Recommended Movies

movies:

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind : This is probably my favorite all time movie. You've had to have gone through a certain amount in your life to fully appreciate the beauty of this movie and if it speaks to you, then I think you will agree, this is pure genius. The point is so subtle but makes so much emotional sense, it's sad yet hopeful. I can't say enough about this movie.

Blade Runner : One of my favorite all time movies. It still holds up after all these years. I love the hardboiled cop angle in a sci-fi genre. Full of characterization, mood, and style. I'm just glad they finally came out with a copy containing the theatrical version as well.(

Pan's Labyrinth : A beautiful, dark fairy tale set in a bleak and brutal time. The harshness of it's "reality" contrasted by the complete innocence of it's main character, really makes this a compelling and tragic story. My favorite movie of 2006.

Fight Club : Alright you already have this but i got to put it in anyway. Fincher is the man! I've liked practically all of his movies; even The Game and Alien 3 (which is actually a favorite of mine except for the set up, but he have control of that :p) In a year where a lot of my favorite directors put out crap, this movie was a much needed shot for me. I was blown away! Even though the twist was not a new one, he had me so enthralled that I didn't even see it coming. That's directing! My favorite movie of 1999.

The X-Files Series : Even though this series has dragged for the last few seasons, it is still one of the best and intelligently shot shows ever, in my opinion. This show has a heavy influenece on me and how I try to stage things.

Jerry Maguire : A very positive, sentimental, romantic comedy about struggle, conviction and how work can consume you :) The movie reminds me about balance in life, goals, integrity,....... a lot of things that I think people/I go through. This movie inspires me every time I see it. I love Cameron Crowe!

Chasing Amy : My favorite Kevin Smith movie. First off it's about comicbook artists ^^ but actually has more to do with relationships and questions conventional thoughts and definaitions. But I think the most insightful things he presses are acceptance of self and the mistakes you have made in the past and growing with them. A very thought provoking, romantic, tragic, and comical movie all in one.

Groundhog Day : Disguised as a comedy, this film has deep and spiritual meaning within it. As if he has to relive his life until he get it right. Subtly done and hilarious to boot. This is one of those movies I need to watch at least once a year.

Superman - The Movie : Still my favorite superhero movie thus far. Even though the special FX arent as cool as Spiderman, I think the story progresses at a great pace, never loses you (okay maybe when Lois is "saying" that song while they were flying) and the feel is perfect (okay the fashion in Metropolis is dated but c'mon. it was made in 1978!). Great characterisation and very efficient storytelling and pacing. Christopher Reeves defined the character!

Seven Samurai : Akira Kurosawa's best known and arguably best film. This movie is an awesome piece of film making! Great movies withstand the test of time and this movie is still amazes me to this day! The first DVD I ever bought.

Chushingura : The story of the 47 ronin. The film started very slow but once it got going, I was mesmerized. An amazing story of honor and sacrifice. One of my favorite Japanese samurai movies.

The Killer : My favorite John Woo movie to date. I really love the way the movie is shot and the way the story visually is told. A lot of the themes in this movie really do it for me :) A bit over dramatic, but overall I dig it!.

Hero : Visually stunning and poetic in this tale's definition of the word "hero". loosely Rashomonesque in it's journey to the unraveling of the truth. Zhang Yimou wove a beautiful action epic.

Iron Monkey : Yuen Woo Ping who normally is know for his fight coreography, directed one of my favorite and best hong kong produced, kung fu flicks ever! Lots of amazing, impossible wire work and a solid, straight forward story. The original is great but I think Quentin Tarantino's edit on the American release makes the movie even more concise and the story clearer. I love this movie!

animation:

The Incredibles (Two-Disc Collector's Edition) : from Brad Bird and the awesome people at Pixar! Such a great family superhero movie entertaining for kids and adults as well. Truely amazing cg animation, great story stucture, and characterization.

The Iron Giant : Another Brad Bird movie! The best most underpublicized animtion movie you'll ever see (well next to the Disney releases of the Miyazaki flicks). Really great nostalgic film of a young boy during wartime propaganda America. A great animated boys adventure film. Oh yeah and there's a big robot too.

Princess Mononoke : One of my favorite Miyazaki films thus far. A mythological epic set in old Japan with heavy themes about man, nature, and modernization. I absolutely loved this movie! The best part about the dvd is that Disney actually released it with the original japanese voices as well! Ok that's not the best part ^^

Samurai X: Trust | Betrayal : The Rurouni Kenshin OAV series. Another one of my favorites and probably the most tragic and touching animes I've seem. Set in feudal Japan and a classic samurai love story. May seem a little sappy to some but this anime does it for me on a lot of levels; lot of symbolism and metaphors which I am a sucker for. Not a ton of action but very violent.

Ninja Scroll : Still the best ninja action anime in my opinion. Nice simple pretty typical story but the animation and action are things of beauty. Cool characters, awesome villans, over the top action, what else would you ask for!

animation i worked on:

Hulk Vs. : This Dtv Dvd is made up of two stories. Frank Paur produced the project and directed the Hulk vs. Wolverine half while I directed the Hulk vs. Thor half. I was attracted Marvel because they wanted to target a more mature audience. It was liberating to be able to tell a dramatic tale and not have to worry too much about Broadcast Standards and Practices for television. I really hope more projects that try and push the envelope come out and are successful so animation can have a chance to evolve past being percieved as "strictly for young kids".

Doctor Strange: The Sorcerer Supreme : Storyboard artist

Superman: Doomsday : Storyboard artist

The Batman - The Complete First Season (DC Comics Kids Collection) : Director of four episodes. "Traction", "The Cat and the Bat", "The Big Dummy", and "The Rubber Face of Comedy".
The Batman - The Complete Second Season (DC Comics Kids Collection) : Director of four episodes. "Riddled", "Fire & Ice", "Pets", and "Grundy's Night".

Teen Titans - The Complete First Season (DC Comics Kids Collection) : Storyboard artist on two episodes. "Sisters" and "Deep Six".
Teen Titans - The Complete Second Season (DC Comics Kids Collection) : Storyboard artist on four episodes. "How Long Is Forever?", "Only Human", "Titan Rising", and "Fractured".

Roughnecks: The Starship Troopers Chronicles - The Pluto Campaign : I directed the last 2 episodes on this DVD. Personally I feel this show had some of the best cgi done for an animated TV series for it's time. Not perfect by any means but a pretty amazing feat, considering the time and budget allowed in producing the show. The series is basically a sci-fi drama which follows a young sqaud continuously through 40 episodes. Each disk contans 5 episodes.

Roughnecks: The Starship Troopers Chronicles - The Hydora Campaign : I directed the last episode on this DVD. This disk and the ones that follow contain commentary from the directors, designers, animators, and various other people involved in the making of the series. This was my first time behind the glass with a microphone and I sound like a total idiot so apologize to you beforehand....

Roughnecks: The Starship Troopers Chronicles - The Homefront Campaign : I directed the fourth episode on this DVD. My commentary track for the episode I worked on was a little better on this disk. This is the last DVD of the series and a bit anticlimactic because, due to budgetary reasons, Sony wasn't able to produce the last 3 episodes which was basically the ending of the series.

more to come! if you have any recommendations on books, movies, or whatever, feel free to sign the guestbook and leave me a note! i'm always up for expanding my ever increasing book and dvd collection!

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