Saturday, August 16, 2014

Best comfort movies

Best comfort movies
 (RIP Butterbean, best dog a girl could ever have!)

We've all had bad periods in our life's. A horrible break-up, loss of a loved one, an argument with a friend, a bad day at school/work, feeling sick, or just down right depressed over something that happened. These moments can last hours, days, months, even years. I for one like everyone else has had some truly roller coaster moments in my life, but yesterday was truly one of the lowest I've had in a very long time.
I rarely share personal stuff on this blog, trying to keep it fun and light but early yesterday morning my dog Butterbean passed away. Bean was a truly special dog, she was born in the first batch of puppies our dog Ripley had back in 2005. I still remember the night before the puppies were born a very pregnant Ripley flopped down on my lap while I watched the 70's film Gator. I was petting her when low and behold I could feel tiny kicks. Ripley went on to have several other litters of puppies but never since that moment did I feel them move inside. The following morning on Easter Sunday Ripley had a small litter of puppies, one of which we were allowed to keep. This ended up being Butterbean. I still remember when she had the puppies Smoky And The Bandit was playing on TV so whenever I thought of Butterbean I thought of Burt Reynolds. This dog was truly adorable, she had her own personality and was a complete joy to have. My mother named her after the boxer in Jackass The Movie that knocks Johnny Knoxville's lights out in the shopping store. This dog was a tiny fat little thing that had tons of energy and had the personality of a person. I still remember when I was in high school staying up late one night laying on my living room floor watching Slumber Party Massacre and how the puppy was racing around doing laps and ended up running straight into my face slipping my lip. This dog loved food, meatballs from soup mostly, and ice cream. She was a jealous dog that snapped and bit at all the others but was the most gentle around humans. She was always loved up by everyone, and always was the one that so many people asked about buying. Butterbean was my little friend who always curled up next to me whenever I was sick or sad. In fact she brought me a huge amount of comfort after I lost my mother who down right adored her. This dog would follow you no matter where you went and always loved curling up beside you to take a nap. I could go on for hours about all the great memories I had of her but my main point pretty much comes down to the fact that I'm hurting pretty badly right now. Butterbean was still young, active, and seemed pretty healthy. It all happened so fast and I have to admit I'm still in shock. This has been very hard on my family since the dog was originally my mother's. I may not be a parent but I feel like I've lost a child. I can only hope wherever she is, she's someplace with my mom and very happy.
Of course after crying my eyes out yesterday I knew I needed comfort so I popped in a few of my favorite comfort movies. These are movies that strangely enough make me happy whenever I watch them and bring a sense of comfort whenever I'm down. I'm sure tons of people have these kind of movies and this is my own personal list of my own. What are yours?
So in honor of my late dog Butterbean who loved watching movies with me, here are my top 10 favorite comfort movies that make me feel better no matter what's happening.
The Goonies
Gremlins 2 The New Batch
Gremlins

What About Bob?

Waiting For Guffman
Sixteen Candles

Jason Goes To Hell

Ghoulies II

Pee Wee's Big Aventure
Funny Farm

  
RIP Butterbean 2005-2014

You will be missed!


Saturday, August 9, 2014

My Dangerously Close collection!

 My Dangerously Close collection!
I am a fan of many movies. Some I downright adore and seem border line obsessed with. These are certain movies that either hold great memories for me, or have a high re-watch value and are near and dear to my heart. Only several that I see as sort of a hobby in collecting anything I can that has to do with them. There's Waxwork, Christine, Radioactive Dreams, and of course the 1986 teen thriller...

Dangerously Close.

Dangerously Close is the follow up film from director Albert Pyun who the pervious year directed the off beat cult classic Radioactive Dreams. Dangerously Close featured an all star cast, killer soundtrack, and clever ending twist. This film told the tale of an elite squad of wealthy teenagers who weed out the "trouble makers" in their high school. It isn't until a middle class boy with a promising future befriends the leader of the squad when he begins to notice things aren't exactly as they seem. Kids are turning up missing, and what seemed like a harmless way to protect the school, turns into a deadly game for life and death.

Cheesy, over the top, and awesome. These are all elements of Dangerously Close. Another killer underrated 80's gem with John Stockwell, this movie is a guilty pleasure of mine just as Radioactive Dreams is. Over the years I've begun a small little collection based off this very truly awesome thriller.

Here are some pieces of my collection...

My original 1986 Dangerously Close full sized poster. This baby I won on ebay and downright adore. It's a hobby of mine collecting Radioactive Dreams posters (I have 3 and just need one more to complete my collection) This poster on the other hand is one of my favorites and hangs in my den. I love the over the top uber 80's airbrushed artwork, along with the soundtrack listed.

Speaking of soundtrack, here it is on cassette! Another awesome find through Facebook when I bought this from a fellow Dangerously Close fan who was selling this and the Body Bags soundtrack. 

I just started my record collection just a few years ago. Dangerously Close is best known for it's killer soundtrack and here it is on vinyl!

My killer VHS copy I got after digging through a barn packed full of thousands of tapes. This baby is in mint condition, and a favorite in my collection. 

And last but not least the ever so awesome DVD copy of Dangerously Close from VHSPS. I was a total pain in the ass with these guys to get it released, and clearly from this photo it shows my excitement over getting it. 

Friday, August 8, 2014

Come meet Zach Galligan this weekend at Flashback Weekend!

Come meet Zach Galligan this weekend at Flashback Weekend!
I'm sure everyone knows I'm a Galligan groupie. My favorite actor is Mr. Zach Galligan best known for his roles in Gremlins, Waxwork, Gremlins 2 The New Batch, Waxwork II Lost In Time, and last year's epic Hatchet III. I've been lucky enough to meet Zach several times. Once for Spooky Empire down in Florida, another time in Mass for the Hatchet marathon, and just last fall for Chiller in Jersey. I could meet Galligan over and over again. The guy is a killer storyteller and has always been nothing but sweet and kind, putting up with me and my Waxwork obsession. I find it a riot that 
so many people are bummed out over not meeting Robert Englund since he's wearing his Freddy makeup for the "very last time." = Ya, okay...
But here I am bummed over the fact that I'm not meeting Galligan.
I'm telling you people, yeah the whole Freddy thing is cool but I heard he's not even rocking the hat or stripe sweater. Meet Zach for much cheaper, listen to come great stories from him, and be able to do the Waxwork pose without having to wait in line for hours.

Hellooooo!

What I would like to see in the speical features for the SE of Nightbreed

What I would like to see in the special features for the SE of Nightbreed

So yesterday I decided as a treat after a very long day to splurge and end up shelling out the cash for the SE edition of Nightbreed. I would rarely ever spend nearly 80$ for just one movie (unless it was maybe the Waxwork movies.) But like I've said lately after re-watching Nightbreed I remembered what a massive fan I was of the movie, and how it's always stayed in the back of my mind. I go through these phases where I just have to re-watch the same movie over and over and over again. I'm sure fellow film nuts are the same exact way. Well with me it's been Nightbreed and I thought it was perfect timing since in Oct the long awaited re-release of the uncut version of the film will finally be sold to the public. This was Clive Barker's original vision, long before the studio hacked the film to pieces. Nearly 45 minutes has been missing, along with all the additional footage of behind the scenes stuff. Back in 2010 (sadly the show before I began staffing for them) HorrorHound had a mini Nightbreed reunion (who exactly showed up I'm still a little hazy on.) but Clive Barker presented for the first time ever the uncut work print for audiences to see. For years this edition, otherwise known as the Cabal cut has been floating in limbo. Nobody, and I'm talking nobody could take heads or tails on what exactly was going to happen with the film since the studio owns the rights. Finally, just this year Scream Factory, otherwise known as the greatest company for their killer re-releases for so many horror classics stated that they now held the rights and were in the process of having Clive Barker involved in getting his original vision finally re-released once and for all!
Fans bitched and moaned for the steep price. Can I blame them? No, not really. 80$ for ONE movie is a little out there, but people honestly need to understand how much of a process it's been to get this movie re-released. Also this isn't the only version to be re-leased. In fact there's the same uncut version that's being released with different artwork for just 23$ so fans really can't really complain. This SE limited edition (only 10 thousand copies, which I feel is fair enough) are for the true hardcore fans. This is what you get when you order it...
SPECIAL OFFER: Order this limited-edition set directly from ShoutFactory.com and receive one of the first 3,000 numbered copies, an exclusive 18"x24" poster featuring our newly commissioned artwork (available while supplies last), plus FREE standard U.S. shipping two weeks early (10/14)!



LIMIT 2 PER CUSTOMER
“A rip-roaring monster flick, all the stops out and pumping with imagination." – John Stanley, Creature Features

For the first time on home video, you can experience Clive Barker’s original director’s cut of Nightbreed with over 40 minutes of new footage, all mastered in high definition from the original camera negative!

This Limited Edition, 3-Disc Set includes the theatrical cut, on Blu-Ray for the first time, and a bonus disc of additional extras (see below)!

Boone (Craig Sheffer) may be a troubled young man, but his troubles are just beginning. Set up as the fall guy in a string of slasher murders, he decides he'll hide by crossing the threshold that separates “us” from “them” and sneak into the forbidden subterranean realm of Midian. Boone will live among the monsters.
Hellraiser creator Clive Barker writes (adapting his novel Cabal) and directs this vivid leap into horror that asks: in the battle of man vs. monster, who's really the monster? The answer supplies flesh-crawling suspense, sudden fear, a colorful Danny Elfman score and a creepy array of shape-shifting beings. They are the Nightbreed, denizens of a world beyond death, beyond the imagination, perhaps beyond anything you've seen.

LIMITED EDITION SET INCLUDES:
- Only 10,000 numbered sets produced (first 1,000 numbered available from ShoutFactory.com)
- Disc 1: Unrated Director’s Cut of the film on Blu-ray
- Disc 2: The 1990 R-Rated theatrical version of the film on Blu-ray (through a special licensing agreement through Warner Bros.)
- Disc 3: EXCLUSIVE-TO-THIS-SET Bonus Blu-ray disc packed with extras (details forthcoming)
- Includes Collector’s Book with an essay and rare photos
- Slipcase includes newly designed artwork by Joel Robinson and approved by Clive Barker




Discs: 3Format: NTSC
Color: Color
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Language: English




 Not bad huh? Well since the special features haven't been released yet it seems like a bit of a gamble due to the price, but I have a very strong feeling the entire third disc will be packed with extras. Hopefully we'll see...
  • Audio Commentary with Clive Barker and David Cronenberg.
  • Audio Commentary with Cast 0- Craig Sheffer, Anne Bobby, Hugh Ross, Oliver Parker, and Christine McCorkindale.
  • A documentary based off the impact and fan following Nightbreed has received over the years.
  • All footage of behind the scenes production. Footage of the makeups being applied, the filming, and set design.
  • Scenes of the original work print before the dubbing,
  • Interviews with Barker, and the cast and crew reflecting on their experiences of making the film.
  • Outtakes if there are any.
  • A segment on the comic book series and masks that have been issued since the film's release.
I mean with just that I would be a very, very, very happy girl.
What else do you  guys think?


Monday, August 4, 2014

Nightbreed SE Blu-ray....to buy or not to buy?

Nightbreed SE Blu-ray....to buy or not to buy?

I'm sure there's a good handful of people who are scratching their heads right now. Friends of people who have glanced over this blog and have never really heard me talk about this movie even though it's in my top fifteen favorite horror films of all time. A movie I'm sure I maybe have mentioned once or twice in past reviews and really haven't covered it much more than that. A movie that I barley talk about, yet down right adore. This is a movie that by far is one if the most underrated and greatest films to come from the early 1990's. A movie that was very head of it's time, and is finally after all these years getting the respect it deserves.

This movie is of course Nightbreed.

Like I've said, Nightbreed has been a favorite of mine ever since I remember, like so many other movies seeing it's VHS cover at the video store. Right away it grabbed my attention and caught my eye at Boone standing with all the demons and monsters of Midian looking like some sort of twisted rock group. I have always been a huge Clive Barker fan, and in my eyes Nightbreed was by far his greatest piece of work. In fact I feel it's a downright tragedy over most of the movie ending on the cutting room floor, and the fact it bombed at the box office. I think audiences at the time weren't ready for the type of movie Barker created for them and that finally after all these years it's gained the cult classic respect it deserves. Barker's entire film career downright in general pisses me off. Here we had this hungry and very talented young man who's work/stories/and visions only got better in time. Unfortunately for him, his work was always compared and often overshadowed by his freshmen effort Hellraiser and it's famous demon Pinhead. I mean come on people, this is the guy behind Candyman, Lord Of Illusions, and yes Nightbreed and somehow nothing could measure up to Hellraiser. Total and utter bullshit.

Sadly in Hollywood after striking out twice with box officer failures like Nightbreed and Lord Of Illusions, Barker had enough and decided to focus on other outlets to express himself in the world of art. I feel Hollywood honestly didn't know the loss that had just taken, and thankfully in the horror and art community we see Barker for the visionary that he honestly was. I remember getting Nightbreed on that bare bones DVD that was released forever ago and how my mother explained that I would like it a lot. She was wrong...I ended up loving it. Soon after I became a massive Lord Of Illusions fan, but never forgot that Barker's strongest work laid with Nightbreed. A tale so ahead of it's time, so haunting, and so beautiful I think Barker was responsible for making one of the few truly awesome and stunning gems in horror and fantasy at that time.


The story does deeper than most horror movies. What happens after death? Who is God? Should we reproduce and add to the filth of the world? Where and what is fate? And best of all...who are the true monsters? Like the character of Rachel says, humans have dreams of turning into smoke, transforming, to fly...all things they dream and think about wanting to do. Barker does something he's only briefly touched on before...turning the tables, making you wonder who are really the bad guys. Humans get scared, they don't understand...and what they don't understand they destroy. This movie couldn't show a better example of how truly ugly the human race is. I feel so horrible at the scene when they drag poor Ohnana out into the sunlight. The Danny Elfman's score in this is truly haunting and touching at the same time. It makes you feel empathy towards these creatures that in a few brief scenes seem to just be minding their own business, living down below in their own little world, and seem to be part of some big twisted family. The big showdown at the end is by far the best part. Goes to show you can be as normal as anyone else, but be truly an ugly monster on the inside. Heavy stuff.

 It opens a whole new world of monsters, killers, and demons. Barker honestly has one of the greatest imaginations, thinking up this stuff. His ideas were original and honestly living and breathing works of art brought onto screen. I mean these monsters! I have never been so blown away by makeup and practical effects before. The underground world of Midian is like some twisted Tim Burton movie or a more adult version of the under the bed world from Little Monsters. When the character of Lori stumbles around down there I feel it's the best part of the movie. We only get a few glimpses of some of the monsters and creatures Barker made, and I really do hope in the uncut version we get to see much more. From the new images I have seen, some of the best makeups and mind blowing effects ended up getting cut out of the final film. What a waste!

Speaking of monsters, how about David Cronenberg?! Not only can this man direct, but he has some pretty killer acting chops to boot! This man himself is one hell of a director, so the fact him and Barker teamed up doesn't surprise me at all. I love that they got him to play Decker who is by far one of the most underrated and best villains ever! His calm delivery, that awesome creepy button/sack mask, and of course the ending (which in my eyes is one of the best endings to a horror movie ever and begged for a sequel) Decker is a villain I wish was talked about more! Back at school I even sculpted him as my movie monster figure, and would love to re-do it. This guy is amazing! He really needs to start doing conventions. HorrorHound I'm talking to you!

Craig Sheffer as Boone does a great job as the lead. In fact a few years back me and my sister plowed through nine seasons of One Tree Hill and every time Craig appeared on screen I would point out to my sister that a lobster monster bit him and he turned into a demon. Somehow no matter how many times I said this we would crack up. Oh beer, you make the dumbest things funny. From what I heard Craig is awesome to meet at conventions, and is somebody I would love to see in person. Come on Nightbreed reunions! Anne Bobby I thought was a great female lead and love, I just love her face! Hugh Ross as Narcisse had some amazing makeup on. I'm sure we've all seen that makeup just done again this year and still looks amazing as ever. His character overacts a lot but I loved his scene in the beginning with Boone as he's pressed up against the window calling to the monsters. Which as for monsters, I think Oliver Parker as Peloquin and Christine McCorkindale as Shuna Sassi featured the best onscreen transformations I've ever seen in a movie before. I was floored over Parker's role of Peloquin, one of the more popular creatures of Midian. His makeup was amazing! In fact I was floored over the fact he played the moving guy from Hellraiser that asks for the beer. Goes to show you how awesome makeup is! HorrorHound needs to book him for a show so I can attempt to hit on him. Hey, what can I say...I love busy eyebrows. As for the makeup of Shuna Sassi, this yet again reminds me of what a mastermind Barker was at making these monsters and creatures come to life. I love the opening of all the monsters running to the front gates and Ms. Sassi front row in center!


Like I said, Nightbreed holds a very special place in my heart. It's a movie I don't often talk about, but have loved for many years. In fact after re-watching it a few weekends ago I was reminded on how much I truly adored this movie and loved how amazing it's story, filming, and makeup was. In fact I made a few friends simply because of our shared love from this movie. This is a film I would love to get some of the creatures tattooed on me (mainly Decker and Peloquin.) A movie I could talk about for years to come, and recommend to as many people as possible who haven't seen it. Nightbreed is a classic and finally has gotten it's chance to shine.

Now as for the SE blu-ray...

I've been slowly starting to look into collecting the comics/making of books since the makeup and creatures of this movie are one of the main things that drew me to it. I was floored over the fact they were finally planning on re-releasing the never before seen uncut version of this movie that almost clocks at 3 hours. The full vision Barker intended that has most of it's best creatures and effects in. Now Scream Factory (the best company to release such a huge title) is working hard on releasing two titles, both SE edition, but one is limited edition.

For the first time on home video, you can experience Clive Barker’s original director’s cut of Nightbreed with over 40 minutes of new footage, all mastered in high definition from the original camera negative!

This Limited Edition, 3-Disc Set includes the theatrical cut, on Blu-Ray for the first time, and a bonus disc of additional extras (see below)!

Boone (Craig Sheffer) may be a troubled young man, but his troubles are just beginning. Set up as the fall guy in a string of slasher murders, he decides he'll hide by crossing the threshold that separates “us” from “them” and sneak into the forbidden subterranean realm of Midian. Boone will live among the monsters.
Hellraiser creator Clive Barker writes (adapting his novel Cabal) and directs this vivid leap into horror that asks: in the battle of man vs. monster, who's really the monster? The answer supplies flesh-crawling suspense, sudden fear, a colorful Danny Elfman score and a creepy array of shape-shifting beings. They are the Nightbreed, denizens of a world beyond death, beyond the imagination, perhaps beyond anything you've seen.

LIMITED EDITION SET INCLUDES:
- Only 10,000 numbered sets produced (first 1,000 numbered available from ShoutFactory.com)
- Disc 1: Unrated Director’s Cut of the film on Blu-ray
- Disc 2: The 1990 R-Rated theatrical version of the film on Blu-ray (through a special licensing agreement through Warner Bros.)
- Disc 3: EXCLUSIVE-TO-THIS-SET Bonus Blu-ray disc packed with extras (details forthcoming)
- Includes Collector’s Book with an essay and rare photos
- Slipcase includes newly designed artwork by Joel Robinson and approved by Clive Barker


Hummm....nearly 80 $ for one movie? Worth it?

I've paid twice as much for box sets, and I really am a huge fan...I'm just wondering if it will be worth it. I guess after the special features are released we'll know for sure. The one thing I ask for is behind the scenes footage of the actors in the makeup getting it applied. I really would have loved to see a lot of the behind the scenes stuff dealing with the heavy makeup and creature design.

Thoughts?

Sunday, August 3, 2014

Top ten best male horror heroes

Top ten best male horror heroes 

Horror is best known for having strong beautiful scream queens. These big breasted ladies, becoming the final girl and standing up to the masked killer. Women heroes have become somewhat of a staple in horror today, but let us not forget the male heroes. The handsome leading men who actually have a good head on their shoulders and stand up to the killer instead of screaming and running the other way. Here is my list for the top ten male horror heroes of all time!

1) Charley Brewster - Fright Night and Fright Night II

2) Jonathan Parker - Shocker

3) Mark Lofmore - Waxwork and Waxwork II: Lost In Time

4) Ash Williams - Evil Dead, Dead By Dawn, Evil Dead II, and Army Of Darkness.

5) Paul - Cabin Fever

6) Dennis Guilder - Christine

7) Chris Romero - Night Of The Creeps 

8) Aaron Boone - Nightbreed

9) David Kessler - An American Werewolf In London

10) Tommy Jarvis - Friday the 13th The Final Chapter, A New Beginning, and Jason Lives.

Friday, August 1, 2014

Firestarter on vinyl and Ghoulies II on laserdisc! - Mail call realness!

 Firestarter on vinyl and Ghoulies II on laserdisc! - Mail call realness!
Who doesn't love getting packages in the mail? Hey I think I would be excited even if I received Gwyneth Paltrow's head as long as it came in a box. What can I say, I love getting and giving care packages! Anywho, I decided to check out a few buys one night feeling a little frisky with my debit card. Ever since last month when I got my record player, I've been looking around for some pretty sweet soundtracks on vinyl. One of my all time favorite scores has to be Tangerine Dream's Firestarter. I have lots of favorite themes such as Phantasm, Christine, even The Kindred, but something about the music featured in Firestarter truly made the movie for me.

This is one of the rare cases where the movie was actually much better than Stephen King's book. I had lots of great memories watching this movie growing up and always loved the music featured in this movie. It was simply beautiful. Tangerine Dream back in the 80's were behind tons of great scores (Risky Business, Legend, and Near Dark) but Firestarter in my eyes was their strongest use of music. The score Charlie The Kid is a favorite of mine and I used to always play it on Youtube whenever I was sculpting. Lucky for me I found this used record of the score on vinyl for under twenty dollars and decided to say what the hell and buy it and add it to my collection. When I got it yesterday I wasn't surprised to see the cover was a little worn, and in two small places on the record it was scratched so it skips for a few seconds but for a used original soundtrack from 1984, I'm pretty happy with this buy. In fact last night I was sitting back listening to it play and couldn't have been any happier!

Today my second package arrived and at first I thought it was going to be my Chopping Mall soundtrack finally arriving (wishful thinking but not yet) It was very pleased to see it was the Ghoulies II laserdisc I won on ebay after I talked the seller down to a very fair price. I've been collecting laserdiscs since 2011 and honesty they are sorta taking over my love of tape hunting. Now I've never owned a laser disc player, I've never seen one play, and the only reason I think they seem cool is the fact they are so much bigger than DVD's/tapes and much cooler to have signed than a poster. I have a pretty good collection so far (Intruder, Fright Night, Amityville 1992, Waxwork, Gremlins 2, Dangerously Close, Christine, ext) just to name a few! I love to display these babies! Well as everyone knows I adore Ghoulies II and been trying to buy a few odds and ends to make a collection out of. My friend Johnny picked me up the VHS copy of this, I have the double feature DVD, and dream of the day I can find that blow up shitter with both ghoulies crawling out. (hey a girl can dream right?!) Well now I have this gorgeous awesome laser disc which is in wonderful condition. My dream is to find some of the cast and have them sign it one day. (Damon Martin where are you?!) 

Stay tuned for some more epic mail calls coming up!

Twin Peaks - The missing pieces

Twin Peaks - The missing pieces 
This past Tuesday, July 29th I raced to my local Bullmoose (a video, record, and book store) and bought the newest re-release for David Lynch's epic cult classic television show Twin Peaks along with it's prequel Fire Walk With Me. Transferred into crystal clear HD, along with tons of killer extras, and best of all, the uncut scenes, nearly an hour worth from FWWM which featured most of the original cast which was left on the cutting room floor after the film was released.
I think I've said it before, I'm a massive fan of Twin Peaks. After Friday the 13th the series it's my all time favorite show. Yet again another show from the past that only lasted a few brief seasons and was taken away far before it's time. Twin Peaks is a show that still remains just as popular as it was back in the 90's and has gathered a massive cult following. Just last month I got a Twin Peaks themed tattoo, and knew getting this brand new box set would be well worth it no matter what the price. Lucky for me I had a ton of Bullmoose points that I racked up and low and behold I got it for next to nothing. In fact I'm still down right stunned I got it for as cheap as I did.
Tuesday night as tired as I was, and as blurry as my contacts were I stayed up watching all the missing footage from FWMW. My thoughts?
Pretty interesting!

I myself first rented Fire Walk With Me after only watching the first season of Twin Peaks which left with the cliff hanger of Cooper getting shot. Even though this was a prequel I was more than a little confused and wasn't exactly getting Lynch's very strange way of storytelling. Time passed and I became a huge fan of Lynch's film Blue Velvet and finally decided to buy the Twin Peaks' Gold Box Set which was released a few years back. One winter after having the flu I re-watched the entire second season finally finishing and getting finally somewhat closure on what went down. My heart ached there was never a third season, and I was a little mad that the film FWMW wasn't a story that took place after everything happened in the massive cliffhanger of season 2. Still I did like the idea of a prequel being able to watch the final days of Laura Palmer. I've re-watched Twin Peaks (the whole two seasons I believe a total of four or five times) Twin Peaks is my "sick" show meaning I mostly watch it all in one sitting them I'm puking my guts out with the stomach bug. I mean come on, where else can you find a show so strange it somehow makes more sense when you have a fever. (I also love hitting the "play all" button and not having to crawl out to bed or switch the discs.) Over time I've gotten a few friends into the show and just love geeking out talking about it. In fact this past winter, the friend who originally showed me the first season back in high school began meeting up with me every Friday to re-watch the entire second season. I honestly don't think I've ever laughed so hard.
After re-watching it this winter I decided to finally give FWMW another try. I never really cared for it and decided that it deserved another chance. I watched it and believe it or not it wasn't nearly as bad as I expected. There were certain moments that truly made the film as strange and out there as it was. One of my favorite scenes was when Mr. Palmer goes to hook up with Theresa at the motel and he sees his daughter. I loved the expression on his face. Or how we're finally explained what that body was doing in the middle of the woods in the first season, and of course the murder. After watching the show first and then that, it's downright heart breaking. These extras scenes I feel would have made the movie MUCH better and explained a few things.
It was pretty cool to see Chester and Sam together again, mostly seeing that asshole sheriff get the ass kicking he deserved. I liked seeing more of the original cast featured in the show even though some of the scenes were silly (like the wood cutting scene) I hated that Audrey wasn't featured or Ben even though I learned why they weren't involved with the film. It was nice to see more of the town, and a little more of Laura and how she was going further and further down into a dark abyss filled with sex, drugs, and murder. I even found that scene when she visits Bobby and begs him for coke somewhat sad, and even made me look at their relationship in a different light. I loved seeing Laura with Donna's parents and how Donna's rather reads the passage about her seeing an angel. The best scene of course are between Dale and Annie. My heart broke at the scene when Dale is in the Black Lodge and he asks the man from another place where he is and how he can leave? Very sad to see the Dale Cooper we all know and loved stuck between two worlds in some sort of limbo all because he was trying to save the girl he loved. The best is the shot from the teaser trailer as well with Annie covered in blood being wheeled in and then taken to the hospital. I feel had they kept these few scenes of Annie and Dale FWMW wouldn't have felt so far removed from the series. In fact I would have liked the movie a whole lot better. I loved seeing that scene of Harry and Donna's father breaking down the door on Cooper after he smashed his head in the mirror. Gives you a tiny taste of how awesome a third season would have been, and of course Annie repeating the same lines in the hospital she says in the original movie. Classic. As a massive Twin Peaks fan I loved them all but the winner of cut scenes has to go with the one of Laura when she sneaks out the night she's killed hiding in the bushes and how she sees her father almost in a trance walking up to the house and how terrified she looks as he approaches. Then how she hears James' bike and how scared she gets softly trying to will him inside as he stares right at her. Truly haunting stuff. It gives more of a punch since we know exactly what was  going on between them, and to that cut scene of Mr. Palmer teaching Laura and his wife German and how happy these all seemed. Great stuff.



I watched one episode of Twin Peaks last night without any of the extras and all ready I know I'm going to have to re-watch the entire thing soon. The image is crystal clear and I can't wait to start the special features! A must for any Twin Peaks fan out there for sure.
The best part of course with this release as dorky as this sounds is the box. For a while I had been wondering about what the re-release would look like. There were tons of teasers this winter, since Laura had promised Cooper she would see him in 25 years (fitting since the release happened this year.) and this one by far was the best. Such a killer cover, and the inside is breath taking (even though it's a bit of a pain in the ass trying to flip through it. I love the images they picked and of course the tiny strip of paper at the bottom saying Fire Walk With Me.