Let the Right One In.

Let the Right One In.

I've been deciding whether to make a video review for this film, no trailer on Itunes though, which means I'd have to make my own. Choosing the right bits could be hard.

But anyway, my initial thoughts. First Swedish film I've seen and if this is anything to go by then I'll definitely be watching more, I know you can't judge a whole nations cinema on one movie, Imagine if I judged America's of Michael Bay films. Oh Dear.

Onwards,

I don't want to spoil this for anybody that wants to see it, so if you are going to watch it don't read this and come back once you've seen it.

I enjoyed it so much because I was completely unaware of what the film was about. It is so rare these days, with the web and mass advertising to have a complete open mind when watching a film. It's like the first time you ever saw From Dusk Till Dawn, it starts out has a ace road thriller and half way through BAM! loads of vampires and shit.

Let The Right One In isn't quite as BAM! has From Dusk Till Dawn, but it is unlike any other vampire movie I have ever seen. The film concentrates more on the relationship between the boy and the girl, it's just unfortunate that she is a vampire. Its a bit like a non-cheesy, non-buffy-like, serious Twilight. Thats not the best comparison, but the main story is similar.

The look of the film is very cold, shot beautifully in snowy Sweden. Its very dark, and like many european films at the moment the story line focuses on child bullying. There is great satisfaction when the vampire girl rips apart the the bullies, this is shot in such a subtle way that if your not paying attention you may miss it, and may be confused when the scene opens up to reveal the decapitated bodies. Now that sounds morbid, but when you see it you'll know what I mean.

There are many layers to this movie and I don't want to ramble too much, but what I've cover isn't even half of it.

The film ends open, I can't decide whether I'm happy or sad for the boy, let me know your thoughts.

In other news I've uploaded a new Video Review (bottom of blog), I'm members of Blip TV and Daily Motion, please add or follow or subscribe. I'm working on a Mega Shark vs Giant Octopus V.review. There will be blogs on both Thai Kung Fu film Chocolate and comedy I Love You, Man.

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Public Enemies Review. And Other Things

I thought I'd publish this review on my blog. It was originally added to youtube on 11th July 09, but this weekend I uploaded it to my Blip page. I've been a member of Blip for awhile but never used it. I think I'm going to use it as a secondary channel, upload my stuff to youtube first then a few weeks later send it out to Blip. I also have a Vimeo account, so I may use that too. I've started to look at Daily Motion. I know a few people using it and it looks like it as a growing network.

I'm hoping to gain a decent following by the end of the year with my reviews and short documentaries ( if I ever get round to them), plus having a following will do my short films a world of good too.

Getting a following is very difficult and I've mention it a few times in blogs, so I won't repeat myself. But using all outputs is essential, I cannot just limit myself to only youtube. The public enemies review hasn't done too well on youtube and even worse on Blip, racking up a disappointing 3 views over the weekend. I think I'm tagging my work well enough. I feel I'm aiming for the wrong crowd, but I have a few videos in mind that are a bit different, which might gain me unlikely viewings.

To be honest even if I don't get the thousands of view I am hoping for I don't mind, really. I enjoy making the videos and it gets my thoughts out of my head.

LINKS
TWITTER
BLIP
YOUTUBE

Cheers for watching

QUICK BLOG!

My Transformers 2 video review went past the 100 view milestone today. I know 100 views isn't a lot to most people, I mean you could probably get a few thousand views by just filming yourself taking a shit. But its good to know there is a few people out there listening, its had no comments or rating so I can't be sure if anyone actually liked it, there as been a few people that have told me face to face they liked it, but it would take a real son of a bitch to tell you they thought it was shit to your face.

I had a guy, who I went to sixth form with and now I stay in touch over facebook come into my work to rent some films, and he made the effort to mention he'd watched it and asked if I was planning on doing anymore.

I will eventually get round to making some more, I have a Bruno one all written, just waiting for the right time to record it. I am also working on a series of videos about 2000's cinema. This one is taking some time to research, there is so much I want to say and don't want to leave anything out, but its still got to be interesting, not just me rambling on like I do on here.

Anyway, only wanted to say a quick thanks for the few that watched it.

Cheers

INTERNET VIDEO UPDATE!

I recently posted a blog about starting to make some web videos. Documentaries on films, filmmakers and stuff like that.

I started with two reviews (Public Enemies and Transformers), after posting them I soon realised that if your wanting to gain a following you have to find a niche or smaller audience. The problem with making vids on mainstream cinema is that the TAG words will be on millions of videos already existing, so your fighting against far too many people for views. The only real way to get people to watch these vids is to promote them yourself, but thats not gaining a following, its just telling the people you expect to watch it.

So I had a little thought about what Videos I'd like to see and then create them. I'd like to do some documentaries on cinema. Anybody thats spent time with me will know I'm a little crazy about films, and have a good knowledge, and I'd like to say an individual taste, I don't always go with the crowd and don't mind saying a films shite or great despite what the critics say.

I'm mentioning this because I blogged about making a series of documentaries about 80s cinema, I did my research and wrote the introduction script. But after the recent death of one of my favourite 80s filmmaker John Hughes it just doesn't seem right. JH was going to feature heavily in one of the parts, I imagine if you search youtube or one of the other video sites they will have many JH tributes, and I don't think we need another right now. I'd like to respect him in my own time, without seeming like I'm using his death to gain a bigger following.

So today I've decided to put the 80s cinema on hold. Tonight I started research into 2000s cinema. I thought with the decade fast approaching the end it's a good time to do it.

The series will be split up into ten 5 minute parts, A Introduction, 5 videos each one on what I think was an essential film to the decade, One about filmmakers that have broke through. And then the rest will be about actors and stuff.

If there is anything you would like to see in this series I'm open to ideas.

CHEERS

YOUTUBE VIDEOS

Here's a quick blog.

So, I've recently started making YOUTUBE videos, at the moment just two film reviews.

This all started because I follow a few guys on youtube who review various pop culture from over the years. I've always fancied giving it ago, but could never find an area to share my views. Also my confidence in front of the camera isn't as strong has my usual self, dunno way.

Anyway, I decided to give it ago by scripting a film review and recording my voice. This seems to work fine, although my feedback so far has been to maybe have a few pieces to camera to break it up and keep attention. This is not what I wanted to do, but as I've been recording my voice I feel you comfortable talking, so maybe I'll be better in front of a camera.

So far I've really enjoyed making these little videos, but I feel you need to find a niche audience. There are loads of people reviewing mainstream films, If you search for mine on youtube 100's come up.

With this is mind I think I'm going to give something else ago. More of a documentary style about films.
At the moment I have started scripting a pice about 1980's cinema, with this being a era I'm fond of I thought it would be a good start.

Have a look at my videos and leave me some feedback. http://www.youtube.com/JamesGWall

CHEERS

Patrick Bolvin is a bit special.

I love creative work like this...



It so much more fresh than your standard music video. I recently blogged about two videos I saw on vimeo, those were excellant creative videos. I think its heavily influenced by the success of Michel Gondry.

Patrick Bolvin is a stop motion genius, check out his youtube page >>> LINK!

There is a making of video on his youtube page which is mind blowingly good.

Check this shit out. Iron Man VS Bruce Lee



He get his lighting extremely well and he makes them all on green screen, which helps him create that cinematic look. Please, please, please check out the rest of his videos because he deserves the recognition for his hard work.


This sort of art and crafts video making is something i'm really interested in and maybe I should think about a career in that direction.

Surfing Vimeo!

Over the past month or so I've found some interesting videos on Vimeo, So I thought I'd be kind and share them with you.

Oi Va Voi "Everytime" from Katarzyna Kijek on Vimeo.

Mountain Goats - Woke Up New (Directed by Rian Johnson) from rcjohnso on Vimeo.

They are my two favs.

Hope enjoyed them.

VIDEO BLOG 2

OH! This is a little late ... again, but here it is anyhow.

Not as interesting this time, just a lot of me on the phone talking to the screen ... which you may or may not like.

Didn't film a lot of the good stuff, like looking at locations and whatnot. People tend to not like a camera in there face ... shame.



I've got some good footage of us doing auditions (which will be this weeks blog, so it'll be uploaded next week), not sure if the people that don't get the part will be too happy about being on it, but what they don't know won't hurt eh...

The project is going strong, were pretty much on schedule, just can't seem to cast KATH! It's a hard part to send a call out for, the breakdown is a horrible sweaty fat woman, I mean how do you make that sound nice ... Oh you can't ... And nobody will look at it and think "eyup i'm ideal for that part"

Beside's Kath the other problem is locations, if you've watched the Vid you'll know it looks like the subculture either don't want us doing it there or have forgot (i've emailed them again today), but its easy for a venue to say "yeah sure" but once you start talking about times and dates and how cast and crew they go a little quite. I think they really want to help out, but if anything goes wrong, like a crew member trips up over a wire and dies, the venue doesn't want to be responsible. Plus we aren't paying them, so we can't expect them to go out of there way for us. A simple yes or no would be nice though.

What else ...
I've been reading the Watchmen novel, it's quite amazing. Didn't think it would be as good as the hype, but it is ... wish i'd have read it before the movie chaos, then I could have been one of those moaners that say things like "its not as good as the book" and "it's too complacts to fit in just one movie" or "your only read the novel now because the films come out, jumping on the band wagon?"

Good times,

I've surprising not watched a great deal recently ... too busy reading! However, there has been the odd thing. I've discovered Flight of the Conchords, which is quite frankly one of the funniest things i've ever seen. Please, please get a copy and laugh hard. On the funny side i'm glad the Inbetweeners as started again, the first episode was really good, second one was alright too. I watched Waltz and Bashir ... Fantastic, a must see. There been some others too, but nothing worth rising my voice about.

Last bit,

This is what happens when I don't blog for a few days ... my thoughts mount up into one unfortunate read.

So, last bit (hopefully)

I'll probably right this into its own blog, but briefly ... My G.I JOE's came this week. The good man (Gio) that runs the G.I Joe festival sent me a small collection of 3.5 inch joe's to make a stop motion animation. Which cost him $54 to ship them to me!!!!!! that puts the pressure on to make something good.

I think i'm going to start a complete new blog for that and again keep a video diary. I'll keep the project posted on this one too.

...

I wonder if anybody actually read this ... If you do send a comment, make me feel good!

Cheers.

VIDEO BLOG 1

This is the first Video blog for the major project.



Video blogging is a strange thing, it's hard to get the tempo right and decide what you thing think other people want to listen to. At first I set up a camera in front of me and I started yapping on about the project. I soon realised that I'd been chatting away for 12 minutes, I only wanted the blog to last 3!

I made the decision to only use the particle footage I filmed.

I've started work on week 2, we play around with the crane (jib) and I'm on the phone.