Here's an interesting piece of film news that yours truly came across of.

Breaking Glass Pictures has send us information that their upcoming release "The Summer of Massacre" recently was rewarded with a Guinness World Records™ award. Filmmakers Joe Castro and Steven Escobar were awarded with the honor of "Highest Body Count in a Slasher Film". You will be able to see this film, as it will be available to see in the comfort of your own home on Blu-Ray and DVD on January 10th.

Press Release:

The independent feature film, The Summer of Massacre has been awarded a Guinness World Records™ to Joe Castro and Steven Escobar for the "Highest Body Count in a Slasher Film".

The Summer of Massacre is a horror/slasher film that was produced by Joe Castro, Steven Escobar and Schroeder. Being independent filmmakers and having done over 10 films, both Castro and Escobar have been involved in every aspect of the film including writing, casting, shooting, editing, promoting and sometimes distributing the films themselves.

Following in the footsteps of Herschel Gordon Lewis's 1963 Blood Feast, producer/director Joe Castro takes audiences into a murder driven decathlon with 155 killings by eight maniacal, terrifying and relentless killers. Joe Castro wanted to break a world record because growing up on a goat farm in Helotes, Texas, just outside San Antonio, he was introduced to horror films by his father and his third cousin, Edward Perez. "We watched over 100 films over a summer and always longed to see more deaths in a film," said Castro. "Over the years, I accumulated ideas for a splatter/slasher epic and as an artist and director I chose to create a film that would be an anthology incorporating all of my ideas. Herschel always told me to make something that is truly original and that is why I made The Summer of Massacre".

Produced by Escobar Indie Pictures, Ltd and executive produced and edited by Emmy award winner, Steven Escobar, "The Summer of Massacre was independently produced between September 2009 and May 2011 with a total of 28 shooting days. After a full time job, I would go home and work many hours into the night editing pieces we had just shot to create Joe's vision. If it hadn't been for digital technology, Joe and I would not have been able to make this movie within that time."

The Summer of Massacre has already won 22 awards at 16 US and International film festivals including Best Horror Film, Best Visual EFX, Best Editing and Best Fight Sequence.

The Summer of Massacre is scheduled to be released worldwide on Blu-Ray and DVD by Vicious Circle Film (Breaking Glass Pictures) on January 10th, 2012.

Independent Entertainment has send us information for their upcoming DVD release "Zombie Allegiance". The film is the directorial debut from Tony Nunes, who wrote the screenplay for "The Disco Exorcist". "Zombie Allegiance" stars Sarah Nicklin (Beyond the Dunwich Horror, Nun of That), Brandon Louis Aponte (Nun of That) and Michael Reed (Nun of That). The film hits DVD shelves on December 6th.

Press Release:

Independent Entertainment, the newest home entertainment label under the Alternative Cinema banner, will release the post-apocalyptic film Zombie Allegiance Tuesday December 6, 2011 to DVD and Digital Markets.

Directed and produced by Tony Nunes, Zombie Allegiance stars Brandon Louis Aponte (Nun of That), Andre Boudreau (Atomic Brain Invasion), Carlos Brum (Splatter Disco), Sarah Nicklin (Beyond the Dunwich Horror, Nun of That), and Michael Reed (Nun of That) in a riveting and “scarily accurate metaphor* for our politically volatile times. As per the synopsis:
-* killingboxx.com

In post-World War III America, where the walking dead outnumber the living, a determined band of mismatched survivors scour hostile terrain in their quest for shelter and community. But not all the living they encounter are benign...

Chocked full of gore and dripping with suspense, ZOMBIE ALLEGIANCE presents “a sometimes scarily accurate metaphor regarding the current state of affairs here in the good ole U.S.A”.


The directorial debut of writer /actor Tony Nunes, a staple of the Rhode Island independent cinema scene, Zombie Allegiance is an ambitious apocalyptic undead saga that’s a must for lovers of zombie films and fans of independent filmmaking.

Fathead Films recently send up information about their new project "Trapped". It's a kid friendly film that will begin production in early 2012. The film will be directed by Keith Romine, the producer of "What They Say" and the screenplay being handled by Kelsey Zukowski (What They Say). The filmmakers need your help. They've started a IndieGoGO campaign and they are looking to raise $2,000 dollars in 62 days.

To contribute to "Trapped", you can visit the film's official Indie GO-GO campaign:

For more information on the film, you can "Like" the film's official Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Trapped/235245833207354

Press Release:

Fathead Films is proud to announce their upcoming short film “Trapped” to begin production in Belvidere/Rockford area early 2012.

Trapped

Trapped is a scary but kid friendly short film currently in pre-production and slated to begin principal photography in the Belvidere, IL area early 2012. The film Produced/Directed by Keith Romine of Fathead Films will primarily feature local Northern Illinois talent ages 8 to 18... and of course some adults to fill the roles of meddling parents, troublesome siblings and maybe even a villain or two.

The Concept

Keith Romine began toying with the concept that has evolved into Trapped in late 2010. Keith's purpose was to bring a 'scary' but kid friendly film to his acting students and other young actors in the Northern Illinois region. Inspired by his young acting classes in the Belvidere and Rockford IL areas Keith commissioned Kelsey Zukowski (What They Say) of Chicago to write a short screenplay stating he wanted a scary movie that (unlike most of his work) his acting students could audition to be in and actually watch once finished!

The Team

Kelsey exceeded expectations and after nearly a year of planning Trapped is ready to begin production. Keith has teamed with Berdella Endress (That's My Girl) to Co-Produce and has also brought on Stuart Wahlin (Hand of Glory) as Director of Photography. Keith hopes to see many of his current and former students auditioning but notes that auditions will not be limited to Fathead Films students and to avoid bias Keith will rely heavily on the rest of his production team to assist in casting decisions. Auditions will be held early December in the Belvidere and Rockford, IL area.

How You Can Help

Please help us to spread the word about our fundraising efforts! http://www.indiegogo.com/Trapped?a=14184&i=addr Share with friends and family via facebook, twitter, myspace, email and word of mouth. All of the funds raised will directly help bring this film to life covering a wide variety of expenses from providing on-set snacks and beverages, equipment, locations, props, extensive makeup and special effects in production to editing and effects in post production and full festival run to follow. Also follow us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Trapped/235245833207354 for up to date casting and all things Trapped.

Alternative Cinema's newest label Independent Entertainment will be releasing "Porkchop" on December 6th. The film stars Ruby LaRocca (The Super, An Erotic Werewolf in London), Erin Russ (Devil Sister), Ford Austin and Brian Gunnoe. Special Features on the DVD include: Audio Commentary with Director Eamon Hardiman, Behind the Scenes and Ian Speaks Featurette.

Press Release:

Independent Entertainment, the newest label under the Alternative Cinema banner, will release the 1980’s inspired back-woods slasher Porkchop Tuesday December 6, 2011 to DVD and Digital Markets.

Directed and produced by Eamon Hardiman, Porkchop stars Ruby LaRocca (The Super, An Erotic Werewolf in London), Erin Russ (Devil Sister), Ford Austin and Brian Gunnoe as a group of young campers who encounter the reality of a vicious and horrible legend, as per the synopsis:

Get ready for some serious partying, mayhem and gore ‘80s style in this deranged satire and celebration of classic slasher cinema!

A group of young campers head into the wilderness for a weekend of sex, booze and silliness at an abandoned summer camp – only to be picked off one by one by a blood-thirsty, chainsaw-wielding psychopath wearing a pig’s head mask. Who will survive? The cheerleader? The slut? The nerd and his anatomically correct talking robot?

Loaded with boobs, blood and ‘80s synth-pop, PORKCHOP reminds us it’s still not safe to go back in the woods.

Watch Porkchop and discover why it’s still not safe to go back in the woods!

Constellation.TV and Tent Full of Birds Production has send us information about the upcoming screenings of "The Carrier" on December 1st, which is also World AIDS Day. The film made it's world at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival.

"The Carrier" is a stunning portrait of both a family and a community caught in a desperate struggle to emancipate their next generation from AIDS.

The film will be screening at Constellation.TV website at http://constellation.tv/carrier at 7:30PM and 10PM EST. There will also be Q&A session with the film's director Maggie Betts at the end of each screening. Tickets are $4.99 each with a portion of the proceeds going to the Global Fund to fight AIDS in Africa.

For more information on the film, you can visit the film's official website at: http://www.thecarrierfilm.com/


Press Release:

The feature documentary, THE CARRIER, will host special (RED) online screenings on World AIDS Day, Thursday December 1st and contribute proceeds to the Global Fund to fight AIDS in Africa. On this day, viewers can watch the film by logging in at http://constellation.tv/carrier. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. EST and 10:00 p.m. EST, each followed by a Q&A with filmmaker, Maggie Betts, a longtime advocate, volunteer and philanthropist for the rights of HIV positive women and children in sub-Saharan Africa. Each viewing “ticket” of THE CARRIER is $4.99 with a portion of sales directly benefiting (RED).

THE CARRIER was an official pick by the International Documentary Association (IDA) for its prestigious 2011 DocuWeeks Showcase, qualifying the feature documentary for the 2012 Academy Awards®. It is also a nominee for the IDA’s Humanitas Award, an honor given to a film that strives to unify the human family by exploring the stories of people who are different in culture, race, lifestyle, political loyalties and religious beliefs. THE CARRIER made its world premiere at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival.

(RED) was established in 2006 to drive corporate profits into the fight against AIDS and has so far delivered over $180 million for the Global Fund. “We are so grateful for Maggie’s beautiful film and her support of (RED)'s work,” said Deborah Dugan, (RED) CEO. The Carrier is such an important and powerful film and shows firsthand how, with access to antiretroviral medication; an HIV positive pregnant woman can prevent transmission of the virus to her baby. It ties in perfectly with (RED)’s current focus of virtually eliminating HIV from moms to their babies by 2015."

Set against the backdrop of todays most urgent and contemporary plague, THE CARRIER is a stunning portrait of both a family and a community caught in a desperate struggle to emancipate their next generation from AIDS. First time director Betts delivers a story of hope, renewal, love and dignity as told through the eyes of an increasingly determined young heroine who refuses to be overwhelmed by the forces that surround her. With breathtaking visuals and a unique lyrical style, THE CARRIER is an inspiring and emotional testament to today’s modern Africa and a proud people struggling not only to understand and make sense of, but also persevere and overcome what has happened to their world. www.TheCarrierFilm.com

World AIDS Day is held on December 1st each year and is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, show their support for people living with HIV and to commemorate people who have died.

The Massachusetts Independent Film Festival has send us information regarding this festival that's taking place on December 1st at 7:30PM. The venue for the film festival is The Regent Theatre at 7 Medford Street in Arlington, Massachusetts. Also if you buy a ticket, you will recieve a copy Christopher Di Nunzio very entertaining film "Livestock". Supplies are limited.

To buy tickets for this event, you can head over to: http://regenttheatre.com/details/mass_indie_film_festival

For more information on the Massachusetts Independent Film Festival, you can visit the film's official website at: www.MassIndieFilm.com

Films Playing at the festival include:

“Her Heart Still Beats”

When Ed's wife comes home early from work one day he becomes over
taken by a strange feeling when he looks into her eyes. Disturbed
orpossibly just paranoid, Ed becomes possessed with his wife's eyes
and struggles to understand these feelings. Is she evil or is he
insane? They may not have enough time to find out.

Dir: Christopher Di Nunzio

“Microcinema”

Peter Martell is a highly educated well-to-do young man with a lot of
free time on his hands. He spends this time watching snuff films.One
day he makes the bold decision to cross the line from observer to
participant, aspiring to bring a philosophical element to his own
kindof snuff films. Ready to go to work, he tracks his first victim
into a haunted New England woods, where the line between participant
and observer takes a different turn.

Dir: Skip Shea

“Strangers”

Karen, a happily married woman in a bar meets a charming man.She
thinks she found a new friend until he tells her something about her
private life that he is not supposed to know. the phrase "don't talk
to strangers" proves more dangerous than she could possibly imagine.

Dir: David Trodella

“Duet”

An amateur musician is forced to complete the writing of a romantic
song for a goth band without his partner.

Dir: Christian De Rezendes

“Video Diary: Last Entry”

After a five year obsession of making video tapes to a lost love done,
a lonely man finds he has nothing left to say.

Dir: Skip Shea

“Last Bet, Last Mistake”

A lone gunman parked outside a apartment complex is waiting for the
right moment. Inside, his target is clueless to the fate that awaits
him. The two men started out in the same crime operation, but now
business, and jealousy have ended old ties. The tension builds until
there is no way out for either of them.

Dir; Christopher Di Nunzio

“The Loudest Sound”

Be the first to see a extended preview of the upcoming feature
starring Michael Reardon and Johanna Gorton. Michael and Alice are a
twenty something couple in Boston. Everything seems to be perfect
until lies, betrayal, and addiction tear them apart. While Alice is
away in rehab Michael must reconsider the limits of love and desire.

Dir: Jason Miller

Synapse Film has send us information regarding it's upcoming Asian horror film "Gurozuka", which is making it's from Japan. The upcoming DVD release will contain "The Making of GUROZUKA Featurette" and the film's original trailer. "Gurozuka" hits DVD stores stateside on January 10th.

Press Release:

A fun getaway turns into a journey to Hell for some unlucky teenage girls visiting an isolated house to rehearse and perform a play for their private movie club. Taking the trip with an adult chaperone, the girls learn that a previous club member supposedly went missing in the house, and another went insane! Shortly after they arrive, a mysterious videotape is found with footage of a violent killer wearing a Japanese 'deigan' mask. Is this footage faked—or real? Soon the girls' food and equipment disappear, and one of the girls is hauned by ghostly visions of the masked demon. Someone–or something–is in the house, and gruesome death awaits those who cannot escape!

Synapse Films presents Yôichi Nishiyama's GUROZUKA, a stylized horror film in the J-Horror tradition of the genre-bending Japanese classic,
THE RING, and the frightful ferver of SCREAM.

Welcome to the 315th Edition of my long running series. I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving. I will now be rehearsing this week for THE NUTCRACKER and on December 2nd and 3rd, we will be performing it during the Luminaria Walk at Minnetrista Cultural Center so bring your family out for a nice festival and to see a different version of the classic. By the way this is free. Let's now get to this week's recommendations.

Anvil! The Story of Anvil (2008): This is part two of my two-part rockumentary series and last week I used a documentary on the Pixies. Anvil is heavy metal band who formed in the 80s who had a lot of influence towards other bands but had very limited financial success. This movie focuses on the band members reflecting on the times and the family's thoughts towards them continuing to make music without having a lot of commercial success. It takes a good look into the personal lives of the band members who have to work regular jobs. It is something that I relate to a little bit. While I may not be a musician, I am a community theater actor and work at a call center but the theater is something that I enjoy doing even if I am not being paid though I have thought about a career in the industry. This also shows a European tour in 2006 and then shows the making of their 13th album. This is something that any entertainer like musicians, actors, and many others can relate upon and was a very entertaining documentary. This is available on Instant Netflix.

The Damned United (2009): This is my sports drama for the week that focuses on football coach Brian Clough. Remember, this takes place in Britain so this is the sport we Americans refer to as soccer. He gets the coaching job of Leeds United after years of hating their dirty style and wants to bring more integrity. STAR TREK alum Colm Meaney plays the previous coach Don Revie and we see through flashbacks Clough's resentment to him. Timothy Spall plays his assistant Peter Taylor who does not always agree with Clough's big ego. Sheen played this part of the egotistical coach very well and this movie is based on a true story. This is not the usual inspiration sports film but a character study on someone who has a big ego but wants to make things right when no one else around him will.

Speak (2004): This is my Showtime film for the week. Pre-TWILIGHT star Kristen Stewart stars as Melinda who is entering high school and having a hard time adjusting. She is also labeled a "squealer" because of her calling the cops on a summer party. She becomes a selective mute not being able to tell people of a horrible event that happened at the party but must find the strength to move on with her life. She also has a difficult relationship with her family also harboring the secret from them. Stewart was really pretty good in this film and it was a well done movie that I hope to put on the radar. Steve Zahn co-stars as an art teacher who helps get through to Melinda with art. This is one of those that many of us can relate to for when we were in high school.

The Birth, the Life, and the Death of Christ (1906): This is my short film for the week though at 33 minutes was probably considered feature length at this time. This is directed by one of the first female filmmakers Alice Guy which shows just as the title says. It was a pretty well done silent film and has many different small scenes to convey the life of our savior. This is available on a dvd called GAUMONT TREASURES: THE FILMS OF ALICE GUY. I got this on DVD from Netflix.

The Phenix City Story (1955): This is actually a true story that takes place in a little town of Alabama of the name. This is a semidocumentary which features a crime syndicate who are taking over the town. Richard Kiley stars as attorney John Patterson who is just coming back from the army and already seeing that his town is not in good hands. He then becomes the reluctant hero to make the town a better place. The beginning I thought was the best when it had a "newscast" explaining what we were in for and getting opinions of townspeople. This is part of a Film Noir boxed set and my next feature comes from the same DVD. Martin Scorsese considers this movie one of his favorites.

Dial 1119 (1950): This is the other movie on the DVD. Marshal Thompson stars as Gunther who has escaped from a mental institution. He soon murders a bus driver and then takes refuge in a bar where he takes the patrons hostage. I really like the way this movie played out. When in the bar, it had us get to know the characters before he did his thing. The one thing I was a bit upset about was that they were watching a wrestling match and no I don't know who these guys were, where they cut to that multiple times but then he made them turn it off. Otherwise a good hostage movie that has gone quite unknown.

Junebug (2005): Embeth Davidtz stars as "outsider" art dealer Madeleine who goes from Chicago to North Carolina to meet her in-laws and to pursue an unusual artist in that town. She finds that most of her in-laws are not the most welcoming besides her pregnant sister-in-law played by Amy Adams. Alessandro Nivola plays her husband George. This is an interesting independent film which is really driven by the characters and makes us really analyze this dysfunctional family.

Annie Oakley (1935): This a semi-biographical film based on the title character, played very well by Barbara Stanwyck. Annie Oakley is quite the female sharpshooter who gets hired to be part of Buffalo Bill's traveling show. She soon becomes tutored by Toby Walker, played by Preston Foster, who forms a relationship but becomes a big jealous when he must share the top billing. This is most known as the musical ANNIE GET YOUR GUN but this one entertains quite well with Stanwyck and the re-enacted Buffalo Bill show. This is available on Instant Netflix.

Splendor in the Grass (1961): This is based on the play by William Inge. Warren Beatty stars as Bud Stamper who comes from a pretty wealthy family. Natalie Wood stars as Wilma Loomis who comes from a more poor family. They form a relationship in which the families do not approve. Pat Hingle plays Bud's father Ace who is determined for him to go to Yale. This movie takes place during the depression and is a great movie of forbidden love with a very good ending. Elia Kazan directed this brutally honest film. Warren Beatty was good in his film debut. This is quite the classic drama.

Saving Private Ryan (1998): I end this week with this WWII drama directed by Steven Spielberg. This war film started a resurgence in this genre and was a very thoughtful film from Spielberg. Tom Hanks stars as Captain John Miller whose unit is assigned to find the title character who has lost three of his brothers and then get him home to his family. About the first 30 minutes of the film are of a very brutal battle which holds nothing at all back showing the horrors of war. Once you get past this part, it is not as violent for if you don't have a good stomach. Tom Sizemore co-stars as Mike who is a good friend of John. Matt Damon plays Private James Ryan and does not come onto the film until near the end. Spielberg cast Damon wanting an unknown actor for the part not knowing he would become an overnight star in GOOD WILL HUNTING which was out when this came out. Other people in the unit include Vin Diesel, Giovanni Ribisi, Edward Burns, Barry Pepper, Jeremy Davies, and Paul Giamatti. Look for a young Nathan Fillion in a scene that is a little more humorous. Ted Danson and Dennis Farina also have cameos in this film. The principal actors all went through actual boot camp training in preparation for the film. Spielberg did not have Matt Damon go through the training so that the actors would resent him in the scene where they show resentment towards him. Many veterans thanked Spielberg for his beginning scene for not holding back and showing the brutality of war. This is quite possibly the best war movie of all time and should be viewed at least once.

Well, that is it for this week. Tell me what you like and dislike. Stay tuned for next week which so far includes Kate Winslet, Jason Lee, and many others

FUN AND USELESS FACTS

Timothy Spall (The Damned United) plays Beadle Bamford in the 2007 film SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET. I played the part last October in a production of it at the Jay County Civic Theater.

Jim Broadbent (The Damned United) sang the song LIKE A VIRGIN in the 2001 film MOULIN ROUGE. My Facebook friend Ashley has played that song in bars and coffee shops where she has been booked.

TWILIGHT FRANCHISE
-Michael Sheen (The Damned United) plays the vampire Aro
-Kristen Stewart (Speak) stars as Bella Swan

Timothy Spall (The Damned United) plays Rosencrantz in the 1996 film HAMLET. Steve Zahn (Speak) plays the part in the 2000 version of the film.

Richard Kiley (The Phenix City Story) plays Richard Bravo in the 1985 tv movie BAD SEED. My Facebook friend Terry played the part in a version years ago at Anderson Mainstage Theatre.

Scott Wilson (Junebug) and Timothy Spall (The Damned United) were in the 2003 film THE LAST SAMURAI.

BATMAN FRANCHISE
-Ben McKenzie (Junebug) does the voice for Batman in the animated 2011 film BATMAN: YEAR ONE.
-Pat Hingle (Splendor in the Grass) plays Commissioner Gordon in the 90s live action films

Amy Adams (Junebug) and Timothy Spall (The Damned United) worked together in the 2007 film ENCHANTED.

Tom Hanks (Saving Private Ryan) and Amy Adams (Junebug) were in the 2007 film CHARLIE WILSON'S WAR and the 2002 film CATCH ME IF YOU CAN.

Tom Hanks (Saving Private Ryan) was a manager to Steve Zahn (Speak) in the 1996 film THAT THING YOU DO!

Tom Hanks (Saving Private Ryan) and Elizabeth Perkins (Speak) are love interests in the 1988 film BIG.

Tom Hanks (Saving Private Ryan) and John McIntyre (The Phenix City Story) were in the 1989 film TURNER AND HOOCH which was McIntyre's last film.

Anchor Bay Entertainment and Dimension Films has send us over a 3D Blu-Ray/Blu-Ray/DVD Combo pack of their latest release, "Spy Kids 4 : All The Time in the World 3D" starring Jessica Alba (Little Fockers), Joel McHale (TV’s “Community”), comedian Ricky Gervais (TV’s “The Office”), Jeremy Piven (HBO’s “Entourage”), Danny Trejo (Machete), Rowan Blanchard (The Back-up Plan), and newcomer Mason Cook—along with the franchise’s long-standing cast members Alexa Vega and Daryl Sabara). The film is already in stores, but you can win a copy from us.

To enter: send us an email to facontest@gmail.com with your name and address.

Please put "Spy Kids" in the subject line of the email.

Contest Ends: December 1st, 2011

Plot Synopsis:

The action packed franchise is back…with the next generation of Spy Kids! Marissa Cortez Wilson (Jessica Alba) has it all: married to a famous spy-hunting television reporter (Joel McHale), with a new baby and intelligent twin step kids, Rebecca (Rowan Blanchard) and Cecil (Mason Cook). When the maniacal Timekeeper (Jeremy Piven) disrupts her domestic bliss—threatening to take over the planet—Marissa comes out of retirement as a top secret agent. With Armageddon quickly approaching, Rebecca and Cecil are thrust into action! With a little help from some familiar Spy Kids friends, Carmen (Alexa Vega), Juni (Daryl Sabara), their faithful dog Argonaut (Ricky Gervais) and some mind-blowing gadgets, they just may be able to save the world!

"Spy Kids 4 : All The Time in the World 3D": Official Trailer

Anchor Bay Entertainment has send us over a copy of their latest release, "Sarah's Key" starring Oscar® nominee Kristin Scott Thomas (THE ENGLISH PATIENT), Mélusine Mayance, Niels Arestrup (THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY), Frédéric Pierrot (I’VE LOVED YOU FOR SO LONG), and Aidan Quinn (LEGENDS OF THE FALL). The film is already in stores, but you can win a copy from us.

To enter: send us an email to facontest@gmail.com with your name and address.

Please put "Sarah's Key" in the subject line of the email.

Contest Ends: December 1st, 2011

Plot Synopsis:

SARAH’S KEY tells the story of a decades-old mystery unsolved. A courageous life unknown. A family’s secrets untold — until now. Julia Jarmond (Kristin Scott Thomas) is an American journalist living in Paris with her French husband Bertrand (Frédéric Pierrot), assigned to cover the anniversary of France’s notorious 1942 Vel’ d’Hiv Roundup of Jews in World War II. She’s stunned to discover that Bertrand’s family apartment was the scene of an unspeakable incident committed during the war; his family has been concealing a disturbing secret; and a young French girl Sarah (Mélusine Mayance) holds the key to unlock the devastating truth. SARAH’S KEY is an unforgettably moving motion picture experience, “beautifully adapted to the screen from Tatiana de Rosnay’s bestselling novel” (Kirk Honeycutt, The Hollywood Reporter).

"Sarah's Key": Official Trailer

Camp Motion Pictures has send us information that they've acquired the distribution rights to Devi Snively's latest film "Trippin'". The film will be released in a limited 2-disc set that includes a collection of Snively's best short films. Death in Charge starring Marina Benedict (TORCHWOOD), Last Seen on Dolores Street (Comic Con 2012 screening and panel), Raven Gets a Life, Meat is Murder, Confederate Zombie Massacre, Teenage Bikini Vampire and I Spit on Eli Roth. "Trippin'" will be released in a limited edition two-disc set on April 10th.

For more information on "Trippin', you can visit the film's official website at: http://www.trippinthemovie.com

Press Release:

Leading independent film label Camp Motion Pictures and director Devi Snively announce a North American cross platform marketing and distribution agreement to release her award-winning shorts and feature Trippin’ in spring of 2012.

Trippin’, a festival favorite and Ms. Snively’s first feature film, has been called “funny as a comedy, sharp as social commentary and scary as a horror story, a success on every front”*, “campy as hell, full of drugs, gore, and sex, and loads of fun” as well as “a smart, multi-layered film which manages to avoid the genre-pandering and other pitfalls that have come to define today’s horror-comedy genre.”** To be released day-and-date with TRIPPIN’ across digital platforms and as ancillary content on the Limited Edition 2-disc DVD are Ms. Snively’s collection of short films including the AFI-produced Death in Charge starring Marina Benedict (TORCHWOOD), Last Seen on Dolores Street (Comic Con 2012 screening and panel), Raven Gets a Life, Meat is Murder, Confederate Zombie Massacre, Teenage Bikini Vampire and I Spit on Eli Roth.

In the horror black comedy, told from the perspective of the sole survivor, six friends road trip to a remote cabin in the woods with deadly results. A year later, the survivor meets director Devi Snively in a bar and offers the rights to his story for a case of beer and a role in the film. Trippin’ is that film. So, as the marketing kit proclaims, prepare yourself for a little sex, a little gore, some good and bad times with some good and bad buds. It’s a bloodier The Big Chill for a Kevin Smith generation…with a puppet!

Devi Snively commented,
“Our Deviant team is ecstatic to have found the perfect home for TRIPPIN' with our kindred spirits at the POPcinema/Camp Motion Pictures Distribution Network, whom we first met and instantly admired back in our earliest days on the genre fest circuit. We're so glad our two families will finally join forces and we're doubly excited to share our award-winning shorts on the DVD.”

Paige Davis, Director of Business Development for Camp Motion Pictures added,
“Trippin’ is a fresh and darkly comic twist on the beloved ‘cabin in the woods’ scenario, and director Devi Snively one of the most exciting new talents to emerge on the independent horror scene. I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to present her body of work to date to the horror community via our Camp Motion Pictures label.”

A series of screenings, signing and promotions in the NYC and Los Angeles areas leading up to the 04/10/2012 TRIPPIN release are currently being finalized.

Quotes - *Apocalypse Later **Film Radar

Anchor Bay Entertainment and The Weinstein Company has send us information for the upcoming DVD release for "Dirty Girl". The film starring Juno Temple, Milla Jovovich and William H. Macy. didn't have a successful theatrical run but garner some rave reviews from The Hollywood Reporter and The Huffington Post. "Dirty Girl will be hitting DVD on January 17th.

Special Features include an audio commentary with writer-director Abe Sylvia, as well as deleted and extended scenes.

Press Release:

Anchor Bay Entertainment and The Weinstein Company announced today the DVD release of the “hilarious” (Ariana Anderson, BUST) comedy, DIRTY GIRL, from first time writer-director Abe Sylvia. DIRTY GIRL, which won the HBO Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature at the 2011 Provincetown International Film Festival, features a top-notch cast that includes Juno Temple (ATONEMENT) in the title role, Milla Jovovich (STONE), William H. Macy (BART GOT A ROOM), Mary Steenburgen (THE PROPOSAL), Dwight Yoakam (PANIC ROOM), and newcomer Jeremy Dozier. In the same vein as such audience favorites as JUNO and LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, DIRTY GIRL heads to retail on January 17, 2012 for an SRP of $29.98 for the DVD.

In his review for The Hollywood Reporter, film critic Michael Rechtshaffen called DIRTY GIRL “a genuine crowd-pleaser.” Hellin Kay of The Huffington Post described the film as “A pitch-perfect comedy! Part John Hughes, part John Waters, and completely unique.” Wrote BUST magazine’s Ariana Anderson, “DIRTY GIRL will melt even the coldest of hearts.”

DIRTY GIRL is the story of Danielle (Juno Temple), the dirty girl of Norman High School in Norman, Oklahoma, circa 1987. Her reputation takes an unexpected hit when her misbehavior gets her banished to a remedial class, where she is paired on a parenting project with Clarke (Jeremy Dozier), an innocent closet-case with no friends. When her mother (Milla Jovovich) announces her engagement to her family-minded boyfriend (William H. Macy), mortified Danielle vows to get to California to find the father she’s never met! Clarke is desperate to escape being sent to military school by his homophobic dad (Dwight Yoakam) and repressed mom (Mary Steenburgen), prompting the two mismatched misfits to make their getaway: on a cross-country road trip that leads to an unexpected and serendipitous friendship.

The DIRTY GIRL DVD bonus features include an audio commentary with writer-director Abe Sylvia, as well as deleted and extended scenes. Note: Special features are subject to change.

"Dirty Girl": Official Trailer

Anchor Bay Entertainment has send us over information regarding their upcoming DVD and Blu-Ray release of "Texas Killing Fields" The film starring Sam Worthington, Chloë Grace Moretz, Jeffrey Dean Morgan will making its way to store shelves on January 31st. The only special feature announced is an audio commentary track with Director Ami Canaan Mann and Writer Donald F. Ferrarone.

Press Release:

Anchor Bay Films is proud to announce the release of TEXAS KILLING FIELDS on both Blu-ray™ and DVD January 31, 2012. Directed by Ami Canaan Mann, produced by Michael Mann and Michael Jaffe, and based on the real life, headline-making series of unsolved murders, TEXAS KILLING FIELDS is a haunting story of two detectives and one desperate race to catch a killer. The release also contains audio commentary with Director Ami Canaan Mann and Writer Donald F. Ferrarone.

Inspired by true events, this tense thriller follows Detective Souder (Sam Worthington, Avatar, The Debt) a homicide detective in a small Texan town, and his partner, transplanted New York City cop Detective Heigh (Jeffrey Dean Morgan Starz’ “Magic City,” The Losers, The Watchmen) as they track a sadistic serial killer dumping his victims’ mutilated bodies in a nearby marsh locals call “The Killing Fields.”

Though the swampland crime scenes are outside their jurisdiction, Detective Heigh is unable to turn his back on solving the gruesome murders. Despite his partner’s warnings, he sets out to investigate the crimes. Before long, the killer changes the game and begins hunting the detectives, teasing them with possible clues at the crime scenes while always remaining one step ahead. When familiar local girl Anne (Chloë Grace Moretz Hugo, Let Me In) goes missing, the detectives find themselves racing against time to catch the killer and save the young girl’s life.

Also starring Jessica Chastain (Coriolanus, Tree of Life, The Help), and Jason Clarke (The Great Gatsby, Public Enemies) Texas Killing Fields is an unforgettable and disturbing thriller.

Welcome to the 314th edition of my series. As some may know I recently got a part in a version of THE NUTCRACKER at the Minnetrista Cultural Center in Muncie during the Enchanted Luminaria Walk on December 2nd and 3rd from 6 pm to 9 pm. I will be the character of Drosselmeyer which I played 5 years ago at the Cornerstone Center for the Arts. That version was the ballet version of which I did more character movements rather than ballet but was satisfied by what I accomplished. In this version, this will be told more through imagery and only have five people in the show. I really expected there to be more and was quite surprised to find out that I got this part. I will actually be getting paid for this show which I have never been paid for the acting. I have been paid for the ring announcing in wresting but this is a first for me. When I first heard I got the part, I thought I must have some small part but for pay I was going to do whatever they needed me to do but I was quite wrong as I am reprising the part of Drosselmeyer. Hopefully the weather will not be too bad as the show will be performed outside. I'll go over more details next week on this. I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving and let's be thankful for what we have because it could be so much worse. Let's now get to the movies.

The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972): I start out with this French film from Luis Bunuel. This is a film that really does not have much plot but focuses on six friends of upper class who are trying to have a dinner together but keep having interruptions. Each character have their own dream sequences and even have dreams within dreams which are all done very well. This is a very unconventional and surreal film but is quite the classic among the French cinema.

Election (1999): It looks like I featured this around the right time as we have just had local election. This dark comedy focuses on the ever popular position of school president at a high school. Reese Witherspoon stars as the conniving Tracy Flick who gets the position every year unopposed and assumes in the senior year she will get it again. Matthew Broderick co-stars as teacher Jim McAllister who decides he wants a more democratic election and talks star football player Paul Metzler, played by Chris Klein, into running against her. Eventually his loose cannon sister Tammy, played by Jessica Campbell, decides to run herself. Jim does everything he can to sabotage the election for Tracy but finds his own life going downhill and also begins to stoop pretty low to get what he wants. This is a great dark comedy and satire with Witherspoon and Broderick doing a great job in their parts. This is a very underrated comedy that was produced by MTV and likely their best movie produced.

Teeth (2007): This was what I call a leftover for what I intended to use for Elizabeth's contest but I did not get to it as I was very busy. I see this would have gotten me quite a bit of points. This is another movie that shows the hardship of high school. Jess Weixler stars as Dawn who finds she has quite an advantage with men try to take advantage of her. She is first an advocate for things like abstinence but temptation arrives and is when she discovers her strange gift. NIP/TUCK alum John Hensley co-stars as her stepbrother Brad. This is a pretty fun horror/comedy but must have a good stomach and is not for everyone.

My Boy Jack (2007): This is my BBC film for the week which takes place during WWI. Daniel Radcliffe plays John Kipling, the near 18 year old son of famed JUNGLE BOOK writer Rudyard Kipling, played by David Haig. Rudyard is determined to get his son into the war to fight for his country and uses his influence to get him into the military even though his eyesight is very bad. John soon goes pretty high up in the military but comes up missing. SEX AND THE CITY alum Kim Cattrall plays Rudyard's wife Caroline and Carey Mulligan plays the daughter Elsie. The females of the family are more opposed to John joining the military and talk Rudyard into looking for their family member. Radcliffe showed in this movie that he can go past Harry Potter and Cattrall also put on a good performance showing she is more than Samantha from SEX AND THE CITY. This was a pretty moving film and a good depiction of WWI.

Spanish Fiesta (1942): This is my short film for the week which was on the dvd of last week's feature IN THIS OUR LIFE. This takes place in Spain and shows a group performing the ballet CAPRICCIO ESPAGNAL. This was a pretty entertaining few minutes and is good for classic short film buffs.

Anne of Green Gables (1934): This is based on the famed novel by Lucy Maud Montgomery. Actress Anne Shirley plays the title character whose name just happens to be Anne Shirley. O.P. Heggie plays elderly farmer Matthew Cuthbert and Helen Westley plays Marilla Cuthbert who is his sister. They are expecting to adopt a boy to help with the farm but instead get this red-headed girl who Matthew takes an immediate liking but Marilla must get a little more used to her. This takes a look at a young girl trying to adjust to a new society of people being a bit of an outsider. I had seen this as a play one time at Muncie Civic Theater and that version was a bit different. This is the first movie version I have seen. Shirley pulled the part of pretty well and is a pretty moving story.

The Next Voice You Hear... (1950): This is a movie on the Smith family. James Whitmore stars as Joe who works at an aircraft family. When listening to the radio he says he hears the voice of God and learns that other people heard the same thing. This continues to happen upon the radio in which some people react negatively and positively but focus most on the Smith family consisting of the two parents and their son Johnny. William Wellman directed this film and is one of his more unknown films. This movie is not the greatest but is watchable and interesting in the way the characters must rethink their beliefs.

Short Eyes (1977): This is a prison film which is based on a play by Miguel Pinero. Bruce Davison stars as Clark Davis who is sent to prison for being a child molester and finds that the justice within the prison is even harsher than the justice in the court. This movie in no way glorifies prison life and appears to be a pretty authentic look into prison though I guess I would no know since I have never been there. This would be a pretty daring play to actually do in most theaters. This would have to be done in the Muncie Civic Studio Theater is they were ever to take this project on. Look for younger Luis Guzman and Mark Margolis who have parts in this film. The writer of this play wrote this while in prison himself in Sing Sing prison as part of a writers workshop. When the movie premiered he was incarcerated for armed robbery and was said to have lived on the streets upon release even after the success of the film. This is a pretty overlooked prison film that I hope to put on the radar.

Chloe (2009): This is part two of a two-part Julianne Moore series in which I used CHILDREN OF MEN last week. Atom Egoyan directed this erotic thriller which stars Julianne Moore as a doctor named Catherine who is married with a teenage son. Liam Neeson plays her husband David who she suspects of cheating on him. She soon hires an escort named of the title, played by BIG LOVE alum Amanda Seyfried, to spy on her husband and try to seduce him. Soon, more unforeseen events end up putting others in danger. If I explain anything else I might give this away. This is by no means for everyone and is pretty erotic. I was actually watching this at home and my mom came back and surprisingly watched the last hour or so with me. I noticed she was at least intrigued by the film on what might happen next. I thought Seyfried did a pretty good job as the title character. I was also quite intrigued by the film up to what I felt was a good conclusion. This is not for the family.

loudQUIETloud: A Film About the Pixies (2006): I end this week with this rock documentary on the alternative band who were popular in the mid 80s to early 90s until their breakup. Kurt Cobain has acknowledged them as a big influence to him and many other bands. This movie focuses on a 2004 reunion tour they put on. A lot of this focuses on band member Kim Deal's rehabilitation with alcohol and Frank Black's family. There is a lot of reflection on events that broke them up. One of the highlights is a younger fan who learned of them through a book and wanted to form a cover band for them. The Pixies is not a band that everyone who reads this will know. I had some knowledge of them before the film but now I have a new respect for them and their music. This is a great rock documentary of an unknown group who may then make you look for their music on cds or the internet sites. This can be found on Instant Netflix and next week will start with a rock documentary.

Well, that is it for this week. Tell me what you like and what you dislike. Stay tuned for next week which so far includes another rockumentary, Michael Sheen, and many others.

Welcome to the 313th Edition of my long-running series. I don't really have a whole lot to say on this one so let's just get to the recommendations.

Into the Storm (2009): This is my biopic this week on Winston Churchill who most know was prime minister of Great Britain and this takes place near the end of WWII. This takes a look at his political and married life. Brendan Gleeson plays the part of Churchill and Janet McTeer plays his wife who finds their marriage hard while he is leader. Len Cariou is good as FDR who comes to admire the arrogance of Churchill. This was an HBO film and a pretty good look at times in WWII.

Children of Men (2006): This is part two of my two-part Clive Owen series. This is a film which takes place in 2027 which stars Owen as Theo who is a former activist turned bureaucrat. This takes place in a world where babies have not been born for 18 years. Julianne Moore co-stars as his ex-lover Julian who remains an activist and asks him to transport a woman who is miraculously pregnant to safety. Theo is very reluctant to take the job but takes it. Michael Caine is kind of the comic relief who plays Theo's hippy friend Jasper. He based this character on John Lennon. This is a very bleak futuristic film with Owen great in his role of the unlikely hero. This is not for everyone but is a pretty clever film and moves very well.

Maryam (2002): This is kind of my social drama for the week. Miriam Parris stars as the title character who is Iranian born but only really knows her American side. Her family soon takes in a family member from Iran who begins to make her question her beliefs and brings out secrets of her father. This is also around the time of Iran taking Americans hostage where they had to deal with prejudice because of their heritage. This was a pretty compelling film and kept my interest throughout.

Shoot the Piano Player (1960): Francoid Truffaut directed this French film. Charles Aznavour stars as Charlie who is a piano player who is in love with a waitress named Lena. Charlie's brother Chico is on the run from gangsters and takes refuge in the night club. We then learn a lot more about Charlie who was once a very successful pianist. Charlie then has to deal with his brother and the gangsters. This is a must for fans of the French cinema and a very well-shot film.

Good Table Manners (1951): This is my short film of the week from the always entertaining Coronet film series which did a not of informational videos which are mostly entertaining now. This shows a 17 year old boy who lacks table manners and is soon visited by his 21 year old self who teaches him these manners. It was quite funny and one thing I wondered was how that 21 year old even learned these manners to teach his younger self but oh well. I found this on the Pub-D-Hub app on my Roku player.

Faust (1926): This is my silent film for the week directed by the legendary F.W. Murnau. This one shows God and Satan at war with each other and battling for the soul of the title character, played by Gosta Ekman. Emil Jannings plays the part of Mephisto who comes to tempt Faust into eternal youth and falls in love with a young person but must decide what is more important. This was a very well done film for that era and kept my attention the whole way through. This is available on Instant Netflix.

In This Our Life (1942): I was looking for something from this era at the library and took interest in this drama. Bette Davis and Olivia De Havilland star as sisters Stanley and Roy, yes interesting names for women. Stanley is the bad sister who runs off with Roy's husband Peter, played by Dennis Morgan. In this process, Stanley had a fiance named Craig, played by George Brent, who she dumped. This is a great story of love and betrayal with Stanley then committing an ultimate act of betrayal. John Huston directed this film and his father Walter has a cameo as a bartender. Billie Burke who is most known for Glenda in THE WIZARD OF OZ co-stars as the mother and Hattie McDaniel plays the servant of the house. This was probably pretty controversial for its time and seems a bit overlooked today so hoping to get this on the radar. In real life Davis and De Havilland were good friends unlike Joan Crawford who did not get along with Bette Davis at all.

The Amazing Transparent Man (1960): This is my B-movie for the week which features a mad scientist named Paul. He soon makes plans to make a radiation to make an invisible army to sell to the highest bidder. He soon busts a criminal out of prison to experiment on the new formula with lots of side effects. That's the description, this is something where you get friends together to watch and crack jokes. This is available on Instant Netflix.

O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000): The Coen Brothers directed and wrote this film based loosely on Homer's THE ODYSSEY. This movie takes place in 1930s Mississippi which stars George Clooney as Everett who along with two other convicts escape from the chain gang in search for a treasure. The other two are John Turturro who plays Pete and Tim Blake Nelson plays Delmer. In the process they unexpectedly form a singing career while on run from the law. They meet up with many interesting characters along the way. John Goodman, Holly Hunter, Michael Badalucco, and many others co-star in the film. This is a great comedy that has the perfect soundtrack and carefully created characters.

Death Proof (2007): This is Quentin Tarantino's entry in the homage to Grindhouse in which Robert Rodriguez directed the other one called PLANET TERROR. In this film, Kurt Russell stars as Stuntman Mike who likes to prey on and murder women with his stunt car. He stalks two groups of women but one group turns out to be the wrong group for him who turn the tables on Mike. There is a great, climatic car chase near the end. Sydney Tamila Poitier, Jordan Ladd, Vanessa Ferlito, and Monica Staggs co-star as the first set of girls who are just out to have fun. Zoe Bell, Rosario Dawson and Mary Elizabeth Winstead are his next set of girls. To really appreciate the film, you must understand the Grindhouse concept. I liked the other a little better but Tarantino still delivers here. I'm hoping that sometime they release on DVD and Instant Netflix the whole Grindhouse series which was shown in theaters that has fake trailers and commercials.

Well that is all for this week. Tell me what you like and do not like. Stay tuned for next week which so far includes Luis Bunuel, Reese Witherspoon, and many others.

FUN AND USELESS FACTS

Len Cariou (Into the Storm) played Sweeney Todd on Broadway in the late 70s. My Facebook friend Jimmy played the part in our recent production in Portland, IN.

Danny Huston (Children of Men) is the son of John Huston (In This Our Life director) and grandson of Walter Huston (In This Our Life cameo). I feel Danny does not get the credit he deserves.

BATMAN FRANCHISE
-Michael Caine (Children of Men) plays Bruce Wayne's loyal butler Alfred in the Christian Bale era
-George Clooney (O Brother Where Art Thou) plays Batman in the 1997 film BATMAN AND ROBIN

John Goodman (O Brother Where Art Thou) and Danny Huston (Children of Men) co-star in the 2010 HBO movie YOU DON'T KNOW JACK.

Tracie Thomas (Death Proof) plays Joanne in the 2005 film RENT and on the final Broadway performance. My Facebook friend Amanda played the part in a recent production at Muncie Civic Theater.

Bellflower
Year: 2011
Director: Evan Glodell
Stars: Evan Glodell, Jessie Wiseman, Tlyer Dawson
Studio: Oscilloscope Laboratories
MPAA Rating: R
Running Time: 107 Mins

Plot Synopsis:

Before hitting theaters for a limited run, I was interested with "Bellflower", because the concept and buzz surrounding the film. The film recently played at this year's Sundance and SXSW Film Festival.

"Bellflower" follows best friends Woodrow and Aiden, who spend all of their free time building a Mad Max flamethrower car in preparation for a global apocalypse. One night, Woodrow would fall in love with a woman named Milly. Soon, he and Aiden would join Milly and her friends. This would lead the two down a road filled with love, hate, cheating and violence that that is more disruptive than their own dark fantasies.

Film Review:

If your looking for something totally weird, dark and off kilter, then "Bellflower" is the film for you. One of the things that makes this film work so well, the way that this film feels different from other films on relationships.

Writer/Director/Star Evan Glodell does a very job with the way that he shoots this film. From wide shots to the various specs that on the frames of the film, the images have a very unique feel to it. I don't know if that was purposely done, but it grabs your attention and keeps you from being bored. It’s those things that makes this film different. Glodell also does a good job making his performance and the other main performances work. The performances help further the story and feel like a film that is filled with interesting characters and not just weird images.

Glodell also does a very good job creating a story that feels like something that you've haven't seen before. He lets his imagination run loose on some of the film's scenes and props. The flamethrower car Medusa or automatic Whiskey dispenser in the main character's first car are two good examples. It gives the film its weird feel to it. The othe thing that I also liked about this film, it doesn't feel like an experimental film. The reason that it doesn't feel this way, there is an actual story going on. Glodell does a very good job focusing on the film's main relationships. He spends the time to develop the relationships around his main character through the happiest and darkest of times. It makes more of a effective film and it doesn’t have to rely on images alone to get you interested.

Blu-Ray Extras:

The first featurette is "Behind the Scenes of Bellflower". A good featurette that goes into the production of the film. The featurette gets the interviews that you want in a behind the scenes featurette. You get interviews from the filmmakers and actors that participated in the project. It covers the film's production through it acceptance into the Sundance Film Festival. That what made it interesting to watch.

The Next featurette, "Medusa Rundown: An In-Depth Look at the Hand-Build Car" is a very interesting look at the Medusa Car that was used during the film. Glodell goes into all the features that the car has and bring interesting facts about the car.

The package wraps up with seven minutes of outtakes, the film's official trailer, trailers for other Oscilloscope Laboratories’' releases and a DVD copy of the film.

The only problem that I had with this package was that it was lacking an audio commentary track.

Final Summary:

I know that "Bellflower" might not appeal to everyone, but this is very good visual and imaginative film on a limited budget. I highly recommend checking this film out, if your a fan of independent cinema.

Film Review: Five Stars

DVD Extras: Two and a Half Stars

Image Entertainment has send us over information regarding the upcoming DVD and Blu-Ray release of "Nude Nuns With Big Guns". The exploitation film with hitting store shelves on February 14th just in time for valentine's day. No special features were announced at this time. Retail price is $27.97 for DVD and $29.97 for Blu-Ray.

For more information on this film, you can visit the film's official website at: http://www.nudenunswithbigguns.com/

Press Release:

The convent: a place of peace and quiet, a retreat for the cultivation of spirituality. Hardly the backdrop for criminality, abuse – and revenge! On February 14, 2012, Image Entertainment presents Nude Nuns with Big Guns – a story of good vs. evil; of a war fought in the most unlikely of places. An epic adventure in the grindhouse tradition, Nude Nuns with Big Guns will be available on DVD for an MSRP of $27.97 and on Blu-ray™ for an MSRP of $29.97. Pre-book is January 17, 2012.

Shortly after entering a convent, Sister Sarah becomes enslaved and victimized by drug-pushing predators that lurk within that haven. Suddenly there is only one message that matters to Sarah – and it isn’t a divine one! Seeking revenge against those who would desecrate her heavenly refuge, she becomes a sister of no mercy. Changing her spiritual vows to earthly vengeance, Sarah goes on a rampage against these unholy men and their profane partners in crime, a gang known as Los Muertos. Packed with sex, violence, and unhallowed havoc, Nude Nuns with Big Guns is cut from the same cloth as the great drive-in action classics – a celestial grindhouse experience!

Starring Asun Ortega (“Friends with Benefits”), David Castro (The Lincoln Lawyer), and Perry D’Marco (“Malcolm In The Middle) Nude Nuns with Big Guns is an tale of retribution and justice…where charity ends and cruelty begins! Against Sarah’s righteous anger, her enemies haven’t a prayer of a chance!

For your sweetheart this Valentine’s Day, nothing says “I love you” like Nude Nuns with Big Guns!

Image Entertainment has send us information regarding the final stop on the "Chillerama" Road Show. The film will be showing at the Marquee at UW Madison this friday night at 11:59 PM. This will be a free screening, as this is being presented by the Madison Horror Festival.

For more information this film on the "Chillerama" road tour, you can visit the official site at: www.chillerama.com.

Press Release:

On behalf of Image Entertainment and Ariescope Pictures, we would like to thank all the fans who came out to see CHILLERAMA on the big screen during the Roadshow Tour the last three months. Now, as we get closer to the November 29th home theater debut, we proudly announce the final Roadshow engagement.

Please see the information below on the ultimate midnight Roadshow screening of the “ultimate midnight movie!”

DATE: Friday, November 18th
TIME: 11:59pm -- FREE SCREENING!
WHERE: The Marquee at UW Madison
1308 West Dayton Street
http://madisonhorror.net/

DETAILS: Produced by ArieScope Pictures and in the spirit of classic “omnibus” films like Dead of Night, Tales From the Crypt, Creepshow and Twilight Zone: The Movie, CHILLERAMA offers something for every bad taste. With titles like “Wadzilla,” “I Was A Teenage Werebear,” The Diary of Anne Frankenstein,” and “Zom-B-Movie,” CHILLERAMA features appearances by Joel David Moore (Avatar, Hatchet), Lin Shaye (Insidious), Ray Wise (X-Men: First Class), Kane Hodder (Hatchet and Hatchet II), Eric Roberts (The Dark Knight, Sharktopus) and more cameos than one can (body)count, CHILLERAMA is a festival of gore, guts, goofiness and good times. For more information, check out www.chillerama.com.

Lionsgate this morning on "Good Morning America" released the official trailer for their upcoming film "The Hunger Games". The film is based on the best selling novel from Suzanne Collins. There's a second film based on this popular series called "Catching Fire", which is already in the works with a targeted 2013 release date. "The Hunger Games" starring Jennifer Lawrence, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Lenny Kravitz, Amandla Stenberg, Alexander Ludwig, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth hits theaters on March 23, 2012.

For more information on "The Hunger Games", you can visit the film's official website at: http://www.thehungergamesmovie.com/.

Press Release:

The full trailer for the highly anticipated upcoming film THE HUNGER GAMES, which will be released by Lionsgate on March 23, 2012, debuted today. Following its national broadcast premiere on ABC’s Good Morning America in which the trailer was introduced by Josh Hutcherson, it was made available worldwide on iTunes Movie Trailers (www.itunes.com/trailers). The trailer can be viewed here.

In an attempt to preserve the anticipation and mystery that fans are relishing, the trailer only shows footage from the first half of the film, chronicling events leading up to but not including the Games themselves. After giving fans their first look at all of the book’s beloved characters brought to life, giving viewers who haven’t read the book vital information about the world of Panem, the trailer ends with an electrifying cliffhanger right as Katniss enters the arena.

"The Hunger Game": Official Trailer

Xenon Pictures recently announced that "A Warrior's Heart" will be making its way into theaters in limited release. The film starring Kellan Lutz and Ashley Greene (“The Twilight Saga”) Chord Overstreet ("Glee"), Adam Beach (“Cowboys and Aliens”), and Gabrielle Anwar (“TV’s “Burn Notice"). will be hitting theaters in NY and LA on December 2nd and in select theaters on December 9th.

For more information on this film, you can visit the film's official Facebook page at at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Warriors-Heart-The-Movie/289014794456807

Press Release:

Kellan Lutz, who co-stars in this weekend’s #1 movie “Immortals” will be taking on his first starring role in the critically acclaimed “A Warrior’s Heart.” Written by Martin Dugard and directed by Mike Sears, “A Warrior’s Heart” stars Kellan Lutz and Ashley Greene (“The Twilight Saga”) Chord Overstreet ("Glee"), Adam Beach (“Cowboys and Aliens”), and Gabrielle Anwar (“TV’s “Burn Notice").

Screened at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival to enthusiastic cheers, “A Warrior’s Heart” will premiere in New York City and Los Angeles on December 2nd and open in select theaters around the country on December 9th.

Not only have early screenings of “A Warrior’s Heart” been met with overwhelmingly positive reviews but fans of super hot stars Kellan Lutz, Ashley Greene and Chord Overstreet have been flooding Twitter to tweet news of the film’s release.

Best known for their roles as Emmett and Alice Cullen in the "Twilight" movies, Kellan Lutz and Ashley Greene’s incredibly moving performances have been getting a lot of positive buzz and the arduous training Kellan and co-star Chord Overstreet undertook to play star lacrosse players has earned critical praise at early screenings.

In shock and denial over his Marine father’s death, high school lacrosse star Conor Sullivan (Kellan Lutz) starts acting out in self destructive ways including a violent on-field clash with his long-time nemesis (Chord Overstreet). To straighten him out, his mother (Gabrielle Anwar) sends him to a wilderness lacrosse camp run by his dad’s Native American combat buddy (Adam Beach). Strengthened by the love and support from his girlfriend Brooklyn (Ashley Greene) Conor embraces the game’s Native American roots and open his eyes to the true meaning of sportsmanship and life.

Producers Jamie Thompson, Steven Istock and Marc Spizzirri describe the movie as “a romantic and heartfelt family friendly teen love story.”

Frankenhooker
Year: 1990
Director: Frank Henenloter
Stars: James Lorinz, Patty Mullen, Charlotte J. Helmkamp
Studio: Synapse Films
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 85 Mins

Film Synopsis:

"Frankenhooker" is a low budget horror film from director Frank Henenloter. Henenloter is known for his cult classics "Basket Case" and "Brain Damage". His film 'Frankenhooker" was released in 1990 to not much fanfare, but over the years the film has gained a cult following.

The film is about a medical student dropout, who finds his fiancée chopped to pieces by his remote control lawnmower. Instead of mourning her death, his uses his medical knowledge to bring what ever Is left of his fiancée to life. He begins to reassemble her, through body parts of dead New York City hookers. Once brought back to life, his fiancée’s brain is scrambled and escapes his laboratory. Now on the streets of New York with the mind of a hooker, she is running around turning tricks and giving high voltage to her customers.

Film Review:

"Frankenhooker" is one bizarre film that manages to be funny and demented at the same time. Director Frank Henenlotter does a very good job making the material very funny and entertaining through his direction. One of the things that he does so well, he makes the bizarre elements work with the film's context. I liked, the way that he handles death sequences. There are many death scenes that are far out crazy and original that would you explode. Another thing that makes his direction work, the way that he handles the movements of the title character. I liked how he spends time getting the movements of the character down. It works effectively to the point that it generates laughs. That's what you what to see, in a demented film like this. The film also has some very good effects, especially in the last third of the film. It gives the film the lift that it needs for it be a very effective horror/comedy.

The screenplay written by Henenlotter and Robert Martin is so far out for a film that is inspired from "Frankenstein". One of things that this screenplay does very well, it balances the weird and funny elements. I liked, how they were able to do that with the story. By balancing them out, it doesn't let the weird elements goes overboard until the moment that is needed in the story. The other thing that I liked about this screenplay, the death scenes were creative. Death scenes is what makes good horror films. This film is very good, due to the part that the death scenes were thought out. From characters bodies exploding to the final death scene, there is a sense of creativity that the writers come up with.

Blu-Ray Extras:

First on the Blu-Ray is the audio commentary track with director/co-writer Frank Henenlotter and make-up effects designer Greg Bartalos. This is a very good commentary track that makes up for the lack of a retrospective featurette. This track is filled with information, through the filmmaking process of this film. This provides a lot of very good facts from the production to some of the various stories that happened during the filmmaking process. Overall, a very good commentary track that is a must listen for fans of the film.

Next of the disc is "A Salad Once Named Elizabeth“. This nine minute featurette focuses on the film's star Patty Mullen, who plays the title character in the film. It's a basic Q&A interview that goes into her experiences when making the film.

The next featurette on the disc is "A Stitch in Time: The Make-Up Effects of Frankenhooker". This featurette is hosted by Gabe Bartalos. He goes into details how the film's make-up effects are created. Along the way, its inserted with behind the scenes footage and stills that were shot during the making of the film. The only problem that I had with this featurette was the fact that he shoots all his segments regarding himself in four different place. One place is good enough, so its not distracting. Besides that, this is an interesting look at the make-up process.

After that featurette is "Turning Tricks: Jennifer Delora Remembers Frankenhooker“. The nineteen minute featurette goes Jennifer Delora's experiences into her small roll in the film. It goes into the behind the scenes of the film and provides more stories about the filmmaking.

The final featurette is Jennifer Delora's Frankenhooker Photo Scrapbook. The featurette is basically shows old polaroids from Delora's personal collection that were taken during her time on the film. The featurette also has Delora talking about each of the photos. It provides more stories from the behind of the scenes, which makes this better that your average stills extra.

Finally, the disc wraps up with the film's official trailer

Final Summary:

If you’re a fan of exploitation cinema or director Frank Henenloter, you will enjoy this film. “Frankenhooker” is very funny and weird film that’s very entertaining from end to end.

Review Rating: Four Stars

DVD Extras: Three and a Half Stars

If it wasn’t for the presence of Michael Shannon, 13 would be a rather amusing but otherwise perfunctory remake of a film that didn’t need it. 13 Tzameti was a perfectly acceptable and entertaining film that didn’t necessarily scream to be remade with a high profile, English speaking cast. It’s fitting that the remake is finding its way direct to video in an odd sense; it would’ve been a curiosity, nothing more, in theatres and on DVD it becomes much moreso.

The film has a fairly simple plot. Vince is an electrician (Sam Riley) with money problems who opts to assume the identity of a dead man and take a high paying job with little detail to it. He knows nothing about it at first, bluffing his way inside until he finds the disarming truth. He’s there to be a part of a highly illegal Russian Roulette tournament against a handful of other men, with the stakes being exorbitantly high and the rewards potentially bigger. Handled by a pair expecting the man he replaced, the tournament has a handful of quirky characters. Patrick Jefferson (Mickey Rourke) is a cowboy who gets sold into it after being bailed out of a Tijuana jail. Ronald Bagges (Ray Winstone) is sprung from a mental institution to compete for his brother Jasper (Jason Statham), a wealthy man trying to become much wealthier in the competition. As the competition continues, we find the breaking points of all the men leading to a violent conclusion.

And the film, fairly faithful to the original in part because it was written and directed by the same man (Géla Babluani), with some details changed up to make it appear to not be a shot for shot remake of the film. The film is essentially that, however; a shot for shot remake. Enough has been changed to make it just slightly different but it’s the same film for the most part. There isn’t much of a change to the inherent story or plotline about a desperate man trying to play the odds in a blood sport.

The problem comes from the fact that most of the cast isn’t all that good in it, which is surprising considering how strong it is.

The only one who seems to be having fun with the film is Shannon, who is so gleefully over the top that the rest of the cast seems inadequate in comparison. Shannon, in a small part, is so deliciously over the top that the film elevates out of its mediocrity every time he’s in it. When the film relies on Riley to carry the film it sinks; he’s a worthy protagonist but he isn’t written well in this version of the film for the genre. It is trying too hard to be scary instead of terse; it’s as if the remake of the film was intended to be a horror film and not a dramatic thriller, where the mayerial tends to go.

This is a film that tries to have more of a horror aesthetic when its material is inherently more dramatic than horrifying. It’s a tone problem and Babluani just can’t quite get the tone right. It’s a fairly acceptable film for the direct to video market, where standards are lower for quality, and it’s easy to see why the film went that route. It’d be more laughable, like Nic Cage and Trespass, than dramatic in that setting.

There are no extras on the DVD.

Anchor Bay Entertainment recently released the offical poster for the upcoming Roger Corman documentary "Corman's World. The film takes a look at the one of the most influential filmmaker's of all time. "Corman's World set to hit select theaters in December.

Plot Synopsis:

Blue jeans, sock-hops and drive-in movies: the Fifties were America’s age of innocence. But stalking the depths of its post-nuclear bliss, mass paranoia became fuel for Joseph McCarthy’s brand of Red Scare terror propaganda. Bomb shelters were a deluxe feature in every American home, government-sponsored educational reels promised an imminent nuclear threat from across the Atlantic, and Hollywood, Babylon of the western world, hung on the brink of collapse. It was here, in the last-ditch machinations of a dying juggernaut, that a mild-mannered, civil engineer’s son would become the most influential force in modern moviemaking. Corman's World tracks the triumphant rise of Hollywood’s most prolific writer-director-producer, the true godfather of independent filmmaking.

"Corman's World: Official Trailer

Finally, Darren Lynn Bousman's remake of the Troma classic "Mother's Day" has found a distributor. Anchor Bay Films has recently announced that they've acquired the North American rights to the film. The remake stars Rebecca DeMornay, Jamie King, Deborah Ann Woll and Shawn Ashmore and produced by "Tower Heist" director Brett Rattner. No release date has been announced at time.

For more information on this film, you can visit the film's official website at: http://www.mothersdaythemovie.com/

Press Release:

Anchor Bay Films has announced today it has acquired the horror film Mother’s Day, directed by Saw veteran Darren Lynn Bousman and starring Rebecca DeMornay, Jamie King, Deborah Ann Woll and Shawn Ashmore. The film is a loose remake of the original Troma film of the same name directed by Charles Kaufman. The announcement, which includes rights North American rights, was made by Bill Clark, President of Anchor Bay Entertainment.

“With Saw’s Darren Lynn Bousman at the helm, and a cast featuring DeMornay, Ashmore and Woll, Mother’s Day has an unbeatable horror pedigree,” noted Kevin Kasha, Executive Vice President, Acquisitions and Co-Productions. “We’re thrilled to add this chiller to the Anchor Bay Films roster of terror classics.”

After a bank robbery gone wrong, three brothers head for home…only to discover that their mother lost the house in a foreclosure. The new owners and their guests, gathered for an ill-timed birthday party, become the brothers’ unwitting hostages. Their mother and sister arrive, and it soon becomes obvious that Mother will do absolutely anything to protect her children. In one terrifying evening, Mother brilliantly takes control of the situation and masterminds her sons’ escape. Sides will be taken, secrets revealed, and sins punished as the hostages struggle to make it through the night.

Mother’s Day is directed by Darren Lynn Bousman (Saw II – IV), produced by Brett Ratner and Richard Saperstein with Jay Stern, Brian Witten, Jessie Rusu, Curtis Leopardo and Shara Kay. It stars Rebecca DeMornay (The Hand That Rocks The Cradle, The Wedding Crashers), Jamie King (Sin City, The Spirit), Deborah Ann Woll (“True Blood”), Patrick John Flueger (“Footloose”) and Shawn Ashmore (X-Men 2, Frozen). Mother’s Day is presented by LightTower Entertainment in association with Widget Films, The Genre Company and Rat Entertainment.

Mother’s Day is "a relentless feat that forced me to reconsider what American horror is capable of…" said Ain’t it Cool News. Dread Central added, “Mama's boys have once again made their mother very proud.”

The deal was negotiated by Josh Thomashow and Kevin Kasha for Anchor Bay Films and Ben Weiss from Paradigm for the film.

The "Chillerama" roadshow makes it's way to Cincinnati,OH and Atlanta, GA this upcoming saturday the 12th. First, the film be showing at 5PM at the HorrorHound Weekend Convention in Cincinnati OH. Then later in the night, the film will be playing at the Buried Alive Film Festival at the Plaza Theater in Atlanta GA at 9PM.

For more information this film and upcoming stops on the "Chillerama" road tour, you can visit the official site at: www.chillerama.com.

Press Release:

CHILLERAMA Roadshow Engagement Hits the Conventions in Atlanta and Cincinnati!

Please see the information below for this week’s CHILLERAMA Roadshow theatrical screenings for this weekend:

DATE: Saturday, November 12th
TIME: 5:00pm
WHERE: HorrorHoundWeekend Convention
Crowne Plaza Cincinnati North
11320 Chester Road
Cincinnati, Ohio 45246
http://horrorhoundweekend.com

DATE: Saturday, November 12th
TIME: 9:00pm
WHERE: Buried Alive Film Festival – Atlanta’s Premier Horror Film Festival
Plaza Theater
1049 Ponce De Leon Avenue
Atlanta, GA 30306
http://buriedalivefilmfest.com/

DETAILS: Produced by ArieScope Pictures and in the spirit of classic “omnibus” films like Dead of Night, Tales From the Crypt, Creepshow and Twilight Zone: The Movie, CHILLERAMA offers something for every bad taste. With titles like “Wadzilla,” “I Was A Teenage Werebear,” The Diary of Anne Frankenstein,” and “Zom-B-Movie,” CHILLERAMA features appearances by Joel David Moore (Avatar, Hatchet), Lin Shaye (Insidious), Ray Wise (X-Men: First Class), Kane Hodder (Hatchet and Hatchet II), Eric Roberts (The Dark Knight, Sharktopus) and more cameos than one can (body)count, CHILLERAMA is a festival of gore, guts, goofiness and good times. For more information, check out www.chillerama.com.

Welcome to the 312th Edition of my long running series and I have now been going for six years. I just want to thank everyone who has supported me through the years who actually reads these to get their recommendations. This week I seemed to focus a lot on musicals which gave me an idea to do a special edition in the first week of 2012 which will involve music. It will include live musical theater, live concerts, and musicals both live-action and animated. This will involve some long-term thought on my end and hope to give you all the best in that edition. I am now back to my normal life. I am not really sure when and where my next show will be but will let know as soon as it happens. Let me now get to my ten recommendations for the week.

Moulin Rouge (2001): I decided to start with this musical directed by Baz Luhrman and one is one of my favorite movies. This movie takes place in France at the infamous Moulin Rouge where modern day music is cleverly worked into the year 1900. Ewan McGregor stars as Christian, a struggling writer obsessed with love and joins a Bohemian acting group headed by John Leguizamo. He then goes to the Moulin Rouge meeting and falling in love with the star dancer Satine, played by Nicole Kidman. Satine returns the love but has the powerful Duke who also wants to marry her. Jim Broadbent co-stars as the flamboyant head of the Moulin Rouge Harold Zidler. It is interesting that when I present this film to people, everyone immediately places Zidler as the villain because of his flamboyancy and being the head of a rather sleazy venue. He is not exactly the hero of the film but is not a villain. He cares for the people there and even is protective of Christian even if one may not agree with his methods. Many songs are used including LIKE A VIRGIN from Madonna, DIAMOND DOGS from David Bowie, SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT from Nirvana and many others. It also has some more original songs like COME WHAT MAY and NATURE BOY. I know many who hate musicals actually liked this one. It is a rather dark story at times and crosses the line beyond chick flick. McGregor and Kidman work so well together and Broadbent is great as well. Look for Kylie Minogue as The Green Fairy.

Sin City (2005): This is part one of a two-part Clive Owen series. Robert Rodriguez, along with Frank Miller and a guest spot from Quentin Tarantino directed this film based on the graphic novel from co-director Frank Miller. This takes place in the very bleak town of Basin City and focuses on three tough male characters who must deal with the corruption of the police force and politicians. Bruce Willis plays Hartigan who is a police officer who is about to retire but looks to do what he can to save a little girl from kidnappers. He seems to be the only police officer that is not corrupt in that town and pays a big price. Mickey Rourke plays rough yet compassionate ex-con Marv who is framed for the murder of a woman he loved and was very nice to him. He must also deal with all the corruption. Clive Owen co-stars as Marv who is a love to Shelley, played by Brittany Murphy, and must deal with her abusive ex-boyfriend Jackie Boy, played by Benicio Del Toro, who is a pretty powerful person himself. I'm not really sure what Marv's story is in this movie. I remember first seeing the previews and immediately recognizing Mickey Rourke even behind the heavy make-up and exaggerated chin. As many know I am a big fan of Rourke and at the time this was billed as his "comeback movie" when years later THE WRESTLER was referred to as such. I feel this one got him about 75% of the circle while THE WRESTLER took him the rest of the way. Many other actors make their way into the film like Elijah Wood, Jessica Alba, Michael Madsen, Alexis Bledel, Nick Stahl, and many others. This is a rather bleak film and very violent but a very intriguing and entertaining film. I liked the way this was filmed though feel it has become a bit overdone.

OMG! The Top 50 Incidents in WWE History (2011): I decided to go the WWE documentary route with this one where they rank the top 50 moments in the company. This has a few superstars reflecting on these moments including the Montreal Screw Job, the evil twin angle involving Hogan, a Jeff Jarrett guitar attack, many Stone Cold moments and something many WWE fans can reflect upon. The only problem I had was them having to play the "Oh My God" sound clip after each number. This is mostly for wrestling fans like me. This is available on Instant Netflix.

A Clockwork Orange (1971): I now bring you this bizarre futuristic film from the mind of Stanley Kubrick. A young Malcolm McDowell stars in this film as Alex who is a leader for the gang the Droogs. They go around to people house and terrorize the house and people. Alex gets arrested when the rest of the gang turns on him. He agrees to go up to an experimental process to get out early. He gets put up to a device which makes him fear everything he loves which is most notably violence and Beethoven. When he gets out, everyone he hurts is out to get revenge and due to his new fears he is left defenseless. One of the big things of this movie is the imagery like statues of private parts and many other strange things. Another scene that just really amuses me when it shouldn't is when Alex is torturing a couple and singing SINGIN' IN THE RAIN. Gene Kelly, most known for singing that song was very dismayed on the way the song was used. This film was originally rated X because it was just so weird and ahead of its time they did not know what to think. It has since gone down to R. This film is not for everyone but is an interesting statement about psychological drugs and remains one of my favorites. This is available on Instant Netflix.

The Curse of Frankenstein (1957): This is my Hammer Films selection for the week and my favorite adaptation of the legend. Peter Cushing plays Victor Frankenstein who we see in his later childhood up until he grows up. Frankenstein and his childhood tutor Paul become interested in medical science and bringing things to life. They start with a dog but then Victor decides he wants to reanimate man which Paul does not agree with. Hazel Court plays Elizabeth who naively awaits to marry Frankenstein not aware of his demise. Christopher Lee plays the creature in this one and as usual, not what Frankenstein intends to happen in which he really pays for in the end. I really like this more than the Universal version though Universal's is still pretty good. I like that this one was a lot darker. Cushing was great as a scientist with good intentions but has his judgment clouded.

Freaks (1932): Now I go from the British Hammer Films to the US Universal films which was directed by Tod Browning. This takes place at the circus in the times of the freakshow. Hans who is a midget comes to really adore a beautiful trapeze artist named Cleopatra and she seems to really like him but everyone else see that she is out for his inheritance leading the "freaks" to take some pretty extreme revenge. Tod Browning cast a lot of actual people from the circus sideshow giving it a very authentic feel. I have seem some say this was very exploitative but I tend to disagree. Freak shows were already on the rise at this time and I believe Browning wanted to show that these people are human and have feelings like us "normal" people. There was also a message about the "normal" people being the real freaks for the way they treated them. This could be looked at in so many different ways but this remains quite the classic of Universal. This was a very controversial film at its time and had stars like Myrna Loy and Jean Harlow declining roles due to the nature of the script.

A Town Like Alice (1956): This is a pretty unknown film that that takes place in WWII Britain. In this film the Japanese army captures a lot of the British territory. The story is told from the point of view of one of the women in the camp while the men are sent elsewhere. Virginia McKenna stars as Jean who tells the story. Peter Finch also co-stars in this film. This is a pretty moving film that is available on Instant Netflix.

Chocolate (2008): This is my martial arts film for the week brought from Prachya Pinkaew who is most known for ONG-BAK: THE THAI WARRIOR and THE PROTECTOR which starred Thai star Tony Jaa. This film starred a female named JeeJa Yanin who played the young girl named Zen. This is a girl who is probably an early teen who has autism and has learned a lot about martial arts from watching other martial arts films. Her mother has had some involvement with other mobsters that catches up with her and Zen uses her abilities to protect the family. I was not sure what to think of this movie but really ended up liking it. I liked the beginning where we learn of her autism and what she can do. It appears to do a good job portraying that as I have seen people with autism when I worked at a summer camp for adults of special needs. Many with autism have that expertise and what better than to use martial arts. The fights were great in this film and Yanin shows she really has it. This started out with a pretty good story transitioning into some great action. This is available on Instant Netflix.

Jesus Christ Superstar (1973): Leave it to me to do some list that includes A CLOCKWORK ORANGE and a movie about Jesus. This is the rock opera written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. This movie is told from the point of view of Judas, played by Carl Anderson, and the final six days of Jesus Christ. Judas was played by a black actor so I suppose that may have had some controversy but I thought he did pretty good. Ted Neely plays the part of Jesus and knowing his fateful day was coming soon. The followers were more dressed as hippies which added a rather interesting element that could offend some. Ted Neely has been playing this part on stage for years, even in 2010. This movie is all singing and no dialogue. This is available on Instant Netflix.

Into the Woods (1991): This is an actual live performance of the Sondheim musical which gave me the idea for my special edition coming up in the beginning of 2012. This is a fairy tale story told in a way that not everyone ends up happily ever after. The story centers around a baker and his wife who do not have a child. Bernadette Peters plays the witch who curses this couple to not be able to have children and requires them to get certain things. In their quest they meet such legends as Cinderella, Repunzel, Jack, and Little Red Riding Hood. I have always liked this musical and have seen it a couple times but never was in the show. Sondheim is my favorite of all the lyricists and this one adds to it. This is available on Instant Netflix.

Well, that is it for this week. Stay tuned next week which so far includes Brendan Gleeson, Clive Owen, and many others.