#29 Raimi’s Long Waited Return

Same Raimi is back! Yes his long awaited return to horror is back and he’s been busy. When thinking of Raimi’s past films most people will recognize the ‘Spiderman’ trilogy and more importantly the ‘Evil Dead’ trilogy. But he is finally back in his prime with his new horror flick ‘Drag Me To Hell’ which will release 29 May in the UK.

Personally I am a huge ‘Evil Dead’ fan, I have the trilogy and have seen Raimi’s short film ‘Within The Wood’ which some people say is ‘Evil Dead 0’. But when it comes to the Spiderman trilogy I am torn. I liked the first and second, but the third was so bad it put me off Raimi (but only a little). I loved the ‘Evil Dead’ films because of their cheesiness and well simply Bruce Campbell. The first was a classic B-movie horror, the second was a brilliant remake that delved more into horror of madness and the third being just hilarious. Even though they are blatant b-movie material they have become cult classics. The ‘Evil Dead’ series even launched Campbell’s and Raimi’s career. Recently, he has also talked about ‘Evil Dead 4’s development to an interview with Empire magazine. Saying that he has got the first few pages on the screenplay down, which makes me as exited as a kid before Christmas. For the full story there is a link below.

Exclusive: Sam Raimi On Evil Dead 4

On the 29th May, Raimi returns with ‘Drag Me To Hell’. The story is about a loan officer (Lohman) ordered to evict an old woman from her home finds herself the recipient of a supernatural curse, who turns her life into a living hell. Desperate, she turns to a seer to try and save her soul, while evil forces work to push her to a breaking point. In a recent Empire Blog by Chris Hewitt entitled ‘Five Reasons Why You Should Let Same Raimi Drag You To Hell’, Hewitt talked about how Raimi has retaken his place in horror. From what he was saying it sounds like the film is going to be a hit. If you are interested I suggest you read this blog.

Five Reasons Why You Should Let Same Raimi Drag You To Hell

I have also added the trailer for 'Drag Me To Hell'.

Drag Me To Hell trailer 1 (1080p HD)

Oliver Hunt

#28 Is The Video Game Industry Bigger The Hollywood?

Ok, so this might be a little video game heavy for a film blog but I hope you find it interesting.

Is the video game industry bigger then Hollywood? Will it ever be? With so many biased opinions and views of whether the video games industry will eventually take over the main stream of entertainment, are there any predictions that can be used? Of course people from their line of work will say that it will or won’t, such as Bill Gates, founding father of Microsoft (PC, Xbox, Xbox 360), has been quoted to say that ‘It’s bigger than the movie industries,’ but who really knows whether it will. To find out we’ll need to look at it from both points of view, from the film-fanatics to the gaming gods, and we’ll need to look at the sales of blockbuster movies such as I am Legend or Iron Man and the blockbuster’s of games like Halo 3 and Metal Gear Solid 4.

The film industry started over a hundred years ago and has been developed ever since. It has been going through different phases whilst new film-makers try new things to develop techniques to keep audiences from around the world to keep coming back for more. On the other hand video games started in the early seventies with Atari’s PONG, which has now become pop culture along with many other video games. Even though it has been a short time that video games have been around, it has grown vastly in popularity among adults and kids alike. In fact over the past couple of years with consoles such a the Nintendo’s Wii and Sony’s PlayStation 3 are now aiming a lot of games towards the ‘casual gamer’ with video games like Guitar Hero 3 and Wii Sports. These kind of video games are inviting people to not go out to the cinema but to stay indoors with friends and contribute to the entertainment pleasure. All though another big factor is the fact that Hollywood is not watched everywhere on the planet however the vast majority of video games are reaching out to different continents. However with that in mind, Hollywood does take in billions of US dollars ever year.
But with video games, it has only been recently that big companies like Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft have been aiming to bring new audiences from all ages into the market. A good example is the advertisement for Nintendo’s DS game Dr Kawashinma’s Brain Training, It features appearances from some of England greatest actors such as Patrick Stewart. So other older people of the community can relate to them and consider having a new DS instead of the traditional newspaper quizzes.

Hollywood made $15.4 billion on DVD sales alone in the year 2007, with Disney raking in $3 million just on iTunes sales, that’s only
$15 on a new release (£8 in the UK). With the video game side it
took in $3 billion on MMORPG subscriptions, downloadable content and digital game downloads. Last year video games took in only 23% whist Hollywood alone took in a massive 77%. These figures show that Hollywood is vastly in the lead over video games however in the future it might tell a different story. In fact there another big contender coming into the scene, that could potentially over take both Hollywood and the video game industry. The music industry. Downloadable content is becoming a big thing with Apple’s iTunes. And as the graph shows the music industry almost doubled the video game industry.

But even if the video game industry or even music industry take over Hollywood, it’s not the only studio. Hollywood is just the biggest American studio. There are massive studios around the world such as Pinewood Studios in England which has done some other the biggest blockbusters this year (like Quantum Of Solace). From the majority of the charts and graphs that are scatterd around the internet it is apparent that Hollywood is looming over the video game industry however it could turn around in the near future if more people stay in to watch a film on their consoles than go out to watch the latest Hollywood blockbuster.

Oliver Hunt

#27 Terminator: Salvations Ending Revealed?

*Spoiler Alert*

This is no joke I know the ending. You maybe thinking I’m a liar and I am doing this for attention but this is 100% true. Harry Knowles’s wrote an article on his site (aintitcool.com) about a rumour that turned out to be true, about the ending of the new upcoming Terminator film; Terminator: Salvations. A film I was definitely looking forward to along side ‘Star Trek’. The studios said that it wasn’t true however Mc G has gone back to the set to re-film the hole ending with a hole new shiny end to Bale’s journey. After the rumour was leaked and fans read what to expect there was hell to pay. Warner Bros. even said that it had to be changed because fans were becoming hostile, now that shows fan power. They went on to say that the new ending will do a complete 180 degree turn around, so pretty much that as well being another spoiler.

My theory of this is that it was perpously leaked to Ain’t It Cool so that fans could see what to expect (thus the ending being a little different) so that the film wouldn’t flob much like with the ending of the latest Indiana Jones with the Aliens. That being just a theory but anyways I have put the original “Rumour” ending below from Ain’t it Cool. I have even put a link to the Total Film article which I first heard about this.

"Alright so the main character is a cyborg named Marcus. For some background, Marcus was a criminal who was executed in 2003. He donated his body to Project Angel which was involved with SkyNet. They take his body and make a terminator out of him so he's a terminator skeleton but has living muscle/skin and a beating heart too. At the end of the movie John Connor is fighting a T800 model 101 and loses. He dies and the top resistance people come up with a plan to help the resistance keep fighting on. The resistance feels that it's important to keep the image or idea that John Connor is still alive so the resistance keeps going. So they rip off Marcus' skin and put John Connor's on the skeleton so now Marcus is John Connor.”

Ain't it Cool

Total Film

What do you guys think of the ending would you have been happy with that or would you have nerd-raged like so many all ready have?

Oliver Hunt

#26 Review For ‘Watchmen’

* * * *

Director
Zack Snyder
Cast
Jackie Earle Harley
Billy Crudup
Jeffery Dean Morgan
Screenplay
David Hayter
Certificate
18
Running Time
162min

This blog may contain some spoilers from the graphic novel and film.

I saw it. I’ve seen the 'Watchmen' movie, who wants to touch me? I said who wants to touch me? I only know two (and a man on the train I once talked to) who have read the original graphic novel. Yet the majority of people I talk to about films still want to see it. I don’t know why though after watching the film I kinda thought that to fully appreciate the film, the book must be read. Its only subtle little things that fans would pick up on that add to the film. It was the small things that made me give it the * * * * so I am curious as to what a person who hasn’t read the book thinks of the film. The intro or opening credits for the films are one of the best I have ever seen. Bob Dylan ‘The times are a-changing’ over the history of the Watchmen and Minuet Men, it would make a true fan weep.

First let’s compare two, first thing that I found wired was the amount of violence they threw in the film over the book. In the comic they had fight scenes but very short ones, whilst in the film they seem to have taken a years course in Kung Fu. They just keep running into battle and cracking some arms. Even though the fighting was out of context it wasn’t the only thing. The sex scenes I found are really quite pornographic, if someone smuggled there kids in then they would be asking about the birds and the bees by the time they came out. Then comes the gore. And it was gory. At one point on a finger Dc Manhattan can make people explode and it happens a lot. At one point the popping on two thugs was so over gory every had a nervous laugh, whilst on screen a woman looked up and saw the skeleton of a mans arm swings dripping blood. Even though you might think I am saying these as negatives, I’m actually not. Which is surprising because I would have thought that I would have thought that it was killing the film, but I thought it added to the experience. Since I expect that Snyder knew it would get and adult rating he thought why not? They don’t tip toe round Night Owl II and Silk Spectre II getting friendly together in Archie (Night Owl II’s flying ship). And for the fighting and gore threw fighting you can tell that they wore actually once crime fighters.

Even though the ending has changed from the super alien squid it is still interesting. A bit confusing because things didn’t add up but only a reader of the book would understand. The ending still gets the same message across and most of the ending was still true. I expected the ending to be proper gander or fuel for the war in Iraq by using nukes and stuff but it really wasn’t. As I said in a previous blog (#3 2009, What To Expect?) the script for ‘Watchman’ has been hailed as one of the most accurate book to film adaptations. And I really think it shows because for some parts it was like reading/looking at the book/film… you know what I mean.

To prove what I wasn’t patronising the read with the hole, if you haven’t read you won’t like statement. I asked someone who had seen the film but hadn’t read the book. They said that the film was hard to follow and weird. This wasn’t just said by him alone, that seems to be a lot of reactions from audiences. What I am getting at it that the film is an adaptation. So a lot of people with complain and say they didn’t get it. But lets face it, it was made for fans. I’m not saying fans of the book shouldn’t go see it but be warned you might not get it all.

If you fell like seeing a super hero film, ‘Watchman’ isn’t for you. ‘Watchmen’ is not a super hero film, it is an action sci-fi. It angers me when people are referring to Night Owl II as Batman. He’s not. He’s a pathetic ex vigilante who sulks in his basement. Well that’s what I got from the book, in the film it seems like a different matter, but it doesn’t matter. Jackie Earle Harley plays a fantastic Rorschach. I was some what hesitant at first but he totally pulled it off. It was even creepy how much he looked like his comic counter part. However I think that comes over with all the characters. Each seemed to have been perfect for there roles. With the exception to two characters (yes I contradicted myself), Matthew Goode was probably the worst picked actor to play this role. A thirty year old, British actor playing a forty something year old, bulky genius. So he tried his best, bless him, but it didn’t go down well with me and others. The second casting that I disliked was Carla Gugino as the first Silk Spectre. Ok she looked fine (and I mean fine) during the flash backs but looks terrible when playing and old woman. The make up is terrible its laughable, I still like her so I can forgive her this once. However apart from that the characters and set are amazing.

So for a verdict, I will say this. I thought the film would be a flop and for some people it was. But the set and characters really bring the film as a hole alive. It is one of the best adaptations ever and it will be remembered for that. Of course if you haven’t read the book your missing out on curant parts but that’s to be expected, isn’t it? Im not going to recommend it to non-readers because I think you could be seeing other films but strongly recommend it to fans of the book, not that they haven’t all ready read it, wrote a blog and already buying those Rorschach costumes to fight those people still in Joker outfits.

Oliver Hunt

#25 Review And Q&A Of ‘Bronson’ (2009)

* * * * *

Director
Nicolas Winding Refn
Cast

Tom Hardy
Matt King
James Lance
Screenplay
Nicolas Winding Refn (co-written by) and

Brock Norman Brock (writer)

Certification

18

Running Time
92min

So last night at the Duke Of York’s Picturehouse (Brighton), Vertigo had arranged a very very special screening of Bronson (2009) with a directors Q&A after (two of the actors Matt King and James Lance where also there). I managed to get in even though it was full, now I was very surprised about seeing the screen packed out (with the exception of a couple seats). And I am really glad I didn’t miss an opportunity like this.

So what’s it all about? It’s a film, not a biopic (a Winding Refn noted), about Britain’s most infamous prisoner Michael Gordon Peterson or known around the world as Charles Bronson and his life in the slammer. Bronson has been in prison for 34 years for armed robbery at a post office for £26.18. He was then given seven years but after a string of hostage situation and fights he has been moved around the country from prisons to asylums. This film shows Bronson in his fighting prime and on his softer side as he is in and out of prison.

Tom Hardy (Black Hawk Down) is truly extraordinary as Bronson giving out long monologs and dishing out punches (which are real) whilst naked. Yes completely naked, all greased up fighting police. That might be a strange comment however I was impressed that Hardy was fine with doing so many bazaar naked fight scenes and the nakedness adds to his power over the timid police. Then there was Matt King (Peep Show) who was pretty much the only supporting character because all the others had small parts the faded out during the course of the film. However even the minor characters where interesting, the majority of them did there parts with out stealing the lime light.

The film has already sparked a lot of controversy with reviews because some people like my self are saying it is a master piece for British films whilst others say it is glorifying fighting and prisons. Now that’s stupid. Whilst watching the film I never once thought that the fighting was cool, it was beautifully done, but I didn’t want to go fighting because after it showed its repercussions of it. Usually ending with him in a bloody mess and with a straight jacket tightly strapped on in a pool of his own blood. Then comes that talk about prison life, the film actually put me off prison life a lot (not that I was thinking of joining one) but the way he would pace around the cell like an animal showed the less glamorised side of it. If anything it’s films such as The Longest Yard and Shawshank Redemption that did that. The people who don’t like a great piece of work like Bronson are what I call “attention whores”. Like when people didn’t like other classic films such as ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ they just do it so people talk about them more. Well they obviously don’t have a passion for films.

I think that Bronson is a definite modern Kubrick. I believe that even the director said himself during the Q&A that the Director of Photography Larry Smith worked on Kubrick’s last hit Eyes Wide Shut. But to me the film had a lot of things from his other film. The location’s reminded me of The Shining and the character’s and costume resembled A Clockwork Orange. During the Q&A got a chance to asked the director and actors…

“Are you proud to have your film compared to such a cult classic and are you proud to be in the film?”

To which Matt King replied…

“I haven’t seen A Clockwork Orange but yes”

(whilst he said that everyone in the audience let out a little sigh in disbelief)

When first releasing this blog (blog sounding like a creature that sits at the bottom of the sea and communicates with farts) last Saturday, I only gave 'Bronson' * * * * however after watching the trailer a couple of times I decided it is one of the best films of the year. Period. This is the first and maybe the only times I re-edited and added more stars. Seeing how it is getting bad reviews I am going to say that it is a hidden gem.

'Bronson' Trailer

Finally I recommend this to anyone who isn’t put of by other reviews. A film like is will be remembered for years to come, whether or not a couple of reviews say so. During the premier the real Charles Bronson had managed to send a video tape two days before his parole however now because of it his parole has been pushed back. If you have seen and like films such as Chopper and Fight Club you with love Bronson. Free Charles Bronson.

Oliver Hunt

#24 My Most-Under Rated Films

First of all as you have noticed I haven’t been keeping up with my blog in two weeks. This is mainly down to lack of inspiration as well as having to keep up with collage work and short film projects. However I will be back on track with reviews , my thoughts and some movie news.

I thought I would give you guys a sneak peek at what I will be writing about over the next few weeks; Review for Watchman (2009), Review for Bronson (2009), Review for Brazil (1985), Review for red Riding Trilogy (TV, 2009), Comparisons on the Watchman Endings, Comparison for Watchman Film vs. Graphic Novel. That’s to name a few just of the top of my head.

This is my list of films that where not given the credit they deserve (some more then others). Some of the most hyped up films these days I feel are over rated films but have become pop culture. Fist thing you probably going to notice is that there are seven films listed. Yes, seven is an odd number and it should be five but after searching I found more films to add.

7. Ghost Dog: Way of the Samurai (1999)

Dir: Jim Jarmusch
Cast: Forest Whitaker, and a bunch of nobodies

Why is it on the list?
I think it is under-rated because have you ever heard of it? The majority wont of but its is fantastic. A nice mix of urban black culture and Japanese samurais against Italian gangsters and with RZA doing the soundtrack what more would you want?

I give it 7 dead pigeons out of ten.


6. Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas (1998)

Dir: Terry Gilliam
Cast: Johnny Depp, Benicio Del Toro, Toby Maguire

Why is it on the list?
Ok, so people who know me know that’s I talk about this film a lot, so it doesn’t count to them. But seriously it is sometimes mentioned in ‘the greatest movie lists’ however I don’t think people remember that it is one of the greatest book adaptations, one of Gilliam’s best and one of Depp’s best films all in one. From the book that’s spawned Gonzo journalism.

I give it nine cigarette purifiers out of ten.


5. Léon (1994)

Dir: Luc Besson
Cast: Jean Reno, Natalie Portman, Gary Oldman

Why is it on the list?
My favourite Reno, Portman and possible Oldman film, and that’s saying a lot. For a long time it was my favourite film before Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction of course. But I still rate it pretty high. A great mix of melodrama and slight action at the start becomes corrupt cops vs. French assassin by the end.

I give it eight Gary Oldman outbursts out of ten.


4. Garden State (2004)

Dir: Zack Braff
Cast: Zack Braff, Ian Holm, Natalie Portman

Why is it on the list?
When watching the TV show Scrubs, I ask myself why does he doesn’t he write and direct more films? Garden State is a amazing indie film, with some great camera techniques and funny mise en scene. A somewhat questionable cast like Portman which I thought made it loose touch a little as it tried to be an indie flick.

I give it seven naff shirts out of ten.


3. Big Trouble In Little China (1986)

Dir: John Carpenter
Casr: Kurt Russell, James Hong, Kim Cattrell

After watching this I instantly fell in love with it. Kurt Russell plays a truck who fights a evil Chinese super villain. Just the for a log line is enough. It cheesy, its ridicules, it’s full of kung fu. Enough said.

I give it nine Kurt Russell knife throws out of ten.


2. From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)

Dir: Robert Rodriguez
Cast: George Clooney, Quentin Tarantino, Harvey Keitel

First of all, Robert Rodriguez directing a script written by Quentin Tarantino ands stars George Clooney and Harvey Keitel. That to me is a great mix. From Dusk till dawn is full of Vampires, Mexicans, Americans, great deaths, funny quotes and Vampire prostitutes.

I give it nine holy water balloons out of ten.


1. Ed Wood (1994)

Dir: Tim Burton
Cast: Johnny Depp, Martin Landau, Sara Jessica Parker

Why is it on the list?
I had never heard of this film until I read Burton’s biography. Again this being one of Depp’s best films and Burton’s, it’s a film about the worst director of all time Edward D. Wood, a cross dresser who only would take one take despite if an actor would knock into a wall or get stuck in a grave. After some terrible movie releases turned to pornography. Shot in black and white to make it look like his original films. The cast look so much like who they are playing its scary. He was the king of B-movies and this film shows his highs and lows.

I give it eight B-Movies out of ten.


Oliver Hunt

#23 Movie News! 29-02-09

I couldn’t actually think of something to write about to I decided I would tell you guys about the latest movie news of the past couple of days.

First of all, Ridley Scott is making a Robin Hood movie. I know a tad weird whilst looking at Scott’s back catalogue of film. If that’s not weird enough Russell Crowe is playing, you guess it Robin along side Oscar winner Cate Blanchett as Main Marion. Personally I don’t like Crowe but love Banchett and I all ready hate the sound of this film. Ok, there was a television show on BBC, now leave it at that. Who’s going to take it seriously? But then again with a budget of over $130m, they can make it look classy. Lastly it’s not entitled ‘Robin Hood’ but ‘Nottingham’. Also its in early production so we will have to wait until 2010 for it’s release.

Next Samuel L. Jackson has finally been signed to be in a few Marvel Comic film’s as Nick Frost. At first he wanted to do it, then decided not to, and now is doing it (obviously he’s running out of $50 notes to wipe his arse with). He will star are the comic book spy in the ‘Captain America’ movie, the ‘Thor’ movie and the ‘S.H.I.E.L.D’ movie and if luck have it he will be in there sequels. In fairness the resemblance to the character he will be playing is uncanny (no Xmen pun intended) so good luck to him bon that.

There have been a lot of remakes and sequels announced such as ‘Never Ending Story’ which sounds like an excuse to cash in on the franchise. It’s being made by the producers who are working on the classic 88 anime flick ‘Akira’ (it makes me sick thinking about it, watch the film and you’ll understand what I say). There is also a ‘Clue’ (or ‘Clue-do to anyone this side of the of the Atlantic) film coming out which I’m curious how it will work will they walk a step and stop for a while before moving again then at the end guess the killer will cards? On the sequels front ‘Friday 13th’ is getting one alongside the final Harry Potter movie ‘Deathly Hallow part 1’ due to release on 10th Nov 2010, not sure when the second is due to be released. Also Wednesday, Warners postponed the release of Richie’s "Sherlock Holmes" to Dec. 25 from Nov. 1.

Oliver Hunt