We've got a new contributor stepping into The Basement today; fledgling writer and all-around movie fan Marcus Flor! He introduces himself by taking a look back Edgar Wright's 2017 musical/crime flick Baby Driver. Read on, and give the man a pint for his troubles! There have been many excellent car-chase films over the years, but few have the flare and charm of one of my favourites: Baby Driver. This movie is a fast paced, music-filled joy ride that is a blast to sit through, and a damn good movie to boot. It follows Baby (Ansel Elgot); an ace getaway driver who needs to listen to music in order to drive at his best. The movie's all about his journey and how he sees it/hears it. The whole movie is synced to his iPod playlist, with actors speaking along with the lyrics, people moving in time with melodies, and gunshots matching drum hits. This style fills the movie with an energy and rhythm that really draws you in, and puts you in Baby's shoes. Baby himself is a...

Jay here. I've never been big on traditional feel-good movies. My comfort food is Jaws, Aliens, Lethal Weapon, Halloween, Star Wars and flicks like that. They entertain me like no other kind of movie can. But there are some movies that don't fit that bill, yet they do make me feel good. I'm in a funk, and they lift my spirits. Even make me physically feel better. One of those flicks is Walter Hill's Streets of Fire.

If I told you that the bloodiest movie in my list for this year's "Month of Horror" was a musical, would you believe me? Bludgeonings, beatings, cannibalism, burning alive, and, oh yes, throat slashings--does this sound like West Side Story to you? Nearly every word of dialogue in 'Sweeney Todd' is sung by its incredibly talented, and very game cast which includes Johnny Depp as the title psychopath, Helena Bonham Carter, Sasha Baron Cohen, and Alan Rickman. I'm not sure if they're all classically trained vocalists but they sure are convincing, even though Depp does at times struggle with the higher notes, and occasionally exudes a bit too much of a "rock n roll" swagger for the time period. The singing is very often juxtaposed with horrific, and bloody violence which certainly sets it apart from your run-of-the-mill musical, one that maybe you shouldn't show to grandma, unless she's cool, and twisted.

First Blood Shawn : You need to see it because it began the legacy of ALL these Chuck Norris -Arnold-save-the- Vietnam - POW - movies . Sly is the action man that started it all. Can I say more? Yes, but don't DIE before YOU see it. The movie covered so many different era events too. Vietnam vets, police brutality, prejudice, stereotyping and discrimination. And shit blows up. Awesome. Good. Jason: I can't remember the last time I watched First Blood. It was certainly back in the 90s, maybe even the 80s. Shame. I know. Some 80s action guy I turned out to be. First off, aside from the hair, fashion and fact that Stallone doesn't look like he was chipped out of rock, this movie holds up well. That's because it's a simple story told in a straight-forward manner. There's no special effects, just cool shit done in-camera. And the action is pretty straight ahead. I forgot how good Sly is in this movie. People forget that he was a really great...

Any self-respecting horror fan has seen Stuart Gordon's classic Re-Animator. But how many are aware that the film is also an award-winning stage musical? Well, it is bitches! And the musical's original cast, including George Wendt of Cheers fame, is back in action. The musical recently swept The L.A.Weekly Theatre Awards, winning six of eight nominations, not the least of which is Musical of the Year. It also earned 2011 Ovation and L.A. Drama Critics awards. Re-Animator The Musical re-opens at L.A.'s Hayworth Theatre for a 10-week limited engagement starting May 3 prior to performances in New York and The Edinburgh Fringe Festival. For ticket information, or to reserve a seat, phone 323-960-4442 or go online . Stuart Gordon directed Re-Animator in 1985. It was his first feature film and he created a sensation, delivering as many laughs as he did screams. The movie is a cult classic and won a Critic's Prize at the Cannes Film Festival.  Last year, Gordon and his c...

Repo The Genetic Opera Shawn: This has to be the sacrifice of the century for me. It's like watching a really long, weird-ass music video by a bunch of musicians who suck. A fitting role for Paris Hilton. Get it? There are a lot of elements that I really liked: dark, gory with a comic-book style from time to time. Even a decent story. But F-off with the music! It ruined everything! An Ugly from me. Jason: Finally, a movie where I get to see Paris Hilton's face fall off. A movie for me! Too bad it was a musical. I hate musicals. I think the music gets in the way of the story. I can't engage in the characters or plot because everything is revealed through the music. It's not a method of storytelling that I like. That said, Repo does work on its own terms, with some catchy music and the cool character of the Graverobber. His scenes and songs are great. But it's still a Bad rating from me. Repo Men Shawn: I wanted the Genetic Opera to be a real movie. Well, h...