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:

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1

With the second half of the Deathly Hallows currently breaking every single Box Office record, I figured why not re-visit Part 1? It is a great film in its own right, and definitely what you want to be watching before you see Part 2! Here is part of my review:

“I had the highest of expectations and excitement going into this film; I have been a fan of the series since I was dragged on opening day by my father to see the first film. Last thing I expected was to completely love that film, and go forward to read all of the novels. While both the films and books have their ups and downs, I have enjoyed them all, in different ways. I felt a little under-whelmed by Half-Blood Princethe film, but I knew that was the set up to the huge finale. And it worked, as this film delivered on all points. This film grabs you in from the first frame with Rufus Scrimgeour the Minister of Magic (Bill Nighy) giving a speech, which informs us the audience, exactly what is going on. Soon enough we see what Voldermort and his followers (including the likes of the Malfoy’s and Severus Snape) are up to and what they have planned. This then leads us to see where Harry is, and what lies ahead for him.“

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Logan J. Fowler Recommend’s:

I Love You, Man

When I first viewed I Love You, Man in theaters, I was quite surprised by it. It really is one of the funniest films I’ve seen in a long time, and one that I revisit over and over again.

When Peter Klaven (Paul Rudd at his best IMO) sets his sights on marrying Zooey (Rashida Jones), his family makes mention that Peter doesn’t really have any real male friends to be best man. Through the help of his mom (Jane Curtin) and his brother Robbie (Andy Samberg), as well as the internet, Peter goes on “man dates”, which end up going pretty poorly. However, at an open house for a pad Peter is trying to sell (that would be the house of Lou Ferrigno), Peter meets Syndey Fife (Jason Segal) and the two instantly hit it off, forming a strong friendship over the course of the film, and it later causing a rift between Peter and Zooey. Will Zooey and Peter have a happy wedding? Will Peter and Sydney rekindle their bromance?

I Love You, Man is insanely quotable, insanely funny, has an impressive cast (I haven’t even mention J.K. Simmons, Jamie Pressly, Jon Favreau, Rob Huebel, Joe Lo Truglio, and Thomas Lennon), a great soundtrack (with a special appearance by the band Rush-SLAPPA DA BASS!) and is a love story-about two bromosexuals. Do I love this movie? Totes McGotes!

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Pat Torfe Recommend’s:

Friday The 13th Part VII: The New Blood

Digging into my DVD collection this week, I pull out another Friday The 13th film that I’m surprised that I hadn’t recommended earlier. Friday The 13th Part VII: The New Blood obviously follows the formula of Jason wreaking havoc around Crystal Lake, but this time we get someone who is a match for him. Directed by John Carl Buechler, the film marked the debut of Kane Hodder as hockey puss, and features Lar Park Lincoln as the telekinetic Tina Shepard. The story goes that Tina unwittingly causes her alcoholic father’s death after he physically abuses Tina’s mother (played by Susan Blu) by collapsing the dock he was standing on and drowning in the water of Crystal Lake. Flash forward years later, and Jason is stuck at the bottom of the lake, while a distraught Tina, her mother and her psychiatrist Dr. Crews make the trek to Crystal Lake. Why? Dr. Crews wants to ‘study’ Tina’s telekinetic gifts by keeping her stress levels high. Anyways, one night, Tina unknowingly resurrects Jason from the bottom of the lake, who returns his gratitude by going about and killing folks in unpleasant ways, as usual. So it’s up to Tina to put Jason back. Yes, the formula is just the same as it always has been, but it’s so much fun when Jason gets to off people in creative ways like bashing a camper against a tree while still in their sleeping bag, a party horn in the eye, a hedge trimmer with a saw blade (?!) and other wonderful things. Unfortunately, Paramount (being the dicks that they are) trimmed the kills down so we hardly get much of anything. Good thing Buechler kept his VHS tapes of the unedited kills for our pleasure, despite the poor quality. The film is still fun, mind you. Jason looks predictably gross after having been down in the lake for so long, and the makeup is just awesome. And yes, Paramount was still ‘caring’ about the series at this point. So much so that they tried to get us Freddy vs. Jason two decades earlier than what we got, but couldn’t work out a deal with New Line. So instead, we get a Carrie-esque protagonist vs. everyone’s undead mongoloid slasher. Not a bad trade-off. Grab the deluxe DVD set or the Friday The 13th boxset to see the cut footage as well as a humourous commentary by Buechler and Hodder, who are best buds and enjoy watching the film.

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Bede Jermyn Recommend’s:

Exotica

I have to admit I haven’t really seen that many films from Canadian director Atom Egoyan, the only one that I have seen is his most recent film CHLOE (which I thought was a solid but from what I understand that it’s his most commercial film to date). However I knew that I needed to check out more of his films. So based on a recommendation from Super Marcey I decided to check out his best known film, which is the 1994 film EXOTICA. I wasn’t sure what to expect from it but I knew after watching it, that this was one that I needed to write about as my recommendation for this week. The film tells the story of a group of four characters who are linked to a strip club named “Exotica”: Christina (Mia Kirshner), a young exotic dancer whose main attraction to the club is that dresses up like a school girl. Eric (Elias Koteas), the club’s DJ who also just happens to be Christina’s ex-boyfriend. Francis (Bruce Greenwood), a tax auditor who happens to be Christina’s no.1 customer and finally Thomas (Don McKellar), a gay pet shop owner whose accounts are being audited by Francis. Over the course of the film, we discover just how these four characters are connected to each other.

I know it sounds like that I’m being very vague on the film’s story but that’s only because that this is one of those films that it’s best not to know too much before going in. So you can understand why I’m trying to be vague about it. But what I will say is that this is truly a terrific film that I found to be very intriguing, complex and powerful. I will admit that for a little while, I felt that film was a bit distant and cold. However as the film progressed I started to become even more engaged by it and eventually it won me over. The performances from the four are excellent, the stand-outs for me were definitely Bruce Greenwood and Elias Koteas who were both utterly fantastic in their roles. The supporting cast were all great as well (which includes Victor Garber and a young Sarah Polley) and both Egoyan’s script and direction are absolutely wonderful (his screenplay in particular is superbly written and multi-layered). After watching his work as director here, I’m definitely going to seek out more of his films in the future. Overall while I admit that the film may not work for everyone but I still definitely recommend everyone to check out EXOTICA, it’s a really good film that deserves to be seen.

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