TomFOGARTY - Blog

25 October, 2011

Big Trouble in Little China

Filed under: Cinema, Film — Tags: Big Trouble in Little China, prince charles cinema — spiderwebdesign @ 17:40

Went to see my all-time favourite film at the cinema last night, Big Trouble in Little China. It’s a film that never fails to cheer me up and offers 90 minutes of pure escapism and fun.

I saw it at The Prince Charles Cinema (just off Leicester Square), which isn’t as regal as it sounds, but it is the best cinema in London in my opinion. I’m actually a lifetime member there.

I was pretty excited about seeing it on the big screen and I loved every minute of it – but the only drawback to being a massive geek like me, is the people you have to sit next to at these events. I’ve sat next to more than my fair share of overweight, beardy, ponytailed types in my time. As long as they don’t smell and they don’t try to talk to talk to me, I don’t mind too much. That would be a step too far.

I’ve seen many of my favourite films at the cinema now, including:

Withnail & I, An American Werewolf in London, Blue Velvet, Jaws, Lost Highway, Monty Python’s Life of Brian, Evil Dead, Clockwork Orange, Robocop, Night of The Living Dead, Halloween, 2001: Space Odyssey, The Shining, Terminator, Dressed to Kill, Erasorhead, Monty Python & The Holy Grail, Tron…

I could go on but that’s a long enough list for one day.

I’ve never seen Crocodile Dundee though.

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6 April, 2011

Nicolas Roeg

Filed under: Cinema, Film — Tags: Bad Timing, Castaway, Don't Look Now, Jenny Agutter, Nicolas Roeg, Performance, The Man Who Fell to Earth, Walkabout — spiderwebdesign @ 23:21

The week before last was a strange week. I ended up blowing the last of my salary seeing Nicolas Roes films at the BFI/NFT. This was part of the reason I have to spend the past week eating liver on toast (cheap meal). Still, had to be done though, eh?

Nicolas Roeg made difficult “arty” films that explored themes such as obsession, and the dark side of human nature. They also feature a lot of nudity, so obviously I’m a big fan.

His most famous film is Don’t Look Now, starring Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie. This was to be the last film screened in the season, but I couldn’t attend as I had a nasty cold on the actual day. I was also meant to be a going to a mate’s birthday party afterwards so it was a double-annoyance that I was ill.

The films I did manage to see were: Performance, Walkabout, The Man Who Fell to Earth, Castaway and Bad Timing.

Performance in a London gangster film with art-house pretensions. It stars Mick Jagger and it’s alright.

Walkabout is my favourite of his films – it features lots of nakedness from a very young and lovely Jenny Agutter. Phwoar. The book that it is adapted from is well worth a read too.

The Man Who Fell to Earth has David Bowie playing an alien – and to be honest – it’s a bit long-winded and boring. It is interesting to note, however, that David Bowie has bright orange nipples. I don’t think this is any kind of makeup special effects malarkey – his nipples really are that colour. Imagine what his balls looks like.

Castaway features Oliver Reed and lots of Amanda Donohoe’s bare flesh on a tropical island. Nice.

Bad Timing is also great – it features a scene where Art Garfunkle rapes an overdosed woman. The fact that it’s called Bad Timing makes this scene seem all the more funny/warped.

The thing that disturbs me most about Nicolas Roeg’s films is his tendency to feature woman with hairy armpits. I’m not even exaggerating here – he does it in every film. It alarms me. I went out with a girl once who decided she was going to let her armpit hair grow, and this may sound a bit extreme, but after she announced this – I started to hate her a little bit. We didn’t last long.

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18 March, 2011

Remakes Suck?

Filed under: Cinema, Film — Tags: an american werewolf in london, prequels, remakes, sequels — spiderwebdesign @ 00:05

I’ve been posting a lot of sad blogs lately – but I don’t want people to worry. Everything I say should be taken with a pinch of salt. That doesn’t mean that I’m making these stories up – but just that I like to make a joke about almost everything. And by posting these stories – I instantly feel better – by the mere fact that I’ve shared them on here.

Recently I’ve been chatting to someone on twitter – @nemone7 – and whenever I post a sad blog, they tweet something positive to me afterwards – and I really do appreciate that.

Yesterday we were talking (via twitter) about remakes, sequels and prequels to popular films (spurred by Bladerunner), Nemone7 was against them – and I used to feel exactly the same way.

This was until a couple of years ago when I went to see An American Werewolf in London at Midnight Movies at The Curzon Soho. This is probably my all-time favourite film (along with Big Trouble in Little China and Withnail & I). It was a midnight screening, and there was a fancy dress disco beforehand – with Joana And The Wolf playing in the bar. Before the film was screened John Landis was interviewed by Kim Newman, and Jenny Agutter was in the audience. Basically, I was in fanboy heaven.

John Landis was likeable, witty and charming – then right at the end of the interview, he announced brazenly “I just sold the rights of An American Werewolf to be remade…” A silence fell across the room; the audience were not happy, including me. I felt betrayed.

But then he said this, which is lucid and logical, and very hard to disagree with – so I forgave him:

“One of two things will happen: either the remake will be really good – in which case what are you worried about? Or the film will be really bad – but that won’t detract from your love of the original; you will probably even love it more. Either way, it will probably make a new generation of fans check out the original film. And with the money I can make a new film of my own…”

So now I don’t begrudge any remakes, sequels, prequels et al.

And thinking about it, lots of classic films are remakes – John Carpenter’s The Thing, Brian DePalma’s Scarface. And look how many times Dracula has been reinterpreted…

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27 February, 2011

Zombies!

Filed under: Announcements, Cinema, Film, Funny Stories, Random, Tattoos — Tags: Ad Lane, Dawn of The Dead, Evil Dead, Invasion of The Not Quite Dead, Resident Evil, Zombie Tattoo, Zombies, Zombies Ate My Neighbors — spiderwebdesign @ 20:48

Maybe the most ludicrous opening line to a blog post ever, but I love zombies!

I’m not sure if there’s any psychological reason for this… Perhaps it’s because I feel like an outsider. Possibly it’s because I think the world is full of idiots, who I’d like to shoot. Probably it’s just because I like watching films where tons of giblets/gizzards/guts are pulled out of people’s stomachs.

And what’s wrong with that?

I’ve been hooked on zombie films since I first saw Evil Dead when I was about 12. Since then I’ve seen them all – the good ones, the bad ones and the very very ugly ones.

When I was a teenager I was hooked on a Super Nintendo game called Zombies Ate My Neighbors (US title). Although I’m not really a gamer today, I still play it sometimes on my laptop using an emulator. I’ve got a mate who plays Resident Evil on his Xbox and he says he can sit and play the whole thing through in 12 hours straight (without any toilet breaks or anything!). I’d like to join him for a session sometime, but the thought of us sitting there in our Y-fronts for 12 hours is a more scary image than any scene from a zombie flick.

A couple of years ago The Curzon Cinema, Soho, showed an all-nighter zombie marathon – Night of The Living Dead, Dawn of The Dead and Day of The Dead. I was very excited. My then-girlfriend wanted to come too, although I knew she wouldn’t like it. When the night came she was ill, but still insisted on coming (despite my protests). After the first film she insisted that I take her home. I did so, but I never forgave her. Harsh? I think not; just firm. Firm, but fair.

Tonight I donated some money to Ad Lane’s “Indywood” project - Invasion of The Not Quite Dead. I’m a big fan of non-studio films (that’s how I became a massive Troma fan in my teens), and I’m really keen to contribute to Ad’s film (even if only in a tiny way). By contributing I get to be a zombie extra in the film which I’m really excited about! I actually think I’d make an interesting-looking zombie; wiry frame, heavily-tattooed and with a massive moustache. Not as good as the Hari Krishna zombie from Dawn of the Dead though.

Anyway, check out Ad Lane’s website, it’s a really cool project:

http://www.indywood.co.uk/

Truth be told, I like anything that’s a bit squishy or icky, whether it be zombies, Troma films, Garbage Pail Kid stickers or… snails!

Today I’ve booked to get a zombie tattoo in the next couple of weeks. I’ll post pictures (of course!) when it’s done.

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6 February, 2011

Tattoo Influences

Filed under: Cinema, Film, Music, Photos, Tattoos — Tags: American History X, Cape Fear, Dave Navarro, Evan Seinfeld, Made in Britain, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Romper Stomper, Steve-O, Tattoo influences, Tattoos, Tupac — spiderwebdesign @ 14:20

Here a some pictures sourced from the internet of my early tattoo influences (from films and music etc.).

The Red Hot Chili Peppers

Robert De Niro in Cape Fear

Evan Seifeld (Former singer with BioHazard, star of Oz, and now a pornstar!)

Steve-O, star of Jackass

Tupac Shakur, dead rapper

Charles Manson, killer

Tim Roth, Made in Britain

Dave Navarro, guitarist

Russell Crowe, Romper Stomper

Edward Norton, American History X

Travis Barker, drummer

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2 January, 2011

4 December, 2010

ART!

Filed under: Announcements, Art, Books, Cinema, Film, Music, Random — Tags: Art, directing, film making, life drawing, sculpture — spiderwebdesign @ 21:57

“My art keeps me sane”. This is my favourite line from David Cronenberg’s film, Scanners.

I’m something of a renaissance man myself, what with my web design, blogging, and home tattooing. Actually this is a lie; I’m a total philistine - but I do like the idea of being an aesthete individual. When I was a teenager I was very “arty”, but I became a cynic in my early twenties and gave up my doodling.

Before that though, I did an Art A ‘level – I enjoyed going to life drawing classes (and not just for the female nudity on display!). And I also used to make stuff out of clay. Once I made an ashtray of a gargoyle, holding open it’s enlarged vagina. I gave it to my mother as a gift. She still has it to this day (even though she’s never actually smoked in her life).

Then at university I had aspirations to be an author. The only trouble is, writing a book takes true skill and dedication (neither of which I have). I still would like to write an non-fiction book about the Bedlam mental hospital one day – I’m sure that’ll be a bestseller.

Then on to film directing. I made this video while I was at university (the second time round), but I didn’t get a good mark for it:

The only thing I’ve never really tried is making music. I did buy a guitar once, but I couldn’t tune the bloody thing so I ended up selling it at a car boot sale.

Recently though I’ve had a bit of a re-think. I’d like to be creative again – but as a hobby – and just for the fun of it…

I might take up knitting and make some really funky jumpers or something…

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1 December, 2010

Jackass 3D

Filed under: Cinema, Film — Tags: Film Review, Jackass 3D — spiderwebdesign @ 21:44

Went to see Jackass 3D a couple of weeks ago. I used to be a huge fan of Jackass years ago – can’t believe it’s nearly 10 years since the first film came out. I think it might have inspired my love of stupid tattoos.

Anyway, they’ve all got fat and old since then. Most of them are married, and some of them are reformed alcoholics too. I went to see the film out of a sense of duty, but I didn’t have high hopes that it would be any good.

I sat in cinema (on my own) feeling like the king of the geeks – with my 3D glasses over my proper glasses. Although the stunts are a lot tamer in this sequel, I have to admit I did end up enjoying it. By the end of the film, I could help laughing as people had footballs kicked in their faces etc.

So, not the best in the series – but definitely worth checking out!

Here’s the trailer (although the trailer DOES look shit):

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23 November, 2010

John Landis Double Bill

Filed under: Cinema, Film, Funny Stories, London Life — Tags: an american werewolf in london, Animal House, double bills, Jenny Agutter, John Landis, prince charles cinema — spiderwebdesign @ 21:39

Went to see this last night at The Prince Charles Cinema. This is my favourite cinema, and I’ve mentioned in an early post just how good their double bills are..

The 2 films were Animal House and An American Werewolf in London. Animal House is a zany college comedy starring John Belushi, and is highly recommended. And An American Werewolf in London is simply the best film ever made (although I also tend to say this about Withnail & I, Big Trouble in Little China and The Supergrass).

I first saw it when I was about 10, and I just knew from the title that it was going to be good. Same with Texas Chainsaw Massacre and A Clockwork Orange.

There are lots of London locations in the film – Hampstead Heath, Piccadilly Circus, Tottenham Court Road tube station – and you even get to see my old office in the background at Trafalgar Square.

It has a brilliant soundtrack (as do all John Landis films) – and I’ve mentioned the importance of this film’s soundtrack to me already in this blog post.

It’s also full of great English characters actors, and there are loads of faces to spot – Brian Glover, Rik Mayall and Frank Oz (the voice of Kermit from The Muppets). It also stars the lovely Jenny Agutter – I won’t do the old Railway Children gag – but needless to say, she does get her knickers off here too. In fact, my favourite moment of the evening was during the sex scene in the film; an old man in the audience decided that that was the best time to go and get refreshments. He walked in front of the screen, veryVERY slowly. He was also wearing a bobble hat, which was captured in silhouette across Jenny Agutter’s orgasmic face as she was receiving oral sex from David Naughton.

Anyway, the double bills are usually on downstairs – but this time it was on in the far more salubrious “upstairs screen”. Much fancy lighting and Tom Waits singing “What’s he building in there?”. Cool.

Interestingly for a werewolf film, there were lots of hairy people in the audience. And me.

Then on the way home I realised it was also a full moon. Bonus!

Follow Prince Charles Cinema on twitter and see what’s on at their website:

@ThePCCLondon

www.princecharlescinema.com

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22 November, 2010

New Rotating Flash Galleries on Site

Filed under: Announcements, Art, Cinema, Film, Web Design, Web Development — Tags: an american werewolf in london, blog, prince charles cinema, Rotating Flash Gallery, Site updates, Web Design, Web Development — spiderwebdesign @ 15:50

I’ve got quite a few blog-worthy things to post about in the next few days; been to a couple of art exhibitions (Paul Gauguin & Russian Criminal Tattoo Exhibit), cinema etc. And tonight I’m going to see a John Landis double-bill at The Prince Charles Cinema (An American Werewolf in London & Animal House).

In the meantime here are some recent website improvements:

Each section now has a rotating flash gallery (all except resumé section). I’ll be updating the actual pictures later this week, but at least it’s working for now!

In the blog section – I’ve added a list of recent posts, and also a list of popular posts (although for some reason they seem to point to the old external version of the blog…). All to be fixed soon… honest!

Thanks for reading :)

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