Monthly Archives: October 2012

Oct 30 2012

Star Wars Episode 7 & New Trilogy Coming 2015 – Disney Buys Out Lucasfilm Ltd.

 

HOLY ASFNLSDFKGNLNKSDJNKSJANFJN FREAKING CRAP! WHOEVER THOUGHT WE’D SEE THE DAY!?!?! SUCH A WONDERFUL DAY FOR STAR WARS FANS (SORT OF)!!!!

On this very day of October 30, 2013, Disney has bought out Lucasfilm Ltd. for $4.05 billion dollars. So far, this sounds disastrous for true Star Wars fans… But wait, don’t sweat it, depending on how much of a die hard fan you are, this could be somwhat of good news.

The seventh movie, with a working title of “Episode 7,” is set for release in 2015. Episodes 8 and 9 will follow. The new trilogy will carry the story of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Princess Leia beyond “Return of the Jedi,” the third film released and the sixth in the saga. After that, Disney plans a new “Star Wars” movie every two or three years. Lucas will serve as the creative consultant for the new movies.

“For the past 35 years, one of my greatest pleasures has been to see ‘Star Wars’ passed from one generation to the next,” said Lucas, chairman and CEO of Lucasfilm Ltd. “It’s now time for me to pass ‘Star Wars’ on to a new generation of filmmakers. I’ve always believed that ‘Star Wars’ could live beyond me, and I thought it was important to set up the transition during my lifetime.” Courtesy of MSN.com

Working title of Episode 7 seems pretty obvious… I mean come on. I am pretty excited about new Star Wars movies. Lots of people will probably be outraged that they’re gonna make more since most people did not like the prequel trilogy at all. Well, think of it this way. It’s still Star Wars and will be set in the official storyline. Lucas is also a consultant for all the new films to come. I am only worried about the part where it says that even more films will follow after the new trilogy every ‘two or three years’. That might be a little too much. I think they should just wait and see how the new trilogy is then see what they’re gonna do from then on. 

The criticism grated on Lucas, who vowed never to make another “Star Wars” movie during an interview with The New York Times earlier this year.

“Why would I make any more when everybody yells at you all the time and says what a terrible person you are?” Lucas told the Times.

So Lucas is somewhat of a lier, oh well! Who cares!? We get more Star Wars.

Plus, we all knew this was destined to happen… I mean Disney is going to buy out the United States within the next five years since they also just bought out Marvel in 2009 and Pixar in 2006.

Are you excited for a new trilogy? Tell us in the comments below or on Twitter!

Oct 28 2012

‘Poltergeist’ 1982 Review – AMC Fearfest

Story: ‘Poltergeist’. What kind of a name is that? It sound so weird and foreign. And for a matter of fact, I believe it is in fact German. Believe it or not, before my high school film teacher had us watch this film in class, I had no idea this movie even existed. But oh boy, oh boy, I do not know how I never knew about this film.

It’s about a ordinary family that is being haunted by a bunch of ghosts who are pissed off since a construction company built the house on a former graveyard and moved the tombstones… but not the bodies.

This film has some pretty intense and frightening moments in it. Probably the worst for me being when one of the scientists goes into the bathroom and rips his face off in the mirror. People used to and still do have nightmares about this.

As a side note, this film is also said to be cursed. It is said that they used real skeletons for the climax scene in the ditch and when the bodies rise out of the water and inside the house since it was cheaper than creating fake skeletons. The scene with the skeletons is much more creepier if you know about this. add to the fact that this film might be cursed, two actors have died not too long after the film came out. The first being Dominique Dunn, who was killed by her boyfriend in the same year the film came out, 1992. The second being Heather O’Rourke who died of a disease at age twelve during the end of production for the third installment of the Poltergeist trilogy.

Music: There is something about Spielberg movies that make it so good. From the camera angles,  the 80s and 90s atmosphere and people, and the music. The music for all Spielberg films make the film so much better. This film in particular had so much impactful movie. It was one of the best parts.

Cast & Characters: As for the creepy old and midget lady, once I first saw her and heard her start talking. I was thinking “Crap, she’s gonna ruin the movie”. But to my surprise, she was in fact funny and fit the party very well since she still gave that sense of being intelligent and wise and knowing exactly what she was doing. Heather O’Rourke was the star of the movie obviously. That creepy “They’re here!” was so awesome and cute, I mean who didn’t giggle or go “What the f*ck” at that. She was perfect for the part.

Verdict: One of the defining moments in horror and paranormal activity films, ‘Poltergeist’ stills stands today as one of the greatest and most frightening films to give you a good scare.

Oct 26 2012

‘Child’s Play’ 1988 Review – AMC Fearfest

How do I review a movie like this? It’s about doll… that goes around killing people… including a little boy… I mean, what audience is this aiming for? Hardcore horror fans won’t go for killer dolls, but kids won’t go for killer dolls either.

Story: So this was funnier than it was scary, obviously. As I just said, CHUCKY IS A DOLL. First of all, I really did not expect Chucky to be an actual person trapped inside a doll, I expected some sort of Twilight Zone thing where the doll becomes randomly possessed. Instead, we get some burglar doing some satanic prayer over a doll. “WHAT IS THIS SORCERY!?!?!”, I thought. Then, what do you know! Charles Lee Ray’s soul is put into the ‘Good Guy’ doll giving it life.

One of the funniest parts and most expected parts of the movie is when the mother comes into the bedroom and asks what Chucky was telling him and the kid responds, “Chuck says Aunt Maggie was a real bitch and got what she deserved”. I was laughing pretty hard at that part. As was I also laughing when we really saw Chucky fully alive as he attacked the mother with the “You bitch, you filthy slut!” then he bites her on the arm and stuff.

So really, the highlight of this is the funny parts since it really isn’t scary unless you’ve never seen a good horror movie before.

Visuals: I have to give in with this one. The animatronics used to make Chucky move, speak, his facial expressions, EVERYTHING were amazing. I was impressed. They even used a midget guy to be Chucky in a couple shots which I had no idea that they did while I watched.

See how they created and made Chucky move in a special feature below:

Verdict: Although funnier than it is scary, the animatronics of the Chucky doll are stunning making this a classic film to watch during Halloween even though it lacks a full on story and cast.

Oct 22 2012

‘Psycho’ 1960 Review – AMC Fearfest

Story: Now in 1959, famed director, Alfred Hitchcock, announced to Paramount Studios that he was going to make his next film for eight-hundred thousand dollars with his small crew from his TV show at the time, ‘Alfred Hitchcock Presents’, in only a month. So obviously, he got tons of criticism and hate from those at Paramount and from the audiences.

In the beginning of the story, Marion Crane is with her lover taking a extra long lunch break. They then decide that they’ll run away together. By chance, when she gets back to work, she is given $40,000 to put into the company’s bank account. Instead, she still the $40,000 and runs off. After encountering and barely getting away from a very suspicious police officer, she goes and takes a late night stop for a rest at the Bates Motel. She then meets Norman Bates and learns about his stuffed bird collection and his mother. After deciding she’ll return the money, she takes a shower…

Visuals: The cinematography in this film is amazing. Especially the shower murder scene. Going through clip to clip to clip within a time span of less than a second for each little clip.  Blurring out the naked body of Janet Leigh and seeing the black sillouhette of some person… The funny thing is, the knife never even touches her body. Apparently, it touched his barely in like two shots, but who cares. The fast cutting from one angle to another fills in for that which makes it seem like the camera is cutting and slicing through every part of her body instead.

Music: The score by Bernard Hermann is one of the greatest movies scores ever composed. Fitting the film perfectly with those ugly and snnoying screeches of the violins. The film would not be anywhere as good as it is without that music from Bernard Hermann. I watched this in my film class at school for the first time. So I sit right in front of the speakers with them pumped up to the highest volume so the whole class can hear. During one of the murder scenes, the violins began to screech and made me jump back in my seat since I wasn’t expecting it at all. It was pretty funny.

Cast & Characters: Janet Leigh plays her part very well as does Vera Miles. But the real showstopper is the crazed and psychotic man himself, Norman Bates who is played by Anthony Perkins.

Verdict: A legendary film that will live on forever from the acting performances to the infamous shower scene, Hitchcock at his very best.

Oct 20 2012

‘Cruel Summer’ Album Review – G.O.O.D. Music – 2012

Here is our review for Cruel Summer from Kanye West’s studio label, G.O.O.D Music.

Okay, so this album was not what I expected. Well, most of the tracks. Cruel Summer features the GOOD Music collective featuring:

  • Kanye West
  • GLC
  • John Legend
  • Common
  • Consequence
  • Really Doe
  • Sa-Ra
  • Big Sean
  • Kid Cudi
  • Malik Yusef
  • Mr Hudson
  • Cyhi Da Prynce
  • Mos Def
  • Pusha T
  • D’banj
  • Producer Year Signed
  • Devo Springsteen
  • Keezo Kane
  • Jeff Bhasker
  • No I.D.
  • Don Jazzy
  • Hit-Boy
  • 2 Chainz.

Most of the members of the GOOD Music family were not featured in the album, only with the main members like Kanye, Big Sean, Pusha T, & 2 Chainz. Also with features like Jay-Z and Chief Keef. Now from singles like Mercy and New God Flow, I expected this album to be at the least an 80 out of 100. Kanye was amazing with these beats.  Clique had a very hype beat, with New God Flow with a nice mellow but intense piano instrumental. Other singles like I Dont Like and Cold were very nice. With those fives singles already being released before the highly anticipated album drop back in late September, every probably bought this album. Only one problem.

The best songs in the album were the singles. Kanye West was probably to hype for this album that he dropped so many songs. Except he chose the best songs. I think he should have just dropped Mercy to show introduce that GOOD Music collective will be doing an album together. Other than that, the album had guest stars like Jay-Z and Chief Keef.

I give this album a 6 out of 10. The singles were amazing. The beats were amazing. The lyrics were amazing. The album got all its hype from the singles. Which is sad, but hey, it’s definitely an album I’d suggest listening to.

Anyway, thats all guys.

-Jay

Oct 18 2012

‘Invasion Of The Body Snatchers’ 1956 Review – AMC Fearfest


Story: This film uses the emotions and fears of the threat of communism and the fact that something or someone could come in at any moment and invade and control us. The communists being the body snatchers. But this was different in  a way. It was unique. The ‘communists’ were right in front of our eyes to which only the loved ones could identify them as fakes. This film could actually be considered a psychological thriller somewhat, also.

Not only is this a horror film with a bit of a psychological thriller side to this, it is perfectly fitted with the characteristics of film noir. Lets put a little list down with some examples.

  • Narrated by the main character
  • Betty becomes the femme fatale at the end
  • Low key lighting
  • Chiaroscuro at parts

Don Siegel really did a great job directing this from the pacing to incorporating both film noir and 50s horror into the film to make it seem like the film could go either way.

This was also based on the novel by Jack Finney, and apparently, the film ditched the ending of the novel where the aliens decide to give up on their plan for world domination and return to their home planet or wherever they came from.

Cast & Characters: Kevin McCarthy and Dana Wynter both play very convincing characters as they run away while avoid being turned into one of the pod people while no one listens because there is no one there to listen except the pod people who don’t care one bit and just want to make the doctor and Betty one of them.

Verdict: An underrated 50s horror flick that uses the emotions and feelings of audiences of the late 1950s to its advantage in the story and the visuals on screen, this proves to be one of the greatest Sci-Fi films of all time.

Oct 17 2012

‘Halloweentown’ 1998 Review – Disney Channel Monstober

Do not get confused, this DID NOT nor will it EVER play on AMC for Fearfest, it’s just a good Halloween movie so we’re reviewing it.

For the kiddies. 😀

Oh how I love Halloween time. That is probably the only time I’ll watch Disney throughout the year (other times would be old Mickey Mouse cartoons). Why do I watch Disney channel (sometimes) during Halloween time? Because that when Cartoon network starts playing all of the Halloweentown movies. I’ve been watching them since I was real little and it helps to let us know that TV movies for kids were once good.

Story: It’s a really unique storyline and it’s perfect for a kids TV movie. We have kids having to solve a mystery and come to the rescue to save their annoying mom and awesome grandmother against a man they thought was their friend.

Visuals: So many cool images and special effects makeup and costumes going across the screen throughout the whole movie. The whole movie scream Halloween day and night (obviously). You know what I mean, it just feels different with a nice feeling on Halloween night and day. One of the things I was really impressed with was all of Halloweentown everywhere. It was filmed on location in Oregon and they really did a great job with the transformation.

Cast & Characters: For a film about three siblings and their grandmother, this has pretty awesome performances. Debbie Reynolds does great as usual too.

Verdict: A great movie for kids to watch during Halloween team with a fun story and interesting visuals.

Oct 15 2012

The Walking Dead Season 3 Premiere Review – 3.01 – AMC Fear Fest

The Walking Dead, AMC’s hit zombie show premiered last night, getting 10.9 million viewers, making it the most watched watched drama telecast on basic cable in history. Now on to the question. Was it good? Hell to the Yes.

Premise: The season opens after a undisclosed amount time has passed (It is mentioned they’ve passed the winter, and fan speculation has said anywhere between 3 to 8 months), and the group looks a lot more weathered then they did last season. The group is in a dire situation in terms of amount of supplies, and they’re now on the search for new shelter.

Dialog: The dialog in the episode is fantastic, it’s well written, and delivered perfectly. T-Dog has already said more in this episode, then he said in the second half of season two. The characters have seemed to be tweaked, but it’s not entirely clear that the nerves have calmed, and the writers intended it, or if the writers changed the characters passed on the communities feedback.

Special effects: Once again, the special effects and makeup of Greg Nicotero is fantastic, with it being as real as it gets for a TV show. The zombies guts are great, as well as the zombies faces and bodies. The two armless walkers Michonne has are done well, seeing how they are actual body actors, and not just special effects. The only downside, is that the gun shots seem to be fake, and put in during post production, and because of that, some of the believability is taken away since it seems some of the guns have no recoil.

Characters: The characters are not only strong, but also have great actors portraying them. Andrew Lincoln’s Rick Grimes isn’t as close to his Comic book counter part in looks, and his natural English accent seems to be a little confusing in the southern setting, but his actual character is delivered well. Norman Reedus’ Darryl Dixon is so good, it would be weird if anyone else played him. Steven Yuen’s Glenn is spot on. I think he’s the closest to his comic book counterpart of all the characters, in terms of looks. He also is really good at showing the overall progression of Glenn as a character.

Overall: This episode was a great way to kick off Season 3 of The Walking Dead, possibly the best show on TV right now, and definitely the most popular. Everything is great about this show, from the story, to the effects, to the locations. If you haven’t all ready seen it, go watch it now, and if you’ve never seen an episode, the first two seasons are on NetFlix Instant watch, and if you don’t have NetFlix, go get it, because it’s fantastic, and it’s like $8 a month.

See the promo to episode 2, “Sick” below!

-From the room of Alex_N

Oct 15 2012

‘Christine’ 1983 Review – AMC Fearfest

Now I had already seen part of Christine while my dad and I were channel surfing a couple years back. Which part of the movie did I see? The ending… So while watching it, I couldn’t stop thinking of how I already knew it was going to do down. I think it somewhat took away from the experience for me, but ehh, you gotta live with it.

Story: Since this is directed by John Carpenter, I knew this was going to be good right from the start. Now first, of all, I know a lot of people don’ like this film too much. It’s about a car that lives, I know. But it’s a Stephen King novel adaption, and Stephen King’s novels are always good. It’s also John Carpenter, so you have to give it a chance before believing what you read in bad reviews. This, happens to not be a bad review though.

So the beginning of the film was a little bland and for those who have no idea what carbon monoxide poisoning is or what it does to you, you probably won’t understand when the people are choking in the film. The car does this to kill people a lot, along with turning its radio on.

Visuals: I was also very impressed with the visual effects. With the car being crushed and completely totaled, then it comes back to life in its beautiful form right before our eyes. Keith Gordon’s transformation from a nerdy kid to an evil guy in the film was pretty cool too since they used a dark and blue light on him, to make his skin look white sort of like a vampire and make him look cold and evil.

Cast & Characters: Like most movies with teenage actors, (this is also made n the early 80s), this film lacks in the acting department most of all. The leads were pretty good overall with some weird moments, but some supporting characters were just… not good actors.

Verdict: An interesting story about a killer car with some cool ways the car kills people is exciting along with the suspense of how to get rid of the car makes this film a keeper.

Oct 14 2012

New ‘Looper’ International Poster

If you’ve seen ‘Looper’ and thought it was cool, then you should be interested in this international poster released a couple days ago. It’s creative and retro, much like the old Star Wars, Indiana Jones, or Blade Runner posters with a montage of characters and images from the film in a painting.

Click For Full Size

Looper seems of had some pretty creative and unique marketing. First the animated trailer which was so ultra-awesome then this. Whoever thought of these ideas is awesome and should be given a raise.

‘Looper’ is in theaters now.