The final: Downloading Nancy

I choosed the movie Downloading Nancy to be my finish for this year’s Fantasy Filmfest. The preview used terms like "forbidding" and "morbid". Johan Rencks debut has caused intense reaction at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. I was looking forward to see what induced the critics to such response. It seemed to be a good bridge over to the next Fantasy Filmfest.

The movie is about a woman stuck in a loveless marriage. While her husband Albert is mainly interested in golf, she is just looking for some affection. At her way down in a spiral of self-contempt and self-harm she meets Louis. With him Nancy can act out her sadomasochistic tendencies. But "tendencies" doesn't describe what Nancy is finally looking for... After Nancy disappeared, Albert meets Louis and the husband (and the audience) gets to know the whole extend of Nancy’s obsession.

I can't say that I "like" this movie. Sometimes it was hard to keep watching – not only due to painful things, which Nancy received. It’s more shocking to see how apathetically the husband treats his wife in this cold "marriage".
It’s a very good movie you should have a look, if you like credible but somehow strange scenarios.


Release Date: 21st January 2008
Director: Johan Renck
Writers: Pamela Cuming, Lee Ross
Cast: Maria Bello, Jason Patric, Rufus Sewell

My Name Is Bruce! Bruce who?

Army of Darkness? Evil Dead? Bubba Ho-tep? I could list hundred more movies... If you now think of Bruce Campbell you are right! At this point I didn't want to judge his acting abilities in general. I can only say, that every movie I saw up to know was funny and pretty entertaining! And this also applies to My Name Is Bruce. Fortunately the producers of the Fantasy Filmfest got a real copy of this flick! The guy, who stepped in front of the audience to introduce the movie, earned a lot of clap for their efforts.

In this movie Bruce Campbell is playing... BRUCE CAMPBELL - a scruffy actor, who is working for at most mediocre action b-movie productions. The producers don't care for him - his dog doesn't either. But when it comes to fighting a trashy looking Asian demon Bruce is the man. At least his nerdy hardcore fans think that way...
My Name Is Bruce is a very funny movie, which parodies some of Bruce Campbell's previous flicks in a self - deprecating way. If you like that kind of movies it's a must! If you like Bruce Campbell its a duty!

Martyrs

The second movie I saw at the Fantasy Filmfest 2008 was Martyrs. What should I say? Usually I read all previews of the movies which are going to be shown at the filmfest. And so did I. And Martyrs was the first movie which catches my eye...

“The most talked-about, shocked-about and divisive movie at the Cannes Film Festival this year (...) Those who loved it absolutely loved it; those who hated it felt it marked a nadir in extreme degradation (…) the end of cinematic civilization.” Fangoria

That was the comment which was placed right under the preview. We had to see this movie! So we bought the tickets after leaving Outlander and about 6 hours later we sat in Martyrs!
At the Fantasy Filmfest a guy from the organization staff steps in front of the audience and introduces the upcoming movie. I can't remember everthing he said, but his final words were something like: I would like to say enjoy the entertainment - but I can't... Right here I became scared...

And the movie keeps all promises! It is scary, gory and irritating. The story is very uncommon and this raises Martyrs above all other splatter strips. I think its a inteligent movie with a good ending! Its definitely worth to be seen!
Martyrs is about the story of two young women which suffer a lot of torments. Most of them have a particular purpose... There were some situations when I wished the movie would end. But it didn't. When you look at the movie poster you might think of a two-girl-splatter-horror-crap. Its definitely not!
See it by yourself and let us know your opinion! Enjoy... I guess you won't...

Red Alert for free! Welcome back, Comrade!

As some of you might know, Command & Conquer Red Alert 3 is almost ready. But maybe less might remember the first game of this franchise - Tiberian Dawn was released 1995.
To celebrate this 13th anniversary of one of the biggest series in computer games history, EA is giving away the first game of the Red Alert Series from 1996 - for free! You can download the Command & Conquer Red Alert at the EA games website.

I have to admit that I didn't played that game that much. I rather played the older Tiberian Dawn. Actually I was into the level designer. I liked it to create huge maps, which were not working in the most cases.
But maybe I come back to Red Alert. My bias for older games should be obvious...

So if you want a flashback in the C&C universe go ahead - it will be for free! You are a guy who is desperately waiting for Red Alert 3? Maybe EA likes to tease you. Who knows...