Random Ipod songs: Tom Waits: Since I Fell for You

Eddie on "RARE EXPORTS: A CHRISTMAS TALE"

Since it the Holidays and I haven’t been here in awhile, I thought I would review a new Christmas movie that I really liked. I think I had said once before somewhere that only foreign filmmakers have original ideas. And if I did film once again proves the point that I am correct.

This film, from 2010, is called RARE EXPORTS: A CHRISTMAS TALE. It’s very cool, Funny, Creepy, Scary and Smart really really Smart. I rented the DVD through Netflix, of course, which is pretty much what I use to see any movie that I can’t find anywhere else. But it is also available on Video On Demand,

On Christmas Eve in Finland a corporate archeological team has unearthed Santa Claus, but this isn’t the Jolly Ole’ St Nick, we all know and love.  

After Mr. Claus has been dug up all the children in the small town seem to disappear, well all except for Pietari (Onni Tommila). The people of the village capture Santa and decide to hold him for ransom.

This is all I’m going to tell you because the movie is a lot of fun.

It does use a lot of things from the original folklore of Santa Claus, which are very clever and like I said above, really smart. Now I love movies but I usually can see some twist coming a mile away. This one threw for such a loop I smiled with joy right to the very end. It wasn’t a closed mouth smile, mind you, but a “fuck ya that was awesome smile”.

The movie is great to look at beautiful, and the location where they shot is epic. The actors were great, I love movies where you believe the characters 100%.  Actually I think the kid and the actor who played his father are actually father and son in real life. At least that’s the gist I get from looking up on IMDB.

Also as a bonus on the DVD are two awesome Rare Export shorts that were made in 2003 and 2005. WATCH THE MOVIE FIRST or else you see the spoilers of the feature film. In the shorts are the cast members from the feature, and they are still great.

Also it’s one of those movies that begs for a sequel even though it is really not needed.

Rent it for the Holidays and you won’t be disappointed

Check out the trailer below

My open letter to BLIMPIE Sub & Sandwiches

Dear Blimpie,

I just wanted to drop you a quick note to let you know how much I enjoy your hoagies.

I live in the Los Angeles area, but originally from Northern New Jersey. So I was very happy to see that there were Blimpie shops out here. When I went to you store on Sunday I bought 7 large Blimpie Bests with all the trimmings for my friends to eat during the April 1st Mets game. They are also from New Jersey, and were surprised because they didn’t even think there was a shop out here.

The owners of the downtown store by the way, are awesome, very friendly and treated me like a VIP for traveling from the valley.

I would go more often, but the problem is the locations of the stores. I live in the North Hollywood/Burbank area of  L.A., and the closest shop to me is approx. 8 miles away. Now technically this would not be a bad thing, but that location is in the middle of Downtown Los Angeles, During the week it takes around 2 hours to get there and back, due to the horrendous L.A. traffic. Also the store is closed on the weekend and also closes at 3:30 pm during the week, because the area becomes empty after that, also next closest shop is in a Calabasas gas station 20 miles the other way.

My question to you guys is, “Why isn’t there a Blimpie in my area??”. There’s a Subway, on every block but they are horrible, and everyone out here knows it.

I live literally blocks from all the major studio, Universal, Warner Bros, and Disney, and this would be a perfect area for one of your stores. If you look up this area on your store map you’ll see it is just an empty space. Google my address and you will see what I mean.

Trust me, including myself, you would immediately have a following. People from this area that are from the Northern East Coast are always nostalgic for the food they left behind. Sorry to babble on so much but I think you should really consider opening up a shop that is convenient and near the film studios.

Example: There is a cheesesteak shop out here called “Philly’s Best” they are constantly packed with people from back east. They carry only Frank's Soda, Wise Products, and even the bread is from back East. They are the best cheesesteaks out here, and anyone that says they are not, usually means they are from the West Coast or they're idiots.

Sincerely,

Ed Stalter
originally from Coytesville NJ