I love Todd Phillips (no homo)

I recently decided to re watch a whole bunch of Kevin Smith movies(the good ones, not Chasing Amy or the Jersey Girl) I've always liked Smith's movies but have often wondered why a director like Todd Phillips doesn't have the same status as someone like Smith. I suppose it could be put down to a timing thing, Clerks being something new and exciting at the time. In a way Clerks and Mallrats goes far far beyond the usual comedy film. I did also look back at a few films by Phillips and thought that Hated (the doco about GG Allen and the Murder Junkies) was awesome! Not to mention Old School and The Hangover which I thought shits on any Judd Apatow movie out there. If you haven't seen any of Todd Philips movies give them a try. Just stay away from Starsky & Hutch, he must have been having an off day.

Batman: The Movie

When I was a young lad all I wanted to be when I grew up was...Batman. Lucky for me my dreams came true. It was this 1966 movie with Adam West as Batman that really sold me on the idea. In comparison to today’s versions in which Batman sounds like he needs a throat lozenge, Robin is an annoying little shit and the Bat Suet has nipples, the original Batman movie is a clear winner. This film will make you laugh and cry (from laughing). The film is about Batman fighting the forces of evil…no surprises there. However, this time he is up against all your favourite super villains, a submarine and exploding sharks. I’d like to see Christian Bale pull off great one liners like Adam West can. I think screenwriters should get their pad and paper ready to take notes when watching this one because Batman: The Movie is one of a kind.

Long Time No See

My apologies for the lack of posts lately but I have been very busy filming a documentary and trying to organise my impending move to Germany. I managed to find time to go see The Goonies on the big screen last week. I think they are still playing it at a few places around Auckland, buy a ticket it was freakin sweet.


A few days ago I went and saw Henry Rollins do a spoken word show in Auckland. He was really amazing. I'm always riveted by what he has to say. He spoke for about 3 hours and then I caught up with him after the show and had a long chat.
If Henry is coming to your town, make sure you get yourself a ticket, you won't regret it.

Fucked Up - The Chemistry of Common Life

Douglas Wolk of Pitchfolk said that "Fucked Up are arguably the best hardcore album band of at least the last 20 years" I must say I agree with him there. Not to mention they have one of the gnarliest front men in hardcore history. As most new hardcore bands seem to be playing the same old tunes, Fucked Up has been taking hardcore to new places. It's great to finally see a hardcore band that can think outside the scene and bring together different influences yet still produce one of the most rad hardcore albums of the 2000s. The Chemistry of Common Life is the album for you if you love hardcore and you're not afraid to step outside the box.

Dead Man's Shoes

A few years before the release of This Is England, director Shane Meadows made a film that I consider to be one of the most haunting and confronting films ever made. Dead Man's Shoes is the story of Richard and his brother Anthony. Richard is a disaffected soldier that has returned home in order to for fill a promise and punish the local thugs that bully his brother.
The film is very confronting but remains dignified and beautiful through its simplicity. Meadows manages to combine a shocking yet riveting storyline with a well cast group of actors. Paddy Considine is truly sublime as Richard and pulls off a performance that is up there with DeNiro's portrayal of Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver. The Midlands backdrop adds a real feeling of isolation that echoes from the characters souls into their surroundings.
If you enjoyed This Is England, Dead Man's Shoes is a must see.

Monkey News

I watched these today and actually fell out of my chair from laughing so hard.

Revenge of the Nerds

Now this is a movie you will never forget. I first saw this film in my early teens and loved it. After watching it again recently, its charm, humour and 80s film goodness is as good as ever. If you are Goonies, Gremlins, or a Todd Philips fan then Revenge of the Nerds is for you. Two lovable nerds begin their college life by being thrown out of their dorms by The Jocks and grouped together with the rest of the social fuck ups, nerds and exchange students. The Nerds decide to start their own frat house and while doing so plot their revenge against The Jocks.

They just don't make them like they used to...