Fantastic Fest 2008 Wrap-Up
I don't know what it says about my sad life that this film festival has become one of the major annual events that I eagerly anticipate each year, but I am quite happily addicted. I've been to all four iterations so far: once as a random off-the-street person buying singleton tickets, then as a full-festival badge holder, and these last two as a VIP. I was lucky enough to bag a VIP pass for next year as well, so I've got 2009 covered.
In addition to watching as many of these great (and, in some cases, far from great) films (for which I took four days of vacation!), I get a great deal of enjoyment out of writing capsule reviews on the various showings and reading those produced by others. So, in no particular order, I'd really like to thank the following for the online contributions they made in sharing their thoughts on assorted festival flicks:
VCSquirrel, SickLiaisons, Concussion, Hornstar, TeleRaven, filmcans, jenab, bnl771, georgialyle, slayer, Oh Steph, Noahphex, and NickRob. It's a true pleasure to see people who were engaged enough in the festival to offer up their opinions. Even though when they were contrary to mine, they were sadly wrong.
Films I planned on seeing, but then was dissuaded by bad ratings and reviews: Wicked Lake and Seventh Moon.
Films I wanted to see but couldn't due to scheduling conflicts or sheer exhaustion: Surveillance, Santos, Secret Screening C (Appaloosa), and Chocolate.
Films that I chose not to see and then regretted the omission in retrospect: The Good, The Bad, and The Weird.
Films that I actually did see and then was sorry: Pulse 2, Vinyan.
And my Top Five films of the festival: Deadgirl (this one was the biggest surprise this year for me, in that I couldn't believe that I so thoroughly enjoyed a movie that is essentially about necrophilia), The Burrowers, Sauna, The Substitute, and Alien Raiders (the movie which I felt most exceeded its budgetary and genre limitations). Honorable mention to Terra, Just Another Love Story, The Brothers Bloom, Zach and Miri Make a Porno and Role Models.
As always, my thanks to the Fantastic Fest crew and to the staff of the Alamo Drafthouse, and even to my arch-enemy Harry Knowles. This is really a labor of love on their part to provide such a spectacular event to our particular movie community, and they deserve tremendous credit for putting together what is fast becoming one of the premiere cinematic events in the U.S. Job well done! And much love to my fellow film fans.
In addition to watching as many of these great (and, in some cases, far from great) films (for which I took four days of vacation!), I get a great deal of enjoyment out of writing capsule reviews on the various showings and reading those produced by others. So, in no particular order, I'd really like to thank the following for the online contributions they made in sharing their thoughts on assorted festival flicks:
VCSquirrel, SickLiaisons, Concussion, Hornstar, TeleRaven, filmcans, jenab, bnl771, georgialyle, slayer, Oh Steph, Noahphex, and NickRob. It's a true pleasure to see people who were engaged enough in the festival to offer up their opinions. Even though when they were contrary to mine, they were sadly wrong.
Films I planned on seeing, but then was dissuaded by bad ratings and reviews: Wicked Lake and Seventh Moon.
Films I wanted to see but couldn't due to scheduling conflicts or sheer exhaustion: Surveillance, Santos, Secret Screening C (Appaloosa), and Chocolate.
Films that I chose not to see and then regretted the omission in retrospect: The Good, The Bad, and The Weird.
Films that I actually did see and then was sorry: Pulse 2, Vinyan.
And my Top Five films of the festival: Deadgirl (this one was the biggest surprise this year for me, in that I couldn't believe that I so thoroughly enjoyed a movie that is essentially about necrophilia), The Burrowers, Sauna, The Substitute, and Alien Raiders (the movie which I felt most exceeded its budgetary and genre limitations). Honorable mention to Terra, Just Another Love Story, The Brothers Bloom, Zach and Miri Make a Porno and Role Models.
As always, my thanks to the Fantastic Fest crew and to the staff of the Alamo Drafthouse, and even to my arch-enemy Harry Knowles. This is really a labor of love on their part to provide such a spectacular event to our particular movie community, and they deserve tremendous credit for putting together what is fast becoming one of the premiere cinematic events in the U.S. Job well done! And much love to my fellow film fans.
posted by Purukivel at 8:46 PM
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