Thursday, January 15, 2009

The Golden Trousers "Indelibles" of '08

So here's the deal: if you've seen any of these films mentioned below, then the moments specified are what you'll probably recall with instant clarity. The images and scenes that smack you upside the head when the films are mentioned - basically, these are the indelible images of 2008 that are gonna haunt for a long time. Think of it this way - if this were a VH1 special, it would be titled 2008's Most Shocktasticariffic Movie Moments!!! (the three exclamation points would very important).

Most of them are horror-related because A) I am me, and B) horror has a way of etching itself under your closed eyelids, no? Plus, I don't know if you know this, but today is Horror Day in my Golden Trousers Awards. I mean, obviously you don't know that, only I know that, but now you do too because I have told you. Hooray complicity!

Also, some of the following aren't on DVD yet so I couldn't include images to go along with every single choice, but again, if you've seen the movie of which I speak then you know what I speak of. And so...

The Golden Trousers "Indelibles" of '08

Death of an Elemental, Hellboy II

The Joker's Magic Pencil Trick, The Dark Knight

Massacre at the swimming pool, Let the Right One In

Lotte finds the gun again, The Edge of Heaven

Every single frame of Tokyo Gore Police

Ye Olde Orphan Blindery, Slumdog Millionaire

Cannibal Barbeque, Doomsday

The "Girl" In The Attic, [REC] / Quarantine

The Scuttling Half-Hand Is Thirsty, Splinter

Sunburn Betrayal, Mister Lonely

Cute Kitten Meltdown, The Spirit

Intestinal Intimacy, Otto, or Up With Dead People

Steve Coogan giving Ben Stiller head, Tropic Thunder

Dawn's Not-So-Sweet Lady Surprise, Teeth

The Security Guard, Paranoid Park

-------------------

This is probably my favorite list of the year,
and I'd love to hear from y'all what moments of '08
have scarred and seared themselves into your brains.

.

7 comments:

Dr. Stan Glick said...

So glad to see you include "Tokyo Gore Police". I saw it at this past summer's New York Asian Film Festival, a great annual fete. It ranks right up there with "Ichi the Killer" as fantastic exploitation entertainment. "Ichi" has been out on DVD from Tokyo Shock for years. I believe that they also will be putting out "Tokyo Gore Police."

Jason Adams said...

That's where I saw it as well! perhaps we were cringing right beside each other. ;-) I love the NYAFF, I go every year. Kick ass festival.

And ya know, I have started and stopped Ichi like a thousand times; I have never finished that damn movie! I have to force myself immediately, it's shameful.

Dr. Stan Glick said...

Yeah, you gotta get thru Ichi. I saw if at a Film Society of New York series of recent Japanese films a few years ago. When I reviewed it in Asian Cult Cinema magazine, I likened watching it to having a multi-staged rocket shoved up your butt. Just when the kick from one rocket begins to wane, another stage goes off! And Tokyo Gore Police is every bit as outrageous. I'll try to remember to email you, JA, when I know what screenings I'll be going to at the 2009 NYAFF. Would be nice to hook-up, even if just to say hello to one another.

J.D. said...

That FUCKING security guard.

*shudders*

Ross said...

I enjoyed Sarah Brightman plucking out her eyes in Repo, the Genetic Opera.

Anonymous said...

One moment that really got to me was Baghead at the window in The Strangers. That early in the film, I thought the build-up was surely a fakeout, but nope, he was right there and it was scary as fuck.

From The Orphanage, the first time we saw the masked kid, that whole scene in the hall. Creepy.

Hugh Man said...

I agree the orphanage was real good and scary. When did Ben Stiller get head in Tropic Thunder? Where was I?