Alright ... conscious for a few minutes, so I may as well give my opinions on this year's Grand Gathering:
First and foremost, a huge thanks to Bruce, Jeff, all the volunteer staff, and everyone who attended. I have to say, I really have no serious complaints about this year. This one rates really high in my book. The projection quality was very good, many of the prints were in incredible shape, and the audience was generally very well behaved.
I only slept about 20-30 minutes at the tail of
Planet of the Vampires, which is unusual for me. Usually I nod off at a couple of points in the wee hours of the morning.
This Marathon was chock-full-of-awesome-sauce by the 4th film, so I knew I was going to enjoy it. In case anyone was wondering, I was the obnoxious bearded gentleman in the blue Yoyodyne bowling shirt - the one who WASN'T Bruce. Our esteemed Mr. Neff had the misfortune of sitting next to me most of the time, if you saw where he was.
Here's a quickie film-by-film rundown:
WAR OF THE WORLDS - Ah, yes, the George Pal classic. What can I say? I'm a sucker for the classics, and this one is definitely on the list. This one never grows old for me, so it was a perfect choice for the lead-off.
ENTHIRAN: THE ROBOT - Good gods, I have instant love of this movie! This movie was everything I had expected it to be and more! Utterly surrealist, cringe-inducing, slinky-and-SEXAH Bollywood-style musical numbers punctuated by scenes of pure gonzo robot fun-violence. Brought to us via the monumental ego of SUPER STAR RAJNI!!! The intermission really makes this film more workable, and this was the perfect audience to see it with. I'm glad it played early and that it had such a broad appeal.
CARGO - I confess that I'd actually seen this film previously, so I knew what to expect going into it. I loved it (as I had the first time) for a variety of reasons. Much like "Alien", the film goes a long way toward painting the scale of science fiction and the loneliness of space travel. Far more going on here than initially meets the eye, and the visuals did not disappoint. True, several
You Fail Physics moments, but I find that I'm more than willing to forgive by the time it's done.
THE ADVENTURES OF BUCKAROO BANZAI: ACROSS THE 8TH DIMENSION - Here's another one I won't deny ... I've been a closet Blue Blaze Irregular since this movie first released in theaters. I remember driving to the Kettering Fox theater in Dayton to see this when I barely had my driver's license and just being floored. This was my first "cult classic", and I fell in love with it instantly. I really can't help it. I feel like it's one of a very few pure masterful examples of a deconstructive satire which can simultaneously be reverential to its genre. W. D. Richter is the king of that, and
Banzai captured my imagination and never let go. Apologies to anyone nearby if my memorized-mumbling of the dialog was too obvious.
LATE FOR DINNER - Another confession here, with the first four films being of paramount importance, I had barely gotten out of my seat prior to 10:00, so I missed much of this one in favor of a dinner break. It's a very enjoyable film, to be sure, and I'm very glad that it played ... but hey, Needs Must as the Devil Drives.
THE PEOPLE VS GEORGE LUCAS - Not one I was particularly looking forward to, but (as expected) it seemed to be a crowd favorite. Honestly, I've had my intervention where
Star Wars is concerned. If this film had been made five years ago, well, I might still have been in the mood to discuss it - but I've largely moved on at this point. Still, fun enough - and it's packed with fan-made footage, which was great to see on the big screen with an audience.
LUNOPOLIS - Not a favorite. Honestly, shaky-cam "Blair Witch" style offerings aren't high on my list to begin with, and this one just seems to have a storyline which wanders all over the map with no clear goals or logical framework. Really felt like a "throw everything at the wall and see what sticks" hodgepodge, and it's heavily weighed down by long stretches of exposition. I could have passed on it, but as with all premieres, you never know what you're going to get.
PLANET OF THE VAMPIRES - Man, I love this film, and this print was GORGEOUS. I tried desperately hard to push slumber off till
Iron Man, but the film's slower pace and the exposition of
Lunopolis just killed me. I think I winked out for about 1/2 hour total. Damn shame, too, since this is a canonical example of Italian art-direction.
IRON MAN - As I say, I wish I'd fallen asleep here instead of during
Planet of the Vampires, but that's entirely because I've seen this film rather a lot lately. I really think this is a pretty fine piece of work, far more enjoyable than I had initially expected when I first heard it coming, and I consider it possibly the best film in Marvel's comic line. Somehow all the tumblers just click on this one, and seeing it on the big screen with an audience again is always a treat.
THE GIANT GILA MONSTER - Giant Lizard Cheese. I can't tear this one down, it's a go-to classic, and we were running thin on older films this year anyway. Every bit as cheese-tastic as I'd remembered it, but again I'd seen it very recently. This print also looked to be in really good shape, which made it that much better to see in the theater.
TROLL HUNTER - I honestly think I was too tired to give this film a really fair review, but I have to admit I really liked what I saw. Sadly, the pacing was slower than I had hoped and between more shaky-cam footage and trying to concentrate on the subtitles - well, my sleep-deprived brain was kinda hoping it would speed its way along. Still, I think it's a whole heck of a lot of fun, and I'm definitely going to have to revisit this one soon when I'm better rested. I am glad that so many people were willing to stay through to the end for it, I think it's well worth seeing.
Anyway, that's the quick rundown. I'm sure once I've had a bit more sleep I'll provide an addendum. I'll also post details of the Intermission music (for which the projectionists have my heartfelt thanks for being Johnny-on-the-spot this year.)
Right now, though, I think I may need to nuke a pizza and get some more sleep.