The Halloween Blog Post

I love Halloween.  I love it because it's a time when everyone gets into the horror spirit, and it's not just me staying up late to watch scary movies.  It's a time for parties and dressing up and holiday-appropriate movie marathons.  It's like Christmas but without the forced cheer.

But what's the point of this horror blog blogging some special horror for Halloween? So many other wonderful bloggers have already beaten me to it.  I think instead I'll take the time to reflect on some of my preferred non-horror films.

Zombots! presents movies to help treat the Halloween hangover:

Airplane! and Airplane II: The Sequel

Two of my favourite comedies.  These films epitomize the lost art of literal, visual comedy.  In the first film, which is largely a parody of Zero Hour and Airport, Ted Striker has to overcome his fear and self-doubt to successfully land the plane he's on.  The second movie is pretty much a rehash of the first only this time it's a space shuttle flying to the moon.  The first film gave us "Don't call me Shirley" and the second has one of my favourite sight gags ever.

The Sting

Set in the 1930s, it's about a couple of grifters who undertake an elaborate con to relieve a banker of his overburden of wealth.  The film won seven Oscars, including Best Picture, and a DGA award for outstanding achievement in directing.  You know that thing people do, when they touch their nose to indicate they're down with the plan, it's from this movie.

Miss Congeniality

Sandra Bullock goes undercover as a contestant at the Miss United States Pagent when the FBI finds out that it's been targeted for terrorist attack.  The humour is sharp and intelligent, and the film doesn't pander to the audience (unlike the sequel). 

Sneakers

A heist movie with con elements.  Robert Redford (who also stars in The Sting) heads up a professional hacking company.  But when he's hired by the NSA to steal a newfangled enigma machine, he becomes entangled in a sinister techno-terrorist plot.  Highly underrated, Sneakers doesn't get nearly enough exposure as it should.

Empire Records

A slacker comedy/coming-of-age film about a day in the life of the kids who work at an independent record store.  And what a day it is!  Robberies, in-store signings, love, betrayal, fake funerals, and the expectation that the free-spirited employees will toe the line of the store's new corporate owners.  The film failed to perform at the box office and critics didn't like it, but it gained a cult following in the years after its release.

The Blues Brothers

Jake and Elwood reassemble their band in order to raise money to pay off a tax debt.  A quasi musical with performances and a dance number, the soundtrack features some excellent tunes.  Perhaps best known for its music, the film is a fantastic showcase of vehicular mayhem.