TrailerWatch: Trouser Snake – yep, this exists.

Posted on March 18, 2016 by Denise

Trouser Snake short film onesheetSince I have the mental maturity (and attention span) of a five-year-old, as soon as I saw the title of this short film, I stopped everything and rushed to put this post up.  Trouser Snake.  Yep.  And it’s a horror movie.  Of course it is. What I can’t figure out is why this title hadn’t been snapped up before (okay, it actually has been.)

I gotta admit I’m loving the old-school exploitation-film vibe of the poster.  And that they call the film a “comedic send-up to ’50s creature features” piques my interest.  Writer/Director Alex DiVincenzo has been mostly on the production end of film, but with this film (and his work on Horror Icon: Inside Michael’s Mask with Tony Moran), I’m thinking he may be an up-and-comer for the indie horror genre.  Let’s hope so. Hey, this short got screened at Boston’s Underground Film Fest.  Can a screening of Trouser Snake at Spooky Fest be far behind?  Get it, trouser snake, behind?  Body parts…oh fine.

Here’s the quick teaser for Trouser Snake, which makes sense as the film itself is a short. Read on for more info after the jump!

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TrailerWatch: the Ben-Hur remake brings bread and circus

Posted on March 18, 2016 by Denise

Ben Hur 2016 onesheet“First to finish, last to die.”

Seen the epic Ben-Hur?  You know the one, it’s got Charlton Heston, and an incredible chariot race scene that is a must-watch for any film fan. With the popularity of BC/early AD Judeo-Christian storytelling on TV and in film, it was only natural that this blockbuster would get the 21st Century treatment.

Synopsis!

BEN-HUR is the epic story of Judah Ben-Hur (Jack Huston), a prince falsely accused of treason by his adopted brother Messala (Toby Kebbell), an officer in the Roman army. Stripped of his title, separated from his family and the woman he loves (Nazanin Boniadi), Judah is forced into slavery. After years at sea, Judah returns to his homeland to seek revenge, but finds redemption. Based on Lew Wallace’s timeless novel, Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ. Also starring Morgan Freeman and Rodrigo Santoro.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BenHurFilm/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/benhurmovie
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benhurmovie/

Yeah baby, you saw Morgan Freeman.  And I saw something else that immediately caught my attention; people of color playing people of color.  Who’da thunk?  Bravo, Paramount.  I’m also getting a definite Gladiator vibe, with a touch of Fury Road‘s races of destruction.  I’m interested to see if the crucifixion scene will be in this new film…with the flash of crown-of-thorns in this trailer, I’m betting we’ll get at least a peek.  Check out the trailer below; Ben Hur hits theaters August 12th, 2016.

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Pony News: G.M. Berrow comes back to BronyCon!

Posted on March 17, 2016 by Denise

BronyCon 2016 GM Berrow Announcement BannerFantastic news, everypony! G.M. Berrow is coming back to BronyCon this year! *flails arms like kermit*  I can’t wait to talk to her about writing for the show, and of course what’s coming up in MLPFiM…and okay fine; I’m dying to know if she’s working on more Law and Order: SVU eps!

She was amazing last year, and I’m hoping she’ll have another Q&A this year. And if she does, I’ll be right there to catch the deets and share with the class.  Read on after the jump for the full press release from the BronyCon PR ponies!

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Baltimore Screening Pass-palooza: Margurite!

Posted on March 13, 2016 by Denise

margurite onesheetMargurite!  The roaring twenties!  Singing!  Award nominations!  You know you’re intrigued.  Synopsis!

1921, the beginning of the Golden Twenties. Not far from Paris. It is party day at Marguerite Dumont’s castle. Like every year, an array of music lovers gathers around a great cause at the owner’s place. Nobody knows much about this woman except that she is rich and that her whole life is devoted to her passion: music. Marguerite sings. She sings wholeheartedly, but she sings terribly out of tune. In ways quite similar to the Castafiore, Marguerite has been living her passion in her own bubble, and the hypocrite audience, always coming in for a good laugh, acts as if she was the diva she believes she is. When a young, provocative journalist decides to write a rave article on her latest performance, Marguerite starts to believe even further in her talent. This gives her the courage she needs to follow her dream. Despite her husband’s reluctance, and with the help of a has‐been divo, both funny and mean, she decides to train for her first recital in front of a crowd of complete strangers.

Want passes?  Well, right this way… Continue reading →

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Baltimore Screening Pass-palooza – Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice!

Posted on March 12, 2016 by Denise

Batman v Superman Dawn of Justice final

Boom!  Pow!  Bam!  Ready for an epic smackdown?  Well, I’ve got passes for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice!  Batfleck and Kal-El are gonna bring it to the big screen.  Me?  I’m #TeamWonderWoman, but I can’t wait to see how this all goes down…  Synopsis!

From director Zack Snyder comes “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” starring Ben Affleck as Batman/Bruce Wayne and Henry Cavill as Superman/Clark Kent in the characters’ first big-screen pairing. Fearing the actions of a god-like Super Hero left unchecked, Gotham City’s own formidable, forceful vigilante takes on Metropolis’s most revered, modern-day savior, while the world wrestles with what sort of hero it really needs.  And with Batman and Superman at war with one another, a new threat quickly arises, putting mankind in greater danger than it’s ever known before.

BTW, if you’re into comics and haven’t been reading Batman vs Superman, get on that.  It’s a great series.  Onward, to passes! Continue reading →

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Baltimore Screening Pass-palooza: The Boss!

Posted on March 11, 2016 by Denise

the boss onesheetOkay y’all.  Pass time!  And you know you love Melissa McCarthy.  So why not catch her newest flick before everyone else?  Synopsis!

Academy Award®-nominated star Melissa McCarthy (Bridesmaids, The Heat, Tammy) headlines The Boss as a titan of industry who is sent to prison after she’s caught for insider trading. When she emerges ready to rebrand herself as America’s latest sweetheart, not everyone she screwed over is so quick to forgive and forget.

McCarthy is joined in The Boss by an all-star cast led by Kristen Bell, Peter Dinklage and Kathy Bates. Directed by Ben Falcone (Tammy), the comedy is based on an original character created by McCarthy and written by McCarthy and Falcone alongside their Groundlings collaborator, Steve Mallory. The film is produced by McCarthy and Falcone through their On the Day productions and Will Ferrell, Adam McKay and Chris Henchy through their Gary Sanchez Productions.

This character is one McCarthy has had in her comedy stable since her work in the Groundlings.  So with that, and the amazing Peter Dinkage and Kathy Bates on board?  I’m expecting some serious fun. Onward, to passes! Continue reading →

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Elsewhere Review: 10 Cloverfield Lane

Posted on March 11, 2016 by Denise
As always, clicky on the title below for the original piece!

10 Cloverfield Lane

10 cloverfield lane onesheet

Nutshell: 10 Cloverfield Lane is a worthy successor to the original Cloverfield, actually beating the sophomore slump and rising above the first film..  Not in the handheld/found-footage genre (there’s nary a shakey-cam moment to be found) , but in the sense of dread, terror of the unknown, and a screenplay that manages to keep the adrenaline pumping.  The climax is well-executed crazy, thanks to this film’s game ensemble cast.  But are there monsters, you ask?  Depends on your definition of monster… Grade: A-

“I focused on being prepared. And I was…. And here we are.”

If you’re a kaiju nerd like I am, you were stoked for Cloverfield.  And while it wasn’t exactly the huge monster throwdown many of us were hoping for – that’d be Pacific Rim, a movie that actually grew on me on repeat viewings – Cloverfield‘s hints at a strange, unsettling mythology had me hooked.  Not exactly fully invested in its teasingly vague story, but willing to sit for more.  So?  More!  Well, kinda. J.J. Abrams still sticks with the producer role, and with Cloverfield director Matt Reeves also going the producer route in this sequel-ish film, Dan Trachtenberg gets his first feature-film directorial shot.  With a smaller ensemble cast – a mere three actors – this film is a sequel to Cloverfield in its ability to unsettle, play with your expectations, and leave you wanting more.
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TrailerWatch: badass new Captain America: Civil War poster! Kewl new trailer!

Posted on March 10, 2016 by Denise

Captain America Civil War first onesheetHave you seen the new Captain America: Civil War trailer yet?  If not, you’re so lucky today.  I just attached that sucker to this post.  Easy-peasy for you! And while we’re at it, synopsis!

When the government sets up a governing body to oversee the Avengers, the team splinters into two camps—one led by Steve Rogers and his desire for the Avengers to remain free to defend humanity without government interference, and the other following Tony Stark’s surprising decision to support government oversight and accountability.

So, are you #TeamCap or #TeamIronMan?  Hey, there’s no wrong answer.  (Y’know, as long as your answer is #TeamCap. But you’re already on that. Naturally.)

Want more?  Well.  I’ve put EVERYTHING the glorious, gorgeous PR folks sent along with the poster/trailer goodness after the jump.  Why?  Because if you’re like me, you can’t get enough 411 (except for spoilers, darling)…

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Hey Baltimare: Eisner-Award winning artist Sara Richard coming to BronyCon!

Posted on March 9, 2016 by Denise

bronycon sara richard banner 2016

As usual, BronyCon is bringing the awesome.  Tonight, it looks like award-winning artist Sara Richard is coming to BronyCon this year!  Not only does she have mad skills with the ponies, but she’s done awesome work for Deadpool, Ghostbusters, and I’m dying to get my hands on a copy of the DC Justice League Tarot Card set.

Read on for the full press release – and see you ponies at BronyCon!

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“London Has Fallen”: second verse, same as the first

Posted on March 4, 2016 by Denise

25341464_maxNutshell: They could have subtitled this film “If you liked the first one, you’ll really dig this!”  London Has Fallen brings all the same grade-A destruction that Olympus Has Fallen rained down on moviegoers, but on a grander scale.  The buddy teamup of Butler’s Secret Service Agent and Eckhart’s Prez works great on the big screen, even if their abilities aren’t exactly believable.  Then again, nothing in this film is believable, save for the whiffs of intolerance here and there.  But hurrah for AMURICA, and hella awesome FX!  Grade: C+

Like things that explode?  Like things that crumble to dust?  Enjoy watching lots and lots and LOTS of unnamed Others get blown away?  Then baby, have I got a film for you.

Right off the bat let’s get one thing straight:  London Has Fallen is not high art.  In fact, it harks back to the ol’ boom-boom-pow American nationalism hyperdrive of films like Rocky IV, Independence Day, and every freakin’ movie Chuck Norris did. This is a movie where you’re supposed to eye people with even the faintest whiff of Middle-Eastern parentage with suspicion, and cheer when the inevitable good-guy payback hits hard.  From Morgan Freeman’s ID4-esque “vengeance will be OURS” speech, to Angela Bassett’s Single Tear Of Sadness, this film takes all the cliches, beats you over the head with them, and then sets them on fire.  In no way does subtlety or light-handedness come into play here.  London has Fallen is about big things, happening to big places, in a big way.

Like Don Henley would ask, are you with me so far?
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