Is there anybody out there? (Besides Jeff)

The Internet was no more than one unlucky Gremlin's nightmare in 1990.

I know our dear instructor is out there because he seemingly lives online. I've seen this before. It's a serious condition famously contracted by one of the evil little monsters in Gremlins 2: The New Batch. (see above) When will you rock the animated-laser blue look to class, Schiff? Huh? The people need to see it!

Down to Business... With Occasional Video Breaks 

Speaking of things people see, my PWP is going to be centered around film. Yeah, yeah, I know some of you will complain or cry. Not in person, but on the inside you're bitching like a Sicilian Grandmother at an Olive Garden. Well let's all climb up into the trust tree and dine on a romantic candle-lit meal of truth. Then let's get some seconds. Hell, I want you to scarf down the truth like Louie Anderson at an All You Can Eat Buffet. (I capitalized it because the AYCEB demands respect and it is damn time we treat it as such.) Anyway, I know you have all see plenty of film-related projects in your time at CCC. The film students see it all day and the rest of you surely have had more than your fill of our department's snooty criticisms and scoffs at your favorite films. I hear you. I hate us too. It's cool. So I'm gonna bring something different. Something entertaining reflecting on the business of entertainment instead of a crass attack on the attempt. Sprinkle in some thoughtful analysis, a touch of Nic Cage-like ability to track down secrets of the past (you'll see why), and a connection to the times in which the films are made and you've got this PWP thing of mine.

Specifically, my PWP will examine two films a week. One a remake or re-imagining of the other. I'll mostly focus on horror film, but if this becomes trite I'll press on to a different genre. The idea is to examine the two films and see how the original and remake differ in  how they represent the time in which they were produced, how the films influenced or were influenced by culture of the times, and how two different generations and directors tackled the same basic concepts. Any thoughts on some films you guys would like to see discussed or not discussed would be excellent.

What to Expect...

Films being considered for screening: The "Wonka" movies (the first one is terrifying.), Friday the 13th, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Black Christmas (and Black X-Mas), Halloween, Shaft, and more! This will be far more than a "Oh. Well. The new one is shitty. Watch the original." It isn't really about which is a better film. This blog is about what that film means within its time compared to its counterpart. That said, I'll probably bitch and take some shots at films and filmmakers. Or commenters if anyone tries to convince me Johnny Depp was a better Wonka than Gene Wilder. That's just whack.