Monday, October 18, 2021
Halloween Kills Movie Review
Tuesday, May 4, 2021
Star Wars: A Retrospective
It could be said that Star Wars came into the world at the
perfect time, but that it also sparked the merchandising craze with its toys,
even before the toys ever came out with its infamous empty box “Early Bird
Certificate Package.” My teenage years were spent without any new “Star Wars”
movies, besides watching all the VHS copies until they were worn out. However,
with the 1990’s came a new wave of Star Wars novels, comic books and video
games, in what would become the non-canon “Expanded Universe” or “Legends”
after Disney acquired the franchise. While many of these added a much needed
backstory and between stories to the already expansive canon of the movies, it
added more variety to the Star Wars story. Han Solo and Leia Skywalker-Organa
married and had twins, Jaina and Jacen Solo, and later Anakin Solo. Luke
Skywalker would later meet Mara Jade and they would have a son, named Ben
Skywalker. Not to mention the stories that would follow their descendant Cade
Skywalker.
Now, while some of these stories weren’t great, they weren’t equal to the movies, but at least it gave many writers and artists a chance to play in the Star Wars Universe and bring to the fans a plethora of content. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, Star wars is not perfect, it never was. And with this resurgence and the excitement over the infamous "Special Editions", it was time for the return of the franchise in 1999 with the highly contested and debated over prequels, beginning with “Episode I – The Phantom Menace”. Even then, Star Wars fans were as divided as they’ve ever been, with half of them regaling in the return with open arms, while half of the fans felt that their childhood memories had been stomped on like Jar Jar Binks stepping in “Icky, icky goo!” And with episodes II and III, the supposed “Star Wars” saga supposedly came to an end, with George Lucas saying in 2005 that there would never be an episode VII.
While the prequels were over, the Expanded Universe thrived
and would continue on into the 2000's in both comic book and novel form, until
the Lucasfilm franchise was purchased by Disney in 2012 for $4 Billion and
having already bought Marvel Comics in 2009, it seemed as though Disney now
owned everything! When “Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens” was
released in 2015, I like many millions of Star Wars fans were overjoyed. I saw
it opening day and I came out feeling great and happy. It wasn’t until later
that I realized why that was… nostalgia!
Nostalgia was a big part of my life, and I find that as I
get older, nostalgia has started to fade away. I think that’s called “Growing
Up!” I have been a Star Wars fan as long as I can remember. I’ve spent
countless hours watching, reading, playing and waiting for Star Wars. The
biggest revelation came when I and my family attended Star Wars Celebration
2017 on April 13–16, 2017, in Orlando, Florida. It was the biggest and most
exhausting experience of my life. The crowd was HUGE! The Celebration sets a
new attendance record at over 70,000! This deserves repeating 70,000 people,
inside a 7,000,000 square feet convention center! I spent hours waiting in
lines, lines and more lines. I spent hundreds of dollars, including $90 for an
autograph from the Emperor himself, Ian McDiarmid! The convention’s main
purpose was to of course to promote the release of “Episode VIII: The Last
Jedi” in December. I got to see the trailer on another screen since the
screening room was already full when I arrived on the first day, although
disappointing, this was only the beginning of a long and arduous weekend. And
apparently, we didn’t learn our lesson because we also attended the fifth
Disney D23 Expo on July 14–16, 2017 at the Anaheim Convention Center in
Anaheim, California.
Fandom, for me, started to decline that year, especially
after seeing “The Last Jedi” which turned out to be the most divisive subject
for Star Wars fans in the last 20 years or so. Without going too much into it,
I’ll just say that I was crushed. Kylo Ren says “Let the past die, kill it…”
and even Luke Skywalker said “It’s time for then Jedi to end…” I shouldn’t have
let it make me feel so depressed, but it did. Why? It’s only a movie! It’s “the
Wars”! I love to use one of my favorite movies as an example is the comedy
“Fanboys” (2009) directed by Kyle Newman, (who is only 3-years-older than me)
is the story of a group of friends and friends/Star Wars fans, who take a
cross-country trip to George Lucas' Skywalker Ranch so their dying friend can
see a screening of “Star Wars: Episode I” before its release. With a very
low-budget and a cult following, I always thought that this was the perfect
expression of the complicated love/hate relationship that many fans like myself
have/had with Star wars, particularly around the controversies of Episode I, to
which I see the very same divisiveness over Episode VII and VIII. One of my
favorite quotes is…
“You gotta find your Death Star… Greatest deed Luke
Skywalker ever did was take down the Death Star, right? As far as I'm
concerned, that's what everybody needs. You need that one bad-ass thing that
lets you live on forever…” – Hutch, (Dan Fogler)
If you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend it, it’s funny
and a little silly, but it’s got some great moments and great cameos too from
Billy Dee Williams, Carrie Fisher and even William Shatner. My dad is an
original Star Trek fan as well and he introduced me to Star Wars at an early
age, so I have always been a Star Trek and a Star Wars fan, almost 60%/40%. You
can love more than one fandom there has always been this weird war between Trek
and Wars fans, but they often go hand-in-hand.
Upon the release of “Episode IX: Rise of Skywalker” I was
both relieved and saddened by the so-called “end’ of the Skywalker Saga and to
see what the franchise has become after 42 years. From the monumental film that
started it all, the sequels that grew a fan base, and the subsequent prequels
that originally divided the fan base, to the sequel trilogy that ultimately
brought the fandom to the breaking point. I still love Star Wars. I love the
original movies the most, I like the prequels for the most part, and Episode
VII started things off okay, but then went downhill from there until the saga
itself came to a crashing end.
Anyway, I would love to hear your thoughts and I still say Happy Star Wars Day and May the Fourth (Force) be with you!
Thursday, April 1, 2021
Saturday, September 3, 2016
HORROR DOUBLE-FEATURE REVIEW: 31 & BLAIR WITCH
Blair Witch is essentially a remake/reboot, which are usually hit and miss within the realm of horror movies. Set in 2014, it references the events in the original The Blair Witch Project (1999) when the character James (James Allen McCune) has been searching for his missing sister Heather since the original tape was found almost 17 years ago. When coming across found footage on the Internet, supposedly of his sister, he and his friends confront Lane, the one who found it and convince him and his girlfriend to lead back them into the Black Hills Forest to find Heather. Obviously unaware of how really bad an idea this is, and equipped with a handheld Digital HD camera, this group of young people ventures into the woods anyway. As you can expect, they get lost, despite the availability of a GPS device and even a remote control drone equipped with a web-cam. One by one, James' friends are separated along with Lane and his girlfriend Talia encountering supposed supernatural sounds and voices and various warnings from the ever-present wooden figures tied to the trees.
This more modern incarnation of Blair Witch Project depends mostly on the fame and mystique created by the original film which became such a groundbreaking horror film 20 years ago. Although panned by critics for it's amateur production and vomit-inducing shaky camera it nevertheless began the new sub-genre of horror/suspense in the "found-footage" film, which has become prevalent in many recent movies such as the Paranormal Activity franchise and Cloverfield (2008). While the premise of Blair Witch in that how does James expect to find evidence of his sister still in the woods after 17 years is somewhat far fetched, the movie does have some significantly frightening moments. While the inclusion of 21st century technology really doesn't add much to the story except as shallow plot points and instead replacing a lost map with a lost GPS signal.The drone shots make for some interesting shots as we see just how huge this forest really is and adds to the overall theme of isolation. Without really giving away any spoilers I will say that the few glimpses of what we can only assume is in fact the Blair Witch are truly terrifying. All in all, this is an interesting movie but not as original, yet it lets us forget the total train-wreck of a movie that was Book of Shadows: Blair With 2 (2000). On a side note the special screening I attended at the Angelika in Dallas was a wonderfully interactive experience with help from costumed performers from Dark House Haunted House in Plano complete with fog machines and creepy red lighting to add a little ambiance to the show.
Set on Halloween, 1976, while on a rural Texas road, a group of five carnies are kidnapped and forced to play a sadistic game of cat-and-mouse in a so-called "Murderworld" where they must survive for 12 hours. The ringleaders of this psycho-circus is known only as Father Murder (Malcolm McDowell) and his two female companions, Sister Dragon and Serpent, dressed in gaudy French aristocratic costumes straight out of Versailles. Among the murderous-maniacs are a group of six lazily-named, psychopathic, killer clowns. The first being a vulgar, Spanish-speaking, Neo-Nazi, knife-wielding, midget (no joke!) named Sick-Head (Pancho Moler), who then proceeds to kill them off one-one until there is only one survivor. The final adversary is a pretentious, white-faced, masochist named Doom-Head (Richard Brake) with a unusually sick-sense of fair-play.
The movie features much of the similar music-video style of visuals Rob Zombie has been known for. With a survival-horror theme similar to the Saw series, the story has somewhat of a slow start with a bizarre monologue from the character of Doom-Head as he is about to mutilate his latest victim before we are even aware of what's going on, which presents a very disturbing, albeit apologetic, first-hand view of his twisted philosophy as if we were the one about to be brutally killed. Although effective, it is both confusing and presumptive. The one major flaw in all of Rob Zombie's films (and most music videos) is his inclusion of his wife, former model and dancer Sheri Moon-Zombie, While Sheri has often been featured prominently in many of his works first as the maniacal 'Baby' in House of 1,000 Corpses, Sheri has gone on to appear in every one of his films becoming more and more of a central character including her part as Deborah Myers, Michael Myers' mom, in both Halloween and Halloween II. As the main character of Heidi Hawthorne in Lords of Salem, most audiences and critics agree that Sheri is not leading lady material however this doesn't stop Zombie from casting her in more and bigger parts like he's Roman Polanski or Luc Besson. Also his tendency to cast has-been (but still classy) actor Malcolm McDowell in everything as well. It would be a surprise if Zombie didn't feature both actors in his next project.
While '31' is a fast-paced, gut-wrenching murder-fest, there is little substance or story to speak of. There is very little information regarding why or even how these people continue to wage their little Halloween game of death every year as there is obviously not much chance at survival for any of them. There is even a debate between the Father and Sisters waging on the incredible odds of survival so far as 1,000,000 to 1 for one of them! It's like if C-3PO was a serial-killer instead of a droid telling us the odds of survival! It is curious that Zombie seems to be deviating from his originality again by embracing the trends with recent killer-clown movies such as John Watt's Clown and the upcoming remake of Stephen King's IT.v With it's strange, abrupt ending, this movie left me drained and confused and concern for the future of Rob Zombie's films.
Saturday, October 18, 2014
Movie Review: Dracula Untold
Dracula Untold presents moviegoers with a much more sympathetic monster, with Dracula depicted as a dark, anti-hero. Welsh actor Luke Evans (The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)) seems an interesting choice to play Dracula, having appeared in several big budgeted fantasy/action movies and has even portrayed two Greek Gods: Zeus in Immortals (2011) and Apollo in Clash of the Titans (2010). Instead of the suave, tuxedo-clad, Dracula audiences have come to know over the years, this Dracula is a seemingly young and handsome, similar to previous incarnations such as Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992) played by Gary Oldman, or even the sexy Dracula 2000 (2000) played by Gerard Butler. Although there have been past attempts to depict the more historical figure of Dracula, such as in the prologue to the 1992 Dracula or even in the made-for-TV movie Dark Prince (2000), Dracula Untold gives us a much kinder and gentler Dracula, even as so far to show him as a dedicated husband and father. Despite all the blood and violence, the movie surprisingly retains a PG-13 rating. Also much of the movie is in the perspective of his young son, as he is featured as the narrator of the story.
The real historical figure of Dracula, known as Vlad Tepes, aka "The Impaler", was a 15th century Romanian prince, infamous for his brutal reputation for extreme cruelty. His father Vlad Dracul, II, was a member of the 'Order of the Dragon', a group of knights dedicated to protect Christianity in Eastern Europe. The real Dracula was in fact NOT a vampire; merely a "bloodthirsty" despot, yet he is revered as a hero in many parts of Romania. There has been much speculation over the years in separating the legend from history and although Stoker's novel did little to dispel the myth, Dracula, will forever be synonymous with vampires.
Dracula Untold presents a fresh, new perspective on the Dracula legend, turning the bloodsucking vampire into a rock star, complete with a tragic back-story and a somewhat believable reason to become what he is destined to become: DRACULA!
Monday, September 29, 2014
TV Review: GOTHAM
In the style of Smallville (Superboy/Superman), Gotham is essentially a prequel in that it tells more about the origins of the hero we have all come to know so well, namely Batman. While focusing more on the cop drama in the city and less on the origin story, the show has a lot of work to do in getting fans to follow it. While trying to desperately include plenty of fan-service (albeit too much) the show includes cameos from several other Gothamites and characters from Batman's would-be rogues gallery. Aside from the usual characters such as Gordon, Bullock there is of course Alfred Pennyworth (Sean Pertwee), Bruce Wayne's loyal butler. Along with a few familiar (and not so familiar faces) there is the criminals Fish Mooney (Jada Pinkett-Smith) and Carmine Falcone (John Doman), while Falcone has appeared in the Batman comics for years Fish Mooney is a completely original character created for the TV series, much like Harley Quinn who was created for the 1990's Batman Animated Series and was soon incorporated into the comics. One of the major would-be villains who make an appearance is Oswald Cobblepot, (Robin Lord Taylor) aka The Penguin, as a much skinnier incarnation of the Batman villain. Other characters who make an appearance and have some, if very little to the story in the beginning is Selina Kyle/Catwoman (Camren Bicondova), Edward Nygma/The Riddler (Cory Michale Smith) and even a young Ivy Pepper/Poison Ivy (Clare Foley). While Batman as a character has one of the biggest cast of characters in the comic book it seems very difficult that the show will be able to address the origins of all these characters. The fact is, the show seems to have almost too many characters, especially those introduced in just the first pilot. While the show seems promising and hopes to draw in Batman and comic book fans alike, the show seems to be off to a somewhat rocky start, putting too much into the first show and insinuating tat the entire show will be focused on solving the murder of Thomas and Martha Wayne in yet another re-working of the origin. Whereas the comics has its own origin, which has been changed and rewritten so many times, including the latest revamping of the character in 2011 as part of DC's New 52. The original character Joe Chill who was featured briefly in the Christopher Nolan movies seems to not be included in this shows story. All in all, Gotham seems to be less of a comic book based show and more of a CSI-like cop drama, complete with overly-melodramatic characters and action. As a Batman fan I was excited to see it, however after watching the pilot episode I was somewhat undecided to what the future of the show might hold and if the show will become as popular as Smallville or suffer the fate of previous Batman show attempts like Birds of Prey (2002-2003), only the fans and ratings will tell...GOTHAM airs Monday nights on FOX 8/7c.
Thursday, August 28, 2014
Ghostbusters 30th Anniversary
Ghostbusters was one of those movies that defined the 1980's and of course my childhood. When I first saw it when I was young, (possibly too young) it stuck with me for the rest of my life. I enjoyed the animated series ("The Real Ghostbusters") from 1986 to 1991, along with the action figure line from Kenner, several video games, and ultimately the release of Ghostbusters II in 1989. Although the movie is often categorized as a comedy, it's really hard to label its genre. It has elements of intellectual comedy, romance, science-fiction and of course horror. The film's story even borders on "Lovecraftian"-style with elements of ancient supernatural forces such as Zuul and Gozer. I've always loved the character of 'Slimer', who although he was featured i a short sequence in the movie gained a considerable fan following along with his constant presence as the comic relief on the animated series. A little bit of trivia: Dan Aykroyd always referred to Slimer as the ghost of John Belushi.
While the Ghostbusters have stayed alive over the last 30 years, uunfortunately, writer and actor Harold Ramis didn't live to see the 30th anniversary, but the rest of the Ghostbusters including Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Ernie Hudson are still around to celebrate. For years, there had been rumors that Ghostbusters 3 was in development, but for now, it is still in the works. Directed by Ivan Reitman and written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis, Ghostbusters was a truly original, frightening and hilarious movie experience!