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When you start collecting films it sometimes is hard to stop, especially when you finally land the sort of job which gives you the financial thing to buy a crazy thing or two. Looking at my collection I certainly did my share of “blind buying” and sometimes that means you end up with a few duds. Then again, really bad movies are a fun and beloved genre all by themselves, and sometimes you even see truly crummy movies get a lovingly lavish DVD edition.

Sometimes I have the mind of a magpie. I can’t resist shiny things.

Which means I have bought a few titles solely on the basis of them being rather flash editions, or having a set of extras I was really interested in. It’s an odd thing when the “making of” documentary is more fun than the film it describes, but that does happen. Sometimes it’s because the feature is an epically bad movie and therefore easily eclipsed by some standard extras, but sometimes the movie isn’t really bad, yet the documentary is just so damn good.

A good example of a film I grabbed solely for the extras was “Faces of Death”, which I reviewed earlier this week.
Even though I hold that film (and indeed its entire genre) in low esteem, the commentary track and documentaries on the disc easily warranted acquiring this disc.

So after the break you can see my list of five other examples of DVD-editions where the extras in my opinion outshine the main film.

Continue Reading "WHEN EXTRAS ATTACK (or: when disc 2 is actually better than disc 1…)"...

Okay all you film makers out there, here’s your crack at the largest and most important genre film event in the good ol’ U.S. of A.

Fantastic Fest has just opened up submissions for the 2009 edition of the Austin based festival so get crackin’.  You’ll find all the details below the break.

Continue Reading "Here’s Your Shot At Fantastic Fest 2009!"...

[Updated with an English-subtitled trailer included below the break.]

Okey dokey. Got ourselves a new trailer for the biopic Ip Man from Hong Kong’s dynamic duo, Wilson Yip and Donnie Yen. Any and all footage continues to impress. The new trailer showed up online and you can find it embedded after the break, along with other trailers and clips. I having troubles grabbing it and loading it up on the Twitch Video Player. For now just enjoy. 

Yes, the punching to the floor is in it!

Continue Reading "New Trailer for biopic ‘Ip Man’! **UPDATE**"...

A teaser trailer for Imagi Studios’ Astro Boy, an upcoming CG animated film based on the classic manga by the legendary Osamu Tezuka, has finally arrive online.  As mention before, the director is David Bowers (Flushed Away) and the voice cast include Nicolas Cage, Kristen Bell, Donald Sutherland, Nathan Lane, Bill Nighy, Eugene Levy, Matt Lucas and Freddie Highmore.  Heres the synopsis:

A thrilling tale of a true hero, ‘Astro Boy’ is an all-new, full-length feature film full of action, adventure, humor and heart. It will be brought to life on the big screen in breathtaking CGI animation on October 23, 2009.

Set in futuristic Metro City, ‘Astro Boy’ is about a young robot with incredible powers. Powered by pure positive “blue” energy, Astro Boy (Freddie Highmore) is endowed with super strength, x-ray vision, unbelievable speed and the ability to fly- not to mention the purest spirit on the planet.

Embarking on a journey across the planet to discover his powers, Astro Boy encounters a netherworld of robot gladiators and other comic characters, and learns the joys and emotions of being human. When he learns his friends and family are in danger, Astro Boy marshals all his awesome super powers and returns to Metro City, in a valiant effort to save everything he cares about and to embrace his place in the world.

Dang, I wanted to see more.  I guess its a little too early at this stage to show much since its nearly a year away till its release in theaters.  So what do you think?

Well, it appears as though all bets are well and truly off when it comes to film in Korea.  With the bubble now thoroughly burst the once-thriving Korean film industry is contracting rapidly and all the old rules are being thrown out the window. Case in point:  Korean horror films.  Once released nearly exclusively in the summer months - where horror has been hugely successful for years - this year saw just a single horror title released in the summer season, the surprise commercial hit Gosa.  And where Korean horror was once all about atmosphere and dread Gosa threw that approach out the window and instead functioned much more like a slasher picture, a trend that is growing rapidly in the region.

Enter 4 Day, a film that bucks Korean history by being both a horror film due for release out of season and one that - like Gosa - abandons the old ways of doing things in favor of large quantities of blood and violence.  Unlike Gosa, however, which was purely a lowest common denominator assault designed to put as many teenaged butts in seats as possible with few considerations paid to anything else, 4 Day looks to be aiming a little higher.  The cast is stocked with solid character actors, there are no pretty young things to be found, and the technical end of things looks far superior.  Typically strong Korean cinematography and tech work fused with a more westernized, higher energy approach to horror?  Yes, please.

Check the trailer in the Twitch Player below the break.

Continue Reading "Korea Gets Bloody On 4 DAY"...

Hostess Peaches Christ is thrilled to announce that a great, big, B-movie dream of hers is about to come true!  One night only on Wednesday, December 17th, at San Francisco’s Landmark Bridge Theatre, Peaches will present—not just once, but twice at 7:00PM and 9:40PM—a Midnight Mass produced stage-show featuring cult film icon and genre superstar Bruce Cambell live and in-person.  Peaches has been dying to honor Bruce Campbell—as she says “forEVER”—and is putting together this San Franciscan evening of Idol Worship, preceding the Bay Area premiere of Bruce Campbell’s directorial debut My Name Is Bruce.  Tickets are $10.50 and can be purchased here.

Synopsis for My Name Is Bruce: When the small mining town of Gold Lick, Oregon needs to rid itself of a vengeful monster, they kidnap actor Bruce Campbell—star of the Evil Dead trilogy, Bubba Ho-tep and countless B-movie horror films—and recruit him to be their local savior.  Mortified at first, Bruce eventually goes along with the plan, convinced that it’s all an elaborate birthday present from his agent (Ted Raimi).  But the scheme goes horribly wrong when their hero, known more for fighting directors than mythical warriors, haphazardly leads the town in battle against the beast.  Confronted by a monster that’s not a guy in a rubber suit, and with the blood of innocents on his hands, Bruce has to choose between the harsh reality of Gold Lick and the sanctity of his former, artificial life.  A horror comedy written by Mark Verheiden (Smallville, Battlestar Galactica), My Name Is Bruce co-stars Grace Thorsen and Taylor Sharpe.

This is a match made in heaven … well, maybe hell (as in hella fun)!  See you there!

Cross-published on The Evening Class.

Zowie.  Every now and then a film just kind of comes out of nowhere, featuring talent that nobody’s really heard of, and yet it is done with such a sense of style, such a clear vision of what they want to do that it’s almost impossible to believe that it’s a first project at all.  Some guys have to work to develop their world and style over time while for a rare few it just seems to emerge full grown and such is the case for James Boss and Whitewall.  Here’s the synopsis, as far as it goes:

Set in a wasteland enclosed by a large white wall, the last survivor from a brutal child internment camp reluctantly takes on one final bounty hunting job to protect the idyllic life he has rebuilt.

A post-apocalyptic sci fi action flick that looks to incorporate a large dose of martial arts this one impresses on all levels.  The cinematography is gorgeous, set designs convincing and from what you can see of action and cast they all certainly look their parts.  Hell, they’ve even got the good sense to use music from Godspeed, You Black Emperor spinoff Thee Silver Mt Zion.  The big test will be with a longer reel of footage when we can get a sense for the acting but this teaser is as strong as I’ve seen in a good while.  Check it out below the break.

Continue Reading "Hugely Impressive First Teaser For James Boss’ WHITEWALL"...

Well, it’s about time.  After releasing a three minute promo a year ago followed by a string of five teasers over the past month or so the first full trailer for Cem Yilmaz’s Turkish time traveling comedy AROG has just arrived.  A sequel / inversion to Yilmaz’s previous scifi hit GORA - a sort of Turkish Mel Brooks film with simply stellar production values - this one sends Yilmaz back in time to deal with cave men and dinosaurs and the early teasers - each of them self contained little scenes - were absolutely hysterical.  So it’s a little sad that this first proper trailer is the weakest by far of the promo materials released thus far, though blame for that should be placed squarely on whoever cut it together rather than the footage itself since the problems here seem to be all about presentation and not actual content.  Check ‘em all out in the Twitch Player below the break.

Continue Reading "Finally, A Full Trailer For Cem Yilmaz’s AROG"...

If people aren’t very careful this whole vampire craze is going to collapse under it’s own weight very soon and, honestly, I’m kind of puzzled as to how it happened in the first place.  With the finally subsiding zombie craze we at least had 28 Days Later as the obvious trigger point but there doesn’t seem to be any corresponding event in the vamp world, it’s like everybody simultaneously and independently transferred their need to make movies about the undead onto the other prime target and we’re now seeing the results.  Odd.

Anyway, Sodium Babies.  The first trailer for this indie French vamp action flick first appeared on the website of the producers last month but, due to vampire overload, I didn’t look at it at the time.  In fact, I didn’t bother to look at it at all until today when the trailer began to pop up on big commercial French movie websites to promote its upcoming release.  And, honestly, wile it shows its low budget roots a little bit it looks like solid, stylish stuff.  Check it in the Twitch Player below the break.

Continue Reading "First Trailer For French Vampire Flick SODIUM BABIES"...

How on earth did Sean Connery survive the Zardoz period of his career?  No particular reason for this post other than that I just found a nice, high res version of the trailer and it’s gloriously trashy 70’s pulp.  And it’s got breast, so definitely of the not safe for work variety.  Trailer’s below the break in the Twitch Player.

Continue Reading "Just Because We Can.  It’s The Trailer For ZARDOZ."...

Good news for fans of martial arts star Donnie Yen.  Not only is his latest effort, supernatural kung fu flick Painted Skin from director Gordon Chan, about to hit DVD in Hong Kong but it is coming on an English friendly, all region DVD, which means it can be played anywhere in the world with no need for special equipment.  While the film surprised many by handling its material as a romance rather than as the full on Bride With White Hair kung fu / horror throwback many - myself included - were expecting the film went on to be a major box office hit and has since been chosen as Hong Kong’s submission for the Best Foreign Film Oscar.  Check the trailers below the break.

And while you’re at it the Louis Koo starring Connected - the hit Hong Kong remake of Cellular, new Francis Ng thriller Deadly Delicious and period martial arts epic Butterfly Lovers are all coming region free as well.

Continue Reading "Gordon Chan’s Supernatural Kung Fu Romance PAINTED SKIN - With Donnie Yen - Coming To DVD"...

Why, why, why does Erik Poppe not get the respect he deserves?  Yes, the Norwegian director tends to take a long time between projects, which probably contributes a good deal to people not knowing who he is, but the simple fact is that he is now three feature films into his career and each of those three are near-flawless works - impeccably crafted, beautifully observed, and neatly balancing style with substance.  A difficult, beautiful, tragic film, Poppe’s third feature - De Unsylige, known in the international market as Troubled Water - is surely good enough to propel its creator into the top ranks on international film but will anybody notice?

Continue Reading "DE USYNLIGE (TROUBLED WATER) Review"...

I have a lot of faith in director Henry Selick and have a really hard time imagining a director better suited to adapting Neil Gaiman for the big screen but somehow I find myself a touch less enthusiastic about the brand new theatrical trailer for Selick’s adaptation of Neil Gaimian’s Coraline than I expected to be.  Is it the Dakota Fanning factor kicking in?  Or am I just tired and cranky?  Hit the link below and weigh in yourself ...

What was tentatively titled Beggar Su is now called True Legend but the same legendary martial arts choreographer is still behind this project. Yuen Woo Ping, a man who can kill us all in his sleep, is bringing back the Wuxia in a big way. And now one of the few men I fear in this world has started his own production blog where he will occasionally chime in and share with us his thoughts about production and filming. Head on over to the film’s web-site for his first entry. After the break though you will find a gallery with costume designs and conceptual sketches. Be sure to watch the behind the scenes video on the site for a look at the costumes as well. The armor attached to the body is especially impressive. Adds new definition to ‘body armor’.

Zhao Wen Zhuo is starring as the eponymous folk hero Su Qi Er. Zhou Xun plays Su Qi-er’s wife Yuan Ying, while Michelle Yeoh, who has just finished her part in the film, cameos as a recluse swordswoman Sister Yu, who is Su Qi-er’s saviour. In possibly another cameo role, Jay Chow will be joining the production later as a peerless martial arts master who imparts his skills to Su Qi-er.

Beggar Su also marks Yuen Wo Ping’s first film as a director in almost a decade and the first time he ever works with Zhao Wen Zhuo. Yuen Wo Ping is also paying tribute to his late father Yuen Siu Tin, who had portrayed Su Qi-er in a few films, through this production.

In the first half of the film, Su Qi Er faces persecution and gets badly beaten up, leaving his right arm maimed while being reduced to begging, undergoing the lowest points and most painful moments in his life. Su Qi-er’s romantic interest deserts him while his stout and kind-hearted wife Yuan Ying remains faithfully by his side. Being preoccupied with vengeance, Su Qi Er runs amok while training too hard in martial arts. During this sharp change of his fate, Su Qi-er’s personality changes drastically too, providing a good challenge to Zhao Wen Zhuo acting skills.

Find the gallery after the jump.

Anxious to see this one?  Well, yes, more than a little bit.  The Good Heart is the English language debut from Dagur Kari, who has previously shot much loved films in both Icelandic (Noi Albinoi) and Danish (Dark Horse).  Here’s the skinny:

Lucas is a good-hearted young man who has come to an existential dead-end. He is homeless, living in a cardboard box under the Brooklyn Bridge. With a total lack of prospects for the future, Lucas tries to commit suicide, but the attempt is a failure like everything else in his life.

Recuperating in hospital, Lucas is forced to share a room with Jacques, a grouchy, cynical bar-owner whose choleric demeanour and less-than-healthy lifestyle have resulted in no fewer than five heart attacks. With no family or friends and a risk of passing away any day, Jacques takes Lucas under his battered wing with the intention of passing on his idiosyncratic legacy.

Lucas begins a hectic learning process: he has to learn to make the perfect espresso and to adopt Jacques’ many bizarre philosophies.

Paul Dano and Brian Cox star.  We’ve run six photos from the film previously but we’ve just landed a seventh and you can check them all out at the link below.

We’ve written in the past about the Cinema 16 series of short film collections and the series returns with a collection titled simply World Short Films that may very well boast the most recognizable collection of names yet on this impressive, eclectic series.  Who’s involved?  Guillermo Del Toro, Park Chan Wook, Andrea Arnold, Sylvain Chomet, Alfonso Cuaron, Guy Maddin, Jane Campion, Alexander Sokurov, and while you may not recognize the film makers’ names you’ll certainly have heard us talking about stunning Canadian stop motion short Madame Tutli-Putli in these pages if you’ve spent much time around here at all.

Continue Reading "Cinema 16 Travels The World"...

We miss Bob Clark.  Though Clark was an American there was a good stretch were he certainly felt like he was one of us here in Canada, producing most of his early films here and populating them with a raft of Canuck talent.  For a good long while Clark’s sex comedy Porky’s was actually the top grossing Canadian production of all time.  And so his loss was felt pretty hard here but that’s being mitigated by a series of excellent posthumous – though they weren’t originally planned as such – DVD releases from Anchor Bay and Critical Mass, two of which hit shelves this week.

Continue Reading "This Christmas Put Something Violent Under The Tree."...

I’m still quite excited to see Scott Sanders’ loyal Blaxploitation spoof Black Dynamite.  I say still, because the first trailer looked like an over-the-top throwback to classic Blaxploitation fare, but this brand new trailer lets the cat out of the bag.  The creators are aiming for a classier version of I’m Gonna Git You Sucka or Undercover Brother (both fine spoofs in their own right).  Yum.  Yum.

This is the story of 1970’s action legend Black Dynamite. When “The Man” murders his brother, pumps heroin into local orphanages, and floods the ghetto with adulterated malt liquor, Black Dynamite is the one hero willing to fight all the way from the blood-soaked city streets to the hallowed halls of the Honky House.

R.I.P.  Rudy Ray Moore. You’ll find all the Dynamite goodness - including that of the NSFW variety - below the break in the Twitch Player.

Continue Reading "Parody Done Right: BLACK DYNAMITE (New Trailer)"...