Lionsgate recently send us over Two new clips for their upcoming film "Kick-Ass", which hits theaters on April 16th.
Kick-Ass tells the story of average teenager Dave Lizewski (Aaron Johnson), a comic-book fanboy who decides to take his obsession as inspiration to become a real-life superhero. His life is forever changed as he inspires a subculture of copy cats, is hunted by assorted violent and unpleasant characters, and meets up with a pair of crazed vigilantes, including an 11-year-old sword-wielding dynamo, Hit Girl (Chloë Grace Moretz) and her father, Big Daddy (Nicolas Cage), and forges a friendship with another fledgling superhero, Red Mist (Christopher Mintz-Plasse). But thanks to the scheming of a local mob boss Frank DAmico (Mark Strong), that new alliance will be put to the test.
After Dark Films CEO Courtney Solomon announced the first of eight movies in the AFTER DARK ORIGINALS series in partnership with Lionsgate & Syfy, and in association with Dobre Films. A new take on a classic creature, PROWL is written by Tim Tori (Hysteria, Trespassers) and directed by Patrik Syversen (Manhunt). Bruce Payne (Bernard), Courtney Hope (Amber), and Saxon Trainor (Veronica) star.
"Amber dreams of escaping her small town and persuades her friends to accompany her apartment-hunting in the big city. When their transportation breaks down, Amber and friends gratefully accept a ride in the back of a semi. But when the driver refuses to stop and they discover the cargo is cartons of blood, they panic. Soon, panic turns to terror when the truck disgorges into a dark, abandoned warehouse where blood-thirsty creatures learn to hunt human prey, which the friends realize is what they have now become...”
Prowl was Executive Produced by Courtney Solomon and produced by Chris Milburn, Borislav Ranghelov, Lucy Mukerjee, Michael Klein, Christopher D’Elia & Zachary Bryan as a United Kingdom/Bulgarian co-production. Release dates for all eight After Dark Originals are scheduled for Fall, 2010.
"Dobré Films jumped at the opportunity to produce PROWL with a company that has set the bar for branding and creating unique and great horror films. PROWL and all the new Originals will be a great addition to an already celebrated brand and won't disappoint" states Dobré Films CEO Christopher D'Elia.
The 8 Originals represent After Dark’s unwavering commitment to emerging writers and directors as the focus of its creative vision. The creation of the Originals slate is yet another example of After Dark’s belief in the economics and artistry of independent film production.
Disney continues to dig through their endlessly and enormously deep vaults for a redo of another one of their well-known classics, and this time it’s “Alice In Wonderland.” This new version once again brings together the creativity dynamic duo of director Tim Burton and acting demigod Johnny Depp who brings his own touches to the Mad Hatter. The end result however, is surprisingly disappointing. Throughout the running time, I kept thinking to myself:
“Where’s the wonder?”
Crispin Glover, who co-stars in the movie, said to Peter Travers who was interviewing him for his “Off The Cuff” podcast, said that
Coming to her inadvertent rescue is the White Rabbit who of course is still looking at his watch constantly, but not because he’s late for a very important date. The rabbit catches her eye and leads her away from her snobby suitor, and she once again falls down that amazingly deep rabbit hole into Underland, which as it turns out is what Wonderland is really called (Alice misheard the name when it was first told to her). Underland is a place of beauty which is enhanced by a lot of clever special effects and some great art direction, but it has its dark side as well. Of course, this adventure of
Alice herself is
This however brings me to the big problem I had with the movie though;
Now I don’t know about you guys, but I am now really sick and tired of seeing all these movies about characters that are chosen to be “the one,” and who then spend far too long bitching, moaning, and being whiny little babies about their pre-destinies. You have John Connor from the “Terminator” movies who takes forever to accept the fact that he will lead what’s left of the human race to victory over the machines. You have Peter Parker who through three “Spider-Man” movies sulked endlessly over the great responsibilities he got through a spider bite that left him with great powers. By the third movie, we were so burned out from watching act like a baby. Then there’s Neo from “The Matrix” movies who was told over and over by Morpheus that he is “the one.” Well, I’ll give him some credit because he didn’t wait until the movie was nearly over to accept that fact.
To all those characters in movies before this and after it, I can only tell you this in the only way I can: ACCEPT WHO YOU ARE AND GET ON WITH IT!!!! Stop telling us who you really are because like it or not, WE ACTUALLY DO KNOW YOU BETTER THAN YOU KNOW YOURSELF!
For the role of
Of course, top billing for “Alice In Wonderland” goes to Johnny Depp who takes the Mad Hatter from having a cameo appearance to a much larger role. You can always tell that Depp is having a heck of a good time playing roles like these, and the little details he adds to each one makes his work all the more memorable. Still, this performance feels like it was taken from the spare parts that Depp had left over from “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” as well as “Ed Wood.” He’s fun to watch as always, but there seems to be something missing here as the Hatter doesn’t quite capture our attention in the way we want him to. It’s entertaining, but not the inspired creation we have come to expect from Depp.
Some other actors fare a bit better here like the always great Helena Bonham Carter who makes a wickedly spoiled creation out of the Red Queen. Her head gets digitally inserted on top of a body that is much too small for her, and she is a fiendish delight as she relentlessly orders beheadings without giving them much thought, all while she rests her feet on a pig. Indeed, the easily irritated are always on the lookout for the quick fix. Carter is a hoot throughout.
Anne Hathaway (“Rachel Getting Married”) is also a lot of fun to watch as the White Queen as she gleefully overdoes the character’s graceful movements throughout. Her character does come across as quietly crazed, but in a good way.
But for me, the most inspired piece of casting in “Alice In Wonderland” is Crispin Glover who portrays Ilosovic Stayne, the Knave of Hearts. Now Crispin has been portrayed for so many years as an extremely odd personality in the press, and probably more so than any human being deserves. Whether or not he is as bizarre as they say, Glover is a perfect addition to
Then there are actors who do the voices of the digitally animated characters on display, and all of them are perfectly cast. Alan Rickman brings his Snape-ish mannerisms from Harry Potter to Absolem, the blue hookah smoking caterpillar. Michael Sheen of “Frost/Nixon” fame voices the White Rabbit, and you can barely tell that it’s him doing it. Stephen Fry is a sly delight as the voice for the Cheshire Cat who appears as often as he disappears. Timothy Spall, also on loan from the Harry Potter film series, voices the bloodhound Bayard Hamar, and you feel for this dog as he is forced to work on both sides of the dueling queens. Barbara Windsor’s voice is perfect for the Mallymkun the Dormouse, Paul Whitehouse is great as the March Hare, and the great Christopher Lee perfectly voices the evil dragon, Jabberwocky.
In regards to Christopher Lee, this is yet another movie where he faces off with another opponent with a sword of some kind (“Star Wars Episode II and III”). Does he ever learn?
Tim Burton’s “Alice In Wonderland” has a number of things going for it, but in the end, I was not all that moved by what was onscreen. When it was all over, I felt it lacked the vivid inspiration and wonder that you can always find in Lewis Carroll’s work. Even the score by longtime
All this from the same filmmaker who gave us the brilliant “Edward Scissorhands” and the utterly inspired “Ed Wood.”
The only thing that will stay with me after all this time will be the Mad Hatter’s endless question:
“Why is a raven like a writing desk?”
Like
**½ out of ****
By the way, in regards to the use of 3D in this movie, it doesn’t really add a whole lot or draw you into the movie anymore than it would have without it. Unlike “Avatar,” “Beowulf” or even “The Polar Express,” it doesn’t make it any different of an experience than watching it in regular 2D.
The latest poke at that particular past comes in the form of “Hot Tub Time Machine.” Though generally considered by most (read: me) as one of the greatest movie titles ever, a title itself does not make a movie. So does the movie live up to its title? Yes and no. Much like the title, there are plenty of juvenile jokes and potty humor to make a moviegoer giggle; there are also some great quips and glimmers of wit. As funny as the movie may be, it is pretty much impossible to live up to the brilliance of the title.
The casting is strange, but oddly works. Although I can’t imagine the younger version of these guys hanging out, their older counter parts seem oddly fitting. John Cusack plays the curmudgeonly middle aged man who hates his life. I can’t help but imagine his character is sort of what Lane Meyers would have become had made bad life choices. Craig Robinson is the endearing middle aged man who hates his life. Then there is Rob Corddry who is once again playing an asshole, but this time around, he hates his life. Corddry throws himself into the role so fully, that you are not sure whether you hate him enough to beat him up or like him enough to give him a big hug and buy him a beer after you crack one across his jaw. Corddry always knows the fine line to walk when playing an asshole, and this time he turns in another tightrope performance that steals the movie. Finally, Clark turns in another low key but none the less amusing performance as the younger man who does not yet hate his life.
The supporting players work out in varying degrees. Crispin Glover is hysterical in the little bit he is given, but Chevy Chase is a bit grating (even though this same oddball shtick on “Community” makes me howl). The best supporting player is the setting itself. Though the 80’s truly were a different time and place, the stupidity and reckless abandon of youth is as prevalent now as it was back then. And depending on the radio station you are tuned to, some of the soundtrack of that life is the same.
There are plenty of truly funny jokes, but overall, this is not a non-stop comedy. It may not be relentless, but it gives you plenty of moments to guffaw over and they are spaced out evenly enough that you never really get bored. The plot is fairly predictable, but you do not really see a movie like this for its exacting prose. You go for the pee jokes, and against your better judgment, laugh at the gay jokes. The humor is childish (as expected), but if you go to see a movie entitled “Hot Tub Time Machine” and expect anything other than childishness, then you are either lying to yourself or misreading the movie title.
Though the title is sheer brilliance, the movie never quite lives up to its awesome name fully. If you are looking for laughs, this gets the job done. I suspect upon repeat viewings this movie provides heartier laugher. There is a certain feeling you get after seeing a classic comedy for the first time. Your general feeling is, “that was funny. I really enjoyed that.” After thinking about it for awhile, it gets funnier in your head. With subsequent viewings, even funnier. That is what a classic comedy starts as, and I have a suspicion that “Hot Tub Time Machine” will eventually fall into that category.
The Boondock Saints 2: All Saints Day
Year: 2009
Director: Troy Duffy
Studio: Apparition Releasing / Sony Pictures
Stars: Sean Patrick Flanery, Norman Reddus, Billy Connolly
MPAA Rating: R
Running Time: 117 Mins
Film Synopsis:
I remember about three or four years ago, when I saw the special edition “The Boondock Saints” on store shelves and was wondering to myself, why a film that I never heard of is receiving a special edition treatment. So, I decided to rent the film and was completely blown away with the action and story of the film. Now fast forward to “The Boondock Saints 2: All Saints Day”.
It’ been ten years since the Troy Duffy’s original film came out on DVD. The film continues the saga of the MacManus brothers. Both of them have been in hiding with their father after the events of the first film. But they are called back to the streets of Boston, when the mob takes out a beloved priest using their calling card. Soon, they begin a crusade to bring the mob down and find out who wants them dead. Sean Patrick Flanery, Norman Reddus, and Billy Connolly are back for the sequel along with Cliffton Collins Jr. (Star Trek, Sunshine Cleaning), Julie Benz (TV’s Dexter, Saw V), Judd Nelson (The Breakfast Club), and Peter Fonda (Easy Rider, The Limey) .
Film Review:
Even though it’s been ten years since Troy Duffy directed a film, he still hasn’t lost his touch to create a kick ass action film. “The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day” improves on the original and then some. Duffy does a good job making a sequel that contains the elements that made the original so enjoyable, while adding new things to the mythology. He does a great job making the action scenes entertaining and full of adrenaline and intensity. Not a lot of action films can do that, because most action directors think that explosion sequences bring intensity to the scene. Wrong, it’s the fight sequences along with the way that those scenes are edited is what makes it intense. What also makes the direction good, the way that Duffy handles everything from the flashbacks to the acting of the film. I liked how he uses multiple elements very well, as this film had everything, flashback sequence, dream sequence, action sequence and there ever homage to these action grindhouse films with one of the dream sequences, as it looked like it was from those action films from that era. By doing these things, it grabs your attention and makes you want to sit through the film at least with being bored.
Duffy’s screenplay for this sequel is also on par with the original. He does a great job keeping the regular elements that he uses for his main characters, while blending new characters and twists. By doing that, it makes the series fun to watch and leaves you wanting more. Another thing that makes this screenplay good, the fact that he doesn’t abandon the first film and adds new elements and twists. It keeps the series from becoming one of those sequels where everything is rehashed to the point that your basically watching the same film all over again. Another thing that I thought was good was that there was backstory to the ll Duce character, as his appearance felt like he just walked in near the end of the first film. Duffy does a good job developing a backstory to story to the character and incorporating that into the main plot of the film. It gives it more of mythology feel instead of you just sitting and wondering how the character fits into the boys lives.
Extras Review:
First on the Blu- ray is two commentary tracks. The first tack features commentary from Writer/ Director Troy Duffy and stars Sean Patrick Flanery, Norman Reddus, and Billy Connolly. This track is one of those tracks, where it seems like everyone there was having a good time. They talk about the various stories on the set along with reminiscing there time on both films and events that happened at the film's premiere. I wished it had more of a serious tone, but still it’s a good track for all Saints fans.
The next commentary is Troy Duffy and a mystery person, which I won't reveal. This is the better track of the two. For the first hour or so, Duffy goes into detail about how the actors fitted the character that they played, the plot points, budget concerns and twists in the mythology of the franchise then the mystery person comes in half way through the film. From there the two begin to talk about the franchise and the two films. It’s much better track than the first one.
Next on the disc is, Unprecedented Access: Behind the Scenes. This is a twenty-minute behind the scenes look at the film. It goes into the behind the scenes footage of the film along with cast and crew interviews. It also gives you more information on some of the scenes and some of the preparation that you would normally not seen on other dvds.
Billy Connolly and Troy Duffy: Unedited" is the next featurette. It's a nine-minute featurette that the two talk about the first meeting they had on the original film and some moments they had on the set of this film.
Now on to the Blu-Ray Exclusives. The first exclusive is "The Cast Confesses: Secrets from the Set". The seven-minute featurette goes into some of cast’s thoughts on the film and the characters that they played in the film.
"Inside the Vault: The Weapons" is the next featurette. This eight-minute featurette goes into the various weapons that are used in the film. a Gun's goes into detail of all the weapons the used in the film.
After that, there is a fifty-five minute featurette called "Comic Con Experience". This one the best feature on the disc. Joining Duffy, Flanery, Reddus, Connolly on this panel are Clifton Collins Jr and Julie Benz, who also star in the film. This is a very fun featurette, as they talk about the film, the franchise and interesting stories they had while filming this film. This panel also has a couple of special guests, whom I won't reveal, but it's a treat for all Boondock Saints fans.
The disc wraps up with two deleted scenes, Trailers for other Sony releases and Movie IQ.
Final Thoughts:
Overall, this is a very loaded disc and much better then the first film in features. Even though I prefer the original to this, “The Boondock Saints 2: All Saints Day” is a very action packed sequel that doesn’t abandon the original film, in terms of intensity and drawn out action. This is a must for Saints fans. Let’s hope we don’t have to wait another ten years for a third film.
Film Review: Four Stars
DVD Extras: Four Stars
Murphy's Romance (1985): I start the week out with my tribute to the late Corey Haim. Sally Field stars as Emma Moriarty who is divorced and moves into a small town with her son Jake, played by Corey Haim, trying to make a go of a horse ranch. James Garner stars as the title character Murphy Jones who is the town druggist and forms an immediate bond with Emma and Jake. It is very clear that he has quite a past but is very helpful to his townspeople. Things begin to change when Emma's ex-husband Bobby Jack, played by Brian Kerwin, comes into town wanting to get back with his wife and son. I really like watching movies about life in a small town and this portrays it very well. James Garner was very good as Murphy and it is too bad I had to learn about this on account of Haim's death.
Ghostbusters (1984): This is a selection from the Random Myspace Profile selection process and for this one I chose ONIFC. Ivan Reitman directed this comedy written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis. Aykroyd, Ramis, and Bill Murray play parapsychology professors Raymond, Egon, and Peter who have a great job at a New York university studying the occult. However, they lose their jobs becoming unemployed. They soon go into business for themselves and hire Winston, played by OZ alum Ernie Hudson. They are soon hired by Dana Barrett, played by Sigourney Weaver, who is seeing strange occurrances. Rick Moranis co-stars as her nerdy neighbor. There is really not much more I can say here about this iconic film of the 80s. We have the great title song by Ray Parker Jr. We have a lot of hilarious dialogue. We also have such icons as Slimer and the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man. This also spawned a cartoon series, a sequal and apparently it will become a trilogy soon.
The Crossing Guard (1995): Sean Penn wrote and stayed behind the camera for this film as a director. Jack Nicholson stars as jeweler Freddy Gale who swears to kill the man who killed his daughter in a hit and run. David Morse plays John Booth who has been released from prison after six years for hitting Gale's daughter. Freddy visits John to tell him that he will soon kill him. Booth then tries to make peace with himself and others while finding love in Penn's wife Robin Wright. Anjelica Huston plays Freddy Gale's ex-wife who apparently could not get through their marriage after the loss of their daughter. This really was nothing great but Nicholson was good in his part. It also has an interesting message about forgiveness that kept me with it. There are a couple songs from Bruce Springsteen and Jewel that I have never heard that I really liked.
Audioscopiks (1935): This is my short film for the week which came from the DVD of TALE OF TWO CITIES which was featured last week. This is one of many short films narrated by the great Pete Smith. This one talks about the use of 3-D glasses and then shows footage of 3-d films of that era. There are many of the one or two reel films where Pete Smith narrates humorously about various topics. TCM shows these a lot so when you get a chance they are quite worth it. I am glad to revisit Pete Smith this week.
Them! (1954): This is my tribute to the late Fess Parker who had a small albeit important role. This is a movie which deals with the price of atomic testing. The atomic tests in New Mexico result in ants becoming very giant and deadly which threatens the state of the world. This is one of the better sci-fi films from that era where the direction, script, acting, and special effects all worked out. The ants were very well-done and believable. For all you DAVY CROCKETT fans, Walt Disney watched this movie because he was interested in James Arness who played FBI agent Bob Graham but ended up going with Fess Parker who he really liked in his small role of a farmer who no one would believe that he saw giant ants. So because of this movie, he was made an icon into the character of Davy Crockett.
Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story (2005): This is my second selection from the Random Myspace Profile selection process and for this one I chose West, Codename Mayor. This is a straight-to-video movie from the popular cartoon series FAMILY GUY. We then see everyone's favorite maniacal baby Stewie who sees a man on the news he believes is his father hoping that Peter is not his dad. He then sets out to find this man who he believes is his dad only to find that he is his future-self. Stewie then sees that in the future he has not taken over the world and does not seem to have any plans of world domination. He then looks to see what he must do to not end up like his boring future self. If you don't like FAMILY GUY you likely will not like this but even as a person who has not watched the show much I still really enjoyed this one. There are a lot of celebrity cameos like Drew Barrymore whose cameo film SCREAM was featured last week.
Cousin Cousine (1975): This is an On-Demand selection I made when I was at my dad's house and this was On-Demand from IFC free. I have not included a foreign language film in a while so I saw this as my opportunity. Jean Charles Tacchella co-wrote and directed this French film. Families all meet at a wedding banquet where celebrating with an elderly couple. Soon, two distant cousins meet an decide they should see more of each other. They soon form a very close bond but each of them have spouses who believe there is more to their friendship. This is a very interesting look at a family which is naturally a bit dysfunctional. I liked the teenage daughter who put together a slide show and took some rather vulger photos.
The Werewolf (1956): I found this interesting version of the Lycanthrope on Fearnet On-Demand. This is a version that takes place during Post-nuclear WWII. Steven Ritch plays Duncan Marsh who is injured in a car accident and is given a serum by two scientists which has a very bad side effect which turns him into a werewolf. The usual werewolf rules have really changed in this one. They don't need a full moon to change. What seems to change Duncan into a wolf is fear. A small town must band together after murders have been committed to discuss what to do with Duncan. Don Megowan plays the local sheriff who does not necessarily want to kill him but knows he must protect the town. This is a very nice take on the genre which has gone unknown so I hope to give this some exposure if it is available.
White Zombie (1932): I could not really find anything else older that I wanted to see on On-Demand so I turned to to the podcast series Cult of UHF. A man named Beaumont turns to a witch doctor, played by Bela Legosi, who wants him to lure a woman away from her fiance. What happens instead is that the witch doctor turns her into a zombie slave. Beaumont is not satisfied with her emotionless state and becomes a zombie himself. The fiance Neil hears she may still be alive and seeks her out. This was a pretty good 30s chiller and one of the earlier zombie films. Legosi was very entertaining in his role and yes this is where Rob Zombie got the band name White Zombie.
Pineapple Express (2008): When hanging out in the living room with my dad, he was going through On-Demand selections and selected this and saw this as a potential 10th film for this week which came true. David Gordon Green directed this film which was co-written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg. Seth Rogen stars as stoner Dale Denton who goes to visit his dealer friend Saul Silver, played by James Franco, to get some pot and gets a very rare kind which is of the movie title. Dale becomes the witness of a murder b a corrupt female cop, played by Rosie Perez, and a big crime lord, played by Gary Cole. When he witnesses this, he panics and drops his pot and they pick it up knowing the rarity and trace it back to Saul. Saul and Dale must then run for their lives as people are trying to kill them. This movie had some pretty comical moments even if it was a bit unrealistic. I really liked James Franco as Saul and thought he did a good job doing such a human portrayal of a drug dealer who is still likable.
Pop Skull
“Pop Skull” is a film that has won grand jury prizes at the Indianapolis International silm festival and Boston Underground film festival. It has also been premiered at the AFI Film Festival and internationally at Rome Film Festival. Now the film has been on DVD for a couple of months now.
This shocking film is about Daniel, a young Alabama pill addict, who has increasingly become addictive to pills and drugs. His downward spiral gets ever more worst, he collides with deadly sprits that begin to inhabit his house and haunt him. Soon, Daniel discovers that the home holds a deadly secret, which was the scene of a gruesome murder. As the force’s presence grows stronger, Daniel must stop these forces or else those murders are doomed to repeat again and destroy his life.
There are few films that you would be guaranteed to come out feeling like that you’ve just been on one bad acid trip, like Darren Afronosky’s first two films, for example. This was one of those films. It never lets up, as this becomes an acid trip in the first few minutes and never stops. It’s one of those films where you’ll watch the whole film and be horrified or you’ll just turn it off ten minutes into the film and never look back.
“Pop Skull” relies mostly on Adam Wingard’s direction. The direction here was very good, as he goes for a very chaotic approach when directing and shooting some of the film’s most horrifying images. He makes the imagery very dark, by using various techniques, as some scenes that were full of color and some that were dark and very bleak. This is where the acid trip analogy comes into play. Wingard also blends some of the film’s images together to give its surreal tone. He blends them in to give the viewer an experience that frightens your senses and mind. Wingard also does a good job making performances work within the context of the story, as they were very dark especially the lead performance, as I was sold on the fact that his character is on a downward spiral and losing control of himself. The performance helps makes this film, very effective.
The screenplay written by Wingard, Lane Hughes and E.L. Katz does a good job creating a level of suspense and shocking images. One of the reasons was that the writers did a good job focusing the film around a character, whose life is spiraling out of control. They do that, by going into the character’s state of mind. By focusing on all of his problems and how his addiction to pills has changed the way that he looks at everything, as it gives a frightening aspect into how addictions destroy people. The writers also do a very good job making some of the film’s scares works. The reason that they work is the fact that they come out of nowhere, because you have all of this bizarre imagery that grabs your attention to the point that you want to know how this is going to play out.
This is a very well crafted and shocking film. “Pop Skull” is a frightening and visually horrifying look at drug addiction and how it destroys people.
Review Rating: Five Stars
Visio Entertainment recently send over the official poster and trailer for " The Perfect Game", starring Clifton Collins Jr., Cheech Marin, Jake T. Austin, Ryan Ochoa, Emilie de Ravin, Patricia Manterola, Moises Arias, Louis Gossett Jr. and Jansen Panettiere.
Based on a true story, The Perfect Game tells the tale of a rag-tag group of Monterrey, Mexico youths in 1957 that discovered the joy of sandlot baseball under the guidance of Cesar, an aspiring Major League Coach thwarted by discrimination. The team overcame great adversity in order to compete in the 1957 Little League World Series where a miracle would cement their place in history and change their lives forever.
Living amidst the gritty poverty of 1957 Monterrey, Mexico, a rag–tag group of boys from the wrong side of the tracks discovers the joy of sandlot baseball under the guidance of Cesar, an aspiring Major League Coach thwarted by discrimination.
Armed with the dream of playing a real Little League game, the young players defy a total lack of resources, disapproving parents, and widespread prejudice to score their first Little League victory and find themselves at the beginning of a once-in-a-lifetime journey.
Relying on their faith, a warm-hearted priest and their love of the game, the nine players and their coach embark on an incredible, record-breaking winning streak that leads them across the border to America, and all the way to the 1957 Little League World Series where a miracle will cement their place in history and change their lives forever.
"The Perfect Game hit theaters on April 16th.
"The Perfect Game": Official Trailer:
Lionsgate recently send us over the second official trailer for "Kick-Ass" which nit theaters next month.
Lionsgate recently released the first official poster frp the upcoming Sylvester Stallone film "The Expendables", which hits theaters on August 13th.
THE EXPENDABLES is a hard-hitting action/thriller about a group of mercenaries hired to infiltrate a South American country and overthrow its ruthless dictator. Once the mission begins, the men realize things aren’t quite as they appear, finding themselves caught in a dangerous web of deceit and betrayal. With their mission thwarted and an innocent life in danger, the men struggle with an even tougher challenge – one that threatens to destroy this band of brothers.
Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone) is a man with nothing to lose. Fearless and void of emotion, he is the leader, the sage and the strategist of this tight-knit band of men who live on the fringe. His only attachment is to his pickup truck, his seaplane and his team of loyal modern-day warriors. His is a true cynic who describes what he does as “removing those hard to get at stains.” The team behind him is made up of Lee Christmas (Jason Statham), former SAS and a savant with anything that has a blade; Yin Yang (Jet Li), a master at close-quarter combat; Hale Caesar (Terry Crews), who has known Barney for ten years and is a long-barrel weapons specialist; Toll Road (Randy Couture), a skilled demolitions expert and considered the intellect of the group; and Gunnar Jensen (Dolph Lundgren), a combat veteran and an expert in precision sniping who struggles with his own demons.
When the mysterious Church offers Barney a job no one else would take, Barney and his team embark on what appears to be a routine mission: overthrow General Gaza (David Zayas), the murderous dictator of the small island country of Vilena and end the years of death and destruction inflicted on its people. On a reconnaissance mission to Vilena, Barney and Christmas meet their contact Sandra (Giselle Itie), a local freedom-fighter with a dark secret. They also come to learn who their true enemy is: rogue ex-CIA operative James Monroe (Eric Roberts) andhis henchman Paine (Steve Austin). When things go terribly wrong, Barney and Christmas are forced to leave Sandra behind, essentially giving her a death sentence. Haunted by this failure, Barney convinces the team to return to Vilena to rescue the hostage and finish the job he started. And to perhaps save a soul: his own.
Welcome to the 226th Edition of my long-running series. I am happy to say that I now have the Roku player to stream my Netflix instantly so some of my selection process will change but not much. This week I pay tribute to the late Mark Linkous, a musician most known for the indie band Sparklehorse. I have five selections from the Random Myspace Profile selection for this week. Next week will have at least one selection with possibly more but unlikely. I don't usually use this blog to rant on things but I have something to say in this paragraph which includes Farrah Fawcett. As many know, she was left out of the "In Memorium" segment of the Academy Awards. The decision was made on basis that she was "more known for television". Now Michael Jackson was included even though he is far more known for his singing. Farrah was remarkable in THE APOSTLE and would it have really hurt to put her picture up for a split second? I'm not asking for some all-out tribute like they did with John Hughes but to just exclude her name I thought was quite wrong.
Michael Jackson's This is It (2009): I start off with this documentary which focuses on the rehearsals for the planned London tour was sold out but was not meant to be due to Jackson's untimely death. It's unfortunate this movie was even made seeing as many wanted to see this live. However, this was some great rehearsal footage with Jackson working closely with other dancers on the show to get the best production possible. It was really cool observing him during the rehearsal process. He seemed like someone who really knew what he wanted but was very good to the people around him. This footage was originally just going to be part of Michael's private library and for the producers to observe. I had not listened in depth to Michael Jackson in years but it was great to take time to watch him work again as he was very talented and groundbreaking.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977): This is a selection from the Random Myspace Profile selection process and for this one I chose the Richmond Reviewers. Now I bring you one of Steven Spielberg's masterpieces and one of the best sci-fi films of all time. This movie takes place in my hometown of Muncie, Indiana so that was pretty cool even if it was not really filmed there. They did visit the hometown for props like getting a lot of Ball State merchandise. Richard Dreyfuss stars as Roy Neary who like many others believes he witnessed a UFO. He then becomes very obsessed with his findings and the musical notes he continues to hear in his head. He becomes so obsessed he ends up alienating his wife and kids. This takes him on quite a journey working with other UFO experts to find out what is going on and what they want. Francois Truffaut, Teri Garr, Melinda Dillon, Bob Balaban, and many others co-star. The special effects hold up in today's CGI world from Michael Kahn's first special effects movie he is very good at. John Williams wrote a good music score. Grateful Dead member Jerry Garcia supposedly is an extra in the India scene.
Year of the Dragon (1985): This is another selection from the Random Myspace Profile selection process and for this one I used Mickey Rourke Online. Michael Cimino directed this movie and wrote alongside Oliver Stone. Mickey Rourke stars as Captain Stanley White who is a New York cop put in charge of some murders in Chinatown. He has a prejudice towards Asians since the Vietnam war but is fair to the ones who obey the law and is determined to end the violence that was started by an understanding of the NYPD and the Chinese Mafia. The people who had to pay most are the people in his life due to his determination to end the rule of the Chinese mafia. Much of this movie was filmed in North Carolina with a very realistic New York set. I really liked Mickey Rourke in this movie as a cop on the edge. This is pretty violent and is not for everyone. Of course maybe I'm biased for being such a Mickey Rourke fan but I really believed him as the flawed cop determined to do the right thing whatever the cost.
London After Midnight (1927): This is part two of my Lon Chaney series and likely the last for right now. This was actually distributed through Turner Classic movies. This was something that was thought to be lost but some of the footage was found where they had to use still footage to put it together which was put together pretty well. Tod Browning directed this movie where Lon stars as Inspector Burke investigating a mysterious death thought to be suicide. Chaney probably had his best makeup job during one scene where he uses it as a disguise but unfortunately we cannot see a live-action performance of him in this part.
The Out-Of-Towners (1970): This is based on a story written by Neil Simon. Jack Lemmon and Sandy Dennis are a married Ohio company named George and Gwen. George has a job interview for a job in New York for a vice president job. It was going to be a simple trip for a possible job but turned out to be the misadventure of a lifetime when they lost their luggage, they could not find a hotel room, they get mugged, and many other things. The two stars worked very well together and were very funny where you were just pulling for them all the way through for George to get to that damn interview. Neil Simon wrote this directly for the screen when he found it might be hard to do it on stage with the numerous locations. This was remade in 1999 with Steve Martin and Goldie Hawn which I never saw but have not heard good things about. Look for Billy Dee Williams as the lost and found agent in the airport who one one of many that was threatened of a lawsuit by George. There were some very funny moments in this film.
Legends of the Fall (1994): This is another selection from the Random Myspace Selection process and for this one I chose the one called Young Kill Bill who is my friend Melissa who I worked with some at Muncie Civic Theater. Anthony Hopkins stars as Colonel William Ludlow who is discharged from the military and decides to raise his three children in a remote Montana location to keep them away from the government he has come to despise. Aidan Quinn, Brad Pitt, and Henry Thomas play his children Alfred, Tristan, and Samuel all in that order. They are a very close-knit family but the childrens' decision to join WWI and other betrayals threaten that bond in this beautiful epic. Julia Ormand also co-stars in this film. The performances in the movie are great. Edward Zwick directed this film which took him a long time to get it off the ground. I really liked Aidan Quinn the most as the son who was torn between what he wanted and his father's anti-government attitude.
The Killers (1946): This is a novel based on a story by Ernest Hemingway. This is one of the film-noirs that defined the genre at the time. Edmond O'Brien plays an insurance investigator named Jim Reardon. He decides to investigate the murder of a boxer named "The Swede" Ole Anderson, played by Burt Lancaster. This is based on a short story by Hemingway in terms of its beginning which was then expanded into a series of flashbacks that lead into the murder. In Reardon's investigation, he comes across a mysterious dame named Kitty Collins, played by Ava Gardner, who seems very involved in what happened. This was Lancaster's first big role and the name of Ole Anderson would carry onto the wrestling world. This was a very good-moving film with a great ending.
Jumper (2006): This is a selection from the Random Myspace Profile selection process and for the one I chose Carsten Kurpanek who has done his own short films has an imdb profile. This is a short film which he directed where a man is about to kill himself and an eccentric business woman tries to talk him out of jumping on account of her new car he could potentially destroy. This had some pretty good dialogue and was a pretty fun 8 minutes though I liked him 2007 short film THE WHITE ROOM better. This was still pretty good and both can be seen on his myspace profile at http://www.myspace.com/kurpanek.
Dandelion (2004): This is my tribute to the late Mark Linkous whose song IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE is featured here. ANGEL alum and MAD MEN star Vincent Kartheiser stars as Mason, a lonely young man in a small town. He then meets a troubled girl named Danny, played by Taryn Mason. They soon form a very big bond but Mason is taken away to a juvenile center for something he did not do. Arliss Howard and Mare Winningham plays Mason's parents who he has a very uneasy relationships with and Howard seems to care more about his political career. This is an independent film which I can't really describe very well but is a beautiful film in many ways and stands a place in history as the first movie streamed through my Roku player.
A Midsummer Night's Dream (1935): I end with this selection from the Random Myspace Profile selection process and for this one I chose the tribute profile to Olivia de Havilland who plays Hermia in her film debut. This is some rare Shakespeare that I am featuring here. I have see a few stage versions of this play which I have always honestly had a little love/hate relationship with through the years. I like some Shakespeare like ROMEO AND JULIET and MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING but I always thought this one is just all over the place. However, with the cast, the scenery and some pretty good special effects for the time I could look past my feelings for this a bit. Mickey Rooney was just very strange as puck even as a portrayal. He was actually 14 at the time. The all-star cast includes Dick Powell, James Cagney, Jean Muir, and many others. Cagney plays Bottom which is one in many in who I believe is the most versatile actor of all time along with the underrated Paul Muni. I guess if I ever get a part in this play I would be best for the role of Flute, played here by Joe E. Brown.
Well, that is it for this week. Tell me what you like and what you dislike. Stay tuned next week which includes an adaptation of Dickens, Carlos Diegues, Kate Winslet, and many others.
It was the teaming of Matt Damon and Paul Greengrass that made me almost completely forget that “Green Zone” was yet another movie about our current war in
“Green Zone” is said to have been inspired by the non-fiction 2006 book “Imperial Life in the
Matt Damon stars as Army Chief warrant officer Roy Miller, and we see him with his unit as they investigate a warehouse believed to contain WMD’s inside. Turns out that it doesn’t, and we quickly find that this is not the first time Miller and his men have come up empty. As a result, Miller begins to seriously doubt the intelligence reports that have been provided to the troops from a “reliable” but anonymous source. Endlessly curious about why he and every other military officer are not finding any weapons, and with the odds of finding them becoming as bad as getting the winning Lotto number, Miller starts his own little investigation into the matter. At the same time, forces around him continue to try and contain a potentially combustible situation that may soon become possible to control in the slightest.
Could this film be seen as “The Bourne Conspiracy”? Well, almost. Like Jason Bourne, Roy Miller is searching for the truth. Jason was looking for his true identity, and
It’s no wonder that Greengrass chose to work again with Damon on this film. Ever since “The Bourne Identity,” we have had no real problems in accepting the “Good Will Hunting” actor as an action hero (we were much more dubious about it back then). What makes him perfect for these kinds of roles is that Damon never descends into some clichéd portrayal of a soldier who thinks he’s all badass. Roy Miller is a down to earth kind of guy who is sincere in his quest to keep
What I really liked about “Green Zone” among other things is how it shows how the
You have the soldiers coming up empty, you have the CIA knowing that they will come up empty and not sure why, and you have special intelligence who knows far more than they are willing to let their own military be aware of. In the midst of all this, you have investigative reporters writing articles on Saddam having started up weapons programs again even though they have never been told who the source of this news is. They have to take the word of an official who ends up leading them around in circles. No wonder
Now there are a lot of people out there who have already been calling this movie “anti-American” and “anti-war,” but I couldn’t agree with that sentiment any less. Most of the recent movies dealing with war are more respectful to the troops than people bother to realize. As for those who assume that it is appallingly “anti-American” as it shows Roy Miller going rogue against his superiors (particularly Greg Kinnear’s character) in getting the information he wants. I wonder if those same critics had a problem when Jack Bauer does the same thing on “24.”
If anything, a lot of the recent war movies and have been more anti-mercenary than anything else. Be it “Green Zone,” “The Hurt Locker,” or even “Rambo,” mercenaries are shown stepping all over the soldiers if they have to, and we have since come to know that they make about twice of what the average working class soldier gets paid each year. The soldiers in these films have been presented as far more prepared and much more patriotic in their commitment to protecting our country. With the mercenaries, you get the impression that they wouldn’t even be fighting in the war if they weren’t making close to six figures. In comparison, the troops of the armed forces come off looking much better. Now if that isn’t pro-troop, then I don’t know what is.
It should also go without saying that there is a complexity to both the American and Iraqi characters throughout the film. You figure everyone would be on the same team regardless of what side they are on, but you come to see all the infighting that is tearing each side apart as they delude themselves into believing they are winning. One of the most pivotal characters in “Green Zone” is Freddy, an Iraqi who Miller befriends and who later becomes his translator.
In some ways, you could also say that “Green Zone” is a criticism of American military involvement in other countries, but director Greengrass doesn’t necessarily hit you over the head with that. Still, during the scene where Miller comes face to face with General Al-Rawi (Yigal Naor gives the role a good menacing quality), Miller comes to learn the truth of why military forces are really in
When Al-Rawi asks Roy Miller if he thinks American forces can seriously change anything in
“Do you think if you get General Aidid, we will simply put down our weapons and adopt American democracy? That the killing will stop? We know this. Without victory, there will be no peace. There will always be killing, see? This is how things are in our world.”
Once again, American foreign policy is rendered almost useless as the troops deal with unfamiliar territory. It doesn’t matter if technology has advanced so much over the years, our soldiers are still strangers in a foreign land. After all these years, do we really still believe we can change the tide of things?
Throughout his career, Paul Greengrass has never been afraid of backing down from topics that feel very touchy. With “Bloody Sunday,” he captured the horrible events of January 20, 1972 when British soldiers clashed with
Any other director making an Iraq war movie would probably have me running in the other direction to “Cop Out” or “Alice In Wonderland” (two movies I should have seen already), but not Greengrass. With “Green Zone,” he defies those who think that film should just be an escape and not a forum for national conversation. It’s an action movie that is designed to be as thrilling as it is enlightening. His aim is not to show how
In addition to Matt Damon, there are several other actors who bring their considerable acting talents to “Green Zone.” Brendan Gleeson is perfectly cast as Martin Brown, the CIA Baghdad bureau chief who has seen it all. Still, he is trying to cut through the BS that is hindering his efforts of controlling the situation in
It’s no secret that these characters are based on real people, but of course the names have been changed to protect the guilty.
“Green Zone” isn’t quite as viscerally exciting as the Jason Bourne movies, and it won’t go down as the definitive Iraq war movie (“The Hurt Locker” holds that distinctive honor), but it is still edge of your seat entertainment from a director who doesn’t even try to hold his camera in one place for very long. But not to worry, Greengrass films the action in a way that doesn’t make it all that hard to tell what’s going on. It also has that adrenaline racing score by composer John Powell which I am hoping to find on CD for far less than its $15.99 retail price.
Another key scene that comes to mind from this movie is when Roy Miller goes out to investigate a lead, and Kinnear’s character ends up cutting him off and cancelling his transfer to Brown’s CIA team. As he walks inside the CIA headquarters in
“You shouldn’t have been playing on the wrong team.”
It makes me wonder, when was the last time all of us Americans were on the same team?
***½ out of ****
After Dark Films Together with Lionsgate & Syfy Produces A New Generation Of Horror With Eight ORIGINALS Set To Release Third Quarter 2010
Building on the success and brand awareness of the After Dark Horrorfest 8 Films To Die For ® brand, After Dark Films, in cooperation with Lionsgate and NBC Universal’s Syfy, has created a new series, After Dark Originals (ADO).
Tapping into the vast and innovative talent of directors and filmmakers from Horrorfest’s acquisitions over the past 4 years, After Dark has taken the horror festival concept to a higher level. After Dark Originals showcases eight new cutting edge horror films spanning the genre. The mission is to create high quality horror films that provide After Dark full control from script concept through final editing. The first installment of ADO includes Husk, Fertile Ground, Scream Of The Banshee, Prowl, The Task, Re-Kill, Seconds Apart and 51. Notable directors and writers include Brett Simmons, whose short film Husk took Sundance by storm several years ago, Steven C. Miller of Automaton Transfusion fame, and previous After Dark writer/director Adam Gierasch (Autopsy). All ADO films were shot in the US and Bulgaria.
"The writers and directors in our After Dark Originals line are outstanding. We are excited to showcase their work and to give a home to all this fresh young talent that we will continue to develop over time", says After Dark Films owner and CEO, Courtney Solomon.
Currently seven of the eight films have been filmed and are in post-production. The eighth to slated to start production this month. All eight Originals will be released in Third Quarter 2010 with a new and innovative marketing and release strategy. Additionally, the second set of Originals has already been green lit and will start production in July 2010.
For more information, you can visit: http://www.afterdarkoriginals.com
Reunion of Terror
Year: 2008
Director: Michael A. Hoffman
Stars: Christian Anderson, Alvie Baker, Monique Barajas
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Disruptive Media Productions / Shock-O-Rama
Running Time: 80 Mins
Official Website: http://www.reunionofterror.com/
Movie Synopsis:
"Reunion of Terror" focuses on a group of six friends who grew up together and went to high school together. They reunite ten years after their graduation to throw a reunion party. They decide to rent a hunting cabin in the middle of the woods, away from civilization. Their party was going well, until a couple of the friends suddenly go missing without any notice. Soon the night of fun the six people were suppose to have, turns into a night of screams, as they uncover a secret that might kill them all.
Movie Review:
Reunion of Terror" is a suspenseful and shocking slasher film. Co-Writer / Editor/Director Michael A Hoffman direction was very good. He does a good job keeping the story’s action, while focusing on the characters at hand. Hoffman makes this film dark and creepy by through his editing, as it was very good. Also, I thought the scenery also contributed to its creepiness, which helps make it entertaining. The acting was also good here. The actors didn’t make their characters annoying, which made the film interesting. They also had that good chemistry, which is needed to have your interest, in these types of horror films.
Hoffman also co-wrote the screenplay with Meghan Jones, who is also the co-producer for this film. They did a very good job building the characters and the relationships that they had with each other. It makes the characters interesting and not dull and stupid. The screenwriters also provide a lot of suspense in the film, as it’s scary and the killings weren’t senseless or boring. But, what made this film good was it’s ending. I would love to go into this in a little more detail, but I’m sworn to secrecy about it. The only thing that I can tell you about it was the fact that the ending to Reunion of Terror is very original and very shocking. That’s all I’m going to tell you about, as I really want you to see this film.
DVD Extras:
First on the DVD, is the Audio Commentary track with Director/Writer Michale Hoffman, Writer/Co-Producer Meghan Jones and Composer Ryan Copt. This is a very good track, as the three go into the production of the film, through the various stories to the certain aspects of the characters to some of the problems on set. I also liked, the fact that it also does a good job going into the film's score and editing and the films that inspired it. By doing that, your getting some interesting tidbits All in all, this is a very informative track, but watch the film first before listening to this track as it contains spoilers.
After the commentary track,you have three behind the scenes featurettes. First, there is a five minute featurette called "The Music of Reunion of Terror". The featurette goes into the behind the scenes of the music that was used in the film, It has interviews from the composers and the director of the film, which give insight on how the final score of the came about.
The next featurette is "The making of Reunion of Terror" This eleven minute featurette does into the production of the film.This was not your normal behind the scenes featurette, as it mostly focuses on the troubles that this production had and behind the scene footage on set.
The last featurette is "Post Production on Reunion of Terror". The five minute featurette goes into the post production. It's a very interesting featurette, as this into how some of the various problems was corrected, during this process. Not a bad set of featurettes here each of them brought something different to the table.
After that, you have a blooper reel, 2 Deleted scenes, 3 Music videos and trailers from other Shock-O-Rama releases.
Final Thoughts:
Overall, this is not a bad DVD package, as the behind the scenes stuff and the commentary track did a good job explaining the production process that happened during the making of the film. Reunion of Terror is very frightening and shocking slasher film that will leave you with shock and awe.
Film Review: Four Stars
DVD Extras: Three and a Half Stars
"Reunion of Terror": Official Trailer
Alternative Cinema is set to release "The Shock-O-Rama Horror Collection" on June 15th
Dripping with bone-chilling terror and unearthly monstrosities, this special edition Shock-O-Rama Horror Collection includes four acclaimed films by veteran horror director Brett Piper. Whether Zombies (Shock-O-Rama), Mutating Insects (Bite Me!), Malevolent Spirits (Screaming Dead) or Military Experiments Run Amok (Bacterium), Piper’s practical FX wizardry and classic horror always delivers “one hell of a good time” (Bacterium, Gates of Gore).
Shock-O-Rama – Life imitates art when popular horror actress Rebecca Raven (Misty Mundae) battles a flesh-starved zombie hungry to bite off more than it can swallow. A gruesome, grotesque, horror comics-inspired monster movie adventure that Film Threat calls “creepy, erotic and bloody…(with) visceral thrills.”
Bacterium – An isolated outpost in the wilderness becomes a battleground between humankind and morphing microscopic monster in this gross-out shocker! When a handful of friends stumble upon the abandoned building, they come face to face with a biological weapons experiment gone catastrophically wrong. “Piper hits all the right notes in a symphony of drive-in theater style calamity…you need to see this film as soon as possible.” (Bloody-Disgusting.com)
Bite Me! –A crate of bio-engineered marijuana winds up at a strip joint after a drug deal gone bad, bringing with it a renegade DEA agent and a swarm of monstrous critters. Bite Me! Has “something for everyone: strippers, mutant bugs, violence, strippers, blood, car wrecks, marijuana, and lots and lots of laughs.” (MoviesForGuys.com)
Screaming Dead – A history of torture and unspeakable horrors await a sadistic photographer and his three beautiful models when they take up residence in an abandoned insane asylum. Starring Rachael Robbins, A.J. Khan and Misty Mundae.
SPECIAL FEATURES
Shock-O-Rama - Behind-The-Scenes Documentary, World Premiere Documentary, Producer / Director Commentary
Bacterium - Making of BACTERIUM, Commentary with (Producer Michael Raso & Director Brett Piper), Shock-O-Rama Preview, Shock-O-Rama Trailer Vault
Bite Me! - Documentary: “Making BITE ME!”, Documentary: “How to Crash a Car in 2 Hours” Documentary: “Festival of Fear” World Premiere Screening, “Making Movies” Interview with Misty Mundae, CKY “Shock & Terror” Music Video featuring Misty Mundae, CKY Mini-Documentary: Making “Shock & Terror” featuring Misty Mundae, Shock-O-Rama Trailer Vault
Screaming Dead - “Inside The Asylum” Documentary, Interviews with Director Brett Piper & Cast,“From Skin To Scream” Misty Mundae Documentary, NYC Movie Premiere Footage, Fangoria Weekend of Horrors Screening/Reception Documentary, SCREAMING DEAD Photo Gallery
