Wednesday, March 30, 2022

DAILY CALL SHEET: MARCH 29, 2022

Eggshells (1969) Tobe Hooper's first flick features verbose hippies tripping while something lurks in the basement. Not bad for a wigged-out student film. TIL: A casual glance at the Gospels shows Jesus was no hippie. His no non-marital sex stance alone disqualifies that take.

Blood Song (1982) So-so slasher has serial killer Frankie Avalon continuously tooting a flute, stopping only to terrorize a girl who once got a blood transfusion from him. TIL: The Church has no problem with blood transfusions, leaving it to the individual's discretion.

Sunday, March 27, 2022

DAILY CALL SHEET: MARCH 27, 2022

Something Weird (1967) H. G. Lewis skimps on the gore, but makes up for it with witches, LSD, and killer quilts. The title does not mislead. TIL: "What would be much stranger is if the teachings of the Church God founded were less weird than the world He made." - Patrick Coffin

Just another reminder that part of the "blame" for the Academy Awards lies at the feet of us Catholics. My old article at @AleteiaEN on how the Catholic League, griping unions, and good old fashioned narcissism brought us the yearly event.

Saturday, March 26, 2022

DAILY CALL SHEET: MARCH 26, 2022

The Midnight Hour (1985) Some of the monsters at a teen party aren't wearing costumes. Made for TV funfest deserves to be annual Halloween viewing. TIL: St. Luke says Jesus was born during the night watch which, perhaps for its symbolic reasons, tradition holds to be midnight.

Killer Crocodile 2 (1990) Second verse same as the first, though possibly cheaper and loonier than the first, which was goofy to begin with. TIL: When Moses turned the Nile to blood, it was to show God's superiority over Egyptian river deities such as Sobek, the crocodile god.

Friday, March 25, 2022

DAILY CALL SHEET: MARCH 25, 2022

Brutal Massacre: A Comedy (2008) Harried horror director does whatever's necessary to make his movie. Endearing mockumentary both savages and celebrates low budget filmmaking. TIL: Expediency may make for good comedy, but in real life it must always be trumped by principle.

Bloodshot (2020) Resurrected super-soldier seeks revenge against pretty much everybody. Passable enough throwback to mindless 90's action flicks. TIL: Maybe St. Ignatius of Loyola wasn't a super-soldier, but he did survive a direct hit from a cannonball at the Battle of Pamplona.

Tuesday, March 22, 2022

DAILY CALL SHEET: MARCH 22, 2002

Mania (1986) Made-for-Canadian-TV anthology never rises above average, but perfectly fine if you don't mind your thrillers on the tame side. TIL: HealthyCatholics suggests the best form of prayer for those vulnerable to mania or hypo-mania is the "boring" established kind.

Bloodstream (1985) Angry filmmaker copycats his slasher flicks' content. The fake bad movies within the real bad movie ALMOST make it all not so bad. TIL: Ephesians 5 notes the best way to copycat God is to live as Christ did, walking in love and giving ourselves up for others.

Sunday, March 20, 2022

DAILY CALL SHEET: MARCH 20, 2022

Finally, a movie tailor-made for Lent. My review of Man of God for Aleteia, the story of the persecutions and holiness of a humble priest venerated by the Eastern Orthodox Church as St. Nektarios of Aegina.

Monday, March 07, 2022

DAILY CALL SHEET: MARCH 7, 2022

Deadlier Than the Male (1967) The 60's version of Bulldog Drummond vs. an army of pissed female assassins. Of all the Bond knockoffs/satires, this is definitely one of them. TIL: Well, Proverbs does warn it's better to live on the roof or in the desert than with an angry woman.

One Sheet Words of Wisdom: Brotherhood of Satan (1971) "Modern society has not rid itself of religion, as it fondly believes; it has merely replaced the historical religions by a host of idolatrous cults struggling for possession of the soul of man." - Will Herberg

Saturday, March 05, 2022

DAILY CALL SHEET: MARCH 5, 2022

Morlocks (2011) Military and monsters jump around in time with the future of humanity at stake. About 1% H.G. Wells and 99% standard SyFy silliness. TIL: Among his many ideological idiocies, Wells once wrote the book Crux Ansata in which he called for the bombing of the Vatican.

Still Voices - The Princess Bride (1987) "Refusing to forgive is like drinking poison and hoping that the other person will die." - Derya Little

Friday, March 04, 2022

DAILY CALL SHEET: MARCH 4, 2022

Microscopic Liquid Subway to Oblivion (1970) Uber-square professor tries to save his wife and students from the evil of drugs. Great title, bad everything else. TIL: The Catechism frowns on any non-therapeutic drug use due to the damage it inflicts on human health and life.

Dad Rock Diary: Dory Previn - Dory Previn (1974) Her career predates Randy Newman by a few years, but given her style, he's the closest analogy, so fine, female Randy Newman. Laudable Lyrics: Ending war takes guts and gall, but did you ever explore what begins a war?

Tuesday, March 01, 2022

DAILY CALL SHEET: MARCH 1, 2022

Studio 666 (2022) The Foo Fighters must deal with a possessed Dave Grohl while recording their new album. Stupid and gory, just like it should be. TIL: Pope B16 thought rock music was a symptom of contemporary western cultural decline. Tongue in cheek, this movie agrees.

The Many Sins of Jimmy Olsen - Uncontrite Heart - "[Contrition] obtains forgiveness. [It is} not merely speculative sorrow for wrong done, remorse of conscience, or a resolve to amend; it is a real pain and bitterness of soul together with a hatred and horror for sin committed."

Okay, I'll stop beating up on Jimmy for awhile. But as we enter into Lent, let's not be an Olsen and instead approach the season of penance with a contrite heart and willingness to seek forgiveness. Maybe our list of sins isn't as long as Jimmy's, but we've all got one, don't we?