Q&A with Chris Holland re: last night's Star Trek event

Q. So, you're a nerd. A geek, even. You love all that Star Trek crap.

A. Yes.

Q. And you live in Austin, TX?

A. Yes.

Q. But -- even though you pre-purchased a Fantastic Fest badge just so you could attend these sorts of things -- you didn't go to last night's screening of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan?

A. No.

Q. The one that turned out to be the sneak World Premiere of the new Star Trek film, which looks massively awesome and may well reboot the franchise for a new generation of fans?

A. Yes.

Q. And I understand Leonard "Spock" Nimoy was there in person to deliver the print of the new film?

A. Yes.

Q. So hundreds of your fellow geeks got to watch a crazy great new movie while you stayed home to watch TV with your wife?

A. Yes.

Q. Dude. You're getting old.

A. That's not a question, but . . . Yes.

Showing of The Wizard at Alamo Drafthouse Ritz

super mario brothers and their princess
Originally uploaded by sarah pants

And this, ladies and gentlemen, is but one of the reasons that the Alamo Drafthouse kicks ass. A showing of "The Wizard" with cast and crew present. Staff members in costume. And the presentation of a golden Nintendo Power Glove to the lucky crew. If only I'd been there!

Weird Wednesday: Carnival Magic

So last night I went to the first-ever Weird Wednesday at the new Alamo Drafthouse Ritz location because I figured that if ever they were going to show a special, special movie designed for maximum audience pain, this would be the time. I wasn't wrong.

Carnival Magic is an über-rare kids movie directed by Al Adamson. Yes, that Al Adamson: the man who brought us such fine films as Dracula vs. Frankenstein, Black Samurai, and Blazing Stewardesses.

If you're thinking to yourself "this is not a man who should be directing anything for kids," you win a gold star. It was disturbing. It was horrifying. It was very, very wrong.

But most of all, it was fascinating.

I know I just went on sabbatical from the site and all, but this movie makes me want to write a review.

Many thanks to Lars and Zack for the damaging, damaging memories.