tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-255683432024-03-19T06:15:20.349-04:00Omega ChannelMovies and Pop CultureMatt Bradshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07826281098320461314noreply@blogger.comBlogger189125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25568343.post-52215485505084832792011-02-03T22:28:00.003-05:002011-02-03T22:32:32.850-05:00Revisiting Those Basil Wolverton Reprints From the 80s<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXJA_X60JwW5Xp-Qc7lGTOxTUPLnmr4kH9qklxc9EbKohKAjTFcb8wz1WYBv-PyLqvGcXjGQ9c94ospqQzr8Is22y6L9EA3T8E0n7Vf8WHNez4jTkD0_LaVaFksEBc2pXjdENWFw/s1600/SRBcvrWolvertonGatewaytoHorror1988.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 257px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXJA_X60JwW5Xp-Qc7lGTOxTUPLnmr4kH9qklxc9EbKohKAjTFcb8wz1WYBv-PyLqvGcXjGQ9c94ospqQzr8Is22y6L9EA3T8E0n7Vf8WHNez4jTkD0_LaVaFksEBc2pXjdENWFw/s400/SRBcvrWolvertonGatewaytoHorror1988.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569671500434373682" border="0" /></a><br />Former Swamp Thing artist and blogger extraordinaire Stephen Bissette just posted about the <a href="http://srbissette.com/?p=11095">Basil Wolverton reprints from Dark Horse</a> that he contributed cover art to (that's his awesome Wolverton montage to the right).Matt Bradshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07826281098320461314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25568343.post-36730728336090351762010-03-12T19:57:00.004-05:002010-03-12T20:55:55.553-05:00Customizing Your "Lost" Action Figures<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHshX4ICiXZDaFDgk6vZjaFwofYjiKoqioVzw0eBHbgThgC0Eax5nnqskw6wXTspQRkt8vrkG6gblslo8FMS2JekWs2YCSWBjzxpW6EWXLlKp_vLjAlxzfBVJDzcC8EIYg6WPNIw/s1600-h/jack_lost.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHshX4ICiXZDaFDgk6vZjaFwofYjiKoqioVzw0eBHbgThgC0Eax5nnqskw6wXTspQRkt8vrkG6gblslo8FMS2JekWs2YCSWBjzxpW6EWXLlKp_vLjAlxzfBVJDzcC8EIYg6WPNIw/s400/jack_lost.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447917859734834802" border="0" /></a>This <span style="font-style: italic;">Lost</span> action figure has been a fixture around the office for a few years. It recently was customized to reflect current goings on in this the final season of the show. Am I the only one who thinks there's no way they can wrap up everything in the few episodes remaining?Matt Bradshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07826281098320461314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25568343.post-64286899877527895572010-03-02T21:16:00.004-05:002010-03-02T21:24:56.790-05:00Elvis Costello on Black VelvetI've been digging through some of my cartooning attempts from a few years ago. Thought I'd share.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfCnvpB15OKlUxLLH5neGU4r5Y0Ao_3tb0wrZhqyP61zZakEySgmbUJyWG3rllTzT-iXS7RDuE_BqBt-kmgAnADnx3Sl9cfYdAV5_7pOihuoinxBUnfIH6iKrwXPSLVGCDT3dVA/s1600-h/elvis.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 387px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfCnvpB15OKlUxLLH5neGU4r5Y0Ao_3tb0wrZhqyP61zZakEySgmbUJyWG3rllTzT-iXS7RDuE_BqBt-kmgAnADnx3Sl9cfYdAV5_7pOihuoinxBUnfIH6iKrwXPSLVGCDT3dVA/s400/elvis.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444227108844543522" border="0" /></a>Matt Bradshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07826281098320461314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25568343.post-64155515440228666382010-02-28T20:58:00.005-05:002010-02-28T21:39:10.164-05:00Photoshop Fun With "The Devil's Nightmare"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjedE-7tmKRQaMAX-wAGyhK7dlAYS7ESo80I7_S904u2A-w78y1OxHoiSZjafsEPyl4NcwDaN7Nkand19RzNZ-KW6u4ewPaH1FMw70CV9mTqKmwjNTIqmRrEjPjDCntk72BfgLX5g/s1600-h/videoscope_cvr_devnightmare.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 241px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjedE-7tmKRQaMAX-wAGyhK7dlAYS7ESo80I7_S904u2A-w78y1OxHoiSZjafsEPyl4NcwDaN7Nkand19RzNZ-KW6u4ewPaH1FMw70CV9mTqKmwjNTIqmRrEjPjDCntk72BfgLX5g/s320/videoscope_cvr_devnightmare.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443480467601323570" border="0" /></a>Thought I'd share a little Photoshop fun. I did a few sample magazine covers to show to a potential client. Click on the image for a closer look. What do you think? The original photo is from 1971's <span style="font-style: italic;">The Devil's Nightmare</span>, one of my all time favorite Euro-horror films.<br /><br />I scanned from a black and white image in a book, so it was already half-toned which created a few challenges. I scanned at twice the size and resolution then reduced to the target size and applied gaussian blur to soften the image closer to an actual greyscale. The black areas consist of two bitmapped images combined with a mask. The hair was achieved using a threshold layer. I brightened the levels for the skin-tone then converted to lined half-tone. I'm especially fond of the lined effect because it reminds me of John Totleben's drawing style in the <span style="font-style: italic;">Swamp Thing</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">Miracleman</span> comics of the 80s. Finally, I manually painted in color using a Wacom tablet.Matt Bradshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07826281098320461314noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25568343.post-83637273877111881422010-02-27T19:45:00.006-05:002010-02-27T20:19:01.871-05:00Monster Fan Club Ad<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwqUQvOZR6LhrH8Rk_UcC3kcwhlB6DtNzbt79ss76svji3kezk86OtFaiE5vLGPAXeDBSEALGzlvmtLCLQs7cXquGyWgMUWh1v168mbxfuFUeKkroxjzaXms0n5rJYq7_mn8agcA/s1600-h/monster_club.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwqUQvOZR6LhrH8Rk_UcC3kcwhlB6DtNzbt79ss76svji3kezk86OtFaiE5vLGPAXeDBSEALGzlvmtLCLQs7cXquGyWgMUWh1v168mbxfuFUeKkroxjzaXms0n5rJYq7_mn8agcA/s320/monster_club.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443089842550472914" border="0" /></a>Anybody else remember this? This ad ran in damn near every comic book in the U.S. in the early 1970s. This particular version ran in Eerie Publications' black and white magazines, though there was a more chromatic take on it in the color comics of the time. Click on the image for a closer look.<br /><br />My brother and I fired off a dollar for this. The "life size reproduction of a Movie Monster" was actually a poster of the critter from the ad. Cool but, despite his resemblance to the beastie from <span style="font-style: italic;">Curse of the Demon</span> this guy never actually appeared in a movie. The 4x5 glossy photos were not in the slightest bit glossy and the bonus monster masks were printed on paper. Still, it was a pretty exciting package for a young monster fan.Matt Bradshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07826281098320461314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25568343.post-379337965197469822010-02-25T23:34:00.007-05:002010-02-27T20:21:21.714-05:00WARNING! Avoid "Spirits of the Fall" Like it Was a Rabid Porcupine Telemarketer<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoLK0egWx8iItPBWv51cSsmy0oFqJUDcnh5IlJ3lMytLFavj5Xu_MEVCRb8c5klO2K4y1grDwq_0MTrqas6feEHFUmxV1sEu1UPMkCglYIq7xvHoEvEDtb7ZI4eKs8fA9jyvNfdQ/s1600-h/spirit6.jpeg.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 142px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoLK0egWx8iItPBWv51cSsmy0oFqJUDcnh5IlJ3lMytLFavj5Xu_MEVCRb8c5klO2K4y1grDwq_0MTrqas6feEHFUmxV1sEu1UPMkCglYIq7xvHoEvEDtb7ZI4eKs8fA9jyvNfdQ/s200/spirit6.jpeg.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442406787943149858" border="0" /></a>Writing a negative review of a zero budget horror flick is kind of like punching a little kid. Sure it's easy and fun, but eventually your arm gets tired. Back when I was writing <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/killer-bs-on-dvd/">Killer B's on DVD over at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Cinematical</span>.com</a>, I reviewed some fun low budget flicks as well as some that were flat out <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">excruciating</span>. On a certain level you have to respect these <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">auteurs</span> for completing and distributing a film with next to no cash, so even with the worst of them I would strive to find something positive to say, even if I was panning the film.<br /><br />I just finished reviewing <span style="font-style: italic;">Spirits of the Fall</span> for <a href="http://www.videoscopemag.com/"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Phantom of the Movies </span><span style="font-style: italic;" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Videoscope</span></a> magazine, and the movie has stuck with me like a particularly tenacious intestinal parasite. Any sympathy for the small time film maker has evaporated. The film has zero interest in entertaining and consistently fails on every level both creative and technical. I won't review the movie again here, but I'm putting this out there as a warning: this movie does not deserve to exist. Please avoid at all costs.Matt Bradshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07826281098320461314noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25568343.post-25566156739134112272009-03-29T21:42:00.013-04:002009-03-30T21:49:26.238-04:00Remember When Comics Sucked?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8GKYgvhja7aMzA-5016olimX4tO_FJ5OaO6j3-J33v5nLTNQvFt1KlKZQx0QKZCib9svc-8n9B8TagBVamKtfvifZ03Y1KSC7mUx0ZMGTj43j8U0igw_jK4BACKqtXYBGZljo2w/s1600-h/ggroundhog.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 136px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8GKYgvhja7aMzA-5016olimX4tO_FJ5OaO6j3-J33v5nLTNQvFt1KlKZQx0QKZCib9svc-8n9B8TagBVamKtfvifZ03Y1KSC7mUx0ZMGTj43j8U0igw_jK4BACKqtXYBGZljo2w/s200/ggroundhog.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318796707541546562" border="0" /></a>Kind of a loaded question really. For as long as there have been comics there have been crappy ones. The 1980s, however, saw the introduction of the direct sale market which made it financially viable for smaller publishers to get their comics out there. Spurred on by the success of <span style="font-style: italic;">Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles</span> which was a major success story for the small press, scads of comics which a few years earlier would have been lucky to make it into a xeroxed fanzine were popping up in comics stores.<br /><br />The <a href="http://www.misterkitty.org/extras/stupidcovers/">Stupid Comics section over at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">misterkitty</span>.org</a> has several interesting sections for lovers of dreadful sequential art, but the 80s section is particularly horrific.<br /><ul><li> <a href="http://www.misterkitty.org/extras/stupidcovers/stupidcomics49.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">New Beginning</span></a> is a particularly incompetent look at nuclear war with a disturbing wish <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">fulfillment</span> angle. </li><li>Sometimes I think I'm the only one who remembers <span style="font-style: italic;">Geriatric Gangrene <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Ju</span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Jitsu</span> Gerbils </span>and perhaps that's for the best, but here's a page devoted to the Gerbils and other <a href="http://www.misterkitty.org/extras/stupidcovers/stupidcomics93.html">Ninja Turtle knock-offs</a>. </li><li><a href="http://www.misterkitty.org/extras/stupidcovers/stupidcomics50.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Guardians of Justice and O-Force</span></a> prove that even if you can afford color printing it isn't an acceptable substitute for a knowledge of perspective and anatomy. </li><li>For several examples of godawful self-published 80s comics, <a href="http://www.misterkitty.org/extras/stupidcovers/stupidcomics52.html">give this a spin</a>.</li></ul>WARNING: After viewing the above links crack open your copy of <span style="font-style: italic;">Watchmen</span> to give the 80s a sense of balance and to hopefully keep you from sandpapering out your eyes.Matt Bradshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07826281098320461314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25568343.post-12595362530962611912009-03-23T21:31:00.011-04:002009-03-30T21:50:43.439-04:00BLOGS THAT ROCK - Temple of Schlock<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZeHd6AvF4AYg2vXAreJoiURWiHvwZFF5xHC3FmVAZw7CQcESwH1mpAIZVEZ2NmS77BxbNxDDy6gWAcXw-WM6xYVHOpgHNgp2tIY1lEcZCGnNJOl6Lt4cNX7Emza8oWSKEnTj_yg/s1600-h/temple_of_schlock.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 154px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZeHd6AvF4AYg2vXAreJoiURWiHvwZFF5xHC3FmVAZw7CQcESwH1mpAIZVEZ2NmS77BxbNxDDy6gWAcXw-WM6xYVHOpgHNgp2tIY1lEcZCGnNJOl6Lt4cNX7Emza8oWSKEnTj_yg/s200/temple_of_schlock.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316692093442797282" border="0" /></a>I can't believe it took me this long to realize <a href="http://templeofschlock.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Temple of Schlock</span> has a blog</a>. The <span style="font-style: italic;">Temple</span> was the first film fanzine I remember ever seeing back in the late 80s and <a href="http://omegachannel.blogspot.com/2006/05/temple-of-schlock-zine-week-part-9.html">I discussed my fond memories of it</a> and zines in general a few years ago. <span style="font-style: italic;">Temple of Schlock</span> was born in Syracuse, NY in July of 1987 and was a cut and paste xeroxed affair, examining the best grindhouse swill of the period.<br /><br />The blog version carries on that fine tradition with features like "Lost and Not Found" which covers exploitation flicks that have fallen off the map and "This Week on 42nd Street" gives a glimpse at what movies were playing on The Deuce thirty or so years ago. I particularly liked the piece on Twisted Nightmare, a slasher movie from 1988. Chris Pogialli reprints his original review and follows it with several paragraphs on the actual experience of going to see the film at The Harris in New York City. Great stuff.Matt Bradshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07826281098320461314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25568343.post-35909053135830246352009-02-08T10:25:00.001-05:002009-03-24T09:25:11.577-04:00Tales to Make You Crap Your Pants - Episode 1: Night Train to Terror<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Y6EH3M_tLe8&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Y6EH3M_tLe8&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object>Matt Bradshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07826281098320461314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25568343.post-26450429896036907982008-10-20T22:57:00.007-04:002008-10-20T23:16:23.246-04:00The Return of Cryptique!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG9e6KSVtSFgfzIG4GYAnXJx4Fc0h262UmLHZVKp4JQ5sod4rSVF0STLuAPZ58VYhOSi20DnrNrGvVAPkA-O7BI9C7vvoxm01Q1XqgIyOjy5kfuIUA9gHT5gW8wrHWh2-FjRKOXA/s1600-h/miko1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG9e6KSVtSFgfzIG4GYAnXJx4Fc0h262UmLHZVKp4JQ5sod4rSVF0STLuAPZ58VYhOSi20DnrNrGvVAPkA-O7BI9C7vvoxm01Q1XqgIyOjy5kfuIUA9gHT5gW8wrHWh2-FjRKOXA/s200/miko1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259438271162129186" border="0" /></a>Yes, the lovely Miko Macabre (who I first discussed <a href="http://www.cryptiquetv.com/">here</a>) and her acerbic but hilarious take on trashy horror films is back with a new episode of her show <span style="font-style: italic;">Cryptique</span>. She's got a new look, better lighting and improved audio, though I have to say the editing still needs some tightening. Still, the show is a lot of fun and this time Miko skewers the Frank Henenlotter classic <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083624/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Basket Case</span></a>. You can link directly to the Cryptique sight <a href="http://www.cryptiquetv.com/">here</a>, and check out the new episode below.<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/gVlTXqSu2xY&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/gVlTXqSu2xY&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object>Matt Bradshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07826281098320461314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25568343.post-12485699515406594062008-10-20T05:41:00.048-04:002008-10-20T22:54:57.868-04:00QUARANTINE: Movie Review<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3MLxE1u1lWL_SEK4htAtYvEdI9cZfDCx00PhJlQyS1-Tebsn-ZOoRkhVnwYisn8OCeh8BzGd8j-fjXZNJyOxOnxFz01NeNtAqOiS5YHolmeITmjC7xYBbc_yWIpCU0QSlIj8Ebg/s1600-h/quarantine1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3MLxE1u1lWL_SEK4htAtYvEdI9cZfDCx00PhJlQyS1-Tebsn-ZOoRkhVnwYisn8OCeh8BzGd8j-fjXZNJyOxOnxFz01NeNtAqOiS5YHolmeITmjC7xYBbc_yWIpCU0QSlIj8Ebg/s400/quarantine1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259177744012213250" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Quarantine</span> has taken a lot of crap, being slammed as an unnecessary remake of the Spanish film <span style="font-style: italic;">[REC]</span>, but I think such statements are short-sighted. I would love to have seen <span style="font-style: italic;">[REC]</span> on the big screen, but a subtitled film's chance of getting a wide theatrical release in the States are about as good as a guy in a red shirt making it back to the Enterprise in one piece. No, this doesn't say much for the attention span of the American film-going audience, but <span style="font-style: italic;">[REC]</span> had no chance of getting big theatrical play here. Let's move past it, people.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgADhtyfbISLUfX4kfhVNug8cftP4j8wz-gNWGT1JckuwY894xvW2Wxk62Pne4rDasf6MtuSsQzHsLQsQiHevCECnwrMcYTxEdEP-V6pgn1nx3BciUXg5tSCxBc-7txQ00tBTMHFQ/s1600-h/quarantine+3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgADhtyfbISLUfX4kfhVNug8cftP4j8wz-gNWGT1JckuwY894xvW2Wxk62Pne4rDasf6MtuSsQzHsLQsQiHevCECnwrMcYTxEdEP-V6pgn1nx3BciUXg5tSCxBc-7txQ00tBTMHFQ/s200/quarantine+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259415718636578962" border="0" /></a>So that leaves us with <span style="font-style: italic;">Quarantine,</span> a film which does pretty damn well on its own. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1358539/">Jennifer Carpenter</a> of the way cool Showtime series <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0773262/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Dexter</span></a> plays Angela Vidal, a TV news reporter shadowing a group of Los Angeles firefighters on the overnight shift. The entire film is seen through the eye of her camera operated by Scott Percival (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004996/">Steve Harris</a>). The evening gets off to a slow start so we see Angela sliding down the fire pole, flirting with a firefighter named Jake (Hostel's <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0379596/">Jay Hernandez</a>) and lamenting that the whole night might be a washout. Finally a call comes in and the paramedics are called to an apartment building to aid an elderly woman who is infected with something that is contagious via contact with bodily fluids. To borrow a phrase from <span style="font-style: italic;">Shaun of the Dead</span>, the old girl is a bit bitey and her violent and murderous nature quickly spreads among the tenants. Before Angela and the others can flee the building has been surrounded by operatives of the Center for Disease Control, and the space suits they're wearing and their readiness to shoot anyone that tries to leave doesn't bode well for our heroes.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGiGRmFzuBhlcQqdfg7eK6cbO9I2CHyMsyS63aw7R59905VU6zvvDyTRNb_WwaRE7IDPmEnd3M__h8srQ-k3f7J26RSHyuE_Bu5AiYBqorhn0Yiu61WTPpgGzeB_P2cHwyK8cAQ/s1600-h/quarantien.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGiGRmFzuBhlcQqdfg7eK6cbO9I2CHyMsyS63aw7R59905VU6zvvDyTRNb_WwaRE7IDPmEnd3M__h8srQ-k3f7J26RSHyuE_Bu5AiYBqorhn0Yiu61WTPpgGzeB_P2cHwyK8cAQ/s200/quarantien.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259415716188417074" border="0" /></a> <span>Like</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> 28 Days Later</span> this is a zombie film without zombies. No one is coming back from the dead, but victims of this infection quickly degenerate into slobbering lunatics, not unlike what you see in Walmart on the day after Thanksgiving. After a beginning that is intentionally slow to build suspense, things ramp up with the film balancing action and exposition nicely. As with any of these pseudo documentary films like <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0185937/"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Blair Witch Project</span> </a>or <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1060277/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Cloverfield</span></a> the question of why are these people still filming while they're running for their lives is a valid one. Director <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0235719/">John Erick Dowdle</a> (who also helmed <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1010271/"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Poughkeepsie Tapes</span></a>) does a respectable job of keeping the gimmick believable. Occasional bits are inserted to provide a reason for the fact that Scott is still shooting, but it isn't overdone as it was in <span style="font-style: italic;">Diary of the Dead</span>, in which George Romero's frequent references to the fact were just distracting. Dowdle might have further aided the illusion by casting unknowns, but recognizable faces are presumably a necessity in getting financing, even if we're not talking about huge stars.<br /><br />The Spanish version will likely hit DVD around the same time or shortly after <span style="font-style: italic;">Quarantine</span> does, and the publicity surrounding the remake will have a trickle down effect, bringing far more attention to the U.S. DVD release of [REC] than it would have gotten on its own.Matt Bradshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07826281098320461314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25568343.post-82230951921518339002008-09-22T23:04:00.007-04:002008-09-23T16:20:05.158-04:00BLOGS THAT ROCK - Monster Crazy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis-rL72Y_4eCe-CHxhFfoHXRjYEqE7fO-unTyH1ndFVS-WetL5cwGBgth91-TPLLcgV7pQwz-LLojOmz_N_ULt8i66ZqSAbkfW0yyqAFz1-kSsXoEC7Hs1DsKPuUuyABUhwl3pMA/s1600-h/monster_crazy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis-rL72Y_4eCe-CHxhFfoHXRjYEqE7fO-unTyH1ndFVS-WetL5cwGBgth91-TPLLcgV7pQwz-LLojOmz_N_ULt8i66ZqSAbkfW0yyqAFz1-kSsXoEC7Hs1DsKPuUuyABUhwl3pMA/s400/monster_crazy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249055546668817842" border="0" /></a><!-- google_ad_section_start --><br />Pierre Fournier, the blogger behind <a href="http://frankensteinia.blogspot.com/">Frankensteinia: The Frankenstein Blog</a> which I discussed <a href="http://omegachannel.blogspot.com/2008/05/blogs-that-rock-frankensteinia.html">here</a> is also the guy behind <a href="http://monstercrazy.tumblr.com/">Monster Crazy</a>, a blog that knows when to keep its mouth shut. Text is kept to a minimum, with all manner of classic horror imagery being the focus. Movie posters, stills, old horror mag interiors and covers, and random works of monstrous art. This is one cool ass blog.<br /><br /><!-- google_ad_section_end -->Matt Bradshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07826281098320461314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25568343.post-81171033358753893122008-09-22T22:15:00.008-04:002008-09-30T05:57:47.599-04:00Miko Macabre's Cryptique<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoBNXkmux_jSMthyTooL7ukB8qKRrsepballlQy1LLBnepxhw-Z6UNeOqK5N6jAUdeS1UKQA0sPGPVIlxrPDYBELCEjljViGSc-UajGN8xX2O72EggWp52c9VWiAjJZxWtHJPINA/s1600-h/miko.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoBNXkmux_jSMthyTooL7ukB8qKRrsepballlQy1LLBnepxhw-Z6UNeOqK5N6jAUdeS1UKQA0sPGPVIlxrPDYBELCEjljViGSc-UajGN8xX2O72EggWp52c9VWiAjJZxWtHJPINA/s320/miko.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246062052613540578" border="0" /></a><br /><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script><br /><!-- google_ad_section_start --><br />Introducing <a href="http://www.cryptiquetv.com/">Miko Macabre</a>. I stumbled across Miko's show <span style="font-style: italic;">Cryptique</span> while searching for horror reviews on Youtube and frankly I'm surprised these videos have so few hits. <span style="font-style: italic;">Cryptique</span> presents the capsule versions of trashy horror flicks with Miko adding her two cents throughout. There are two episodes currently posted covering <span style="font-style: italic;">Night of the Demons</span> and<span style="font-style: italic;"> Burial Ground: Nights of Terror</span>, with each installment broken into three parts. As Miko points out in her first episode, the use of these copyrighted films really pushes the limits of "fair use" but the <span style="font-style: italic;">Cryptique</span> versions of these flicks are a lot more entertaining than the originals ever were.<br /><br />The resemblance to Elvira, Mistress of the Dark is obvious, with the combination of innuendo, cleavage and cornball humor, but Miko has the distinct advantage of actually being funny. Elvira had camp appeal, but she never actually made me laugh. Cryptique has recently launched a <a href="http://www.cryptiquetv.com/">new site</a>, though there's nothing there yet. There is a pretty cool<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6e9WZ6WMyRA"> Youtube video</a> promoting the upcoming season, but for a real taste of what the show has to offer, check out the three installments of Episode 2 embedded below. I think this project has a lot of potential and I'm anxious to see where it goes.<br /><!-- google_ad_section_end --> <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cryptique Episode 2, Part 1</span><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/vbOMYW0KwdA&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/vbOMYW0KwdA&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cryptique Episode 2, Part 2</span><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/t8mldMcBBhw&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/t8mldMcBBhw&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cryptique Episode 2, Part 3</span><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/y3UCRD3PkFE&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/y3UCRD3PkFE&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object>Matt Bradshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07826281098320461314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25568343.post-87298004324278877052008-09-22T21:30:00.003-04:002008-10-20T22:55:49.784-04:00DEATH NOTE - DVD REVIEW<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpNW_BOjp2dFQml3dfOov9QTQDLJg2D7cnUU29MiWoK_Do4C_8LovvMBvaQ4ftjnMLAbQLMjNSHLABF04cZ9eiAkn7gWATZNMq52Xm6eAFQcYgv_fhCVwt4yCiAASAqspxkrhavw/s1600-h/dn_poster.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpNW_BOjp2dFQml3dfOov9QTQDLJg2D7cnUU29MiWoK_Do4C_8LovvMBvaQ4ftjnMLAbQLMjNSHLABF04cZ9eiAkn7gWATZNMq52Xm6eAFQcYgv_fhCVwt4yCiAASAqspxkrhavw/s200/dn_poster.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249012875846543634" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><!-- google_ad_section_start -->I'm a bit of a latecomer to the whole <span style="font-style: italic;">Death Note</span> phenomenon, but in the last few weeks I've read several volumes of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">manga</span>, caught a few episodes of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">anime</span> TV series and now, for the purposes of this review, I've had a chance to screen the 2006 live action film.<br /><br />Melding the elements of both horror and detective stories, <span style="font-style: italic;">Death Note</span> is the tale of Light <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Yagami</span> (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0297885/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Tatsuya</span> Fujiwara</a>) a brilliant law student who has grown disillusioned with the legal system because of a widespread conspiracy concealing just how many criminals are going free. Light finds a notebook that says <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">whoever's</span> name is written in the book will die. On a lark, he jots down the name of a murderer who has escaped justice, and Light watches as the killer dies in exactly the way he described in the notebook. Light is soon visited by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Ryuk</span>, a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">shinigami</span> or death god, a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">CGI</span> construct that looks like a shaggy goth circus clown. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Ryuk</span> explains the notebook was originally his, but is now Light's to do with as he pleases. Whoever possesses the notebook can kill anyone by writing his or her name while picturing his or her face. If no cause of death is written the victim will die of a heart attack.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-bsU1nVSzuRoQIP_rQZLgGlLgxVIuyp7EYLJQnxSd08tr2zt7jy6DhX8pKlreeX9Ldp6e8FGE2ZyU6UqPZS8sQ-iNijsYnQWMx40bDp0_SWyF3QVucBrTivIdCnY4PwCImZfuQ/s1600-h/deathnote_01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-bsU1nVSzuRoQIP_rQZLgGlLgxVIuyp7EYLJQnxSd08tr2zt7jy6DhX8pKlreeX9Ldp6e8FGE2ZyU6UqPZS8sQ-iNijsYnQWMx40bDp0_SWyF3QVucBrTivIdCnY4PwCImZfuQ/s200/deathnote_01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249012023192251570" border="0" /></a>A human who uses the death note can enter neither heaven nor hell upon his death, but Light looks past that little glitch, planning to use the book to make the world a better place by <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">eliminating</span> violent criminals. As murderers, rapists and snotty convenience store clerks around the world start dropping dead in droves, people start to take notice. The media gives the name "Kira" to whoever is striking down these criminals and Light becomes a hero to many. To the National Police Association, however, Kira is the greatest serial killer of all time and a task force is formed to capture him under the direction the mysterious L (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1947564/">Ken'ichi Matsuyama</a>). At first L only communicates with the task force via digitally scrambled audio, but he is finally revealed to be a young androgynous sugar junkie with a genius level talent for deduction. Light and L are cut from the same cloth, it seems, making for an interesting cat and mouse game.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXkDcPZgGih_YHP3DU_J058G8vx9TS0CF4_W3kZmF1f5eb6iVYtr-ErjTLE7ajXw5xz4IbOGMEn4N8RXTxyH_vnhS5UlA8Zv93O6nO5t04ueXUcxeUacOj6dShlVTDisZS2MdIJw/s1600-h/note_promo01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXkDcPZgGih_YHP3DU_J058G8vx9TS0CF4_W3kZmF1f5eb6iVYtr-ErjTLE7ajXw5xz4IbOGMEn4N8RXTxyH_vnhS5UlA8Zv93O6nO5t04ueXUcxeUacOj6dShlVTDisZS2MdIJw/s200/note_promo01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249013740610667970" border="0" /></a>In a bent sort of way the premise reminds me of <span style="font-style: italic;">Harry Potter</span>. Both stories spring from an adolescent form of wish fulfillment. Harry is a put upon orphan who learns he is in fact something special — not just a wizard, but one of the greatest wizards of all time. <span style="font-style: italic;">Death Note</span> rings of a darker adolescent desire in which the victimized youth starts keeping a list of peers who have done him wrong and deserve to die, representing the seamier fantasies of the post-Columbine generation.<br /><br />Light is more humanized here, at least at the beginning of the film, which makes it difficult to account for some of his actions. In the comic Light starts out as a remorseless sociopath, so when he ends up using the Death Note to kill innocent people to prevent his own arrest it's not that big a stretch. In this version, the decision to murder innocents seems jarring, making me wonder if posession of the Death Note is supposed to have some side effect on human personalities.<br /><br />With a few exceptions, the film is quite faithful to the manga. Director <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0437526/">Shusuke Kaneko</a> (the man behind the marvelously titled <span style="font-style: italic;">Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack</span>) does a decent job of packing a lot of the comic's elements into just over two hours. The comics are quite detailed, giving every nuance of Light's reasoning and L's deduction process, so streamlining the story for film was a necessity. Unfortunately, just as we're getting into the thick of the L/Light sparring match, the movie comes to a somewhat abrupt and unsatisfying conclusion. The sequel <span style="font-style: italic;">Death Note: The Last Name</span> was released in Japan in 2006 and was presumably shot back to back with the first film, so I imagine that one picks up where this one leaves off. Still, <span style="font-style: italic;">Death Note</span> has an intriguing premise and some interesting characters. Definitely worth a look.<br /><br /><!-- google_ad_section_end -->Matt Bradshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07826281098320461314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25568343.post-16245968937411285392008-06-01T11:58:00.018-04:002008-12-12T20:55:58.646-05:00THE STRANGERS - Review<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQtZyzkBxG6Bxz_upV9ah6TgnuTg3oW85Q6v1_6qUTWgyz7wUsQ76Isvt5fcCb3Eocexq1U2ltSg1VaJVtCoaVn32Pnkypq4oLAoUJjXJhvAAyxuL7NRca1UUGse0mHceRh1sX3A/s1600-h/the_strangers_poster.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQtZyzkBxG6Bxz_upV9ah6TgnuTg3oW85Q6v1_6qUTWgyz7wUsQ76Isvt5fcCb3Eocexq1U2ltSg1VaJVtCoaVn32Pnkypq4oLAoUJjXJhvAAyxuL7NRca1UUGse0mHceRh1sX3A/s320/the_strangers_poster.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206945850341916370" border="0" /></a>I'm imagining some ill-informed pseudo-intellectual heading on down to the multiplex thinking he's about to see an adaptation of Albert Camus' <span style="font-style: italic;">The Stranger</span>. I'm imagining sitting behind this person and shrieking "I've got your existentialism right here!" right before one character gets his face shotgunned into a substance resembling a hearty chili con <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">carné</span>. Yes, I need to get out more.<br /><br />No, think Wes Craven rather than Camus. Specifically, The Strangers reminded me of <span style="font-style: italic;">Last House on the Left</span>, with it's brutal victimization of two people, and its pervasive sense of dread and nihilism. The movie definitely earns its R-rating, but this isn't from the gore for gore's sake school of movie making. There are several examples of the classic Hitchcock definition of suspense in which the audience is shown the danger but the characters are not, and despite a few missteps <span style="font-style: italic;">The Strangers</span> proves to be a white knuckle ride worthy of the best that Six Flags has to offer.<br /><br />James Hoyt (Scott <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Speedman</span>) and Kristen McKay (Liv Tyler) arrive at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">James's</span> family's secluded vacation home in the wee hours of the morning following a friend's wedding reception. The evening has not gone well. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">James's</span> proposal to Kristen having been met with rejection, we watch the two struggle through an awkward civility, and we get the distinct impression that this is a deal-breaker for the relationship. A knock comes on the door during what may well prove to be a round of break up sex. Concealed in the shadows, a young woman asks the couple if Tamara is home.<br /><br />James and Kristen tell the girl she has the wrong house and send her on her way. She doesn't go far, though, and she's not alone. The girl and her two companions, a man and another woman, mount an increasingly tense series of assaults upon the couple. The assailants faces are covered by eerily simplistic yet horrifying masks and they want only to do very bad things.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ECM8d2iXIR0JW_GbEmeulIH3rf54y0qU7AOEKH2edksvWdKsLFwzWV8eqbKTv80CIL5YDiAYzmON-uGPsHvYDkthNOKqrnTMmPvJLHcXXsFPqKJxLtm-evyW6tezmS9pE55qnQ/s1600-h/thestrangers.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ECM8d2iXIR0JW_GbEmeulIH3rf54y0qU7AOEKH2edksvWdKsLFwzWV8eqbKTv80CIL5YDiAYzmON-uGPsHvYDkthNOKqrnTMmPvJLHcXXsFPqKJxLtm-evyW6tezmS9pE55qnQ/s400/thestrangers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206951077317115650" border="0" /></a>Sometimes horror works best when it functions as a nightmare. No reason is given for the terror, it just is. I had been wondering if <span style="font-style: italic;">The Strangers</span> could sustain those scares from the trailer that I'm not ashamed to classify as the "oh God I just peed a little" kind. I applaud writer/director Bryan <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Bertino's</span> decision to leave certain things unexplained and to give the the film a less than upbeat ending.<span style="font-style: italic;"> The Strangers</span> is pretty dark, so dark that when you leave the theater you'll want to go home, find someone you love and hug them. Just make sure they're not carrying a big <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">freakin</span>' knife.<br /><br />As for the "inspired by true events" claim, I call shenanigans on whoever decided to make that claim. I suspect it may be another intentional homage to 70s horror, and that this film's relationship to true events is about as accurate as that of <span style="font-style: italic;">The Texas Chainsaw Massacre</span>, which is to say "not very."Matt Bradshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07826281098320461314noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25568343.post-15729101093616972912008-05-31T18:23:00.009-04:002008-05-31T18:57:46.943-04:00New Cinematic Titanic Trailer HitsThe second release from <a href="http://cinematictitanic.com/">Cinematic Titanic </a>is due in mid-June and you can check out the trailer below. This project features former cast and writers from the late great <span style="font-style: italic;">Mystery Science Theater 3000</span>, including series creator Joel Hodgson. Cinematic Titanic's first release was <span style="font-style: italic;">The Oozing Skull </span>(which<a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2008/04/07/killer-bs-on-dvd-the-oozing-skull/#comments"> I reviewed for Cinematical</a>) and this new episode has them making sport of <span style="font-style: italic;">The Doomsday Machine</span>, a movie so awful it'll make you want to slap your mama. As with the previous installment, the new episode will be available on DVD or as a digital download from <a href="http://www.eztakes.com/store/movie/The-Oozing-Skull-Movie-Download.jsp">EZ Takes</a>.<br /><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/139_PHBSttw&hl=en"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/139_PHBSttw&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Cinematic+Titanic" rel="tag">Cinematic Titanic</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Joel+Hodgson" rel="tag">Joel Hodgson</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/MST3K" rel="tag">MST3K</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Mystery+Science+Theater+3000" rel="tag">Mystery Science Theater 3000</a>Matt Bradshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07826281098320461314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25568343.post-64039227901388684962008-05-31T13:07:00.007-04:002008-05-31T13:58:48.654-04:00Not One But TWO new Ed Wood FilmsTim Lucas of Video Watchblog <a href="http://videowatchdog.blogspot.com/2008/05/trust-me-youre-going-to-love-this.html">recently posted</a> links to these rough trailers for Andre Perkowski's two Ed Wood collaborations. Granted, these movies were made two decades after Edward D. Wood Jr.'s death, so I guess homage is a better term, but they are based on his writing. These things are pretty whacked, but unlike Wood's own films they come by their whackness (yes, I'm making up words) by design rather than accident. I'm dying to see the full versions of these and Lucas promises to let his readership know if and when further news should surface about these films obtaining any kind of release.<br /><br />The retro juvenile delinquent flick <span style="font-style: italic;">Devil Girls</span> was shot in 1999 on 8mm and 16mm film (yes, FILM, people) with the footage laying undeveloped for years. <span style="font-style: italic;">Devil Girls</span> is culled from one of the trashy novels Wood wrote to support himself later in life.<br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/n--3jeJU0ZM&hl=en"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/n--3jeJU0ZM&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Vampire's Tomb</span> is from an unfilmed script that was to have starred Bela Lugosi and I think it's my favorite of the two. I just love that bit with the giant spider and what the hell is going on with that floating trombone? Also shot on 8mm and 16mm, the grainy black and white really works in the film's favor, and it's downright Wood-ian.<br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/PVEehm2JOSQ&hl=en"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/PVEehm2JOSQ&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Ed+Wood" rel="tag">Ed Wood</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Edward+D.+Wood" rel="tag">Edward D. Wood</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Tim+Lucas" rel="tag">Tim Lucas</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Andre+Perkowski" rel="tag">Andre Perkowski</a>,Matt Bradshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07826281098320461314noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25568343.post-45856867600768594352008-05-29T18:33:00.014-04:002008-12-12T20:55:59.661-05:00Is Watchmen's Comedian Being Played By Commander USA?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLLWxUtcwIUNonVca5H6jLQtZiGcXeDFR1HBkak_wXuxnPL7RHd_SlGUrrm2ku7LZnVBevWGaLjUe3FeIXu2yoxsXC1fnIro9nqEF6Anlvl8RK9uPS3jbfPrmYzM0pVXRX7eNirg/s1600-h/mmpic.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLLWxUtcwIUNonVca5H6jLQtZiGcXeDFR1HBkak_wXuxnPL7RHd_SlGUrrm2ku7LZnVBevWGaLjUe3FeIXu2yoxsXC1fnIro9nqEF6Anlvl8RK9uPS3jbfPrmYzM0pVXRX7eNirg/s400/mmpic.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205936326868926066" border="0" /></a><br />This image from the upcoming <span style="font-style: italic;">Watchmen</span> movie surfaced the other day on <a href="http://www.aintitcool.com/node/36885">Ain't It Cool News</a> (thanks to <a href="http://www.toplessrobot.com/2008/05/watchmen_twofecta_minutemen_pic_and_black_freighte.php">Topless Robot</a> for pointing it out), and yes it's got me all tingly in my nether regions. This is a very faithful reproduction of an image that features prominently in the graphic novel depicting The Minutemen, the World War II era super heroes of the Watchmen universe. Click on the image for a closer look. Left to right we have The Silhouette, Moth Man, Dollar Bill, the original Nite-Owl, Captain Metropolis, the original Silk Spectre, Hooded Justice, and kneeling in front we have <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0604747/">Jeffrey Dean Morgan</a> as The Comedian... or do we?<br /><br />IMDB states that Morgan will be playing The Comedian, but a quick comparison of the two images below proves otherwise. The domino mask, the cigar, the graying temples...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxpQ9U8Je84f-gA-jE23PmerVyw05Io-L2qK2KxAcDTFrpH5Sp_1ljYcW9Kxv_voVili-xBgQJH4FN9jij97-JE8nNHJR2FqPFMSpVHV-f-vGH2N9TSdLT1KMi3yeR4aHAEGCB-g/s1600-h/comedian-usa.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxpQ9U8Je84f-gA-jE23PmerVyw05Io-L2qK2KxAcDTFrpH5Sp_1ljYcW9Kxv_voVili-xBgQJH4FN9jij97-JE8nNHJR2FqPFMSpVHV-f-vGH2N9TSdLT1KMi3yeR4aHAEGCB-g/s400/comedian-usa.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205941137232297602" border="0" /></a>The Comedian is obviously being played by former USA Network horror movie host Commander USA who emceed <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0274247/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Commander USA's Groovie Movies</span></a> from 1985-1989. Need more convincing? How about this:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnN88_6MY8bFK6dkBhme1ne5wlIiz_FGrQJejntkQVKdOj7oSq88ngqpPsz3h5N4lZnJajRGSyEXa6FWV2R3irEfSXbeewi0lTqslbyx5bqOB1AltHjoKDJGWnpi63TKDT5RWv2g/s1600-h/comedian-usa2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnN88_6MY8bFK6dkBhme1ne5wlIiz_FGrQJejntkQVKdOj7oSq88ngqpPsz3h5N4lZnJajRGSyEXa6FWV2R3irEfSXbeewi0lTqslbyx5bqOB1AltHjoKDJGWnpi63TKDT5RWv2g/s400/comedian-usa2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205942322643271314" border="0" /></a>Pretty f**king devastating, huh? No doubt director Zack Snyder is waiting until we're closer to the March 6, 2009 release date to officially acknowledge this, but remember you heard it here first.<br /><br />Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Watchmen" rel="tag">Watchmen</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Commander+USA" rel="tag">Commander USA</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Zack+Snyder" rel="tag">Zack Snyder</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/The+Comedian" rel="tag">The Comedian</a>Matt Bradshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07826281098320461314noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25568343.post-80051934451395896312008-05-27T18:04:00.017-04:002008-12-12T20:56:00.356-05:00The Andromeda Strain - Review<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3fBlb8wWbIxn8O884Fnu9ddzME4XzuYkqTiMYjeeigFLgCkJFCXd4EBCQfec-j42g6aDJvI6WkbV1AyID4qlhzMpy_9K2-fyMzyyf-j6ZzxRBSmKfk2vhyphenhyphenCo5z1L3T3OF3MB0YA/s1600-h/andromeda1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3fBlb8wWbIxn8O884Fnu9ddzME4XzuYkqTiMYjeeigFLgCkJFCXd4EBCQfec-j42g6aDJvI6WkbV1AyID4qlhzMpy_9K2-fyMzyyf-j6ZzxRBSmKfk2vhyphenhyphenCo5z1L3T3OF3MB0YA/s400/andromeda1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205195389175791154" border="0" /></a><br />The first episode of The Andromeda Strain, which aired last night on A&E has shown this new version to be a skillful modernization of Michael Crichton's story which was previously adapted as a feature film in 1971.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdtl_qXEPzFwYMyuq_ksG3r8tY2Z9J2VbWCe-Ezjw5jFXTqXIkq5gSg6jUZar6xIBrsKUQco8THy1gDHPp1lRg1p_Xjab1lzAw5WjizbhI2QNg0dwGjuwnp8h8tAsalEWiFdEXJw/s1600-h/andromeda2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdtl_qXEPzFwYMyuq_ksG3r8tY2Z9J2VbWCe-Ezjw5jFXTqXIkq5gSg6jUZar6xIBrsKUQco8THy1gDHPp1lRg1p_Xjab1lzAw5WjizbhI2QNg0dwGjuwnp8h8tAsalEWiFdEXJw/s200/andromeda2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205195990471212626" border="0" /></a>As in the original, the small secluded town of Piedmont, Utah is wiped out almost instantly by a disease spread by a downed satellite. The only survivors are an old man and an infant. The infection, dubbed Andromeda, causes either immediate death or extreme suicidal (one victim decapitates himself with a chainsaw) or homicidal tendencies. A team of medical experts led by Dr. Jeremy Stone (Benjamin Bratt) is assembled at a state of the art government facility called Wildfire, a multi-level subterranean installation design for the study of infectious diseases. Risk of infection leaking into the outside world is not an option, and the entire base is sitting on top of a nuclear device that will be detonated if containment is breached. Further, the decision whether or not to drop a nuclear device on the infected town.<br /><br />The original film saw our scientist heroes dealing with government bureaucracy, but this remake adds more modern concerns to the mix. Dr. Tsui Chou (Daniel Dae Kim) is part of the Wildfire team, but he previously worked for the Chinese government developing bio-weapons. Certain factions of the government and military have their own agendas, not all of which are in the public's best interest. The satellite is part of a mysterious Project Scoop, whose true purpose is kept from the investigating team until episode's end. A North Korean satellite was nearby when the Scoop satellite fell out of orbit, raising the possibility that Andromeda may be part of an elaborate biological attack. Meanwhile, reporter Jack Nash (Eric McCormack) is following a lead on the Piedmont incident, a lead that has already gotten his source killed.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3jGFoh8csXMDbaSdyrZW7sDksxYeegmgSzesqk-n_G9VcxABuqel0irAOcu-GLkmtYS-lWvm7yqxalwdd-gyS14QT1xOWCx_qJFsJdV48LjeejuGt1wL2R0LSY9kMYQGagqycw/s1600-h/andromeda3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3jGFoh8csXMDbaSdyrZW7sDksxYeegmgSzesqk-n_G9VcxABuqel0irAOcu-GLkmtYS-lWvm7yqxalwdd-gyS14QT1xOWCx_qJFsJdV48LjeejuGt1wL2R0LSY9kMYQGagqycw/s200/andromeda3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205196076370558562" border="0" /></a>This first episode has left me itching for part 2, even though having seen the original film I have a pretty good idea where the story is going. Modern effects technology is put to good use, letting us see things that couldn't be effectively shown the first time around, like Andromeda's attack on a fighter jet, and the devastation of Piedmont. The cast is strong, and the addition of the Nash character allows the story to go places it couldn't before. The DVD is already available for pre-order, so if you miss the broadcast you still have a chance to catch this one.<br /><br />Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Andromeda+Strain">Andromeda Strain</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/review">review</a>Matt Bradshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07826281098320461314noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25568343.post-69520353369129523102008-05-27T10:22:00.005-04:002008-12-12T20:56:00.504-05:00BLOGS THAT ROCKOmni-Monster<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg5bS8-mFIDHWmPRN3E62JYz3oLIP7w6boRgbOsZoBgaQ9VvaZIPc-CXsnoI4KYWnSPGfECPOWz4SePzQmKSSceqKQrR3_pAVE_GZpEoBpmR79uVq0YjqSZlnu9x2rJbOlEquJvw/s1600-h/omni.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg5bS8-mFIDHWmPRN3E62JYz3oLIP7w6boRgbOsZoBgaQ9VvaZIPc-CXsnoI4KYWnSPGfECPOWz4SePzQmKSSceqKQrR3_pAVE_GZpEoBpmR79uVq0YjqSZlnu9x2rJbOlEquJvw/s400/omni.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205074266803076626" border="0" /></a><br />To the list of words I never new existed I can now add "neo-kaiju" which I assume refers to more recent giant Japanese monsters, although I'm not sure exactly white time frame this covers. I found the word over at the <a href="http://omni-monster.blogspot.com/">Omni-Monster blog</a> which blogger Geozilla describes as "A place to share pictures and information about Japanese vinyl kaiju toys, figures, and collectibles, whether vintage kaiju or neo-kaiju." This stuff is just awesome, and I'm assuming these toys and figures are primarily available in Japan and hard to come by here in the States. I recognize some of the Godzilla and Ultraman characters, but most of these are new to me. Text is in both English and Japanese.Matt Bradshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07826281098320461314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25568343.post-54854033299504404332008-05-26T19:47:00.008-04:002008-12-12T20:56:00.695-05:00VHS Flashback: Paragon Video<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdGHgXQAvxilFoxTlwHJL2EbEGyPV8z7zKDnZEwgUINPwJo6FX051TLT0fof8vSNCWLMcLUpLHGazwPJ-nZQLvC33iXA7XZqAEanVsywzBS9Fe4fvwyLfBjL_cbCX-xoSYYDL_PA/s1600-h/paragon.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdGHgXQAvxilFoxTlwHJL2EbEGyPV8z7zKDnZEwgUINPwJo6FX051TLT0fof8vSNCWLMcLUpLHGazwPJ-nZQLvC33iXA7XZqAEanVsywzBS9Fe4fvwyLfBjL_cbCX-xoSYYDL_PA/s400/paragon.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204838790926106114" border="0" /></a><br />I recently reviewed the new DVD release of <span style="font-style: italic;">Boarding House</span> for my Killer B's on DVD mini-feature over on Cinematical.com (check it out <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2008/05/26/killer-bs-on-dvd-boarding-house/">here</a>). I first saw this movie on VHS from Paragon Video, a long defunct label whose magnificently lurid box covers graced video stores everywhere during the hey day of VHS. Paragon was one of those companies responsible for making obscure trash cinema available to the common man, and God bless 'em for it.<br /><br />I found this <a href="http://www.critcononline.com/paragon_vhs_covers.htm">way cool gallery</a> of Paragon tape box covers over at the <a href="http://www.critcononline.com/">Critical Condition</a> website, and phrases like "adjust tracking for best picture" and of course "be kind rewind" have been running through my head ever since. Some of these I've seen, some I haven't, but the art really grabs the imagination. Iconic 42nd Street gore flick <span style="font-style: italic;">Dr. Butcher, M.D.</span> is there, as is something called <span style="font-style: italic;">Death Promise</span> whose cover is obviously done by comics legend Neil Adams, and you can see art for minor classics like <span style="font-style: italic;">Blood on Satan's Claw</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Tombs of the Blind Dead</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Kiss Me Kill Me</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">Silent Night Bloody Night</span>. This stuff is awesome.<br /><br />Here's the Paragon Video logo as it appeared onscreen.<br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/XtQ-liKd6c4&hl=en"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/XtQ-liKd6c4&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object>Matt Bradshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07826281098320461314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25568343.post-44680607735194995502008-05-23T22:35:00.012-04:002008-12-12T20:56:01.152-05:00Whatever happened to Dark Floors?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtRY7q5EVhTJhHLS7Hvl9CGZ1zsCmDGc5Z33edj1C8KyhGDNUGmGAld2y9nIEtO8WungahVjuA40AMmN6Q1uxGdAsIA1WbQ0wgf0brmJU3nEJkqbk9nSNTwojg1GgBdAILO0zB3g/s1600-h/Dark_Floors.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtRY7q5EVhTJhHLS7Hvl9CGZ1zsCmDGc5Z33edj1C8KyhGDNUGmGAld2y9nIEtO8WungahVjuA40AMmN6Q1uxGdAsIA1WbQ0wgf0brmJU3nEJkqbk9nSNTwojg1GgBdAILO0zB3g/s200/Dark_Floors.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203772767158336978" border="0" /></a>I got to wondering tonight what happened to <span style="font-style: italic;">Dark Floors</span>. I do the weekly Trailer Park column over at Cinematical.com and I did a write up on the <span style="font-style: italic;">Dark Floors</span> preview<a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2007/12/21/trailer-park-dashing-through-the-snow/"> back in December</a>. The film got its world premiere in its native Finland on February 6, and has since been released in Iceland and Estonia (I'm embarrassed to say I don't even know where that is) but I haven't heard any news of a U.S. release. Well, the Internet is a pretty awesome thing and I quickly learned (thanks to an article over at <a href="http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/11904">Bloody-disgusting.com</a>) that the film has been picked up by Ghost House Underground, a new direct-to-video branch of Sam Raimi's Ghost House Pictures that will be releasing the film in October.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQ2Sa0p3_1kyTLZ85wPwGOpFGKV6XDZRoH_f2wDSKh78ewsu-qMB8-TMLFoUlBhM3hyKnGRDtFb_Y-4KQ4Vsmp-c-uYRbNbjeov9DmpsiY0uoWb9zEzt0ZxZFm3ObJMTN31-ulQ/s1600-h/lordi2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQ2Sa0p3_1kyTLZ85wPwGOpFGKV6XDZRoH_f2wDSKh78ewsu-qMB8-TMLFoUlBhM3hyKnGRDtFb_Y-4KQ4Vsmp-c-uYRbNbjeov9DmpsiY0uoWb9zEzt0ZxZFm3ObJMTN31-ulQ/s200/lordi2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203785304167874018" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Dark Floors</span> stars the band Lordi, a Finnish rock group who wear some very cool and downright horrific monster costumes as part of their act. When a man removes hist autistic daughter from her doctor's care and attempts to the leave the hospital, they and a handful of others step off the elevator onto a floor that shouldn't exist. The place is strewn with corpses, and they find themselves stalked by monstrous demons, played by the members of Lordi. This looks awesome enough for me to ignore the slight resemblance to <span style="font-style: italic;">Silent Hill</span>. I checked out the movie's <a href="http://www.darkfloorsmovie.com/">official site </a>which is a pretty cool Flash driven affair. Take a look at the trailer below, and beneath that you'll find a Lordi video that proves they've seen <span style="font-style: italic;">The Evil Dead</span> in Finland.<br /><br /><embed src="http://services.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f8/1214128517" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashvars="videoId=1351338113&playerId=1214128517&viewerSecureGatewayURL=https://services.brightcove.com/services/amfgateway&servicesURL=http://services.brightcove.com/services&cdnURL=http://admin.brightcove.com&domain=embed&autoStart=false&" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" swliveconnect="true" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash" height="550" width="510"></embed><br /><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/nRmVzDByRB0&hl=en"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/nRmVzDByRB0&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object>Matt Bradshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07826281098320461314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25568343.post-80562046524000059632008-05-22T20:21:00.015-04:002008-12-12T20:56:01.757-05:00The Andromeda Strain - Memorial Day on A&E<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNiXcwUIIcrMUVxgChgSh9niJvumtQWoEP47GzuThsBatDCb0pBW1vUdFvvVqGVv9Rc3195raqiUH3wNXD76A5MQvaYThUEexTrgl810aWR0_xAIYDwNVj-pFv__tKq1PFoTR52g/s1600-h/andromeda1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNiXcwUIIcrMUVxgChgSh9niJvumtQWoEP47GzuThsBatDCb0pBW1vUdFvvVqGVv9Rc3195raqiUH3wNXD76A5MQvaYThUEexTrgl810aWR0_xAIYDwNVj-pFv__tKq1PFoTR52g/s400/andromeda1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203373537063271810" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGGApCbp7xPYENgIsLIgxssf4cOzUXu_uuyIETRdnHtt49MEYS_hhDP85DVEmAqh_SroBzuwOsuDY1X_N4SJjhK_1mLuD92cbIa0WDHi9s5iMrq5r9zFKt5RiFtsPCko-tls_txA/s1600-h/andromeda2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGGApCbp7xPYENgIsLIgxssf4cOzUXu_uuyIETRdnHtt49MEYS_hhDP85DVEmAqh_SroBzuwOsuDY1X_N4SJjhK_1mLuD92cbIa0WDHi9s5iMrq5r9zFKt5RiFtsPCko-tls_txA/s200/andromeda2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203376569310182834" border="0" /></a>I've known the 1971 version of <span style="font-style: italic;">The Andromeda Strain</span> for decades. Today it's charmingly dated, a prime example of relatively hardware-free pre-Star Wars science fiction. Based on a novel by Michael Crichton and directed by Robert Wise (whose incredible resume includes such far ranging projects as <span style="font-style: italic;">The Haunting</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">The Sound of Music</span>, and <span style="font-style: italic;">Star Trek: The Motion Picture)</span> the film tells the story of a group of specialists assembled by the government to combat a virus of extraterrestrial origin, a virus so lethal that it could destroy every living thing on the planet.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh64GDrb_lGS9yiBNOgnBHjpc9TDR118krMztWtbW8G2bQ-RJowujagL1EhWgFf-li-e5A8Zg48RZq1heIpHaOJdz0gFk996N5yX7Zff2TwfJKotRb5u5I_dTEcuTxd9DNkVAf0aw/s1600-h/andromeda3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh64GDrb_lGS9yiBNOgnBHjpc9TDR118krMztWtbW8G2bQ-RJowujagL1EhWgFf-li-e5A8Zg48RZq1heIpHaOJdz0gFk996N5yX7Zff2TwfJKotRb5u5I_dTEcuTxd9DNkVAf0aw/s200/andromeda3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203376680979332546" border="0" /></a>A&E will be broadcasting a new adaptation starting at 9:00 PM eastern/8:00 PM central on Memorial day, Monday, May 26, 2008 and continuing on May 27. The cast has plenty of familiar faces including Benjamin Bratt, Eric McCormack, Daniel Dae Kim and Ricky Schroeder and the show's <a href="http://www.aetv.com/the-andromeda-strain/index.jsp?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=andromeda+strain&utm_campaign=tune-in+andromeda&keywords=andromeda+strain&paidlink=1&ref_str=http%3A//www.google.com/search%3Fhl%3Den%26q%3DAndromeda+Strain%26btnG%3DGoogle+Search">official website</a> is pretty cool and worth a look. Obviously this will be a slicker take on the story, and I'm curious enough that I've already set the DVR so I won't miss it. Check out the trailer:<br /><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5Iu3YZrvL38&hl=en"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5Iu3YZrvL38&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object>Matt Bradshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07826281098320461314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25568343.post-40856710524406828602008-05-22T08:00:00.000-04:002008-12-12T20:56:02.035-05:00New Posters For THE HAPPENINGWe've got a pair of new posters for M. Night Shyamalan's The Happening which opens on Friday June 13. I have to say I prefer the aerial view German poster to the warped city poster. Click on either image for a closer look.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgVlnUze1hUr3mBnwJiVSY_w47t2P8YMqiTKQAb4RTEBGMoSUhbaGC0ngiWJlMdihyVRPMQTvQUZMhgFfIM7_Rb9O-5hvrnAtc15vGPPDR493I7JDG8_wsqncb-NCgVZDYp0ugqg/s1600-h/poster2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgVlnUze1hUr3mBnwJiVSY_w47t2P8YMqiTKQAb4RTEBGMoSUhbaGC0ngiWJlMdihyVRPMQTvQUZMhgFfIM7_Rb9O-5hvrnAtc15vGPPDR493I7JDG8_wsqncb-NCgVZDYp0ugqg/s320/poster2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203038907571305810" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqGCHrYZqKVTt7pU6dHP7rgptwHePFceMBhN3vzM17R75uq6hvZ1gXY8NkPu3VDjNCmodWWi7zg5UaB2CzXWjlPRGy10AIutbEvh0PMUmr59IqEONc7xeWv0hjNDkjSm7cdpIjFg/s1600-h/poster3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqGCHrYZqKVTt7pU6dHP7rgptwHePFceMBhN3vzM17R75uq6hvZ1gXY8NkPu3VDjNCmodWWi7zg5UaB2CzXWjlPRGy10AIutbEvh0PMUmr59IqEONc7xeWv0hjNDkjSm7cdpIjFg/s320/poster3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203038911866273122" border="0" /></a>Matt Bradshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07826281098320461314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25568343.post-23118702539037902012008-05-21T22:58:00.002-04:002008-05-21T23:14:54.608-04:00Latest Red Band Trailer for M. Night Shyamalan's THE HAPPENINGIn case you don't know, a red band trailer indicates R-rated content, as opposed to the standard green band ones you see in theaters. My fingers are crossed that this is a return to greatness for Shyamalan. I loved<span style="font-style: italic;"> The Sixth Sense</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">Signs</span>, really liked <span style="font-style: italic;">Unbreakable</span>, and was so disappointed by <span style="font-style: italic;">The Village</span> that I still haven't seen <span style="font-style: italic;">Lady in the Water</span>. Mark Wahlberg, Zooey Deschanel and John Leguizamo star in this film about an apocalyptic phenomenon that results in a massive outbreak of suicide.<br /><embed src='http://videomedia.ign.com/ev/ev.swf' flashvars='object_ID=891782&downloadURL=http://moviesmovies.ign.com/movies/video/article/874/874337/happening_red_021608_flvlowwide.flv&allownetworking="all"' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' width='433' height='360' ></embed>Matt Bradshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07826281098320461314noreply@blogger.com0