patches

Well that was silly...

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Hot Rod (2007)

I know it's really late at night... I mean early in the morning (yipes), but that was fun. I might hate it in the daylight, but for right now it was quite a silly romp.

I'm going to have to admit that I loved the punch-dance sequence patterned after Kevin Bacon's scene in Footloose. Priceless.

I'm a big fan of people on fire, so yeah.

It's also great that he's trying to raise money to pay for his step father's heart transplant, so he can get better, so that he can fight him, and earn his respect.

The younger brother kinda looks like Bud Court circa Harold and Maude era too.

Posted Thursday, November 29, 2007 1:49 AM by patches | with 0 comments

The Darjeeling Limited, Flipping great!

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The Darjeeling Limited (2007)

Loved it Loved it Loved it.

Posted Thursday, November 01, 2007 5:28 PM by patches | with 0 comments

SuperBad, Spout Mobile!

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Superbad (2007)

I saw SuperBad on Friday with the Spout crew at Celebration Village. It was
really hilarious. I couldn't help myself from clapping during parts, and nudging Victor with my elbow every other joke.

I really like Michael Cera as Evan in this, he's so sensitive and tender in parts. I loved him as George Michael in Arrested Development... So nervous and jumpy...

The whole McLovin story arc was absolutely priceless...

The Spout Mobile part was fun too!

Posted Monday, August 20, 2007 1:05 PM by patches | with 0 comments

Ten Canoes, Several Good Stories

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Ten Canoes (2007)

I liked watching this. In fact I'm still watching the credits right now, as I write. I liked the meta stories, the time lapses and the narration. Parts of it were quite funny, parts were frightening.

I like that it took place during one goose hunt, but spanned hundreds of years. It made me feel close to the people in the stories, and new that they are still living outside of the movie too.

There are only a few movies, books, stories that can support the characters enough that you can imagine them outside of the time in which their lives were captured. This is one of those films.

Thank you Palm Pictures!

Posted Sunday, July 22, 2007 6:10 PM by patches | with 0 comments

J.T. Leroy's mother is a bad mother

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The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things (2004)

I just finished this movie, "The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things" and I'm thinking it was... interesting. I'm not a fan of watching movies about unfit mothers, child abuse, drug addicts or meth labs, but I can only imagine that it was even more unpleasant for Jeremy to actually experience.

The camera-work was very interesting during the drug trip sequences, that's something positive I can say...

The stop-motion animation was very creative.

Asia Argneto makes for a brilliant unfit, unstable, unwed mother.

I can't imagine what was going through little Jeremy's head, it's a miracle that he made it out alive, and can take care of himself, let alone write a book about the experience.

If you liked Tideland, by Terry Gilliam, (god help you)
you'll like this one.

Posted Friday, July 06, 2007 4:04 PM by patches | with 1 comments

Could have been a lot stronger

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Clean (2004)

Clean could have been a lot stronger.

It was if there were amazing things happening, but the camera wasn't able to capture them properly. It was as though each shot was catching the actors on a bad take...

I did, however, like the idea of each character, and was anticipating their fall from grace, or lift from the dust. Each individual didn't live up to their glowing introduction however.

Maggie Cheung gave several scenes her best try, but wasn't entirely there for most of the movie, she didn't seem present.Where I think she did excel is in the final scenes with her young son Jay. She is trying to relate to him, but he's resisting at each interaction. She is able to read him though, and he can see through her easily. He wants the truth, and he can smell her bullshit, even athis tender age.

There were several moments that were closer to hittng the mark, but all and all it felt flat, played and unfortunate.

Posted Tuesday, July 03, 2007 1:57 AM by patches | with 0 comments

DVDuesday! More

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Cocaine Cowboys (2006)

Chris Gore on DVDuesday (G4) says it's probably the best crime documentary he's ever seen, if not the best documentary he's even seen. "Captivating...Fascinating"

I'm adding it to my Blockbuster Q...

Posted Wednesday, June 27, 2007 4:05 PM by patches | with 0 comments

DVDuesday!

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The Backyard (2002)

Chris Gore's segment, DVDuesday on G4 says it's good! I'm going to check it out!

Posted Wednesday, June 27, 2007 4:00 PM by patches | with 0 comments

One underwhelming and unfortunate KFC advertisement

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Around the Bend (2004)

I watched this last night, not knowing what to expect. It was one underwhelming and unfortunate KFC advertisement. I will trade in this movie (that I received in the mail via Blockbuster "total access") for something bloody, gory and disturbing (with no advertisements for fried chicken chain restaurants, hopefully).

Posted Thursday, June 21, 2007 9:39 AM by patches | with 0 comments

Dave Chappelle puts on a Block Party in Brooklyn

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Dave Chappelle's Block Party (2005)

Michel Gondry directs when Dave Chappelle puts on a Block Party in Brooklyn, and I liked it, it had a good spirit about it.

I really appreciated that he gave a good amount of time to the people who owned the house where the party was hosted. This perfectly excentric couple's house was called "Broken Angel", they tacked together this insane house, and lived there for several years together. She mentioned that she had like 20 cats, 10 dogs, a gerbil and... I think a cougar or something... But we never get to see the cougar.

Maybe it's on the extra features... I'm going to go check now and come back and add on to this review. (Rented it from Ballbuster video last night along with Apocalypto)... to be continued.

Posted Monday, May 28, 2007 3:45 PM by patches | with 0 comments

Notes on a Scandal, uneasy

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Notes on a Scandal (2006)

Judi Dench plays a teacher that keeps a diary of every detail of her life. Her current fascination is a new young teacher, played by Cate Blanchett, struggling to get her students to listen and respect her. Dench takes Blanchett under her wing, and becomes an everyday part of her life in school and out.

Overall I was not captivated, but thought that the mood this movie created was quite interesting. Blanchett's character Sheba, has an inappropriate releationship with one of her students, and Dench's character Barbara, discovers it.

Barbara promises not to tell on Sheba, but basically demands that she and Sheba become friends. Barbara becomes obsessed, she becomes creepy, she makes unwanted advances.

Her character breaks wide open in an extermely distressing scene right after cat dies. She comes to Sheba's house crushed, hoping for some companionship, a friend to lean on while she mourned the death of her pet. Sheba can't stay and console her, she's on her way to watch her son in a school play. Barbara cracks.

That scene is what pulled me deep into this film, it created a overwhelming, distressing, and anxious feeling in the pit of my stomach. Their performances, both so intense, were stunning, real, terrifying.

There were other scenes that make this film worth watching as well, but that was was the kicker.

Dench shows that she has years of coming, stunning performances up her sleeve. Blanchett proves her dynamic range of character. Worth checking out.

Posted Sunday, May 20, 2007 9:57 PM by patches | with 1 comments

Grindhouse, stand up and cheer

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Grindhouse (2007)

This was one of those movies where people clapped in the theater during key triumphant moments. I love the stunts from Zoe Bell, the characters, the cheese. I clapped, stood up in the end, and talked about it all the way home.

Quentin Tarantino, Robert Rodriguez have made something great together. Three cheers for the pure joy and passion of filmmaking. I plan on seeing this again the theater.

Don't miss this one, it's two for the price of one, with lots of great extras in between. (Three cheers for Austin, TX too!)

Posted Monday, April 23, 2007 12:48 PM by patches | with 0 comments

The Last King of Scotland, on DVD this week

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The Last King of Scotland (2006)

I watched The Last King of Scotland a few nights ago, I was not let down by the film festival buzz. What I think was most moving about this film was its rich character work. Such great performances by Forest Whitaker and James McAvoy. There were a few spots that were slightly unimaginative, mainly the driving montages, that I felt could have been stronger if simplified significantly.

The mind cannot overlay exact frames of an event while under that much pressure. It would have been much stronger had director, Kevin MacDonald, filmed alternate angles and shown less of the same shots overlayed on to McAvoy's face... but I'm sensitive to montages!

Overall the film was strong, gripping and disturbing. It was a fascinating view into Uganda's atmosphere under the choatic regime of Idi Amin.

If you liked, the Constant Gardener, Catch a Fire, and not so recently, Salvador. You'll very much like The Last King of Scotland.

Posted Friday, April 20, 2007 3:32 PM by patches | with 0 comments

28 weeks later?

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28 Weeks Later (2007)

So the trailer looks good-ish...

Posted Thursday, April 19, 2007 9:00 AM by patches | with 1 comments

Available in Grand Rapids?

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The Decalogue [TV Series] (1988)

I'd like to finally see this film, does anyone in the Grand Rapids area have a copy that I bould borrow? Message me here at Spout please.

Wanna swap? Check out my Movies I own list, there's some gems in there I'd be willing to loan out.

Thanks!

Posted Tuesday, March 06, 2007 9:19 AM by patches | with 1 comments

Just can't get enough of the stuff

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The Stuff (1985)

What a strange movie this was, this goo is found coming out the ground and is then extracted and sold as a dessert in stores around the US. It ends up taking over the lives of all who eat "The Stuff", it sort of oozes out its container and kills the dog... you can image what this looks like...

The most memorable part of this movie is the TV commercial that the movie playes several times during the course of the stuff's popularity... the jingle is terribly simple and stupid, but I still remember it from watching it more that 8 years ago

..."I just can't get enough... of the the stuff!"

Posted Monday, February 19, 2007 10:06 AM by patches | with 0 comments

Love will tear us apart

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Series 7: The Contenders (2001)

I'm a big fan of the high school production-quality music video that the two main characters made together in this one, to Joy Division's "Love will tear us apart". I love the fun outfit changes.

I swear my cousin Courtney made one just like that with a boyfriend in the late 80's, between making up dance routines to random Police and Cure songs, all the while watching Ice Castles or Garbage Pail Kids on Video Disc in her bedroom upstairs. Absolutely priceless.

You can't make up that kind of stuff.

Posted Friday, February 16, 2007 9:25 AM by patches | with 0 comments

Marie Antoinette, Sofia Coppola

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Marie Antoinette (2006)

I ended up seeing this twice, once on a date with Victor, and then again with my Aunts on Saturday. I actually enjoyed it quite a bit. there were a lot of reviews that said things to the tune of... All style and no substance... I disagree. There were many moments of quiet study, of human behavior, isolation, love, separation.

I agree that Sofia may have identitfied with Marie Antoinette at a personal level, but then look at Lost in Translation, and Virgin Suicides. She makes movies about things she knows.

I wouldn't respect her if she made spy movies, or slasher films, she's not a spy or a psycho killer.

She makes movies about isolation, female mystique, growth, transition, unique relationships, adolescence, love, alienation, doubt.

I'm quite possitive that Marie Antoinette was totally disonnected from her position. She was a confused teenager, she was immature, a girl, a virgin, alone. She was thrown into a foreign situation, all she could do was be surrounded by people that treated her like an object. A consumer of elaborate objects. No one knew her. That's exhausting to think about.

Over all I felt overwhelmed with the decadence. I enjoyed watching Kirsten Dunst play, suffer, struggle, adjust. If you enjoy watching filmmakers grow, watch Sofia's new movie.

Posted Thursday, February 15, 2007 10:58 AM by patches | with 0 comments

Best chase scene, Brick.

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Brick (2005)

Instead of cars racing through alley ways or gun fights with dangling cigarettes, Brick has a fantastic foot race through the outdoor California high school campus. It's genius, one of my favorite movie scenes of 2005.

Posted Tuesday, February 13, 2007 10:07 AM by patches | with 0 comments

Playing at the UICA, God Grew Tired of Us

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God Grew Tired of Us (2005)

God Grew Tired of Us
Orphaned by a tumultuous civil war in the Sudan and traveling barefoot across the sub-Saharan desert, John, Daniel and Panther were among the 25,000 "Lost Boys" who fled villages, formed surrogate families and sought refuge from famine, disease, wild animals and attacks from rebel soldiers. They traveled together for five years and against all odds crossed into the UN's refugee camp in Kenya, where they were selected to re-settle in the United States. Director Christopher Quinn explores the indomitable spirit of these three "Lost Boys," who triumph over seemingly insurmountable adversities to build active and fulfilling new lives while remaining deeply committed to helping those left behind. Narrated by Nicole Kidman.

“A moving documentary that informs, entertains and inspires.” - USA Today - Claudia Puig

Website: http://www.godgrewtiredofus.com/

Special Screening of God Grew Tired of Us
Join us for a special weekend screening featuring music, dance and food. Your ticket purchase will support the efforts of the Grace Church Sudan Mission Committee to send school supplies and uniforms to schools in Sudan.

Sunday, February 25, 2007
Event begins at 3:15 PM with a screening at 5 PM
Tickets are $25 each

Tickets are available at Grace Episcopal Church,
1815 Hall Street, Open 9 AM to 4 PM Monday thru Thursday,
for more information call 616 241 4631

Opens February 23 - Additional Showtimes Forthcoming

Visit UICA's website http://www.uica.org for more information on this film, Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Posted Monday, February 12, 2007 10:38 AM by patches | with 0 comments

Playing at the UICA, Who the #$&% Is Jackson Pollock?

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Who the $#%& is Jackson Pollock? (2006)

Who the #$&% Is Jackson Pollock?
When Teri Horton, a 73-year-old former long-haul truck driver with an eighth grade education, bought a painting in a thrift shop for five dollars, she didn't know that it would pit her against the highest and mightiest people in the art world and perhaps change forever the way art is authenticated. This rollicking adventure story documents Teri's 15-year war with the art world, lifts the veil on how art is bought and sold in America, and introduces audiences to the funny, profane and thoroughly unforgettable Teri Horton.

“Fascinatingly ambiguous tale and bizarre cast of characters make it one of the more entertaining documentaries in recent memory.” - The Hollywood Reporter - Frank Scheck

Website: http://www.picturehouse.com/jacksonpollock/

Showtimes
2/9 Friday - 3:00, 7:00 PM
2/10 Saturday - 3:00, 7:00 PM
2/11 Sunday - 3:00, 7:00 PM
2/12 Monday - 3:00, 7:00 PM
2/13 Tuesday - 3:00, 7:00 PM
2/14 Wednesday - 5:00 PM
2/15 Thursday - 7:00 PM

Visit UICA's website http://www.uica.org for more info, Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Posted Monday, February 12, 2007 10:35 AM by patches | with 0 comments

Playing at the UICA, Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus

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Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus (2006)

Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus
Nicole Kidman assumes the identity of visionary photographer Diane Arbus in a film that draws inspiration from author Patricia Bosworth's best-selling biography to tell the tale of a once-shy woman who becomes one of her generation's most strikingly original visual artists. Turning her back on her wealthy, established family, Arbus (Kidman) falls in with Lionel Sweeney (Robert Downey Jr.), an enigmatic mentor who introduces Arbus to the marginalized people who help her become one of the most revered photographers of the twentieth century.

“...a revelatory, challenging and deeply affecting portrait, anchored by what may be Kidman's most profoundly moving performance to date.” - Chicago Tribune - Jessica Reaves

Website: http://www.furmovie.com/

Showtimes
2/9 Friday - 5:00, 9:00 PM
2/10 Saturday - 1:00, 5:00, 9:00 PM
2/11 Sunday - 1:00, 5:00 PM
2/12 Monday - 5:00, 9:00 PM
2/13 Tuesday - 5:00, 9:00 PM
2/14 Wednesday - No Showings due to Four-Eyed Monsters Screening
2/15 Thursday - 5:00, 9:00 PM

Visit UICA's website http://www.uica.org, Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Posted Monday, February 12, 2007 10:31 AM by patches | with 0 comments

Four Eyed Monsters at the UICA for Valentines Day

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Four Eyed Monsters (2005)

Four Eyed Monsters - Special Holiday Screening
Plays February 14 ONLY!
In an attempt to keep their interaction interesting, a young couple in New York City who meet on line make a pact to not speak to one another. As their romance develops, they only write, draw, email, text, have sex, instant message, and make videos for each other. No talking. A new world of more complicated problems is discovered, and they are forced to deal with intimacy as they meld together and create a monster.

“In the realm of modern romantic movies, this one hits all the right spots and it makes it hurt so good.” - Film Threat - Eric Campos

Website: http://foureyedmonsters.com/

Showtimes
2/14 Wednesday - 7:00, 9:00 PM One night only!

For more information visit the UICA website http://www.uica.org in Grand Rapids, MI 49503.

Posted Monday, February 12, 2007 10:25 AM by patches | with 0 comments

I want to read the book now

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Running With Scissors (2006)

I enjoyed the idea of this movie, however, the adaptation to the screen execution was spotty.

Movies that are adapted from memoirs always trip me up. I get hung up on the details the writer would have never known about, because he was too young to know about or was not even present when they occured.

There were several moments in this movie that I was aware of the fact that that was happening, these events were completely made up. Glamourized for the silver screen. No one can have that many dishes...

Usually I can let it slide if the events are realistic, and could genuinely happen. But there were times where the situation was so crazy, that I thought, "Uhhh, I don't think so. I doubt it."

But I watched it late at night, didn't fall asleep, and actually cried when Agnes gave Augusten the gift at the very end. I would have given it a "Neutral" rating, but becasue of those few unique and outstanding moments, it gets four out of five stars "I liked it" rating.

What this movie did do for me is made me want to actually read the book. I want to see what he wrote in his version of the story, not what was optioned into a big-screen adaptation with an all star cast of Alec Baldwin and Annette Bening.

I want to know his thoughts.

Posted Friday, February 09, 2007 9:34 AM by patches | with 1 comments

Gael Garcia Bernal's Dreams

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The Science of Sleep (2005)

This film was so precious-feeling and yet so hilarious and distorted.

Michel Gondry has created an incredible magical little world here... one of dreams and fantasies, love, daily work, daily life, friendship, and family.

The two friends go on a secret voyage together in both their sleep and waking life. I love that they have little projects together, creating something from scraps and memories and new dreams.

This one is definately on my list of Best of 2005 (Even though most of us watched in later in 2006!)

If you loved Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless mind, don't miss this one.

Posted Wednesday, January 31, 2007 3:07 PM by patches | with 0 comments

Saw it with a 6 year old... she liked it.

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Charlotte's Web (2006)

I saw Charlotte's web in the Theater with my Little Sister, she had already seen it with her class, but wanted to go again with me on Saturday. She has minor ADD and about half way through she said "Let's get out of here and go ice-skating." but I convinced here to stay until the end when I told her that I read the book when I was her age and was really excited to see it in the theater. She said, "This is a book too? I guess I'll let you stay, this time. Next time we see it, we're going ice skating before it's over." Of course she said it loudly and we got a few 'SHHHH's :-) I actually enjoyed it, was sad when Charlotte died int he end, but she does such a good job or explaining why it's her turn to pass on, that it's not traumatic in any real way. If you thought the book was appropriate for your kids, this movie will be too. It follows the orignal quite closely and demonstrates that children's movies don't have to be annoying and fast-paced to get our kids' attention... The first time anyhow!

Posted Wednesday, January 17, 2007 11:43 AM by patches | with 0 comments

Arin and Susan in Second Life

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Four Eyed Monsters (2005)

http://foureyedmonsters.com/secondlife/ http://foureyedmonsters.com/video/jan_9_SL_invite.mov http://www.foureyedmonsters.com/sl/images/QandA_on_screen.jpg http://www.foureyedmonsters.com/sl/images/fem_skiing_down_slopes.jpg http://www.foureyedmonsters.com/sl/images/sundance_channel_island_sig.jpg

Posted Wednesday, January 17, 2007 11:26 AM by patches | with 0 comments

Four Eyed Monsters Nominated for 2 Spirit Awards & Opening Cinema Village

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Four Eyed Monsters (2005)

From Arin and Susan, Four Eyed Monsters Friends, So this is it. Our film is finally getting a real theatrical opening. Staring this Friday, December 1st, our film will be playing several times a day. So we really need everyone's help on this. Post a blog, do an email blast, make some phone calls to people in NYC, do whatever you can to spread the word. If the turn-out is good, we can expand to more cities much easier than before. Also if you're in NYC there are stickers, postcards, and Video Podcast DVDs on a rack in the lobby at Cinema Village for anyone to pick up and freely distribute. And if you want to put in some hours on the ground, reply to this email with your availability and phone number and you can join the team. And of course that means free Four Eyed Monsters shirts and movie tickets. Cinema village is at 22 East 12th Street between 5th Ave. and University Place. Map (http://r.vresp.com/?FourEyedMonsters/6d2c72179a/777399/977e135ce9/9c4f415) So we'll be at most of the evening screenings doing either Q&A's or interactive conversations with the audience about various topics after the screenings. See complete schedule and buy tickets. (http://r.vresp.com/?FourEyedMonsters/c1820591a3/777399/977e135ce9/9c4f415) Friday night there will be an opening night party at 11:00. The location will be announced at the screenings. As always, we'll be doing a live video chat into the party so find us on AIM: foureyedmonsters Some other really good news - we just found out that we've been nominated for two Spirit Awards. The ceremony will be February 24th, and we plan to make it to LA for that. The winner of the award will be decided by voting members of Film Independent, so if anyone is a member, please vote, and if you're not, you can vote if you become a Film Independent member before December 15th which also gives you free access to seeing all of the nominated films. (http://r.vresp.com/?FourEyedMonsters/50e67a7889/777399/977e135ce9/9c4f415) Here is the video we posted Sunday evening about the Cinema Village run. It also talks about how Susan needs a sublet someplace in NYC. Feel free to reply with leads. Play Video (http://r.vresp.com/?FourEyedMonsters/ef01d4ebaa/777399/977e135ce9/9c4f415) Thanks for all the support, especially those who requested the film, and for other cities over 150, don't worry, we're coming soon... Arin & Susan http://r.vresp.com/?FourEyedMonsters/434d6a60f6/777399/977e135ce9/9c4f415 www.foureyedmonsters.com Voice Mail: 718-878-5278 (Give us a call sometime and let us know how you're doing.) To get up to the minute information about the project subscribe to our sites RSS feed: foureyedmonsters.com/rss And to get videos imediately when they post subscribe to the video podcast: foureyedmonsters.com/subscribe Special Thanks to Cachefly.com who not only now provide all of the media hosting for the videos on our site but also Sponsored our Cinema Village run paying for posters, postcards, stickers and promotional DVDs of the video podcast. (http://r.vresp.com/?FourEyedMonsters/31f86f5e0b/777399/977e135ce9/9c4f415)

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