my thoughts on.... 'Michael Lives: The Making Of 'Halloweeen''

Rob Zombie's take on the 'Halloween' franchise has been met with various levels of positive and negative reviews. Some have valid points and others are just outright "haters". While I can understand both sides of the argument, I personally lie on the positive side of things. I am a huge fan of Rob Zombie's film work and found this remake/reimaging/revisioning to be a fresh take on an old property. The original John Carpenter vision had long since been lost.... somewhere after part 2. 'Season of the Witch' was charming in its own way, but no a true entry in the franchise. Parts 4 and 5 were decent, but felt like out of place. Everything after that was just a downhill race to extinction. In all honesty, I was never a huge fan of Mr. Myers to begin with and I had long since given up on the series. What Rob Zombie created was a fresh take on the films. He breathed life back into a long dead horror icon. This wasn't the Michael Myers you remember, this was the more realistic, grittier and downright vile version. What John Carpenter had started, was a clean slate of a character, one without no face or identity. A "shark", so to speak. He called him 'The Shape'. Rob took that character, gave him a background and an identity beyond the mask. He made it bloody and messy, like it might be in real life. He made the characters react to what was happening in a more real life way and the trauma that remained after, was almost too much to bear. You saw the characters have an arc in their personalities. They grew with time, rather than just stand still. This wasn't a horror-soap opera.... this was Jerry Springer-ish. I now call myself a 'Halloween' fan, thanks for Mr. Zombie's vision of evil.

With the release of the original film, there came several versions on DVD, to choose from. A theatrical, an unrated and a 3 disc collectors edition. I proudly own all three and the only reason I triple dipped and bought the 3 disc version, was to watch the 4 and a 1/2 hour documentary 'Michael Lives: The Making of 'Halloween''. I was not disappointed. (side note: I also own the theatrical and unrated versions of 'Halloween 2' and the "workprint" edition of the original.) Now, you might be asking, "What in the hell could take up 4 and a 1/2 hours of time for THAT film?" Well, a lot.... quite frankly. I actually watched it in hour long segments, just to make it last longer. There is a huge amount of information in this making of documentary and if you're not a fan to begin with, this won't change your mind. This is strictly for die hard fans only, if you're not one of those, you might as well stop reading now. Unlike the similar making of on 'The Devil's Rejects', this kept my interest for the entire time. Perhaps, with the other, I wasn't in the right frame of mind and perhaps I need to give it another chance? Perhaps. What does this cover, you might ask? It's basically a road map of Rob's film making experience from inception to release. Every stone is turned over and nothing is left to the imagination. Every actor, extra and crew person is seen in this behind the scenes extravaganza. You get the chance to know all the players involved and see exactly what it takes to make a film of this scale. There is actually quite a lot of blood, sweat and tears involved with the making of a horror film. Especially one where you're updating what many consider a masterpiece. Rob was very respectful of John Carpenter and his original material. He was a fan first and only took on the project with Mr. Carpenter's blessing. That should really be enough of a reason for the "haters" to stop hating so much. I mean, if he was okay with it, why aren't you? That doesn't mean you have to like it, but at least respect the effort.

This documentary almost plays itself out like a video diary. There is some narration to go with what's going on, but a lot of it is like a home movie. It's a nice even balance of both, so as to keep you interested. You get to see how each actor was selected, how the script grew and changed, how the sets and costumes came to be and even the editing process. This is any 'Halloween' or Rob Zombie lovers dream. All of the people involved in the making of this, took it very seriously and all of them had the best intentions. They wanted to make the definitive vision of 'Halloween'. (That's probably why all of them signed on for the sequel too.) It gives you a fly on the wall feeling and a chance to see what these people are like in real life. It actually made me appreciate the film even more, AFTER watching this opus.

Now, I can't recommend this to everyone. You really have to love the source material. This is not for the passive viewer. This is also not something that I could find for rental. If you want to see 'Michael Lives', you have to own the 3 disc set. Sadly, Rob didn't do the same thing for 'Halloween 2' or 'House of 1000 Corpses', as I would have loved to have seen those as well. I'm hoping that for his new film 'The Lords of Salem', that he'll compile another one of these. When it comes to his work, I can't get enough of it.... even the tiny little details that no one else cares about. As a film maker, film lover and fan, this is like a Christmas present that keeps on giving. I really don't know what else I can say about this, after all, it is just a making of documentary.... not the film itself. I give it 5 out of 5 stars and will eventually take it on again. It's not something to just pop in on a whim, it will take a little pre-planning. Rob, how do I love thee? Enough to own multiple copies of everything you do.

Similar making of documentaries: '30 Days in Hell: The Making of 'The Devil's Rejects''....nothing else is quite as in depth

(no trailer is available for this documentary, so I just put the trailer for the film itself.)

my very brief thoughts on.... 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: A Family Portrait'

"The most accurate explanation of what really happened." - Gunnar 'Leatherface' Hansen

That's the quote on the movie poster for this documentary. If you've read anything about this horror film, then you probably already know all of the stories.... like the infamous dinner scene. But this was made in 1988 and if you've not an uber-fan of the film, then this was all new info back then. This is shot all on a higher quality VHS, so don't expect too much in that department. That doesn't mean that this isn't worth a watch. It's really made for the die hard fans though. I don't know if anyone who wasn't really into this film would be interested enough to watch the whole thing.... it's pretty dry. There are a few clips from the original film and a little bit of new footage and behind the scenes photos to keep your interest peaked. I found it kind of neat to hear the background story from the actors themselves. It also put a personality behind the characters and a reason why they played the characters they way they did. Some of them were more likable than others. (see: Edwin Neal 'The Hitchhiker')

The purpose of this documentary, is to allow 4 of the leading actors in it to tell the behind the scenes story of the making of 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre'. It features Edwin Neal 'The Hitchhiker', John Dugan 'Grandpa', Jim Siedow 'Old Man/Drayton Sawyer' and Gunnar Hansen 'Leatherface'. They each have a unique persepctive on what happened and the entire film making process. While it would have been nice to include Tobe Hooper, the director of the film, and Marilyn Burns 'Sally Hardesty'.... it ended up still being pretty comprehensive without them.I'm not the biggest fan in the world of the TCM franchise, however.... I own all but the third one and have seen them several times. I can see it's place in the horror film lexicon and enjoy them for what they are. This film is considered a cult classic and has some fans who are beyond fanatical about this. It has since spawned a remake and a prequel and tons and tons of merchandise. It's a very difficult film to watch and one that any horror fan should see. Once you've seen it, then check out this documentary. I give it 2 out of 5 stars. It's low budget and lack of excitement is a huge setback for this documentary. For something that's covering a fan favorite horror film and documenting everything that went on, there just isn't much.... joy? (is that the right word?) I don't know, I just wanted a little more from this.

If you haven't seen the original film, I recommend: 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre' (1974), 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2' and 'Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3'

(I couldn't find a trailer for this, so I put this link to the entire documentary. It's also available OnDemand from Netflix, if you prefer.)

my thoughts on.... 'Zombie Girl: The Movie'

What was your biggest asperation when you were 12 years old? If you're Emily Hagins, then it's to make your first movie.... a zombie movie. Not a short film, but a full length feature. This documentary follows her from start to finish, as she attempts to complete her project. Along the way, she meets some amazing people, gets a cult following, builds a unique relationship with her parents (especially her mom) and tries to finish what she started. The crazy thing about this movie is the fact that whether you're 12 years old or 58 years old, it makes you wonder if you could make your own movie. This girl proves that anything is possible if you set your mind to it. Her dream took two years of her life and in the end, it was so worth it. This is a feel good movie and in a way is very similar to 'American Movie'. The only difference is age and background. I do wish that Emily's movie 'Pathogen' was included to watch, but maybe if I rented the DVD I'd have that option. I've also since followed up on her and she is still making movies, FYI.

The plot is pretty well laid out in my previous section of this review. The story revolves around 12 year old Emily Hagins and her pursuit of her dream of making a full length zombie movie. She enlists the help of her family, friends and a lot of local celebs. It's a story about blood, guts and determination. In the end, we all learn that it's not about how old you are, but how much desire you have to succeed. Here's another summary from Netflix.com: "Youth and inexperience were no deterrents to 12-year-old Emily Hagins when she set out to make her first full-length feature, the zombie flick Pathogen. This 2008 documentary chronicles her two-year endeavor from start to finish. With cameras focused on Emily and Mom -- who acts as agent, crew, producer and No. 1 fan -- the film illuminates indie moviemaking challenges and the wonder of being a plucky adolescent to whom anything seems possible."The only thing I wish about that they had done with this movie is included some more scenes from Emily's movie, 'Pathogen'. It felt like during the whole movie that we were on the road to seeing the end results, but it never paid off. Regardless of all of that, this is still a great documentary. Emily proves that she is an up and coming talent and shows that not all families are dysfunctional. It also proves that horror won't neccessarily destory the minds of the young. Granted, I think that Emily might be more of an exception that a rule.... but moderation is the key. She is a girl with a vision and it's so strong that it carries her all the way to completion of her project. That's quite a feat considering the fact that most kids her age are more concerned about puberty and self-image.... Emily is worried about whether or not her severed heads look real and if she's using enough blood or not. Those are real worries in my book.

All in all, a very solid 3 out of 5 star production. I would recommend this to documentary film lovers, horror film buffs, zombie movie goers and people who just love a good storyline. This movie has it all. I am curious to see the finished product and her other projects after this. I also kind of wonder where the future will take her? It seems like she has her own career mapped out, but how will the rest of the world see it? This also makes me regret that my zombie film project from college never got off the ground. It was in the final stages of production and only needed the okay on my main location, but sadly.... my college frowned on the use of it's buildings for production. Thus ended my zombie film. I instead, made a short experimental film called, 'Anybody's Taco?'. Anyway, check this movie out.

If you like this, also check out: 'American Movie', 'Hide and Creep' and 'Pathogen'

my very brief thoughts on.... 'My Date with Drew'

okay, you're sitting at home and thinking that you want to see something new.... you want to see a documentary that isn't heavy handed and full of itself.... you want something light and cute.... you don't want to go out to the local video store, but luckily you have Netflix.... well, this is the movie for you....! it's all of those things and it's available OnDemand right now....!

Brian Herzlinger is a 27 year old filmmaker who sets out to get a date with Drew Barrymore.... while trying to achieve his goal, he films the entire process from start to finish.... and the results are extremely entertaining.... and i think just about everyone has a soft spot in their heart for Drew Barrymore.... we've all watched her grow up in the media spotlight and continually prove that she's got star power.... Brian puts himself in the position that we all have been in at some point.... having a little sweet spot for a celebrity and kind of wish we could spend a little quality time with them.... to find out how they really are in real life.... it's something not many of us get to do....
does Brian finally get his date with Drew....? you will probably want to watch it to find that out.... i don't want to give away the biggest plot point in the whole movie....! let's just say that you won't be dissappointed in the documentary.... it was a fulfilling experience.... and in the end, it's not so much about the actual date Brian is going for, the the journey he takes to try and get there.... that's the part that sells this movie.... i gave it 3 out of 5 stars.... this one won't change the world.... but it might change Brian's.

if you like this, watch: 'The Complete History of My Sexual Failures', 'Super Size Me', and 'American Movie'

my brief thoughts on.... 'I'm Still Here'

i'm sure you remember you remember where you were when you heard that the Challenger blew up....? or where you were when you heard about 9/11....? or where you were when you heard that Joaquin Phoenix was going to quit acting and start a rap career....? okay, maybe you remember the first two.... but you don't remember the third....? wow.... i'm not surprised.... i don't remember either.

that doesn't matter.... what matters is the year that followed after his initial announcement.... and that's what this faux-documentary was all about.... as much as i hate to admit it, i found Joaquin Phoenix much more interesting during that year than any of his earlier career.... (yes, i'm not a big fan).... i was on to the whole ruse early on.... i even said so to my friends that i thought it was all staged and that if it was, it was brilliant.... look out Sascha Baron Cohen....! however, the end result was far less satisfactory than 'Bruno', 'Da Ali G Show', or 'Borat'.... regardless, i watched this documentary and i'll admit that i enjoyed it.... i'm still not sure which parts were real or staged.... (some are obvious).... but this showed Joaquin in some pretty unflattering light.... and i'm surprised he would take a chance of ruining his career to go that far for a 'joke'.... i guess that's what kind of makes this genius.... it's not high art, but it's damn entertaining.... Casey Affleck shows real promise as a filmaker and he's already proven himself as an actor.... i also felt like some of what Joaquin accomplised with his music and rapping wasn't that bad.... and the beard and glasses with the suit kind of sold the whole package.... i'm still really into the branding that was done to promote the documentary.... i would totally put a poster up of the image above....
now you're asking, "Should I bother watching this?".... i would tell you that it all depends on your thoughts on Joaquin or if you want to spend the hour and a half on a gag....? it's not a 4 star filmgoing experience, it's 3 at best.... but that doesn't make it any less fun to watch.... there's moments of brilliance and moments where i cringed.... there's also moments where i just didn't care what was going on.... i don't know what Casey and Joaquin set out to accomplish, but i hope they were successful.... i have no idea what's going on with Joaquin now.... i haven't heard of any upcoming projects or anything.... and i'm not sure if he's gone up and ruined his career.... either way, i'm glad i was able to go along for the ride.... i gave it 3 out of 5 stars.... i suggest you check out the trailer online and make the choice for yourself....

note to Joaquin: i'm not sure about the rest of your career, but i think you should bring back the beard, suit, and sunglasses and keep on with the rapping.... but maybe that's just me.

if you like this, watch: any of Christopher Guest's films
(did this review even make sense....?!?!)

my very brief thoughts on.... 'American Swing'

i'm going to keep this short and sweet, which i wish the filmakers had done as well.... this is a documentary about Plato's Retreat.... the best known swinger's club in New York.... it doesn't exist anymore, obviously.... not with all the diseases and what not going around.... this movie documents the rise and fall of the club.... they talk to all the old patrons and use photos, old film and TV spots to try and bring it to life for the viewer.... sadly, this movie just doesn't hold the viewers attention.... not even with the nudity involved.... it is just kind of a mess and fairly boring....

i gave it 1 out of 5 stars.... it's nothing you should waste your time on.

instead of watching this, have sex with someone instead

my thoughts on.... 'A Complete History Of My Sexual Failures'

every once in a while a documentary comes along that takes me by surprise and i fall in love with it instantly.... this originally wasn't something i was 100% interested in seeing.... but it came in the mail from Netflix on accident and i decided it was a sign to see what this was all about.... i knew the basic premise and that's what made me add it to my queue to begin with.... what's it about....? it's about something that i think everyone of you has thought about at some point in your lives.... going back to all of your ex's and asking them why you split up and what they thought/think of you.... in this case, Chris Waitt, our loveable hero decides that after years of failures in relationships he wants to try and figure out why.... and somehow he pitches this idea to the right people and gets funding to make this film.... he starts out by making a list of ex's he wants to interview about the topic.... and at first things aren't looking too good.... it's so questionable that he's almost shut down from finishing the film.... but he carries on and eventually starts to see things turn around and soon we're going along with him as he gets answers from the women in his past.... some good and some REALLY not so good.... however, it starts to show a trend and helps him to get a better idea of what it is about him that kept him single.... and by the time the third act rolls around, he's had his character arc and things finally start to go his way.... there is also a follow up short documentary about what happened after the filming and if you rent this DVD i recommend that you watch it.... if you enjoyed what you saw....

i can honestly say that i've contemplated this idea in the past.... granted, it was a bit before i was married.... and since then it really hasn't mattered.... but there was a period where i needed answers and it seemed like going to the source would be the best way.... in retrospect, i'm glad i didn't take that path as i'm pretty sure it would've ended up in disaster.... but i think it's a universal feeling.... to want to revisit what's already happend to get closure, answers, updates, or possibly a fresh start.... this documentary made that happen and was so well done that i felt completely satisfied by the end and wanted to watch it again.... i will be putting this one on my short list of films to own someday.... Chris is from across the pond and i don't know if that adds a different angle to this film or not, but i think it's an across the board kind of thing the way it pans out.... i may be alone in my love of this documentary, as i've heard some negative things about it.... but i equate it with Morgan Spurlock's 'Super Size Me'.... they are opposite types of films, but Morgan and Chris both have that 'It' factor that makes me want to hang out with them.... even if it's just for an hour and a half in a movie....
this film was deserving of 4 out of 5 stars and that's what i gave it.... a simple slice of one man's life, documented by himself and shown to the world.... warts and all.... he puts himself out there and sets aside the notion of possible judgement of his character in favor of giving the viewer something entertaining and educational.... the end is something i'd love to tell you about, but i think it's best you see it for yourself.... so go and add it to your queue and check it out.... i can only hope it gives you the same enjoyment it gave me.

if you like this, check out: 'Super Size Me', 'Brother's Keeper', and 'American Movie'

my brief thoughts on.... 'I Need That Record!'

how many of you have ever set foot in an independent record store....? i'm guessing most of you buy online, .mp3 or from a "big box store".... am i right....? well, you're missing out.... it's not just a shopping trip.... it's an experience.... something that you can't achieve anywhere else.... but sadly they're dying off.... one by one they close down or get run out of business by bigger and larger places that they just can't compete with.... so if there is still one left in your town, go now before you can't go ever again.... that's what this wonderful love letter of a documentary is about.... and, me personally, having worked at and managed a real record store for 6 years this is something near and dear to my heart.... and the store i worked at, Val's Halla Records in Oak Park, IL, was forced out of their original locaion.... but has moved and is still alive.... thank god for that.... because i loved every minute of my time that i worked there.... and learned more in those 6 years about people, music and life than any other place i've ever worked.... hell, i learned more than in my everyday life.... or school....! i can't explain it to you.... but if you're a music lover or junkie, a record store is your dream location to be.... i know it was for me....
this is a documentary so again there isn't really a plot.... more of a narrative about the current state of the indie store and the how's and why's of what's killing them off.... it's very in depth and pulls no punches.... it also touches on the slow demise of the record industry and the rise of the internet in making both regular and indie music easy to find and buy for everyone.... but part of the joy of the record store was having to search for that one thing that you've been looking for.... if you can just get whatever, whenever where is the fun in that....? it makes collecting boring.... granted, you can more than likely find everything you've ever wanted.... but true collectors want the thrill of the hunt.... the joy of the find and that's it.... this documentary was bittersweet and made me realize that the trend of indie stores is happening here just as much as anywhere else.... and it's not just record stores, but anything owned by someone, not some corporation.... i don't expect that i can save the world or the independent retailers and i doubt this documentary can either.... but it stands as a record (no pun intended) of a soon to be extinct kind of place to go.... a sad reminder of where we've gone as a country.... it's on Netflix OnDemand and i highly recommend it.... 4 out of 5 stars....

to all those who own their own business, no matter what it is, i wish you all the best and commend you for living your dream.... godspeed to you all.

don't watch anything after this.... grab a phonebook and visit your local independent retailers

my brief thoughts on.... 'Awful Normal'

it's a sad number of children who've been molested.... and an even sadder number of those who've never reported it or were ignored by their parents or guardians.... so many people have gotten away with destroying the lives of others, only to keep doing it and doing it without them ever being brought to justice.... this documentary focuses on a families journey to confront the man who molested the two daughters and was never held accountable for it.... it was instead swept under the rug by a casual attitude towards the issue in the 70's.... one of the women came up with the idea and is the one who set up the whole plan and made the decision that this was the way she was finally going to be able to get on with her life and have some resolution.... granted, it would never make it go away.... but it would release the ghosts of her past....

when the two sisters in the family were in their preteens, the best friend of the family took advanage of his situation of being so trusted and molested each of the girls seperately.... the details are brought to light to the family of this man and are revealed to us the audience.... this is merely the set up for the time when the two sisters and their mom confront the man.... and demand answers....
this is not an easy film to watch.... it's heart wrenching to see what these women have gone through, especially the primary filmaker.... she's by far the most damaged.... and to hear them tell the story of what happened from their own lips as well as the lips of their molester is horrific.... i've know victims of molestation and i'm sure there are more out there who've just not admitted it.... and perhaps this may not be a movie i would recommend that everyone watch.... due to the subject matter.... and may cause some viewers to relive something they don't want to.... or perhaps it will bring some closure to them.... or maybe allow them to have the courage to do the same thing the filmaker did.... therefore, you have been warned....

i gave it 3 out of 5 stars.... although i think it's hard to rate something like this.... it's not about watching something to be entertained.... it's about something so much deeper.... so i just gave it something generic.... it's a well put together documentary and thought provoking.... and that's all i have to say about that.

there is nothing like this i've ever seen.

my brief thoughts on.... 'Nightmares in Red, White and Blue'

there are several documentaries out there about the horror genre.... some are specific to a type of horror.... some are specific to a certain franchise.... this one covers the entire history of American horror from the beginning to almost modern day.... by no means is it all encompassing.... but it does a good job of hitting all the high points.... and even touches lightly on the foreign market.... the movie goes to about 2007-ish with the current horror movies.... it's only got a run time of an hour and a half, so you can imagine that it could have been a lot more involved.... and i would have liked to see more in depth segments on each movie or period of time.... most of the movies were no big suprise, but there were a couple i'd missed along the way.... they interview some of the heavyweights of the genre and discuss not only their movies, but get their thoughts on other peoples work....

the plot is fairly obvious.... it's a documentary.... so there really isn't a plot....
if you're a fan of the horror genre.... then there may not be too much new here for you.... however, it's still worth the watch because it's well put together and the people that made it care about the genre.... and if you're not a fan of the genre, this may be a good jumping off point.... it gives you a lot to chew on.... bring a pen and paper with you so you can take notes.... because they throw a lot of good suggestions at you for movies to see.... ones that will take you through the history of horror cinema and it cuts out a lot of crap in the middle that just isn't worth mentioning.... but i would recommend that you take what you find here and do some branching out on your own.... there are a lot of gems that weren't mentioned and that i had to weed through to find.... but that's part of the fun of the movies.... 3 out of 5 stars....

other horror documentaries: 'His Name Was Jason', 'Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy' and 'Going To Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film'

my brief thoughts on.... 'Air Guitar Nation'

i saw you playing air guitar.... you know you've done it.... i think we all have at some point.... but who knew there were championships for this....?!?! that it's nearly a sport....?!?! and that the world finals are held in Finland....?!?! i didn't know any of it before hearing about this on the radio when it first came out.... and i've been waiting to see it ever since.... and last night was the night.... it was OnDemand and ready to go.... it's a one of a kind documentary that you won't see any other documntary about.... it's fun.... and you'd think that they're poking fun at these people.... as the whole thing seems kind of silly.... but the joke wears off quick and you realize how seriously people take this "artform".... and by the end, you respect the guys for their 'airness' and wonder if you might be able to compete yourself.... the only real problem i would have with competing is having the balls to get before a large audience and pretend to play a guitar.... i think i'd be on the sidelines.... but hey, that's just me.... one side note on this, the 'sport' is growing.... so you'll probably be hering more and more about this as time goes on....

the movie centers around two competitors, Bjorn Turoque (Born to Rock) and C-Diddy.... it follows their rise among the different levels of competition all the way to the worl championships.... it also sheds a light on a subculture that most of us probably never even knew existed.... every character in the movie is interesting.... you want them to succeed and you get behind their journey.... i couldn't help but find myself cheering them on by the end of the movie.... and getting excited to see what kind of performance would come out of each person.... and they're from all over the world.... now the competition between the two main characters reminds me slightly of the movie 'The King if Kong'....
i don't know why anyone hasn't done a documenty on this before.... it seems to be a no-brainer.... who wouldn't want to see people pretend to play guitar in costmes and fake personas....? i knew i didn't think twice.... it's amazingly well done.... i'm suprised how fascinating the documentary filmakers made this.... i mean it's a sideshow all on its own.... but they took it to a whole different level.... i would even consider watching this one again.... it's just so much fun.... i gave it a high 3 out of 5 stars.... it's fantastic. go. watch. now.

the only other similar documentary is: 'The King of Kong'

my brief thoughts on.... 'I Think We're Alone Now'

remember the 80's pop star Tiffany....? well, this documentary focuses on two people who do.... REALLY do.... Jeff, a 50-year-old man with Asperger's syndrome, and Kelly, an "intersexual" (Hermaphrodite) who claims to have had an inspirational friendship with the singer when they were teens.... these two go beyond fans into the realm of creepy stalkers.... as a matter of fact, Jeff was forced to stay away from Tiffany while she was in her teens and he was in his 30's.... it was a 3 year restriction, but nowadays he goes to all the shows he can and seems to get as close to her as often as he can.... he's got hundreds of pictures with her.... hugs her, gets cheek kisses.... so i guess all was forgiven finally.... Kelly seems to think that it's her/his destiny to be with Tiffany and that's all there is to it.... he/she believes it so deeply it's disturbing and sad at the same time.... Kelly has never had a relationship and is a lonely individual.... where as Jeff is a bit more outgoing and has friends.... he's still way over the top.... i've seen horror movies that aren't nearly as scary as this documentary.... it makes me glad not to be famous.... or a hot redheaded singer.... either way....
this is a 3 out of 5 star 1 hour documentary.... and i can't recommend it enough as a study of the human condition.... these two people are so bizarre and out there that they have to be seen to be believed.... i am still in shock at them both.... i felt dirty after watching them.... and it was funny at the end that Jeff, realizing that Tiffany was happily married and only going to be a friend, brought up another obsession.... Alyssa Milano.... i nearly lost it when i saw this turn of events.... because it just showed how messed up he was.... and Kelly i just felt sad for.... they were both so socially inept and akward.... it hurt.... this really is something that you have to see to believe and thank goodness it's OnDemand right now.... so don't miss out....! i can't compare it with any other documentary.... and if i didn't know that it was real, i would almost think it was a mockumentary.... it's so over the top and strange.... anyway.... it just makes me wonder what Debbie Gibson has to put up with....

i can't think of anything else like this.... check this out and tell your friends

my brief thoughts on.... 'Jesus Camp'

this documentary came recommended.... and i still don't know quite what i thought about it.... i can't tell if it was pro or con on the subject matter.... it seemed to walk the fence and was out to let you make your own decisions.... they never poke fun of or put the Christians in a bad light.... but for those not familiar with the lifestyle and how serious about God these people are.... it may seem strange and over the top.... even comical at times.... it was an eye opener, that's for sure....

the movie focuses on a camp for kids who are born again and becoming part of the new generation of "Jesus warriors".... or something along those lines.... it follows a few specific kids and the leader of the kids youth ministry.... it also follows George Bush's nomination of the new supreme court nominee.... and ties it all together....i gave it 2 out of 5 stars.... as i don't feel it got the point across.... or maybe i just missed it.... either way, it wasn't amazing.... for interested parties only.

other documentaries like this: none that i can think of

my brief thoughts on.... 'Stripped'

a documentary about the life of being a stripper.... basically.... it's all done on a low-fi budget.... and is fairly interesting.... you get a better sense about those women in the business and who they made their decision to get involved.... not too mention how it's affected them and their daily lives.... it's a sad little slice of a subculture of life that not many of us will ever be involved in.... unless you've been to a strip club or been a stripper.... it's got a short running time and keeps you fairly interested in the women it focuses on.... not too mention that the filmaker herself gets into the business and it follows her journey on both sides of the lens.... i gave it 3 out of 5 stars.... mainly for effort.... i can't say it's going to win any awards or anything.... it's just on that great of a movie.... but she presented a subject matter that is usually left in the dark.... and is deemed to be rather seedy.... but what you actually find beneath the surface is sometimes a bit of a suprise.... i would only recommend this for people interested in the subject matter....

if you like this: go to your local strip club

(no trailer available to embed.)

my thoughts on.... 'The 50 Worst Movies Ever Made'

being a lover of all movies and films.... i'll watch just about anything once and i love bad movie.... the ones that are so bad they're good are even better.... anyway, i thought this documentary might prove as a fun little watch, as well as a possible resource for some new flicks to see.... granted, this movie is by no means comprehensive.... there are some glaring omissions.... (where's 'Troll 2' for the love of pete....?!?!)

it's kind of a silly little movie.... the way it's put together.... and at a running time of only 60 minutes, there just isn't enough time to enjoy the little gems they introduce you too.... i could have stood for this to be a full hour and a half or more.... just to get a little more in depth.... but it's a good list.... even though i've seen a good portion of the movies.... there were still some located in there that i haven't seen before.... and believe it or not, most of them are available to rent on Netflix....! 3 out of 5 stars.... something for the bad movie lovers in all of us to enjoy.... and if you don't enjoy them already, you're missing out.... and if you've ever been curious.... this may be a good place to start.... long live terrible movies....!

if you like this, check out: well, there aren't any other docs like this out there.

50 Worst Movies Ever Made EZTakes Movie Trailer @ Yahoo! Video

my thoughts on.... 'Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy'

a 4 hour documentary....? just on the 'Elm Street' series....? yup, that's exactly what they've done and i'll be the first to admit that they've done it right.... it's never boring, it never feels like 4 hours and it covers all 8 movies in great depth.... including interviews with almost everyone involved in the making of all the movies.... from behind the scenes people, to actors and directors.... it's the most comprehensive and interesting documentary i've ever seen on horror.... it's made by the same folks who made 'His Name Was Jason', the 'Friday the 13th' series documentary.... however that one was only and hour and a half and was almost a trial run for this monster of a movie....

there's no plot to speak of, but there is a series of stop motion animations inbetween each section of the movie.... they're fun to watch and something new to set your eyes on.... each section on each movie covers all aspects of the films production from the conception to the box office after it's release.... it's almost clinical how involved this movie gets.... you can really get inside the head of Wes Craven, Robert Englund and the rest of the cast and crew.... you also see how people have agd over the years and their thoughts on their participation in each movie.... they even go in depth on the overall theme of the 2nd movie and how it seemed to have strong homosexual overtones.... they admit it wasn't planned, but they age it's blatant after seeing it with finished eyes.... this movie has it all....
so the question is are you a casual fan or a die hard fan....? either way it's worth your time.... hell, this even covers 'Freddy's Nightmares', the music videos, the merchandise and all things Freddy.... the only thing it doesn't cover is the current remake of the original film.... but there is so much else that it doesn't even need to get involved in that.... but that's not all.... the 2nd disc in this set offers almost another 4 hours of features.... so if you still haven't had enough, you can sink your teeth into this.... it's an amazing valentine to every fan of the series....

i highly recommend this to anyone who has any interest.... my only suggestion is to watch all of the films first.... so you can appreciate this film that much more.... i can easily give this 4 out of 5 stars.... it will be apart of my DVD collection at some point and it will replace the joke of a bonus disc that came with the original box set.... i savored every moment of this film and i can't wait to watch it again.... so run, don't walk to the DVD store, Netflix or your local rental place and watch this movie.... it'll be worth it.