My Woot Shirt Collection

I think it's well-known that I am quite a big fan of Woot shirts. For those who don't know of Woot shirt, it can be found at http://shirt.woot.com. Every day, a new design is posted, but you can only order that design on that particular day. The good news is that once in a while there's a really good design, and to make things even better, the shirts are American Apparel t-shirts and cost only $10 (free shipping!).

Every week, there is a contest called the Derby in which a theme and set of rules is selected, and anyone can submit designs for consideration. Users vote on the designs, and the top three are selected and made into t-shirts. On the other four days of the week, designs created by users with already well-established reputations are posted.

Anyway, here's my collection (in the order in which I got them)!

*****

Fly the Furry Skies

Derby Theme: "Travel"

*****

Rodent's Revenge

*****

Anatomy Test

Derby Theme: "Trompe L'Oeil"

*****

May Be Subject to Random Searches

*****

Swim, Little Nessie!

Derby Theme: "Water"

*****

Why Can't I Fly, Friend?

Derby Theme: "Line Art"

*****

Finding Technicolor

(shirt was too small, gave it to my brother)

*****

Perpetual Emotion

Derby Theme: "Motion"

*****

I Saw Something Weird

*****

Tin: Old Skool

Derby Theme: "Your Favorite Element"

*****

I Hope You Brought a Lot of Baggies

Derby Theme: "Pets"

*****

Willing to Endure Scientific Research

Derby Theme: "Thrift"

*****

Imposter

Derby Theme: "Winter"

*****

You Have to Try This Guys

*****

Campfire Tales

Derby Theme: "National Parks"

*****

Computer Mice

Derby Theme: "Visual Puns"

(just ordered this!)

UFC 104 Commentary

Tonight was UFC 104 and I was able to catch all of the televised fights, which was an impressive 9 out of 11 fights in the event! The UFC has been airing some of the preliminary bouts for free on Spike TV, which I think is great. The names aren't as big as in the main card, but these are fighters who are trying to work their way up the UFC ladder to eventually land in the main card. At the same time, they are in danger of getting dropped from the UFC entirely if they lose or don't entertain - so the fights they deliver tend to be quite good.

Anyway, here are my thoughts on tonight's event to the best of my recollections. Keep in mind that I don't know much about some of these fighters, so I may make some statements that seem inaccurate, naïve, or ridiculous to the more seasoned MMA fan.

*****

Stefan "The Skyscraper" Struve vs. Chase Gormley

This was a rather weird but entertaining fight with a spectacular finish. After the bout gets taken to the ground early on, the fighters end up not once but twice in a position where each of them has a hold on the other's leg. More skilled submission artists may have been able to finish it there - the first time around Struve gets what looks like a pretty good a heel hook on Gormley, but this somehow fails. Then Gormley attempts a toe hold, which Struve easily gets out of. The second time, both guys look tired and awkwardly do nothing, but then Struve gets into a good position, gets some good shots in, then rolls beautifully into a triangle choke.

Struve defeats Gormley by submission (triangle choke, Round 1, 4:04)

*****

Yushin "Thunder" Okami vs. Chael Sonnen

I don't know much about Yushin Okami other than that he was the last person to "beat" the UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva (Silva got disqualified for using an illegal kick that also knocked Okami out ice cold. Why an upkick to the face of an opponent who has a knee or a hand on the ground is illegal is puzzling to me.) and that he had been on a bit of a roll in the UFC, going 7-1 and arguably being a top 3 middleweight. Chael Sonnen I know is also up there, so why this fight was not only put in the undercard but also not televised on the Spike broadcast baffled me - until I read on Tony's blog that Okami has a reputation for being a boring fighter. Anyway, this fight was eventually aired in between fights during the main event, and let me tell you that Tony's description was 100% correct.

Okami plays a very careful game throughout, oftentimes backing up and looking to counter punch. Sonnen also fights without too much aggression, but outclasses Okami the entire time. Sonnen is able to grab a hold of Okami's back multiple times, where he is able to land knees to the leg at will, as well as employ one of the most dreaded moves in MMA - stomping on their toes. Just kidding. Really though, I think this may be the first time I've seen someone try to stomp on their opponent's toes in MMA. But then again, Anderson Silva punched Thales Leites in the thigh in UFC 97, so hey, anything can happen. Anyway, Sonnen gets a clear decision victory after 15 minutes of non-action.

Sonnen defeats Okami by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

*****

Antoni Hardonk vs. Patrick "HD" Barry

This fight was actually the fifth of the night, but was the first one to air on the TV broadcast. The fight wasn't exactly electrifying, but it was a great way to start off the night, and ultimately won the "Fight of the Night" honor. Hardonk basically controlled the beginning first round with some devastating leg kicks. It was clear that these were doing some real damage to Barry's knees, as he continually had to switch stance. I was waiting for Barry to just collapse kind of like Dan Severn did in his pathetic showing against Pedro Rizzo in UFC 27. But somehow Barry survived and was able to actually control the latter half of the round.

In the second round, Hardonk looked either a bit winded and disoriented, and Barry seemed to really find his range and rhythm, getting more confident with his punches. At one point, Barry was able to knock Hardonk down three times in succession - though in all three cases, Hardonk went down because he was always caught while in an awkward position and then lost balance. Eventually Barry landed a huge right hook that knocked Hardonk down, then sealed the deal with two beastly punches. After the second punch, Barry knew the fight was over and spared Hardonk's head further damage.

Barry defeats Hardonk by TKO (strikes, Round 2, 2:30)

*****

Ryan "Darth" Bader vs. Eric "Red" Schafer

This was a pretty solid matchup between the wrestling specialist Ryan Bader and the BJJ specialist Eric Schafer. It was clear that neither one of them wanted to take the fight to the ground, which can often be the case with wrestling vs. BJJ matchups, and so we basically got a 15 minute boxing match. Bader came out strong and laid the smackdown on Schafer in the first round, and the fight was pretty close to being sealed there. Schafer's chin held up though, and he had a great recovery after that brutal beating.

Bader seemed like he was going for a knockout blow with every thrown punch and was thus playing a risky game. I had a gut feeling that a revitalized Schafer would catch him with a big counter punch in round 2, but neither that nor the knockout Bader was looking for happened. Instead, round 2 was a rather even boxing match. In the third round, again I had the feeling that Bader's overcommitting to his attacks would get him in trouble, but Schafer was never able to capitalize. Instead, Bader was able to land some pretty solid punches - enough to win the round - then take Schafer down and wait out the rest of the bout by getting a good position and playing it safe. The fight ends with an odd score, where one judge scored the fight 29-26 (presumably 10-8, 9-10, 10-8).

Bader defeats Schafer by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-26, 30-27)

*****

Anthony "Rumble" Johnson vs. Yoshiyuki "Zenko" Yoshida

Call me crazy, but I will say it now. "Rumble" Johnson is going to be UFC champion someday. Johnson has a couple of losses in his UFC career (one of which is controversial - some argue he should have gotten a DQ victory) that are keeping him from fighting the elite welterweights to get a shot at Georges St-Pierre and the UFC title. But after delivering knockout after knockout in convincing fashion, I am convinced that this guy has as good a shot as anybody at beating the seemingly invincible GSP.

This fight plays out a lot like Rumble's fight against Tommy Speer, with Johnson basically using his incredible speed, power, and reach (78" wingspan in the 170 lb division!), to basically dance around Yoshida and land some big punches in the face while also receiving minimal damage at the same time. Eventually the inevitable happens and Johnson lands a big right cross that knocks the lights out of Yoshida.

Ever since Matt Hughes's "decline," I've been searching for a new favorite welterweight - someone who could take down that certain GSP who defeated my boy Matt Hughes twice in a row. Anthony Johnson had been on my radar, and tonight's display just sealed the deal (though at the same time I am also excited to see Matt Hughes re-sign with the UFC!). From what I have seen so far, Rumble has displayed some pretty sound groundwork from the top as well as solid takedown defense in addition to his impeccable striking and athleticism. His next fight should probably be against an elite-level welterweight (unless he needs to move up to middleweight) and will be a real test. Can't wait!

Johnson defeats Yoshida by KO (Round 1, 0:41)

*****

Joe "Daddy" Stevenson vs. Spencer "The King" Fisher

I don't have much to say about this fight, as it was overall not too exciting. Round 1 was close for the most part, with both fighters exchanging blows and spending a lot of time clinched or on the ground in inaction. Joe Daddy opened up a cut above Fisher's eye, though this didn't turn out to be nearly as much of an issue for Fisher and his vision as it could have. In the second round, Stevenson took Fisher down, then was able to pin down Fisher's arms using a crucifix mount from side control. From here Stevenson rains down elbows onto his defenseless opponent's head for a TKO victory.

Stevenson defeats Fisher by TKO (elbows, Round 2, 4:03)

*****

Gleison Tibau vs. Josh "The Dentist" Neer

Interestingly, this fight was both entertaining and boring, and both satisfying and unsatisfying. Throughout a full three rounds, Tibau takes down Neer basically at will, and these are not just regular takedowns - they're power slams. If the floor were less cushiony, we may be talking broken ribs here. It seemed like Neer wasn't even making any effort to defend the takedowns. But as far as I remember, Neer was basically able to get into butterfly guard without too much difficulty after every single takedown, then take the fight back to the feet, and Tibau wasn't able to do anything from the top position.

I was waiting for Neer to unleash a flurry of strikes on Tibau to try to win the game on the feet, but it never happened. A few solid strikes should have balanced out the takedowns on the scorecards. But instead, Tibau is the clear winner of all three rounds because of his hard takedowns and because of Neer's inability to do much damage to his opponent while standing.

Tibau defeats Neer by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

*****

Cain Velasquez vs. Ben Rothwell

This was a great fight for Cain Velasquez and not much of a fight at all for Ben "Punching Bag" Rothwell. For essentially the entirety of a round and change, Velasquez was taking down Rothwell, getting into good positions, and hailing down undefended punches. Rothwell was lucky to get out of the first round and didn't survive long during the first minute of round two, where he sustained the same beating.

This victory solidifies Velasquez's status as a top heavyweight, and there's a good chance he'll be matched up against the winner of Lesnar-Carwin, though I am curious to see how he'd do against someone like Mir or Nogueira. After the Cheick Kongo fight, there were some questions about Velasquez: his ability to finish the fight (through powerful strikes or submissions) and his chin. Here Velasquez proved that he has finishing ability to complement his outstanding, outstanding wrestling, but honestly tonight's fight lasted a lot longer than it should have. And after not trying any submissions tonight nor being threatened on the feet, there are still some unresolved questions - so I still haven't quite yet jumped on the Cain Velasquez bandwagon. Go Minotauro!

Velasquez defeats Rothwell by TKO (punches, Round 2, 0:58)

*****

Lyoto "The Dragon" Machida vs. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua

The main event of the evening, a 5-round fight for the light heavyweight title that ended with a result that was controversial and surprising for even the winner himself. The fight was one of the most tactical battles I've ever seen in MMA, and was quite refreshing to see. Machida used his usual tactical karate style, making all of his shots count. However, while Machida is renowned for rarely being hit, it seems like Rua had him figured out and was landing clean hits all throughout. Oftentimes, both fighters landed clean hits at the same time, which wasn't something you'd see often in a Machida fight. Rua avoided chasing after Machida - something which caused the downfall of basically every Machida opponent to date - and played a game based on timing, range, and accuracy. Essentially, Rua became Machida #2, except with a Muay Thai stance instead of a karate stance. Both fighters were landing some pretty brutal kicks and then getting right out of the way, very much in the Machida style.

Every round was really close. First round could have gone either way. Second round was fairly even too, but I say Shogun takes it after getting in a clinch and landing a good series of knees to the leg. Third round was very close - I give it to Machida after a good flurry of powerful punches. Fourth round, seems like Rua is starting to land more strikes than Machida, so I give the round to him. Fifth round was also really close, could have gone either way like the first.

In the end, all three judges score the fight 48-47 for Machida, which puzzles basically everybody and makes a rematch all but imminent. I would have scored the fight 48-47 for Shogun, and it seems like most MMA writers seemed to also score the fight either 48-47 or 49-46 for Shogun, so why not a single judge thought he won the fight is a little weird. Are they using a different scoring system from the rest of the world? Anyway, even though this is disappointing for Rua, this fight shows that 1) Machida can be beaten and probably no longer can be called the #4 pound-for-pound fighter in the world (after Silva, GSP, and Fedor - he probably falls below the likes of Penn and Mike Brown now), and that 2) Rua is back in his PRIDE form and has what it takes to be the light heavyweight champio

Next for Machida might be a rematch with the winner of Rashad Evans and Thiago Silva, or perhaps even against Quinton Jackson if he ends up coming back to the UFC. It might even be an immediate rematch with Shogun if Shogun can beat a quality opponent in his next fight! It will be interesting to see what Lyoto's next opponent does after having seen this fight.

Machida defeats Rua by unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 48-47)

*****

Overall, I'm pretty satisfied with UFC 104. At the very least, it is a big improvement over UFC 103. Unfortunately the main event wasn't filled with fireworks like Couture vs. Nogueira, but I don't think anybody really expected it to be. Instead, we got a really great technical battle. There weren't really any memorable fights tonight, but with just a few exceptions the action was pretty solid, and the good televised fights from the undercards was a nice bonus.

The next major MMA event is Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Rogers on November 7, where the arguable #1 heavyweight in the world Fedor Emelianenko makes his debut on Strikeforce. A Fedor loss would be devastating for Strikeforce, and I hope this happens, as Fedor really should have signed with the more respectable UFC. Also on the card is a fight for the Strikeforce middleweight championship between Jake Shields and one of my favorite fighters to watch, Jason "Mayhem" Miller.

Then on November 14, the same night as the Manny Pacquiao vs. Miguel Cotto fight, is UFC 105, where the main event is Randy Couture vs. Brandon Vera. There are no huge superstar vs. superstar matchups, but that's not so much of a problem. The UFC has good matchmaking and can always deliver an exciting card without having to rely on big names (like UFC Fight Nights).

Horror Movies to Watch: Part 4 of 4

Horror Movies to Watch

Part IV: The Excessive

*****

One could argue that this horror sub-genre is the main stylistic source for more modern horror movies, particularly the increasingly ubiquitous "gornos," which are known for being repulsive through the mutilation of the human body. This kind of gore on its own is not my cup of tea; I don't go to movies with the intention of throwing up. Now the term "excessive" is very broad so I will try to elaborate with this: I use "excessive" not as a synonym for "gory," but rather as a stylistic description for the following films. These movies are at times really scary, and at others quite funny - which points out the fine line between horror and comedy - but overall they're all awesome.

*****

The Exorcist

Dir. William Friedkin (1973)

The Exorcist is one of the most famous horror movies of all time, and for a good reason. The memorable (rather grotesque) images are one thing, but the way in which it's brilliantly directed is what sets the movie apart from others. The film's eerie atmosphere, the way in which it constantly keeps us horrified, and the way in which it is actually believable despite its intrinsic unrealism - these aspects are among the many things that make The Exorcist so great.

*****

Carrie

Dir. Brian De Palma (1976)

Based on a Stephen King novel, Carrie tells the story of a girl who is constantly picked on, but then discovers that she has telekinetic powers. To top off a great movie, one particular scene alone - when Carrie's classmates push her past her breaking point - makes Carrie a more than worthwhile watch. The ensuing massacre is one of the best cinematic displays of badassery. Ever.

*****

Suspiria

Dir. Dario Argento (1977)

Blood looks so much crazier in Technicolor. Combine the rich, stylized imagery with a creepy electronic soundtrack that you'll eventually be humming along to, as well as a story filled with the paranormal and the freaky - and you have Suspiria. It's not as scary as it is crazy... well, actually if I could describe this movie in one word, it would be CRAAAAZY, and we'll leave it at that.

*****

The Evil Dead

Dir. Sam Raimi (1981)

This is the first installment in a trilogy of films that started up Sam Raimi's career (he would go on to make the Spiderman movies) and now have a status as cult classics. The first movie is in my opinion the best, starting off as an honestly scary movie, before drifting off into an all-out zombie gorefest - and this kind of gore is awesome gore. The sequels, Evil Dead II and Army of Darkness, are more fun than scary or awesome, but are worth a watch as well.

*****

Videodrome

Dir. David Cronenberg (1983)

David Cronenberg's movies have become a bit less weird as of late, though the raw violence that makes his movies so easily identifiable is still there. Anyway, Videodrome, one of his earlier classics, is so weird that I cannot possibly describe it. The story revolves around a TV program that induces hallucinations, which results in things like the protagonist Max's torso turning into a VCR, his hands into guns, etc. Basically, people see this TV program and insanity ensues.

*****

I hope you have enjoyed this series of recommendations and blurbs, and that more importantly, you might want to go find these movies to watch for the Halloween season!

Horror Movies to Watch: Part 3 of 4

Horror Movies to Watch

Part III: The Psychological

*****

We now venture into the realm of the thrilling, the intense, the psychologically jarring. What do I mean by psychological? I mean more than one thing when referring to these psychological horror movies. In some cases, the movies can be driven by characters in strange, often obsessive and violent psychological states, and in others, the movies simply mess with your mind. In this series, however, I make sure to note the distinction between a thriller and a horror movie; while the following five movies are all in their respective ways thrilling, they all also have the ability to freeze us in horror, sort of in a Hannibal Lecter kind of way.

*****

Peeping Tom

Dir. Michael Powell (1960)

This masterpiece, released just a month before the immortal Psycho, is often compared to the latter film because of the way both films portrayed psychopathic killers like never before. Here we have a man who videotapes prostitutes as he murders them. Powell, already famous for his unique style of storytelling, creates an intriguing look into a serial killer's psychology as he continues his murderous run and flees from the police.

*****

Psycho

Dir. Alfred Hitchcock (1960)

Psycho is of course famous for the "shower scene," where the supposed "heroine" is killed off just a third of the way through in a scene that initially shocked the world but is now so well known that to us it's no surprise at all. We learn that the real "main character" is Norman Bates, a real psycho killer who is one of the most intriguing and chilling characters in movie history.

*****

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?

Dir. Robert Aldrich (1962)

Here's a movie that has a solid plot but is mostly carried by incredibly brilliant acting. In Baby Jane, we follow the story of two sisters. One is a famous actress but now a paraplegic after an "accident." The other is a Vaudeville has-been, is jealous of her sister's success, and then proceeds to torture her sister for most of the film. This movie is perhaps lesser known than some other horror classics, but it is a must-see.

*****

Don't Look Now

Dir. Nicolas Roeg (1973)

Does the image of a girl in a bright red raincoat sound familiar? It's so well-known, but not many have heard of this movie, where it originates. Anyway, here's a mind trip where we follow a couple whose daughter has recently died. The wife is drawn to some strange psychic sisters while the husband chases what seems to be his dead child. This all builds up to a crazy conclusion.

*****

Jacob's Ladder

Dir. Adrian Lyne (1990)

This may fall more under the category of thriller and definitely does give you a huge adrenaline rush, but it is certainly quite freaky as well. The film revolves largely around the testing of a drug that creates hallucinations and increases aggression - in a Vietnam War setting. Appropriately, the feel of the film is quite hallucinogenic and definitely very intense. While the other movies listed here are carried more by acting, Jacob's Ladder is carried by its visual effects, which are intense but not gratuitous.

*****

Stay tuned for the final installment

of this series, Part IV: The Excessive

Review: Zombieland

Zombieland

Dir. Ruben Fleischer (2009)

*****

Why does it seem obligatory in zombie movies nowadays to have the entire last third of the movie consist of an all-out massacre? For a movie as creative and original as Zombieland, a wasted, formulaic 20-30 minutes at the end could have been put to much, much better use. This is among the low points that tarnishes a film with many great moments.

Let's focus on the good first. I'll name three things that stick out to me: the first third of the movie, Woody Harrelson, and an unexpected guest appearance from one of the great actors of our time - as himself. A few minutes into the movie we are introduced to Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) - we know the characters not by their real names but by their destinations as they try to find a safe haven in the midst of a worldwide zombie plague. Columbus owes his survival to a set of rules he's developed, and which he demonstrates in a thoroughly hilarious and entertaining fashion.

As Columbus makes his way across a deserted America, he runs into Tallahassee (Harrelson), who is stylish, loves killing zombies, and has a strange obsession. It seems like he may have been pulled straight from a Quentin Tarantino film. One of the memorable scenes in the movie (and the trailer) happens at a supermarket, after Tallahassee uses a banjo lick he learned from Deliverance to lure a trio of zombies to their deaths by means of banjo, baseball bat, and a pair of hedge shears. Then, all of a sudden, the movie stops being great.

Here we meet the sisters Wichita (Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin), who are certainly unique, interesting characters, but who are overall a giant distraction. While it's always nice to see a couple of girls who are fully capable of holding off the zombie apocalypse on their own, they are certainly much less intriguing than are Columbus and Tallahassee, and the relationships between the men and the women are far from interesting. But hey, what would an original, rollercoaster-like zombie comedy be without a little bit of romance? I guess they have to stick to the formula to sell.

You may have already read about a cameo appearance by a famous actor. I will not spoil anything here, other than the fact that the scenes involving him were the best of the film, and were especially relieving during an unremarkable second half.

Then comes the so called "climax" of the plot curve. But what some writers may not realize is that zombies in movies are more effective in smaller numbers than in uncountable hordes. You know those movies where heroes can use a single punch to knock out one by one a large group of cronies who neither know how to fight nor how to use their numbers advantage? I'd much rather see a well-choreographed one-on-one duel, and the same concept applies to zombie movies.

When you can recognize a zombie's face - when they're seemingly impossible to finish off - it's much more intense than seeing our hero just using a machine gun to wipe out masses of hungry but otherwise unarmed zombies. And once one wave of these creatures are eliminated, then comes the next wave, and we have yet another movie formula being applied. In the end, the hero searching for love and the beautiful heroine end up together, but perhaps only any other romantic pairing among the four main characters may have been a bit untraditional (uh-oh, did I completely spoil the movie just now?).

Don't let my criticisms of Zombieland prevent you from seeing it - it is, in fact, funny and does have many exceptional moments. Actually, I would recommend seeing this film if only for the appearance by the top secret guest star. But once again, for a movie that had so much potential, it was especially disappointing to see such a big chunk of it go to waste.

*****

My Rating: B-

Horror Movies to Watch: Part 2 of 4

Horror Movies to Watch

Part II: The Chilling

The Gothic writer Anne Radcliffe famously distinguished horror from terror, claiming that while terror "awakens the faculties to a high degree of life," horror "freezes and nearly annihilates them." In other words, terror is something we experience in many a slasher movie - our heart beats faster and faster, and we get a nice rush of adrenaline. Horror, on the other hand, freezes us to our chair and gives us a major case of the chills. A little rush of adrenaline is good once in a while, but in horror there is something beautiful - and this beauty is largely why I believe that terror limits creativity in movies (we get much of the same), while horror is limitless. What gives us the chills? Imagery? Suspense? When a scene taps into our inner fears? There's no single answer, which is exactly what makes the horror genre so great. Make sure to see these five great movies that can bring our heartbeats to nearly a halt.

*****

Night of the Living Dead

Dir. George Romero (1968)

This is the movie that created a whole sub-genre of horror known as the "zombie movie." It is also the most effective of all zombie movies in terms of horror value. Instead of just having characters being attacked by zombie horde after zombie horde, George Romero paces the movie to make our spine tingle like never before. Since then, zombie movies have ventured more into the realm of excess than true horror.

*****

Jaws

Dir. Steven Spielberg (1975)

The tragedy of great movies that also make a lot of money is that studios demand a sequel. Or two, or three. Please, don't let those sequels make you misunderstand what movies like Jaws are all about. The scariest moments in the original film come before we see any more than the fin of the shark. At this point our fears our very real. So is it the super-sized shark we're supposed to be scared of, or is it the water?

*****

Alien

Dir. Ridley Scott (1979)

Another great movie that resulted in a franchise of sequels that are nothing like it. Sure, a lot of people like Aliens, but you have to admit that it's an action - not a horror - movie. Some may be bothered by the slow pacing of the first film, but this is exactly what makes the movie so eerie. Just as in Jaws, we do eventually see the monster, but it is more the unknown that makes the movie scary. The movie's tagline sums up the fears it evokes: "In space no one can hear you scream."

*****

The Silence of the Lambs

Dir. Jonathan Demme (1991)

The horror in this movie is carried largely by Anthony Hopkins's brilliant depiction of the complex psychopath Hannibal Lecter, but that is not to say that only the scenes with him in it are scary. The "villain" of the film, Buffalo Bill - how creepy is that guy? Still, Hopkins as Lector is alone reason enough to make this movie great - from the way he talks candidly about cannibalism to the way he never blinks.

*****

The Blair Witch Project

Dir. Daniel Myrick & Eduardo Sánchez (1999)

I have rarely, if ever, heard someone call this movie "pretty good" or "just OK." People seem to either absolutely love this movie or absolutely loathe it, which is fine, as art is subjective. My opinion is that this is the best horror movie of the last 15 years. It's dizzying, perhaps, but it's real. Well, it's not actually made from "real" footage, but it may as well have been, because it certainly feels real. And once again, our fear of the unknown is exploited - for 86 minutes straight.

*****

Next, Part III: The Psychological

Horror Movies to Watch, Part 1 of 4

Ladies and gentlemen, it is October, and that means that 1) Halloween is just around the corner, and 2) 'tis the season for some great horror movies. I must say that I have been a little out of touch with the horror genre as of late, as it largely has been a lot of slasher movies and gross-out movies, neither of which is exactly my cup of tea. There have been some highly-praised horror movies lately though, so who knows - maybe the genre is making a comeback and I should go to the theaters more!

Anyway, over the course of these next four posts, I'll be writing a little something about 20 of my favorite horror films - all of which I highly recommend you see. I would have loved to rank them, but it is already hard enough to rank all the movies I watch - and it's especially difficult with the horror genre, which is so diverse. So instead, I'll be splitting up these 20 movies into groups of five, which I have roughly classified into four categories: The Paranormal, The Chilling, The Psychological, and The Excessive. Let's get right down to business with...

*****

Horror Movies to Watch

Part I: The Paranormal

The horror genre was, of course, something that was around far before film was. With famous literary works like Frankenstein, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and Dracula, there was a large emphasis on the paranormal and the supernatural in defining the genre. It is no surprise, then, that many of the early horror films, such as Nosferatu, Frankenstein, Dracula, and Freaks placed this same emphasis on the paranormal, and so it seems like a good place to start for this movie list.

*****

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari

Dir. Robert Wiene (1920)

Before the legendary horror movies of the 1930's (Dracula, Frankenstein, King Kong), and even before movies had sound in them was Dr. Caligari. This work blends horror with German Expressionist elements (look at the set in the picture!) to create a fantastic movie about a sleepwalking killer. The film does indeed have a nightmarish, hallucinatory feel to it, which is greatly due to and enhanced by the unique sets and eerie pacing.

*****

The Phantom of the Opera

Dir. Rupert Julian (1925)

Far before Andrew Lloyd Weber was this silent masterpiece, which in turn was adapted from a novel by Gaston Leroux. Lon Chaney plays the Phantom, who is as expressive as a monster can be (though certainly he is a villain), and who is actually easier to sympathize with than his counterpart in the musical. While the songs in Weber's musical are quite good, talk about a complete bastardization of such a great movie...

*****

Rosemary's Baby

Dir. Roman Polanski (1968)

We now jump decades ahead to a seminal work by one of the strangest people to ever make truly great movies. This film, along with his earlier psychological thriller Repulsion, capture his emotion quite well. The premise is unique - a man lets the devil impregnate his wife in exchange for success in his career. Add several ladles of Polanski and you get this total mind trip into the realm of the demonic, paranormal, and plain crazy.

*****

Eraserhead

Dir. David Lynch (1977)

Oh, David Lynch, you are so great at making your movies so hard to even talk about. What even goes on in Eraserhead? Well the answer to that may not even be relevant, because this movie is just plain creepy, regardless. Whether it's the girl with puffy cheeks, the premature alien-like baby, the bleeding roasted chicken, or even just the way the characters pause for a few seconds in between their lines, the movie for the whole way through is outright weird and creepy.

*****

The Shining

Dir. Stanley Kubrick (1980)

It was tempting to classify this movie under next post's category, "The Chilling," because The Shining certainly is one of the most chilling movies out there. It also does have it's fair share of the paranormal, though, in its iconic, hallucinatory (or are they?) images. Kubrick is a master at manipulating us through horror. One of the scariest moments in the movie is a simple cut to a black screen. This movie gets better every time I re-watch it, and it is definitely one of the greatest movies - of any genre - ever made.

*****

Next edition, Part II: The Chilling

Great Mixed Martial Arts Submissions

Even today, there is still a lot of prejudice and misconceptions about what is known as "mixed martial arts." After all, it has gotten a lot of bad publicity over the years. But during this time it has also matured, evolving from what as basically a no-holds-barred fighting competition into a true sport that requires strength, speed, technique, and strategy.

In the early days of "Ultimate Fighting," not much was known about "mixed" martial arts, with fighters instead tending to be experts in only the one style they knew. This, along with limited rules regarding the safety of the fighters, made for some violent competition. However, two major factors helped shape MMA into what it is today. First is the introduction of rules to make fighting safer, fairer, and even more exciting to the viewers. Second is the development of fighters into real "mixed" martial artists - instead of being a better brawler, it became important to have a broad martial arts knowledge, ranging from kickboxing to Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

In particular, Brazilian jiu-jitsu was important to the sport's development, as it added a completely new level of ground fighting and submissions. Great fights can be all out 15 or 25 minute wars or can end in brutal knockouts, but these can tend to turn off people who aren't already into MMA. Submissions, however, I feel are more accessible and can actually be really beautiful. So as a tribute to submission fighting, here are some of my favorite submissions in MMA history.

(Note: I will try to explain things in "layman's" terms, so if you're already knowledgeable about MMA, bear with me... or just watch the videos. I also realize that some might want to skip straight to the submission, so I'll also include a timestamp of where to skip to.)

*****

Fedor Emelianenko armbar on Mark Coleman

PRIDE Total Elimination 2004

To skip straight to the submission, go to 3:00.

Fedor Emelianenko - one of the top fighters in the world - has a game complete with excellent striking, great speed and accuracy, and submission technique. Such a complete MMA arsenal is seldom seen, especially in the heavyweight division (> 205 lbs.) and to see a heavyweight pull off a move like this is incredible.

Fedor is stuck under the "king of ground-and-pound" Mark Coleman, and while Coleman tries to land some powerful hits from the top, Fedor employs the "guard," in which he wraps his legs around the opponent, to try to use his hips to exert control from the bottom. Coleman is giving Fedor some room, so basically out of nowhere, Fedor comes out with an armbar, in which he gets one leg across Coleman's shoulders and is able to slip his other leg and his hip out to the side. An excellent display of speed and technique from arguably the best heavyweight in the world.

*****

Demian Maia triangle choke on Chael Sonnen

UFC 95

To skip to the submission, go to 3:45.

Demian Maia is one of the best Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialists (though the other aspects of his game are somewhat lacking), and his groundwork is downright elegant, as he is able to transition from position to position faster than I can even think. The beauty of this submission starts from before the submission itself.

Maia, after getting his opponent Chael Sonnen against the wall, performs a judo-like throw and immediately is able to transition into the "mount" position - a very advantageous top position where it is much easier to land uncontested blows to the opponent's head. However, from this position, Maia instead opts to slip his right leg underneath Sonnen's neck, which sets up a "triangle choke," which is basically a choke using the legs (note that most effective chokes work by blocking blood flow to the brain, not by blocking the breathing of the opponent).

*****

Frank Mir shoulder lock on Pete Williams

UFC 36

The fight is short. Watch the whole thing!

Frank Mir is one of the top Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialists in MMA, and seeing him move his legs while on the ground is amazing, especially considering that he is a heavyweight. In this case, Mir gets his opponent to the ground (note: Mir is on the bottom; he is perfectly comfortable fighting from underneath, in the guard position) and grabs a hold of Williams's right arm, neutralizing it as an offensive weapon. As soon as Williams makes a mistake, Mir capitalizes by bringing his arm in, twisting Williams's shoulder. And once Mir is able to slip his hips out for extra leverage, it's all over.

*****

Shinya Aoki gogoplata on Katsuhiko Nagata

DREAM.4

To skip to the submission, go to 4:45.

Shinya Aoki is one of the top lightweights in the world (I'd like to see him come to the UFC), and perhaps his biggest weapon is his flexibility. His ability to contort into unique positions allows him to pull off some rarely-seen submissions, like this "gogoplata." He starts off mounted on his opponent, which is already an advantageous position. From here, he is able to put his right leg across the front of his opponent's neck. Once he gets in the right position, he is simply able to pull Nagata's head towards his own leg, which results in a quick tapout.

*****

Toby Imada inverted triangle choke on Jorge Masvidal

Bellator V

To skip to the submission, go to 0:25.

Here's one you don't see everyday. It looks like Masvidal was going for a single-leg takedown, though the footage starts a little too late. Anyway, for some reason, instead of taking Imada down, Masvidal lifts him up. With Masvidal's neck right between his legs, Imada goes for a triangle choke from behind... while he is upside down in the air. Imada smartly grabs onto Masvidal's leg so that he can't easily be shaken off, then proceeds to choke his opponent out completely. I feel like Masvidal could have played things more intelligently before and during the choke - but this is worthy of a highlight tape nonetheless.

*****

Rumina Sato flying armbar on Charles Taylor

Shooto Devilock Fighters '99

Submission fighters dream of doing flying armbars, but nobody really ever tries the risky technique. Rumina Sato and his flashy style have enough guts though, and once he grabs a hold of his opponent's arm, he jumps straight into an amazing armbar. This leads to one of the quickest finishes in MMA history, which you basically never see happening with a submission.

*****

Ryo Chonan flying scissor heel hook on Anderson Silva

PRIDE Shockwave 2004

This submission is especially significant because it is done on Anderson Silva, who is arguably the number one fighter in the world. This was Silva's last "real" loss, as the only loss after that happened when he got disqualified for a kick that knocked out his opponent but was deemed illegal (though the fact that it is illegal is completely ridiculous).

Anyway, Ryo Chonan had actually been winning this fight, but the submission that put it away made the fight immortal. I have never, ever seen this move done other than in this video. Chonan drops down for a scissor sweep, taking Silva down, then immediately putting him in a heel hook. The heel hook, in which Chonan basically twists the heck out of Silva's ankle (you can see how it works in the final frame of the video), is one of the most painful holds - and so it can force very quick tapouts (though it also leads to injury at a higher rate than other submissions). Indeed, once the heel hook is in place, Silva taps out right away. Incredible.