Dead or Alive You're Coming With Me to Watch The New ROBOCOP Trailer!

Serve the public trust, protect the innocent, uphold the law, and watch this new RoboCop trailer.

I was worried about this one but first impressions are that it looks pretty good. I'll be in the theater to see it next year!

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Movie Poster: Total Recall

Get your ass to mars!

The full trailer hits apple.com on Sunday.  We'll see how this turns out when it hits theaters in August!

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Movie Review - Let Me In (2010)

A lot of people are going to tell you not to go see this. They'll say "It's just another pointless horror remake" or that it's clearly "an American rip-off" or that it's a "dumbed-down Hollywood cash-grab". Don't listen to them. Oh, they mean well. And 9 times out of ten I'd be right there with 'em. I don't like horror remakes either! And I really hate it when a perfectly watchable foreign film gets the Hollywood treatment just because lazy Americans don't like to read. But those people telling you to stay away from this have most likely not seen it. Because anyone who's seen it has got to admit, even grudgingly while eating crow... Let Me In is a damn good movie.

Now, to be clear, I have not read Let the Right One In, the 2004 novel by John Ajvide Lindqvist on which Let Me In (and the 2008 Swedish film Let the Right One In) is based. (I saw that first film, however, and found it haunting, beautiful and very, very good.) To those of you who read the novel and are wondering if this corrects some of the problems with the first film, I can only say "I don't know." I understand that the novel includes more backstory and clarifies numerous ambiguities within the first film. I can say with certainty that this new American version does not delve more deeply into the story's past nor does it make obvious certain ambiguous details of the Swedish Film. If anything, it sidesteps those details ever so slightly so that the audience isn't wondering if they understood "that" correctly. My guess is that if you are looking to this film to be any more accurate to the novel than the first movie, you'll be disappointed. It's actually a very close remake.

Oh, there are changes. Most notably in the character names and setting. It's still set in the 1980s, but where the book (and Swedish film) used that time setting to punctuate a certain depressed moment in Sweden's socialist past to affect a mood and tone with its Swedish audience, the American version seems to do so out of mere obligation: The original is set in the 80's so the American one is too. In fact, an early scene in which Ronald Reagan's "Evil Empire" speech drones from a television set is supposed to invoke similar associations for American audiences, but it doesn't have even close to the same effect.

The new movie also alters the time line slightly, starting two weeks into the story before backing up and picking up the linear order of events. I found this slight alteration particularly effective - In addition to grabbing the audience with an intense scene right from the start, it serves to pull the metaphorical rug out from beneath the feet of any expectant viewers who already saw the first film. I was impressed and hooked right from the start.

Other than these immediately obvious differences, much of the film is very similar to its Swedish counterpart. 12 year old Owen (Kodi Smit-McPhee, The Road) is powerless and marginalized within the snowy New Mexico apartment complex where he lives with his alcoholic mother. He regularly takes insults and abuse from the school bullies who see him as little more than a pathetic weakling, and his divorced father is nowhere to be seen though regularly heard as he argues with Owen's mother over the telephone. All of this begins to change the night Abby (Chloe Grace Moretz, Kick-Ass), a mysterious girl his own age, moves into the apartment next door.

Apparently dealing with her own loveless family situation and other serious issues (not the least of which is the fact that she doesn't seem to own a pair of shoes despite the thick layer of snow on the ground), Owen and Abby form a quick bond which blossoms into a beautiful friendship. Oh yeah, and people in the neighborhood are dying at the hands of a methodical killer who hangs his victims by the ankles and drains their blood.

Part of why this movie works so well is the incredibly talented leading and supporting cast. The child actors are wonderful, ably handling the complicated nuances of their on-screen relationship and bridging the contrast between horror and heart with deft and seeming ease. Old pros like Oscar-nominated Richard Jenkins (The Visitor) and Elias Koteas (Shutter Island) bring a seasoned edge to the film, as they infuse their respective characters with weariness, compassion and humanity.

Pulling the strings is director Matt Reeves (Cloverfield), who I confess an unfamiliarity with before this film. (I missed Cloverfield upon its initial run, but if Let Me In is any indication of his talent, I'll be seeing Cloverfield on DVD soon.) Make no mistake... Let Me In is smartly directed. Obvious care has been taken with the look and tone of the film, which is at once bleak, horrifying, touching and beautiful. Various symbolic touches work subtly but effectively, such as Owen's puffy winter coat (which he wears even indoors, as if to add a layer of protection from those who would harm him) and a full wall mural of the surface of the moon in Owen's bedroom (pointedly showcasing his desperate isolation and loneliness). In a particularly inspired touch, Owen's mother is always obscured... you can never quite make out her face... a creepy and unsettling device that serves to further illustrate Owen's disconnect from his bothersome mother. A memorable car crash sequence is unflinchingly depicted from within the overturning vehicle, and one scene elicited spontaneous applause from the jaded Los Angeles film critics at the packed press screening that I attended. Matt Reeves really deserves credit here. The film is better because of his involvement and I have no doubt that the reason this remake works so well is because of his careful direction.

The film isn't perfect, however. I missed certain moments from the original film that accentuated the climax. Without that powerful sequence involving the father from the first movie, a certain defeated inevitability towards the final scene seems less pointed... more contrived, somehow, in the American version. Still, most of the film's changes actually corrected problems that I had with the original. I'll avoid the spoilers, but it's no surprise to me that murmurs of "Best remake ever" and "better than the first film" are buzzing about the internet.

At the end of the day, did we really need another Americanized horror remake? I don't know... perhaps not. I still think the original film is tremendous in its own right, and I would staunchly recommend seeing it if you haven't already. But in at least this one instance, I'm glad the film was remade. Because I was moved, touched, shocked and awed by John Ajvide Lindqvist's story anew.

And I urge you to ignore the naysayers and see it for yourself.

8/10

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First Look At The New Freddy?

Okay, not exactly. This is actually a look at the toy design that NECA is producing for the films release.

We'll have towait abit longer to get a better glimpse of Mr. Krueger in action.

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Movie Trailer: Night of the Demons

Here is the first look teaser trailer for the upcoming remake of Night of the Demons, which is only one of my absolute favorite horror movies of all friggin' time.

FYI there is some swearing so it may not be safe for work.

I'm not sure how to take this teaser. It looks like it's a rough cut but does seem to have a bit of the fun the original has. I'm not sold on Shannon Elizabeth as Angela quite yet.

Still, I am intrigued.

Also, it says it's coming out in October 2009, in actuality it's coming out in February.

Here is the original trailer for a bit of comparison:

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Movie Trailer: A Nightmare On Elm Street

Yes! This is a great start. I am more than interested in seeing this now. That last shot is a little iffy for me but I don't think that is his real look.

There is some terrific imagery in this teaser.

Great stuff.

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The Blob Remake On The Way

The remake train rolls on. This time with news that 50's and 80's cheesefest The Blob is going to be remade.

I enjoyed both the original with Steve McQueen and its first remake which starred Kevin Dillon but I really don't think we need another one.

In fact, knowing who has apparently signed up to write, direct, and produce this remake makes me think we REALLY don't need it.

If you want to know who is going to be responsible for this, click the Rawr!


Rob Zombie. The man who destroyed Halloween himself. It seems like every other film of his is good so considering that H2 was a disaster, maybe this will be good?

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Movie Poster: A Nightmare On Elm Street

Yesterday, we brought you the new logo and first shot of Freddy Krueger for the upcoming Platinum Dunes remake of A Nightmare On Elm Street. Now, we have the teaser poster. I'm not exactly positive if this is an official poster or just a comic-con teaser but it's pretty damn cool regardless.

I'm regretting canceling this years con trip more and more.

Check out the bigger version at the Source.

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Movie Trailer: Fame

Oh, I am so on board. Fame, you had me at Bebe Neuwirth.

Fame hits theaters on September 25.

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Blu-ray Review: The Day The Earth Stood Still

The Day The Earth Stood Still
Written by: David Scarpa, based on the 1950 original screenplay by Edmund H. North
Directed by: Scott Derrickson
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Connelly, Kathy Bates, Jaden Smith, Jon Hamm, Kyle Chandler, and John Cleese

Blu-ray Bonus Features:

Disc One:
Commentary from Screenwriter David Scarpa, Picture-In-Picture BONUSVIEW (requires bonusview player): Klaatu's Unseen Attacks, Build Your Own Gort Interactive Experience, Deleted Scenes, Re-imagining The Day Documentary, Unleashing Gort featurette, Watching The Skies: In Search of Extra-Terrestrial Life featurette, The Day The Earth Was "Green" Featurette, Still Galleries (Concept Art, Storyboards, Production Photos), Enhanced for D-Box Motion Control Systems

Disc Two:
Digital Copy of The Day The Earth Stood Still for Portable Media Players

Disc Three:
The original 1951 version of The Day The Earth Stood Still on Blu-ray

Click the Rawr! for the review!





In this remake of the 1951 classic, an alien being comes to Earth with his giant robot pet in order to determine if humans are taking proper care of the planet. It turns out we're not so of course that means that animals will hide in giant greenish orbs while humanity is eaten away by giant swarms of flies.

I hope you can sense a bit of sarcasm in that plot description because it's loaded with it.

Let me start by saying I was looking forward to this movie. It looked like it would be rather cool based on the trailers. I've never seen the original, I do know that it is very highly regarded, but I don't really have any loyalty to it or anything to compare the remake to. So it is with a completely open mind and a little bit of excitement that I sat down to watch The Day The Earth Stood Still.

And it was the most underwhelming movie of the year. I was completely uninterested from beginning to end. There is nothing to care about here. The characters are all mostly annoying and paper thin. The plot is barely there and the knock you over the head environmental message is completely thrown out the window in the end because humans are more than just destroyers of the planet. We also love which seems to make everything okay.

Honestly, there is really not a single redeeming moment in this movie. Not even the epic handsomeness of John Hamm can save this movie from the mediocre pit it falls into. The acting is unnatural and barely worthy of theaters. Keanu Reeves pretty much plays Neo with less emotion. Jennifer Connolly is so much better than we see her in this movie. I just can't express my disappointment enough.

That aside, the effects are pretty cool, if wildly over the top. The film does look great on blu-ray. The picture is crisp and clean and the sound is perfect, especially near the end when Gort is unleashed (Which oddly enough is one of the worst parts of the movie).

It's just too much for me. They sacrificed story and filled it with snazzy effects, a practice that is way too common place now a days and the movie suffers severely for it. We could have had a great sci-fi epic with a great message. Instead, we get another overblown Hollywood dud that tries to have a message.

As for the blu-ray, it is loaded with features. The best one being the third disc of the set featuring the original classic on blu-ray. The other features are standard featurettes, deleted scenes, and other things you'd expect. Honestly, I wasn't even interested in the features because the movie was such a let down. The Watching The Skies featurette is a highlight though. Your enjoyment of the special features is going to really be determined by whether or not you enjoyed the film.

Check out The Day The Earth Stood Still for yourself and if you have a different opinion, please let me know.

The Day The Earth Stood Still is available now.

RAWR(for more)

BluRay Review: Mirrors

Mirrors
Written by: Alexandre Aja & Gregory Levasseur
Directed by: Alexandre Aja
Starring: Kiefer Sutherland, Amy Smart, Paula Patton, and Mary Beth Peil

Alexandre Aja exploded onto the horror scene a few years back with the near perfect “Haute Tension” (High Tension in America). It was an intense, nerve wracking horror film that completely fell apart at the end, almost to the point of ruining the experience as a whole, but not quite. Despite its extremely flawed ending, Haute Tension was, at the time, one of the better horror films to come along in quite a while. Since then, Aja has embarked on a string of remakes. First, the admittedly entertaining ‘The Hills Have Eyes’, followed by ‘Mirrors’, and the upcoming ‘Pirhana 3-D’. Four films, 3 of which are remakes, one after the other. I’m not sure why he decided to work exclusively on remakes for the past 5 years or so but after watching ‘Mirrors’ he might want to rethink his choice.


‘Mirrors’ is about a cop, played adequately by Kiefer Sutherland, on a leave of absence after a shooting who is also estranged from his family. He takes a job as a night watchman at a burned out department store and discovers the unbreakable mirrors inside are home to an evil force that poses a mortal threat to his family.


Being a fan of Kiefer, a fan of Alexandre Aja, and a fan of horror, this movie should have been a trifecta of perfection for me. Instead, it’s a dud on a monumental level. I don’t know if it was the sub par special effects, the amateurish acting, or the reflection of a camera lens (y’know like the camera filming everything.) that ruined it for me. I do know that I had to struggle to finish it.

The death scenes are decent enough. There is a rather gruesome death scene involving ripping the jaw off someone that was pretty brutal. I’m not sure if this appears in the theatrical version or only the unrated version (both appear on the bluray) but it was probably the best effect of the movie.

The movie may be terrible but it looks fantastic on BluRay. The picture is crystal clear 1080P. The picture and sound are flawless. The disc offers picture in picture commentary, storyboard to scene comparison, deleted scenes, an alternate ending, and a making of feature in case you want to know how to make a bad movie.

In the end, despite how great it looks on BluRay, 'Mirrors' is just a bad movie. There isn’t really anything positive about it.


I can’t help but be disappointed especially considering some of the talent involved. Here’s hoping the next movie from Aja (Pirhana 3-D)can redeem him for this stinker.

Mirrors is available on DVD and BluRay now.

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The Crow Remade?

Dark Horizons is reporting that Alex Proyas' The Crow is being circled for a remake to be written and directed by Stephen Norrington (Blade). Apparently, the Gothic style of Proyas' original will be replaced with a hard-edged, realistic "almost documentary-style" mystery, says Norrington.

Why are so many recent movies getting remade? Shouldn't there be some kind of a 25 year limit?

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First Shot of the House from the Night of the Demons remake!

I called for this remake just about a year ago and am glad to see it's going ahead. I'm not quite as happy with the plot as they're taking the action from the original location, the funeral home Hull House, and setting it in a New Orleans mansion that is home to demons trapped by an ancient curse. I'm nitpicking sure. I'm still excited about this and hope it turns out great.

The movie is in production now and should be released next year.

Thanks to Bloody-Disgusting.com for the photo.

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Is the Nightmare remake/prequel dead?

It appears that Michael Bay's Platinum Dunes shingle is off the recently announced Nightmare on Elm Street remake. As it stands now, the project is floating in the air.

Wes Craven recently commented, "I [still] know very little about it. My agent and I had lunch with Bob Shaye (Ex New Line head) about five days ago. But as might you know New Line Cinema has been shut down by Warner Bros. who owns it and all of their properties have been subsumed by Warner Bros. Bob didn't know any more about it than I did. I certainly have no control over that property."

Maybe we can hold out for a true sequel rather than a remake? I'd like to see the original series wrapped up in a satisfactory way rather than reboot it from start.

Warners, I have a great idea to end it. Call me!

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More Jason Voorhees from the new Friday the 13th remake

Get a look at these while you can before someone makes me take them down...




Mayhaps my fears about this movie are a bit premature...

Friday the 13th hits theaters February 13, 2009.

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