Hola, CineLocos! Welcome to our regular Latin-AICN Column for ese semana, but before we get to Coffin Joe Jr. way down in Sao Paulo, Brasil Father Geek here in Austin, Texas has a couple of interesting cosas for you that were sent directly to the Geek Headquarters Compound...

Just wanted to comment on a Spanish director and his latest movie (actually it was released here in Spain a few months ago) Lucia y El Sexo (Lucia And Sex).

I don't know if you have ever heard of Julio Medem, the director of the movie and one of Spain's biggest talents as movies are concerned. He has previously directed Vacas (Cows), La ardilla roja (The red squirrel), Tierra (Land), and Los amantes del circulo polar (The lovers of the polar circle) that if I stand corrected was in the Sundance film festival a few years ago, although I don't know in which category or anything.

His latest movie, Lucia y El Sexo, it's probably even considered porn in the United States, and actually I think he made a special US rated version (unfortunately in many levels) for possible North American promotion. But its a heck of a movie and its even with the next Penelope Cruz in the making, a young actress named Elena Anaya. Watch out for her.

This guy is very unique and is one of those guys that you either love or hate, and I of course love him. His movies have similar themes, as destiny, love, sex, and the world of coincidences (as he plays with the characters names and his relations) but not in a corny Serendepity kind of way.

Since I've been coming around your site for a while now I've come to the conclusion that we agree in a lot of things, and since I've gotten many recommendations from your reviews, I thought I should give back. I don't even know if you know anything about this guy or any of his movies, since I've never come around any comments related, but if you haven't check him out, I think you might enjoy it.

Hope this helps in anyway.....

Vic

Yeah, its director's like that and this next one that keep Spanish cine far away from estancamiento. Of course, that's just my juicio imparcial. Our cuate in Eastern Europe caught Y TU MAMA TAMBIEN at the recent Belgrade Film Fest and sent ol' Father Geek the following...

I saw the great Spanish film Y TU MAMA TAMBIEN by Alfonso Cuaron. It is a balls-to-the-wall coming-of-age flick that presents the boyish rudeness which will always turn into melancholy when virginity fades. A definite recommendation.

Ahora, aqui es Coffin Joe Jr. and this week's column...

Hey there, how you guys doing, Coffin Joe Jr. here for another week of Latin-AICN.

Before we get to the news, one word of advice for all you horror fans out there: pick up a copy of the "Stage Fright" DVD, which is in stores as of today, courtesy of our beloved Anchor Bay Home Entertainment. There are not a whole lot of extras on the disc, besides the theatrical trailer and some bios, but the movie is damn good, it doesn´t matter. Widescreen transfer of the flick is all you need. Do yourself a favor and get this slasher pic, which is one of the best of the genre, and in my humble opinion it is Soavi´s best movie, right up there with "Cemetery Man", even a bit better if you ask me. The killer´s mask is one of the most unusual I´ve ever seen, quite unique and bizarre, won´t spoil it for ya, but it is freaky. Anyways, just get the damn movie.

You can also pick up another of his movies that is being released today, "The Church", but proceed with caution, because it is not nearly as good as his other stuff. "The Church" drags, and drags, and drags. You´ve been warned. It was supposed to be the third "Demons" flick, but that didn´t happen, so instead of zombie carnage you get people talking and talking endlessly. It does have a cool prologue though, but not much else.

Enough of me blabbering, here´s this week´s news and reviews:

USA

-After killing zombies in "Resident Evil", Michelle Rodriguez´s next project is called "Surf Girls". It tells the story of two ladies working as hotel maids in a Maui community who are also really good surfers, so good that they enter a traditionally all-male surf competition. "Surf Girls" is helmed by John Stockwell, with a screenplay by Stockwell himself , Lizzy Weiss and Kario Salem. Other cast members include Mika Boorem and Matthew Davis. "Surf Girls" hits this summer in the United States.

ARGENTINA

-With a very serious economic crisis unraveling in the country, the Argentinean film industry has only one movie currently in production, so the recent nomination of "Hijo de la Novia" ("Son of the Bride") for an Academy Award as best foreign film, comes as a sigh of relief for local filmmakers, who expect that the nomination will help their industry in these troubled times.

MEXICO

-"Asesino en serio" is a very bizarre new Mexican flick, with Guillermo del Toro ("Cronos","The Devil's Backbone","Blade 2","Mimic") as one of the producers. Here´s the plot, straight from the IMDB: "Martinez is a police detective with a weird case on his hands: Gorkisolo, a priest, is responsible for a series of unique murders. He kills prostitutes with orgasms".

Antonio Urrutia is the director on this movie, and the screenplay was written by Carlos Puig and Javier Váldes, based on Váldes own novel. The priest, Gorkisolo, is played by Santiago Segura, and the police detective, Martinez, is portrayed by Jesús Ochoa. Santiago Segura is also one of the producers on the film.

The movie is currently in post-production for a release later this year.

BRAZIL

-The movies "Lavoura Arcaica", directed by Luiz Fernando Carvalho, and "Bicho de Sete Cabeças", directed by Laís Bodansky, have been selected for the official competition at the 3rd Santo Domingo Film Festival, which starts today.

"Lavoura Arcaica" has already won awards at numerous film festivals, including Montreal, Havana and Biarritz.

MISCELLANEOUS BITS

-Brazilian comic book artist Roger Cruz, who penciled issues of "X-Men", "The Incredible Hulk" and "X-Man" for Marvel Comics, has a new website for anyone who wants the latest info on him Check It Out Right Here.

I´m done for this week.

Coffin Joe Jr. says: bye.