The Super Network

Every week the people of Super Website (Super Blog) will give you a recommendation of a Film, DVD, Bluray, Book, Soundtrack or any other item for you the readers to check out.

Super Marcey Recommend’s:

Toy Story

I recently sat down to re-visit Toy Story, it was a subject that was discussed on a recent podcast (check it out here) and that really made me want to see it again. I am glad that I did, Toy Story is just an overall fantastic film. It has a lot of heart, it’s fun, it’s some what dark in places and it rolls by at a steady pace. It is not hard to see why this film is adored by children and adults alike. It came out when I was about 11 years old, and by that stage in my life I wasn’t really seeing the appeal but I saw it and I had a lot of fun.

It wasn’t something I had gone back to, if this had come out when I was a bit younger it might have had more of an affect on me. But looking back on it now, I think it touches me on a whole new level. I have always loved and treasured my toys, I take good care of them, to the point that I can actually hand them down to my niece. Toy Story really hits me hard like that, I see how Andy treats his possessions and I am the same. I remember the fun I had them, and how they shaped my crazy imagination. Watching this again, almost made me feel like a kid and it brought up all those feelings. This really is a fantastic film, Pixar really set the standards high with this. While the animation has improved so much since this came out, it still holds up and looks stunning. If you’re struggling for something to watch this week, re-visit Toy Story, you wont regret it.

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Logan J. Fowler Recommend’s:

Scott Pilgrim vs The World

I could use the cliché phrase and say “I’m in lesbians with this movie.” But I’m not going to say that.

Well, I guess I kind of did. But in any case, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World has a very simple plot: Boy (that’s Scott, played by typecast Michael Cera, who don’t get me wrong I liked in this movie) meets girl (Ramona Flowers, played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and wants to be with her, except there’s a problem. In order to be truly happy with her, Scott must battle Ramona’s seven evil exes. Will Mr. Pilgrim be able to do it?

Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, Spaced) brings a 6 volume comic series that is author Bryan Lee O’Malley’s Scott Pilgrim to colorful, vibrant life, making pretty much the best comic book comic book movie I’ve ever seen. Now I said “comic book” twice because literally, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is a cinematic comic book. There are panels, sound effects, sight gags, text boxes, and other elements you’d see in a media of this nature. Wright also adds a strong video game flair to the proceedings, with a touch of an anime style. If these things appeal to you, Scott Pilgrim should be right up your alley.

The casting for the film goes is obvious in some areas (Michael Cera was a no brainer for the titular character, as he’s always played a supposed chick magnet who internally is hiding something) to surprising in others (Kieran Culkin, who plays Scott’s gay roommate Wallace Wells, absolutely steals every scene he’s in). The evil exes also shine, as we get some extended cameos by Chris Evans, Brandon Routh, and Jason Schwartzman, who all look like their having a blast. And of course, I cannot forget the adorableness that is Ellen Wong, who plays Knives Chau, Scott’s girlfriend pre Ramona (he dumps her to be with Flowers). She is the cutest thing ever and I want to marry her. Moving on…

I will say that if Edgar Wright directed more video game or comic book movies, the world would be better off. Wright had a knack for putting the material into movie mode, and while Scott Pilgrim flopped at the box office, it is successfully finding its way into the hearts of geeky boys and girls across the land. But if you haven’t seen it, I suggest you prepare to level up and give Scott Pilgrim vs the World a viewing. What are you waiting for?

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Pat Torfe Recommend’s:

Ghostbusters

If there’s somthin’ strange in your neighbourhood. Who ya gonna call? Never have a set of words meant so much to me as a kid growing up in the 80s. Ghostbusters to me was and still is a great source of entertainment, and one of the best horror comedies ever. For those who don’t know the story (all four of you), here’s the deal: After losing their academic positions at Columbia University, a trio of parapsychologists — Peter Venkman, Raymond Stantz, and Egon Spengler – establish a paranormal exterminator service known as “Ghostbusters” at a retired firehouse. Business is nonexistent until a call from the Sedgewick Hotel changes things. After wrangling their first ghost (affectionately named ‘Slimer’ from that point on by fans), business picks up and the trio soon employ Winston Zeddemore to offset the workload. Eventually, the group (though it’s really Peter, played to perfection by Bill Murray) is hired by a woman named Dana Barrett (played to perfection by Sigourney Weaver as well) to investigate strange occurrences in her apartment. Turns out her building is a focal point for summoning Gozer the Gozerian, a Sumerian shape-shifter who seeks to bring about the end of the world. Possessions, demon dogs and Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man ensues.

Everything about this film was a joygasm for me growing up and still remains as such. The acting by everyone involved is top-notch and played straight-faced, despite the obvious goofiness of the whole thing. Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis crafted such a compelling story and memorable characters that it’s no wonder that the franchise spawned merchandise, cartoons, video games and more. And who can forget Ray Parker Jr.’s immortal song, Ghostbusters? I know that I can’t. The effects were also well-done for the time, with the ghosts as memorable as the ghostbusters themselves. The film and franchise are hallmarks of 80s and early 90s pop culture, and it’s no wonder that folks are still clamoring for a third film, whenever and if ever it gets out of development hell. Seek out the Blu-Ray for this one, as it carries over the entire set of extras from the superb DVD. The transfer isn’t the best, but dammit, the hilarious and informative commentary (along with the film itself) more than make up for it.

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Bede Jermyn Recommend’s:

Machete Maidens Unleashed

A couple of years ago Australian documentarian Mark Hartley made an absolutely fantastic documentary called NOT QUITE HOLLYWOOD: THE WILD, UNTOLD STORY OF OZPLOITATION, which explored the little known and largely forgotten Australian exploitation films of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. That film was so good that it actually my top 10 films of 2008 list. Now he is back with his follow-up film that also explores another country that was famous (and in some cases infamous) for its exploitation films: the Philippines. During the late 60’s through to the 80’s, the Philippines became a haven for many exploitation and genre filmmakers due to the fact that they could make their films in a country that offered both exotic beautiful locations and very, and I mean very, cheap labour. But most importantly…There were no rules! Just like Hartley’s previous film NOT QUITE HOLLYWOOD, this is another fascinating, shocking and very highly entertaining documentary that charts the Philippines own exploitations beginnings in the late 60’s (which were lead by Filipino directors Gerry de Leon & Eddie Romero) to legendary producer Roger Corman’s many B-movie productions throughout the 70’s (most notably the ‘Women In Prison’, ‘Blaxploitation’, ‘Kung Fu’, “Action’ and ‘Monster’ genres) to the making of the biggest film ever to be made in the country APOCALYPSE NOW and finally to the genre’s downfall due to the country’s political turmoil at the time.

The film features many great interviews with both the actors and filmmakers who were involved in the making of those films (which includes the likes of Roger Corman, Pam Grier, Joe Dante, Sid Haig, R. Lee Ermey, John Landis and many more), each one offers both a lot of insight and humour to what happened during that period. Overall while MACHETE MAIDENS UNLEASHED! Isn’t quite up there with NOT QUITE HOLLYWOOD, it is still a terrific documentary nonetheless. If you love documentaries that explore film or even a fan of exploitation films than this film is definitely worth checking out.

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