October 2008 Archives
One of the funniest Zombie films I have seen in the last year "Fido" came out in 2006 and has developed quite the underground following. A boy and his dog movie for grown ups, "Fido" will tear your heart out. Here is the behind the scenes feature from the DVD. Although it's mostly talking heads. They could of done a lot lot more.
What's worse than a horror movie? How about one based on a true story?
I wasn't sure what to expect when I saw this movie. I'm a heroes fan so knowing that Milo Ventimiglia was in it helped.
So I was quite surprised when the movie turned out to be good. Really good.
It's about a group of pathologists who work in forensics for a major city. However we quickly learn that this group likes to play games. Games where you have to guess how someone died.
The twist is, they are the one's doing the killing in unique and creative ways so that they can stump the rest of the group. Ted (Ventimiglia) quickly learns how twisted this group is and how competitively they try to one up each other.
I don't want to give away too much more of this movie, but I have to say it's definitely worth seeing. Whether you buy it or rent it, you'll love it.
I will warn you, however, that it is also pretty graphic. Not gory graphic like a horror movie, but the producers went to great lengths to make the bodies appear as real as possible. But that adds to the believability and overall feel of the movie.
The ending is also really well done - sad but also it kinda catches you off guard because you don't expect it to happen the way it does.
The acting is very well done, the story is very believable and, as I said above, the ending is surprising.
I give this movie an A+
I still think this was one of the best DVD's of 2008. Check out some of the great Behind The Scenes work below.
Got another good little documentary from the folks at The Smithsonian Channel HD. This one was a little more horror related and was called "Vampire Princess". This DVD poses the question "Where did Bram Stroker's inspiration come from?" Was it really from Vlad the Impaler or was it actually from a woman named Elanore von Schwartzenberg.
Recent excavations near Elanore's castle have uncovered the first archaelogical evidence of vampire hysteria; three bodies buried in the style of "Magia Pasthuma," a ritual to prevent the undead from rising. One skelton's head rests between his legs, stones weighing down his limbs, a rosary binding his hands; another has a wooden stake coming out of his chest. So much for legends. The hysteria really did happen in this community.
Once again the Smithsonian Channel has produced a quality documentary that really takes you from a-z of these
vampire hysterias of the 1700's. The film has some great steady cam shots and once again the acting
goes along great with the main storytelling of the film. Also once again they don't pull punches calling the vampire
hysteria a result of ignorant people in the countryside.
This DVD is out on October 14th for around $15.00. No extras but I give it a B+
Recent excavations near Elanore's castle have uncovered the first archaelogical evidence of vampire hysteria; three bodies buried in the style of "Magia Pasthuma," a ritual to prevent the undead from rising. One skelton's head rests between his legs, stones weighing down his limbs, a rosary binding his hands; another has a wooden stake coming out of his chest. So much for legends. The hysteria really did happen in this community.
Once again the Smithsonian Channel has produced a quality documentary that really takes you from a-z of these
vampire hysterias of the 1700's. The film has some great steady cam shots and once again the acting
goes along great with the main storytelling of the film. Also once again they don't pull punches calling the vampire
hysteria a result of ignorant people in the countryside.
This DVD is out on October 14th for around $15.00. No extras but I give it a B+
Got a rare documentary DVD in the other day here at our Blog. It was from our friends at the Smithsonian channel in HD and was called "The Legend of the Crystal Skulls". As I sat and thought about it I couldn't place where this was fimilar? Were these mentioned in some myth books I read as a kid? Alongside Atlantis and Bigfoot? Then it hit me. These are the same crappy skulls that were the basis for that horrible Indiana Jones movie this summer. You know the crappy one about aliens and nazis that was a CGI mess? That one. Not a good start. However this documentary traces the dramatic, true life story of the Crystal Skulls and the state of the art tech that proved them fakes.
Not just a thing of crappy sequels the Crystal Skulls have a real life following of new agers who believe in thier mystical abilities and thier supposed Myan origins. Today there are a handful of cryatal skull relics including one at the Smithisonian museum in Washington, DC. This DVD is the story of curator Jane MacLaren Walsh and her 16 year quest to trace it's origin. It takes us from new age hippies to the acient Mesoamerican archives in London.
Of course what makes this all interesting is that the skulls are made to mess with scientists. Made of pure quartz crystal they not only reflect light and conduct electricity (and store it!) they also contain no carbon, which makes it impossible to carbon date them.
Add in a real life Indiana Jones, his 20 year younger "companion" and the story of where and who made these
makes a really good documentary. The filming is well done and the acting (when needed) is well done and subdued. Also the folks at the Simthsonian pull no punches. When something is fake they tell you so, and if it's real...well watch the documentary.
It's out on DVD October 14th for around $15.00. I give the DVD a B+
Not just a thing of crappy sequels the Crystal Skulls have a real life following of new agers who believe in thier mystical abilities and thier supposed Myan origins. Today there are a handful of cryatal skull relics including one at the Smithisonian museum in Washington, DC. This DVD is the story of curator Jane MacLaren Walsh and her 16 year quest to trace it's origin. It takes us from new age hippies to the acient Mesoamerican archives in London.
Of course what makes this all interesting is that the skulls are made to mess with scientists. Made of pure quartz crystal they not only reflect light and conduct electricity (and store it!) they also contain no carbon, which makes it impossible to carbon date them.
Add in a real life Indiana Jones, his 20 year younger "companion" and the story of where and who made these
makes a really good documentary. The filming is well done and the acting (when needed) is well done and subdued. Also the folks at the Simthsonian pull no punches. When something is fake they tell you so, and if it's real...well watch the documentary.
It's out on DVD October 14th for around $15.00. I give the DVD a B+
"The Nightmare before Christmas". What can I say. This is simply the best Halloween musical ever made. It's also the best Christmas movie ever made. The reasons for this are countless. The main reason is it combines the genius of Tim Burton along with everyone's favorite two Holidays. It's something that not only kids will love but
people in their twenties, thirties, and more will enjoy as well. I really have not met anyone who doesn't enjoy
"The Nightmare before Christmas".
If you have been living under a rock the film is about Jack Skellington, who is the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town. Bored of Halloween he finds out about Christmas and decides to do his own Christmas. But his merry mission puts Santa gets Santa in trouble and creates a nightmare for all the good boys and girls.
This is basically the ultimate "Nightmare Before Christmas" DVD. In this amazing DVD you get three DVD's containing everything from a Digital Copy for your iPod to the original remastered film. The extras are some of the best I have ever seen. Including:
What's This? Jack's Haunted Mansion Holiday Tour from Disneyland (yes they re-do the Haunted Mansion for Christmas!)
Frankenweenie (Uncut Version) with intro by Tim Burton
Vincent
Tim Burton's original Poem
All new audio commentary
Behind The Scenes : Making Of
The Worlds of Tim Burton Art
Deleted Scenes
Storyboard to Film
Original Theatrical Trailer and Posters
Basically this is one of my favorite films totally packed with a ton of Behind The Scenes. Think
Tim Burton animation film school in a box.
I give this one a solid A+. Go out and buy it today.
people in their twenties, thirties, and more will enjoy as well. I really have not met anyone who doesn't enjoy
"The Nightmare before Christmas".
If you have been living under a rock the film is about Jack Skellington, who is the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town. Bored of Halloween he finds out about Christmas and decides to do his own Christmas. But his merry mission puts Santa gets Santa in trouble and creates a nightmare for all the good boys and girls.
This is basically the ultimate "Nightmare Before Christmas" DVD. In this amazing DVD you get three DVD's containing everything from a Digital Copy for your iPod to the original remastered film. The extras are some of the best I have ever seen. Including:
What's This? Jack's Haunted Mansion Holiday Tour from Disneyland (yes they re-do the Haunted Mansion for Christmas!)
Frankenweenie (Uncut Version) with intro by Tim Burton
Vincent
Tim Burton's original Poem
All new audio commentary
Behind The Scenes : Making Of
The Worlds of Tim Burton Art
Deleted Scenes
Storyboard to Film
Original Theatrical Trailer and Posters
Basically this is one of my favorite films totally packed with a ton of Behind The Scenes. Think
Tim Burton animation film school in a box.
I give this one a solid A+. Go out and buy it today.
So when I review films on DVD I like to come at it with a naive perspective. Such as just because a DVD screams written and directed by "So and So" I try and not let that effect how I watch the film. Such was the case with "Mother of Tears". What is basically a old fashioned Horror Movie from the 70's is hyped up by all sorts of mentions of it's director and his pedigree. I don't know who Dario Argento is but I do know that he shouldn't hire his sister to be the lead actress in his films (asia argento).
The plot is that an American art student (Sarah) opens an ancient chest releasing horror and death all over Rome. As the violence and killings reach epidemic heights she must use her untapped "Witch" powers to save the day. Which means basically grabbing the witch's magic dress and throwing it into the fire. Not too magical if you ask me. The film has good camera work and not so good acting. The special effects are gruesome and well done. However the epedimic in the streets never really pans out. Mostly it looks like scenes from a bad Haunted Attraction.
All in all this film never really made me think or get scared. It mostly just grossed me out and had a ton of people naked for no real reason. Does that make it a good horror film. Not in my book. The "making of" wasn't that great but we will try and get that posted soon.
I give this DVD a B-.
The plot is that an American art student (Sarah) opens an ancient chest releasing horror and death all over Rome. As the violence and killings reach epidemic heights she must use her untapped "Witch" powers to save the day. Which means basically grabbing the witch's magic dress and throwing it into the fire. Not too magical if you ask me. The film has good camera work and not so good acting. The special effects are gruesome and well done. However the epedimic in the streets never really pans out. Mostly it looks like scenes from a bad Haunted Attraction.
All in all this film never really made me think or get scared. It mostly just grossed me out and had a ton of people naked for no real reason. Does that make it a good horror film. Not in my book. The "making of" wasn't that great but we will try and get that posted soon.
I give this DVD a B-.
