Learn Who Will Receive The WHEN YOU'RE STRANGE DVD And Autographed Poster!!

Merrick here...
...with the belated results of our WHEN YOU'RE STRANGE poster/DVD giveaway contest (details HERE). The prize recipient will receive one (1) DVD copy of THE DOORS: WHEN YOU'RE STRANGE documentary, as well as a poster signed by Doors members Ray Manzarek, John Densmore and Robby Krieger. DarthLizardKing's thoughts about BASKETBALL DIARIES caught the attention of The Powers That Be (I didn't actually judge this one, but agree with their assessment). Here's something very important, Mr. LizardKing...because we're judging Talkback entries, we don't actually have your contact info. Send an e-mail to THIS ADDRESS (with your name and physical address) and I'll pass it along to the folks fulfilling the contest so they can send you your DVD and poster. Thanks a ton to everyone who participated...here's the winning entry, as well as two honorable mentions.

Basketball Diaries: Riders on the Storm by DarthLizardKing Jul 11th, 2010 10:42:28 PM In "The Basketball Diaries," "Riders on the Storm" plays through a trancelike, hypnotic sequence showing Jim Carroll (Leonardo DiCaprio) trying to play basketball for his high school team while under the heavy influence of the narcotic demons that plagued his teenage years. The brilliance of this sequence lies in the music's ability to juxtapose the various, contrary sides of Jim's life: the star athlete (rhythmic pacing of Ray's keyboard and Robbie's guitar, and the steady jazz beat of John's drums, the three together like the pounding of a basketball on hardwood, like the slow motion strides of a long distance runner); the poet (the Lizard King's ghostly voice and lyrics slithering through until they become atmospheric); and the addict (the disorienting cinematography and direction of the scene: Carroll standing in the middle of the court rubbing his eyes and face as the game flies by him on all sides). This combination is most poignant as Jim steps to the foul line, and the momentum of his sickly free throw attempt confuses and dizzies him as he collapses, mouth open and eyes wide. The lyric "Let your children play" is ironically timed here, arriving at the precise moment that playtime ends as the police and priest enter the gymnasium, all too wise to the trouble Jim and his friends have been getting themselves into.

Congratulations to DarthLizardKing! Two honorabl;e mentions were selected: mike123230 and AdamL...

I recognize it's a cover version, but... by mike123230 Jul 6th, 2010 07:20:02 PM the into to the Lost Boys ("People are Strange" covered by Echo & the Bunnymen) as the camera pans over Santa Carla for the first time and we see all the missing persons ads. Not only was this movies one of the first R-rated movies I saw, it was the first in a long line of vampire hunting movies I absolutely loved (back when we killed vampires...instead of had glittery angsty crushes on them). While I could talk about The Lost Boys for an absurdly long time (the awesomeness of a young Keifer Sutherland and Jason Patric, the first time Coreys Haim and Feldman were together, etc.), this was also my first introduction to the music of the Doors. Years later, when I was actually old enough to better appreciate music, I recognized the real version of this song and was able to latch onto it because of my prior associations with the song, opening a window for a greater appreciation of more of the Doors' music.

BEST USE OF DOORS MUSIC IN FILM by AdamL Jul 6th, 2010 07:20:15 PM This is one of the most difficult and yet one of the simplest answers to come up with. There is of course Coppola's iconic use of "The End" to begin Apocalypse Now. Mixed in amid sounds of helicopter blades and layered visuals, the song gives the viewer an instant "door" into Martin Sheen's head. Obviously, this is my favorite use of the Doors in a film, but it seems to me a bit cliche to say it is the best use. I think it's also kind of ridiculous to nominate Stone's "The Doors", simply because it's a movie about the band, and therefore, kind of ridiculous. So, I am going to throw out there the use of "Moonlight Drive" in the classic road film Two Lane Blacktop. The first time I saw Two Lane Blacktop was at a 16mm screening in the oldest theater (not movie theater, real theater) in my hometown, and despite the fact that the film was anamorphic and was projected through a non anamorphic lens, I still enjoyed. So there you have it. I vote for Two Lane Blacktop.

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