Sunday, September 30, 2012

Laser Disk...new wave of the collecting future?

Laser Disk...new wave of the collecting future?

For a very brief period of time in the 1990's laser disks seemed to be the new hip thing that was supposed to replace VHS tapes. Sadly and very smartly this never caught on. Laser disks are huge, in fact their the size of records and was supposed to be the newest cutting edge in technology. 


I think a big reason why these little babies never caught on was the size. I mean where would you store all these things? + most of the time you had to flip the disk over since the movie was split up. Since laser disks never caught on, it paved the way for DVDs and now of course blurays.

I'm of course a VHS collecting nut, and I just began to collect laser disks which are only sold at conventions and online. I know it sounds weird since I don't have nor ever owned a laser disk machine, but I guess it's just the covers that rope me in. So far I only have three. Intruder, Fright Night, and Gremlins 2. I plan on collecting a few more, only movies I'm really a big fan of. I plan on getting these signed one day in the future and even if their not going to be worth anything I find them a very interesting and different way to collect movies. Who knows with the VHS collecting boom in full swing, maybe laser disk will have it's time to shine in the sun.

Who knows...

Saturday, September 29, 2012

Looper review - Best movie I've seen in years!

LOOPER 
Year - 2012
Directed by - Rain Johnson
Starring - Joseph Gordon Levitt, Bruce Willis, Emily Blunt 

 
PLOT: In 2072, when the mob wants to get rid of someone, the target is sent 30 years into the past, where a hired gun awaits. Someone like Joe, who one day learns the mob wants to 'close the loop' by transporting back Joe's future self.

LOWDOWN: I have been crazy excited for this movie to come out ever since I watched the first teaser trailer. I think it's pretty well know that I'm a huge Joseph Gordon Levitt fan. Yes, long before he began kicking ass and taking names I loved him when he was the kid with the long hair from 3rd Rock From The Sun. Just lately his career has finally began to take off and he's finally getting his due. First with the odd beat romantic indie film 500 Days Of Summer, then walking on ceilings and completely stealing the show in Inception. It now seems as though Joseph is everywhere and just this summer alone being in The Dark Knight Rises and Premium Rush, two movies I very much enjoyed I have a pretty good feeling that Mr. Levitt is going to become one of the best younger actors around who's gonna make nothing but awesome beyond cool movies for the rest of his life. With Looper I was very interested since lately it seems there's a huge lack of original ideas. This movie in a very odd way reminded me of some really great science fiction classics such as Blade Runner. Being a fan of Bruce Willis (Come on who doesn't love Die Hard) I loved the idea of making Joseph into a younger version of him. Having a background on makeup effects I was blown away by how simple these few pieces were that were applied on him, yet made him look like a completely different person. I have to disagree, it doesn't look like he's gotten bad plastic surgery, it looks like he could seriously be Bruce's son. Bravo SFX, you blow me away yet again. This being said, Joseph's new look really did rope me in along with the somehow classic simple time travel/underground mob story with twist. I've never seen Rain Johnson's other films even though everyone says I'll love Brick. I'll have to give the man credit where credit is due. From what I hear he's had this idea for years and was finally able to make it. From what I see he seems to be a man who makes the movies he wants to make and after seeing this gem I'm very excited to check out his other works. 

 
One thing that I really have to hand to them is how brilliant the story is written. Like I said this seems like the kind of story you've seen or heard before but it's spun on it's head. This was a very realistic telling of the future and how ugly humans can get. I loved every scene and was on the edge of my seat. One thing that really stood out to me was where the movie went in the second act. Totally didn't see where it was going but everything on the farm I loved. You somehow see the logic on every character's side even though they all have their best interest at hand. This movie took a lot of different turns and I loved all the flash forwards. The ending I swear is one of the most brilliant endings you're gonna see for a very long time. A tragic story that honestly has a kick ass pay off. This was a movie that kept me interested the whole time. This is film-making at its best. It's action packed and thanks to Mr. Levitt, one of the best movies I've seriously seen in years. I now have to say Looper is in my top five favorite movies of all time. If you're looking for a great original movie, go see Looper. Trust me it's brilliant.

Five stars!

Friday, September 28, 2012

Creepiest Horror Themes

Creepiest Horror Themes

Music is very important in film. In fact, sometimes it's one of the most important elements. Just try to think what Jaws would have been like without Bruce's famous little notes playing every time it was dinner time? Certain themes can be beautiful and haunting. Here is my list for what I believe is the creepiest horror themes of all time. 

Phantasm

Dead Silence

The Exorcist

The Exorcist III

Burnt Offerings

Fright Night

Prince Of Darkness

The Fog

Saw

Mahunter

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Happy Belated Birthday Stephen King!


Happy Belated Birthday Stephen King!


Mr. King has been a very important figure in my life. First off my mother was a die hard fan of his. I clearly remember every time he published a new book she was always the first one to read and finish it and I often would ask her whenever she picked me up from school or when we were waiting to get my sister from an after school activity what his latest story was about. Then of course there were his mini series. IT and The Stand I would say were two staples in my childhood. Over and over again me and my sister would re watch them and be terrified. I think I speak for many people that Tim Curry fucking ruined clowns for me forever. I can remember even not wanting to use the bathroom because of that stupid movie, and how each time his face came up from the sewer to talk to Georgie I would close my eyes and block my ears and start humming.. The Stand was my mother's favorite work of his and I think my and sister and I would agree. It was his masterpiece and nothing honestly can compare. This was truly what a sweeping epic was like. To this day that mini series warms my heart and I can pretty much speak it from line to line. Perfection at it's greatest, even though both mini series are very dated in many ways. I'll be sure to review both of them later in the future to really point out why their so special. 


From vampires, to the end of the world, blood drenched prom dates, killer children in the corn, rabid dogs, possessed cars, second sight, killer trucks, monsters from the grave, crazy fans, clowns, ghouls, ghosts, and haunted houses...


My mother also showed us all of his movies based off his works. I remember her reading Cycle Of The Werewolf to us when we were little, and how I was dying to finally read a book of his since I was becoming such a fan of his movies. I think Pet Sematary was the first VHS tape I ever owned. As years passed and I watched other works of his such as The Langoliers, Storm Of The Century, and Rose Red, and began reading his books, slowly easing it them. I think the first novel I read of his was in fact Pet Sematary, then moved onto Carrie, Salem's Lot, and finally The Stand. Before I knew it I was collecting all of his books and rereading them over and over again. For nearly ten years I have pretty much read every work of his besides some of his later stuff including The Dark Tower series. I have to disagree when an English teacher of mine once said that his work was like the fast food of literature. This kinda made me angry. This is exactly the sort of outlook that many people have towards horror and thrillers. I think most of King's work is brilliant and he's one of our greatest writers out there. I mean one man has thought of all these worlds, characters, monsters, and stories? Amazing. Simply...amazing.


Not only have I grown up loving his movies, I have also loved his books.

In fact as weird as this sounds I made it a tradition to reread Pet Sematary and Cujo at least once a year. Those two books are my favorite and in my eyes my two favorite novels of all time.

My favorite books of his have to be...

Pet Semetary

Cujo

Christine

IT

The Stand

Salem's Lot

Needful Things

As shocking as this sounds I wasn't a huge fan of The Shinning in novel form, or Firestarter even though I love both movie versions. I adore his movies (mostly Christine and Pet Semetary) In fact I went so far to show my love for his work by getting a Church tattoo this year.

I adore his films and mini series and really enjoyed two of his later works (Bag Of Bones, and Cell) even though I do enjoy his earlier work than some of the later stuff he's published, I need to express how much I love this man.


Thank you Stephen King. You were a huge part of my childhood and as odd as this sounds, after loosing my mother reading some of your books and getting lost in those worlds really helped me. Happy birthday you brilliant bastard and thanks for scaring us all these years!

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Top episodes from Tales From The Crypt

Top episodes from Tales From The Crypt
I don't care who you are, nearly everyone on the planet has seen or at least watched a few minutes of a Tales From The Crypt episode. Based off the classic comic books, and then the super creepy 1970's films, Tales From The Crypt was a balls to the walls 7 season thrill ride starring nearly everyone and their mother. It features some amazing actors, directors, effects, and haunting story lines that I'm sure is a big part of many childhoods. All 7 seasons are are now on DVD, and selling for pretty cheap. If you're a horror fan these are a must have. Also if you're a painter or a sculptor these make great background noise while you're working. So here is my list of my all time favorite episodes ever. 

And All Through The House
Cutting Cards

The Thing From The Grave

Four-Sides Triangle

Judy You're Not Yourself Today

Lower Berth

Television Terror

The Secret

Top Billing

Easel Kill Ya

Mourning' Mess

Split Second

What's Cookin'

The New Arrival

Strung Along

Werewolf Cancerto

Death Of Some Salesmen

Revenge Is Nuts

Staired In Horror

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Best opening in a horror movie part 2

Best Opening In A Horror Movie Part 2

As promised, I knew I just couldn't do one list for some of my all time favorite opening in a horror movie. I'm sure there's going to be a part three to follow, but this is the second half to my favorite opening in a horror movie.

Halloween II
 I'm a huge fan of sequels that take place just moments where the first one left one. Halloween II pulls this off brilliantly. I love Loomis looking at where Michael laid dead just moments ago when the next door neighbor calls out and remarks that he hopes all this racket isn't some kind of joke. That he's been trick and treated to death. I love how Loomis just stares at him and says the famous line "You don't know what death is!" before taking off running. The music cue seriously gives me hills every time.

H20
This is a very underrated sequel in the Halloween series. I love how "Mr. Sandman" plays, reminding us of Halloween II, and a large butcher knife plunging into a pumpkin. What screams Halloween more than plunging knifes into pumpkins around small children? We follow Nurse Chambers, who we haven't seen since the two original films and get to also get sight of a very young and adorable Joseph Gordon Levitt long before he was walking on ceilings and teaming up with Batman. For fifteen minutes the audience is in total suspense as Mr. Myers kicks ass and takes names. I LOVE the whole credit montage after everything with Loomis' voice over showing all the clippings of Micheal's bloody trail. Brilliant, simply brilliant. 

Waxwork
Nothing kicks off a movie with big band music playing loudly and somebody getting their head shoved in a fireplace. I love this movie's theme (you can download it on I-tunes) just the whole credits over the fireplace, very simple but a very awesome way to kick off one of my all time favorite movies.

Christine
As many would know, I'm head over heels in love with this movie. I love the sound of the engine and then the opening in the 1950's assembly line. Bad To The Bone loudly playing (trust me this song only fully works to effect in this movie and in T2) I love how you get to see Christine's first taste of blood before we jump ahead to the 1970's.

Creepshow
Oh Creepshow...how perfect you are, let me count the ways...I love the very awesome and harsh opening where Tom Atkins acts like a complete dick to Stephen King's son. I love the music and of course the very handsome creep hanging out the window before it transforms into the comic book world. Very creepy and MUCH better than the sequel's opening.

Trick R Treat
I really liked Trick R Treat. In fact I can't find my DVD so I'm pretty pissed. I love the opening in the yard and it really kick starts what sort of movie the audience is getting into. Very old school and reminds me of Creepshow. Also can we take a moment to talk about how adorable Sam is! Ahhhh I just wanna squeeze him!

Lords Of Salem trailer

Lords Of Salem trailer!

Okay so I must be the last person on the planet to have stumbled upon this leaked trailer, but I was totally blown away. Now I'm not the biggest Rob Zombie fan out there. I was never really into his music even though I think it's okay, and as for his movies the only one I really did love was The Devil's Rejects. I enjoyed House Of 1000 Corpses more visualy than anything else. It was over the top and felt more like a remake for The Funhouse, which I'm still convinced Mr. Zombie should handle. Rejects I think was the perfect sequel. It did something few have done and that's made you terrified yet still root for the villains. I thought Zombie's different direction to a more gritty Western was amazing and that showdown at the end still gives me chills! As for the two Halloween remakes...

Eh...

I adore the original Halloween and it's sequel. I mean who honestly tries to fuck or redo what John Carpenter has done so perfectly? I do have fond memories going to see the first remake back in 2007 since it was released on my birthday and I went with my mother who welcomed me to the original series when I was just a kid. The remake is good for what it is. First you can tell it's a Rob Zombie movie just seconds into it, and it was filled with flaws. I'm sorry as much as I love his wife I think she was miscast in this. It did have it's moments and I did love all the cameos from some famous faces in the horror world + gotta love that ending. H2 on the other hand...what a mess. Zombie honestly had such a chance to make a great horror movie and he screwed the pooch. I did though enjoy his Grandhouse trailer.

Anywho...here is the trailer for Lords Of Salem, which was filmed in Salem MA which is just a half an hour away from me. Rob Zombie knows his stuff since he's from MA and his hometown is just a town over from me. I'm very interested in this movie and have high hopes. Please Mr. Zombie, please go back to your roots and make a kick ass horror movie!


Saturday, September 22, 2012

Review - House On The End Of The Street

House On The End Of The Street
Year – 2012
Directed by - Mark Tonderai
Starring - Jennifer Lawrence, Elisabeth Shue, and Max Thieriot


 PLOT- A mother and daughter move to a new town and find themselves living next door to a house where a young girl murdered her parents. When the daughter befriends the surviving son, she learns the story is far from over.

LOWDOWN - Today is the last weekend in a while that I'm not going to be crazy busy. Between my sister getting married this up coming month, and my new job at a local haunt for the season, I decided in great autumn tradition to go see a scary movie to start getting into the whole Halloween mood.

I had vaguely heard about House On The End Of The Street, and at first honestly thought it was another remake being cranked out. But no, this was an original idea with a title that honors some really great thrillers that were made in the 1970's and 1980's (Last House On The Left, Last House On Dead End Street, House On The Edge Of The Park, House By The Cemetery, ect.) Going into this movie with no prior knowledge besides knowing it was ratted PG-13, I went into it with an open mind.

I was not disappointed. At first I was sorta blah going into the theater. Some lady brought her two year in who kept babbling through the trailers. I'm sorry, maybe it's because I work with children, but I can't deal with people bringing their babies to the movies when it isn't a kid's movie. Unless you're child is perfectly behaved and knows how to shut up and sit still for two hours...DON'T FUCKING BRING THEM! Shocking enough besides a few cries, the kid pretty much shut up the whole movie.

The movie itself started off at a pretty slow pace, a lot of people have complained it was boring and I'll admit it did have a slow start and really didn't savor it's time with truly developing the characters. Yet I've seen a million PG-13 horror films (mostly of them released after the whole Ring and Grudge wave) and most of them were awful. These weren't classic PG-13 horror movies that we all watched as kids...PG-13 films that really should have been ratted R, no most of these just sucked. Believe it or not House is one of the new that I really enjoyed and stood out. There's a love story that believe it or not doesn't feel forced, a lead that sorta echos you're typical final girl from the mid 1980's, and a pretty good storyline that kept me guessing. Yes it did have a few “jump” scares, but as the film began to close and sorta began to guess where it was going and wasn't disappointed that I was pretty close with how I thought it would end. There were several clever twists and the way the movie was done I think it pulled it off perfectly. The last twenty minutes are very suspenseful and I gotta admit, the very last scene rang true to a certain classic (Sleepaway Camp) and I loved the fast paced music that blasted over the credits. If you're looking for what seems like a Lifetime movie on coke, or one of the better PG-13 thrillers, go check out this gem, you won't be disappointed!




Friday, September 21, 2012

Top Five Worst Ways to Die In A Horror Movie Part 1

Top Five Worst Ways to Die In A Horror Movie
Part 1

I've seen thousands of people die in movies. Thousands upon thousands. Here is the start of what I'm sure will be a very continued blog post for many months to come. Here is the first top five of the most painful deaths in a horror movie. These deaths are what I believe are the most painful, stomach turning, and most horrible ways to meet your maker.


The Hitcher 
Tied between two trucks? Even though in the classic original the aftermath was never shown, just the look on C. Thomas Howell's face says it all. Poor Jennifer Jason Leigh is tied between two trucks both pulling in opposite directions. Talk about having a really bad day!

Prom Night II
Sure you can say it must have been a quick death, but nothing about those two lockers crushing together looked painless to me!

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2
Not only does poor L.G's head get bashed in like a million times, he's then skinned and forced to come to seeing the girl he's been sweet on wearing his own face! He does have the best final line of all time “Ah...shit.”

Intruder
This movie was the mecca of painful deaths. The worst though goes to the character of Dave. Hacked with a hatchet, he's dragged towards the meat cutter and right before our very eyes, we watch as his entire head is sawed in two. Worst headache e-v-e-r!

Saw III
This entire film series is filled with awful deaths, the worst though has to be 'The Wrap” in which a poor screaming guy you twisted. Every time I hear one of those bones snap, a little part of me dies. Yuck...”

Thursday, September 20, 2012

House and Night Of Dark Shadows DVD/blu-ray release!

House and Night Of Dark Shadows DVD/blu-ray release this October!


Back in 2008 I picked up House and Night Of Dark Shadows via bootleg at a local convention. I had always been interested in the classic 1960's and 1970's soap opera, but knew that there were way too many episodes to truly be able to catch up and get into. + to make matters worse, the episodes were out of print besides being on tape at local video stores that had since been shut down for nearly ten or so years. Picking up these two titles, it wasn't until a few years later when I was away at school that I picked up the revamped show that was released in the early 90's and featured a very young Joseph Gordon Levitt. I knew that this remake of this show sadly lasted only one season, but pretty much summed up a lot of important parts for Dark Shadows fans. Wanting to get a little more background before watching the show, I popped in these two babies one night and can honestly say got creeped the fuck out.

I'm more of a fan of House VS. Night, but found these movies perfect movie adaptions to the ever so popular soap opera. In fact House is pretty much the first episode of the revamped series, but of course with much darker results. I adored Dan Curtis (Trilogy Of Terror, Burnt Offerings, ect) I love 1970's horror, and Mr. Curtis was the master. Somehow I felt caught up when I watched these two movies and loved how one film sorta dealt with  Barnabas Collins and the other with Angelique. House is one of my favorite 1970 horror movies, and I'll go so far to say it's even in my top five of favorite vampire movies of all time. What I loved about House was the fact it was brutal. For fans of the show, the shocking climax to this film was very unexpected and literary had me on the edge of my seat until the end. As soon as these babies come out I'll be sure to post reviews. I sadly have to admit I hated the new Dark Shadows movie that was made by Mr. Burton. I guess the main reason why I hated it so much was because it was too tongue n cheek. I believe if your going to make a movie off the show, make it dark. The really only good thing that came from that movie is the fact these two lost gems are finally getting released. I'm sure their going to look gorgeous in HD!  

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

The Bride wore red. Wedding themed horror

The Bride wore red...wedding themed horror

In honor of my older sister Alexis, who's getting married in less than two weeks, here are the top five wedding themed horror movies that put a real meaning to "Till death do us part."

The Blood Spattered Bride

Hatchet For The Honeymoon




He Knows Your Alone



The Stepfather 2



Rec 3