Sukiyaki Western and Devil's Chair reviews, non spolier

Well ladies and gents, the Toronto International Film Festival is over and I actually managed to leave the basement to catch a two flicks.

Last Thursday afternoon was Sukiyaki Western: Django which I had previously mentioned I was dying to see.

It pretty much lived up to my expectations of what a Miike film should be. Tons of violence, whacked out humour and general coolness that a lot of people won't get and in many ways I'd be hard pressed to blame them. There is one small part regarding catching a sword that was hysterical.

Saturday was The Devil's Chair, a great little British horror flick (trailer at the bottom) that when it started off my first thought was that someone had finally made a decent sequel to Hellraiser but then it turns into something completely different. Andrew Howard (who has appeared in one of Chittendango's favorite horror flicks of the last ten years, Below) stars in this one and honestly he takes what I'd normally consider a decent movie and turns it into something better. In many ways he kind of reminds me of the first time I saw Temuera Morrison (Jango Fett in the Star Wars prequels) in Once Were Warriors (which if you haven't seen it, go rent it now. You'll understand why I thought Morrison is a great presence). I just hope the film industry can find great material for him.

EL-P impresses

Ever forget about someone only to have them come back and out of nowhere absolutely impress you?

Happened to me last night. Flipping through I ended up on Conan O'Brian. Guests included Seth Green (talking about the Star Wars Robot Chicken) and Eli Roth (director of Hostile, Hostile 2 and actor in Death Proof) with musical guest EL-P.
EL-P is a rapper who first came to my attention due to the first single from his new album. The single was Flyentology and featured Trent Reznor (of Nine Inch Nails). I liked the song...and then completely forgot about it.

But when I caught the guy on Conan last night I was absolutely impressed. I had missed the intro to the show so I had no idea who he was but I knew that the track he was preforming kicked major ass and that his full live show must be something. He just had an energy about him.

Unfortunately no one has uploaded the Conan performance but I did find another not quite as good, but pretty decent.

Check it out.

Tons of new crap

Hola, Chittendango here from the middle of nowhere...which is just to the south of Barrie.
First thing first. Robot Chicken, produced to by geek-like-us Seth Green will be doing an 30 min Star Wars show. From the trailer I gather its going to be new stuff and the best of old stuff.
What trailer?
This trailer

Robot Chicken Star Wars

The problem with action movies today is the violence is all taken away. For instance The Condemed which I cauht a few weeks ago. Simple plot; convicts on an island rigged for internet ppv killing until the last man. Starring hopeful new man of action "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and everyone's favorite "I-Tie" hating British badass Vinnie Jones. Now a plot so simple I wasn't expecting much other then Mr. Austin beating the crap out of people. Every action scene was however ruined by the "Saving Private Ryan" shakey cam or a well timed explosion that didn't include any body parts.

Not like the movies of my youth. Which brings us to another www.dvdactive.com update.

A two disc Robocop.

Robocop was the king of violent movies....until you got to see the Criterion edition which had the uncut international version of the film which added just a little more violence. The board room scene for instance just has a few more seconds added but those seconds are drenched in blood and guts.

Which is why it's nice that MGM is bringing you both theatrical and international cuts of the film and a ton of extras.

MGM Home Entertainment has sent over details on a 20th Anniversary Edition of Robocop which stars Peter Weller, Kurtwood Smith, and Ronny Cox. The two-disc special edition will be available to own from the 21st August, and should retail at around $22.98. The set will include both the theatrical and extended cuts (presented in anamorphic widescreen, along with DTS 5.1 Surround tracks), along with commentary by director Paul Verhoven, writer Ed Neumeier and executive producer Jon Davison, a Flesh And Steel: The Making Of Robocop featurette, a Shooting Robocop 1987 featurette, a Making Robocop 1987 featurette, The Boardroom: Storyboard With Commentary By Animator Phil Tippet featurette, deleted scenes, an OCP Press Conference feature, a Nun In The Street Interview, and further featurettes on the cast, special effects, and design. Completing the set will be a Villains Of Old Detroit featurette, a Special Effects: Then And Now featurette, a Robocop: Creating A Legend featurette, and trailers and TV spots

Now if you already have the trilogy box set (like myself) it probably isn't worth it. But if you don't have it, I would pick it up. Plus once again, spiffy metal box.

I also highly recomend going out an buying copies for the younger generations in the hopes that we might avert an age of pansy movie watchers; Kids raised on blood less action movies (The Condemed, Ghost Rider, I'm looking in your direction). You know kind of like when you take a virgin to a whore. You're doing the best thing for them.

I'm going to do up a list of my top ten violent films later on.

Chittendango