Fantastic Fest Final

The end is here. I look forward to my return. I much prefer Albuquerque’s weather and local breweries. But I’ll keep many good memories of FF2011. Where else can I sit in a theater with friends and genre fans from around the world, order a beer and pizza and enjoy watching an uncircumcised penis undergo a vasectomy procedure?

Nowhere else. I promise.

This morning, I caught a screening of Morgan Spurlock's genial documentary, Comic-Con Episode 4: A Fan's Hope. Initially, I took the title to be a geek joke, but it actually speaks to the varied dreams that its subjects want to see realized. Spurlock profiles a soldier who travels cross-country to submit his portfolio; a collector eager to score a 19-inch Galactus figurine; even a young man who proposes to his girlfriend at a Kevin Smith Q&A. While there are no surprises or fresh insights, the film zips through its multiple plotlines with a clear inclination that each story, come closing day, will have its happy ending.

The final day of Fantastic Fest also trends toward happiness--after blazingly hot weather, cool winds and rain clouds appeared.

After watching dozens of blood-soaked films, my final selection was a perfectly light meringue: the adorable Audience Award recipient, A Boy and his Samurai, about a time-traveling warrior transplanted from Edo to Tokyo who lays down his sword and takes up pastry making.

And after the festival's final reel, the Superhero Carnival erupted: I saw an awesome Dr. Strange in attendance, Flash, Aquaman, Duffman, Tacoman and Cookie Monster. There was even a very aerodynamically outfitted Batman. The party was fueled by free Shiner beer, tequila shots, deep-fried, cornflake-crusted bacon strips, fried butter and something that made my mood (and cholesterol) soar higher still: the nacho cheese fountain.

My good friend Mary marveled: “You’ve just taken me to the world’s biggest sausage fest, served with a side of bacon. “

A quick review:

Outstanding films from this year are Clown and Elite Squad: The Enemy Within, an epic crime film that contains elements of Goodfellas, All The President's Men and "The Wire."

Must-sees: Bullhead, A Boy and his Samurai, A Lonely Place to Die, Headhunters and Kill Me Please.

Recommended: Borderline, Let the Bullets Fly, Boys on the Run, Milocrorze: A Love Story, You Said What? Knuckle, Rabies and The Yellow Sea. Now get out there and find 'em.

Thanks for reading!