Bring back scary monsters? Cthulhu bless you, Craig Nybo.

Posted on February 13, 2014 by Denise
(PRNewsFoto/Craig Nybo)

(PRNewsFoto/Craig Nybo)

Isn’t Twilight just another bad horror genre joke nowadays?  (Please tell me it is.)  Okay fine, I’ll admit it; the mythology Meyer created is intriguing, but as there’s no focus on the actual monstrosity of the monsters — they’re too busy sparkling and moping — it’s all just so much ado about nothing.

Hey, but I’m not the only one who thinks like that.  Sounds like horror novelist Craig Nybo has had it up to his tentacles with touchy-feely “monsters”.  Does he have a solution, perhaps one that he’s writtin hisownself?  Of course.  But it’s a lament that seems to be gaining traction in the field, with the gulf between “true” horror and “paranormal romance” widening every day.  What with werewolves, vampires and witches superseding dukes, earls and knights on the covers of romance novels, we’re getting to the point that film hit back in the late ’40s.  Horror was horror, and then the market became so full of cheap knock-offs that before too long Jesse James was meeting Frankenstein’s daughter, and Billy the Kid was battling Dracula.  (Go ahead, check IMDb.  I’m not lyin’.)

Finding really good “straight” horror can be like the ol’ haystack needle.  It’s out there, but tough to find.  Del Toro’s The Strain trilogy does it right, with vampires that are so icky I can’t imagine that any vamp fan would want to turn into one of those icky abominations.  And Joe Hill’s NOS4A2 (and Horns.  And Heart Shaped Box…) gives fantastic creepy.

A few paranormal romances are fine and dandy; hey, I’ve been a huge Sookie Stackhouse fan since before True Blood was a glimmer in HBO’s eye, and Katie MacAlister‘s Dark One and Aisling Grey series is just plain ol’ fun.  But isn’t it time to sink our teeth — and our Kindles — into something really scary?

Read on for the full 411 from Craig Nybo, who started me ranting in the first place.  His story collection sounds like a Who’s Who of horror monsters, and he doesn’t seem to be pulling any punches.  “I believe that I speak for the masses when I say that I am interested in reading about monsters who are more interested in chewing than in dating.”  Yes sir, you do.

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Non-Stop images. Liam Neeson on a plane! With Lupita Nyong’o!

Posted on February 12, 2014 by Denise

As I’ve often said, this “post-New Year/pre-Memorial Day” season is a dumping ground for films.  But if you’re a genre lover like me, it’s Second Christmas.  Case in point; the upcoming Non-Stop.  The studio has released images and the look verrrrry cool.

Here’s the sitch:

Global action star Liam Neeson stars in Non-Stop, a suspense thriller played out at 40,000 feet in the air. During a transatlantic flight from New York City to London, U.S. Air Marshal Bill Marks (Neeson) receives a series of cryptic text messages demanding that he instruct the airline to transfer $150 million into an off-shore account. Until he secures the money, a passenger on his flight will be killed every 20 minutes. The film reunites Neeson with Unknowndirector Jaume Collet-Serra and producer Joel Silver, and co-stars Golden Globe Award winner Julianne Moore. http://wwww.nonstopthefilm.com

What this synopsis failed to mention is that my new favorite actress, Lupita Nyong’o, is also in the film, looking sharp.  As is Downton Abbey‘s Michelle Dockery, out of period costume and into a stewardess uniform.  I’m betting these two Stews will be doing more than the usual coffee run.

Non-Stop opens on February 28th, 2014.

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Paul Walker’s Brick Mansions gets release date & poster. Check it out.

Posted on February 11, 2014 by Denise

Brick Mansions, an English language, 3D remake of action movie guru Luc Besson’s French film District 13, Brick Mansions looks like a kick-ass action film. I’d expect nothing less from the man that gave us The Professional.

Synopsis? Here ’tis, from comingsoon.net:

In the criminal underworld of Detroit, the streets are overrun with violence and drugs and the hand of corruption reaches into the lives of everyone; well almost everyone. For Lino (David Belle) every day is a fight to live an honest life. But when a drug lord kidnaps his girlfriend, Lino is forced to team up with Damien Collier (Paul Walker), an undercover cop who’s been tracking this king pin’s involvement in something even more sinister – a plot to devastate the entire city. Together they uncover a trail of corruption that leads all the way to the top. “Brick Mansions” features thrilling parkour stunts paired with gripping intrigue in this explosive must-see action film. 

Check out the “one-sheet” poster and still for the film, scheduled to open April 25th, 2014. Insert touching, heartfelt bit about Paul Walker here, because I’m still kinda not able to wrap my head around his death.
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Interested in Thea-tah? Head up to…University of Delaware?

Posted on February 10, 2014 by Denise

Yep that’s right.  Seems like the Great White Way ain’t the only place that has great theater.  And bonus; I’m betting it’ll be a whole lot cheaper than Broadway tickets.  (Yes, even if you go TKTS.)

Seems that there are quite a few campuses that have damn good theater companies.  And as much as I wish my alma mater made the list (maybe next year, University of Maryland?), it’s nice to see relatively local schools University of Delaware and George Mason University did make the cut.  Bravo!  Brava!

If you really want to be blown away by some breathtaking architecture, check out the article at BestCollegeReviews.org, or Google these theaters and check out the images.  Read about the top 25 “Most Impressive Campus Theaters” after the jump and plan your own road trip.  Heck, I’ve always wanted a reason to visit Yale….

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What Was I Thinking?: Say Anything…

Posted on February 10, 2014 by Denise

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Feeling a bit nostalgic this pre-Valentines Day week. So, herewith, a look at what’s in my brainpan as I re-watch Say Anything… for the first time in years. Decades, maybe. What?

Peter Gabriel playing in the background not required, but highly encouraged.

Since this rambles on, I’ll put the thoughts after the jump!

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Free Comic Book Day at Collectors Corner is sounding sweet this year….

Posted on February 9, 2014 by Denise

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Swag! Free pizza! Cool artists sketching for free! Free Spider-Man 2! And oh yeah, free comics! Notice a pattern here, besides the overuse of exclamation points? This year’s FCBD is shaping up to be a serious throwdown up at Collectors Corner. All I can say in my professional opinion? Woot!

Free Comic Book Day is always the first Saturday in May, which happens to be the 3rd this year.

Dunno about you, but I’ll be there, drooling over the comics and shoving pizza into my pie hole. Read more – straight from their FB page – after the jump!

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“Her”, “Gravity” and “The Great Gatsby” win Art Directors Guild Awards

Posted on February 9, 2014 by Denise

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Last night the Art Director’s Guild saluted their own, and though the results aren’t shocking – each of the winners are gorgeous examples of design done right – who doesn’t love congratulating winners? The race for Oscar in this category should be a fierce one, as all three films (along with American Hustle and 12 Years A Slave) are nominated for Best Production Design. Get your picks in order, this year’s pool should be tricky….

Read more about these awards, including the winners of the television categories (huzzah Game of Thrones!) and Martin Scorsese’s Cinematic Imagery Award, after the jump. And congratulations to the winners!

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Elsewhere Review: The Monuments Men

Posted on February 7, 2014 by Denise

As always, clicky on the hyperlink for the original piece!

Movie Review: The Monuments Men

February 7, 2014 by  Leave a Comment (Edit)

Longing for the fun, fascinating WWII films of the 1950s and 60s?  Think that they’ll never make stuff like The Great Escape, Kelly’s Heroes, Bridge on the River Kwai or The Dirty Dozen — movies that are a beautiful blend of comedy and tragedy, that paint the Great War in realistic but cineplex palatable hues — ever again?

Well, look no further than The Monuments Men.  George Clooney takes the true story of  the real-life soldiers tasked with recovering some of the most important art works of the world from the Nazis as WWII was beginning to wind down, and makes it feel as gripping and heart-tugging as I’m sure the real story truly was.  Based on the book The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History by Robert M. Edsel, this film manages to entertain, educate and fit right in with those “madcap WWII caper” films we’ve come to know and love.

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Bite Valentine’s Day back with Chastity Bites

Posted on February 5, 2014 by Denise
Chastity Bites. (PRNewsFoto/Grand Entertainment Group)

Chastity Bites. (PRNewsFoto/Grand Entertainment Group)

Are you one of those folks that hates Valentine’s Day?  Well, you’re not alone.  Hey, dont’ look at me; as far as I’m concerned it’s Half-Price Candy Day Eve, so all’s well with the world.  But if you’re trying to strike the right kind of Bite Me chord this coming VD, a film that crossed my inbox may do the trick.  They had me at  “[r]eminiscent of Roger Corman’s Slumber Party Massacre“, y’all.

Chastity Bites sounds like a good time, and I love the “Countess Bathory as High-school Abstinence Educator” spin.  Sounds like this film is definitely winking to the audience.  Do I sense a drinking game, y’all?  I’ll get right on that.

And who knew it was Women In Horror Month?  Honestly, I don’t know what I do with my time.  (Okay, I do; I waste it.  Beautifully.)  But now that I know, I plan on celebrating it to the fullest.  Bring forth Night of the Comet and Return of the Living Dead — WIHM demands a Scream Queen retrospective!

Read on for the full Chastity Bites press release, including a great synopsis.  Hey, if you can’t bite the one you love, bite the one you’re with.  Amirtite people?

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Guests, guests, guests for 2014 Baltimore Comic-Con!

Posted on February 5, 2014 by Denise

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I’m psyched that BCC is 3 days this year, and even more stoked for the current lineup.  And I’m betting more will be coming….

Will this be the year that I stop stammering and actually say hello to Frank Cho?  Or perhaps go so far as to shake hands with Garth Ennis?  Who knows?  But one thing’s for sure; I’ll be a fannish embarassment with all the drooling and such.

Read on for the full 411!

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