Joe Dante Appreciation Thread

[Andre Dellamorte]

Originally Posted by johnnycinco

Dre, it was announced at the screening of Purple Rain. I'm honestly a little stunned that you weren't there. The show was packed an everyone was singing along...

It's hard to get me to a Saturday midnight movie, actually, because I find it hard to do that over dancing. True story.

[Tom Fuchs]

Originally Posted by johnnycinco

Those of you in Los Angeles should be made aware that the New Beverly is planning another festival of Joe Dante. And they will be screening his "Movie Orgy", several of his films along with select favorites.

I'm not missing it this time. If I can head to Austin for the Spaced marathon you'll be goddamned sure I'll be at the New Beverly for The Movie Orgy.

[johnnycinco]

August 5, 6
Joe Dante and Bruce Dern in person on Aug. 5!

The 'burbs (1989) 7:30 (brand new print!)
Smile (1975) 9:30

August 7th has no listing on the website. TBD?

august 8
Joe Dante in person!

The Movie Orgy (1968) 5:30 only

Followed by a midnight (separate) showing of the
25th Anniversary print of
Gremlins (1984) all seats $7

Even with The Movie Orgy having a massive run time, there is still room for another film before Gremlins. A surprise film? Or a dinner break for Mr. Dante?

august 9, 10
Joe Dante in person for evening shows on Aug. 9!

Matinee (1993) Sun: 3:40 & 7:30 (brand new print!); Mon: 7:30

Miracle Mile (1988) Sun: 5:40 & 9:30; Mon: 9:30

august 11, 12
Joe Dante in person Aug. 11!
Cold Turkey (1971) 7:30

The President's Analyst (1967) 9:30

august 13
Joe Dante will introduce the films!
The Last Valley (1970) 7:30
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1972) 10:00

[Ratty]

Movie Orgy inconveniently scheduled on my birthday. Might have to shuffle some stuff around for that.

Cold Turkey and The President's Analyst are both great. Definitely going that night.

[Andre Dellamorte]

MOVIE ORGY has a number of run times. They've talked about this being the six hour cut.

[johnnycinco]

According to those in the know, it is the six hour version. Also the Gremlins print isn't new, but it is new to us. It's Dante's original cut print. It has numerous changes from the release cut- even a different ending.

The films aren't locked for august 7th but the guest is. Should be a great night.

[Stormin]

I just hope they play the trailer for Star Crash again, that thing was a work of art. Dante is the man.

[Tom Fuchs]

I've got my days off work and I'm gonna fly down with the fiancee for the Movie Orgy. I can't miss it again.

[Ratty]

Originally Posted by johnnycinco

According to those in the know, it is the six hour version. Also the Gremlins print isn't new, but it is new to us. It's Dante's original cut print. It has numerous changes from the release cut- even a different ending.

Is this the version that shows what happens to Judge Reinhold's character?

[johnnycinco]

No idea. I only know it's from Dante's personal collection and that it last showed during the testing phase.

[Greg David]

I wish there was a version where Dante didn't listen to Spielberg, and went ahead with Gizmo turning into Stripe.

[johnnycinco]

So anyone in Los Angeles has no excuse not to go to Dante's Inferno Part Ii. The 'Burbs killed tonight. Joe and Bruce Dern were great fun and Smile was absolutely amazing. Add to the mix the new seats at the New Beverly and you have the makings of an epic week. At least now I know my back can survive being there for the six hour movie orgy and Gremlins back to back.

[Hammerhead]

I'm heading down tomorrow, should make it in time for Roger Corman.

[Andre Dellamorte]

Infernist? There's now 228 seats at the Bev, and this is free. I'd get there a little early.

[Andrew Woods]

Is Matinee not on DVD? I can't find it on netflix.

[EdHocken]

It's out of print. Andre told me the exact details as to why. It relates to the movie being one of the first dvds released. Real shame, because it's a very good movie.

Plus, I had no idea John Sayles is the guy next to Dick Miller.

[RathBandu]

"There's no first amendment to the ten commandments." Love Sayles in Matinee.

[EdHocken]

"Funny, we used to settle these things with violence."

And I loved how Goodman just breezly shows the "National Magazines". And Ted Knight is the General in Mant.

[Ratty]

Originally Posted by EdHocken

Plus, I had no idea John Sayles is the guy next to Dick Miller.

Fun fact: my mother is one of the extras behind those two in that scene.

[Hammerhead]

Originally Posted by EdHocken

Ted Knight is the General in Mant.

No, that's Dante regular (and Body Snatcher hater) Kevin McCarthy.

[Andre Dellamorte]

Joe said that the reason why the film isn't back in print is because Universal has zero interest in reissuing it. The film didn't do very well on release, and it's not got a huge cult following.

[Fat Elvis]

Originally Posted by Andre Dellamorte

Joe said that the reason why the film isn't back in print is because Universal has zero interest in reissuing it. The film didn't do very well on release, and it's not got a huge cult following.

That sucks.

MATINEE gets better for me everytime I see it. I would call it his best.

Dre: Did you ever get around to watching EXPLORERS? Curious how it would play to a Dante fan seeing it for the first time with adult eyes. (I would think the most divisive entry in his filmography)

[The Wine Drinking Critic]

Originally Posted by Fat Elvis

MATINEE gets better for me everytime I see it. I would call it his best.

Curious how (EXPLORERS) would play to a Dante fan seeing it for the first time with adult eyes.

That was me some months back. I thought it was good up until the aliens are television quoting children, and the director ran out of money to put more REALLY cool shit in like the spider robot. I like the ship floating in front of the drive-in ("That looks so fake" LOL)

I saw MATINEE in the theater as a kid and loved it, but I've never seen it since.

[Tom Logan]

My 10yr old brother stayed round mine this weekend and we watched The Explorers, it was the first time for him and he enjoyed it which was cool. I had a "bloody hell!" moment, watching it a few years back and seeing that James Cromwell played Phoenix's father.

The alien siblings can be annoying but the father is wonderfully done, love how his ear-arms swing all over the place when angry. That creature design would leave me in wonder when i was a kid, just like the giant (slight difference as that was bloody scary too) did in Time Bandits.

[Andre Dellamorte]

Still haven't seen Explorers, no. Will at some point.

[kingfan]

Matinee is a great great film that still holds up. I would love for it to be reissued.

[Hammerhead]

Explorers was my favorite Dante for many years, and there's still much I love about it-- it speaks directly to the grade-school movie geek I was and am. I had read the Cinefex article before I saw it, so I knew the aliens were coming. Watching it now, its inconsistencies and stop-gaps are more apparent, but like Hawke's character says, you can hardly see the strings.

Matinee just gets better and better with age. Not to mention more and more relevant.

[Andrew Woods]

I just saw THE 'BURBS for the first time and it kind of blew me away. I can't believe I've never seen it before.

[johnnycinco]

I really hope that Joe curates a festival every year at the New Bev. Smile was amazing and I am really glad to have seen the Last Valley on the big screen. Not only that, Mr Dante is an incredible guy to listen to talk about movies. I am seriously looking forward to the Hole.

[Straxboy - An Anthony Hickox Film]

I officially hate all you Angelinos. But we do get Landis introducing AWiL next week in London, so there's that.

I wonder if anyone will ask him what he thinks of the transformation scene in The Howling.

[Andre Dellamorte]

I got Landis introing AWIL at the Wright Stuff. SNAP.

[Carnotaur3]

Originally Posted by woodsy

I just saw THE 'BURBS for the first time and it kind of blew me away. I can't believe I've never seen it before.

Wow, man. Yeah, I love that fucking film.

"Dropped the god damn brownies!"

[Greg David]

I miss that Tom Hanks.

[Tom Logan]

You can buy Matinee on Region 2, I just ordered a brand new copy off Amazon for a couple of quid. Link.

I've never seen it.

[Andre Dellamorte]

Saw EXPLORERS. Solid. Great role for Dick Miller. Modest. Starts well, great first and second act, and then...

I will always remember, from Landis's intro of AWIL, when he talked about how he worked with both Ornella Muti and Jenny Agutter, then asked the audience which film he acted across her with. I screamed "DARKMAN" and Landis said "Oh, so we've got some nerds in the audience!" NEVER MORE PLEASED WITH SELF.

[Fat Elvis]

Yeah, that third act is kind of painful. Love the set up. Adorably dorky and funny River Phoenix also a plus.

AWIL with audience and Landis himself must have been cool.

[Hammerhead]

I like Explorers's "couch potato" aliens. It's a good joke that of all the possibilities in the universe they look exactly like 1950s sci-fi creatures, and Robert Picardo is fantastic.

Worth noting, though, that in the screenplay Wak and Neek were envisioned as truly alien and fearsome-looking, with fourteen legs apiece.

[Tom Logan]

I like the music on The Hole website, the basement reminds me of Wolfgang's workshop.

Check out the Jester's eyes.

[Fat Elvis]

I could have sworn Barry "F'n" Sobel was one of the aliens.

[Aranion]

I loved Matinee. The real pity is no one (save my ex-wife, and she doesn't count) gets the reference when I say "Magnified, or larger."

[Stormin]

Originally Posted by Andre Dellamorte

I will always remember, from Landis's intro of AWIL, when he talked about how he worked with both Ornella Muti and Jenny Agutter, then asked the audience which film he acted across her with. I screamed "DARKMAN" and Landis said "Oh, so we've got some nerds in the audience!" NEVER MORE PLEASED WITH SELF.

That night was legendary. Landis was holding court in that theater like Old King Cole, stretching a five-minute intro out into forty-five minutes or an hour. And I loved every minute of it.

[DARKMITE8]

Originally Posted by Tom Logan

I like the music on The Hole website, the basement reminds me of Wolfgang's workshop.

Check out the Jester's eyes.

Cool site. Can't wait for more of THE HOLE. Like a trailer...

[FilmNerdJamie]

Originally Posted by Andre Dellamorte

I will always remember, from Landis's intro of AWIL, when he talked about how he worked with both Ornella Muti and Jenny Agutter, then asked the audience which film he acted across her with. I screamed "DARKMAN" and Landis said "Oh, so we've got some nerds in the audience!" NEVER MORE PLEASED WITH SELF.

Didn't someone record that and put it online?

[johnnycinco]

GoT a chance to see The Hole at AFI Fest. Man, it's good to have new Joe Dante on the big screen. The 3-d is very well done but shockingly all over the film. Every instant has the 3-d in full force. Subversive Joe is still in full effect and the kids were all good in their roles. A PG horror that works for adults as well as kids. I hope it's marketed well when we get close to it's release.

[Hammerhead]

Can't wait to see The Hole. Dante and 3D were made for each other.

Oh. Belated reply to a post from July: Yes, the print of Gremlins that played the New Bev after the Movie Orgy had the bit with Reinhold in the vault. Very funny.

[JPL]

The final chapter of Splatter was released yesterday. Not Dante's finest moment behind the camera, but it works if you think of it as a lost episode of Tales from the Crypt that somebody finally got around to showing.

http://splatter.netflix.com/