Cabin in the Woods with Nostra

The new concept that’s based on the idea of “Dessert Island” and a “Top Ten Films List” combined continues as some of my friends from the Twitterverse have been kind enough to take on the challenge of telling us about 5 movies that they would want with them if they were in a Cabin in the Woods under different scenarios. 

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Our next contributor is Nostra,who while traveling to Eastern Europe came across a scenario that put his life in jeapordy...

"You've just rented a Cabin in the Woods with a male friend while on a backpacking trip in Eastern Europe. On your first night you meet two beautiful women who want to show you the "real" country. You instantly remember the film Hostel. Not knowing what they really want you now have one night and 5 films to convince these girls to like you so they don't take you to a torture chamber. What five films would you want to watch?"

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Well, firstly they must have drugged me, because I can't remember ever seeing Hostel. Since my friend keeps reminding me about this movie I quickly read the synopsis on IMDB and switch to survival mode. How would I manage them to like us? It's important to show them the beauty of life and love.

I think the perfect movie to quickly show that would be the documentary Life in a Day. This is a documentary that was made by Ridley Scott, Kevin MacDonald and Joe Walker who asked people around the world to upload footage, all shot during the same day. They got a lot of footage and managed to edit it into this movie which celebrates life around the world.

Now if that didn't win them over (maybe they don't like documentaries) I will have to use another "weapon" to break through and what better way than laughter. So I'd have to pick one of the best comedies out there. For a moment I think about Groundhog Day, but since that might not be funny enough I will pick Dumb and Dumber instead. Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels managed to breathe life into these two stupid guys in a way you'll never forget. I'm sure there will be scenes in this movie that will make them laugh. My personal favorite being the one with the ketchup and mustard bottles.

Singin' in the Rain - They might be in a happier mood now and to keep that vibe going I'd choose this vibrant musical. If they still have grim thoughts, all the colors, dancing and songs like Make 'em Laugh, Singin' in the Rain might wash a lot of that away.

Once - A romantic movie with great music which they might be able to relate to as one of the main characters comes from Eastern Europe. If they have a piano I could tell them I can kind of play "Falling Slowly" (even though it might not be very good yet they could be impressed).

Before Sunrise - This would be the last movie I would show and I thought this one through. First of all it is a romantic movie and if the previous movie already opened a little door to compassion this will open it further. The story of two strangers meeting in a train and spending the night in Vienna can't leave you cold. When this movie finishes they will wonder what happened after this and I could tell them that there is another movie where you will find out (and that a new one has been shot and will come out soon).

In case all this wouldn't work I'd convince them to watch a sixth movie and I'd just pick a really long movie, hope they'd fall asleep and we will get out of there as quickly as possible.

Nostra runs the My Filmviews blog with reviews for new and old movies, weekly features (The Monday Question and The Many Faces of...) and he's always open to talk movies on Twitter here.

If you would like to participate and would like me to send you a unique scenario, simply Email Me 

Top 10 Modern Day Hollywood Film Directors

Hollywood has been at the forefront of world cinema since production first set up home there in the early 1900s. Unsurprisingly, it has seen some of the greatest filmmakers work in its warm and sunny Californian climate. A top 10 list of the best film directors of all time would surely include the likes of Alfred Hitchcock (you can see his top 10 films here), Stanley Kubrick, John Ford and Billy Wilder. But how does the new crop compare? In modern cinema, the period following the American New Wave of the 1970s, which directors are worthy of being spoken of with the same high esteem?

10. Judd Apatow

Judd Apatow quietly went about his business as a producer on many high profile, and enjoyable, comedies before his name became recognised thanks to The 40-Year-Old Virgin. He’s taken on the role vacated by the Farrelly brothers and run with it. Films such as Knocked Up, Funny People, and the Apatow-produced Bridemaids have dominated the mainstream comedy film market for several years.

9. David Fincher

David Fincher’s films Fight Club and Seven are two of the most popular films in best-of film polls made around the world. These films alone make him one of Hollywood’s best directors but he has achieved high-quality consistency throughout his films. Even the once derided Alien 3 has turned critics around as it has aged, becoming one of the best science-fiction films of the 1990s. He most recently brought Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg’s life to the big screen in The Social Network and adapted acclaimed novel The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.

8. James Cameron

James Cameron announced his return to filmmaking with, what has quickly become, the most successful movie ever made – Avatar, which took over four years to make. With Titanic under his belt twelve years earlier, Cameron finally solidified himself as the most commercial filmmaker in the history of Hollywood. His other classics include The Terminator and The Terminator 2, The Abyss, and True Lies.

7. Peter Jackson

Peter Jackson is now known for his three-hour epic fantasy films – his remake of King Kong and the Lord of the Rings trilogy clock in at nearly fifteen hours of entertainment. Before he became a household name he did make quirky and often dark comedy-horror films such as The Frighteners and Braindead. He’ll next hit the big screen with The Hobbit.

6. Paul Thomas Anderson

Paul Thomas Anderson, is another, like Peter Jackson, who likes to make movies that break the three-hour mark. The difference is that Anderson sticks to less mainstream storylines, preferring to practice his art over commercial viability. He made the superb There Will Be Blood in 2007, but is more recognised for his ensemble films Boogie Nights and Magnolia.

5. Alexander Payne

Alexander Payne is the best character-driven director on this list. His films are beautifully constructed character pieces, usually concerning oddball or quirky men and women who seem alienated from their social circle. His greatest achievement is the brilliant Sideways, but he’s also made the equally impressive About Schmidt and Election. His most recent film, The Descendants, stars George Clooney as a father trying to keep the family together after his wife has a boating accident.

4. Wes Anderson

Wes Anderson (no relation to Paul) is a director of black comedies about strange but wonderful characters often in an almost surreal setting. His debut film Bottle Rocket became a huge cult hit while Rushmore and The Royal Tenenbaums earned him critical success. He has now achieved massive commercial success with George Clooney-starring stop-motion animated film Fantastic Mr. Fox.

3. Martin Scorsese

There’s no denying Martin Scorsese is one of the world’s best auteur directors. Since he burst onto Hollywood’s radar with the Robert De Niro/Harvey Keitel-starring Mean Streets, he has consistently turned out original and provocative work. Some of his most notable films include Goodfellas, The Departed, Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Gangs of New York, and Casino.

2. Christopher Nolan

Christopher Nolan has become Hollywood’s most visionary yet commercial director. Memento, the film that introduced most people to his work, became a film critic’s darling and an audience favourite following its release depicting a unique, backwards narrated story. Nolan set the bar high. Other directors would have crumbled under the pressure to live up to the expectation. However, he has returned to the big screen with films that get better and better. The Prestige, about two warring magicians is still my favourite, yet Nolan really stamped his authority with his Batman trilogy. The Dark Knight, the second film of the series, is surely now one of the best sequels ever made. To also have the marvellous Inception in his filmography is testament to the amazing work of his fabulous filmmaker. 

1. Steven Spielberg

Commercial success and critical acceptance is something every filmmaker wants but few receive. Steven Spielberg achieved both. Learning his trade making television drama, he caught people’s attention with the TV movie Duel. The film was so well received it was given a theatrical release. This allowed him to make his first fully-fledged feature film The Sugarland Express. What followed was a string of commercial and critical successes – Jaws, Close Encounters of The Third Kind, Raiders of the Lost Ark, E.T., Jurassic Park, Schindler’s List, A.I. Artificial Intelligence, and War of the Worlds, among many others.

Daniel Stephens feeds his unhealthy obsession with the top 10 list by overseeing proceedings at Top10Films.co.uk as founder and editor.

Cabin in the Woods with David Neary

It’s time for some movie fun. It’s a new concept that’s based on the idea of “Dessert Island” and a “Top Ten Films List” combined. Some of my friends from the Twitterverse have been kind enough to take on the challenge of telling us about 5 movies that they would want with them if they were in a Cabin in the Woods under different scenarios. Someone is snowed in while another is confined to the cabin as a toxic gas is leaked around them. Would you want to scare the people you are with or maybe get comfy with your better half with your choice of films? 
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Our next contributor is David Neary,who had to choose his films based on the fact that his supposed romantic vacation turned into a somewhat family vacation...

“You book a romantic Cabin in the Woods with your girlfriend looking for some alone time. When you get to the spot you realise it is a family vacation spot with kids everywhere and no sign of romance. Which 5 films would you want to have with you and why?”

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There are three things you need to aim for here:

1.  Long films; so that if a neighbour knocks on the door of your cabin asking “can you help get our truck out of the mud”, you can respond “Oh, I’m just in the middle of a movie, will be right with you...” Hopefully your movie won’t end for another three hours.

2.  Films that are brilliant but would bore children; this will stop children hanging around your window trying to get a peek, or thinking you’re the cool neighbour with whom they can try and hang around.

3.  Loud films; for drowning out screaming, shrieking, yelling, and other horrible noises young people and their beleaguered parents produce.

With these things in mind...

Film #1. No child could take pleasure in it, but I will never not enjoy a rewatch – NETWORK. Every re-viewing brings something new, and all that glorious acting and blistering dialogue will keep you entertained and make sure no one under 20 comes near the place.

Film #2. It has to be AIRPLANE! Let the sound of your own laughter drown out the infantile horrors outside the cabin. If your laughing piques their curiosity, let them know the jokes are for adults only, and to go away, you’re trying to watch one of the greatest (and most re-watchable) comedies ever written.

Film #3. ALIEN. Because it’s Alien. Because the screaming and noise will freak out the little buggers trying to listen from outside. Because if they try to glimpse in through a window they will see the worst things from their nightmares. Because I love it.

Film #4. As long films go, I’d normally say Lawrence of Arabia, but seeing it on the small screen (I assume my cabin hasn’t a built-in cinema) just won’t do. Instead I’m opting for Sergei Bondarchuk’s WAR & PEACE. Roughly seven hours long and never dull, it is just a superb epic. The topic and subtitles would turn away any nosey children, and the length allows you to be shut off from socialising for the rest of the day. Plus, it’s divided into five chapters, so you can easily take opportunities to pause it and attend to other activities – you’re still watching the movie, just in case anyone calls around. Also, it’s one I’ve been meaning to rewatch, but lord knows when I’d have the time!

Film #5. Need a little catharsis? A film where young people are terrorised in the woods would help. But Friday the 13^th, The Blair Witch Project and even The Cabin in the Woods are all too obvious. No, what you need is proper terror, and more importantly vengeance. That’s why it has to be ADDAMS FAMILY VALUES. Who needs to see teenagers stabbed when you can watch younger children and their over-protective parents terrorised by Christina Ricci during a play about Thanksgiving!? The perfect one to watch to let you know how best to deal with the people beyond the log walls.

David Neary is an Irish film critic and historian. Obsessively devoted to film since his teens, his excessively broad tastes range from Ozu and Renoir to the guys who made Crank. He can be found on Twitter via his handle @DeusExCinema and you can read his blog http://thefilmcricket.wordpress.com


If you would like to participate and would like me to send you a unique scenario, simply Email Me 

Cabin in the Woods with Lesya

It’s time for some movie fun. It’s a new concept that’s based on the idea of “Dessert Island” and a “Top Ten Films List” combined. Some of my friends from the Twitterverse have been kind enough to take on the challenge of telling us about 5 movies that they would want with them if they were in a Cabin in the Woods under different scenarios. Someone is snowed in while another is confined to the cabin as a toxic gas is leaked around them. Would you want to scare the people you are with or maybe get comfy with your better half with your choice of films? 
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Next up is Lesya who was given the following scenario...

"You and a friend have rented a Cabin in the Woods in a foreign country. Although the brochure said that it was close to civilization, when you get there you realize it is in a secluded place and an hour away from any human being. Which 5 films would you want to have with you and why?"

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If it was me alone, renting that Cabin in the Woods, I would probably take five most favorite films that are in my all time top list. Thus, a friend drastically changes the order of things, meaning the choice of movies. I will imagine that I rent the cabin with my best friend, whose film tastes I know and sometimes share.

Going on a vacation with a friend equals fun. However, going on a vacation with a friend to some secluded place ruins it all. Once again, if I was on my own, being in an oasis of isolation would be paradise for me, for instance, for the sake of writing. Anyway, the best films that my friend and I enjoyed together are mostly the fun ones that would perhaps restore our faith in the world and here they are.

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)Or maybe the trilogy in the boxset. But not to break the rules, the very first film. The thing is that both my friend and I were major fans of the franchise in high school and I think that it was one of the key things that bonded us at the time. We were crazy about the franchise and we literally scared shop assistants that sold the film related merchandize and magazines that featured either Jack Sparrow or Elizabeth Swann or Will Turner because we were so excited! For me this film has even more significant meaning, but even without that, it's just my favorite film from that high school youth and I'm very happy that I shared the love to it with my best friend. Besides, the movie is fun and dynamic and would be a great entertainment in the Cabin in the Woods.

Inception (2010)My friend is a huge fan of Chris Nolan, like I am, but unfortunately, she couldn't fully enjoy this offering from the director, that's why I find the idea of making her re-visit it and maybe like it more a very good one. Moreover, it would be another chance to explore this amazingly complicated and infinitely captivating feature.

The Hangover (2009)My friend and I love this film! We haven't seen it together, but we did go to view its sequel. Anyway, The Hangover is a perfect choice for movie watching in the Cabin. Firstly, it's about people, um, taking a rest (technically, it's a bachelor party that doesn't apply to our situation, but still it's akin to a vacation). And secondly, this hilarious comedy would transport us from our sad isolated place to the world of splitting our sides with laughter.

The Big Sleep (1946)I watched this film. My friend watched this film. I was totally confused. My friend was totally confused. The movie is terribly baffling and complicated, but re-watching it is always postponed, since there are those films that you haven't seen or you don't want to twist your brain right now or something else. Being locked up in the Cabin in the middle of nowhere, we'd have nothing else to do but to arm ourselves with paper and pencils to draw tangled schemes of what character A, B, C… did and how it influences the plot. I think this time we'd know everything about the story.

Some Like It Hot (1959)And to finish our movie watching vacation, I'd pick another classic, Billy Wilder's masterpiece. Mind you, my friend enjoys classic films, so I don't think that having two of classic ones in our suitcases would bore us. Some Like It Hot is a work of a genius. Personally, I have seen it hundreds of times and it never stops to amuse me. I believe that this film is the comedy of all times, at least for me. I have no idea how it was possible to create such brilliance. This film would properly crown out vacation and we'd go home with smiles on our faces, even though we had got in the back of beyond instead of our much longed-for civilized place for rest.

Lesya loves films to bits, praising the art at Eternity of Dream, and she aspires for a moment when she can call herself a writer. You can also follow Lesya on Twitter, as @love_cinema.

If you would like to participate and would like me to send you a unique scenario, simply Email Me 

10 Reasons Why I Like Sucker Punch

I have no shame in saying that I liked one of the most disliked films from last year. Since having watched it I have had a few conversations with other cinephiles as to the merits and demerits of the film and eventually I decided to sit and jot down the reasons why I actually enjoyed Sucker Punch, and here they are;

Jenna Malone - One of cinema's most underrated actresses, Jenna Malone shines in the film, despite having a support role, playing Rocket, an inmate in the mental asylum where Emily Browning's Babydoll is institutionalized. A look at her IMDB profile and her multi-talent in the arts can only lead to great things in the future. With news about her getting casted in the sequel of Hunger Games, hopefully we get to see more of her in the future.   

Special Effects - Let's face it, Zack Snyder knows how to visually impress the audience. He did it in 300 and then again in Watchmen (a little bit), and does so again in Sucker Punch which is a feast for the eyes in terms of special effects, colour, and overall picturization.

The Ending - Let's just say I didn't see it coming and I did leave the film with a smile on my face.

The Dumbness Amongst The Complexity - Okay I agree there are aspects of the film that are dumb. Why is the "list" which can easily be memorized written down in an obvious place? Why are some of the names given to the characters so obscure, I mean calling a dark haired Vanessa Hudgens, Blondie? But, there is also enough complexity as the story moves between reality and fantasy that maybe having a bit of simplistic non-reasonable aspects to the story aren't that bad. 

The Interpretations Behind It All - The movie leaves enough space for the audience to derive their own interpretations from the story. I for one didn't understand half of what happened, but that was a good thing. It actually made me wrack my brain a bit. Sometimes, a film has more of an impact when everything is not clear, rather than spoon-feeding the viewers with all the information, and this is one such movie.

The Mystery Of The Dance - Babydoll's dance is one of the most important elements in the story of the film, and we never get to see it. While watching, every time the dance would start, I anticipated that maybe, just maybe this time we will get to experience this mysterious act, but instead we are taken into a world of fantasy on each occasion. At the end of it, I am glad that the dance is left to the imagination of the audience, just as the audience gets a peek into Babydoll's imagination each time she dances.  

The Music - A great soundtrack, especially during the fight sequences. The film's music is amongst a few that I have liked in totality over the past few years.  

The Action - We saw it in 300 and we can see the brilliance of Zack Snyder's action sequences once again in Sucker Punch. OTT and dreamy, Snyder's action is probably the most entertaining aspect of the film. All the girls come across as professional arse-kickers during these action sequences. In fact, everything they do makes for a fun and, in some cases, enticing viewing.  

Over-The-Top Situations - Machine gun wielding samurais, killer robots, gas-masked/powered Nazis, sword fights, Dragons, the fantasy world created by Snyder through the imagination of the Babydoll is definitely over-the-top, but it is fantastical keeping in mind the theme of the film.   

Oh! and one more thing...

The Entertainment Factor - The sum of all the parts, mentioned above, make the film an entertaining watch that never gets boring, nor does it drag. It might have some loose ends, but they can be easily overlooked.

Now, dare I ask what you thought of the film or the points I make? Alright... go ahead and tell me.

My Collection 10 - James Thompson

The Collection 10 series continues with James from Kent, UK.

Those who are new, the aim of the series is for people to take 10 DVDs from their collection at home, photograph them, and write a line or two about them. They do not have to be favourites, but just movies that have a story behind them. You might like them, hate them, or till now didn’t even know you had them, it is all about letting everyone know a little about your likes and dislikes.

1. Donnie Darko - My favourite film of all time had to be the first I mentioned. I actually own 3 copies of the film, the original, this, the director's cut 2 disc edition, and the blu ray containing both versions. When it comes to your favourite ever film, having multiple copies of the movie proves how much of a fan you truly are.

2. xXx - It may not be the best film in the world, far from it, but xXx is purely on my list due to the fact it was the first DVD I ever bought. Having never seen it before purchase, I have the excuse that I was only 13 years old when the film came to my attention. That said, i could still stick the film on today and enjoy it to a certain extent.

3. Sin City - I love Sin City. It's one of the most stylish films ever made in my opinion and boasts such an incredible cast it's hard to ignore. It was also the first steelbook DVD I ever purchased and for that I had to put it on my top 10 list.

4. Drive - If there's one DVD or Blu Ray of recent times that MUST be in the collection it has to be Drive. Oozing coolness and one of those films I could put on again and again it must be stated that a film collection would be lacking something huge if Drive was not in it.

5. Anchorman / Wake Up Ron Burgundy - Any fan of Will Ferrell will likely say that Anchorman is his best film and by far the most quotable comedy perhaps of all time. I admit to being a huge fanboy when it comes to Ron Burgundy and when this boxset was released I was first in line to buy it. A huge must for fans of the film, after all it's more doses of the Channel 4 News team!!

6. Casino Royale - As one of my favourite James Bond films and the first blu ray I bought, Casino Royale is a blu ray I am glad to have in my collection. It looks amazing in high definition and the special features are masterful. If you're a fan of Bond this is the only version of the film to have in my opinion.

7. Nick Frost's Danger 50,000 Volts - This DVD is worth it's weight in gold purely for the special added extra of 'Danger 50,000 Zombies', the Nick Frost and Simon Pegg edition advising you how to survive a zombie attack. This is the Pegg-Frost pairing at its most hilarious and a real treat.

8. The Host - There are some foreign language gems out there and my personal favourite has to be South Korea's The Host. Bringing to screen a highly entertaining monster movie that doesn't fall at the hurdles through clichés and poor acting, The Host is a worthy film in any DVD collection.

9. The Tom Hanks Collection - As one of my favourite actors of all time, a boxset containing Tom Hanks' best and well-love films was a necessity in the DVD collection. Who can argue against a set including the likes of Saving Private Ryan, Catch Me If You Can, Castaway, The Terminal and Forrest Gump!

10. When asked to delve through my film collection to bring my favourites I noticed one title that caught me in a moment of disbelief. So much so that I had to put it in the list, despite being an eternity away from one of my favourites. In fact, it's the worst DVD I possess; that's right, White Chicks. I don't think it needs a particular explanation but I'm sure many of you will agree this film is awful. Enough said!



Thank you James for taking out the time to do the post for Ticker Talks Film.  You can view James' blog at www.fanaticalfilm.blogspot.com and follow him on Twitter @thommoj03


If you would like to share your Collection 10, please get in touch with me via Twitter (@raghavmodi) or via email (raghavmodi9@gmail.com)

Demystifying Indian Cinema

Last week's #MTOS proved to be quite a revelation for me. When asked why Indian cinema was not as popular around the world as compared to say Korean, majority of the tweeters suggested that excessive dance and music along with thin plot lines was the primary reason. There apparently seems to be a misconception that all that Indian cinema produces is "musicals".

Being a proud Indian and a strong supporter of Indian cinema I decided to make a list of movies that either have no dance/song sequences or if they do, it is rather limited.

Now, before I go ahead with the list there are a few points I would like to state;

For me the term Bollywood is quite derogatory. It's a term that is unfortunately used by the people in the industry itself and by journalists, but what it does is mirror the industries western counterpart rather than stating its own individualistic identity.

Also, for the sake of conversation, when I mention Indian Cinema I'm primarily talking about Hindi Cinema. The Indian Film Industry is huge, producing hundreds of movies in a number of regional languages, but my viewing of Indian cinema has till now been limited to Hindi Films.

Lastly, although everyone has the right to their own opinion, but I feel that having 10-15 minutes of song and dance is a two hour plus movie doesn't necessarily make it a musical. As an Indian I can tell you that music and dance are part of our lives and keeping that in mind movies simply reflect our society to an extent.

The reason for this list is not because I think Indian films should be song and dance free. It is merely to showcase that our cinema is extremely diverse and if you look into it a little harder you are likely to find some amazing cinematic gems. I respect everyone's choices and if you in general don't like movies with songs and dance, that is fair. But, to generalize an entire industry based on a misconception would be a great loss for cinema.

So, have a read through the list. I did not describe the movies partly because it's rather hard to explain every film, even briefly, and also the fun part about cinema is discovering new films. So I've done the hard part for you and compiled the list, now all you have to do, if interested, is Google/IMDB the movies and give them a try. I guarantee that you will think differently of Indian cinema after watching a few of these movies.

I would obviously love to hear your thoughts before and after the viewings. In fact, if anyone would love to do a guest post for my blog based on their viewings from this list, I'll be more than delighted.

I would also like to thank Mr. Anish Trivedi (@anish_trivedi) who helped me with the list.

The following downloadable list is in no particular order whatsoever;

Indian Movies without (or with very few) Song and Dance Sequences