In which a good thing comes to an end. Sort of.

It's been five years to the day since I moved from St. Petersburg, Florida to Austin, Texas. In that time I started a family, changed careers, wrote a book, and (to my enduring delight) traveled the continent to attend a wide range of film festivals. In the last half-decade I discovered many new favorite films and had the pleasure of meeting some of their creators.

What I failed, to do, however, was to write about those movies. 2005, though we didn't realize it at the time, was the year that Scott and I began our slow crawl into retirement at Stomp Tokyo. As of today I'm acknowledging that retirement. We only managed to write one new review in 2009 (Sting of Death, for a B-Masters roundtable), so it seems silly to think of the site as merely "on hiatus" any longer. With the glut of movie review sites out there, it feels even more foolish to try and prod this one back to life when our hearts just aren't in it.

This is not the end. The site will continue to see updates, including the reposting of old reviews into our new format. Dr. Freex still posts new reviews to Attack of the 50 Foot DVD and Scott is in the middle of another "season" of his "100 Days, 100 Movies" series. Various arms of the Stomp Tokyo octopus twitch even now. For my part, I will make an effort here on Blue Glow to highlight new discoveries as I see them. You can always find me at Film Festival Secrets if that interests you, or you can just keep up with me on Twitter.

And then there's that half-finished book on giant monster movies. Who knows what the next five years will bring?

Stomp Tokyo reviews temporarily offline

The "new" WordPress archive of Stomp Tokyo reviews is temporarily down while we fix the latest invasion by a WordPress worm that's going around. In the meantime you can always read the reviews in their old HTML format. I'm glad we never took those offline!

We should have the WP install back up and running this week.

Stomp Tokyo Podcast #58

Episode 58 The Dark Knight is still a topic of conversation, Best Buy scores exclusive releases of vintage b-movies on DVD, and we check out the Fantastic Fest lineup so far.

Listen to episode 58 of Stomp Tokyo: The Cult Movies Podcast now.

Stomp Tokyo: The Cult Movies Podcast episode 52

...aaaaaand we're back.

This episode: Iron Man, cool docs from the last year or so, and speculation about upcoming flicks. Nothing earthshaking, but at least the damn Blu-Ray/HD-DVD conversation can be laid to rest.

Listen to episode 52 of Stomp Tokyo: The Cult Movies Podcast now.

Cult Movies Podcast Episode 51

"All The Glamour Hollywoood Can Muster." In this episode we talk about the Oscars, why we hate the Razzies, some summer movies, and the death of HD-DVD.

100 days, 100 movies and Film Festival Secrets.

As you probably know, Stomp Tokyo is currently in hibernation while Scott and I recharge our mental batteries. Back in November we decided it was time to formally acknowledge the fact that we were on a break from the b-movie biz and pursue the other projects on our plates.

Scott has reverted to type and is passing the time on his blog with a concept that is, admittedly, 100% Awesome: 100 days, 100 movies. In his own words:

My plan is to watch a movie a day for at least the next 100 days, and write something, however brief, on each one of them. Movie will mostly be on DVD, though I imagine I’ll get out to theater every now and again. There will also be a few digital download movies in there too.

For my part, I'm doing a bunch of writing on the small corner of the film world that has become my professional life: film festivals. After talking with hundreds of festival directors and staffers, I realized that every day they receive a deluge of questions from filmmakers -- the same questions, over and over again. And so I started the Film Festival Secrets blog with an eye towards answering those questions, eventually in the form of a book.

So now you're caught up on what we're up to at the moment. Look out, world -- it's gettin' crazy up in here.

Podcast Catch-up - new episodes

The last time I posted here about a new episode of Stomp Tokyo - the Cult Movies Podcast, it was November. If you don't subscribe to the podcast with an RSS reader you could be forgiven for thinking that Scott and I hadn't recorded anything since then. But how wrong you'd be! Here's a recap of the episodes since then:

Stomp Tokyo Podcast #47 - In another catch-up episode, we talk about HD DVD and new theater experiences, as well as No Country for Old Men and Cat O'Nine Tails.

Stomp Tokyo Podcast #48 - In this episode we discuss the WGA strike, HD-DVD, and Rambo. Featuring special guest and occasional Peter Cushing impersonator Freeman Williams.

Stomp Tokyo Podcast #49 - Subjects this time include Cloverfield, Slamdance, and B-Fest.

Stomp Tokyo Podcast #50 - We Always Shoot With a Steady Cam. Subjects include documentaries, Cloverfield, and In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale.

And there's another episode on the way, we're just editing it together. Enjoy!

The B-Masters Cabal Roundtable #25: The Ottoman Empire Strikes Back

The B-Masters are back with another roundtable, this time centered around Turkish ripoff cinema. I've long been in love with any movie prefaced by the words "The Turkish," so I'm sorry I missed participation in this particular roundtable.

Fortunately Scott was there to pick up the slack, even during Stomp Tokyo's sabbatical. His review of Badi (the Turkish version of E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial) stands proud (?) with the other reviews from the industrious members of the B-Masters Cabal -- watching crap so you don't have to.

Read The B-Masters Cabal » 25: The Ottoman Empire Strikes Back.

B-Fest 2008 Schedule Revealed

Does it hurt that I can't go to B-Fest this year?

Yes. Yes it does.

Stomp Tokyo - Cult Movies Podcast #47

In another catch-up episode, we talk about HD DVD and new theater experiences, as well as "No Country for Old Men" and "Cat O'Nine Tails."

Listen to episode #47 here (no iPod required).

New Stomp Tokyo review: The Zombie Diaries (2006)

Remember all that talk about a sabbatical? Well, it's still on. I just felt that I couldn't let our commitment to the latest B-Masters Cabal roundtable (Month of the Living Dead-Palooza) go entirely, so there's a new review of The Zombie Diaries now available at Stomp Tokyo for your enjoyment. There might be one more soon if I can muster the strength to put together some thoughts about Carnival Magic.

Stomp Tokyo - The Cult Movies Podcast #46

In Episode 46 of the Stomp Tokyo Podcast, we talk about the recent burst of vampires in pop culture, Elmo on the iPhone, and Matango - Attack of the Mushroom People. Plus lots of other stuff.

Listen now, no iPod required.

Stomp Tokyo goes to 11

Each year about this time I write a self-congratulatory little essay about the achievements of the past year at Stomp Tokyo. This year is no different in that respect, except for the sad fact that Stomp Tokyo didn't accomplish much.

This is not at all to diminish the good work of those in the Stomp Tokyo family of sites who were productive this year: Ryan over at Reel Opinions is a cinema criticism machine, and if you're not one of those currently enjoying his weekly missives from the cineplex I encourage you to give him a chance. Attack of the 50 Foot DVD had a pretty good year as well, turning out thoughtful reviews of genre DVDs at a regular clip. Hell, Scott and I even managed to keep the podcast going on a semi-regular schedule. Bad Movie Planet shows occasional signs of life and the Bad Movie Report even saw a few updates (and might do so again now that Dr. Freex's turn on the stage as Van Helsing has come to an end).

When it comes to reviews from the Chris & Scott mothership, however, we clearly lost steam. Since this time last year there have been fewer than a dozen reviews. There are a lot of reasons why this is the case, and they're all the usual things you might expect from a pair of thirty-something snarkmeisters who no longer live in the same town and whose "real life" responsibilities have changed. Even with the best of intentions and multiple verbal rededications to the purpose, we just didn't come through.

I wouldn't say we've reached the point of a mature attitude towards the cinema or anything, but Scott and I need an official break from the site for a while. We've decided to take a year's sabbatical from Stomp Tokyo, using that time to pursue other projects and/or recharge our batteries. I think the hope is that some formal separation from the watch-and-review process (which instills a vague sense of guilt when I watch a movie with no intentions of writing about it later) will rekindle our enthusiasm for b-movies, and in particular the making fun of those movies "in print."

Not that we'll disappear entirely from the b-landscape, mind you. Scott and I each intend to post regularly to our blogs (here and, uh -- on the page you're reading) and we'll keep recording podcasts as our schedules permit. I'm still involved with B-Fest and my job keeps me in touch with the local Austin film scene and with film festivals around the world. I'll be posting occasionally at Slackerwood as well. So see? You'll hardly notice I'm "gone." What Scott intends to do with his time (besides watch high-def DVDs) is unknown; you'll have to ask him over on his blog.

There was some talk between the two of us about using the "extra" time to move the older reviews into the new Wordpress format. If that happens the front page will change from time to time as we throw those reviews into the new look. I wouldn't be surprised if some of those reviews got some additional polishing in the writing department as we gaze back upon our former language in horror. But that would be, you know, if we get motivated around that.

So that's what we're up to on the 11th anniversary of starting this crazy project. Not the most upbeat annual report I've ever given, but I'm looking forward to the official vacation we've granted to ourselves. I hope that this time next year you find us refreshed and ready to return with guns blazing.

Thanks for hanging in there with us, especially those who have been around since the beginning (and I know you're out there). We find your faith in us disturbing, but we're glad it's there just the same.

Stomp Tokyo - The Cult Movies Podcast #45

All a youse guys hankerin' for the return of the guest nerd will be happy to know that Zack Handlen is in on the action this time.

Episode 45 - "Secret Diary of a Projectionist" - In which Scott, Chris, and Zack discuss the new Halloween, Resident Evil: Extinction, and a lot more.

Listen now, no iPod required.

Cult Movies Podcast Episode 44

There's a whole lot of cult TV coming out this Fall, and we cover most of it in this podcast. We'll come back around to "Bionic Woman" in a future episode, if only so we can drag out that MP3 of the theme song from the original show. Listen to our expert dissections of "The Sarah Connor Chronicles," "Pushing Daisies," "Reaper," and more.

Listen now.

Stomp Tokyo Podcast, Bonus Episode #2

About three weeks ago we just had to talk about the new iPod announcements and so we recorded it. If you're not a fan of listening to us go fanboy all over the iPhone and such, this would probably be a good episode to skip. That's why we called it a bonus episode; it doesn't really have anything to do with cult movies and we'd hate for you to go in thinking we were going to talk about anything but technology in this ep. Stay tuned for a real episode about the new genre TV in the Fall season really really soon. Promise.

If, on the other hand, you dig the idea of an iPod with all the schmancy touch features and want to hear us talk about the ins and outs of the annoucement earlier this month, please! Click away and listen to Bonus Episode #2 now -- no iPod required.

Cult Movies Podcast #43

Just a quick podcast to get us through the holiday weekend and into next week. You've got some extra time to watch The Blob before we cover it in the next episode.

In this episode:

Listener mail.

New York Ripper - a giallo film that isn't boring.

Dragon*Con is coming up this weekend, Scott will be there.

Listen now.

Stomp Tokyo Cult Movies Podcast #42

Here's what's new:

HD-DVD vs Blu-Ray - things heat up without really going anywhere.

Burn Notice: new TV series from USA about a rogue spy. Featuring Bruce Campbell in the alcoholic buddy role.

Yet another version of "Color out of Space."

Grindhouse: What happened?

This weeks' movie: Naked You Die.

Next week's homework: The Blob (Criterion edition or cheapo version).

Listen to the Cult Movies Podcast #42 now (no iPod required, of course).

Stomp Tokyo Cult Movies Podcast #41

Things we talk about this week:

News updates from last week's news, upcoming genre TV, and our first homework assignment: The Devil's Backbone.

Listen to episode 41 now (no iPod required).

Links to things we talk about in this week's show:

Beowulf gets simultaneous release as IMAX 3-D film

Donnie Yen - the next Jackie Chan?

Jekyll at BBC

Bionic Woman page at NBC

Guillermo del Toro interview on NPR's Fresh Air

Next weeks' homework: Naked, You Die

Stomp Tokyo Podcast Episode #40

Scott has a brand new Apple TV so we review the differences between that and Tivo and a few other digital movie watching options as well.

Then we get down to the nitty gritty and look at some upcoming movies including Beowulf, The Seeker, Rush Hour 3, and 10,000 BC (or as we like to call it, Apocalypto Lite).

Listen now, no iPod required.

Bonus: At the end of the episode, we assign homework!