Some days I know exactly how this guy feels…

There is a real art when it comes to making film trailers. I can’t say much about Where the Wild Things Are as a film, but the trailer is one of the best I’ve ever seen. One can only hope that the movie is just as good or better when it comes out in about two weeks. I’ve been really excited for this one for a while now, but then again, who hasnt been?

What’s cool? I guess the answer to that question depends on who is answering it. I think confidence breeds “coolness”.

A friend of mine recently showed me an interesting picture blog called the impossible cool. The blog features images of people being…well, you guessed it…COOL! Something more than simply cool, I think the pictures are interesting or “cool” because we know who the people are. These people are hardworking artists, politicians, musicians or actors caught in these candid moments and to see them this way is interesting.

Check it out if you want, here’s some of my favorites.

Godard

Cash

Strummer

Karina

Kubrick

…probably one of the coolest dudes in Cinema, Mastroianni.

I think a person€™s favorite films really tell you something about them. I€™ve always loved films since I was a child. It was the first type of art I really loved. Going to the video store to rent a movie was a fantasy realized every Saturday morning thanks to my mom. I would spend an hour searching the video store for a movie to rent, the video store clerks would greet the ten year old version of me (maybe I was even younger, my mom would know). I would have nightmares about being in a video store with a pile of films and not knowing which one to get. This was my nightmare. If they bottled the scent of a video store filled with old VHS tapes I€™d probably buy it.

It€™s safe to say that Only Ones has to be inspired from film because I am. You will see film references in this brand, there€™s an obvious film reference in a tee featured in our next collection out soon. I figured since film is a big part of this brand in many ways I should highlight the films that have inspired me, maybe spread the love, maybe you€™ll learn about a film here that you never saw and will want to. Maybe.

Seven Samurai is one these films that I love. At just about three and a half hours long, the film is pretty lengthy. While it is grand in its storytelling it never loses the heart and personal character development that makes it great. I just watched this film with a good friend of mine and it€™s still new and fresh to me. It never drags and with a running time of three and a half hours that€™s impressive.

Seven Samurai is the story of, you guessed it, seven samurai who decide to protect a peasant farmer village from looming bandits. They take on this task for nothing else but to be fed rice, which they end up sharing with some of the town€™s people. There are so many moments in this film of pure kindness and humanity.

Akira Kurosawa made an amazing warm heartfelt film here. Everything in this film is understood and laid out on the table. We learn the story of so many of the characters and it makes their interactions interesting. The actors are really great too and the film features one of my all time favorites, Toshiro Mifune. I think some might say he overacts in this film but for a film as animated as this it fits in a superb way. I think in some ways one could argue that this film is about his character. What€™s great about Mifune is you can see him in this film and then in another Kurosawa film and he can play a character the exact opposite.

As I just said this film is very animated, the story telling almost reminds me of Disney in a way. It€™s a clean film with morals and a positive message about unity despite class. The storytelling also reminds me of Star Wars as well, this is no surprise, George Lucas has cited Kurosawa as a major influence on him. Kurosawa€™s The Hidden Fortress is identical in many ways to Star Wars: A New Hope.

Some films are good and then some films feel like every single thing went perfectly right, the stars aligned, and a camera was there to capture it all. Seven Samurai is on the top of most €œbest films ever€ lists and rightfully so. It really is one of those great films that will be remembered forever and is so worth watching for so many reasons.

It pains me that we spend so much time and money watching movies that were made simply to make money. I have nothing against those films that are merely explosions and tits but there is a sea of films out there that are so rewarding and fulfilling. If you€™re bored one day, rent seven samurai, turn the lights off, forget everything, and enjoy one of the best works of cinema ever created.

More often than not these computer animated movies are actually really good. I’m honestly surprised at how some of these movies look. Some are just ok but then some are stunning. I’d put Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs in the later category. I know, it sounds wierd to praise Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, just typing that seems weird. I guess I’m supposed to write about the typical good movies or something? Nah, son.

I think these computer animated movies work on so many levels. Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs is a visual feast (in more ways than one), it has really clever funny jokes, and a simple, yet really good, story. I found myself really amazed at how good the film looked. I also saw it in 3d so i guess that just makes it better too.

Anyway, if your’e in the mood for a great looking animated movie with a great sense of humor, check this one out. Or you can watch 9 but I don’t see anything great there. Tim Burton, suck it…until Alice in Wonderland comes out.