Comments on: Film Junk Podcast Episode #241: Paranormal Activity and The House of the Devil

By: KeithTalent

KeithTalent — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:20:13 +0000

Have to agree with Jay on Paranormal Activity, but maybe the guy doing play-by-play behind us at the theatre may have had an impact on the overall feel of the film.

Glad to hear Reed back on the podcast, I really enjoy what he brings to it.

By: Reed Farrington

Reed Farrington — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:15:58 +0000

I’ve only become a fan of recent Asian cinema. Most film critics would place Zhang Yimou films like Raise the Red Lantern in their Top 200, but I prefer the action stuff more with the exception of The Road Home.

I like a lot of films, but I have a very selective taste when choosing what I would consider “masterpieces.” I’m not so interested in the historical importance of films so much as how a film affects me. I’ve been slowly watching films that are generally considered to be masterpieces, and I have been very disappointed by films like 8 1/2, Lawrence of Arabia, and Rashomon. I admire films like Citizen Kane and Casablanca, but no more than other films that aren’t considered masterpieces.

By: Andrew James

Andrew James — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:16:37 +0000

And thank you Sean for correcting the guys on “The Day After TOMORROW.”

The Day After is a completely different film – one that scared the shit out of me as a child.

By: Andrew James

Andrew James — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:15:48 +0000

I know you’re a fan of Asian cinema. I like your choices of 2046 and Hero. Both quality films in my estimation. Just curious where you’re coming from as you seem to not like anything except one or two movies that no one else really cares for.

And I’m a Zhang Yimou fan as well.

By: Reed Farrington

Reed Farrington — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:49:17 +0000

I’m not sure if I can come up with 10 films I like. (Ha ha.)

I’ll tell you what my two favourite films are: Planet of the Apes (1968) and Hero (2002). If I had to rank them, I would probably have to put Hero as number one because of its greater film artistry. I like these films because I can relate to the philosophies embraced by the characters in the stories.

*** Spoilers Coming ***

In the case of The Planet of the Apes, I love the astronaut Taylor’s reason for going out into space. He’s a misanthropist. The trite sci-fi ending of discovering that he’s back on Earth is highly appropriate in this case, because it magnifies Taylor’s hatred of humanity since man destroyed himself. And the apes, the apparent successors to humanity, are no better. I love the pessimism of this film! For some reason, audience-goers really loved the apes, and created the demand for sequels.

I loved the self-sacrifice shown in Hero. We see the sacrifice of an individual for the love of another person. And we see the sacrifice of an individual for the love of his country.

Some other movies that I would put in my top ten are (in no particular order): 2046, The Road Home, and Pan’s Labyrinth.

By: Henrik

Henrik — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:54:01 +0000

Reed’s top 10 movies:

no. 10: Planet of the Apes

no. 1: Star Trek.

I am basing this on his top 5 gangster movies.

By: Sean

Sean — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:54:59 +0000

1. Planet of the Apes
2. Planet of the Apes
3. Planet of the Apes
etc.

By: Andrew James

Andrew James — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:43:04 +0000

I want Reed’s Top Ten films of all time.
Now.

By: Henrik

Henrik — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:32:33 +0000

I have read the book about Shyamalan (“The man who heard voices”) twice, and it is brilliant. Anybody interested in the movie-making process should check it out, it’s a quite honest and brutal depiction of an artist constantly wavering between heavy doubts and supreme confidence.

It’s not a puff piece by any stretch of the imagination. And Reed, you will know this to be true, because David Bordwell himself says so in his foreword in the 2nd edition.

By: Reed Farrington

Reed Farrington — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 06:23:57 +0000

I have that Shyamalan mockumentary DVD and the annoying thing is that the DVD cover wrapper makes no mention that it’s a mockumentary. I was expecting to learn about Shyamalan as a filmmaker. I guess I’ll have to find Shyamalan’s book in the bargain book place someday.

By: Jon Rocks

Jon Rocks — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:27:16 +0000

The Shyamalan documentary is an interesting curiosity, but most certainly a rather obvious hoax.

I was a set P.A. on The Village, and they were even sort of secretive about the mockumentary while we were shooting… which was cheesy.

You can get it on DVD still…

By: Scott

Scott — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:31:44 +0000

The M. Night Shyamalan ‘documentary’ Reed was referring to during the discussion of the Ouija board movie was “The Buried Secret of M. Night Shyamalan”. It was a mockumentary that aired on the Sci-Fi Channel a few days before the release of “The Village”, depicting Shyamalan as having supernatural powers. Unfortunately I run into a few people every now and then who saw it years ago and assume it’s true.