The “12 Round Gun” Poster and Trailer are Here!
12 Round Gun looks like a pretty good movie. I’m a bit worried that the trailer gives too much away, but we’ll see.
Frank Miller’s “300” Sequel!
If you enjoyed Frank Miller’s graphic novel or the movie adaptation that followed, you may want to check out Xerxes: The Fall of Darius and the Rise of Alexander. That mouth full of title is Miller’s 300 sequel. Here’s the synopsis:
This historical epic, set in the world of 300, tells of the upsurge and decline of the Persian King’s empire, and the ascent of the Grecian realm through Alexander.
Written and illustrated by comics luminary and legend, Frank Miller (Sin City, The Dark Knight, 300), and colored by Alex Sinclair (Batman: The Dark Knight III: The Master Race), this companion to Miller’s epic masterpiece, 300, brings the historical story of Xerxes to the graphic novel audience with grit and visual style!
The ongoing Greek rebellion against Persian tyranny reaches a turning point after the destruction of the city of Sardis and the later battle of Marathon: on a military campaign to vanquish the city of Athens and silence the Greeks once and for all, Xerxes, Persian Prince, watches as his father, King Darius, falls in battle . . . The mantle of king is passed and while his newly-inherited fleet retreats toward home, Xerxes’ hatred is cemented toward Athens–and his incentive to build the Persian empire is fueled. Xerxes becomes the king of all countries–the king of Persia, ruler of Zion, and Pharoah of Egypt–and his empire is unlike any the world has ever seen, until . . . The mantle is again passed, the god king dies and Darius III continues as the king of all. But then, from the west, a tiger force strikes in Asia Minor and is on a course for collision with Persian forces. This will be the beginning of the end for Persia and the launch of Alexander the Great’s rise to power!
Xerxes: The Fall of Darius and the Rise of Alexander drops on March 5, 2019. But you can click on the link and get your order in now if you so desire.
The 10 Best, Bloodiest, and Battiest Horror Sequels
Rob Hunter and Film School Rejects present the 10 Best, Bloodiest, and Battiest Horror Sequels. Using just Hunter’s list, here are three of my favorites with my comments…
- The Exorcist III (1990): While none of The Exorcist sequels lived up to the quality or scare quotient of the original, The Exorcist III holds its own with the tale of a police detective’s investigation of a serial killer leads him to a hospital psych ward. According to the IMDB, The Exorcist III features “one of horror cinema’s scariest scenes” involving a murderer, a nurse and some giant pruning sheers. I wholeheartedly agree.
- Dawn of the Dead (1978): While the social commentary undertone is a bit heavy-handed and the motorcycle gang’s pie throwing at the zombies is a bit much, DotD is still a very decent follow-up to the classic Night of the Living Dead.
- Blade 2 (2002) Ah, finally a sequel that surpasses the original. While I’m not a fan of the original Blade, I absolutely love everything about Blade 2.
The 10 Best Ridley Scott Films
Nate Williams and ComingSoon present the 10 Best Ridley Scott Films. Here are three of my favorites with my comments…
- Black Hawk Down: is a movie that can suck me every time I am flipping channels and come across it. Soldiers in an impossible situation – in a foreign land, against overwhelming odds and it is all true.
- Alien: A simple concept — a haunted house in outer space — but it is much, much more. First of all the terror isn’t a ghost but an alien seemingly designed to kill. It bleeds acid for God’s sake! We’d never seen a creature like it and it’s method of reproduction is a real killer!
- Gladiator: Scott’s masterpiece takes us back to Rome to tell the story of Maximus Decimus Meridius, the commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions and loyal servant to the TRUE emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. who will have my vengeance, in this life or the next. ‘Nuff said.
Stephan Franck Interview: Vampires, Ending Silver and More!
Stephen Franck’s Silver, a four volume graphic novel series set in the original universe inspired by Bram Stoker’s Dracula, but 40 years later, has repeatedly received my highest recommendation. In this interview at ComicsBeat, Franck discusses Vampires and Endings and more. Check it out!
The 10 Best Alfred Hitchcock Movies
Alfred Hitchcock was the first director I learned to know by name. I’ve always been an Alfred Hitchcock fan so I was delighted to see Nate Williams and ComingSoon present the 10 Best Alfred Hitchcock Movies. Here are three of my favorites with my comments (and Hitchcock films that didn’t make the cut that should have)…
- Rope: I love that Hitch was able to film the movie (in 1948 no less) as if it was shot in one complete take. He did this in order to give the feeling of real time as if seeing the action unfold on stage as in a play. So, kuddos to Hitchcock for this technical achievement. Unfortunately, many times I think this technical aspect overshadows the fact that Rope is a suspenseful movie. And the question isn’t who will be murdered or who committed the murder, but how will they be caught — what will trip them up?
- Psycho: was a groundbreaking film well ahead of its time. I love the fact that it starts off like a crime caper, moves into a murder mystery and wraps up as a horror film. Hats off to Hitch!
- North by Northwest: For my money, North by Northwest is Hitchcock’s finest film. Cary Grant was never better and the supporting cast (Eva Marie Saint, James Mason, Leo G. Carroll, Martin Landau…) were perfect. There was the right blend of action, suspense and humor. It doesn’t get any better than North by Northwest.
Three Hitchcock films that would have made my Top 10, but didn’t make Williams’ list are Lifeboat; Saboteur and The Birds!
12 Horror Movies That Should (or Shouldn’t) Have Won Best Picture
Scott Beggs and /Film present 12 Horror Movies That Should (or Shouldn’t) Have Won Best Picture. So, let’s look at Beggs’ choices and the Best Picture Winner for that year and decide…
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The Phantom of the Opera (1925) vs Nothing
As Beggs points out, the Academy Awards didn’t begin until 1927 so my decision is NO CHOICE. -
Frankenstein (1931) vs Cimarron
While I haven’t seen Cimarron, I have seen Dracula that was released the same year and Dracula would be my choice for the Horror Movie That Should Have Won. -
Psycho (1960) vs The Apartment
The Apartment has been on my to be viewed list for quite a while. Since I haven’t seen it, I’ll abstain from a choice. -
Night of the Living Dead (1968) vs Oliver
I am a huge NOTLD fan, but part of the appeal is it is NOT a Hollywood, Oscar-winning type movie. I prefer NOTLD to Oliver. I even prefer NOTLD to Rosemary’s Baby which also came out the same year. Still, I think my vote for the Best Picture would go to Oliver. -
The Exorcist (1973) vs The Sting
I’ve seen and enjoyed both but I would have given the Best Picture Award to The Exorcist. -
Jaws (1975) vs One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest
Both are classics films but the my nod would have went to Jaws.
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Alien (1979) vs Kramer vs Kramer
Alien easily gets the win from me -
The Shining (1980) vs Ordinary People
The Shining would get my vote over Ordinary People but Raging Bull should have been the real winner. (I know, I know, we’re talking horror movies vs the actual winners, but c’mon, Raging Bull!) -
The Thing (1982) vs Gandhi
At the time I would have went with Gandhi, but now my choice would be The Thing. -
The Silence of the Lambs (1991) vs The Silence of the Lambs
Ah, I guess I’ll go with The Silence of the Lambs. -
The Babadook (2014) vs The Birdman
I didn’t care for the Babadook and I haven’t seen The Birdman so for me No Choice. -
Get Out (2017) vs The Shape of Water
Get Out was excellent, but I’d give the Oscar to The Shape of Water.
The “Asher” Poster & Trailer are Here!
Asher looks pretty good. Definitely worth checking out. Makes me wish we could see Stallone return as Jack Carter.
The 10 Best Bruce Willis Movies
Nate Williams and ComingSoon present the 10 Best Bruce Willis Movies. Here are three of my favorites with my comments…
3. The Last Boy Scout: Willis is great in his role of a cynical detective teamed with an ex-football player investigating the player’s girlfriend’s murder. Perfect mix of action and humor.
2. The Sixth Sense: Although M. Night Shyamalan (writer & director) is the real star of The Sixth Sense, Willis does a fine job as the lead.
1. Die Hard: Can you imagine anyone other than Bruce Willis as John McClane? Die Hard changed the genre and now movies are described referencing it. Die Hard on a Ship… Die Hard on a Plane… Die Hard at the White House… yet none (not even the Die Hard sequels) managed to equal the original.
Other Bruce Willis movies that were worthy…
- Pulp Fiction: I could see Pulp Fiction making most folks’ lists but I focused on movies he carried as the lead.
- Hudson Hawk: didn’t make Williams 10 Best Bruce Willis Movies list, but it sure would have made mine.
- Sin City: When I read the comic series I pictured someone older (Clint Eastwood maybe) but Willis was Hartigan for the movie and it worked.
- Lucky Number Slevin: A very under-rated movie.
Matt Ryan Tobin’s “A Quiet Place” Limited Edition Prints!
Matt Ryan Tobin created these two very cool A Quiet Place limited edition prints for Mondo. The variant edition features a red glow-in-the-dark layer for nights without light. Click over to see the cool effect.
“It Follows” Trivia
Scott Beggs and Mental Floss present 10 Fascinating Facts About It Follows. Here are three of my favorites…
1. ITS TIME PERIOD DOESN’T FEEL REAL.
David Robert Mitchell, production designer Michael Perry, and costume designer Kimberly Leitz coordinated to throw us off-balance without us even realizing it. Almost none of the young characters use cell phones, but they exist—and Yara (Olivia Luccardi) has that clamshell e-reader. The vintage cars all look brand-new, but people also have cars from the 2010s. It’s presumably modern day, but all the TVs are from the 1980s, and all the movies the kids watch are classics. Characters also wear bathing suits or heavy winter coats on the same day without appearing too hot or cold. Essentially the movie takes place during a stretch of impossible weather during an unreal era, making it impossible for you to find your footing. (Craig – This is genius!)
7. ONE OF THE MONSTERS IS JAY AND KELLY’S FATHER.
The monster takes on the form of a middle-aged man when Jay and Kelly try to kill it at the pool. In an incredibly subtle moment, Jay refuses to tell Kelly (Lili Sepe) what the monster has taken the form of, but if you rewatch the movie, you’ll see that the middle-aged man is their father, who is featured in several family photographs in the house but completely absent from their lives. Some viewers theorize he killed himself, and others see his throwing appliances at her in the pool as a nod toward possible abuse, but Jay is definitely protecting her sister.
4. THE PLAN TO KILL THE MONSTER IS TERRIBLE. BUT THAT’S ON PURPOSE.
Jay and her friends plot to electrocute the monster in a pool even though they don’t know anything about what might weaken it, and they were warned directly that it’s not dumb. “It’s the stupidest plan ever!” Mitchell told Vulture. “It’s a kid-movie plan. It’s something that Scooby Doo and the gang might think of, and that was sort of the point. What would you do if you were confronted by a monster and found yourself trapped within a nightmare?”Mitchell specifically wanted to avoid the trope of the perfect nugget of information about the monster’s vulnerabilities magically dropping into the gang’s lap.
The “Hospitality” Poster and Trailer are Here!
Here’s the Hospitality poster and trailer. I love the noir vibe and hope the movie is as good as the trailer makes it out to be. Guess we can find out on December 9th.
‘Invasion of the Body Snatchers’ (1956) Trivia
Rob Hunter and Film School Rejects present 22 Things We Learned from Joe Dante’s ‘Invasion of the Body Snatchers’ Commentary. Here are three of my favorites …
11. Sam Peckinpah, who has a small role in the film, was apparently very quiet on set. He can be seen in the basement at 37:32.
13. They disagree over when exactly Dr. Dan Kauffman (Larry Gates) became a pod person. Dante thinks he’s one for the first time when Miles and Becky arrive in their bathrobes, but McCarthy says he’s been one since the earlier car ride. “Hmm, interesting,” says Dante, clearly not believing him but choosing instead to be a gentleman and a fan.
16. Siegel once snuck into Wynter’s house and hid a pod prop beneath her bed. No one challenges her on the commentary to prove she’s still human.
This version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers is one of my favorite horror films. I fondly remember watching it many times over the years — with my favorite viewings being hosted by Sammy Terry late at night at my grandparents house.
The “Overlord” IMAX Poster is Here!
I love the simplicity of this poster and how can you not get excited about, “This is why horror fans go to the movies.”
11 Legendary Facts About “Enter the Dragon”
Matthew Jackson and Mental Floss present 11 Legendary Facts About Enter the Dragon. Here are three of my favorites …
2. THE LOOK WAS INSPIRED BY A COMIC STRIP.
Enter the Dragon was made quickly, on a tight schedule, and with a budget much more constrained than what we commonly associate with action movies today. As a result, Heller and Weintraub had to start concerning themselves with getting sets built in Hong Kong even before Michael Allin’s script was completely finalized. To do that, Heller looked to his childhood and to a comic strip about adventures in China that he’d loved, Terry and the Pirates.“It was high chroma reds, blues, golds, and it just lent itself to this project so closely,” Heller said.
So, with Terry and the Pirates in mind, Heller began working with a sketch artist to design various sets, including Han’s (Kien Shih) underground layer, the banquet hall on the island, and other key areas of Han’s domain. From there, the sketches were turned over to set builders in Hong Kong, and construction was underway
8. THE ICONIC MIRRORED ROOM WAS NOT IN THE SCRIPT.
It’s impossible now to imagine Enter the Dragon without the iconic final fight between Lee and Han, which takes place in a mirrored room that replicates Lee’s movements several times over as he delivers his famous kicks. Once upon a time, though, this was nowhere in the script, and only came about because Heller noticed the effect mirrors had at a Hong Kong hotel where he was eating one day.“I took Bruce and showed it to him. He thought it was too fragmented, that you couldn’t get any action that would mean anything out of it,” Heller recalled. “Bob Clouse and I really fought hard for it, and we created this mirrored room.”
Clouse and Heller pushed ahead with the mirror concept, and once they showed the set to Lee and he was able to move around in the space, he became a believer. A special “closet” made of mirrors with a hole cut in one side for the camera lens was built, so that the cameraman would always blend into the rest of the scene, and filming of the famous sequence began. According to Hubbs, though, working for hours on end in that environment created a unique set of challenges.
“I remember that I would always have to touch, because if I’m looking at something, they might not be there, they might be over there,” Hubbs said. “I found that I could only be in there for a couple of hours, and I’d have to go out and sit down and look at a wall and real dimension, because it’s like there was a fourth dimension in there.”
9. LEE CHOREOGRAPHED THE FIGHT SCENES HIMSELF.
Lee was not just the star of Enter the Dragon. He also played a key role in how it was staged, as the screenplay would often describe action sequences by simply saying “This Will Be Choreographed by Mr. Bruce Lee.” As Heller recalled, Lee would often walk through the various sets, particularly Han’s underground lair, and look for details and props that he could then incorporate into each sequence, with the help of Clouse. Together, they worked closely to engineer the film’s iconic fight sequences, and by the time early footage from the film was available, Lee was so excited that he didn’t want Enter the Dragon to end. According to Weintraub, he later went back to Hong Kong to shoot the early sparring sequence at the monastery with his friend Sammo Hung.
