Happy October!

NEXT MEETING WILL BE THURSDAY, OCT. 8TH DUE TO FALL BREAK

SAME TIME AND PLACE- 5:00 P.M. DAMEN 437

Be there or be lame because we will be voting on the movies for the Horror Film Festival and for Film Screenings.

Campus MovieFest on Facebook

RSVP to the event and invite your Loyolan friends!

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=159124354807&index=1

MEETING MINUTES (9/29)

Chicago International Film Festival - Ashley Hoban
Ways to get tickets:
-call & order w/ credit card
-ticket master
-office on Adams
-AMC
Casting call for advanced film studies

Ann Arbor Touring Festival coming to Loyola
-Nov. 11 Gavin, 7 p.m.
Horror Film Festival
-list exists
-couple days leading up to Holloween (3 days)
-Gavin Auditorium
Bi-Weekly Film Screening
-no list
-5 this semester
Minutes courtesy of your very own secretary, Frank Agnoli

Midwest Independent Film Festival

Check this out! Possible idea for a LUCine trip?

The first Tuesday of every month the Midwest Independent Film Festival takes place at Landmark's Century Centre Cinema in Chicago.

General Admission only $10!

Check out the website http://www.midwestfilm.com/pages/home/1.php and let me know what you think!

A Woman Under The Influence

Check this out!

A WOMAN UNDER THE INFLUENCE

975, John Cassavetes, USA, 155 min.
With Gena Rowlands, Peter Falk

"Perhaps the greatest of Cassavetes' films."—Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Under the influence of the man she loves (Falk), Mabel Longhetti (Rowlands in an Oscar-nominated performance) is driven in circles by the irascible demands and well-meaning emotional violence of her husband, three children, and testy mother-in-law. Cassavetes’s amazing insight into family life rips into conventional ideas of what constitutes “madness” versus what constitutes “sanity.”

Playing at the Gene Siskel Film Center

This Saturday (9/19) at 3 p.m.

http://www.siskelfilmcenter.org/node/356 

Meeting!

MEETING TOMORROW (Sept. 15) DAMEN HALL ROOM 437!

We will be electing the Secretary and Treasurer so be there to cast your vote!

Some of what we discussed from the last meeting:

CAMPUS MOVIEFEST

-October 13-October 19: filming and editing

-October 23: Finale

-Nationwide student film festival

-CMF will provide an HD videocamera, a laptop, training, and 24/7 assistance

-1 week to make your film

-"Red carpet" finale to showcase the films

-Over $500,000 in prizes!

-REGISTRATION STARTS NOW

BIG LEBOWSKI BOWLING NIGHT

-Watch the classic The Big Lebowski

-Go bowling!

FILM SCREENINGS

-Biweekly

-No Hollywood box office movies

-Ideas for movies to show?

HORROR FILM FESTIVAL

-Bring in Bruce Campbell (of the Evil Dead trilogy) as a speaker

-Around Halloween

STUDENT FILM FESTIVAL

-Open to all Loyola students

-In April

BOSNIAN FILM FESTIVAL

-In March

SOME OF YOUR IDEAS

-Go see Where the Wild Things Are in theater

-Trip to Music Box

-Animation, Zombie, Documentary and/or French New Wave Festivals

-Speakers: Guy Madden, Agnes Varda

-Facebook group to share favorites and newly discovered movies

-LUCine 48 hour film competition

Meeting

If you like movies and free pizza, you should probably come. 

LUCine in 2009!

Welcome back everyone! 

I've been working on this a lot over the summer and we have some great events in the works. Regular meetings are going to start next week (although the time and place are tba). I will continue to update as things are sorted out. 

In the meantime, be sure to attend the Organization Fair Wednesday (tomorrow) from 1-4 to check out the LUCine table and get more information.

We need officers! If you are interested let me know asap!

Any other questions/concerns/ideas please email me at agrant1@luc.edu!

Thanks to everyone for making the Student Fest such a success!

Here's the list of the films screened in this year's festival:

"Captain Sustainable and the Sustainables" by Dan Bejarano (along with a 'sneak peak' at his Practicum)
"The Fix" by Jamie McArthur
"Found Footage: Grow Up" by Chris Davis
"Journal: Page 1" by Chris Davis
"Boardgame Philosophers" by Vince Labriola
"Untitled Practicum" by Raneath Sokha

Thanks to everyone who came to the festival, and I hope you'll make an appearance next year.

Animation Interns Wanted

This was passed along to us courtesy of Jim, so check it out if you're interested:

Internship Available

Finamore-Frassetti Productions in conjunction with AR Loyalty Media is looking for assistance with post-production on one feature length documentary dealing with the life of a former professional wrestler that is soon to be released and two television programs.
All of our programming is sports oriented.

We are looking for self-starter interns and animators: 3D modelers, character animators, and motion graphics animators.

In Exchange:
- You will receive course credit for your work and efforts
- You will receive personal film and television credit and a chance to begin getting established as an industry professional.
- Work alongside wrestling and sports personalities in SOHO studio

Application Instructions:
To apply, please email resume and cover letter.
Please title your email with your first and last name and "internship"
No phone calls please.

Email: franco.frassetti@gmail.com

Facets Midnight Film Screenings

Facets is having a series of midnight "cult classics" screenings, which you can find out more info about here. In the meantime, watch this trailer for one of the moves, titled STREET TRASH... Pretty much the most awesome thing I've ever seen.

STREET TRASH TRAILER (YouTube)


V.

The 2009 Loyola Student Film Festival

Here is the official poster for the 2009 Loyola Student Film Festival; it contains all the information about the event including submission information. We hope that you'll send your work in and get the chance to see it on the big screen. Again, for more information just shoot an e-mail to vlabrio@luc.edu.

See you at the festival,

Vince.

The 2009 Bosnian and Herzegovinian Film Festival

The official schedule for the Bosnian Film Fest, to be held April 11th and 12th here at Loyola University Chicago, is now available for download here. Our slate of films this year is really dynamite and all screenings are free and open to the public (capacity limited to 300 people). Furthermore, the reception on Saturday evening will include a generous buffet of excellent Bosnian cuisine.

Hope to see you there.

Long Time No Speak

Hello all.

It's been awhile since we've gotten some new stuff up on the blog, but the month of April is going to be pretty exciting for LUCine and film at Loyola in general. We've got the Bosnian fest coming up in two weeks, and we're really pumped for the Student film fest that will be taking place at the very end of the month. If you're interested in helping out with either of these events let us know, and we hope to see you at both. Keep checking the blog for more updates throughout the month.

Cheers,

Vince.

A message from Avery Grant

Calling all film lovers!

You may or may not have heard about LUCine, (Loyola University CINEma) or film club. If you are an IFMS major, or just like to watch movies, then this is the club for you.

Right now we are in the process of planning for next year, some of our events include:
-Big Lebowski Bowling Night (watch The Big Lebowski and then go bowling)
-Caddy Shack Putt-Putt Night (watch Caddy Shack and then go play putt-putt golf)
-Halloween Horror Film Festival
-Student Film Festival
-Bosnian Film Festival
-Biweekly Indie Film Screenings
-Director Guest Speaker

If you are interested in any of these events, or if you have any other ideas/suggestions for cool things do to next year, our meetings are every Monday at 5 pm in the Rambler Room.

Any other questions? Feel free to email:
Vince Labriola (current President) at vlabriola@luc.edu
Jeff Harder (Faculty Advisor) at jharder@luc.edu
Avery Grant at agrant1@luc.edu
Or check out our blog at http://lucinechicago.blogspot.com/

Don't forget, meetings are every Monday 5 pm, in the Rambler Room. Hope to see you there!

Thanks,
Avery Grant

Calvin and Susie

I'm a huge fan of 'Calvin and Hobbes' (who isn't?), and I came across this fan comic depicting Calvin and Susie making out, while Hobbes 'watches' angrily. I thought it was a funny way to show how fooling around gets in the way of imaginary friends, simply that Calvin is getting older and outgrowing Hobbes. Certainly makes you wonder if all those 'Fight Club=Calvin and Hobbes' conspiracy theories are true.

Watchmen and Adaptation

This is meant to be both a review of the film and an examination of the 'art' of adapting material for the screen. I saw Zack Snyder's film at an advance screening this past Tuesday, and as a fan of the original comic book I felt the theatre very impressed; 'Watchmen' stands toe-to-toe with the other big two comic book movies released in the past year ('Iron Man' and 'The Dark Knight') in its own way, and like those two films it has strengths and weaknesses. However, unlike 'Iron Man' and 'Knight', 'Watchmen' has strict source material, instead of a amorphous created universe from which to draw concrete story elements. Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons created a piece of magnificent art with their graphic novel, a story so thoughtfully constructed that most who've read it came to the conclusion that it couldn't be adapted into a film. Still, the overwhelming appeal of superhero movies recently meant that, inevitably, 'Watchmen' would fall under the camera lens. Enter Snyder, director of '300,' another graphic novel adaptation.

Let me say this, first and foremost: if you haven't read the original graphic novel, Snyder's adaptation is going to strike you as needlessly confusing. I wouldn't be surprised if you disliked the film. On the other hand, if you're one of those individuals who adhere to the (misguided) principle that adaptation ruins the original material, you will also dislike the film. Is the graphic novel better than the film? Absolutely. For 'Watchmen' to move faithfully from page to screen would require a runtime of - and this is a conservative estimate - ten hours at least. Hoepfully, you fall into the same category of viewer as I do: a huge fan of the graphic novel who realizes the constraints of making a theatrical motion picture adaptation and can take Snyder's film for what it is, an ansolutely fantastic companion piece to the original work. Snyder flawlessly takes the most visually dramatic moments of the graphic novel and populates them with spot-on depictions of the main characters, so that 'Watchmen' functions as an added layer of depth to the original story. I went back and read a bit of the graphic novel after seeing the film, and as much as I loved Rorschach before, having Jackie Earle Haley provide the added cinematic qualities to the character is a positive without a negative. Was I disappointed Snyder omitted/modified elements of the original? Of course, but that doesn't make me dislike the film. In fact, his tweaked ending is, for my money, just as interesting as the original. Snyder will be criticized for his choices, and perhaps rightly so. However, 'Watchmen' is every bit the accomplishment that 'Iron Man' or 'Dark Knight' were, in its own way. My recommendation: pick up a copy of the graphic novel and read it through before seeing the film. Together they function as the finest example of cross-medium popular entertaiment I've ever seen, and for me that's enough to give 'Watchmen' four stars.

-V.

Mnemonic: Weird Word, Weird Play

First, a hearty congratulations to VP Ashley; in my opinion the show was a total success. That being said, if you can catch one of the three remaining performances (last one on Sunday), do so. This was as bizarre a theatrical production as I've seen, but it really gets you thinking. Plus, the core narratives focus on relationships and a prehistoric man frozen for 5000+ years in the Alps. Try to think of a crazier combination. As far as the use of video, the combination of live recitation and recorded footage created this surreal scenario where the audience could watch the person, or the video feed, which was the slightest bit delayed, pushing the audio slightly out of sync. Really cool stuff, somewhat absurdist but it really served the stories well. OH! And it's interactive. Which is always awesome.

V.

PS: Otzi The Iceman. Weird.

In Defense of Film Studies at Loyola

[The following is written by one of the most passionate film students I've had the pleasure of knowing. He cares about this program and the people in it, and I sincerely hope his efforts don't go unnoticed. ~Vince.]

Hello Students

My name is Scott Salhanick and I am an International Film and Media Studies major on production track.

I am here today to talk to you about the injustice of the closing of Damen 437 and how it affects us, as students of Loyola University Chicago.

Many of you, as Communications Studies majors and minors, will, in your Loyola career, take at least one production course, if you have not already. You will use either Final Cut Pro for video editing and/or ProTools suite for audio editing.

Currently, there are thirty-three plus students enrolled in courses, which use Final Cut Pro. However, with the closing of Damen 437, the number of available computers at the Lake Shore Campus decreases 29.4% from 17 available computers to 5 available computers, three in the Digital Media Lab and two Macbook Pros with Final Cut Pro installed. Also, there are fifteen plus students enrolled in courses, which use ProTools suite. Yet, there are no ProTools labs available at the Lake Shore Campus.

The gross lack of facilities at the Lake Shore Campus of Loyola University not only hinders the schools ability to stay competitive with other schools in Chicago and nationwide, but, more importantly, this also hinders the ability of the students to do their assigned work.

The closing of Damen 437, to communications and International Film and Media studies majors and minors, is tantamount to the closing of the Information Commons or the Cudahy Library.

The mission statement of Loyola University Chicago says:

We are Chicago’s Jesuit Catholic University – A diverse community seeking God in all things and working to expand knowledge in the service of humanity through learning, justice, and faith.

By closing Damen 437, this goes in direct opposition of the school’s mission statement by inhibiting the students from expanding their knowledge in the service of humanity through learning.

By closing Damen 437, this goes in direct opposition of the school’s mission statement by providing an injustice to the very students the mission statement was written for.

By closing Damen 437, this goes in direct opposition of the school’s mission statement by depriving the students of the faith they have in their administration.

There are ways to repair this injustice; however, it is on the shoulders of the administration to take the first step. The main reason the administration has told me that they have shut down Damen 437 is because there is no way of monitoring the classroom. There is only one monitored computer lab in the entire school, aside from the Information Commons, and that is the State Room in CFSU. The rest of the computer labs, both in Mundelein and Damen, are monitored on rounds every hour or so. Why can Damen 437 not be on these rounds? Moreover, Loyola could place a work-study student at the desk in Damen 437 for a few hours a day.

So, please think about what I have said and think about what it means to have Damen 437 open again.

Why E.T. Frightens Me

DISCLAIMER: If you like E.T. The Exterrestrial, sorry. I jest at your expense. Go listen to the Flying Theme and have yourself a good cry. Onward and upward:

This is going to be a little bit of a rant, but whatever. Something I saw or read or thought today reminded me of E.T., you know, the little bastard alien from the Steven Spielberg movie, and since I haven't posted in awhile I figured I'd set the record straight on the subject. E.T. is not cute, loving, adorable, child-friendly, or heroic. He is a huge leeching creep that gives off way too many messed-up sexual undertones. My evidence:
1. He gets left on earth, finds his way to Elliott, and then proceeds to SUCK ELLIOTT'S LIFE AWAY AS A BARGAINING CHIP ONCE HE'S CAUGHT. Seriously, think about it: he puts some kind of fucked-up alien voodoo curse on the little kid so that family/friends will be more motivated to help. Save me, E.T. says, or Elliott is gonna wrinkle up into a dusty prune right next to me. What a manipulative douche. If I was Elliott, as soon as E.T. got better I'd take him into the forest and brain his little nutsack head with a rock. Which brings us to 2. E.T. is some kind of sexual deviant. Okay, yeah, this is never explicitly addressed in the film but the clues are there. His head (as I mentioned mere moments eariler) is shaped like a big, wrinkly scrotum... which is attached to a "neck" that elongates when E.T. gets excited. That's not phallic, or anything. He hides in a closet, a typical behavior of voyeurs. And his "magic finger"? Let's just say that there's a reason Drew Barrymore was so fucked up. You don't start snorting cocaine in grade school unless you're trying to dance and twitch away the feeling that you're being stalked by a giant penis weilding a long, scraggly, glowing molestation device. E.T. got to Drew young, and the result was two stints in rehab before the age of 14. And in a so-called "family" movie. Nice work, you drunk. Which is 3. E.T. is a drunk. I don't think this warrants any additional justification. At least he's a relatively cheap date.
All this probably isn't the little teabag's fault; if your alien race doesn't even care enough about you to make sure you got back on the INTERSTELLAR SPACESHIP I have to think E.T.'s home life was pretty shitty. And Elliott, next time you meet a "friend" from outer space, make sure he doesn't want to suck your life away. Even if he promises in return to make your bike fly.

-Your Fearless President.

Facets Film School Winter Sessions

That pretty much sums it up. Check it out online if you're interested.


V.

Raneath the Magnificant's Ten List

1. 2046: Where do I begin with 2046? Was so long and confusing the first time I saw it but the second time, everything falls into place and been an admirer ever since. This is what you call a formalist cinema. Awesome cinematography and nostalgic music scores, can’t get better than this.

2. Big Fish: Besides my love for the whole surrealist aspects of the film, the one scene that I enjoy the most probably is the young Edward Bloom’s courtship for Sandra because I’m really romantic like that. Duh! And what about the ending huh? Teary eyes? If you really submerge yourself into a film when you watch it, very most likely.

3. The Fall: Do I really love all the fantastically costumes design, exotic locations, eye-candy cinematography, and a sad love story? You better believe it. I actually met the director with Sean at the Century Cinema Theater in Evanston. Seems like a cool person for a director of somewhat a name to sit on the ground and talk to the fans. Couldn’t hear half of what he was saying because he got an Indian accent and I don’t even speak English. Haha


4. Pan’s Labyrinth: A love at first sight by fortunate accident. Had to go see it for the Latin media study and criticism class and I thought it was gonna be some Tango-dancing Latin film. That really says how aware I was of the world’s cinema a few years ago. I think I had my mouth open the whole time. That may explain why I got that fly in my mouth. Hmmm!?

5. Kamakazi Girls: If you’re into or have any liking for the whole EGL, elegant gothic Lolita, this would be your cinematic bible. Hell, you’re into Japanese anime culture and all of its quirkiness? You’ll love it, too. Damn! Why are Asian so awesome? ;)

6. 28 Days Later: They don’t call it a genre bench marker for no good reasons. The whole deserted urban area is so captivating. That really says something about human’s fascination with our own destruction.

7. Requiem for a Dream: Honestly, this film made me want to do drugs for the first half but then… I’ve been trying to come up with something that emulates this badass of a film. Oh! Maybe I say it once and for all that other film’s trailer needs to stop using the Lux Aeterna theme already? You’re diluting a gem, partner.

8. Taxi Driver: “Are you talking to me?” “Have you ever seen what a .44 Magnum will do to a woman’s pussy?” Got to love that Scorsese guy lol. I totally dig De niro’s role and acting in this one. That double-take look in the restaurant with other cab drivers? That’s what I’m talking about.

9. Dead Man: What a film, huh? To be honest, I don’t know what the film is about. My brain isn’t that complex to comprehend what Jarmusch is trying to get at in this film but you know the film is good when you enjoy it without knowing what the fuck is going on. Let me know though if you think you understand this film’s meaning.

10. Brain Dead: Fucking gross, funny, scary, and ridiculously awesome at all the same time. Did you see the cream scene? So yummy! Peter Jackson needs to go back and make more stuff like this.

-I actually got a top 20 list and can’t narrow it down so I just pick 10 randomly and my list is in no way in ascending or descending order as I value them as equally good, just in different ways.

Ashley's TOP 10!!!!!!

Hey everybody!!!! This is my long overdue top ten list. Actually, it is 11 because I couldn't delete one without feeling blasphemous. Like Vince with his Star Wars, I am not including Buffy the Vampire Slayer or any Joss Whedon creations in that they are perfection and no one can compare......

11. Harold and Maude: This is an interesting study on love. It is quirky and Cat Stevens wrote most of the soundtrack specifically for the movie (before he went crazy). Even though you should be weirded out, you're not. It makes you think about love and life differently, which is why this movie rocks.

10. Sunset Boulevard: "I always wanted a pool." Enough said.

9. Streetcar named Desire: The play is phenomenal (obviously), the acting is brilliant, and so goes the film. There is so much intensity in this movie. Tennessee Williams creates such an intricate story, and the imagery is so layered, every time you watch it you find something new. PS. Marlon Brando is beyond sexy.

8. Casablanca: There's a reason this is a classic. It is sad, it is funny, it is awesome. If you haven't seen it, do it now.

7. Jules et Jim: Oh mon dieu how can we not include this? Classic French brilliance by Truffaut. He pushes things and we love him for that.

6. Lost In Translation: I love how honest this movie is. The dialogue is real and terrific and the cinematography creates some beautiful images. Bill Murray knows how to create an astounding character. Woo ScoJo!

5. Life Aquatic: Again, I say Bill Murray. Most people like The Royal Tenenbaums better (and it is most definitely brilliant), but this is my favorite Wes Anderson film. The soundtrack is amazing, and I think it is just a little more bizarre, which I guess I am considering a good thing.

4. Volver: This movie is staggeringly good. Pedro Almodóvar is definitely one of my favorite directors, and Woman on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown was close to making this list. But, Volver is beautiful. The story is ingenious, and Penelope Cruz has one of the most incredibly acted scenes I have ever seen. Hooray.

3. Moulin Rouge: Don't make fun of me. I guess you can if you want, but Baz Luhrmann is a genius. The Red Curtain Trilogy (this movie plus Strictly Ballroom and Romeo + Juliet)is good directing smacking you in the face. Costumes, Set Design, Cinematography, every little thing about this movie amazes me. It is romantic. I love it.

2. Before Sunrise/Before Sunset Duo: I LOVE these movies because they are proof to everyone that simple, low budgeted, clever films can be made. Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke co-wrote Before Sunset with Richard Linklater. Both films are 90 minutes of intelligent conversation, which seems really dull, but turns out to be truly insightful and it makes you feel good. Brilliant. Love it, watch it over and over.

1. 400 Blows: This was a difficult choice. Wait, no it wasn't. This film is beyond description. When you watch it, something inside you gets woken up and you remember childhood in a different way. The final scene is worth every complaint I have ever heard about this film. It is freeing, and Antoine Doinel becomes a character that you never ever forget...ever.

Woo, that was long but really fun. I hope you all get a chance to do this yourselves. Email your own top 10 (or 11) lists to me or Vince and we will get them up!! YAY LUCine!!!!

A good film fest opportunity

Forwarded to us by Jeff:

Dear Professor Harder,

My name is Ian and I am on the publicity staff for the Ivy Film Festival. We were hoping to reach a broad audience of student filmmakers by going directly through professors involved in the theatre arts and film studies. I noticed that you are the Director of International Film & Media Studies at Loyola University Chicago. If there were any students in your class or in your department who would be interested in submitting a film or screenplay, I hope that you'll forward the following message! Although the regular deadline has already passed, we are still looking for submissions and will be accepting films or screenplays until February 21st.

Just a little bit about us: The Ivy Film Festival started in 2001 as a place for undergraduate and graduate filmmakers to share their work, and interact with other student filmmakers as well as established figures in the film industry. The 2009 Ivy Film Festival will take place from April 20th through the 26th, at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. We present selected films and screenplays to a wide audience, and a panel of celebrity judges (including directors, producers, writers, and agents) views the best selections from the festival.
Here are the details about submitting materials to the festival:

Please submit films (short or feature length) and/or screenplays (short or long form) to the 2009 Ivy Film Festival online at www.withoutabox.com or through the mail (visit www.ivyfilmfestival.com for more details). The deadlines are as follows:


Late deadline (February 14, 2009):
First film or screenplay submission - $30
Additional submissions - $15

Without A Box Extended deadline (February 21, 2009):
First film or screenplay submission - $45
Additional submissions - $20

If there are any questions, then feel free to email us at iffpublicity2009@gmail.com. Thank you!

Sincerely,

Ian Veidenheimer
Publicity Staff
Ivy Film Festival
Brown University
Providence, RI 02912
www.ivyfilmfestival.com

Looks like something worth checking out.

V.

Sukiyaki Western Django!

Since I have become involved in the whole cinema world or more specifically making it, I’ve always wanted to make a Western, being somewhat of a fan. Last night, I accidentally stumbled on a film which I had sometimes envisioned myself making, an Asian Western. Yes! An Asian Spaghetti Western. I always had the idea of taking the elements of a Western and set them in an Asian background, or more specifically Khmer. However, this film is Japanese. In a gross over simplification, it's what it would be like if Japanese Samurai film meets the Spaghetti Western. I don’t like to ruin a movie experience, especially the first time, for people by trying to describe too much what it is so let me just say that it is visually striking, funny throughout, and undeniably fresh. I still don’t know how I feel about the film entirely as it has not sunk in yet so I need to go watch it a couple more times and you should also treat yourself to this film if you want to see somewhat of a re-envision of the Spaghetti Western. Oh! The film is called Sukiyaki Western Django, directed by the controversial Japanese director Takashi Miike.

Trailer

-Joker

The New LUCine Mascot

Yes, here he is in all his pasty pinstriped glory. Nothing says "student film society" like a leering gangbanger dressed like a Yankee with typhoid fever. Look at the back light creating that wispy halo around his inky black hair. Glorious.

Facets Film School: since one can never have too much film education.

This was passed along to me to share with the rest of LUCine... Facets is a really cool film shrine in Lincoln Park and they're accepting people for a variety of classes this winter. Check out the details at:

Facets Film School

V.

Vince's Top 10

Ok, so over the next few days I'm hoping everyone will put up their top ten films and a little info on why they like 'em. I'll start thigs off with these choice moving pictures:

(The Star Wars and Indiana Jones trilogies are not included in this list because they occupy that special place in my heart that cannot be numerically evaluated, and yes, they're both TRILOGIES.)

10. Blazing Saddles: I have to include a film with Gene Wilder in it, and as much as I love his Willy Wonka (shame on you, Tim Burton and Johnny Depp, for thinking you could top it), this movie is so inappropriately hilarious that it never gets old. Seriously, is there anything funnier than a black man baiting Klan members by asking "where all the white women at?"

9. City of God: Every time I watch this, I have to grimace when Lil'Ze forces one little kid to shoot another... Incredibly violent but thrilling at the same time, "City of God" works because each character gets under your skin, for better or for worse. Plus, the cinematography depicting the slums of Rio is downright amazing. The best "based on a true story" movie out there.

8. Starship Troopers: Go ahead, laugh. Done? Now read carefully: this is one of the most intelligently made films I've ever seen. I won't go into it here, you'll have to ask me in person, but don't worry, I'll convince you. I will. In the meantime, go read the source material, the seminal sci-fi book of the same name by Robert A. Heinlein.

7. Dumb and Dumber: While "Blazing Saddles" is all about satire and the lambasting of stereotypes, this vintage Farrelly Brothers masterpiece is the only film I can quote from front to back. Literally every line is hilarious, and major props to Cam Neely (of Boston Bruins fame) as lonely trucker Seabass. "I think I just... yeah. I had an idea." Classic.

6. The Jungle Book: Maybe it's just because I watched it every day when I was a child, but it's still the best traditionally-animated film Disney made, with the best Disney song ("The Bear Necessities," obviously). Shere Khan still scares the crap out of me.

5. Aliens: The best war movie made (did you know it's about Vietnam?) and the best sequel ever. James Cameron really knew how to make 'em back then, as he sandwiched this one in between "Terminator" and "T2: Judgement Day." Ellen Ripley's "get away from her you bitch!" gives you shivers, and Bishop saving Newt even though he's CUT IN HALF is amazing.

4. Bicycle Thieves: Italian Neo-Realism at its best, this film inspires me every time I watch it because it was made with no budget, non-professional actors, and an absurdly simple story yet still ends as tragically as anything else ever shot on camera, proving that money does not a good film make.

3. Back To The Future: This should be painfully obvious, buttheads.

2. Wall-E: Someday critics are going to look back and realize that "Wall-E" is one of the greatest love stories ever told. And the telling... the film is virtually dialog free, yet communicates more than the most verbose character dramas. Pixar took a huge risk, and the result was the first movie I walked out of the theatre and claimed a masterpiece.

1. The 400 Blows: The brutal honesty at the heart of this, François Truffaut's first film, reflects his own life and his love of film; as a critic he saw countless features, and he, like any good film student, recoginzed what makes movies great entertainment. We've all felt lost like Antoine Doinel at some point, and we all hope that we might also reach the coast and look out into the open sea, somehow contented.

LET THE RIGHT ONE IN

Ah, the memories from our first group screening, the fantastic Scandinavian vampire flick "Let The Right One In."

Here's what Avery had to say about it, after some deep personal reflection:

"ok, so i was thinking about it, and here's what i think is really going down.

eli is 12 forever right? so i think that old guy is not her dad, but was some other kid/person that fell in love with her and who has just grown old while eli stays 12. and because he loves her, that's why he was so willing to kill people and drain their blood. so now that homeboy is dead, she has oskar to replace him!
eli probably singled oskar out for her next companion when he was fucking stabbing a tree! he was on the verge of killing someone before she even showed up. this makes SO much sense.

ummm the end!"

Concise, humorous, and pretty brilliant. Got stuff like this? Get it to us so we can get it up here.

V.

Yes, we're officially on-line... whatever that means.

Hello all, and welcome to the new LUCine web destination. Firstly, if you're part of this fine organization be sure to bookmark this page, since Ashley and I will be doing our best to make it sweet. Secondly, if you've got something to put up here, and as long as it's remotely connected to movies then it's a go, let me know. Uh, finally, tell your friends that we've gone high-tech.

More info on the CampusFilmFest, The Loyola Student Festival, and upcoming screenings forthcoming.

Best,

V.