by Sam Juliano
The real thing in terms of summer heat has descended on the metropolitan area for the past few weeks, but this is pretty much the report from many of our friends elsewhere. With the rising temperatures comes barbecues, pool parties and weekend seashore respites, not to mention end-of-the-school-year graduations, retirement dinners and extended vacation plans. That scenario is playing out in my neck of the woods, though here at Wonders in the Dark the excitement of another genre poll is building.
Today the long-awaited Childhood Films Countdown launches with an opening salvo from film, music and comic book writer extraordinaire Ed Howard. The “Top 83″ will continue on into October, running Monday through Friday, and there are well over a dozen contributors to the cause. Though there were initially some issues broached in mild debates on the e mail chain of the countdown’s actual voters, the bottom line is that some very great reviews of some very great films will be upcoming. There can be little dissension connected to the results, and as our very good friend David Schleicher has remarked: “This countdown has the potential of being the best ever.” Site readers and lurkers are urged to follow the countdown and if possible to comment on what is sure to be a fabulous collection of reviews.
The past week and the one starting today will always be remembered for sustained madness with activity after event throughout. I watched some blu rays and DVDs at home, but only saw one film in theaters, the masterpiece Pather Panchali at the Film Forum.
Pather Panchali (1955) (Monday night) Film Forum
