diminished your passion for movies?

MATT: I would say it’s stayed the same, but my writing about them has improved a little bit.
LUKE: I have the same passion. I no longer have the passion to make them, but that is because of something else. Now my passion would be to get to write about them.

What’s your proudest moment as a blogger?

MATT: I can’t really think of a “proudest moment.” I guess I would say looking back at the beginning and looking at now and seeing improvements.
LUKE: My proudest moment is when our negative Fight Club review got a huge backlash. Matt’s analysis and discussion was too valid, educated and well written for a few people to be content with because they loved the film so much so they resorted to saying “you are the over-protective mother figure proud of her inbred child” which gave me a great laugh. It’s like whenever somebody like Lady Gaga becomes so unstoppable yet humble they spread teeny weeny rumors because they are defenseless. When somebody resorts to playground tactics like that, you know you are on to something.

What advice would you give to someone looking to follow their passion? To someone starting a blog of their own?

MATT: Do it… if you’re starting a blog of your own, just write. That’s the most important thing, never mind interactivity or layout. The writing is what they’re there to see, and if it’s good the rest isn’t important.
LUKE: This is where I have to disagree with Matt. Nobody is going to find your blog based on the writing. You have to have the appeal, either an efficient site, networking skills or some type of promoting skills to get people to your site, otherwise nobody is going to be reading s**t. Once you hook them though, you better bring the bait.


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Categories : Marshall and the Movies, The Origins Project

Origins: Dan the Man’s Movie Reviews

20 07 2010

Today’s entry in “The Origins Project” comes courtesy of Dan the Man – or as his comments say, CMrok93 – of “Dan the Man’s Movie Reviews.” Gotta love the few 17-year-old movie bloggers out there, and Dan is doing it big over at his site. I really enjoy reading what other people my age can write, and I most certainly love reading Dan’s reviews. Want to know what gets other teens started? Read on, my friends.

What movie began your love affair with cinema?

The one movie that began my love affair with cinema would have to be “Saving Private Ryan.” The film had me so mesmerized by how great and beautiful cinema could actually be.

When did you start blogging?

I started blogging around the summer of last year. I had a terrible first site, I was part of Freewebs and it just didn’t work out, and since October of last year, I have been here, writing day in, and day out.

Why did you start blogging?

I started blogging cause I wanted show people my love for films and most of all for writing. I had opinions on movies that I really wanted to get out there, and the best ways to let it out there, is by writing.

What has kept you going?

The one thing that has kept me going is the support I get from the viewers. If it weren’t for the fellow reviewers and viewers who constantly comment, and give me pointers on how to get better, my job would have been done a long long time ago.

Has there been a particular person (or people) that has helped you along the way?

Many people have helped me out, but the main person has to be Aiden R., from Cut the Crap Movie Reviews. He was the main person who influenced me to get into movie reviewing, and when he gave me tips on how to get better as a reviewer, and even better blogger, it was just perfect. It’s even weirder how he knows my sister, but hey it’s a small world after all.

What’s the best part of being a blogger? The worst?

The worst part is probably the time it takes up. Usually when you watch movies some of them are incredibly long, and can almost take up half of your day. However, the best part is actually getting to see your material finished, and see the people who respond back to it. Also, getting linked by other bloggers is cool, because you actually feel like someone took their time to read your certain piece of material, and put it out there for everyone to see.

Has blogging increased or diminished your passion for movies?

Increased a buttload. I have never looked at films the way I do now. I know so much more about the detail, effort, and production that is put into film, and I have came to respect almost every film for what it is.

What’s your proudest moment as a blogger?

My proudest moment so far, has probably been getting accepted into LAMB. I was a blogger for over a year, and asked if I could join like 3 times, until I finally got in. I was so happy, I couldn’t believe it that I was now part of the big group. I know it all sounds dumb to some, but for me, as much as I tried, it was basically someone saying “here’s the credit for all your hard work, welcome”. I’m still waiting for that Lammy though.

What advice would you give to someone looking to follow their passion? To someone starting a blog of their own?

Always write your exact feelings on a movie. Don’t be afraid to express your feelings if you hate a movie that everybody else likes, or a movie you like that everybody else hates. Keep on writing all the time, cause you’ll keep your material fresh. And most importantly, stay true to yourself. And never let other people tell you what to write or how to write it. Your heart and your soul is the one thing that should always go into your work.


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Categories : Marshall and the Movies, The Origins Project

Origins: Paragraph Film Reviews

19 07 2010

Today’s “The Origins Project” entry chronicles Paul of “Paragraph Film Reviews.” He’s been providing succinct takes on movies for quite some time now, and I love reading them as a nice change of pace to everyone else’s (often myself included) long and verbose reviews.  He even included his own screenshot for the post.  Now there’s a guy that’s on top of things.

What movie began your love affair with cinema?

Not one, but the entire James Bond series. Seeing such a suave character living on the edge, saving the world, getting the girl, kicking ass and trotting the globe was just the best kind of movie experience and escapism you could hope for as a kid. Watched the VHS box-set every year when I was a nipper and just bought the DVDs to re-run the fun and get a Bond feature for the site.

When did you start blogging?

July 2009; I had a few days of sickness at home and had been toying with the idea for a while so collated all of my short reviews from a local music forum then posted them up online.

Why did you start blogging?

Main reason for the site is to document every film I ever watch. At university I was hitting 3 per day and trying to remember which films were which (let alone good or bad) is a nightmare. Between a review and the tags I have a much better chance at remembering what ‘that good Asian cop flick’, ‘that one with the car chase’ or ‘that one good Ryan Reynold’s film’ was way down the line.

What has kept you going?

Being able to look back to my year-old reviews and remember watching a film like it was yesterday means the site’s serving its purpose. The community aspect is fantastic too, a lot of readers will tell you what they think of a film and your review – good or bad – which is always great to hear. Sure the site would still be going without the comments and contributions, but it would be hella boring.

Has there been a particular person (or people) that has helped you along the way?

My girlfriend’s been really supportive of the site; especially seeing as my new natural state is either watching a film or being hunched over the laptop writing / reading / commenting on the site and my awesome blogroll. She has also sat through some god-awful films, for which I could never repay her!

What’s the best part of being a blogger? The worst?

Best: having a legitimate excuse to get into advance screenings! Discovering new films through other review sites. Engaging with people that have as much passion about movies as you have. Being involved in huge arguments & debates.
Worst: Wish the reviews would write themselves. I always say that taking a page full of notes on a film then trying to cut it down to a single, concise paragraph is probably as time consuming as writing regular reviews. Also, thinking about your review in the middle of watching a film is also quite annoying.

Has blogging increased or diminished your passion for movies?

Increased. Dramatically. I was always a film buff before but now I feel withdrawal symptoms if I go a couple of days without watching a film or posting on the site.The BluRay/DVD collection has expanded three-fold since starting up the site.

What’s your proudest moment as a blogger?

A small, self-serving, site like Paragraph Film Reviews will be under the radar forever. I don’t have major aspirations of going pro, getting published or winning awards (although wouldn’t turn stuff like that down if they came my way!!). Knowing there’s a hardcore of about 20 people who care enough about what I write to check the site regularly and chip in with their own comments and opinions is always reassuring.

What advice would you give to someone looking to follow their passion? To someone starting a blog of their own?

Here’s a quick list of the stuff I wish I had known on day one:

Start as soon as you can; you’ll wish you’d done it years ago.
Don’t worry about your first few weeks/months; it takes a while to get into your stride and hone your own style.
Be honest with yourself; a lot of movie reviewers ‘go with the flow’ and mark a film depending on how it’s generally received. Don’t worry about being the stick in the mud, tell it like you see it and readers will genuinely respect you more.
Watch a film just before you review it: remember how awesome you thought a film was when you were ten years old, drunk or stoned? (you’re a legend if it’s all three) Watch it again to make sure you’re still in the same camp!
Review the movie, don’t re-tell the entire plot. Easily the biggest and most infuriating mistake of many ‘review’ sites – a sentence or two should cover the plot, any more and you’re probably in spoiler territory anyway.
Persevere; you won’t get 1,000 readers instantly, but once you’ve been discovered and indexed by google the growth is steady.
Drip drop; post semi-regularly instead of bunching reviews together. Start aiming for 2-3 posts a week to keep people interested and coming back to your site.
Most importantly, enjoy it! This should be a fun hobby, not a chore. If you ever feel like you may loathe watching films GET IN ZE CHOPPA and escape before it’s too late!!!!


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Categories : Marshall and the Movies, The Origins Project

Origins: Top 10 Films

18 07 2010

Today’s “The Origins Project” post spotlights Dan of “Top 10 Films” (.co.uk).It’s a site for all those who don’t get enough Top 10 list action each night on David Letterman.  It’s a site full of fascinating lists ripe for reading.  He’s just making an appearance on my radar, although I can’t speak for anyone else, as of a few months ago, but I can’t wait to read more from him.

What movie began your love affair with cinema?

Great question. My earliest memories of cinema are of the horror films that scared me as a child. Of course, I didn’t know it then, but they were the films that fully immersed me in the wonder of cinema. Spielberg’s Jaws and John Landis’ An American Werewolf In London were two of the most prominent films I remember from childhood. But I think the film that really began my love affair with cinema was James Cameron’s Aliens. I saw it when I was seven years old and it was one of the most exhilarating cinematic experiences of my life.

When did you start blogging & Why did you start blogging?

I started blogging in 2006 with my blog Strange Conversation. I had been a critic for DVD Times in the UK for five years and through a combination of finishing university and the desire to set up a website of my own, I started writing entirely for my blog. In 2009 I wanted to make use of the domain name I had bought over a year previously. So Top10Films was born – a site originally set up to post top 10 lists with paragraph-long reviews but has grown since then to include features on classics scenes, double features, film reviews, articles, reader’s votes, and more.

What has kept you going?

I think most bloggers are, first and foremost, writers. It’s that enjoyment of the written word and putting it out there for an audience – big or small – that keeps the passions burning. A friend once said being a film critic justified watching an unhealthy amount of movies. I tend to agree with that.

Has there been a particular person (or people) that has helped you along the way?

I wouldn’t say there has been one person who has helped me along the way. The encouragement I received while writing for DVD Times (now known as The Digital Fix) was great, and my time writing there certainly improved me as a film critic. It also introduced me to hundreds of films I hadn’t seen. Of course, receiving free DVDs to review was an added bonus!

What’s the best part of being a blogger? The worst?

The best part is the community you become part of. You meet like-minded people who appreciate your work. I suppose the worst part is the feeling that you’re not being read, or the fact there’s little monetary value to the hours of hard work. But it goes back to why you do it in the first place. If the passion is still there, you enjoy doing it, and you’re continuing to grow as a writer and a person, the good things far outweigh the bad.

Has blogging increased or diminished your passion for movies?

Writing about film improves your appreciation of the medium and art in general. For this reason I think blogging can only increase your passion for movies.

What’s your proudest moment as a blogger?

Although the Meme awards are passed around like the common cold the first one I received after only a couple of months of the site been up and running was definitely a proud moment. To receive others since then really makes the hard work worth it. Total Film magazine in the UK put together its 600 Blogs You Might Have Missed and Top10Films is one of them which has certainly brought in a few more hits, and the site was also recently added to Flixster’s Certified Blogs list which was great.

What advice would you give to someone looking to follow their passion? To someone starting a blog of their own?

You know if a blog is getting a lot of readers if it is receiving a lot of comments. Write about what interests you and know that blogging is as much a way of learning as it is an outlet for your creativity and interests. But blogging is also hugely communal and that means reading and communicating with other fellow writers. My advice would be to reach out to bloggers with similar interests – comment on their blogs, share links, offer advice. And if you want to get more readers use social networking as a tool for promotion. Twitter is great for this.


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Categories : Marshall and the Movies, The Origins Project

Origins: The Stories That Really Mattered

17 07 2010

Today’s entry into “The Origins Project” saga covers Katie from “The Stories That Really Mattered.” A valued reader and commenter for many, many months. I hope you enjoy reading her answers as much as I enjoy reading her site!


What movie began your love affair with cinema?

The first movie I can remember seeing in the cinema is Miracle on 34th Street back when my town had a cinema. The movie that really got me hooked in a big way though was (no surprises) Lord of the Rings. That was the first time I took a real interest in how the movie had actially been made and started learning about the production crew behind movies rather than just the people on screen.

When did you start blogging?

January 19th 2009. It was something I’d been thinking about doing for a while, because I needed to find a new audience to bore with all my random movie ramblings. So it became a new years resolution and I’ve managed to keep it!

Why did you start blogging?

I saw a lot more films when I got to university and I was desperate to find people to debate with. Friends can only put up with movie geekdom for so long before they stop talking to you, so I started writing reviews on Flixster. The format was too rigid though, and ideas kept coming to me for more general posts about soundtracks or particular themes, so the blog was born.

What has kept you going?

I don’t actually know! When I first started a friend of mine who had a blog (and gave me the idea to start my own) joked that I wouldn’t be able to keep it up. 18 months down the line I’m the one who posts regularly! I think a lot of what has kept me going is all the other bloggers. When I started out I never expected to get any readers, let alone regualr commentors who keep coming back. It’s all you lovely guys out there who make me think, “Jeez I haven’t posted in a while, Marshall will have nothing to read!” 😛

Has there been a particular person (or people) that has helped you along the way?

Well, I’ve kind of answered this above, but there are a few blogs who I think deserve a mention. Marshall has been an inspiration of late with some great ideas like this one, as has Andy over at Fandango Groovers. I will never tire of arguing with Ross McD and Ross McG and can always find something interesting to read over at Caz, Kai, Castor or Meredith’s blogs.

What’s the best part of being a blogger? The worst?

Having people who get just as wound up about movies as I do to talk to! And the worst, not being able to see anything new without an unavoidable compulsion to immediately write blogging notes for it.

Has blogging increased or diminished your passion for movies?

Increased definitely. I pay more attention now to what’s coming out, and have plans to see some movies I never would have heard of if it hadn’t been for other people’s blogs.

What’s your proudest moment as a blogger?

Oooh I don’t know. I think probably the first time I got comments from people I didn’t know. It meant that people were actually bothering to read what I write and were interested enough to join in the debate.

What advice would you give to someone looking to follow their passion? To someone starting a blog of their own?

Just write about what interests you. Original formats are a great idea, but don’t let them hamper your creativity. I started out with the Movies to See/Movies to Miss idea but I’ve meandered around it to other ideas and back. If you’d be interested to read about it then you might be lucky enough to find someone else who is too.

And stick with it! It takes a few months before people will start to notice you. But when they do it’s really rewarding


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REVIEW: Inception

16 07 2010

Filmmaking is about creation.

The creation of a character, a couple; a feeling, a frame; a narrative, a novelty; a relationship, a romance; a moment, a mystery.  Have no doubt about it, filmmaking is creation, no matter the size of the budget or scope.

But there are very few filmmakers with the knowledge, the willpower, and the vision to create a world.  We all remember the first time we stepped into the galaxy far, far away that George Lucas took us to in “Star Wars.”  Recent examples include The Wachowski Brothers leading us into the world of “The Matrix,” Peter Jackson lifting Middle Earth off the page and displaying it before our very own eyes in “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, and, very recently, James Cameron giving us a crystal-clear, in-our-face look at Pandora in “Avatar.”

And now, with the release of “Inception,” we can officially add Christopher Nolan to that impressive list of filmmakers.  He unravels before our very own eyes what he envisions to be the world of the dream.  It’s an incredibly complex world, governed by a set of rules that have graver implications that we could ever imagine.  Only he holds the keys to unlocking the secrets of his creation, and he tantalizingly dangles them before our eyes.

Yet he also challenges us to use just the sight of them to figure it out for ourselves.  I have no doubt he left us clues throughout the movie, but it’s not possible to catch them your first time.  You are simply too awe-struck by what’s on the screen, too busy puzzling out the intricacies of the plot, and too preoccupied trying to stay ahead of Nolan to go a layer deeper.  And to go that extra mile, to find what’s really bubbling under the surface of “Inception,” you will have already dug to a great depth.  Some people won’t even be willing to go that far, and they will feel left in the dust by the movie, like a kindergartener sitting in a calculus class.  But Nolan doesn’t design it for those people, making it an even sweeter treat for those willing to take their mind on a journey it won’t always understand.

Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Blog Events, Movie Reviews, Nolan Marathon

Origins: Blog Cabins

16 07 2010

Today’s edition of “The Origins Project” covers THE man, Dylan Fields of “Blog Cabins.” He runs an incredibly awesome blog of his own, and that alone is something we are all envious of.  Yet on top of that, he runs the Large Association of Movie Blogs (LAMB), keeping us all connected.  So give your thanks to the top dog by giving his answers your time.

What movie began your love affair with cinema?

I’m afraid my memory’s not that good – movies have just always been there. I can recall watching Star Wars or Benji or The Black Stallion or The Rats of Nimh many a time as a sick child home from school (or just for fun).

When did you start blogging?

December 2006.

Why did you start blogging?

Mostly, I just wanted a place to keep track of which movies I’d seen theatrically. That, combined with an inkling of a desire to become a certified film critic, were the impetus.

What has kept you going?

An endless quest for fame, fortune and glory. Though hits and comments have had to suffice, along with the pennies that Google AdSense owes me…

Has there been a particular person (or people) that has helped you along the way?

There have been many. Early on, I gained inspiration from Rob Kroese of Mattress Police and NFL Adam of The Hater Nation (neither of which are movie blogs). They ran sites and had communities that I would have liked to have had.

Since then, my inspiration has come from many – if not all – of the 600+ LAMBs out there. Without them, I don’t know if I’d still be doing this.

What’s the best part of being a blogger? The worst?

The drugs are really outstanding, and the sex never-ending. No, I’m sure it’s something that’s quite common for those of us doing this: the interaction, the debates, the camaraderie that comes with this territory.

The worst? That it’s never enough. No post good enough, not enough comments, hits, friends, recognition. We are always striving for the next two bits, and to improve ourselves and our writing. And it can have a toll on your personal life if you’re not careful.

Has blogging increased or diminished your passion for movies?

Increased, I’m sure, though there are times when I’m writing a review in my head as I’m watching a movie that doing this really bothers me. It’s more fun to just enjoy a movie for what it is and not just see it as x number of words to be written.

What’s your proudest moment as a blogger?

Winning the Best Blog award at the LAMMYs one year was pretty sweet, but making the IMDb Hit List was pretty awesome, too.

What advice would you give to someone looking to follow their passion? To someone starting a blog of their own?

First, write god content and do it often, but that should go without saying. Once that’s done, get out there and read and comment and link to not just a ton of sites (though that wouldn’t hurt), but especially on a few sites that you really like that are much bigger than yours. Make friends with “higher-tier” (more accomplished) bloggers and not only hope to get some link love back, but to learn something from them – what’d they do when they were starting out, what widgets work best, etc. There’s a never-ending desert of helpful people and information out there.


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Categories : Marshall and the Movies, The Origins Project

Origins: Cut the Crap Movie Reviews

15 07 2010

Today’s post in “The Origins Project” spotlights Aiden R of “Cut the Crap Movie Reviews.” His site does the bare-bones minimum, but it is by no means lazy.  He does just what the title of his blog implies, that is, to cut the crap.  Reading his reviews is like talking to a friend about a movie, and I respect his honest opinions no matter if I agree or not.  His style of writing reviews has influenced me more than any other blogger, and it’s something that others have taken note of, as shown by his LAMMY for Best Movie Reviewer this year.

What movie began your love affair with cinema?

Whenever I would visit my uncles as a kid, there were only two topics of conversation: baseball and movies. As much as I loved playing baseball, I learned early on that watching it for hours on end in front of a TV is about as fun as solitary confinement. With that figured out, I turned to movies, started watching like gangbusters, fell in love with ’em and haven’t turned back since. Movies are universal, what’s not to love?

When did you start blogging?

May of ’09.

Why did you start blogging?

Started a new job, was bored to tears for the first two weeks so I found myself cruising around Rotten Tomatoes for most of my days. Eventually it hit me that I’d seen a crap load of movies, had time to burn and an English degree that’s been collecting dust since ’08. So I started up the site that very day, gave it a catchy name and decided that I was gonna review every last movie I’ve ever seen on a daily basis until I’ve gone through ’em all. As they say, the rest is history and it’s made for an awfully interesting conversation piece at all these swank cocktail parties I go to.

What has kept you going?

Death threats. Well, that and all the people who read and comment on my foul-mouthed ramblings.

Has there been a particular person (or people) that has helped you along the way?

My girlfriend, Audrey, is a freakin’ trooper when it comes to watching all the nonsense I clog up my Netflix queue with and she’s been the head of my fan club since the get-go. All the folks at The LAMB have been amazing, too. Would love to give them all shout-outs, but there’s a lot of ’em and they’re all the bomb in my book.

What’s the best part of being a blogger? The worst?

The Best Part: The drugs and money were good for a while, but it’s great to able to have this as an escape of sorts and finally be able to channel a life’s worth of useless movie knowledge into something productive. It’s opened a lot of doors, my writing’s improved and I’m super proud of the whole damn thing.

The Worst Part: Good GOD is it time consuming. I don’t mind watching movies for the sake of writing reviews because it’s a great excuse to discover movies I keep meaning to get around to, but writing every day can be a grating experience at times. It doesn’t outweigh the positives of blogging whatsoever, but the urge to veg out can be a hard one to suppress some days.

Has blogging increased or diminished your passion for movies?

Increased it like whoa. Wish I had started doing this in college when I actually had more free time than I knew what to do with. Damn real world…

What’s your proudest moment as a blogger?

Waking up the morning before my birthday and seeing that my review for Where the Wild Things Are made the WordPress front page was effing huge for me. But recently being voted the Best Movie Reviewer of ’09 by my peers at The Large Association of Movie Blogs was the big kahuna. That’s the kind of stuff that keeps me writing.

What advice would you give to someone looking to follow their passion? To someone starting a blog of their own?

Find something you’re passionate about – really passionate about – and just do it. Embrace the community that revolves around your topic, don’t overwork yourself to the point where it stops being fun and starts being a chore and, most importantly, be yourself when you write. In the words of Quentin Tarantino when asked what advice he had for aspiring filmmakers, “Make a f***ing kickass movie!” Don’t wait around for someone to open the door you, bust that bitch down yourself and show the world what you’ve got. Life’s too short to wait around for opportunities to present themselves.


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NOLAN REVIEW: The Dark Knight

14 07 2010

After the modest critical and financial success with “The Prestige,” Nolan returned to the Batman franchise and released a movie that riskily omitted the name of the Caped Crusader – “The Dark Knight.”

Two years later, how do you review Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight?”  What hasn’t been said?  There’s no one left to convince to see the movie; if anyone hasn’t seen it, they aren’t worth the effort.

After watching and rewatching Nolan’s films prior to this, it only made me realize more that “The Dark Knight” is a perfect realization of all the themes he loves to explore.  It’s about the extent of rules and limits, something he touched on in both “Following” and “The Prestige.”  It’s about the blurriness of morality, a theme he examined in “Memento” and “Insomnia.”  It’s about fear and what it can drive us to do and become, something that we saw a lot of in “Batman Begins.”

But there’s plenty unique to “The Dark Knight.”  It’s a rumination on terrorism as the anarchistic Joker seeks to cause madness in the streets of Gotham.  Batman, the only person with any hope of stopping him, has to consider how far he is willing to go to eliminate the Joker before he himself becomes the villain.  As their fight escalates, Bruce Wayne becomes more and more uncertain that he is the hero in his own story.  Some have read into this undertones of George W. Bush waging war on terrorism against Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda.  That’s a rather extreme way to look at it, but it’s not too much of a stretch to say that this storyline did tap into the zeitgeist.  We ourselves have wondered where to draw the line in our fight on terrorism as to aggression.  How much counter-aggression does it take before we ourselves become the aggressors?

Of course, you can’t discuss the movie without heaping superlative after superlative on Heath Ledger’s The Joker.  It’s a role that deserves to take its place among the most iconic characters in cinematic history, something Ledger’s unfortunate passing sealed.  His complete immersion and stunning transformation overshadowed pretty much every other performance in the movie, which says a lot because there were some other fantastic turns.  Forget the deep, raspy Batman voice and Christian Bale is flawless, delivering a subtle portrait of Bruce Wayne’s affliction and inner torment.  Aaron Eckhart is compelling as Harvey Dent and Two-Face, as good at being the hero with a face as he is at being the villain with half a face.  There’s solid foundational performances from veterans Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine, but the movie’s true unsung hero is Gary Oldman.  As the only truly noble man in the movie, he’s a figure to be admired and respected, and there’s a good chance you won’t even notice it.  But that doesn’t stop Oldman from putting any less sensitivity or emotion into it, nor does he try to overdo anything to make himself stand out more.

Still, it wasn’t Heath Ledger alone that drove the movie to extreme critical acclaim and some of the most enormous box office receipts in history.  Nor was it the look of the film – which, by the way, was spectacular, particularly Wally Pfister’s breathtaking cinematography.  It was Nolan’s script, full of intelligence and insight, that won audiences over.  Such intellect was so unconventional for a movie of the genre, and we had generally allowed ourselves to think that action movies don’t require us to engage our brains.  Yet Nolan challenged our assumption and delivered a movie that successfully blended smarts with action, and we loved the exciting and refreshing change of pace.  Now, we want every action movie to be more like “The Dark Knight.”

So call it a masterpiece.  Call it the most thematically rich and relevant movie in recent memory.  Call it the first shot in a revolution for the comic book, superhero, and action genres.  Call it the movie to define a decade not just of moviegoing but also of American life.


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Origins: Nevermind Pop Film

14 07 2010

Today, “The Origins Project” looks at why Fitz of “Nevermind Pop Film” blogs.  We’ve only recently discovered each other’s blogs, but Fitz has quickly become one of my favorite readers because he comments so frequently.  And after looking at his site, he’s also quickly becoming one of my favorite writers.  His answers are a short read but by no means light.

What movie began your love affair with cinema?

Well it started when I was younger, the movie that started my interest in film was Tim Burton’s Batman.

When did you start blogging?

I started blogging as of April of ’09. I posted sparingly before that on another blog, but I became more devoted as of July of ’09.

Why did you start blogging?

After my freshmen year of college I lost most of financial aid. So I had a lot of free time after working mornings at the library in town. I was always a pretty decent writer so I wanted to keep up with it.

What has kept you going?

The reception I’ve received from follow bloggers and the LAMB. Comments on my reviews always make me feel good about keeping at it.

Has there been a particular person (or people) that has helped you along the way?

More than one in particular. Ben, who also writes at Nevermind Pop Film was a big part in writing better. Castor, Fletch, Aiden and Darren were regular readers when I was struggling to meet 40 hits a day.

What’s the best part of being a blogger? The worst?

You can work at your own pace. The worst thing about being a blogger is the feeling that A) you’re not being read, or B) that you’re not putting in the work you think you should be.

Has blogging increased or diminished your passion for movies?

Blogging has definitely increased my passion for films. Before, I would just watch films and not think about it too much afterward. Without this blog I probably wouldn’t have taken a film studies course at the University after I re-enrolled.

What’s your proudest moment as a blogger?

Oh that’s easy. When my site was mentioned on In Contention. A close second was a few weeks ago when I had 700 plus hits in one day.

What advice would you give to someone looking to follow their passion? To someone starting a blog of their own?

Write what you want to write about. Some might be pressured to write about what might get the most attention, but you’ve got to be honest with yourself.


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NOLAN REVIEW: The Prestige

13 07 2010

After great critical and commercial success with “Batman Begins,” Nolan went back to the familiar territory of complex storylines and plot twists with “The Prestige.”

Whoever said cinema was magic was clearly foreseeing “The Prestige.”  Christopher Nolan uses his sorcery to conjure up a truly enchanting moviegoing experience, one that draws you in close at the beginning and keeps you gripped for the entire ride.  And it just so happens that the movie is about magic, so the comparison is perfect.

It’s all about the competition as Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman play rival magicians in early 1900s England, both of whom vie for the greatest success.  But they soon realize that the only way to come out on top is to eliminate the other, so their rivalry becomes dangerous as they work to destroy each other.  Stealing tricks as the only the beginning; they make decisions that affects life away from the stage as well, throwing friends and loved ones into the middle.

The beauty of the Nolans’ script (Christopher and brother Jonathan collaborated on the movie) is that it picks no favorite magician.  There is no set hero or villain, and Bale’s Borden does as many despicable deeds as Jackman’s Angier.  Thanks to their impartiality, we really just get to watch the events without worrying about the protagonist pulling through.

The movie’s slogan of “Are you watching closely?” is perfectly fitting as Nolan lures us in as if performing his own magic trick.  And indeed he is, following the traditional setup of a magic trick as Michael Caine’s John Cutter says at the beginning of the film.  The pledge, which in magic consists of showing us a normal object, is very much the film’s first act as we see the developing competition between the two magicians.  And just like the turn in magic, which makes the normal abnormal, the tension escalates.  We are looking for the reason, not wanting to be fooled by Nolan’s wizardry.

Sure enough, in the prestige, we get it.  In typical Nolan fashion, there’s a twist, and what we’ve been watching turns out to be something entirely different.  Yet we are willing to be fooled by a magician, and being fooled by Nolan’s “The Prestige” turns out to be quite thrilling in retrospect.


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Origins: Anomalous Material

13 07 2010

It’s two for the price of one today in “The Origins Project” with Castor and Red from “Anomalous Material.” Over the past few months, I’ve watched (with envy) as their site has grown into an enormous community.  They use the subtitle “Where Movie Lovers Show Up To Mingle” to describe their site, and it’s been nice to see the blogging community rally around it.  They are constantly making improvements to their blog, be it through the captivating design or just providing quality content.  Recently, they’ve undertaken the massive endeavor of creating a 128-movie “Greatest Comedy Ever Tournament,” which has proved to be smashingly successful and a whole lot of fun for all involved.  Castor and Red are two distinct personalities, and their answers give a great glimpse into what has made them enjoy such success.

What movie began your love affair with cinema?

CASTOR: I don’t think it was any one movie that began my love with cinema which has progressively grown over the years. For the sake of picking one, I would have to say Jurassic Park which is the first movie that I saw in theater that truly blew my mind.

RED: While I had watched plenty of movies before them, I would have to say the Lord of the Rings trilogy. When they first came out, I was 13 years old and thought they looked ridiculous. After finally giving Fellowship a shot, I fell in love. Not only with the story, but how it was told. Those movies are absolute technical monsters, and opened my eyes to what exactly a film could do. So many aspects of the movies were groundbreaking, and I’ve been comparing newer movies to them ever since.

When did you start blogging?

CASTOR: Anomalous Material began in November 2007. At the time, the blog was used for every single interest that I had and it was mostly about the stock market and my journey to Marine Officer Candidate School. Movie reviews were peppered here and there when I felt like I might have some thoughts about a movie I just saw. 90% of my visits were for my stock market analysis and about 9.9% were for my OCS posts. Needless to say, my movie reviews went mostly unread for a very long time. It was only very recently that Anomalous Material became exclusively a movie blog (about 6 months ago if I recall?) and started taking off.

RED: I somewhat started last October. I had my own blog, but after only a couple posts, I went a month or two without posting anything. I realized that running my own blog just wasn’t for me, and that’s when I joined with Castor in Janurary.

Why did you start blogging?

CASTOR: Initially, it was only to check out what this whole “blogging” business was all about. I signed up on Blogger and simply started typing stuff about some of my interests. I actually stopped for a few months before picking blogging back again. Soon enough, I received some fairly decent traffic for my daily stock market analysis as well as my posts about preparing for Marine OCS and I kept doing that for some time. Eventually though, it got boring and fairly thankless sharing market insight for no good reason –receiving hundreds of visitors and not one single comment!– so I stopped. I enjoyed writing about movies though so I kept doing that and here we are 😉

RED: Several reasons. Obviously I love to watch movies and share what I think of them. But growing up in a farm community in Nebraska and not really having anybody else around me that would be interested in the same movies as me, blogging opened up another entire world to me. It’s also an excellent release from the “real world” that is nice to escape to.

What has kept you going?

CASTOR: In large part, the blogging community since I discovered LAMB has been what has kept me not only going, but going for more. It truly is satisfying to look back and realize that you built up a meaningless little blog that received like 10 visitors a day for months (well the movie section was) to a relatively popular place that has a warm and supportive community that helps every one of us push ourselves to be better movie bloggers.

To all the bloggers out there who wonder whether it’s possible to go from an unread blog which seems to be read only by you to a place that has people regularly participating, I can tell you from personal experience that it is possible!

RED: Our awesome community with excellent fellow bloggers like Marshall! Our blog has certainly taken off within the past few months, and getting such a positive response is so uplifting. And besides, if I quit, what would I do with all that free time? Go back to ripping of mob dealers? No no no, our blog….completes…me.

Has there been a particular person (or people) that has helped you along the way?

CASTOR: I can definitely attribute the people who first started to comment on my blog regularly as the ones who have really jump-started Anomalous Material. When you are used to get no comments for months and no signs that anyone is reading what you are putting out there, I can definitely tell you that when a few people start leaving those first few comments, it really is a great feeling and you want to keep the momentum going! Although there was a few people who dropped by on an irregular basis before, Magnum and Ventilation Shaft from Cool Awesome Movies, Heather from Movie Mobsters, Jose from Movies Kick Ass are some of the very first “regulars” on Anomalous Material and I will forever be thankful to those guys! Finally, it’s always awesome when real life friends tell you that they read this or that on your blog or give you some future topic ideas for the blog so thanks to all you as well.

RED: Definitely got to give some props to Castor. I’m not exactly computer savvy, so I’m sure I have asked more than enough questions to annoy him. But he has been very helpful, giving me advice along the way, as well as a place to post all the silly things that I like to talk about.

What’s the best part of being a blogger? The worst?

CASTOR: The best part is being able to voice your opinion out there and knowing that there is dozens (or hundreds) of people out there that you know are reading the stuff you are posting and that maybe, you might affect their life even if it’s just a tiny bit on whether they would like to check out a certain movie or pay more attention to some aspects of movie-making. Not only that but also maybe affecting in some infinitesimal ways people’s taste for movies and the way those movies may be made in the future (I’m dreaming). Also, being able to engage in a discussion with the numerous participants on AM is always something to look forward to every day.

The worst part about being a blogger is related to content. Churning out content just for the sake of keeping the site “fresh” can get a bit boring every now and then. It doesn’t have to but you constantly have to be on the lookout for new topics and new potential material that can engage your readership. This can be fun or exhausting depending on the days as every blogger does go through some type of burnout every now and then.

RED: Being able to expand your movie knowledge. Like I said, I’m still trying to catch up with everybody. There are so many classics that I am ashamed that I haven’t seen, and blogging helps me discover which movies that I need to see. The worst part would be almost the same thing. With so many great movies being unwatched, who I am to say that I know what I’m talking about?

Has blogging increased or diminished your passion for movies?

CASTOR: I don’t think that blogging really increased my “love” for movies since I would enjoy movies whether I blog or not. However, I can say that it did increase my hunger to learn more about every aspects that go into making movies, good and bad. Hence, we could say it made me slightly more knowledgeable on the topic which is never a bad thing. Additionally, it has expanded my taste and I’m much more likely to see movies that I probably would have never attempted to watch before.

RED: Oh, definitely increased. While I can admit that I don’t watch as many movies that I did maybe two years ago, but I can’t say that my passion as diminished. I’m not working at Blockbuster anymore, so I don’t bring home 10 movies a week like I used to, but blogging sure does help out with the anticipation of upcoming movies and just improving your overall movie knowledge.

What’s your proudest moment as a blogger?

CASTOR: Getting a couple thousand visitors within a few hours after Heather posted my Top 100 Movies of the Decade on Reddit was definitely a early highlight of AM (At the time, we were only getting 50-60 visitors a day). Being able to help other bloggers a little bit to get their movie blogs to the next level and contributing in the overall movie blog community are also two things that feel great.

RED: The overall response to the Greatest Comedy Tournament so far. That first post received 190 comments with 350 movies nominated. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would get that many movies mentioned. Though I did have to pay the price and get that number down to 128!

What advice would you give to someone looking to follow their passion? To someone starting a blog of their own?

CASTOR: Make sure to blog about something you truly feel passionate about. It’s the only way you will find the commitment to keep blogging for any extended period of time and be willing to put yourself out there. Yes, to create some sort of relationships with your reader, you have to be willing to reveal at least a few things about yourself. Additionally, ensure that you have a clear focus on your blog as this was one of the main mistake of my early days. Finally, be prepared to work hard and put in a lot of effort for very little results, especially early on. There is literally millions of blogs out there but only a tiny minority ever find some kind of following. Networking and posting good content are two of the most important things that you can do to put yourself ahead of the game.

RED: Just do it, because otherwise you’re going to regret it. It’s better to follow that road and then realize that it’s not for you, than to not take that road and always be asking yourself “what if?”. As for starting your on blog, just be patient. Your’re not going to get 20+ comments on every post right away. Just be humble and keep the ideas flowing on the site, and eventually you will get a following.


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NOLAN REVIEW: Batman Begins

12 07 2010

Nolan rose to a whole new level of notoriety by taking on the rebooting of the “Batman” franchise, taking the series in a new, exciting, and grittier direction.

Although I was alive in the 1990s, I wasn’t consciously aware of the rapid descent of the “Batman” franchise at the time.  Trying to brush up on my knowledge of the series before the release of “Batman Begins” in 2005, I watched these movies that had audiences cringing.  The Tim Burton/Michael Keaton collaborations had some sense of artistic vision, albeit in a fairly corny kind of way.  The Joel Schumacher/Val Kilmer teaming was pretty dreadful, but it doesn’t get much worse than 1997’s “Batman and Robin.”  George Clooney is a fantastic actor, but with his smug, pissy attitude, he was totally the wrong person to play the Caped Crusader.  Plus, the Batsuit had nipples, just a horrific manifestation of how far the series had sunk.

Then along came Christopher Nolan, who was still all the rage from “Memento,” with a darker vision for Bruce Wayne and Batman.  He based his approach to the movie on “humanity and realism” to make the rise of a hero all the more extraordinary.  Rather than delve into exorbitant villains like Poison Ivy and Mr. Freeze, whose credibility rests on fantasy, he chose to have Batman fight the kind of men who might actually be on the streets striking terror into the hearts of citizens.

What Nolan delivered was nothing less than astounding.  He built not only a hero but a man, the oft-neglected part of superhero movies.  The priority with the movie was to develop the character of Bruce Wayne, to show what made him tick and why he would become a masked vigilante patrolling the streets of Gotham at night.  Nolan, who also wrote the movie, develops a highly effective psychological profile of Wayne (Christian Bale), who decides to done the guise of Batman to overcome the fear that has come to define his life since the murder of his parents at a young age.  He takes on the symbol of the bat, a fear of his since childhood, to share this fear with his enemies.

And it’s not just Wayne that Nolan goes to painstaking lengths to rebirth.  He also gives Gotham a facelift or rather, makes it a whole lot less glamorous.  I think that the city is one of the few things “Batman Begins” does better than its sequel.  It’s a dirty, graffiti-filled environment that looks like the breeding ground for criminals that it is.  The streets provide a great place for Batman to begin, taking down the mob and other organized crime.  They don’t really spawn much of a villain so much as someone with a threatening voice, Tom Wilkinson as boss Carmine Falcone.

We all know how great “The Dark Knight” is, and it’s easy just to bask in the glory of that.  But for Batman to start fighting a higher class of criminal, he had to learn to take care of the guys below.  In “Batman Begins,” we see just that.  Yet upon watching the movie post-“Dark Knight,” we realize that it has so much more to offer than just setting up a sequel and providing background.  It’s a fantastic movie for both character development and action that’s smarter than your average blockbuster.


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Origins: Get A Whiff of This Movie*

12 07 2010

Today’s “The Origins Project” comes courtesy of Andrew the Whiffer from the blog “Get A Whiff of This Movie*.” We are only beginning to explore each other’s blogs – at least through comments on his end and visits on my end – but his answers hold as much value as any long time blogging pal.  Enjoy.

What movie began your love affair with cinema?

There was no one single movie, but if I had to choose one that made me realize I was obsessed, it was “The Dark Knight.” And then I saw “Citizen Kane” and realized I liked old movies as well, and wasn’t an old fart like most of the critics I read.

When did you start blogging?

At last count, 386 days ago. 6/18/2009. Drudgery became enjoyment, very very slowly, over the next few months.

Why did you start blogging?

At first, it began because the blog was there, and now I had to at least use it. Part of it was also because I was bored. As a result, the first reviews are embarrassingly bad. I used a stuffed dog as an alter ego, redesigned the site, and I was on my way.

What has kept you going?

Mainly to simply get better at reviewing. Then after a while I would come up with new things to write about, and my blog would be my only way to put it down and out into the world. It’s gotten so bad that when I see something interesting, the writing will be composing itself in my brain. Because when normal people see a guy use a fan at full blast as a microphone, they pass it by. I can’t get it out of my head, and so I write about it, or work it into cinema, which I appreciate more through this blog and others.

Has there been a particular person (or people) that has helped you along the way?

Not at first. Then came the commenters. Two of them hated me. The third was my mother. Then I got a shout out from Roger Ebert. And you. And people at church. Even from a random attorney in Toronto whom I’ve never met, but has her own fantastic blog. I’m *hoping* that things will improve. For the longest time, I looked at the info and it said, quite simply, “NO COMMENTS.” It was pathetic. I felt like I was in a bad movie.

What’s the best part of being a blogger? The worst?

The best part is being able to express yourself on the Web without anyone killing you for it (although this is increasingly becoming less common.) The worst is the total solitude when nobody, and I mean nobody, comments for weeks upon weeks, or even responds via email, or elsewhere on the Web.

Has blogging increased or diminished your passion for movies?

Increased – but only for the good ones. After seeing great movies, I want to curl up into a little ball while seeing something painful, i.e. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.

What’s your proudest moment as a blogger?

When I read my review of Play Time, then read Roger Ebert’s review of said film, and then David Bordwell’s, and realized that as far as competent style, you couldn’t tell the difference. And when Roger Ebert said that “the kid knows how to write.” Then again, he told you that “bloggers like you have greatly improved my outlook.” And he said similar things to Jenna Rocca, Grace Wang, S.M. Rana, David Bordwell, Conor Woody, and Wael Khairy. On every one of their blogs, they said something like “Oh my God! I got noticed by Roger Ebert!” Scary.

What advice would you give to someone looking to follow their passion? To someone starting a blog of their own?

If you think you can do it, go for it. Just practice, read what you’ve written, and then think to yourself, “Do I love this?” Not like a lot. Do I love what I’ve done? Would you hate to have that taken away from you? If you answered yes to any of these questions, tell me so I can check out your blog. Then full speed ahead.

On deck for “The Origins Project” is the guys from “Anomalous Material,” the booming movie lovers community.


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