So last week I got my DVD of Piranha (2010) and watched the film with both the commentary and without. I even watched the "Behind the Scenes" Feature which was also interesting. Director Alexandre Aja knew what he was doing when he made this movie. As he has said, the movie is a tribute to those campy B flicks of the 70's and 80's. That was the style he was going for, but was it one he achieved? Let's take a look......
So you have a movie like Piranha and based on the teaser and trailers that we saw, we knew it was going to be about a spring break massacre. Killer fish and partying kids? Come on, anyone can predict the outcome of that. Though in my honest opinion I don't think the trailers did a very good job of marketing the movie. The trailers made it look stupid, and even spoiled some parts like the ending for crying out loud.
The marketing for this movie didn't do it any justice, and that's why a lot of people including myself were thinking "Boy this looks retarded". Sure it does look stupid till you actually get up and go see it for yourself. I found that the movie was MUCH better than the trailer had made it out to be. Not the only reason I went and saw it back then, I was curious because I had read a lot of positive reviews and was thinking to myself, no this can't be right, surely they're mistaken. Anyways it was the extreme gore and suspense that kept this movie interesting. Also the cameo appearances of Richard Dreyfuss from JAWS and Christopher Lloyd brought something to the table. Yes so there was extreme gore, and boobs as some would point out, but in my honest opinion, more gore than boobs which is what horror fans want.
Moving on.......Story wise, Piranha didn't hold up well. Sure there were some cool characters but even they couldn't carry the story. In movies like this, there's really no room for one, you know what's going to happen so what is the point? Yes there is suspense build up, especially right before the massacre scene when the fish are swimming around the kids in the water. Definitely a creepy moment, and good way to make us afraid of going into the water again. The original Piranha was a parody of JAWS, then you had the 1995 made for TV remake, and now this one which had actually been written six years ago and no one took an interest in making it till much later. I've read the screen play actually although I can't remember if it was before or after seeing the movie in theatres. Was a nice adaption, though there were a lot of things in it that should have been kept in the film. Most of these turned out to be deleted scenes, and they are currently on youtube right now, just search for them and you'll see.
Again there were also some scenes included in the trailer, but not seen in the movie. I am hoping that somewhere down the line, Aja would release a director's cut of the movie, which would include these scenes as well as the deleted ones. Maybe like in a future collector's edition or something, just somethin to think about. Now if I were to rate this movie, I'd give it the same rating as I gave on IMDB. Seven out of the ten stars. I'll keep this rating till I do see the Director's Cut ;)
Now on to talk about the "Thing" prequel.
Since it is my favorite movie, a while back when I heard rumors of a remake, I was not happy at all, in fact I was pissed off. Kept thinking, why take a brilliant film and ruin it? A lot of other fans voiced their opinions over the idea of a remake too and I guess someone was listening because they changed it into a prequel which would take place at the Norwegian camp where the thing had originally been excavated and unleashed so to speak. Now I got my hands on the screen play for this movie as well and read it few months ago. My thoughts? Interesting, there are a lot of homages to JC's film, but its still able to hold up on its own. The characters have some interesting background to them, the overall plot isn't too bad though I would have personally changed a few things. (no pun intended) There's a few references to OutPost 31, so those stationed at the Norwegian camp are aware of the outpost's existence.
Now since this story takes place in the early 80's there are also a lot of references to that decade which is important cause in order for the movie to feel like it is in that time period, we as the audience need to be convinced. With what I read in the script, I think some of it sounds convincing enough, but we'll have to see if it has the same effect on screen.
It basically has a similar plot to the original "Thing From Another World" if ever it was a remake, it would be a remake of Howard Hawke's film.
The thing is discovered, it thaws out then wrecks havoc while assimilating the humans one by one. This time there's no MacReady to come to the rescue, there's a young paleontologist, Kate Lloyd who discovers that the thing can only imitate organic matter and cannot absorb or imitate metals, so when she finds a couple of tooth fillings on the floor in the bathroom, she knows someone is not who they claim to be.
A lot of people don't like the idea of a woman taking up the lead in this movie but after reading the script, Kate Lloyd sounds like an interesting character, she's the first to realize what the thing is capable of and also comes up with a method of figuring out who is still human and who could be the imitation.
Some would associate her as being the "Ripley" of the story, but I don't think so. She's really nothing like Ripley, she is her own character. So she has to kill off members of her team with a flamethrower? Anyone would do that in her place, strong or not. You know someone is no longer human, and just a perfect imitation of that person, you'd toast them too! Just because she's female doesn't make any difference. A female character doesn't have to be a Ripley stereotype in order to be strong.
Anyways, I'll post more about this movie later on along with something special I managed to attain.
The Thing prequel is being directed by
Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. and stars Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Kate Lloyd
Release date? Sometime in October......I'll keep you posted
Monday, January 17, 2011
Monday, January 10, 2011
What's To Come?
As soon as I get my DVD of Piranha (2010) I'm going to watch it and then give a full review. Not sure what other goodies might be on the DVD, hopefully some nice features besides trailers and TV spots.
BTW here's a cool Piranha desktop wallpaper I found via google
Also later on, going to talk about a movie I was skeptical about at first, but over time have become rather excited about. That movie is The Thing prequel, and much to my surprise I managed to come across someone who was involved with the project and was even kind enough to answer some questions of mine =D
Sunday, January 9, 2011
The Gate Remake
I said I wasn't going to touch this one for a while, but just last night I did some research for the hell of it and I didn't come up empty handed either. The gate remake which is being directed by Alex Winter, is bringing in H.R. Giger to do the creature designs. Yes, that's right, the man behind the Xenomorph and other awesome creatures is going to design the minions and demon lord for this remake. Am I thrilled? More than I was before, cause I am a huge fan of Giger's work! Though, the original designs will always have a special place in my heart. The site I checked already had some nice concept art and well, here are a few samples. ( I know they won't mind my borrowing)
Awesome pictures BTW! Definitely true to the originals
Now I even happened to find a complete synopsis as well, and I am going to share some of it right here! Only the parts that stand out to me though.
When best friends Miles and Terry discover a mysterious crystalline rock in Miles's back yard, they quickly dig up the lawn in search of more.
Instead, they unearth the Gate—the opening to an underground chamber containing terrifying evil.
The teenagers soon realize the horror they have unleashed, as one dire event follows another. With supernatural fiends invading suburbia, it's up to the kids to find the secret that will lock the Gate forever...if it's not too late.
Miles sits in his tree house - his fortress - surrounded by ammunition… well, fireworks, cherry bombs, bang snaps. It’s a veritable arsenal, and he’s tying the last fuse on his best rocket yet. His best friend Terry waits outside on the street, and soon everything is set: the bazooka is loaded, the camera rolling, and the Barbie doll perched on top of Terry’s head, about to be pulverized. The fuse lights first time and out shoots the rocket – WHOOOOOSH - STRAIGHT AT TERRY’S HEAD! Just in time, he ducks. But as they witness the disastrous trajectory of the rocket the boys are thinking that maybe Terry should have just taken the hit. The missile is taking down the neighborhood. It smashes into a car windshield, then bounces from wall to roof and back again, until suddenly it’s heading straight back at the boys! Angus, Miles’s dog, bounds into the house in utter terror. The boys dive out the way and turn in time to see it smash into a transformer - sparks fly and then the inevitable: the pole comes crashing down onto the tree house and … BOOM! The sky explodes as Miles’s arsenal detonates in the greatest, yet most under-appreciated fireworks display this suburban neighborhood has ever seen.
The back door creaks open and there stands Al, Miles’s emo-clad elder sister. She summarizes the situation with typical bite: “you guys are so busted.” Yes, this is a bad one! Miles is going to be grounded for eternity.
Actually, this might not be too far from the truth.
Miles’s Dad isn’t exactly pleased, but fortunately for Miles, he is going away for the weekend, and reluctantly leaves Al in charge. She’s a bit of a drag, but Miles can deal with her—just stay out of the way of her and her “cool” friends.
Miles explores the devastation. Beneath the uprooted stump of his old tree house, a hole shimmers with crystals. Later that night, Angus deposits one of these things on Miles’s bed. At his house, Terry immediately recognizes the glittering rock as a geode. Crystal, geode… whatever—there’s money to be made here!
Okay, like the different take on the story, but also like the fact that some things were kept the same. That's good, it sounds exciting already! I'm also surprised that Glen's name is now Miles, but that's something I can tolerate. Moving on!
The digging begins. It’s tough work for Miles and Terry—literally blood and sweat—but dreams of eBay beckon. There, on the grass, six geodes glitter in the sunlight. Still, there’s something fishy about this hole, and it’s not just the stink. There is some kind of movement beneath their feet… a buzzing… MOTHS! Thousands of them swarm out of the hole, battering the boys with their tiny wings. Perhaps Terry’s story of the workman who was buried under the tree is more than just an urban legend!
It's evening, and there's a party going on. Lori and Linda, Al’s dopey sidekicks, are running the show, and this is heaven: free house and cute guys, especially Eric, who seems to like Al as much as she likes him; maybe they will finally hook up. It’s not long before the Ouija board is cracked open—just to spice things up a little. The plinth spells out some gibberish, and then suddenly, out go the lights. Did they just make contact with the spirit world? No—it’s Miles and Terry goofing around. Out they jump, wearing demon masks, and the older kids get totally done—a way cool burn! An old trick, but these guys are easy prey.
Again, more originality while paying homage to the original. I got goosebumps just thinking about what the workman is going to look like in this remake.
But unbeknownst to Miles and Terry, outside, in the darkness, the situation is very far from cool. The hole is oozing, undulating…breathing. There is some kind of presence, and it’s moving towards the house…
Later that night, try as they might, the boys just can’t get to sleep. The day’s events prey on their minds, and pretty soon Terry is cowering under his covers trying to ignore the strange beastly creatures that seem to be dancing on the ceiling and attacking the sheets. Meanwhile, Miles, half asleep, staggers out of the bathroom and there before him stands…his long dead mother. He falls into her arms, overcome with emotion, but when he looks up, to his horror, it is no longer his mother he holds in his arms, but his dog Angus… and Angus is seriously dead.
This isn't original, rather than just switching events from the original, cause in that film it was Terry who was hugging his dead mother, then he woke up and it was Glen's dead dog. I wonder if this scene will be as creepy on screen as it reads here.
The boys have no time to dwell on what happened last night as there is literally a storm brewing in Miles’s backyard. The hole is expanding and moaning. It throbs with some kind of malevolent life force. The boys consult the Internet to figure out what the hell is going on. All the evidence points to one thing, and it’s not good: They’ve got demons!
This is definitely something they need to take care of before the weekend is out. The boys head down to the local bookshop to do more research. The owner is one crazy old dog, but he has exactly what they want… an ancient book on demonology. They manage to sneak out some of the pages, and it soon becomes clear that their problems are far worse than they could possibly have imagined…
Hmm no mention of what they do with the dead dog........does it get buried in the hole like the original? I know in that film the dead of the dog was significant because it was "the sacrificial offering" that Terry talked about........*note* he had gotten this information from a metal album. The remake seems to taking a completely different turn, and now they have the internet and visit some weird guy who gives them a book about demonology. Interesting....the internet was inevitable of course, these are modern times and everyone has a computer these days. I don't know, in some movies, the internet usage just seems silly. Carrying on.....
They have opened a gate STRAIGHT TO HELL! Moths are the least of the problems—they’ve got MINIONS, who herald the arrival of the DEMON LORD himself, and these guys like to party!
That night the basement is swarming with the little frog-like beasts. They are kind of cute—in an ugly way—but mix these creatures with beer and it’s a dangerous combination. Pretty soon they are attacking with razor-sharp teeth and claws.
Miles arms himself with a paintball gun and takes on the minions, Rambo-style. They scurry, howling, in and out of dark corners. He is able to hold them off long enough to get out of the basement more-or-less intact. They claw and scratch at the basement door as the kids force it shut.
Outside, a black tornado twists and moans over the Gate, ripping leaves from surrounding trees. Terry begins to recite the incantation that will close the Gate, as the others hold their breath, but the vortex tears the spell from his hand. The paper slaps into the grinning face of one of the garden gnomes that dot the lawn. Flames erupt from the ever-widening hole, but the boys manage to leap the crevasse. Finally the spell is in Terry’s hand, just as minions swarm from the hole, and the gnome, possessed by evil, begins clawing at his leg!
The kids retreat to the house—the spell has not been enough. The ground heaves and stretches before exploding with thousands of minions that rain down onto the earth. They are not alone: a rotting skeletal monstrosity bursts through the wall. It’s the Dead Workman! But this is just a taste of the pure evil that is to come…
The earth cleaves in two as the Demon Lord rises to the surface: a fossilized nightmare come to life. Its tentacles slither across the ground as all manner of evil beasts are disgorged from the hole and run howling into the night.
This is no video-game Miles and Terry can pause at will. This is Hell on Earth and they need to defeat it to save themselves, Al, her friends, and the world… and all before Dad gets home!
In the original, Terry tried reading verses from the bible in attempt to close the gate, which in turn failed. Not sure what incantations he is reading in this remake, I assume its from that demonology book. Whatever, it says it fails and he gets attacked by a garden gnome! Okay maybe that is a little scary. I also like the description of the workman. Skeletal huh? Now that has potential to being even scarier than the original zombie. What I don't like right now is the fact that Miles isn't alone when it comes to facing the demon lord. That is something that made the original so great, IMO. Then again it doesn't mention if Miles ends up facing it alone. It's not a complete detailed synopsis, and things could change. I like what I've read for the most part, it really sounds like this could become a hit. I also like that its going for a PG-13 rating like the original. Before hand I could have sworn I read somewhere that it was going to be rated PG, glad they did away with that. This is aimed at kids, yes but it doesn't need to be watered down and sugar coated, and based on this synopsis, I'm glad to see it wasn't.
Now for the 3D...true I won't see it in 3D cause I hate that gimmick, does nothing for me. I'll see it in 2D and enjoy it for the story and Giger's awesome creature designs. I believe Alex Winter can pull this one off, it sounds promising, and with that I'll be sure to keep up with the news and post any new information I come across!
Original Source = http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/18313
Awesome pictures BTW! Definitely true to the originals
Now I even happened to find a complete synopsis as well, and I am going to share some of it right here! Only the parts that stand out to me though.
When best friends Miles and Terry discover a mysterious crystalline rock in Miles's back yard, they quickly dig up the lawn in search of more.
Instead, they unearth the Gate—the opening to an underground chamber containing terrifying evil.
The teenagers soon realize the horror they have unleashed, as one dire event follows another. With supernatural fiends invading suburbia, it's up to the kids to find the secret that will lock the Gate forever...if it's not too late.
Miles sits in his tree house - his fortress - surrounded by ammunition… well, fireworks, cherry bombs, bang snaps. It’s a veritable arsenal, and he’s tying the last fuse on his best rocket yet. His best friend Terry waits outside on the street, and soon everything is set: the bazooka is loaded, the camera rolling, and the Barbie doll perched on top of Terry’s head, about to be pulverized. The fuse lights first time and out shoots the rocket – WHOOOOOSH - STRAIGHT AT TERRY’S HEAD! Just in time, he ducks. But as they witness the disastrous trajectory of the rocket the boys are thinking that maybe Terry should have just taken the hit. The missile is taking down the neighborhood. It smashes into a car windshield, then bounces from wall to roof and back again, until suddenly it’s heading straight back at the boys! Angus, Miles’s dog, bounds into the house in utter terror. The boys dive out the way and turn in time to see it smash into a transformer - sparks fly and then the inevitable: the pole comes crashing down onto the tree house and … BOOM! The sky explodes as Miles’s arsenal detonates in the greatest, yet most under-appreciated fireworks display this suburban neighborhood has ever seen.
The back door creaks open and there stands Al, Miles’s emo-clad elder sister. She summarizes the situation with typical bite: “you guys are so busted.” Yes, this is a bad one! Miles is going to be grounded for eternity.
Actually, this might not be too far from the truth.
Miles’s Dad isn’t exactly pleased, but fortunately for Miles, he is going away for the weekend, and reluctantly leaves Al in charge. She’s a bit of a drag, but Miles can deal with her—just stay out of the way of her and her “cool” friends.
Miles explores the devastation. Beneath the uprooted stump of his old tree house, a hole shimmers with crystals. Later that night, Angus deposits one of these things on Miles’s bed. At his house, Terry immediately recognizes the glittering rock as a geode. Crystal, geode… whatever—there’s money to be made here!
Okay, like the different take on the story, but also like the fact that some things were kept the same. That's good, it sounds exciting already! I'm also surprised that Glen's name is now Miles, but that's something I can tolerate. Moving on!
The digging begins. It’s tough work for Miles and Terry—literally blood and sweat—but dreams of eBay beckon. There, on the grass, six geodes glitter in the sunlight. Still, there’s something fishy about this hole, and it’s not just the stink. There is some kind of movement beneath their feet… a buzzing… MOTHS! Thousands of them swarm out of the hole, battering the boys with their tiny wings. Perhaps Terry’s story of the workman who was buried under the tree is more than just an urban legend!
It's evening, and there's a party going on. Lori and Linda, Al’s dopey sidekicks, are running the show, and this is heaven: free house and cute guys, especially Eric, who seems to like Al as much as she likes him; maybe they will finally hook up. It’s not long before the Ouija board is cracked open—just to spice things up a little. The plinth spells out some gibberish, and then suddenly, out go the lights. Did they just make contact with the spirit world? No—it’s Miles and Terry goofing around. Out they jump, wearing demon masks, and the older kids get totally done—a way cool burn! An old trick, but these guys are easy prey.
Again, more originality while paying homage to the original. I got goosebumps just thinking about what the workman is going to look like in this remake.
But unbeknownst to Miles and Terry, outside, in the darkness, the situation is very far from cool. The hole is oozing, undulating…breathing. There is some kind of presence, and it’s moving towards the house…
Later that night, try as they might, the boys just can’t get to sleep. The day’s events prey on their minds, and pretty soon Terry is cowering under his covers trying to ignore the strange beastly creatures that seem to be dancing on the ceiling and attacking the sheets. Meanwhile, Miles, half asleep, staggers out of the bathroom and there before him stands…his long dead mother. He falls into her arms, overcome with emotion, but when he looks up, to his horror, it is no longer his mother he holds in his arms, but his dog Angus… and Angus is seriously dead.
This isn't original, rather than just switching events from the original, cause in that film it was Terry who was hugging his dead mother, then he woke up and it was Glen's dead dog. I wonder if this scene will be as creepy on screen as it reads here.
The boys have no time to dwell on what happened last night as there is literally a storm brewing in Miles’s backyard. The hole is expanding and moaning. It throbs with some kind of malevolent life force. The boys consult the Internet to figure out what the hell is going on. All the evidence points to one thing, and it’s not good: They’ve got demons!
This is definitely something they need to take care of before the weekend is out. The boys head down to the local bookshop to do more research. The owner is one crazy old dog, but he has exactly what they want… an ancient book on demonology. They manage to sneak out some of the pages, and it soon becomes clear that their problems are far worse than they could possibly have imagined…
Hmm no mention of what they do with the dead dog........does it get buried in the hole like the original? I know in that film the dead of the dog was significant because it was "the sacrificial offering" that Terry talked about........*note* he had gotten this information from a metal album. The remake seems to taking a completely different turn, and now they have the internet and visit some weird guy who gives them a book about demonology. Interesting....the internet was inevitable of course, these are modern times and everyone has a computer these days. I don't know, in some movies, the internet usage just seems silly. Carrying on.....
They have opened a gate STRAIGHT TO HELL! Moths are the least of the problems—they’ve got MINIONS, who herald the arrival of the DEMON LORD himself, and these guys like to party!
That night the basement is swarming with the little frog-like beasts. They are kind of cute—in an ugly way—but mix these creatures with beer and it’s a dangerous combination. Pretty soon they are attacking with razor-sharp teeth and claws.
Miles arms himself with a paintball gun and takes on the minions, Rambo-style. They scurry, howling, in and out of dark corners. He is able to hold them off long enough to get out of the basement more-or-less intact. They claw and scratch at the basement door as the kids force it shut.
Outside, a black tornado twists and moans over the Gate, ripping leaves from surrounding trees. Terry begins to recite the incantation that will close the Gate, as the others hold their breath, but the vortex tears the spell from his hand. The paper slaps into the grinning face of one of the garden gnomes that dot the lawn. Flames erupt from the ever-widening hole, but the boys manage to leap the crevasse. Finally the spell is in Terry’s hand, just as minions swarm from the hole, and the gnome, possessed by evil, begins clawing at his leg!
The kids retreat to the house—the spell has not been enough. The ground heaves and stretches before exploding with thousands of minions that rain down onto the earth. They are not alone: a rotting skeletal monstrosity bursts through the wall. It’s the Dead Workman! But this is just a taste of the pure evil that is to come…
The earth cleaves in two as the Demon Lord rises to the surface: a fossilized nightmare come to life. Its tentacles slither across the ground as all manner of evil beasts are disgorged from the hole and run howling into the night.
This is no video-game Miles and Terry can pause at will. This is Hell on Earth and they need to defeat it to save themselves, Al, her friends, and the world… and all before Dad gets home!
In the original, Terry tried reading verses from the bible in attempt to close the gate, which in turn failed. Not sure what incantations he is reading in this remake, I assume its from that demonology book. Whatever, it says it fails and he gets attacked by a garden gnome! Okay maybe that is a little scary. I also like the description of the workman. Skeletal huh? Now that has potential to being even scarier than the original zombie. What I don't like right now is the fact that Miles isn't alone when it comes to facing the demon lord. That is something that made the original so great, IMO. Then again it doesn't mention if Miles ends up facing it alone. It's not a complete detailed synopsis, and things could change. I like what I've read for the most part, it really sounds like this could become a hit. I also like that its going for a PG-13 rating like the original. Before hand I could have sworn I read somewhere that it was going to be rated PG, glad they did away with that. This is aimed at kids, yes but it doesn't need to be watered down and sugar coated, and based on this synopsis, I'm glad to see it wasn't.
Now for the 3D...true I won't see it in 3D cause I hate that gimmick, does nothing for me. I'll see it in 2D and enjoy it for the story and Giger's awesome creature designs. I believe Alex Winter can pull this one off, it sounds promising, and with that I'll be sure to keep up with the news and post any new information I come across!
Original Source = http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/18313
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Nostalgia Corner "The Gate"
Going to go back a bit in time to when horror films were actually better because there was more originality and not everything had been done to hell. So let's go back to I don't know the year of 1987 and talk about a certain movie that while it wasn't rated R, it still classified as horror and definitely lived up to the genre.
That movie is The Gate, starring Stephen Dorff as a young boy named Glen, along with his best friend Terry (Louis Trip) who discover the gateway to hell in his own backyard and unleash the old gods (Demons)to take over the world. What's even scarier is this occurs when his parents are away for the weekend and so he is stuck with his older sister Al (Christa Denton) as his babysitter.
The gate is actually nothing more than a hole where an old tree stump used to be, and the kids ends up unleashing the demons completely by accident. They are unaware from the moment they discover a geode at the site and break it open, that they are about unleash hell, literally. A strange smoke is released once the geode is broken open and leaves behind a strange message on a notepad. The kids read the incantations aloud and the rest is history.
Glen, his sister, and their friends have to find a way to defeat the demons but these attempts prove to be unsuccessful, and Glen soon finds himself all alone once the others are captured by the demons (in the form of a zombie looking ghoul I might add)which completes the final sacrifice, the gate is blown open and the demon lord (BMF) is released to wreck havoc and Glen is left to face him all on his own. So in the tradition of happily ever after movies, Glen is a heroine and defeats the demon lord and everything goes back to normal. Yes that's right, and he destroys the demon lord with a toy rocket. Try getting your head around that one! Also, he is reunited with his sister, Terry, and his dog. They are seen coming out of a closet at the end (Homosexual jokes are inevitable) Yet the house is still demolished from the demons, so when their parents get back home, they will have a fun time trying to explain that one.
For a PG-13 rated film, there were some pretty horrifying moments, but the special effects are damn nice, especially for its time. Also I was happy to discover that Randall William Cook was behind the special effects especially for the demon lord at the end. He also worked on the Blair-Thing from "The Thing". So that's a bonus =D
Overall The Gate is definitely a cult classic and what I like to call a kids horror film. You don't see movies like this anymore, especially with children as the lead. It's your typical good vs evil film, but albeit a more fucked up version. There are so many things that are just really shocking, especially the scene during the finale when Glen encounters the demon lord and then looks at his hand and sees an eyeball in the center of it. (I wonder how many kids were traumatized by that scene alone) Some have wondered what the significance of that was, and well at the beginning Terry has that death metal album with the demonic artwork on the cover and one of them happens to be the eyeball.(clever foreshadowing I might add) Also just when you think it can't get any more disturbing, Glen takes a shard of glass and stabs the eyeball. (This movie is just full of surprises) There is also the scene where Terry is hugging his mother in a dream, then wakes up and discovers it is Glen's dead dog! I could go on with the messed up parts, but I really don't like spoiling films for those who haven't seen it. I do recommend it, a cult classic indeed.
And like most of the 80's horror movies, this one is also currently being remade and there are plans to have a 3D release. Am I looking forward to this? Hard to say right now, I won't make any judgments at all until I see a trailer. Those are usually good indications if a movie is watchable or not. (Wasn't in Piranha 3D's case)
I'll be sure to talk about the remake when there's more information on it, till then it's just going to be good ol nostalgia!
I will add that the brand new collector's edition DVD cover for the movie does look like a modern version, and I definitely like it, but I still prefer the old cover, which I have by the way. If the remake can live up to the original and stay true to what made it what it is, then perhaps it won't be so bad after all.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Book Review "The Thing" By Alan Dean Foster
First of all, let me just say that I am an avid fan of John Carpenter's The Thing, so naturally when I heard about a novel adaption, I was immediately interested. I did my research and happened to find the book on Amazon.com and bought myself a used copy. Once I received the book, I started reading it instantly, curious about the "so-called" differences between this version and the beloved film. Of course this isn't just based on the film, but rather based off the first screen-play of the movie. The opening scene was the same, except for a few changes, especially the absence of Macready. He is actually introduced after the encounter with the Norwegians and the dog. All of the characters are the same except for Windows, who was called "Sanders" for some reason. Glad they changed the name in the film. Sanders just doesn't sit well with me. Some of the character's descriptions are different too, such as Childs having a beard. Believe me after seeing the movie over a 100 times, that was hard to picture in my head. Keith David with a beard? Just about as hard as it was for me to imagine Windows with the name "Sanders", so again I just replaced it with "Windows" in my head.
The book handled some of the deaths from the film differently as well, in fact Bennings has a more violent and brutal death than he does in the movie. It's actually scarier to picture it., and it takes place during a scene where he, Macready and Childs are chasing after the dogs. This scene was to be included in the movie, but was cut for some reason. Anyways the scene takes place after the Norwegian dog Things out. The novel explains that the surviving huskies had attacked the dog-thing and bitten off pieces of it, which in turn had infected some of them and they tried to escape. There's more to that scenario, but I really hate to spoil everything so if you want to know, buy the damn book or get it from your local library if they carry it.
Anyways, as I was saying, the deaths are handled differently. The characters who had completely different deaths apart from the film were: Bennings, Copper, Nauls, and Windows. Actually come to think of it, Gary's death is rather different too, just in the manner he is killed. Again no spoilers, because you need to read the book dammit! =P
Now for the ending, it is totally different, especially because Macready actually bulldozes most of outpost 31 while pursuing the thing. Some say the ending is kind of weird, but I liked it. It shows that Macready has finally lost it. Literally, as he is the only one left besides Childs who he discovers at the end just like in the film.
Overall it was a great read, and I'm glad I bought it. Highly recommended to any fan of the movie. You will like it, it carries the story just as well as the film. Even in some areas, a whole lot better!
The book handled some of the deaths from the film differently as well, in fact Bennings has a more violent and brutal death than he does in the movie. It's actually scarier to picture it., and it takes place during a scene where he, Macready and Childs are chasing after the dogs. This scene was to be included in the movie, but was cut for some reason. Anyways the scene takes place after the Norwegian dog Things out. The novel explains that the surviving huskies had attacked the dog-thing and bitten off pieces of it, which in turn had infected some of them and they tried to escape. There's more to that scenario, but I really hate to spoil everything so if you want to know, buy the damn book or get it from your local library if they carry it.
Anyways, as I was saying, the deaths are handled differently. The characters who had completely different deaths apart from the film were: Bennings, Copper, Nauls, and Windows. Actually come to think of it, Gary's death is rather different too, just in the manner he is killed. Again no spoilers, because you need to read the book dammit! =P
Now for the ending, it is totally different, especially because Macready actually bulldozes most of outpost 31 while pursuing the thing. Some say the ending is kind of weird, but I liked it. It shows that Macready has finally lost it. Literally, as he is the only one left besides Childs who he discovers at the end just like in the film.
Overall it was a great read, and I'm glad I bought it. Highly recommended to any fan of the movie. You will like it, it carries the story just as well as the film. Even in some areas, a whole lot better!
Monday, January 3, 2011
Piranha (2010) coming to DVD January 11th!
That's right Piranha 3D comes out on DVD and Blu-Ray on the 11th of this month. If you've seen it then you'd probably remember it as the campy, bloody massacre of a film that hit theatres last August, oh and showed its teeth in 3D! Yeah, yeah, yeah. I heard the 3D sucked so I went and saw it in 2D, also cause I'm cheap like that! Although in the beginning when I saw the first teaser for the film, I laughed. I thought it looked stupid and the trailer didn't really do it all that much justice. However, upon hearing that Richard Dreyfuss and Christopher Lloyd were in it, I changed my mind.(Not to mention I curious when I heard about the ten minute massacre scene too)
So then after seeing it, I thought it was awesome......yes there was nudity and boobs but not as much as people complained about. Just enough to give any B-movie fan their helping of T&A. There was also a famous nude ballet underwater scenario that lasts for about three mins tops. Yeah, it's just silly to watch, and you wonder when the piranha are gonna show up. Good movie, bad marketing, that's Piranha 3D in a nutshell. Also just recently I pre-ordered the movie on Amazon and got it for 16 bucks. Yeah, when the original listing price was around $24, so if you're a fan of this movie and want to get a nice deal, go to Amazon, but hurry the offer isn't going to last forever!.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Werewolf Love!
According to the UHM website, there's a lot of movies about werewolves to look forward to next year.
First up..."An American Werewolf in London" yes it's a remake and there's really not a lot of information out about it yet, but here's what I was able to find out.
* Fernley Phillips (The Number 23) is said to be writing the script, which will reportedly be a "modern" take.
* It's said that the Weinstein's plan for this to be in 3D.
* The Furst brothers also produced the upcoming vampire film Daybreakers.
* Dimension Films and Sean and Bryan Furst are developing this remake.
* The obvious remake to 1981 horror-comedy from director John Landis.
3D? Not too thrilled about that as I am not big on 3D, but what also has me worried is this "modern" take. It seems all of the remakes have been modernized, and in so doing, butchered. The original 1981 is a classic and had some amazing special effects for its time. Right up there with John Carpenter's "The Thing". The worst they could do is overdo the CG effects and make it look like shit. Yes CG can create some impressive effects, there's no denying that. But why must we rely heavily on it? Too much can ruin a good thing, just look at SyFy originals? Okay bad example of half-assed CG, but still. Anyways, thumbs down for Hollywood wanting to remake this film. On to the next!
The next movie that caught my interest is called "Human". It's definitely a twist on the usual werewolf story-telling, but anyways this is the basic plot.
"A wolf turns into a man after getting bitten by a woman during the full moon. The wolf-turned-human seeks shelter in a nearby remote housing camp, which happens to be headed by the woman who bit him and two rival males. Before the night is over the "humans" will learn the true nature of the strange woman and themselves. The fight for the female is on." Is that not bizarre?
Definitely an original concept which is what I look for in my horror these days.
This current film is still in development and was written by Doug Taylor who wrote Splice, and is going to be directed by AJ Annila, who had this to say; "# "I want to take this style of film and turn it on its head. What would happen if a human bit a wolf, and human blood entered a wolf? With Human I expect to do totally different kind of werewolf film, so don’t expect anything familiar to this sub-genre."
* Director AJ Annila also worked on the Finnish horror art film Sauna.
Another working title for this gem is "The Human Animal"
I think this sounds really interesting, and this is one I am looking forward to!
Hooray for originality!
First up..."An American Werewolf in London" yes it's a remake and there's really not a lot of information out about it yet, but here's what I was able to find out.
* Fernley Phillips (The Number 23) is said to be writing the script, which will reportedly be a "modern" take.
* It's said that the Weinstein's plan for this to be in 3D.
* The Furst brothers also produced the upcoming vampire film Daybreakers.
* Dimension Films and Sean and Bryan Furst are developing this remake.
* The obvious remake to 1981 horror-comedy from director John Landis.
3D? Not too thrilled about that as I am not big on 3D, but what also has me worried is this "modern" take. It seems all of the remakes have been modernized, and in so doing, butchered. The original 1981 is a classic and had some amazing special effects for its time. Right up there with John Carpenter's "The Thing". The worst they could do is overdo the CG effects and make it look like shit. Yes CG can create some impressive effects, there's no denying that. But why must we rely heavily on it? Too much can ruin a good thing, just look at SyFy originals? Okay bad example of half-assed CG, but still. Anyways, thumbs down for Hollywood wanting to remake this film. On to the next!
The next movie that caught my interest is called "Human". It's definitely a twist on the usual werewolf story-telling, but anyways this is the basic plot.
"A wolf turns into a man after getting bitten by a woman during the full moon. The wolf-turned-human seeks shelter in a nearby remote housing camp, which happens to be headed by the woman who bit him and two rival males. Before the night is over the "humans" will learn the true nature of the strange woman and themselves. The fight for the female is on." Is that not bizarre?
Definitely an original concept which is what I look for in my horror these days.
This current film is still in development and was written by Doug Taylor who wrote Splice, and is going to be directed by AJ Annila, who had this to say; "# "I want to take this style of film and turn it on its head. What would happen if a human bit a wolf, and human blood entered a wolf? With Human I expect to do totally different kind of werewolf film, so don’t expect anything familiar to this sub-genre."
* Director AJ Annila also worked on the Finnish horror art film Sauna.
Another working title for this gem is "The Human Animal"
I think this sounds really interesting, and this is one I am looking forward to!
Hooray for originality!
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