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Showing posts from September, 2009

White and Green

So, my other two professors. This morning, as I was getting ready to leave, I got an e-mail from my Latin professor, whom I will call Mrs. White.  The e-mail said that, since the class tanked so badly as a group, she was going to make all of us retake the test, and have another one to boot.  Every test now is not only open-book, but take-home, and she is making herself available for in-her-office tutoring sessions.  Then we went to class and she repeated the whole thing.  I think she was as irritated as she ever gets; she's a pretty effervescent sixties leftover - if you remember from earlier articles, she's the one who sings the translations to us, just to be bubbly. Then she introduced Jose, our TA.  He seems a nice enough guy, with sideburns and a mustache, and apparently a burgeoning love for all things Latin.  Go figure.  Anyway, Mrs. White did this go-around-the-room-and-introduce-yourself bit, the first part of which was "age".  Now, I don't shy away from t

Mexploitation Madness!

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This year I have decided to dress up for Halloween (something I rarely do) as a luchador, complete with a nice mask, a suit and an old red briefcase I will use to carry spare masks in! I'm already practicing being scary! In honor of one of my go-to genres of film and pro-wrestling, lucha libre... ...inspired by my amazing choice in costume this year (ahem) and the luchador tattoo I have on my chest - designed by yours truly to resemble my own face (yep, I'm that vain)... ...because this month leads right up to El Dia De Los Muertos on November 1 and 2, a celebration both my wife and I have had long term fascinations with (at the very least the aesthetic of it all... ...because Mexican culture in general has been a great interest of mine for many many years... ...and well, fuck, because I just have an itching to watch some trashy Mexican cinema..... I declare October MEXPLOITATION MONTH on Assorted Loaf. Get excited OK, are you done? I hope it's not a stupid decision for me

Be the Next Victoria's Secret Angel!

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If you've the looks and the body, grab your once in a lifetime chance to walk the runway during upcoming Victoria's Secret Angels Fashion Show . Check out the official guidelines and screening schedules to join Miranda Kerr, Alessandra Ambrosio, Heidi Klum and other angels.

Castellari Month comes to a close

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I had a lot of fun this month skimming the Enzo G. Castellari catalog, and I feel like I learned quite a bit at least about his style and his passion for film making. I hope you loyal 3 or so readers enjoyed my reviews. Please feel free to comment anywhere, make some suggestions, tell me why I am wrong. Castellari may not be the most original storyteller and director of all time, but like some of the great film makers, he has a passion for what he does that is evident in hearing him speak, and a reverence for all of the source material that he likes to pull from. An obviously well-read guy, he is proud of his work, and rightfully so. Although I believe Mr. Castellari and I may differ on some philosophical things, namely the role of violence in culture, I respect him even more after seeing his wide variety of stories this month. He puts himself into his work, films that many may overlook as just popcorn movie time, and enjoys doing so... and it shows. The films I watched were technicall

Good morning, and in case I don't see ya, good afternoon, good evening, and good night!

No 328 - The Truman Show Director - Peter Weir Empire's Twitter has pointed me in the direction of this blog here . Now of course, I'm slightly jealous that he has managed to get the magazine's attention without even trying (for I am a petty and bitter man) - but mostly I think it is awesome that other people are cracking through the films. It is a good little challenge.You may see from the Blog that this chap (I believe his name is Dallas) is going to try and watch them all in one year. A mighty feat indeed and it has encouraged me to get my act together. So... Witness... THE SECOND BLOG IN ONE DAY! Gasp! Egad! etcetera .... After a very early start for a morning at work, I relished in my free afternoon and sat down in front of the Truman Show. I don't know whether it is a guilty pleasure but I really like Jim Carrey when he is in his serious roles. Eternal Sunshine , Man on the Moon , Truman Show are all brilliant films. The Number 23 is completely ridiculous and too

KEOMA

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Original Title: Keoma Year : 1976 Director : Enzo G. Castellari Writer : Enzo G. Castellari (screenplay), Nico Ducci (screenplay), George Eastman (screenplay, story), Mino Roli (screenplay), Joshua Sinclair (dialogue (uncredited)) IMDB : http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085124/ Genre : Western imdb synopsis: Half-breed Keoma returns to his border hometown after service in the Civil War and finds it under the control of Caldwell, an ex-Confederate raider, and his vicious gang of thugs. To make matters worse, Keoma's three half-brothers have joined forces with Caldwell, and make it painfully clear that his return is an unwelcome one. Determined to break Caldwell and his brothers' grip on the town, Keoma partners with his father's former ranch hand to exact violent revenge. I've been reading varying opinions on Keoma today after viewing it myself. After recently hearing an interview with Enzo Castellari thanks to the fine folks of Pop Syndicate , Outside the Cinema , an

Paradise begins with the love we show each other here on Earth.

No 108 - L'albero Degli Zoccoli (The Tree of Wooden Clogs) Director - Ermanno Olmi I have had this sitting in my house for the best part of a month. The reason for this being, it sounded VERY heavy. Here is LoveFilm's definition of the film. The only definition or review of it that I had: Ermanno Olmi's THE TREE OF WOODEN CLOGS presents a year in the life of peasants in northern Italy near the turn of the 20 th century. A little boy breaks his precious pair of clogs, which he needs for his long trek to school. Desperate for wood to make a new pair, his father sneaks into a prized grove in their small village. When he's caught, the unfeeling, wealthy landlord punishes him severely for his transgression. This small incident, and the various viewpoints of the peasants, reveal in beautiful detail rural life under oppressive rule. and the film is 3 hours long. I strapped myself in and decided to watch it. I want to begin by saying I didn't detest the film, there w

Plum and Peacock

I am slowly coming to the realization that my History of South Africa Professor - whom I will call Professor Plum, is apparently a very good teacher, in addition to being a jerk.  His tenacity at insisting that we keep up with the reading and cover the material is far beyond that exhibited by any other professors I have (or have had), and it pays off.  His students, however, either have or must quickly develop a thick skin, because he does speak to us like we're idiots or children, even those of us who are neither. This is actually my second year at Maryland, and last year I had a professor - Miss Scarlet - who, if our paths crossed in something besides a teacher-student relationship, I could see becoming friends with.  I'm probably, if anything, older than she was (is), and she seemed nice and thoughtful and would be fun to be around.  I hold Plum in direct contrast to her, in that I wouldn't last ten minutes in a room with him at a party before rolling my eyes in abject d

Vampire Fashion Updates From New Moon Posters

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I know that a lot of Twilight die-hard fans are craving for some of the latest fashion updates for the upcoming movie Twilight Saga: New Moon. To satisfy your hunger, I present to you some of the newest New Moon posters from Just Jared . Let your eyes feasts on Robert Pattinson's vampire fashion styles together with the rest of the gang.

Ashley Tisdale Wears the Latest Fashion Trends in Puerco Espin Campaign Ads

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Ashley Tisdale had some new campaign ads for Puerco Espin Fall 2009 catalog. Checkout some of her new looks that sported a fashionable, romantic, casual and refined chic. Source: JustJared Jr.

Alexander McQueen Fall/Winter 2009-2010

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I love the new campaign ads of Alexander McQueen Fall/Winter Collection. They are so bold and colorful. Models posed against the Halloween background too. Photographed by David Burton. Source

THE NEW BARBARIANS

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Original Title : I Nuovi barbari Year : 1983 Director : Enzo G. Castellari Writer : Tito Carpi , Enzo G. Castellari , Antonio Visone IMDB : http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084424/ Genre : Post-Apocalypse This may have been the very first Enzo Castellari film I ever watched. I didn't watch it because it was Castellari... I watched it because it is post-apocalyptic flick. It is a Mad Max rip-off. And it is so fun. imdb synopsis: Two mercenaries help wandering caravans fight off an evil and aimless band of white-clad bikers after the nuclear holocuast. Mad Max 2 anyone? OK, actually I don’t have a lot to say about this one except that it ruled! The story here is pretty throwaway… it was most definitely a Road Warrior ripoff: the loner in the sweet muscle car protecting the helpless caravan from the evil mohawked do-badders. You kinda know what you are in for right off the bat with some of the best/worst miniature work ever put to film used to illustrate the nuclear strike that almost en