I wanted to start a discussion on the Alien franchise to see if anyone else here enjoys this series.

The first two films are classics. The original started the template for all monster films since. You know the whole creature-kills-off-everyone-one-at-a-time formula. The second film is a adrenaline pumping thrillfest that ranks as my fave of the series (and fave films of all time).

I may be in a minority but I really dig Alien 3. While the film isn't perfect and takes time to get going it has some nice, moody visuals and a great ending. Foreshadows the great talent of director David Fincher (Seven, Fight Club) to come.

Alien Resurrection has some nice visuals/ concepts (hybrid alien/human), fun moments (the underwater scene) but it never progresses the series or lives up to it's potential. And Winona Ryder is the most unconvincing film robot ever.

If your a fan, I recommend buying the Quadrilogy set as it's got DAYS worth of extra stuff to look at if your big film buff.

FPW should have watched Gang Tapes to help with Charlie and Lyle's dialogue. Talk about shocking, in your face film-making. The movie is told from the perspective of a digital camera that gets car-jacked in the opening scene and through it we are shown the harrowing world of gang bangers. What really struck me was the lack of communication from people who talk so much; language is like a club they bludgeon each other with, no place for introspective discussion there. The saddest scene for me was the pride Alonzo took in finding out he was going to be a father-another baby born into that lifestyle is all the world needs. This is as close to real deal as I'm likely to see-hopefully. The cast of unknowns all come from South Central and have grown up with The Crips vs The Bloods giving the film a real sense of authenticity. A very grim look into a horrifying way of living. I recommend it if you are not faint of heart.

My copy of Infernal hit the UK shores today and on the acknowledgements page there's a thank-you from fpw himself to a certain Paul Stanko!!!!

Well done my lad!
I'm not jealous at all!
Really I'm not :p

cheers
Steve

We had rented this a long time ago and bought it a couple of weeks ago in the "Walmart $5.50 DVD junk bin". We watched it yesterday again. I'd forgotten what a good movie it was. Horror, scary with a TWIST at the end. And I do mean twist. It leaves you with this "WOW"! Anyone else seen this? I don't want to put any spoilers and give it away.

This incarnation is part of a double DVD with another movie called Sonatine. After watching Zaitochi I checked out the info on Amazon and the character is a popular and recurring one in Japan, with 25 movies and around 100 TV episodes. In this version, an old, blind masseur shuffles into a town ruled by ruthless and competing gangs. He soon proves to be more than a mere blind masseur, dispensing anyone he faces with dazzling sword moves. I confess the movie left me puzzled throughout, since it seemed disjointed and uncertain about plot or characters. There are two bizarre musical numbers, cross-dressing killer geishas, and village idiots pretending to be samurais. A ronin bodyguard appears to threaten Zaitochi, but the battle is brief. Blood sprays and gore abounds, an inspiration probably to the Bride's scenes in the House of Blues Leaves in KILL BILL Vol 1. Still, the slice and dice action of the swordfighting failed to excite me, and this is far from the best martial arts movie I've seen. Perhaps some of the others ones are better.

Alan is an athletic man until a car accident leaves him a quadriplegic. His friend Geoffrey gets him a Helping Hands capuchin monkey named Ella to assist him. What Geoffrey doesn't tell him is that the monkey has been chemically experimented with. Soon Ella becomes a little too attached and possessive.

This is a George A Romero movie that I saw a long time ago and remember being pretty scared by it. It still does a pretty effective job at that. While the main actor, Jason Beghe, seems a little stiff (no pun intended) at times, the story more than makes up for it. It is amazing to watch the emotion and understanding that the monkey can convey through his expressions and movement. I highly recommend this movie if you are looking for a different type of horror movie.

SPOILER--BEWARE--SPOILER P. 80--"Gia leaned against him. 'I can't believe I'm finally going to meet a member of your family.' Now unless I've slipped into an alternate universe again (and I gotta stop that, I gotta see a doctor), didn't Gia meet Kate in HOSTS?

I had a question regarding Infernal. It felt different than alot of the other RJ novels that i have read. Did you write it that way in order for it to have more of a emotional impact for your regular readers? I won't give any spoilers but there is alot less action and more of a story that involves heavy character interaction.I liked it a great deal but i just wasn't expecting it. Also FPW on the next RJ novel will we see more of the Wrath of Allah? Thats the impression i got but its better to go to the source just to make sure.Thanks for all the enjoyment you have a reader for life.

ALowerDeep

Let me start by stating that this movie is not a summer action movie. It is a summer comedy with tons of action thrown in. The plot is pretty self-evident from the previews - a husband and wife learn that they are assasins and assigned to kill each other. If you go into it divorced from the expecting a meaningful plot and just let yourself get swept up by the energy of it, you will probably enjoy it immensely. I did.

Vince Vaughn is his normal frantic self, though this is not one of his best recent parts. I loved the constant husband/wife bantering once the two main characters learn of their situation. There were several times when I guffawed aloud in the crowded theater and literally could not stop laughing - mostly involving characters "exiting" moving vehicles.

Good time.

I found this one. This is HILARIOUS!

http://www.utterpants.co.uk/hobbits/hobbits.html