#31in31: The Final Girls

Posted on October 12, 2015 by Denise
31 in 31 logoPsst: The Final Girls was part of this year’s Spooky Movie International Film Festival at the AFI.

Oct The Final Girls“First time away from home? It’s hard to be away from your parents, huh?”

Story: Max, a young woman whose mother died in a car crash, gets talked into a horror movie retrospective on the anniversary of her mom’s death.  BTW, her mom played one of the victims in Camp Bloodbath, the film of the evening.  So when the theater gets literally fired up, Max and her friends find themselves in the film.  Literally.  Can Max save her mom this time?

Scares: Though this is a horror comedy/satire, there are a few rather effective spookies among the gags.

Splat factor: Middling. Most of the kills are off-screen, and then shown in quick flashes or off-center POV. Just like back in the day!

Closing scene “shocker”?: Only if you haven’t been paying attention.

Remake, Sequel or OG (Original Ghoul)?: There are many horror spoofs, but this one is a true original.

Trick or Treat?: As I drooled over this film the moment I heard of its existence, you can pretty much bet I’m gonna like it. And surprise — I did. The Final Girls is a movie that’s worthy of the hype. Continue reading →

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#31in31: Sawbones – “Aah, Real Monsters!”

Posted on October 11, 2015 by Denise
31 in 31 logo
Today, it’s spooky podcast time!

I do love me some podcasts.  And I really love me the Sawbones podcast.  Being a huge history of medicine, cultural anthropology nerd, scoping for new Sawbones episode is the #1 reason why I hit refresh on my New Podcasts feed.

Sawbones is usually Dr. Sydnee McElroy and her husband, comedian Justin McElroy.  But sometimes they’ll have guest hosts; this particular episode has Sydnee’s sister Rileigh stepping in for Justin.  And it’s right on time with the spooky.  (Spoopy?)

To kick of October-ween, Sydnee and Rileigh did an “Aah, Real Monsters!” episode, and it’s fantastic.  Synopsis!

This week on Sawbones, Sydnee and guest star Rileigh Smirl introduce you to the diseases at the root of some monsters myths.

Wanna know more about what kinds of things led people to believe in vampires, werewolves and more? Listen to it for yourself. Seriously, it’s not only a lot of fun, it’s science. SCIENCE!

SAWBONES — “AAH, REAL MONSTERS!”

http://www.maximumfun.org/jwplayer/player.swf

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Baltimore Screening Pass-palooza: Bridge of Spies!

Posted on October 10, 2015 by Denise

bridge of spies onesheetC’mon, you know you wanna see this.  Spielberg!  The Cohen brothers!  Tom Hanks vs. Russia!

Synopsis!

A dramatic thriller set against the backdrop of a series of historic events, DreamWorks Pictures/Fox 2000 Pictures’ “Bridge of Spies” tells the story of James Donovan, a Brooklyn lawyer who finds himself thrust into the center of the Cold War when the CIA sends him on the near-impossible task to negotiate the release of a captured American U-2 pilot. Screenwriters Matt Charman and Ethan Coen & Joel Coen have woven this remarkable experience in Donovan’s life into a story inspired by true events that captures the essence of a man who risked everything and vividly brings his personal journey to life.

Directed by three-time Academy Award®-winning director Steven Spielberg, “Bridge of Spies” stars: two-time Academy Award winner Tom Hanks as James Donovan; three-time Tony Award® winner Mark Rylance as Rudolf Abel, a KGB agent defended by Donovan; Scott Shepherd as CIA operative Hoffman; Academy Award nominee Amy Ryan as James’ wife, Mary; Sebastian Koch as East German lawyer Vogel; and Academy Award nominee Alan Alda as Thomas Watters, a partner at Donovan’s law firm. The film is produced by Spielberg, Marc Platt and Kristie Macosko Krieger with Adam Somner, Daniel Lupi, Jeff Skoll and Jonathan King serving as executive producers. The screenplay is by Matt Charman and three-time Academy Award winners Ethan Coen & Joel Coen. “Bridge of Spies” will be released in theaters on October 16, 2015.

I’m dying to see this, as I’ve always been intrigued by the Cold War era.  So much bubbling just under the surface…  Onward, to passes! Continue reading →

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#31in31: Tucker & Dale vs. Evil

Posted on October 10, 2015 by Denise
31 in 31 logo
Synced with the 31 Day Horror Movie Challenge

oct 11 tucker and dale“We got your friend! Hey! Where they goin’?”

Story: 3 days ago, Tucker and Dale just wanted to get away to their brand new cabin “vacation home” . But those damn college kids keep dying all over the place. WTF, bro?

Scares: Mostly chuckles with a chance of guffaws.

Splat factor: PLENTY. Co-eds die in gross, hilarious ways. No, those two adjectives are not mutually exclusive.

Closing scene “shocker”?: Nope.  YAY!

Remake, Sequel or OG (Original Ghoul)?: 100% original.

Trick or Treat?: I can’t believe I haven’t covered this movie in a 31 in 31 yet! Because it’s freaking awesome. Continue reading →

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The What/Why/How of “He Named Me Malala”

Posted on October 9, 2015 by Denise
he named me malala onesheetSometimes a film is easy to sum up.  Sometimes it sucks so terribly, or shines so brightly, that a quick writeup is all that’s needed.  Onward, to He Named Me Malala!

Nutshell: An interesting look inside the real life of Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai that shows not only her life and work, but takes a powerful look at the ways the Taliban corrupt and destroy their own people and religion.  Grade: A-

What is it: See above.

Why should you see it: He Named Me Malala does an incredible job with outlining Malala Yousafzai’s life, and what led her to her advocacy.  Definitely recommended for people interested in knowing more about this young lady, film lovers intrigued by Davis Guggenheim’s documentary style that melds animation and live action, and folks who want to know more about what’s going on in the world around us. Continue reading →

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31 in 31 — Leprechaun: Origins

Posted on October 9, 2015 by Denise

31 in 31 logo

oct 1 Leprechaun Origins“Fuck you, lucky charms!”

Story: Four American hikers want to an Irish village where the neighboring locals fear to tread. But the villagers in Creepy Distant Town are really cool, and very welcoming. In fact, the villagers tell our gang about a cool ancient ruin, and even let them stay rent free at a cabin in middle of the woods. Hey, why is our gang locked in?

Scares: A few genuine chills of the “Where’s The Leprechaun” variety. And one seriously well done twist in the middle of the film I didn’t see coming. Plus, the leprechaun is more Descent-esque monster than St. Patrick’s Day abomination. So that’s nice. Continue reading →

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Movie Review: Pan

Posted on October 9, 2015 by Denise

pan onesheet

Nutshell: Much more of a madcap good time than the source material, even if the plot is scattershot and at times unintelligible.  But if you’re a lover of gorgeous CGI who cares? Bring forth the flying pirate ships and amazing technicolor natives! Grade: B-

Peter Pan had to come from somewhere.  Ever wonder where?  In Pan, director Joe Wright (Atonement, 2005’s Pride & Prejudice) and screenwriter Jason Fuchs (Ice Age: Continental Drift, the upcoming Wonder Woman) unpack Peter’s backstory.  And all apologies to author J.M. Barrie, but Pan is a whole lot more fun than Peter Pan ever was.  Maybe because I’ve always been more Oz than Neverland.  Maybe because this origin story zips through the plot to get from one amazing setup to the next.

Pan is a gloriously over-the-top action adventure romp that zooms through its story, striving to top itself with each subsequent scene.  You’ll probably be too busy absorbing all the flashy to realize the plot is bouncing around like a fairy on acid.  You may not understand most of it, but you won’t be bored. Continue reading →

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31 in 31: “Monster Science” on YouTube

Posted on October 8, 2015 by Denise

31 in 31 logo

And now, a break from our usual 31 in 31 reviews.  Behold — monsters!  MONSTERS!

I’m a huge sucker for podcasts.  So of course I’m addicted to How Stuff Works.  But the guys that discuss all the things also get a little spooky; Monster Science is a group of videos that digs into the horrific and shows the science behind it all.  Be it true facts about our favorite monsters, or riffing on a genre favorite to get their science on, it’s a scream.

With titles like “Halloween’s Dormant Killer”, “Tentacles of Cthulhu”, and “Sex and Death: The Science of Jason Voorhees”, there’s sure to be an ep you’re dying to sink your fangs into.  I know I’ll be re-watching ’em this Halloween Month.  So check ’em out…IF YOU DARE. *cue creepy laughter*

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#31in31 – V/H/S: Viral (and my first ever negative film rating)

Posted on October 7, 2015 by Denise

31 in 31 logo
Oct 7 VHS Viral

“WHAT THE FUCK???”

Okay, this movie is such unmitigated garbage that I don’t want to spend any more time writing it up to fit the template.

Let’s just do this:

This pathetic anthology “film” has bad acting, horrible direction, and the worst editing I’ve ever seen (and I watched Pot Zombies.) Sloppy, amateurish, and with no sense of rhyme or reason beyond gettin’ those Benjamins, this film is a pure waste of time. Pity, as V/H/S and V/H/S/2 don’t suck.

Score: Zero pumpkins…no. This gets my first ever Negative Pumpkin. It’s that much of a disappointing, obnoxious mess my score for it dips into negative digits.

Pumpkin NEGATIVE

P.S.: I usually take notes when I watch a film I’m gonna review.  Wanna read my stream of thought while I was watching this turd? G’head…
Continue reading →

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Off the shelf: Oh, Hell Vol. 1

Posted on October 6, 2015 by Denise

oh hell vol 1 cover

Nutshell: Cool premise, slick art, beautiful colors, and characters you wanna root for.  I’m not fully understanding the mythos yet, but I’m digging the story.  Oh, Hell just jumped into my webcomics queue.

Story: Poor confused Zoel.  Doesn’t know where she fits in, not sure why she screws up, the definitive high school bad girl.  But when her parents find out about The Academy — a school Zoel hasn’t been bounced out of yet — they jump at it.  But this school ain’t Hogwarts; it’s Hell.  And to quote the tagline; “Not only is The Academy actually in Hell…it’s pass/fail.”

Best Lines:

“Power?  What power do we have?  WE’RE 15!”

“If you ever want to find me…just follow the trail of innocents I leave behind.”

Thoughts: Ah, Baltimore Comic-Con.  Cons are the time to find stuff you didn’t know existed.  And I’m glad I found Oh, Hell.  Written by G. Wassil (mythology by Wassil and Connell), I love Dave Hamann’s gorgeous art, and the colors by Birkhofer and Campbell almost lift off the page.  The detail is fantastic, and I’m glad Vol. 1 slipped in a sketch gallery at the end of the book, so I could really take a look at how these images were created.  And y’all know I’m a sucker for well done letters, and Troy Peteri does a bang-up job. Continue reading →

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