My Favorite Movies

"It's alive... It's ALIVE!!! In the name of God, now I know what it's like to BE God!!!" That scene is so electrifying, it sends shivers down my spine every time! At a very early age, it showed me the career I was destined for: mad scientist!!!

"A toast... To a new world of gods and monsters!"

Pure eye-candy from beginning to end!!! All in all, a delectable macabre masterpiece!!!

"Listen to them... Children of the night! What music they make!"

A supernatural plot involving witchcraft, a series of bizarre and stylish murders, wonderful baroque sets and a KILLER soundtrack by Goblin... What more could I ask for? This movie is my idea of Heaven! It's bliss!!!

"They're coming to get you, Barbara!"

This excellent follow-up to "Night of the Living Dead" could be viewed alternatively as a hardcore horror film or a one-joke movie.
Seen as the former, it provides the viewer with more than a copious amount of blood and guts (the scene towards the end where a bunch of bikers get disemboweled and eaten alive by ravenous zombies is a very good example of that.)
Seen as the latter, it is still oddly effective. Usually, one-joke movies tend to get dodgy after a while... But this one doesn't! While not a laugh-out-loud type of joke, there is no denying that it gets absolutely hilarious the more you think about it. Basically, this film shows that zombies only retain their most primal impulses, which include feeding on fresh meat and - believe or not - loitering in shopping malls! Now, if that doesn't crack you up, think about it some more, and you'll end up rolling on the floor just like I did the first time I watched this movie... And I swear that I wasn't on crack! :P

Picking up where "Night of the Living Dead" and "Dawn of the Dead" left off, this underrated sequel is intelligent horror at its best.
Basically, the plot goes as follows: the Earth is now overrun by flesh-eating zombies and the survivors must seek refuge underground. Ironically, the greatest threat to mankind proves to be man himself rather than the undead. In the claustrophobic atmosphere of a military base, tensions grow among a motley crew of soldiers and civilians. The former think that the zombies ought to be exterminated while, on the other hand, a prominent scientist insists that efforts must be made to domesticate and tame them. Some of his experiments bear fruit, but his unorthodox methods don't sit too well with the leader of the local military unit. Violent conflicts ensue, climaxing in a blood-curdling and gut-wrenching finale.
People are eviscerated, guts are spilled, limbs are severed... In sum, this film fully deserves its 5-star rating! Take my word for it!

Groovy movie!

"Gimme some sugar, baby!"

This movie is PURE GOLD!!! Nothing beats Nicol Williamson's delightfully eccentric portrayal of Merlin!

Looking for a good family movie? This magical treat is guaranteed to delight kids of all ages!
Indeed, how could one forget the sight of a rat driving a stake into Alice's cranium and then setting her hair on fire? How sweet!
Oh, and there's also the undead white rabbit that loses his stuffing every time he pulls his pocket-watch out of his gaping chest... Aww! How cute!
And let's not forget the scene where Alice is being chased by a bunch of skeletal creatures... My! What a lovely film!

Okay... Come to think of it, this may not be the perfect movie to watch with children... However, if you're in the mood for a surreal and genuinely twisted adaptation of Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland", you won't be disappointed with this version! Jan Svankmajer is a genius!

One of the most beautifully crafted fantasy films of all time... The Skeksis are truly an inspiration to me... I even whimper like the Chamberlain when I plot against someone!!!

"You remind me of the babe..."

A fantasy flick financed by Joseph Goebbels may not sound like everybody's cup of tea, but if, like me, you are a fan of the ineffable Baron Munchausen, you won't want to miss the sheer visual splendor of this version! The depiction of the Baron's trip to the Moon is particularly amazing!

Filled with gargantuan sets that include hideous gargoyles and horrible statues of martyrs writhing in pain, this film is about as historically accurate as a Monty Python movie! But who cares??? Besides its monumental decors that seem straight out of a Gothic horror movie, "The Scarlet Empress" features Marlene Dietrich at her seductive best... And let's not forget Sam Jaffe as the demented Peter III! Watch out for the expression of glee on that maniac's face as he gets married to Catherine of Russia... YIKES!!!

There is REAL MAGIC at work in this wonderful little film! How else could you explain a movie where all the characters and sets are paper cut-outs being so enthralling?

Simply put, this movie is nothing short of supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! :P

"The Emperor's Nightingale" has to be one of the loveliest fairy tale adaptations ever! You'd have to be a jaded mandarin not to be charmed by this one!

"Candy is dandy, but liquor is quicker!"

"Good morning starshine! The earth says hello!"

"What's this? What's this??? There's color everywhere!"

This is what happens when one of my favorite directors (Tim Burton) produces a film based on a book written by one of my favorite authors (Roald Dahl)... The merging of the two is quite simply dazzling!

This movie is so screamingly beautiful, you'll lose your head over it!!! (Sorry for the bad puns - I couldn't help it! :P)

"I kick ass for the Lord!"

Freddy Krueger is a wonderful role-model for all of us homicidal maniacs... He's my hero!!!

"This is it, Jennifer! Your big break in TV! Welcome to prime-time, bitch!"
Wow! What can I say? This movie features some of Freddy's best kills! Nothing beats the scene where he smashes the girl's head into a TV set (see quote above).

*sings* "This is Halloween! This is Halloween! Pumpkins scream in the dead of the night!"

Whoops... Wrong movie!

In fact, there isn't any singing at all in this movie... There is, however, an awful lot of screaming, shrieking, panting and gasping! If that sounds like your idea of a fun, "Halloween" will not disappoint! MICHAEL MYERS DELIVERS!!! His bodycount in this movie may have been surpassed by other masked maniacs, his style may have been imitated by lesser copycats, but his stealth and cool imperturbable attitude will always make him THE ultimate master of his art!

Captain Ahab sitting astride the great white whale and stabbing it furiously with a harpoon... How can a scene get more intense than that?

It's always loads of fun to watch the great Klaus Kinski go apeshit! My! What a formidable presence!!!

For those of you who thought that Betty Boop and Jessica Rabbit were as sexy as cartoon characters could get, here is a film that may well change the way you perceive animation. Indeed, "Heavy Metal" epitomizes the expression "sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll". Featuring extensive scenes of cartoon violence and lots of naked women, this is a far cry from "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs".
This being said, "Heavy Metal" is a wonderful anthology that will undoubtedly appeal to fans of science fiction and fantasy. The stories are very varied and the tone is somewhat uneven, but the animation is always very impressive. My favorite segment is probably the last one, featuring the Amazon warrior Taarna. Perverse and yet strangely beautiful and poetic, it deftly interweaves elements of sci-fi and sword & sorcery. The sketch set during World War II is also a standout. Filled with zombies and blood-curdling terror, it rivals some of George A. Romero's best efforts.
But enough talk - see this film for yourself and indulge in its dubious pleasures. "Heavy Metal" is a visual tour-de-force that must be experienced to be fully appreciated.

True: this film is a gross oversimplification of Frank Herbert's science fiction novel. True: it omits several vitally important details that are crucial to the comprehension of the story. True: "Dune" lacks suspense and fails to engage the viewer with its protagonists. True, true, true.
I'll be the first to admit that this movie is guilty of all of the above. This being said, do I care? The answer is NO. The reason for this is very simple: rarely have I seen a film that so completely immerses me in its universe. David Lynch creates a whole new world, gives it its own set of rules, and bestows on it his own distinctive twisted touch. (The floating fat man known as Baron Harkonnen, with his pustule-covered face and his weird penchants for young men, is indeed hard to get out of one's mind.) Plus, the film's many religious overtones (ex: the Fremen awaiting the coming of a Messiah that will lead them to true freedom) gives it the feel of a grand biblicial epic set in outer space, à la "The Ten Commandments" meets "Star Wars".
So, all in all, if you wish to indulge in a unique movie experience that will intoxicate you with sights and sounds you will remember for years to come, watch David Lynch's "Dune".

At the mere mention of this film, I always feel like singing... "I see a little silhouetto of a man... Scaramouche! Scaramouche! Will you do the fandago?" :P
But besides bringing to mind the "Bohemian Rhapsody", this movie evokes for me the sense of grandeur and spectacle that made me cheer when I was a kid (and still does today!) All in all, "Scaramouche" is a brilliant adventure piece filled with beautiful pastel colors and featuring some of the best swordplay ever captured on film!

In the Brothers Grimm's rendition of the classic fairy tale, Cinderella's wicked stepsisters are ready to do anything to fit their feet into the heroine's slipper after she loses it in her haste to leave the palace before the last stroke of midnight. One of them is so desperate, she cuts off her big toe with a knife in an attempt to fool the prince. Unfortunately for her, while on the way to the castle, two birds perched on a branch draw the prince's attention to the blood dripping from the slipper, thereby exposing the fraud. The second stepsister is equally determined to enter the royal family and chops off a bit of her heel. The same situation ensues: the prince mistakes her for Cinderella, rides off with her on his horse and she is unmasked by the same two birds. Delightful, isn't? Curiously, the scenes I just described are nowhere to be found in the Disney version. I wonder why... (devious wink) Needless to say, the Mickey Mouse company went for a more family-friendly approach, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Beneath its sugar-coating, "Cinderella" is a masterpiece of fantasy and story-telling -- possibly the finest screen version of the tale that will ever be made. Lovable characters, enchanting musical numbers, a sumptuous palette and superb animation all contribute to the success of this remarkable achievement. Disney's "Cinderella" casts a spell which, unlike the Fairy Godmother's magic, remains undiminished by time.

Good evening fellow occultists!

As many of you already know, there are several ways to kill a vampire: exposure to sunlight, immersion in holy water and, of course, the classic stake through the heart... But, personally, my favorite will always be the "death-by-stereo" method! The resulting fireworks never fail to impress even the most jaded of vampire hunters!

(A word to children: This message is intended for professionals only. DO NOT try any of this at home.)

"Here's JOHNNY!!!"

Every time I see this movie, I get so excited that my head spins 360 degrees, causing me to spew out jets of green vomit! Believe me: not many movies affect me this way!

AVE SATANI!

Marcel Pagnol's gentle pastoralism meets "Alice in Wonderland" in this delicate fable set in the Japanese countryside. Follow two adorable little girls as they explore their new home and discover an enchanted world inhabited by soot sprites and Totoros - strange furry creatures endowed with mystical powers. Their happiness is marred, however, when they receive word from the hospital that their mom's health is deteriorating. Will the Totoros help them?
Sentimental without being schmaltzy, sweet without being cloying, "My Neighbor Totoro" is a treat for all ages! It shows that one's dreams can go a long way in making the world a better place. Wonderful!

If you are into demon-possession and zombies oozing with green pus, this is the movie for you!
After being handed free tickets by a mysterious masked figure, a group of people gather in a newly-opened movie theater to attend the premiere of a horror film revolving around an ancient mask that has the power to turn people into blood-thirsty demons.
As the movie unfurls, a member of the audience starts undergoing strange transformations... Before you can blink, the theater is infested by demonic creatures, and the few survivors must do battle against the legions of Hell!
Will they survive? Or will they meet a very gruesome fate at the hands of Satan's spawns? Watch the film to find out!

This film encapsulates what the 7th art is all about: it has dinosaurs, stop-motion animation and Raquel Welch running around in a fur bikini... Isn't that the essence of cinema? :)