My Criterion Collection

8 1/2 (Blu-ray) (Criterion #140)
Armageddon (Criterion #40)
Beastie Boys DVD Video Anthology (Criterion #100)
The Blob (Criterion #91)
Charade (Criterion #57)
Chasing Amy (Criterion #75)
Che (Blu-ray) (Criterion #496)
Chungking Express (Blu-ray) (Criterion #453)
The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button (Blu-ray) (Criterion #476)
Diabolique (Criterion #35)
Down by Law (Criterion #166)
Equinox (Criterion #338)
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (Criterion #175)
Jigoku (Criterion #352)
Kicking & Screaming (Criterion #349)
Kind Hearts and Coronets (Criterion #325)
Lacombe, Lucien (Criterion #329)
The Last Emperor (Blu-ray) (Criterion #422)
The Last Emperor (Criterion #422)
The Last Temptation of Christ (Criterion #70)
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (Criterion #300)
M (Criterion #30)
The Magic Flute (Criterion #71)
The Man Who Fell to Earth (Criterion #304)
Metropolitan (Criterion #306)
Monty Python’s Life of Brian (Criterion #61)
My Own Private Idaho (Criterion #277)
Night and Fog (Criterion #197)
The Night Porter (Criterion #59)
Robocop (Criterion #23)
The Rock (Criterion #108)
The Royal Tenenbaums (Criterion #157)
Rushmore (Criterion #65)
Samurai I (Criterion #14)
Samurai II – Duel at Ichijoji temple (Criterion #15)
Samurai III – Duel at Ganryu Island (Criterion #16)
Sanjuro (Blu-ray) (Criterion #53)
Sanjuro (Criterion #53)
Seven Samurai (Criterion #02)
The Seventh Seal (Criterion #11)
Short Cuts (Criterion #263)
Sid & Nancy (Criterion #20)
The Silence of the Lambs (Criterion #13)
Slacker (Criterion #247)
Solo Con Tu Pareja (Criterion #353)
Time Bandits (Criterion #37)
Tokyo Story (Criterion #217)
Traffic (Criterion #151)
Videodrome (Criterion #248)
Yojimbo  (Blu-ray) (Criterion #52)

28 Weeks Later: I was pretty much crawling out of my seat during the 2nd half. great genre piece !

Black Sheep: Not Peter Jackson, but very much in the same style as Bad Taste, Dead Alive, and his other early, indie films. Quite entertaining.

Hot Fuzz: One of the best shoot-out scenes of all time. It’s no Shaun of the Dead, but stands up on it’s own. Great follow-up film.

Hostel:  now that’s f’d up.

Next:   Yet another Philip K. Dick story turned into a movie.   A guy can see two minutes into the future.  But only two minutes into his future.

Forest Whitaker was great as the Ugandan dictator Idi Amin.

Initially, the film was very entertaining, until you realized exactly how bonkers Amin was. Then it started to get scary.

James McAvoy, playing Admin’s personal physician, came to this same realization throughout the film (based on the real Nicholas Garrigan), as well.

No we do not have monkeys in Scotland.

If we did, we would probably deep fry them.”

- from The Last King of Scotland

—

In celebration of the upcoming Oscars, AMC Theatres will host an “AMC Best Picture Showcase” event Saturday, Feb. 24, at 78 select AMC theatres nationwide* (check local listings for availability and show times). The day-long event will showcase the five films nominated by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for “Best Picture.” Guests are invited to attend the event through an exclusive offer of an AMC Best Picture Showcase All-Day Pass, which allows moviegoers to see all five films for one ticket, priced at $30. AMC Best Picture Showcase All-Day Pass holders will also receive a large popcorn and a large drink, with unlimited free refills on both concession items for the entire day.

The five films, Babel, The Departed, Letters from Iwo Jima, Little Miss Sunshine and The Queen, will play back-to-back throughout the day in one dedicated auditorium. Guests who purchase an All-Day Pass will also receive a keepsake lanyard with a hanging collectible pass, which features the five nominated films and allows guests to come and go as they please. The AMC Best Picture Showcase is valued at more than $55.

“There is no better way to see these highly-acclaimed films than on the big screen,” said Peter C. Brown, Chairman and CEO, AMC Entertainment Inc. “These are some of the most celebrated movies of the year, and we are excited to present our guests with this unparalleled, affordable opportunity to be in the know about the ‘Best Picture’ Oscar nominees or see their favorite films again, all in one day.”

In coordination with the Best Picture Showcase event, AMC will also be conducting its own Oscar Poll online at www.amctheatres.com. Anyone can log on and vote for their favorite Oscar picks in a number of categories.

Guests can find a theatre in their area hosting the AMC Best Picture Showcase by visiting www.amctheatres.com. AMC Best Picture Showcase advance ticket sales will be available beginning Friday, Feb. 2, on a first-come, first-served basis online at www.amctheatres.com or by visiting the box office or Guest Services area at any theatre hosting the event.

AMC Best Picture Showcase schedule (all times local; schedule is the same nationwide):
Babel 11:00 a.m.
The Queen 1:45 p.m.
The Departed 3:45 p.m.
Letters From Iwo Jima 7:00 p.m.
Little Miss Sunshine 9:45 p.m.

The AMC Best Picture Showcase will be available in the following cities/theatres:

AZ (Phoenix): AMC Deer Valley 30 with IMAX, AMC Mesa Grand 24
CA (Los Angeles area): AMC 30 at the Block, AMC Burbank 16, AMC Ontario Mills 30, AMC Rolling Hills 20, AMC Puente Hills 20, AMC Covina 30, AMC Norwalk 20
CA (San Francisco area): AMC Mercado 20, AMC Bay Street 16
CA (San Diego): AMC Fashion Valley 18
CO (Denver): AMC Westminster Promenade 24, AMC Highlands Ranch 24
CT (Hartford – New Haven): AMC Loews Plainville 20
CT (Danbury): AMC Loews Danbury 16
FL (Miami-Ft. Lauderdale): AMC Aventura 24, AMC Cocowalk 16
FL (Tampa-St. Petersburg): AMC Regency 20, AMC Veterans Expressway 24
FL (Orlando): AMC Pleasure Island 24, AMC Altamonte Mall 18
FL (Vero Beach): AMC Indian River 24
FL (Jacksonville): AMC Orange Park 24
GA (Atlanta): AMC Colonial 18, AMC Stonecrest Mall 16
IL (Chicago area): AMC River East 21, AMC South Barrington 30, AMC Cantera 30, AMC Loews Crestwood 18, AMC Randhurst 16
IN (Indianapolis): AMC Greenwood 14
KS/MO (Kansas City area): AMC Studio 30 with IMAX (KS), AMC Barrywoods 24 (MO)
LA (New Orleans): AMC Elmwood Palace 20
MD (Baltimore): AMC Owings Mills 17
MA (Boston): AMC Framingham 15, AMC Loews Methuen 20
MI (Detroit): AMC Forum 30 with IMAX, AMC Livonia 20, AMC Star Great Lakes 25, AMC Star Southfield 20
MN (Minneapolis-St. Paul): AMC Southdale 16, AMC Arbor Lakes 16
MO (St. Louis): AMC West Olive 16
NJ (New Brunswick): AMC Loews New Brunswick 18
NY (New York City): AMC Empire 25
NY (Long Island): AMC Loews Stony Brook 17, AMC Loews Raceway 10
NY (Orange County): AMC Loews Galleria Metroplex 16
NY (Rockland County): AMC Loews Palisades Center 21
NY (Westchester County): AMC Loews Port Chester 14
NC (Charlotte): AMC Concord Mills 24
OH (Cleveland): AMC Loews Richmond Town Square 20
OH (Cincinnati area): AMC Newport on the Levee 20
OK (Oklahoma City): AMC Quail Springs 24
PA (Philadelphia area): AMC Loews Cherry Hill 24, AMC Hamilton 24, AMC Neshaminy 24
PA (Pittsburgh): AMC Loews Waterfront 22
TX (Dallas/Ft. Worth area): AMC Grapevine Mills 30, AMC The Parks at Arlington 18, AMC Stonebriar 24, AMC Firewheel 18, AMC Palace 9
TX (Houston area): AMC Gulf Pointe 30, AMC Willowbrook 24, AMC Deerbrook 24, AMC Studio 30, AMC First Colony 24
VA (Virginia Beach): AMC Lynnhaven 18
WA (Seattle-Tacoma): AMC Kent Station 14
WA (Spokane): AMC River Park Square 20
Washington, D.C. area: AMC Tysons Corner 16, AMC Hoffman Center 22, AMC Potomac Mills 18, AMC Loews Rio Cinemas 18
WI (Milwaukee): AMC Mayfair Mall 18

on IMDB: Crash & Babel

If you disregard the historical inaccuracies, Mel Gibson’s Apocalypto was a really good film.

the story was good, the set design, costumes, scenery, and cinematography was excellent.

but the film kept mixing up Aztec and Mayan cultures.  I even heard some didgeradoo as part of the soundtrack.

even though the film’s details are sketchy, I still recommend a viewing.
find more info via it’s wikipedia entry or on imdb.

girl:  you got that from a cracker jack box !

guy: yeah, but i had to eat 17 batches before i got the right one

great lines. too bad that was wasted on “texas chainsaw massacre:  the beginning”

Private Joe Bowers (Luke Wilson), the definition of “average American”, is selected by the Pentagon to be the guinea pig for a top-secret hibernation program. Forgotten, he awakes 500 years in the future. He discovers a society so incredibly dumbed-down that he’s easily the most intelligent person alive.

In many ways, this movie is a really good satire of the degradation of American culture, society, and the educational system.  There’s no comparison to Office Space, however.  The sharp wit of OS was replaced with some pretty lame humor, and less subtle jokes and references.

Ironically, Idiocracy seemed relatively dumbed-down for the audience.  I’m not sure if this is a fault of Judge’s or the movie studio.  Mike Judge’s cameo as Officer Collins was pretty entertaining though.

If you’re looking for an evening of comedy,  I’d recommend watching Idiocracy.