The Horrific Soska Sisters Are Back!

With Halloween right around the corner, what better time to revisit the super talented Soska Sisters, who have a new film on demand right now and blu-ray on Tuesday!

These Soska Sisters had their latest horror film premiere at “Screamfest 2014″ – and now you can see it too – it’s a great way to get into the Shocktober spirit!

Meet The Soskas!

If you don’t know who Jen and Sylvia Soska are, I am about to change that. It’s a great Hollywood success story; twin sisters with a love of horror and a passion for movies! And once you enter their twisted world, you’ll never want out! Time to celebrate this directing duo who have embraced the horror genre – with great films that may be low in budget but big in thrills!

“See No Evil 2!”

Jen and Sylvia Soska have directed a number of great horror films, and now they have a new one just in time for Halloween! Here is the trailer for “See No Evil 2″:

Here’s the plot of “See No Evil 2″: A group of friends pay a late-night visit to the city morgue to surprise Amy on her birthday. But, since this is a great Halloween slasher pic the surprise is on them when “one-eyed corpse” aka “brutal psychopath Jacob Goodnight” rises from an icy cold slab – and he’s not too happy to have his sleep disturbed…

This being the horror genre, their wild party turns into a terrifying slay-fest as the sadistic mass-murderer resumes his savage rampage complete with hooks, surgical knives and power saws!

Kane Is Able!

WWE Superstar Kane stars as sadistic killer Jacob Goodnight – and from the looks of it, the Soska sisters gave Kane lots of bloody fun in the film!

They also had a great time at the premiere, celebrating their latest cinematic achievement…

Get “Horrored Up” At Home!

You can get your “Shocktober” on right now, as “See No Evil 2″ is available on Digital HD and Video On Demand October 17th, as well as Blu-ray and DVD on October 21st from Lionsgate – so you can experience all the bloody fun at home!

Bravo To The Soska Sisters!

This is just another triumph for the Soska sisters, who were born in Canada and now are on a directing roll! They also run their own film production company, Twisted Twins Productions – and as you can see, it’s an appropriate title!

Jen and Sylvia Soska have quite a success story so far: they launched their directing career with the low low budget “Dead Hooker In A Trunk” and then they achieved huge critical acclaim for the next effort, the intense horror film “American Mary.”

I read a great review of “American Mary” in a british film magazine, so I sought it out and love it! It’s a moody thriller with great acting, a strong script and great directing!

The Soska Sisters Are On A Roll!

The twin directing Soska sisters are on a creative tear, with new films being announced, and the classic “American Mary” on blu-ray…check out my entire story on these great sisters – with more detail on their movie, by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/06/07/modern-horror-twin-directors-the-soska-sisters-american-mary-dead-hooker-in-a-trunk/

Kudos to the Soska sisters, I can’t wait to see your next movie!

Dan: That’s some song you got there. I promise you it could be a big hit. Plus you’re beautiful.
Gretta: I’m sorry, what’s beauty got to do with anything?
Dan: Jesus, you’re tricky, aren’t you?

Great dialogue from one of the best film’s of 2014, “Begin Again!”

This independent film opened in early summer, and while it was a hit, it should have done even better – it’s a funny, heartwarming film full of great acting and terrific music!

First, check out the movie trailer:

Mark Ruffalo stars as a music executive going through tough times, both personally and professionally. Keira Knightley is a young singer/songwriter whose boyfriend, played by Adam Levine, achieve music success, which causes problems in their long-standing relationship.

You don’t need to know more than that, except to know that the film is funny, honest, dramatic, and full of amazing music, performed by the cast.

Kudos To Adam Levine!

Here is the music video of Adam Levine’s beautiful song “Lost Stars”, with moments from the film:

Keira Knightley Sings!

What a beautiful song! It is performed in the movie as well by Keira Knightley – it’s just one of the many beautiful songs in the film.

What A Cast!

“Begin Again” is directed by John Carney, who also made the great independent musical “Once”…Hailee Steinfeld, who was so great in “True Grit”, plays Ruffalo’s daughter, Mos Def plays his estranged business partner, and Catherine Keener is his estranged wife.

CeeLo Green has a small part as well, with a hilarious cast of characters around him….it is a great cast all embracing this story…which includes a incredible soundtrack, filmed all around the city of New York!

Here is some great trivia about “Begin Again”, courtesy of the great movie website IMDB:

Knightley had to learn play the guitar for the role and her husband, musician James Righton, offered his help. However, according to Knightley herself, his lessons were atrocious for their relationship, and almost led to a “divorce and murder”.

Mark Ruffalo’s last name in the film is Mulligan. A mulligan, in a game, happens when a player gets a second chance to perform a certain move or action. The practice is also sometimes referred to as a “do-over.” This is similar to the title and overall premise the film. Getting a second chance.

“You know, I wasn’t trying to win you over. I was telling you to fuck off.”

Mark Ruffalo is great in the film, and there is real chemistry between him and Keira Knightley…and Adam Levine is great as well!

The cast really seems to be having a great time making the film – but it also full of many dramatic moments…a terrific ensemble, and the film is beautifully written and directed by John Carney, who made the great film “Once” as well….

Gretta: I told you, I write songs from time to time.
Dan: What do you write them for?
Gretta: What do you mean what for? For my pleasure. And for my cat.
Dan: Oh really? Does he like them?
Gretta: She. Yes, she seems to.
Dan: How do you know?
Gretta: Because she purrs.
Dan: Maybe she’s booing.
Gretta: No, she purrs at Leonard Cohen, too, and she has very good taste.
Dan: Maybe she’s fucking with you.

This is one of those films that you want to watch over and over again, and now that it’s on demand and home video, you can do just that! I also just bought the soundtrack, so Alex and I can listen to these great songs over and over again….

Behold Iconic Scream Queen Jamie Lee Curtis!

First of all, NEVER tell a Scream Queen to keep it down! All great scary movies have a character you feel empathy for – you root for them to survive, against all odds – and against psycho slasher killers – like these guys!

Creepy killers are a dime a dozen, because the greatest horror films all seem to have one thing in common: Jamie Lee Curtis!

Celebrating Cinema’s Greatest Scream Queen!

Jamie Lee Curtis has made a lot of good movies over the years, but she got her start in the horror slasher genre, and those films are great as well! Let’s take a look at three of her best horror films – beginning with Jamie Lee’s first feature film – when she was paid a reported $8,000 for her efforts!

Halloween!

“The Night HE Came Home!”

A classic tagline for what many consider the best “Halloween” movie of all time!

Director John Carpenter’s horror masterpiece just keeps getting better over time.
The plot is a masterclass in simplicity: After killing his older sister, a young boy is institutionalized – but when psychopath Michael Myers escapes, he returns home to terrorize a babysitter and her friends!

Here is the trailer:

“Halloween” is, without a doubt, one of the most terrifying slasher films ever, and the film’s success in 1978 opened the door to a wave of slasher films that changed horror forever…

“Halloween” was Jamie Lee’s first movie ever, and Director John Carpenter considered hiring her as the ultimate tribute to Alfred Hitchcock – since Hitchcock cast Jamie Lee’s Mother, Janet Leigh, in his horror classic “Psycho”.

Now you can see where Jamie Lee got her “scream queen” title from! The young Actress became so well known as America’s newest scream queen that she even had a book written about it!

William Shatner, Psycho Killer!

Here is some great trivia, provided by IMDB: Due to its shoestring budget, the prop department had to use the cheapest $2 mask that they could find in the costume store: a Star Trek (1966) William Shatner mask. They later spray-painted the face white, teased out the hair, and reshaped the eye holes!

Shatner admitted that for years he had no idea his likeness was used for this film. It was only during an interview that someone mentioned his mask was being used. He has since stated that he is honored by this gesture!

Michael Myers is one of cinema’s great psychos, and what makes “Halloween” work so well is that you truly root for Jamie Lee to survive – a tribute to how well she acted in her movie debut – which IMDB says paid her $8,000 for starring in the film!

Among the great bits of trivia about this film, Director Carpenter also wrote the haunting score! The “Halloween” theme is written in the rare 5/4 time signature. John Carpenter learned this rhythm from his father!

Now, time to move on to more Jamie Lee mayhem, this time with a very unusual co-star!

Prom Night!

First of all, check out the credits on the poster: Jamie Lee Curtis is second billed on this horror classic behind Leslie Nielsen!

The plot is fairly obvious: A masked killer stalks four teenagers at their high school’s senior prom. The killer is out for revenge against them for the accidental death of a young girl years earlier….

This is a straightforward slasher film, but by this time, Jamie Lee was a star, and as you can see from this cover art, they quickly switched out their original horror poster to highlight her!

In fact, according to the film’s director Paul Lynch in the documentary “Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film”, he was having difficulty securing financing until Jamie Lee Curtis signed on!

Reigning Scream Queen Jamie Lee Curtis!

“Prom Night” was another big hit for Jamie Lee, as was “Halloween II”. So now Curtis was an official movie star, and the world’s most popular scream queens well! She took full advantage of this by starring in a number of hit slasher films, including this one:

Terror Train!

“Terror Train” is an effective slasher film, with some good scares and lots of blood…much of it on Jamie Lee!

The plot of “Terror Train” is brilliant in its simplicity: A masked killer seeks revenge against six college kids who were responsible for a prank gone wrong three years earlier – and lucky for the killer – the kids are throwing a large New Year’s Eve costume party aboard a moving train!

This film is helped greatly by a truly creepy looking killer, and an ongoing sense of dread throughout. Check out the trailer:

According to the great movie website IMDB, Jamie Lee Curtis once said of her character in this film:

“There are certain things a heroine in a thriller has to be. She has to be vulnerable, so that the audience identifies with her and is rooting for her. But she also has to have an enormous inner strength to overcome the evil, or terror, that is pursuing her. I play the same kind of character as I did in other films. But Alana – the girl I play – is stronger and more defined”.

After a few more slasher films, Jamie Lee broadened her work in film. Curtis used her popularity to star in a number of big movie hits, like “True Lies” with Arnold Schwarzenegger and “Trading Places” with Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd!

One of her best films was “A Fish Called Wanda” as well…but we will always remember her as the greatest “Scream Queen” of all time!

If this wets your appetite for some good old fashioned horror, I have some more great options for you:

If you need even more horror, check out some of these classic horror films!

http://johnrieber.com/2014/10/01/shocks-scares-chainsaws-the-best-halloween-horror-2014/

I love scary movies, let me know what your favorites are!

Time to honor my favorite Chicago burger!

In a world of great cheeseburgers, I may have just bitten down hard into my favorite of all time…

Meet The “Big Mack Daddy!”

Yes, it’s an homage to one of the world’s most well known hamburgers…the McDonald’s Big Mac – but this one loads up on the “BIG” and adds a “Mack Daddy” to boot!

Welcome to Big ‘n’ Little’s!

I have posted about Big & Little’s before – it’s a terrific Chicago “dive” that serves up stuff like this deep-fried Cheeseburger:

Why do I call it a “dive?” Well I didn’t, Guy Fieri did! “Big ‘n’ Little’s” was profiled on “Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives”, and pictures inside attest to Guy Fieri’s love of the boys….

I always love watching Fieri checking out some of the offbeat restaurants in the US, and he has profiled a number of great Chicago places like “Big & Little’s”, which is located on Orleans just north of Chicago Ave in the River North district…and I love them too, because they they serve stuff like THIS!

A Soft Shell Crab Po’ Boy!

Yep, this is a sandwich where the stuffing looks like it wants to climb right into your mouth! It’s a great soft shell crab o’boy, just one of many they have on the menu…

I love this place, beginning with their casual, funky environment:

Yes, that is “Big” behind the counter, taking all of the orders – and when you see the never-ending line of customers, you know that “Big” never rests!

I had to take my friend Chris in to try one of their specialty burgers: the “Big” Mack Daddy!

Yes, “Big” proudly offers up a massive Big Mac homage in his name – making a double patty burger that is packed with incredible flavor – a delicious homage …so both Chris and I ordered one…

Of course, everything here is cooked to order, so we sat down at one of the benches, waited about ten minutes, then go out burgers…and what a burger it is:

As you can see, the bun is nicely toasted, and has a “special sauce” on it…and the burgers are big, juicy and topped with perfectly melted cheese…

So you can see “two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce and cheese…”

And Check Out These Pickles!

Here is a super closeup look at the burger…slightly out of focus in spots, but it really shows how juicy this double cheeseburger is…beautifully cooked as well…

We also ordered some “truffle fries” – which show up fresh cut and hot out of the fryer – with a terrific truffle essence….

You can’t eat these too often, as they are indeed a “Big Mack Daddy!” But there is so much else to order as well. I have posted about “Big ‘n’ Little’s” before – remember the “Pork Belly Po’ Boy?”

Yes, it is as good as it looks! Read all about that food adventure by clicking on my entire story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/01/27/behold-the-pork-belly-poboy-big-littles-bites-down-hard-deep-fried-cheeseburger/

And yes, that story includes my look at their “Beer Battered Deep Fried Cheeseburger” too!

Kudos to “Big & Little’s”, which also opened in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood – two places to get your food on!

Time To Get Messy!

Yes, Halloween is a time for movies to “let it flow”, and that means some of the wildest horror films of all time get a much deserved spotlight!

You know, Shocktober is the month to revisit such classics as “Carrie”, “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre”, and of course, the greatest horror film ever made, “The Exorcist”:

Killer Frogs And Vincent Price, Too!

It’s also a perfect season for movies that are over the top, campy and fun as well as horrific – I mean, how can you not love a horror film with this poster:

That is, for me, one of the most perfect movie posters of all time: that is one evil Frog! The poster captures perfectly what you can expect form the film – good horrific fun, and it is just one of the campy horror treasures I have for you today – let’s begin with a great genre of horror called “J-sploitation”, cult exploitation movies from Japan, and here is one of their wildest efforts:

Helldriver!

I love japanese exploitation films: they are wildly imaginative, and offer more excessive bloodshed than you will find anywhere else! Need proof?

“Helldriver” offers up one of the wackiest plots ever, as a zombie plague turns Japan into a bloody war zone…

It’s more a bloody action spectacle than a horror film, but it is indicative of the imaginative approach to moviemaking that is going on in Japan and Asia…

“Dream Home” Rocks!

This is a great horror film – look closely at the poster: the Actress is laying amid dead bodies! To read all about “Helldriver” AND “Dream Home”, just click on my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/05/01/female-ninja-warriors-extreme-asian-cinema-updated/

There are so many terrific Asian horror films to share, search them out on my blog as well!

And now, let’s go to a type of horror film that’s been “gnawing” at me lately:

Zombeavers!

Yes, what a great campy horror movie…”Zombeavers” is EXACTLY what you think it is…and exactly what it should be! Bloody horror fun with zombie beavers!

It’s the genre of killer animals – rodents really – and it’s a hilariously over the top genre epitomized by the new classic “Zombeavers”, and of course, the ultimate “killer frog” movie:

Read all about these “killer animal” films by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/02/18/zombeavers-the-latest-in-killer-animal-movies-frogs-ants-and-more-campy-horror/

Sometimes the best part of a horror film is to spend time with your favorite Actors, and it is time now to celebrate one of horror’s most iconic faces:

Vincent Price was one of horror’s great stars, starring in such classics as the original “The Fly”, “The House On Haunted Hill” and one of my favorites:

Dr. Phibes! Vincent Price’s Masterpiece!

If you haven’t seen “The Abominable Dr. Phibes”, you are missing a campy horror film from the 70’s that is just as entertaining today, and now out on blu-ray! Check out my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/10/22/drunken-dr-phibes-horrors-abominable-midnight-madness/

Vincent Price wasn’t the only great Actor who found success in the horror genre…are you aware that there is a another great genre of scary movie?

Old Lady Horror!

Yes, you may not be aware, but this is one of my favorite horror genres: the killer grandma! And nobody did it better than legendary Actress Shelley Winters!

Yep, Shelley Winters was just one legendary Actress who turned to campy horror late in their career…along with Ruth Gordon, Bette Davis and even Debbie Reynolds! You can read all about the genre of “Old Lady Horror” by clicking on my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/03/09/old-lady-horror-crazy-ladies-chew-up-the-screen/

So there you have it, some good campy Shocktober fun for you…

Happy Halloween!

Behold This Sweet Bacon / Burger Mashup!

My friend Antonio brought this to my attention, and I am about to book a flight to Philadelphia to embrace this artistic mashup of my favorite things! It’s a Bacon glazed doughnut that is stuffed with cheeseburger filling, and it’s from the incredible Philly burger join “PYT!”

Here is how they describe this masterpiece: “this $13 creation from Philly’s PYT Burger consists of a warm, glazed doughnut filled with a beef patty and American cheese. Bacon sprinkles redefine the concept of “gilding the lily.”

Kudos to PYT Burger in Philadelphia, who loves to make unique burgers like this…”like” their Facebook page here!

https://www.facebook.com/PYTburger

I went to their site and found a ton of fun burger pics, like this one – a straightforward doughnut burger!

And this burger seems to have shredded beff, tons of melted cheese, and a doughnut bun as well!

Thanks to my friend Antonio Ruiz for sending me this, and kudos to the great website “Firstwefeast.com” for the original story, which you can see here!

http://firstwefeast.com/eat/ridiculous-mashup-foods-of-the-week-october-24-2014/?utm_campaign=complexmag+socialflow+10+2014&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social

If you are in Philadelphia, you have to check out PYT’s and let me know wha you think!

Want a fascinating travel adventure amid some of the most beautiful scenery in the world?

Imagine a journey back in time to some of the most serene, secluded and untapped beauty in the world…a land that time forgot…oh, and you will see some of this as well:

Yes, one of the world’s most beautiful – and dangerous – places has plenty of spectacular scenery and AK-47’s as well…welcome to the legendary Sierra Madre mountains of Northern Mexico…

The World’s Most Dangerous Travel!

I am fascinated with the many unique aspects of our world, and I love to travel to see ow people live….and the Sierra Madre mountains are one of the world’s most unique areas…and also one of the most dangerous…but one great travel Writer took the journey and has captured it in all its dangerous beauty:

Want a fast opening for a book? How about this – the very first line on page one:

“So this is what it feels like to be hunted.”

Now that I have you hooked, let’s head south of the border to Mexico’s Sierra Madre region, one of the most beautiful in the world…

It’s a rugged and majestic series of mountains, ridges and canyons, running through the spine of Northern Mexico, filled with incredible beauty…

“Treasure Of The Sierra Madre”, Indeed!

While it may be beautiful, it is also secluded, and therein lies the danger. It’s home to some of the largest marijuana and cocaine farms in the world, as well as rich drug lords and dirty Cops…but luckily, one intrepid reporter took a journey into the Sierra Madre to show us life there…

The book is called “God’s Middle Finger: Into The Lawless Heart Of The Sierra Madre” – and the Author is a terrific writer named Richard Grant, and he wrote the first line in the book:

“So this is what it feels like to be hunted.”

And from that first line, the book never lets up!

Richard Grant had been fascinated by Mexico’s famed “Sierra Madre” region, made famous by the classic film starring Humphrey Bogart:

This brilliant film tells the story of gold prospectors who turn on each other once they are in the rugged and dangerous Sierra Madre region of Mexico…the movie includes the classic line:

“Badges? We don’t need no stinking badges!”

You get the idea: this is a lawless territory that brings out the worst in men…and the book delves into the rich and lawless history of the region – you also meet a wide variety of fascinating characters – some good, many very very bad…

This IS an amazingly lawless region in northern Mexico, and writer Richard Grant decided he had to see it for himself – and what a wild and dangerous journey into the heart of darkness it is!

Grant’s a terrific writer who captures the sights, smells and sinister underbelly of one of the world’s most dangerous regions….as well as the region’s dangerous history – it was, after all, where Pancho Villa ruled his outlaw gang for decades…

Travel At Your Own Risk!

The Author was cautioned many times to NEVER travel the pot-hole filled mountain roads along – there were bandits everywhere. And for the most part he followed that rule, but even with a passenger in the car he runs into bad trouble.
Here is another short passage from the book, as the Author tries to dissuade a stranger, whose truck has broken down, from forcing him to tow that huge broken-down truck up a steep back road with the Author’s small Toyota truck…he tells the man, “my truck can’t pull your big truck up the mountain.”

He exhaled impatiently and his eyes turned steely. He pulled the gun out of his waistband and make a show of removing the clip and sliding it back in. He pointed it up at the sky, sighted along the barrel, stuck the gun back in his jeans, pointed to my Toyota with his chin, looked me dead in the eyes and said, “YES, IT CAN.”

The book is filled with many such dangerous encounters – and you also get a real sense of the history of the region, which makes its current level of violence all the more disturbing…and Grant is in the middle of it all…

The book ends as it began, with the Author being hunted at night through what is, during the day, one of the most beautiful grand canyons in the world…

At night, however, this is how the Author describe the scene:

“I come to a creek with a high undercut bank and wedge myself into a shallow cave under its lip. The earth is damp and cold. It feels like a good place to hide…”

If you want to know how our “hunted” Author survives, you have to read this book….

If you want to great thrill ride of a non-fiction book, this is the one for you!

Behold The World’s Greatest Hot Dog Mashup!

What happens when you take a hot dog, batter it in corn meal, then wrap it in crinkle cut french fries? Well, it means you are in Seoul, South Korea!

Welcome To Seoul!

Welcome to one of the most beautiful sights in the world: the cityscape of Seoul, South Korea at night…

I had the chance to travel to Seoul with an amazing team of people: Morgan Webb, Vinny Rutherford, Wade Beckett, Jen Nelson, Mike Dunn and Aaron Murray – and our terrific Seoul Producer Kathy Paik – the greatest group to work with, travel with, and even do a bit of this!

One of the great aspects of Seoul street life is the food: you can find it everywhere, and it is all delicious!

Seoul is the capital and largest city in South Korea, with a population of more than 10 million. Seoul Capital Area, which includes the surrounding Incheon metropolis and Gyeonggi province, is the world’s second largest metropolitan area with over 25.6 million people.

SEOUL STREET FOOD = BACON!

Yes, bacon has shown its face halfway around the world! These are some amazing images of my trip, including the bacon-wrapped hot dog, one of many street treats we sampled in Seoul! Click on the video to see some of these unique bacon dogs bubbling away…

As you can see, the street food was plentiful…in fact, here we are holding two of those bacon-wrapped hot dogs…not the best shot of me, but I will suffer that indignity in order to showcase the food!

Wade and I dug right into these breaded, grilled sticks of what we thought were chicken – we will never know, but they sure tasted good! And remember, you can also just order the corn dog embedded with fries:

Yes, the classic “french fry encrusted corn dog” is a wonder to behold, and my favorite website, RocketNews24, has gone on location to bite down hard on one for you!

RocketNews24 sampled a number of great hot dog mashups, but the french fry corn dog is a winner for sure! I was happy to taste a bacon-wrapped hot dog as well as the encrusted corn dog…delicious!

Tie Your Fish Up!

We also found a great Seoul street market – a fascinating place to wander…where locals shop for all sorts of unique items, like fish that has been tied up with rope, or dried and flattened in a fan shape…

Noryangjin Fish!

I loved this place – a huge, bustling fish market where they sold a number of unique items, like tied up dried fish…here is a video that shows piles of dried fish, plus tied up fresh fish as well – nicely bundled in bright yellow rope to carry home easily: click on to see these fish being sold!

Read more about this incredible adventure, including Morgan Webb’s trip to the DMZ’s “Bridge Of No Return” by clicking here!

http://johnrieber.com/2013/07/10/seoul-food-bacon-hot-dogs-hanging-fish-a-delicious-korean-adventure/

And don’t forget to grab yourself one of these when you do…

Kudos to RocketNews24!

Read more about this delicious korean specialty by clicking on RocketNews24’s story here:

http://en.rocketnews24.com/2014/10/28/koreas-kogo-is-the-ultimate-french-fry-encrusted-corn-dog/

What Makes A Movie “CULT”?

Could it be something as ridiculous as a film based on the concept of hunting someone down with a bow and arrow – WHILE NAKED?

Does a movie achieve “cult” status because it’s about an obscene phone caller who likes to wear a RABBIT MASK?

Or then again, maybe you just need to pair Sexploitaiton legend Russ Meyer with the greatest film critic of all time!

Time to look at three of the “wildest” cult films of all time, beginning with one of the strangest pairings in motion picture history!

Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls!

Some movie sequels are just a retread of the original film. However, if you only know of the original cult classic “Valley Of The Dolls”, then you haven’t experienced cult film sequel magic – taken to the X-treme!

“Russ And Roger Go Beyond!”

First, imagine a time when a movie studio was struggling for survival because of a number of big-budget flops. Now, imagine it’s the height of the sexual revolution in America, and soft core film maverick Russ Meyer was making a fortune with his low budget brand of “SINema!”

Meyer was already established as the outlaw helmer of soft-core pulp films like “Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill!” and he wanted the legitimacy of making a studio film. Richard Zanuck, then head of 20th, gave him that opportunity because his movies made so much money, cost so little to make, and were a big hit with the younger generation!

How Meyer Met Ebert!

So here’s where it get really fascinating: Meyer agreed to take on “Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls” – the sequel to the smash pulp hit – but only on the condition that the script get written by Roger Ebert! At the time, Ebert was the third-string movie critic of the Chicago Sun Times, but he had written one of the few positive reviews Meyer had ever received!

Since Meyer had built a huge fan base by focusing on his Actresses’ ample talents, he brought in his usual buxom brigade! The film was actually “X-rated” – and a huge box office success! Meyer and Ebert remained friends until Meyer passed away in 2004.

Check out this classic trailer!

Here’s the very succinct plot outline from IMDB:

Three girls come to Hollywood to make it big, but find only sex, drugs and sleaze.

Of course they do! But those are the three most important things for a “cult” film!

If you want to see a major studio trying to be hip and edgy, and Russ Meyer and Roger Ebert having a blast sticking it to the man, this movie is for you!

And if you are unhappy with this choice, you can hunt me down like this:

Meet Countess Perverse!

How do you describe a movie like “Countess Perverse?” Well, maybe this way:

“Hunting Humans Was Her Favorite Game!”

What a great tagline for a movie!

Here’s the plot in a nutshell: Two wealthy aristocrats lure a virginal girl to a Spanish island for a night of sex, death and cannibalism.

Again, the PERFECT elements for a cult classic! And there is SO much more! Here is how The AV Club described the movie:

When a young couple in a classy seaside village finds a nude woman washed up on the beach, they aren’t particularly surprised by the story she tells them, about a house of horrors and a “man with black glasses” who’s trying to kill her.

As you can tell, this isn’t going to end well for the couple. But that’s what makes it so perversely fun – as you are about to see!

These aristocrats have a fun hobby: They strip their guests and send them out on the grounds to be hunted, Most Dangerous Game-style. If the guests survive long enough, the count sets them free.

Otherwise, the countess — who is also naked, save for a quiver of arrows — shoots them dead, then roasts them and serves them for dinner!

Yes, you read that right!

It’s “The Most Dangerous Game” – Naked!

I mean, that’s what is going on here: hunting humans for sport – and in this case, everyone is naked! That’s especially good news for fans of sexploitation legend Lina Romay, who spends most of the film running around the island naked!

Don’t look shocked, Lina – you were naked in ALL of your movies. The best part of “Countess Perverse” might just be the ending, just before the closing credits roll, when the count looks down at the corpse of his magnificent bride and boasts:

“You will be the best meal of my life!”

Now do you understand why this film is on this list? And if you don’t agree, then pick up a phone and call THIS NUMBER:

The Telephone Book!

Yes, this is a cult classic just based on the sight of a man seducing a young woman while wearing a Rabbit mask! But this wacky classic has a lot more than that!

First, meet Sarah Kennedy, the most adorable star you could ever hope for in a film…in a breakout role – a role that sees her in virtually every scene in the film, where she falls in love with –

THIS GUY!

A Lost Cult Classic Is On The Phone! You Have To Answer This Call!

“The Telehone Book” is a mind-blowing camp classic! It’s a day in the life of a lonely, sensitive young woman – who meets a very special person on “the telephone.” Thus begins one of the most original and surreal romantic comedies ever made…

There is SO MUCH to share with you about this incredible cult classic, but let’s get started by checking out the trailer!

Thanks to the maniacs at Vinegar Syndrome for releasing this mind-blowing obscurity from the halcyon days of the early 70’s!

Actress Sarah Kennedy not only looks exactly like Goldie Hawn, but she plays Alice, a young woman who lives in a New York City apartment decorated with pornographic images and knickknacks.

She’s sexy, quirky and liberated, but she really gets off on obscene phone calls, with rotary dial work from an unknown man, identifying himself as Mr. Smith (Norman Rose), bringing Alice to orgasmic heights.

That’s right, she falls in love with Mr. Smith based solely on his obscene phone calls to her!

Alice tries to track down Mr. Smith by telephone book cold calling, then racing around town, running into an amazing array of people, usually doing something dirty, as you can tell by this movie poster:

Alice’s goal is simple: she must find her gloved Romeo – who wears a pig mask and claims he can seduce the President of the United States! Is this strange enough for you yet?

According to the great IMDB website, “The Telephone Book” was written and directed by Nelson Lyon, who went on to participate in the early years of “Saturday Night Live.” Lyon also achieved infamy as John Belushi’s partner during the drug-binge weekend that took the superstar’s life.

Calling Andy Warhol!

Here’s another great piece of trivia: According to producer Merv Bloch, the movie originally came with a specially shot intermission which he eventually decided to cut out. During the intermission Andy Warhol was shown sitting in a chair eating popcorn until the actual movie would continue again!

This intermission was meant as an in-joke to Warhol’s own films that often showed the most mundane things for an extended amount of time, like a person sleeping for several hours or a person eating something without anything extraordinary happening. The footage of this intermission is currently considered lost!

“The Telephone Book” also includes one of the most surreal animation sequences ever, which pushes the film into X-rated territory, but it’s all quirky and fun, and therefore surprisingly innocent…an adult film anchored by an innocence that is charming…

Writer-director Nelson Lyon helmed “The Telephone Book” as a kinky vaudeville revue. When Alice’s obscene phone caller boasts that his talents could seduce the President of the United States and the entire First Family, he suffixes his claim that he would not try it because “I have no political ambitions.” And yes, he wears a pig mask the entire time!

There are several recognizable people in the film, including Jill Clayburgh, who would go on to receive an Oscar nomination a few years later!

Thanks to the folks at Vinegar Syndrome, who have released a blu-ray with radio spots, production stills and a feature-length audio commentary! What a great job saving one of cinema’s most obscure films ever!

So there you go, three trips into the world of cult cinema – enjoy and let me know what you think!

THIS is how I plan to spend my Halloween…

Isn’t this one of the most iconic images in film? A pig-blood-drenched Carrie White, about to exact revenge on her tormentors…a great Halloween horror film, and just one of the many Brian DePalma masterpieces…so let’s take a trip back and dip into some of the master’s greatest shockers!

Brian DePalma has directed some of the best films ever – classics such as “Scarface” and “Phantom Of The Paradise”, as well as great action films like “The Untouchables” and “Mission: Impossible” – and for a period in the late 70’s and early 80’s, DePalma was creating brilliant thrillers that evoked the best of Alfred Hitchcock – with a deliciously naked twist…

SEXPLOITATION LIVES!

DePalma revamped the sexploitation film – taking what was a drive-in staple of the 70’s and turning them into high class, glossy thrillers with strong female characters who were empowered – and preyed upon. Let’s get started with some great suspense thrillers!

Dressed To Kill – 1980

A mysterious woman murders one of a psychiatrist’s patients, and now she’s after the prostitute who witnessed it”

DePalma pushed the envelope with this 1980 thriller starring Angie Dickinson, who bared all to tell the story of a sexually-repressed married woman who pays the ultimate price for her indiscretion…and unleashes a killer who can’t be stopped.

Nancy Allen is the prostitute that witnesses the murder, and it’s up to Angie Dickinson’s son to team with her to catch his Mom’s killer – and save her. A classic thriller with an unrated blu-ray out that includes a ton of extra supplements!

Aside from suspense, Brian DePalma has other “obsessions” as well….

Body Double – 1984

DePalma’s other obsession was sex. SEX. He pushed the boundaries in “Dressed To Kill”, and tore them apart in “Body Double.”

Body Double – 1984

Melanie Griffith stars as “Holly Body”, and adult film star who is hired to be a “Body Double”…but not for a movie, for a murder plot!

Craig Wasson stars as the nebbish guy who stays in a house that his new “friend, Frank, asks him to house sit…and of course, from his window you can see a young woman posing seductively – DePalma’s homage to Hitchcock’s “Rear Window”…

Porn star Annette Haven was originally cast for the role of “Holly”, but Columbia Pictures decided to turn her down when their executives saw what kind of movies she had been making. Haven later stated that she was happy because of that, because she hadn’t liked the script and hadn’t liked to be in a film with gory violence.

Brian De Palma originally planned for this to be the first Hollywood film to boast unsimulated sex scenes. That didn’t happen, but an unrated blu-ray shows off a ton of nudity and more…

But when it comes to classic DePalma shockers, there is nothing better than this:

Carrie – 1976. And then there is “Carrie”, simply the greatest horror thriller ever made!

No need to state the plot, except to say that Sissy Spacek is brilliant in the title role – a girl with special powers who seeks revenge against those who torment her…

Naked Princess Leia!

Here is some great trivia about the casting of “Carrie” and another iconic female role:

George Lucas and Brian De Palma held a joint audition for “Carrie” and “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope”. There is a long-standing rumor that originally, Sissy Spacek was cast as Princess Leia, and Carrie Fisher as Carrie, but when Fisher refused to appear in nude scenes and Spacek was willing to do them, they switched parts.

However, Fisher refuted this story in a Premiere magazine article called “The Force Wasn’t With Them,” about actors who auditioned unsuccessfully for Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope. That article quoted Fisher as saying, “Not only do I love being nude, I would’ve been nude then… But anyway, it’s total bullshit that Fisher refused to play Carrie.”

P.J. Soles Spills The Beans On Spielberg!

And what about this trivia? In a 2010 interview with “The A.V. Club”, “Carrie” co-star P.J. Soles said that Steven Spielberg often came to the set at Brian De Palma’s invitation because DePalma told him that there were “a lot of cute girls down here.”

Soles said that Spielberg asked out most of the women on the set, Soles included, and Amy Irving was the only one who accepted!

“Carrie” is a masterpiece, and brilliantly directed by a master filmmaker – check out the special editions Blu-rays of all three of these thriller – there is tons of great extra material from each film!

And don’t forget, DePalma has a number of classic films like “Scarface” – read all about them here!

http://johnrieber.com/2012/03/03/a-celebration-of-depalma-the-best-least-known-classics/

I’m ready for Halloween!

Whenever awards season is underway, it always reminds me of some of the most audacious – and neglected – films ever released…

These are movies that are hard to describe in a one sentence, challenge the viewer in ways you don’t expect movies to do, and reward you with a mind-blowing cinematic experience, thanks to the Director’s singular vision…

“Action!”

There is nothing more exciting than watching a Director’s passion for a project unveil itself onscreen…whether it’s Sam Peckinpah directing James Coburn in the brilliant and under-rated “Pat Garrett & Billy The Kid”, or Francis Ford Coppola on the set of the greatest film ever made, “The Godfather”…

There are amazing films released every year – some are big hits, but many don’t get the exposure they deserve…well, it’s time to blow your cinematic mind just a bit:

Because here are three of the most audacious, innovative and mind-blowing films of the past few years!

Here Are Three Visionary Films To Share With You!

“Audacious” doesn’t begin to describe these three brilliant works of art! Let’s get started with the latest film from one of the most controversial Directors in the world!

Enter The Void!

Argentinian Director Gasper Noe makes tough, provocative films….that just happen to be brilliant. Here is his masterpiece from 2009:

A U.S. drug dealer living in Tokyo is betrayed by his best friend and killed in a drug deal. His soul, observing the repercussions of his death, seeks resurrection. Check out the trailer:

My friend Sasha Grey got to watch this with Director Gasper Noe in his Paris screening room, and she told me to seek it out immediately – and boy was she right! This film is electrifying – shot from the main character’s point of view…

Gaspar Noé describes his movie as a “Psychedelic Melodrama”. As the lead character says:

“Basically, when you die your spirit leaves your body, actually at first you can see all your life, like reflected in a magic mirror. Then you start floating like a ghost, you can see anything happening around you, you can hear everything but you can’t communicate. Then you see lights, lights of all different colours, these lights are the doors that pull you into other planes of existence, but most people actually like this world so much, that they don’t want to be taken away, so the whole thing turns into a bad trip, and the only way out is to get reincarnated.”

According to the website IMDB, Gaspar Noé was inspired by the famous “star gate” sequence in Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey. The camera never stops moving, gliding over a neon Tokyo at night….

The screen is drenched with color, as you can see from these screen shots from the film…

This is challenging filmmaking for sure, but worth the time and effort. And if you REALLY want to be challenged, remember that Noe is the Director of the ultra-violent and controversial “Irreversible”…

As challenging as his movies are, they are also brilliant films that explore dark territories of the mind…and speaking of singular visions, wait until you see this:

L’Homme à la tache de vin: What makes you carry on, Oscar?
Mr. Oscar: What made me start, the beauty of the act.
L’Homme à la tache de vin: Beauty? They say it’s in the eye, the eye of the beholder.
Mr. Oscar: And if there’s no more beholder?

Holy Motors!

That dialogue says it all. This film is almost impossible to describe, so check out the trailer first:

Here is all you need to know about the plot: from dawn to dusk, you travel in a limousine alongside a mystic man named Monsieur Oscar.

Director Leos Carax’s professional name is an anagram of his real name, ‘Alex’, and ‘Oscar’. And interestingly, his regular collaborator Denis Lavant stars as Monsieur ‘Oscar’…

Leos Carax wrote the part of the supermodel with Kate Moss in mind, but by the time of filming, Moss was about to get married so the role went to Eva Mendes.

Singer Kylie Minogue also stars in the film – in a part that the Director turned into a musical role when she agreed to be in the movie.

According to IMDB, the film’s initial concept started with a trend Leos Carax had observed where stretch limousines were being increasingly used for weddings. The director was interested in the cars’ bulkiness!

From there, the characters and situations become more and more ethereal and hallucinatory – with haunting imagery throughout…

Leos Carax’s most well known work in the US is the great – and provocative – 1999 film, “Pola X”.

And if those two films are not mind-blowing enough, well then it’s time to go “inside the mind” once again!

Vanishing Waves!

Yes, another mind bender, literally…In “Vanishing Waves”, a neuron-transfer scientist experiments with the thoughts of a comatose young woman. Check out the trailer…

The experiment takes an unexpected twist when the two meet in their mutually altered forms of consciousness. Soon, their psychic meetings turn into a romantic, sexually charged relationship set against the backdrop of surreal dreamscapes created by their collective minds.

“Vanishing Waves” was directed by Kristina Buožytė and Bruno Samper, and was a co-production between three countries: Lithuania, France and Belgium…

Once again, this is a movie that delves into the mind: how thoughts can be controlled, how thoughts can merge, and of course, the erotic nature of the mind as well…this is a great science-fiction film – full of big ideas and startling imagery…

Kudos to “Artsploitation Films”, a cutting edge home video company releasing challenging films from around the world….like this one released with Elijah Wood:

And speaking of Elijah Wood, here is his new thriller with Sasha Grey:

Read all about “Open Windows” here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/05/23/sasha-greys-new-movie-open-windows-with-elijah-wood/

“Open Windows” is available on demand, so check it out!

And kudos to these three Directors for their brilliantly challenging work! Let me know if you’ve seen any or all of them!

“I didn’t want to NOT be the drummer,” Collins says in a clip from the Showtime documentary. “This is what I did. ‘This is my territory”

It’s Time For “Genesis!”

Before I explain why you will be humming Genesis for the rest of the day, let’s begin with the greatest Genesis song of the Phil Collins era: the “prog” pop/rock majesty of “Turn It On Again…”

“Turn It On Again” is pure 80’s, but did you know that the band Genesis formed in 1967? Did you know that Peter Gabriel was the lead singer? Did you know he dressed like this?

Yes, Peter Gabriel Is Dressed Like A Flower…

If you only know the singer from his “Sledgehammer” song, you have missed out on his most “colorful” period…as lead singer of Genesis!

That’s Gabriel dressed as a flower, performing with Genesis in the mid-70’s…and here is a publicity photo of the band at the same time – note that Gabriel is more elaborately attired than his bandmates…

“Genesis: Sum of the Parts” – is a new documentary about the band that is airing on Showtime right now – it traces the band’s sonic development from prog-rockers to pop-rock sensations, and it also spends time on the individual members’ solo careers.

Cue The Controversy!

The story of Genesis is fascinating for a number of reasons, including the controversy that lives now, as guitarist Steve Hackett recently spoke out against this project on his Facebook page, calling it “a biased account of Genesis history” that ignored his solo work.

However, a DVD release of the documentary, along with a compilation box set with Genesis classics and three tracks from each member’s solo work, is due to be released, so Hackett’s solo songs will be heard…

This is the Genesis most people knew: Phil Collins, Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford – they were one of the biggest bands of the 80’s…this was after Hackett left, and well after the band’s original lead singer, Peter Gabriel left as well…

The Peter Gabriel-led Genesis is highlighted by their masterpiece “The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway”, with this classic song, “The Carpet Crawlers”

The entire band takes part in this documentary, including a candid group conversation about the band. The doc includes a great bit of friction between Tony Banks and Peter Gabriel. The singer left after “The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway” to go solo, because he felt his musical direction wasn’t the same as the bands. And his choice of creative attire didn’t necessarily amuse the others either. Tony Banks confirms his disdain for “Broadway” right in front of a bemused Gabriel, saying flatly of the “Lamb Lies Down” project:

“I didn’t like it. Still don’t.”

“Alive At Both Ends But A Little Dead In The Middle…”

Genesis fans know this line from “Squonk!”, the first song from the band after Gabriel left. As Phil Collins sings it beautifully but also says he had NO intention of taking over the lead singer role…

“I didn’t want to NOT be the drummer,” Collins says in a clip from the Showtime documentary. “This is what I did. ‘This is my territory!”

And continue to drum he did, as well as sing all of the band’s biggest hits!

As the documentary points out, when the band auditioned replacement singers, Collins would always sing the part to them first…but no one who came in sounded as good as he did!

So Collins became lead singer, but as he said, he didn’t give up the drums, and Genesis continued on…

Here is that classic song “Squonk”, from their first album without Gabriel, performed live from 1980…

“Abacab” And Beyond!

The band refined its sound and soon became a hit machine, with a great mix of progressive rock and pop sensibility, like this classic song “Abacab!”

“In The Air Tonight!”

And of course, Collins had a huge solo career as well, including the iconic “In The Air Tonight” – this music video has almost fifty million views on youtube!

Genesis continued to record and tour throughout the 80’s and early 90’s…here is their hit “I Can’t Dance” from the 1993 Billboard Music Awards…

And then the band was no more…until now – check out this terrific documentary from Showtime, the candid conversations between band members is great!

And even though Guitarist Steve Hackett is upset, the music project will soon include some of his solo work, so enjoy it all!

Welcome To Tokyo!

Yes, it is one of the most “lit up” cities in the world – a neon wonderland full of amazing imagery and signs!

Tokyo at night is a magical adventure – full of amazing sights and sounds – and I have been lucky enough to wander these streets for hours and hours…but in the daytime, when the neon is turned off, Tokyo is a city like any other…

The picture above was the view of Tokyo from the 35th floor of my hotel in the Shinjuku district – I stayed there four times, and each time I saw a vast city stretched out before me – and I had every intention of getting to know ALL OF IT:

Language Barrier? WHAT LANGUAGE BARRIER?

If you are wondering what this restaurant is promoting, you are not alone! I speak virtually NO Japanese, and I certainly cannot read any of it. But it is a city that welcomes you regardless. Still, how do you communicate when you can’t read or speak a language? How do you break the language barrier? Well, a company let me know they have the solution, which I will share in a minute…first, let’s go shopping!

Even though these banners are colorful and fun, I had no idea what they said! Still, on each trip to Tokyo, I managed to explore another fascinating area of Tokyo – like:

Harajuku, Here I Come!

The neighborhood of Harajuku is also a fashion capital, renowned for its unique street fashion. It is always packed with young people, with an upbeat, fun “street fair” vibe…

Harajuku is great for window shopping…but some stores have limited english signage as well. I came across the official outlet for the “Tokyo Rescue Squad” – their fire department/911 services – and I could proudly wear their uniform….

Electronic Heaven – Yodobashi!

Another area full of language barriers is the “Akihabara” district – which is known for electronics, like this ten story electronics store – Yodobashi!

Once inside, your senses are inundated with signs highlighting what’s for sale – although as you know, I couldn’t read any of it….

Inside, they constantly call out the specials of the day – each department is packed and loud – and since you can’t read any of the signs – or understand what they are saying – it is a very unique situation….

I would love to have some way to translate these signs, so I can communicate better with these great people! Luckily, I found an entire wall of iphone/ipad/ipod accessories – this is where I found my cherished bacon and egg iphone cover…

But after shopping I got hungry, and I need some sushi….

TIME TO HEAD TO “SKI-GEE!”

I have posted about going to the “Tsukiji” Fish Market in Tokyo, one of the most unique places I have ever visited:

Located only blocks from Tokyo’s glittering Ginza shopping district, Tsukiji is a prominent landmark, a supplier for countless fishmongers and sushi chefs, and a popular destination for foreign tourists like me.

Take A Walk Through Tsukiji With Me!

I decided to walk through the public shopping area of the market, away from the fish auction space – here is what it’s like to wander among the stalls that sell fresh fish – and of course, a conveyor belt sushi bar!

Early every morning, tens of thousands of tons of seafood from every ocean of the world quickly change hands in Tsukiji’s auctions and in the marketplace’s hundreds of tiny stalls. You can wander for hours through row after row of stalls, looking for great food to try:

I’ve eaten in several of these tiny stalls – especially the mini-sushi bars that line the outside of the fish market…here is one of the plates I had for breakfast at 8am:

Time To Tackle My Language Barrier!

The best part of the fish market is sitting down at one of these tiny food stalls and trying to get some of that deliciousness for myself:

The Universal Language Of “What Did You Say?”

I quickly discovered that we all try to communicate with each other, no matter how difficult that is – for example, at this stall the two women working behind the counter spoke absolutely NO english, which made my attempt to order a bowl of fresh sea urchin and yellowtail over rice quite comic: the two elderly japanese women behind the counter didn’t think I knew what I was ordering, so they did what everyone does: THEY SPOKE VERY FAST JAPANESE to me – getting louder and louder – BECAUSE IF YOU DON’T SPEAK THE LANGUAGE, JUST SPEAK UP!

Another customer tried to intervene, but his english was limited as well…imagine if I had something – ANYTHING – that I could use to lock down a word or a phrase they would understand! Finally they pulled out some sea urchin for me to taste, and when I smiled and nodded, they made me my breakfast, and it was delicious!

Oh, and they just LAUGHED AND LAUGHED!

And you know what, so did I! It was a unique communication exchange, one of my most memorable!

Since I love to travel the world, I think the ability to translate content into other languages would be extremely helpful – and much less frustrating for those I am trying to communicate with as well!

Smartling Comes Through!

After posting my “communication breakdown”, I heard from the smart folks at “Smartling!”

This company provides translation services for companies’ websites and mobile apps! Had I been able to use their serve and been able to view Tokyo’s local websites and apps in English I could have known the best sales in Yodobashi!

Check out their services here!

http://www.smartling.com/product

See you soon in Tokyo – let’s meet at this “All Kit-Kat” store!

Let me know what you think, and if you had a unique communication breakdown – I will share the best ones!

Food Art!

First, I want to share what is, to me, the most beautiful food dish of all time:

Chef Thomas Keller has created some of the world’s most beautiful food, like this dish: “Oysters and Pearls” – tiny poached oysters in custard, topped with a beautiful spoonful of caviar. It tastes as great as it looks.

This dish lives at “The French Laundry”, one of the world’s greatest restaurants. So does Chef Keller’s legendary “salmon cone”:

There are so many different kinds of “food art” – Chefs who are also culinary Artists, taking food to a whole new level – a visual feast as well as an incredible tasting experience…while Chef Keller’s “art studio aka kitchen” is in Yountville, California, there are other Culinary Artists all around the world – for example, here is some “Russian food art”:

Mother Russia Indeed!

As you can see, “food art” is expressed a bit differently in Russia…for example, I’m not sure you will see something like this very often in the US:

First, let’s thank the wacky minds at “RocketNews24″ for reporting this story – who else could find this? A roast chicken dressed up in a Tuxedo with a chimp’s head – genius! And what about this “cake homage” to the film “Alien”:

“Alien” Cake!

There are almost no words to describe how bad this food art is – except to show you some more of it, like this “clown food”:

It’s almost impossible to turn away – it really is “food art as train wreck”. These pics, and many many more, live on “RocketNews24″…where they willingly share with you this food masterpiece:

Kudos! RocketNews24 Scores Again!

As always, the greatest internet reporting comes from the terrific website “RocketNews24″, which rounded up dozens of these pictures from Russia! What I am sharing here is just the tip of the “bad food art” iceberg! To see more atrocious food art, click on their entire story here:

http://en.rocketnews24.com/2014/11/04/no-offense-russia-but-some-of-your-food-art-can-be-pretty-terrible/

Thanks as always to the “RocketNews24″ team…I will never watch the film “Alien” the same way again!

Beautiful Food Art!

And if you are a bit stunned by Russia’s food art, don’t fear: click on this story and see the majesty of The French Laundry and their incredible food:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/07/07/the-french-laundrys-20th-anniversary-celebration-chef-thomas-kellers-xx-party-food-pics-galore/

Enjoy!

We got no food, we got no jobs… our PETS’ HEADS ARE FALLING OFF!

With those simple words, one of the funniest comedies ever is back for a sequel!

Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels are back with more adventures of Harry and Lloyd…here is the trailer:

And just released, a “food” promo for the movie as well! Watch this and I will tell you why it’s a tasty new wrinkle to the sequel:

It’s all about the food! Yes, this new clip just reinforces the fact that “Dumb & Dumber” was a food-laden comedy hit!

Time To Bite Down On More Jim Carrey!

The original “Dumb & Dumber” film was a huge hit, so a sequel is great news indeed! The original movie also raised a “toothy” question: Jim Carrey was already a big star with the original film came out, so everyone wondered about the chipped tooth – was it a special effect?

No!

In fact, years before the film, Carrey had chipped his tooth and had it capped, but had the cap removed for the film to make his character look more deranged!

And both films seem to have an affinity for food!

A Tasty Comedy!

To prepare for the sequel, it’s time to take a look at the original film, but in a different way: through the lens of food!

The plot of “Dumb & Dumber” was simple: a pair of dumb friends named Harry Dunne and Lloyd Christmas set out on a cross country trip to return a briefcase full of money to its rightful owner, a beautiful woman named Mary Swanson.

However, the duo are unaware of a bigger conspiracy involving Mary and the briefcase, and a pair of criminals involved in the conspiracy attempt to chase Harry and Lloyd down for the briefcase – and throughout the chase, there are sequences with food!

In one scene, Jim Carrey has a fantasy he will be dining with a beautiful woman …and here is how he handles “disruptions” from the horny Waiter and angry Chef:

“Hot! Hot! Hot!”

Without knowing it, Harry and Lloyd get rid of a hired killer, who is tracking them. Here is the infamous “hot pepper” scene from the diner, when the hired killer gets a little more “sauce” than he bargained for!

There are many references to food in the film dialogue as well:

Lloyd Christmas: All we need to do is show a little class, a little sophistication, and we’re in like a dirty shirt.
Harry Dunne: No problem, Lloyd. We can be classy and sophistic… Oh, check out the funbags on that hosehound.
Lloyd Christmas: I’d like to eat her liver with some fava beans and a nice bottle of Chianti.

There were many funny moments as the duo travelled across the country. Here is one hilarious diner scene, beginning with the “soup du jour”…

Time To Celebrate Dumb & Dumber To!

Hilarious food moments from the first movie, can’t wait to see more in the sequel! So pop some champagne and get ready for more of Lloyd and Harry’s wacky antics!

Go and buy the original movie now to prepare for the sequel!

Thanks to the foodies over at epicurious for their great story about the food of “Dumb & Dumber”, read more here:

http://www.epicurious.com

Terrific food magazine, too!

Oscars watchers, I have a quote for you!

“Coach is the father. Coach is a mentor. Coach has great power on athlete’s life.”

It’s going to be a fascinating Academy Awards ceremony this year – because some big stars – who are also great actors, are finally going to be nominated!

“Foxcatcher” Goes For The Gold!

Steve Carell and Channing Tatum star in one of the year’s best films, and both are on track for Oscar attention!

Carell’s physical transformation is just one of the many fascinating aspects of this movie. “Foxcatcher” is based on the true story of Mark Schultz, an Olympic wrestler whose relationship with sponsor John du Pont and brother Dave Schultz would lead to unlikely circumstances.

First, check out the provocative teaser trailer:

The film is directed by Bennett Miller, who made “Capote” and “Moneyball”, so he has Oscar in his past…and this dark tale of a coach / athlete relationship is made all the more dramatic by the incredible acting of the two leads…

Oscar Calling Steve Carell And Channing Tatum!

Here is some great trivia about the film, courtesy of IMDB:

Steve Carell studied video footage of John duPont for hours. Carell told reporters after the film’s screening at the Cannes Film Festival “I watched as much as I could, I read as much as I could about him and tried to get semblance about the type of person he was.”

According to director Bennett Miller, Carell’s career as a comic actor hadn’t suggested that he was right for the role until he had lunch with the actor. Miller said upon Carell’s casting, “I think all comedians are dark.”

According to Channing Tatum, he and Mark Ruffalo spent an intensive five to six months training for wrestling, which had taken its toll on the actors. During one particularly physical take, Channing insisted to Ruffalo to “to just slap the shit out of me and get it over with”, which resulted in Channing’s eardrum accidentally getting popped.

The best part of Oscar season is when you can see some Actors really stretch and try something new. It just may be the opportunity for some of my favorite Actors to get their Oscar due!

Do I have your attention? Good!

It’s time to share the world’s great creations between two buns! First, here’s a primer on the art of “stacking” a burger, courtesy of the great Danes!

“Visset Salladsblad” Indeed!

Yes, this is a great great burger chart, clearly showing that the US isn’t the only place for a creative burger! That said, let’s begin our burger journey in New York, when I had the chance to try a “Five Napkin” Burger!

I ordered “The Original 5 Napkin Burger” – which is 10 ounces of fresh ground chuck topped with Gruyere cheese, caramelized onions and a rosemary aioli. This is what it looked like when it arrived at the table:

The first thing you notice when it arrives: it is JUICY. The cheese is beautifully melted, the carmelized onions glisten, the meat is oozing juice, and the kicker is the rosemary aioli on top….it GUARANTEES that you will be spilling stuff onto your plate…and I did…here is what it looks like AFTER the first few bites:

Folks, this is one messy burger. And that is a compliment!

Not full yet?

Time To Head To Napa Valley!

On the west coast, there is another classic way to get your burger on – at “Gott’s”, formerly the legendary “Taylor’s Refresher”:

How about their bacon cheeseburger – stuffed full of meat, bacon, cheese, tomato, lettuce, onion and a special sauce…

This “Taylor’s Refresher” is quite a burger – wait, I meant “Gott’s Burger”….wait, what? Yes, there is a story even better than this burger!

To find out how Taylor’s Refresher became Gott’s Roadside, read my “burger battle” story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/01/15/napas-burger-battle-taylors-gotts-great-burgers-a-mondo-burger-fight/

Time now to head to America’s heartland – Chicago Illinois, where I have a burger ready to “slay” you!

Welcome To Chicago – Where They LOVE Their Meat!

Behold the “Metallica” Burger – yes, the burgers are all named after bands – the original Kuma’s started in 2005 – and they are already legendary for serving up “heavy metal burgers” like this!

The “Led Zeppelin”!

Yes, Kuma’s Too is a big fan of classic hard rock and metal – and because I love the band, I tried the “Led Zeppelin”:

OK, now THIS is a burger! A 10-oz. beef patty topped with pulled pork! Fried Pickles! Cheese! BACON!

It was everything you could want and more: it was beautifully cooked and juicy – to the point it dribbled down my arm – Robert Plant and Jimmy Page would be proud!

Big & Little Step Up!

Here are two other guys who may argue that THEY have Chicago’s best burger, and here is what they offer as Exhibit A:

Yep, “Big & Little” have their homage to the Big Mac, but they call theirs the “Big Mack Daddy!” This restaurant was featured on “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives”, and they earn their place on anyone’s “great burger” list for such burgers as this deep-fried cheeseburger:

But their masterwork is their “Big Mack Daddy”, as terrific take on a Big Mac:

Read all about the incredible menu at Big & Little’s by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/10/22/big-n-littles-rocks-the-big-mack-daddy-chicagos-best-burger-bite-on/

And finally, we cannot forget that some other folks around the world also love their burgers, like the wacky Japanese!

A Burger Tower To Heaven!

What makes man dream about achieving the impossible? By impossible, I mean a stack of burger ridiculously high and impossible to get your mouth around…it is, indeed, a question for the ages…

Once again, the folks at “A Hamburger Today” have shared a great story of just such a quest!

Meet “Ericsurf6″, Tokyo’s burger master extraordinaire!

The Tower Burger (タワーバーガー) from Monster Cafe in Tokyo consists of six different burgers stacked on top of one another!

Here they are – 6 stacks of greatness!

Bacon egg cheeseburger
Cheeseburger with two slices of cheese and mustard
Pineapple burger with tomato and teriyaki sauce
Cheeseburger with two slices of cheese, pickle, onion, and mustard
Spam burger
Chicken burger

Spam Burger!?!?!

Well, as I have shown you before, they do love spam burgers in Tokyo…here is a picture I took when I was in Tokyo, highlighting today’s special:

There you have it, some of the world’s best burgers…from New York to Napa, Chicago to Tokyo – a world of great imagination, terrific burgers, and so many more to try!

Ready For New Japanese Horror? Well, Meet This Guy!

Yes, the Japanese are making some of the most inventive horror films around…beginning of course with the legendary masterpiece “Battle Royale”:

And now, there is a new film that is not only controversial for its subject matter, but for this as well:

Yes, they are connected in a most unusual way….first, let’s look at a new film just released in Japan:

Here is the trailer for “Kamisama no Iutoori” – “As The Gods Will”:

“As The Gods Will” is an adaptation of a japanese manga series – and tells the story of a group of high school kids who, after their teacher is killed, are forced to play a number of childhood games with a horrifying twist in order to survive!

Thanks to RocketNews24, I found a promotional video for the film that is causing much controversy.
In the video, six sexy idols are forced to play the same game as in the film, trying to creep up on the giant-faced doll.

However, in this case all of the participants are bikini clad models, and their goal is NOT TO JIGGLE!

There is really nothing NSFW about this trailer, but if “bouncy” bikini models offend you, you can skip the video…

Here is the trailer for “The Bikini Game”:

As you can see, a very imaginative way to get attention for the film. Did it offend you? Let me know, and you can read the entire story on RocketNews24 here:

http://en.rocketnews24.com/2014/11/10/dangerous-jiggles-six-bikini-clad-girls-play-the-ultimate-game-of-statues-in-horror-movie-promo/

Let me know if you plan to see the film!

Time To Double Down HARD!

As you know, I LOVE to find the wackiest food on the planet, and this may be one of my favorites, but boy is it controversial! The Hungry Horse pub chain in England is causing a “burger brouhaha” with their wacky “double doughnut burger”! Here is why:

Pub chain Hungry Horse, which is owned by Bury St Edmunds brewer Greene King, has been criticised for creating a burger which contains almost 2,000 calories.

The ‘Double Donut Burger’ consists of 1,996 calories (98% of a woman’s recommended daily calorie intake) it also packs in 53g of saturated fat and 8.2g of salt.

Hungry Horse Bites Back!

The owners of Hungry Horse have responded to the criticism, and in fact, they proudly stand behind their 2,000 burger!

This is their promotional photo, proudly showcasing their burger:

They also released a statement defending the burger:

“Our popular menu caters for a variety of tastes and appetites and includes everything from lower calorie options such as our hot chicken and bacon salad at 393 calories, through to the indulgent occasional treat such as our new Double Donut Burger.

All the nutritional information for our menu is available on our website and in our pubs, so that our customers are able to make informed decisions about what they choose to eat.

– STEVE JEBSON, HUNGRY HORSE”

You can decide for yourself if this double doughnut burger is a culinary crime or not. Thanks to ITV.com for the original story.

Read the entire story here on “Itv.com”:

http://www.itv.com/news/anglia/update/2014-11-11/double-donut-burger-indulgent-or-irresponsible/

As for me, I’d bite down on this at least once!

“Gobble Gobble” Indeed!

Thanksgiving 2014 is right around the corner, so let’s talk Turkey!

Thanksgiving Turkey Burgers!

Yes, a healthy burger is nothing new, but one inspired restaurant is giving the turkey burger a holiday spin! It’s the season for a good bite!

“PYT” does it again!

THE THANKSGIVING BURGER IS HERE! You have to love Philadelphia’s burger joint PYT – they love the holiday spirit! They are excited to welcome this beauty back for your seasonal enjoyment!

Here is how PYT does it:

First, they create a juicy grilled dark-meat turkey patty, then they top it with cornbread stuffing, creamy house-made gravy, tangy cranberry sauce, atop a buttery brioche roll.

Kudos to PYT, a Philly restaurant that loves to build big burgers – their creativity is perfect for Thanksgiving – instead of another turkey sandwich the day after, why not make it a delicious burger instead?

I’m going to try and make this in the spirit of PYT – how about you?