Went on a bit of a movie marathon over the long weekend and this week. Just watched Harold and Kumar go to White Castle, very stupid movie. But I can't say I'm surprised as it was made by the same people that made "Dude, where's my Car?". Some parts are pretty funny though, especially the scenes with Neil Patrick Harris [Doogie Howser].

Harold: Did Doogie Howser just steal my fucking car?
Kumar: Yes... I think he did.
Harold: Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Also caught 99.9, a Spanish horror movie from 1997. Good movie, the lead actress [María Barranco] was quite good, she was in almost every scene so she'd better be. The story had a lot of disparate elements to it that didn't totally add up to a cohesive whole, but it did manage to carry an eerie atmosphere throughout the whole 90 minutes and that made it worth it. There's no big surprise at the end like most movies these days, just a bunch of little twists and turns sprinkled throughout that keep the story moving along. Altogether, a nice litttle gem of a movie.

Another horror movie, Killer Workout aka Aerobicide, was a completely different animal. Holy shit was this movie bad! It was made in 1986 when all those Flashdance type aerobics were popular, so you get this low-budget flick that intercuts scenes of chicks working out, with cheesy murder sequences, then back to the aerobics. Hilarious. The cameraman was a perv too, going from their crotches to their boobs and back again. The murders are commited with, get this, a big fucking safety pin! Why? Who knows, just for kicks I guess. Although the killer will use the usual butcher knive when needed. Or a gun or dumbells, whatevers handy. And they have these two musclebound goons who are constantly fighting each other, and not very convincingly either, you can see they aren't really hitting each other. And a cop who's obviously channeling Eastwood's Dirty Harry. Badly. If you get a kick out of reaaally bad movies, you have to check this beauty out, it's craptastic!

A Czech movie from 1970 called Valerie and her Week of Wonders is arguably another horror movie, since it does have vampires. But holy shit, it has to be one of the weirdest movies I've ever seen. I generally liked it, but if you like a good narrative, look elsewhere. Many scenes seem to go off in completely different angles from each other, it doesn't make sense. But in a way, it does, if you understand that the movie is about a girl's confusion about her sexuality after her first period. Nicely photographed and some interesting sets, I liked her all-white bedroom. The actress who played Valerie, Jaroslava Schallerová, was a real cutie, played the part well. So I kinda liked it, definitely left me scratching my head though.

And I also watched Sin City. I mostly liked it. I mean it was fun to watch and all, but I never felt too terribly close to any of the characters and couldn't care less if they lived or died, which kind of made my viewing experience a little... detached? Uninvolved? I don't know. Although Mickey Rourke's character Marv was hoot and made it worth watching for that performance alone.

Marv: I love hitmen. No matter what you do to them, you don't feel bad.

Also watched Troy, the first half was pretty bad IMHO, but the last half was actually not half bad. [yes, I'm trying to confuse you] The classic I drink your Blood, your typical Satan-worshipping-hippies-catch-rabies-and-go-on-a-killing-spree movie. And last but not least, Sexy Beast, funny gangster wants out but the mob won't let him movie. With heavy English accents [some of the dialogue was hard to understand] and Ben Kingsley in a standout role as the least sociable person you'll ever see depicted on screen. Funny thing is, I've met people like him. Hell, I'm rather unsociable myself. [But not that bad, I hope!] I learned a new word too: insinnuendos. LOL

Ben Kingsley claims the character of Don Logan is largely based on his grandmother.

Don: Shut up, cunt. You louse. You got some fuckin' neck ain't you. Retired? Fuck off, you're revolting. Look at your suntan, it's leather, it's like leather man, your skin. We could make a fucking suitcase out of you. Like a crocodile, fat crocodile, fat bastard. You look like fucking Idi Amin, you know what I mean? Stay here? You should be ashamed of yourself. Who do you think you are? King of the castle? Cock of the walk?
[He gut-punches Gal]
Don: What you think this is the wheel of fortune? You think you can make your dough and fuck off? Leave the table? Thanks Don, see you Don, off to sunny Spain now Don, fuck off Don. Lying in your pool like a fat blob laughing at me, you think I'm gonna have that? You really think I'm gonna have that, ya ponce. All right, I'll make it easy for you. God knows you're fucking trying. Are you gonna do the job? It's not a difficult question, are you gonna do the job, yes or no?