“London Has Fallen” salutes the troops!

Posted on March 1, 2016 by Denise

I enjoyed Olympus Has Fallen. So you know I’ll be front and center to check out its sequel, London Has Fallen. But in addition to my usual love of all things that go boom, I’ve got a touch of the warm fuzzies for the cast and crew right now. Why? Because they headed out to share their new film with the Armed Forces here, and in Kuwait.  Yep, before the official release date.  Pretty sweet.  And stars Aaron Eckhart, Angela Basset and Gerard Butler even made special apperances at bases here in the States.  OOOH-RAH!

Check out the pics from the event, and read on for the full press release after the jump!

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The Horror! — “Stalled”

Posted on February 29, 2016 by Denise

stalled onesheet

Okay, time to get back on the horror train, with a brand-new section here at AFan.  Hooray!  First up, a zombie apocalypse movie…set in the bathroom?

“The Queen’s swimming in my toilet.”

Subgenre: Zombie horror-comedy. C’mon, look at the poster.

Story: It’s Christmas Eve, and poor WC (GET IT?) is hiding in a ladies bathroom stall after two women come in while he’s cleaning. But when a pizza boy “gets rapey under the mistletoe” and leaves a bite mark on one of the ladies? He’s literally up shit(ters) creek. I know, but I couldn’t resist.

FX: Middling. Zombies = white foundation & black eye makeup. Lots of fake blood and latex bite wounds lit too brightly to pass as believable.

Thoughts:

Well, this does answer the “what happens if you’re stuck in the bathroom during the zombie apocalypse” question. Stalled is low budget horror.  SUPER low budget. I see this film as one shot late at night at somebody’s day job when the boss wasn’t looking. Continue reading →

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Elsewhere Review: “Gods of Egypt” is a godawful, glorious mess

Posted on February 26, 2016 by Denise
As always, clicky on the header for the original piece!

“Gods of Egypt” is a godawful, glorious mess

gods of egyptNutshell: Can something be awful and amazing at the same time?  Well, Gods of Egypt is certainly giving it its best shot.  With crazy action scenes, a nutso plot, and CGI that feels like the SyFy channel and 1999’s The Mummy had a lovechild of doom, this film tries for Glorious Epic and comes off 50s Throwback.  And I haven’t even started on my #GodsSoWhite rant yet.  Bumping this up half a grade for its sheer balls, and for Geoffrey Rush’s weird fishtail braid.  Grade: C-

“Oh, bother.”

Nope, that quote above isn’t from Winnie the Pooh.  Well okay, it is.  But it’s also here in Gods of Egypt.  And not only is it spoken by one of the “Gods”, it’s probably what every member of the cast and crew thought to themselves once the reality of this movie really set in.  But hey, everyone’s got a mortgage that needs to be paid, amirite?

Director Alex Proyas seems determined to complete the downward spiral he’s started after his work on 1994’s brilliant Brandon Lee superhero flick The Crow.  I, Robot, the glorious Nick Cage magnum opus Knowing, and now this…movie.  Gods of Egypt is like the world’s craziest D&D campaign run amok, where the DM has taken the rule book, the mythos for the world, and any semblance of coherence, and chucked ’em all out the window.  But if you’re ready to settle in — after a few beers or better yet, several shots of the strongest liquor in your cabinet (something white, to set the mood) — I’ll dig a bit deeper so you know what you’ll be getting yourself into.
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“Eddie the Eagle” – cute, conventional, charming.

Posted on February 26, 2016 by Denise

eddie the eagle poster“How do you land, exactly?”

Relatable characters, real on-screen chemistry between the two leads, and winning performances by Jackman and Egerton.  Director Dexter Fletcher has clocked a lot of time in front of the camera as well as behind it, and seems to know exactly what to do to bring out quiet, believable performances from his cast.  Eddie is a feel-good story about a total mess who makes good.  Well, as good as he’s able.

Is it predictable in a movie-of-the-week kinda way?  Yep.  But that’s not the point; anyone can google Eddie and see his real-life Olympic career.  Does the plot feel a bit cookie cutter-ish?  Again, yep. Still, those performances, and a slyly funny screenplay make this an enjoyable romp.  And I’ve gotta give props to a fantastic retro soundtrack, with songs like Van Halen’s “Jump”, Hall & Oates’ “You Make My Dreams”, and many other 80s favorites.

Sure, the story of Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards is an odd one.  But it’s fascinating.  And Eddie doesn’t shy away from the fact that ski jumping is a dangerous as hell sport.  If you’re game for a story that doesn’t rely on boom, bang or boobies, you can’t go wrong here.

Grade: B

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“Daredevil” Season 2 — new trailer shows Elektra, and a gathering storm

Posted on February 25, 2016 by Denise

daredevil season 2 onesheetThe Punisher. Elektra. And now it’s official; The Hand is coming to Hell’s Kitchen.  Daredevil is definitely upping the ante from Season 1, and that’s saying something.  I was pumped with the first Season 2 trailer, and now I’m counting the days ’til the season hits Netflix.

It’s good to see that Marvel isn’t pulling any punches, and Elektra is looking all sorts of wicked cool.  And I can’t wait to see what The Hand — an infamous criminal organization that was created by Frank Miller — has in store.  Y’know Frank Miller; the guy who created The Dark Knight and 300?  So kids, looks like it’s about to go down.

Daredevil Season 2 starts March 18th, 2016.

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Baltimore Screening Pass-palooza: Whiskey Tango Foxtrot!

Posted on February 25, 2016 by Denise

whiskey tango foxtrotWTF am I talking about?  Exactly.  Confused? Don’t be.  It’s the new Tina Fey comedy Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, and the trailer looks very promising.  It’s based on  the book The Taliban Shuffle: Strange Days in Afghanistan and Pakistan by Kim Barker, which is now something I’ll need to add to my ever-growing GoodReads queue.  Synopsis!

The story of when reporter Kim Baker’s (Tina Fey) life needs something more, she decides to ‘shake it all up’ by taking an assignment in a war zone. There, in the midst of chaos, she finds the strength she never knew she had.

For me Fey has done an excellent job of picking interesting, funny films in her post-30 Rock career (in particular, This is Where I Leave You and Sisters  were enjoyable as hell.)  I’m hopeful WTF will be no different.  Onward, to passes!

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5 questions for “Stomping Ground” director Dan Riesser

Posted on February 24, 2016 by Denise
dan riesser

Dan Riesser (Image: Irrational Films)

I covered and reviewed the new indie-horror film Stomping Ground.  So when I got the opportunity to ask its director, Dan Riesser, a few questions?  I went for it.  First, a little background, perhaps?  Here’s some information on Dan from his Irrational Films website:

Dan is a freelance producer and indie filmmaker who specializes in genre films with a smart blend of horror, thriller & dark comedy. He is currently working on his sophomore feature film & seeking his next gig in the industry.

So read on about his high school musical chops, favorite horror sub-genres, Bigfoot vs. Sasquatch, and who he’d like to work with if given the chance. Thanks so much to Dan and his gang for letting me pick his brain with some silly stuff!

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Baltimore Screening Pass-palooza: Zootopia!

Posted on February 24, 2016 by Denise

ZOOTOPIA one sheetDogs and cats!  And sloths!  And elephants!  Living together!  Mass hysteria?  Nope; it’s just Disney’s new film, Zootopia.  Synopsis!

The modern mammal metropolis of Zootopia is a city like no other. Comprised of habitat neighborhoods like ritzy Sahara Square and frigid Tundratown, it’s a melting pot where animals from every environment live together—a place where no matter what you are, from the biggest elephant to the smallest shrew, you can be anything. But when rookie Officer Judy Hopps (voice of Ginnifer Goodwin) arrives, she discovers that being the first bunny on a police force of big, tough animals isn’t so easy. Determined to prove herself, she jumps at the opportunity to crack a case, even if it means partnering with a fast-talking, scam-artist fox, Nick Wilde (voice of Jason Bateman), to solve the mystery. Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Zootopia,” a comedy-adventure directed by Byron Howard (“Tangled,” “Bolt”) and Rich Moore (“Wreck-It Ralph,” “The Simpsons”) and co-directed by Jared Bush (“Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero”), opens in theaters on March 4, 2016.

With names like Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Shakira, Tommy Chong, J.K. Simmons, Octavia Spencer, Alan Tudyk, and (OH HELLO) Idris Elba, this sound like a hoot.  Want in?  Of course you do — you’re smart and you dig movies.  So read on…

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Baltimore Screening Pass-palooza: My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2!

Posted on February 20, 2016 by Denise

my big fat greek wedding 2UPDATE: winners have been chosen — THANK YOU to everyone who entered!

Who didn’t love My Big Fat Greek Wedding?  I still giggle every time I see a Bundt…  So, how about more?  My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 is hitting theaters March 25th, but why not come see it earlier?  I’ve got passes.  But first?  Synopsis!

After spending most of their time focusing on their troubling teenage daughter, Toula and Ian are facing marital problems while also having to deal with yet another Greek wedding – this time, even bigger and fatter.

The trailer looks adorable — and hilarious — so I’m game.  Are you?  Well then, right this way…

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Elsewhere Review: “Race” shows the man and the times behind the legend

Posted on February 19, 2016 by Denise
As always, clicky on the title below for the original piece!

“Race” shows the man and the times behind the legend

race onesheetWe all know Jesse Owens; he’s the runner we all hear about in sophomore year high school American history class.  The guy that went to the Berlin Olympics in 1936 and showed Hitler that the idea of an Übermensch needed to be retooled a little.  A lot.  But filmgoers get a bigger picture of Owens in Race, a film that takes Jesse Owens and his considerable talent, and puts him into his time, complete with bigotry, politics and the spectacle of the Olympic Games.

Director Stephen Hopkins (House of Lies, and one of my favorite Tales From the Crypt episodes, “Abra Cadaver”*) balances all of this beautifully.  What could have been a by-the-numbers history lesson or a pedestal-buffing hosana to a legendary athlete, instead is a compelling story of one man’s struggle to find himself amid the slings and arrows of his times.
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