Words of Wisdom From Sucker Punch…

Posted on July 19, 2016 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Words to live by!

(And, by the way, Sucker Punch is one of the most underrated and misunderstood films of all time! Check out my review of Sucker Punch here and Arleigh’s review here.)

Scenes That I Love: The Frisbee Scene From Hard Ticket To Hawaii

Posted on July 5, 2016 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Earlier today, since I’m off work for the week, I went down to the Alamo Drafthouse and I saw The Purge: Election Day.

The Alamo always shows old film clips and trailers before the main feature and seriously, it’s the best pre-show in town. That’s why you should always arrive 30 minutes before your film starts! Unfortunately, I was running late so I arrived with only five minutes to spare.

So, I only got to see one film clip before the movie but what a clip! I watched this clip and I laughed so hard that I knew that I simply had to share it with our readers here on the Shattered Lens. Here it is: the frisbee scene from Hard Ticket To Hawaii.

From now on, whenever a stranger yells out that I have a nice ass, I’m going to look over my shoulder at them, smile, and say, “So do you, pilgrim!”

(For the record, I have never seen Hard Ticket To Hawaii and I tracked down this scene by going to YouTube and doing a search for “frisbee scene.” That said, I have since learned that it’s an Andy Sidaris film and I’m pretty sure that Arleigh has mentioned being an Andy Sidaris fan.)

Before I Go To Sleep, I Think We All Need To Consider The Words Of An American Hippie In Israel:

Posted on June 15, 2016 by Lisa Marie Bowman

(From 1972’s An American Hippie In Israel)

Scenes I Love: Band of Brothers

Posted on May 30, 2016 by Arleigh

Band of Brothers is a 10-episode series from HBO that should be shown to every school kid across the nation.

I don’t subscribe to the notion that the youth of today have become lazy, too dependent on their electronics and don’t appreciate what the generations before have accomplished (though they’re more than willing to point out how past generations have ruined their future). Today’s generation and the generation before it grew up with cynicism when it comes to the concept of heroism and sacrifice.

They’ve more than earned that right because their government and those tasked to serve and protect them have failed often enough (though their successes in serving and protecting rarely gets mentioned). While I understand the cynicism and doubt of the current generation and the one before it, it doesn’t change the fact that most of those who lived in the so-called “Greatest Generation” did their duty with honor and tried to make the country prosperous for the generations to come.

That’s why the scene which affected me the most from Band of Brothers wasn’t one of combat, the quiet solitude before battle or the camaraderie exhibited by those who served and fought together for what they thought and believed to be a just cause. No, the scene which hit me the most closed out the series and comes from Maj. Richard Winters. He quotes a passage from a letter he received from one of his men through the years. The letter was from Mike Ranney and in it were words that best signifies why we celebrate Memorial Day and why we should continue to honor and pay respect to this “Greatest Generation” who are gradually leaving us for good.

And now a political endorsement from Lisa Marie…

Posted on May 29, 2016 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Normally, I don’t get political on this site. But I think New Hampshire deserves a congressman of whom it can be proud.

Scenes That I Love: The Classroom Scene From Dario Argento’s Inferno

Posted on May 20, 2016 by Lisa Marie Bowman

So, as I mentioned earlier, I was in the mood for some late night horror and I decided to rewatch Dario Argento’s Three Mothers trilogy. I started watching Suspiria at midnight and, after that, I moved on to Argento’s 1980 follow-up, Inferno.

Having just finished watching Inferno, I now realize that it’s almost time for me to start getting ready for my day, which means that I may have to hold off on watching the third film in the trilogy, The Mother of Tears. That’s really quite frustrating because I think I may be the only person in the world who thinks that Mother of Tears is actually a good film.

Oh well! Such is life, right?

But before I hop in the shower and get dressed and all that good stuff, I did want to share a scene that I love from Inferno.

Of course, the most famous scene from Inferno is the scene that opens the film, Irene Miracle’s underwater swim. In fact, it’s such a famous scene that I have already shared it.

So, instead, I’ll share a scene that comes shortly after Irene’s famous swim. In the scene below, Irene’s brother, a music student who is played by a somewhat forgettable actor named Leigh McCloskey (reportedly, Argento wanted to cast a young James Woods in the role and he would have been awesome, too), is sitting in class and attempting to read a letter from his troubled sister.

And that’s when he finds himself being subtly menaced by the Mother of Tears.

The Mother of Tears is played by the beautiful Ania Pieroni, who lovers of Italian horror will immediately recognize as both the mysterious housekeeper in Lucio Fulci’s House By The Cemetery and the doomed shoplifter from Argento’s Tenebrae.

To me, this scene is Argento at his best. Not much happens in the scene. McCloskey attempts to read a letter and finds himself unnerved by Pieroni’s intense stare. And yet, it’s a scene that’s full of menace and atmosphere. It’s a scene that leaves the viewer with no doubt about the power of the Three Mothers.

Watch the scene below. And then, if you haven’t, be sure to watch Inferno because it’s a wonderful and underrated horror film, one that I would argue is even better than Suspiria. And, while you’re watching the scene and considering the wonders of Italian horror cinema, I’ll be busy getting ready for my Friday!

(Unless, of course, you’re reading this on a day other than today and at a time other than 4:35 am.)

Enjoy!

Scenes I Love: “Names that Start With S” from Suspiria

Posted on May 19, 2016 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Hi there! I’m in the mood for some late night horror so I’m currently watching Dario Argento’s Three Mothers Trilogy! I just finished Suspiria and, before I started Inferno, I figured I would devote a hundred or so words to sharing one of my favorite scenes from Suspiria.

As you probably guessed from the title of this post, that scene is the famous “Names that start with S” scene. This is the scene in which dance student Suzy Banyon’s new roommate explains that names that start with S are often the names of snakes! Suzy’s new BFF, Sarah, disagrees.

When I first saw Suspiria, this was a scene to which I, as a dance student, could immediately relate. As odd as the dialogue may have sounded and as silly as the two students may have appeared to be, it actually felt very authentic. By nature, dancers are competitive and we are dramatic. If anyone is going to accuse you of having the name of a snake, it’s probably going to be dancer.

Admittedly, no one ever told me that I had the name of the snake. But there was the girl who told me that I was “soooooo pretty,” or at least I would be pretty if I got the nose job that I obviously required if I ever had any hope of being happy or successful. “But,” she added as she turned away from me, “I guess you’d have to figure out how you could possibly pay for it.” Of course, she was also quick to explain that she was only telling me the truth and that she had the best of intentions. I had about the same reaction to her advise as Sarah has to be calling a snake.

(Sarah stuck out her tongue. I may have said something about her boyfriend not having any issue with the size of my nose when he was hitting on me the night before. But basically, it was pretty much the same reaction…)

This scene made such an impression on me that, in the months after I first saw Suspiria, I would often randomly launch into the name of snakes monologue. Unfortunately, I had failed to take into account that I was literally the only student at my high school who would actually take the time to watch an Italian horror film from the 1970s. As such, no one knew what I was talking about and I lost a few friends named Susan and Sarah as a result.

Oh well!

Anyway, you can watch the scene below! Pay special attention to the way Jessica Harper reacts to being caught in the middle of the conversation. Dario Argento will probably never be known as a great director of actors but Jessica Harper is great in Suspiria!

Dance Scenes That I Love: Crispin Glover in Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter

Posted on May 13, 2016 by Lisa Marie Bowman

As proof that any movie — regardless of genre, storyline, or budget — has room for a dance number, check out this dance scene that I love from Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter!