What We Do is Secret (Film Festival part 1)

This film is a biopic about the lead singer of the original punk band "The Germs". His name is Darby Crash and he is a rebellious, hard drug using, lyric writing madman. The story goes on showing what Mr. Crash's life was like from the time he started the band until the night he committed suicide.

The story mixes a sort of documentary feel along with great concert scenes and witty dialog. This was the first movie I saw at the festival and it was quite entertaining although a little dark for my taste.

The audience got a chance to talk to the director and star of the film after the screening. The director said they had gotten this movie a distributor and it is heading for the mainstream theaters soon. Shane West talked to the audience about how he prepared for his role as Darby Crash and seemed like a pretty down to earth guy when I spoke with him.

In order to really enjoy this film, however, you should probably be interested in The Germs in the first place, otherwise you might be kinda annoyed with the music they play..but definitely well acted and well put together.

Remarkable Power! (Film Festival part 2)

This movie attracted me because of 2 people. Tom Arnold and Kevin Nealon. In case you dont recognize the names, Tom Arnold plays along side the Governater in True Lies and Kevin Nealon is known for his most famous scene as the guy in Happy Gilmore who says "harness the good energy, block out the bad, its a carousel, it goes up and down, and around".

The story is an intricate story of eclectic characters who all find themselves in a different predicament, but the solution to their predicament lies in the story of one of the other 5 or 6 main characters. The problems all stem from the late night infomercial self help tape series "Remarkable Power".

This movie is at some points laugh out loud funny and other points, so clever you have no idea how anyone could come up with an idea that zany.

I gave this movie a 5 out of 5 on the audience choice award, and I really do hope it wins...

Forbidden Kingdom (Film Festival part 3)

I feel like I have seen this movie before, it was called Lord of the Rings. This martial arts version of a classic story involves a boy who is the "one the prophecy foretold of" who is called to return a magical golden rod to its rightful owner. The movie encompasses the trials and training the boy must go through to get the rod back to "the Monkey King".

Now, if your still reading, you will be pleased to know that this movie is actually very well done and quite entertaining. The same cinematography from Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon was on board and boy did it ever look like it. Amazingly beautiful fighting scenes that go on for extended periods of time all cleverly crafted with Jet Li and Jackie Chan working along side each other.

This movie was a night time even at the Phoenix Film Festival and sold out incredibly fast. Definitely worth a watch if you like fighting and adventure.