5,500th Post Celebration: Zodiac (2007)

 Alright, Internet- you win.

At long last, I've given in and watched David Fincher's 2007 Film known simply as Zodiac.
It's not about Astrology- sorry.

It's actually about the Zodiac Killer, who plagued California for a while and still remains an unsolved case- at least officially.  Everyone is 99% sure who did it, but he's dead and was never formally convicted.

This Film tells the entire tale and is based on Robert Graysmith's Book.  Coincidentally, he's also the young, handsome Lead Character in the Film.

Alongside a Reporter and countless Cops, he (eventually) works to try and solve the unsolvable case.
Where is the mystery when you know the case is unsolved?

That's a question surely asked by Fincher and company.
Maybe that's why he pivoted to Mindhunter- they were already in jail!

Is this Film a masterpiece of details or an example of cinematic excess?
To find out, read on...

In 1969, a Couple pulls off alone on July 4th.

A car pulls up and a flash blinds them until he walks up and shoots them, killing her and nearly the guy too.

A letter is sent to a bunch of newspapers, including the San Francisco Chronicle.  It contains a confession and a cipher message.

The Cartoonist- Graysmith- unofficially works with the lead Reporter- Paul Avery- to figure out what is going on.

Is this legit?

In September, another Couple is targeted.

This time, Zodiac is wearing a full Supervillain outfit and stabs the duo, killing the woman.

Later still, he kills a Cab Driver- Paul Stine- and the Cops miss him leaving the crime scene.

This brings in our 3rd Lead....

A Detective- Paul Toschi- who learns that this case is connected to the other killings.

It becomes his life for the next few years.

All of a sudden, this is about Robert again, as his date with Chloe Sevigny is interrupted by having to call Avery, who they suspect is in danger.

He all but taunted Zodiac and is seeking out an anonymous Lead.

The Cops eventually get enough partial leads to bring them to see a man named Arthur Leigh Allen, who fits the bill in so many ways.

John Carrol Lynch would go on to play a Killer Clown on American Horror Stories and then the most famous one not created by Stephen King.

Did this set him up for that?

Here's where the trouble really picks up...

A bunch of time passes now and the Zodiac remains silent for some reason.
Avery leaves the Paper and the case eventually becomes the obsession of Graysmith.

He's now our Lead again as he tries to connect old clues and find new ones.

Other than making him get weird phone calls and a book deal, this goes nowhere.
He goes to see Allen...and does nothing.

In 1991 (8 years after the last Graysmith Scene), the Book comes out and the survivor of the Opening Scene reappears.
He picks Allen out of a lineup...

...and the Film cuts to black now.  We get text telling us that Allen died before questioning and this didn't go anywhere.
What an unsatisfying conclusion.

A Film whose appeal is 100% clear to me...but I didn't love it.

Objectively, the Film is well-made.  It's shot well, directed well and has a good Score.

So, what's my issue exactly?
The format.  To me, it is all wrong.

The Film tells the tale chronologically and leaves out almost no details.
That's why it is so damn long and requires SO (pause) MANY (pause) TIME JUMPS.

A simple way is to tell the Story entirely from Graysmith's point of view.  Have it start when this one really makes him the Lead and you can still have the big reenactments of the murders.

Instead of happening and then being litigated an hour or so later, they happen when he covers the case for the Book.

Make him the focus and make the format of the Story- which covers from 1969 to 1983- work FOR you and not AGAINST you.

I'm sure that it is blasphemy to some people to say 'Remake this Film by Fincher,' but I'm all for it.

Speaking of things I'm all for, here's the return of James LeGros after I literally just covered his Episode of The Outer Limits!

Next time, let's resume our normal, non-anniversary activities.  In a complete tonal shift, it's time to revisit the Scary Movie franchise (since I paid $3.18 for a DVD).  Stay tuned...

5,300th Post Special!!!: Deafula (1975)

In this Movie, nobody can hear...well, anything.
Is that ableist or just wordplay?

This is Deafula, a 1975 Film that is pretty much what you'd guess.  
A deaf guy is a Vampire, calls himself 'Deafula' and kills people.

There's more artsy BS- this is really a Film for Bob in many ways- but that is the summary I'm going with.

This one is both famous and also super-rare.  It was saved on Archive.org, but I couldn't find it there.
My options were a very low-quality YT version or a slightly-less low-quality version elsewhere.

Peter Weschberg/Wolf did something interesting here as a Director, making a Film that has a deaf Cast, but has a Dubbed Audio Track for those of us not fluent in ASL.

I only reliably know the one phrase...and that's because it is also 'Wakanda Forever.'

To find out if this is a rare gem or not, read on...

As noted, the Film was shot and acted entirely in ASL.

Even if the print quality at this point wasn't 'squinting across the room without my glasses' at most times, I'd still be lost.

Thankfully, Signscope was made...which is just a Dubbed Audio Track.

This is all about a guy named Peter.

He has a tragic past and an issue with blood.

You see, he sometimes loses control- even as a kid, we learn- and transforms into Deafula!

To be clear, he calls himself this.
My guess is that it was to 'take the fun out of calling him that' a la Fat Amy.

Other jokes to make that don't involve him being Deaf though.

Throughout the Film, we get this out of context Scenes of the titular Character killing people.

They are the most interesting parts, even if they are filler.

In other words, they are like adding bits of jalapeno pepper to your meatloaf.

Does my breath smell like spicy meatloaf?

He eventually learns about his past in full detail from his Dad (who immediately dies) and then meets this lady that looks like the one from the Insidious Films.

You know her name- I don't need to say it.

He's apparently the son of Dracula and his Mom, but was raised by the Priest.  He got monthly blood donations from his Dad to keep him normal, but they eventually stopped working.

We learn earlier from a pair of Cops that Dracula is dead, so it is a bit confusing when he then goes to see Dracula alive (as much as he ever is).

He stakes Dracula- which kills that lady for some reason- and he fully becomes a Priest.

The suspicious Cop- who seems to have inspired the Lead from Disco Elysium- sets a trap however after finding proof that Peter is a Vampire.

His Cop buddy doesn't believe it...until Peter decides to confess...inside the Church to nobody.

The Film ends with a big old monologue from our Lead, who is talking to God.

Again- the Cops are outside and don't seem to be here for this at all.

He eventually commits a form of suicide- touching Dracula's evil ring to a crucifix- to die and escape his torment.

I just hope Deafula wasn't Catholic.
The End.

A Film with some great ideas, interesting visuals...and no Budget.

As you saw earlier, Peter becoming Deafula means a big old, silly fake nose.  It just takes the drama out of it.

Speaking of that, he 'kills' one biker by telling him to drive off of a Cliff.  That means driving for a good two minutes straight, stopping near a cliff and then slowly going over it...off-camera.

This Scene really gives you a good view of how this Film both works and doesn't.

Also, there's a guy who 'lost' his hands...and is clearly just hiding them in soup cans on the end of his wrist.  That didn't help matters.

When it works, Deafula is an interesting Film about loss of control and occasionally interesting Vampire Scenes.
When it doesn't, it is long, droning monologues which are dubbed in by mostly-competent Voice Actors.

If there was a good print of this around, it would also help.

Hey, don't look at me like that- I'm just being honest!

A Film that is mostly more than its gimmick.  Too bad the Budget was like $400, so they dragged every Dialog Scene out for eternity.

5,200nd Post Celebration: The Time That 'Smallville' Had TWO Superman Actors Together

 Another number achieved and something special to cover.

I thought long and hard about this one, considering a number of ideas.
Then I remembered my recent purchase of Smallville's 2nd Season.

Oh right- that Episode to cover.

Clark has dreams of exploring this cave full of strange writing.

It was the main Plot this Season, setting up the answers of his past.

His dreams are a distraction.

You see, this High School Student (yeah, sure) has to put together his Family Tree.

I wonder if this Plot will parallel the other one.

Thanks for blocking my shot, Extra.

He's drawn to a 'key' (a metal piece) that will reveal the truth.

The last time someone did that, they got shot into space with Ryan Reynolds (albeit briefly).

This time- he's zapped with knowledge right though the, well, everything.

There's a B-Plot with Lana and Chloe.

Even ignoring the whole NXIUM thing with the latter Actress, do you care if I skip it?

I didn't think so.

Now why is the Restaurant made up like an Egyptian tomb?!?

After Chloe writes a story about the strange marking on their barn (burned in by a mind-influenced Clark), a mysterious man invites him to meet him.

He promises to share truth with him.

Dr. Virgil Swann (named after legendary Writer Curt Swann) is played by Christopher Reeve.

He would make one more appearance in Season 3, which I'll likely cover later.

Besides Fan Service, what does he share?

He has the message sent with Clark's pod, telling him his real name and that of Krypton itself.

Swann just wants to help and he surely does.

This inspires Clark to work with his Dad to reactivate the pod.

The automated message tells him that he'll be 'a God' on this Planet and it is his job to rule it.

Clark rejects it and Dad agrees...but both are still nervous, setting up the rest of Season 2.

The End.

A really strong Episode by a really great Cameo at the end.

It's crazy to think just how long Reeve has been gone.  I still remember when we lost him.

Seeing him here is obviously not the same as if his life hadn't turned out the way it did.  That said, he didn't feel pity for himself, so I shouldn't either.

In a way, this appearance is stronger for how well he did.  He's obviously unable to move around, so he has to emote everything with his face and voice.

The man was a good Actor and this proved it.

The rest of the Episode is honestly still pretty good as well, with the usual melodrama, angst and B-Plot.  It's a rare one without a villain or a ticking clock.

The most you get is a Scientist being 'data blasted' into a coma by a space rock.  Have I mentioned that Comics (and Comic Book Shows) can be weird sometimes?

In closing, it was really great to revisit this one.  Plus, the DVD version didn't cut out the (not cheap, for a change) plug for his Foundation.  It is still running and helping out others in 2025.

An Episode that is arguably most famous for one Scene near the end.  Even so, it is a great Scene and, honestly, a pretty good Episode of TV otherwise.

5,100th Post Celebration: Repo- The Genetic Opera

Well, it is another Milestone number.
What should I do for it?

How about something different- a Musical?  Maybe one that has a Cult following and was not a hit.

This is Repo- The Genetic Opera, a 2008 Film which doesn't tick many boxes for me personally.  

I don't *hate* Musicals, but the structure confounds me.  

I don't hate Darren Lynn Bousman or his work, but I'm not going to watch a Saw Film anytime soon.

Why not go outside of my comfort zone then?  Because it is just that, comfortable?
Well, too bad!  Let's check out this thing!

The Plot is all sorts of bonkers, involving a massive corporation skirting the law, buying their way into make crime legal and using human beings as tools that they can dispose when they see no worth in them.

Such a Science Fiction Plot!

Will I learn to love a bizarre, gory Musical?  Let's find out...

The Film takes place in a dystopian future where every place looks like the neon green streets of Gotham City from Batman Forever.

Everyone out there dresses like a combination of The Lost Boys or the cast of Cats.

GeneCo (who spent 10 seconds coming up with that name) makes a power play.  They buy their way to allow themselves to copyright/patent new organs and then repo them if payment isn't made.

Paul Sorvino is the Boss and has three kids (or more?) vying for the spot when he dies.

The Repo Men are allowed to catch you and cut out the organs.  These Repo Men are not be confused with the Leads from the 2010 Film Repo Men (which was somehow being written in 2007 based on a Novel from 2009?).

Nor should they be confused with Repo Man...or Repo Chick.

Our Lead- although we seem to have about 7- is Shilo.

Her Dad is a Doctor and she has to stay inside due to her rare blood disorder.

Like everyone, she sings about it.

Plot Twist- Dad is actually a Repo Man!

The Wife died while giving birth when he tried to cure her of her disorder and he was blackmailed by Sorvino into working for him.

I have to imagine this was fun for Mr. Head after dealing with all of the teenagers on Buffy for so long!

The Film also features an omniscient Narrator who talks directly to the Audience.

I think you're required by law to have one in a thing like this.

Confusingly, he also interacts with the Leads in a key way...so is he just Deadpool seeing through the structure of the Film itself?!?

The whole thing, of course, builds up to the titular Opera.

All of the Sub-Plots- killer Dad, evil Dad, sick girl, lady with holographic eyes- all come together in a bloody spectacle.

Curiously, almost nothing is actually resolved and many bad guys walk away, so this is either very nihilistic or they expected to make a bunch of Sequels.  

The End.

This one didn't do it for me, but I'm certainly not here to take this away from the fans.

The Film was hard to follow for me, with the heavy exposition mixed with Comic Book Panels, random people popping up, the singing and the Narrator.

They spent $8 million on this one and it didn't go into this part it seems.
It seems to have gone to all of the vinyl clothing and fake body parts for gore.

One thing is going to really decide how you feel about this- the Singing.  The performances vary.  I really liked Sorvino here- he nailed the role.  Others like Bill Moseley and Ogre aren't great.  I think it was a choice they made (as opposed to a lack of talent).

With all of the stop-start storytelling for Songs, it got hard to tell how much was really happening.  I joked on Twitter that I was waiting for the Plot to start about an hour in.

There is one, but many Plot Points overlap.  For instance, one lady dies from being poisoned and a different one was also being poisoned.  Getting both reveals in the Finale muddles things a bit, no?

All in all, I totally get why some people are *really* into this one.  I'm not here to tell you to hate it or anything.

For me, I just didn't really connect with the whole thing.  To be fair, the last Opera I watched was Dario Argento's.  Take us away, Dystopian Future Guy who looks like Present Day Vince McMahon.

A Film that absolutely has fans and I take nothing away from that.  I just never got 'hooked' by the whole thing.

5,000th Post Celebration!!!: Pulp Fiction (1994)

***A big number deserves a big Film to Review***

A Film that is very iconic.  A Film that won many Awards.  A Film that got a standing ovation at Cannes.

So why don't I like it?

This is Pulp Fiction, Quentin Tarantino's 2nd Film and arguably his most successful one.  The Writer-Director went over to Europe, partook in the local delights (it rhymes with hugs) and filled a notebook (or seven) with story ideas.

After Reservoir Dogs did so well, he got more clout, more money and a big opportunity.  This one was going to be a make or break for him.

He's been making Film whenever he felt like for the last 30 years, so I guess it worked out.

To see why I'm not a fan, however, read on...

The Film is about Hitmen/Go-fors Vincent Vega and Jules Winnfield going to retrieve an item for their Boss- Marsellus Wallace.

They take the time to discuss what hamburgers are called in France, the politics of foot massages and the Bible.

They shoot two of the men and...

We now follow a different Story.

How about a brief aside about this Boxer named Butch (Bruce Willis) who takes a bribe from Wallace.

We'll cut back to him later for an entire Story about him.

Just keep waiting for the rest of that first Story.

The most famous part of the Film involves Travolta and Wallace's Wife- Uma Thurman- hanging out at a '50s Diner and dancing.

The dance is iconic, but 24 pages of rambling Tarantino dialog are what you have to live through before it.

As part of the Willis Story, we get this completely random Flashback.

Christopher Walken appears as a guy who gives a watch to young Butch.  It was stored in a dark place that rhymes with 'his bass.'

This explains why the watch is important...but, it is still random AF.

Butch's Story involves him actually winning his fight (not shown) and running off with the money.

His exit is delayed and he ends up with Wallace in the Basement of a Pawn Shop.

It's famous...but, again, it is random AF.

We finally get to see the end of the story of Jules and Vincent after about 90 minutes or so.

We see a sudden death (another one), a small role for Harvey Keitel, Tarantino himself saying the 'N-word' 4x and they end up at the Diner from the beginning proper.

The Robbers we saw first are now back.  Yep, that part was happening later...or earlier.

Look- time is a relative thing, especially here.

The Film ends with a redemption arc for Jules, but we also already know that Vincent dies later, so...hurray?

Is this Film worthy of its reputation?

Most people say 'Yes.'

I get why.  If you view the Film segments on their own, they are mostly quite good.  Some of them are paced terribly- like the Travolta/Thurman Diner Scene- and others go in strange directions- the Butch/Wallace Story.

Like many 'greatest of all time Films,' most people don't actually watch the whole Film in one sitting.  That or if they did, it was 20+ years ago.
The reputation is reinforced over and over again until the actual Film doesn't matter.

I liked many parts of this.  
Jackson, for one, earned his Oscar nomination.  Travolta was good too.
The Finales of most of the Stories are memorable, whether it is for a good reason or a bad one.

In summary, I get why people love it.
For me, however, it is too long, it didn't need to be shown out of order and it has all of Tarantino's vices.

I'm not going to 'do the dance' here and tell you that I love it if I don't.

Next up, let's look at a classic John Carpenter Film.  Let me make up for lost time by watching it now.