You are currently browsing the monthly archive for September, 2008.
Time for another installment of Shit to Get You Through the Weekend. Unless you’ve been living on another planet for the last 20 years or so, you’ve seen The Matrix, the Star Wars films, Blade Runner, and Aliens. Here are five underrated sci-fi movies that you may have not seen. So, like last weekend, if you find yourself with nothing to do this weekend, run out to your large brand-name video rental chain and pick these up.
Here again to remind you just how fucked up your childhood was!
So Peter Laird, co-creator of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles along with Kevin Eastman, kind of settled things down in a recent interview with MTV Splash Page. Earlier, SlashFilm had reported that Eastman was in the process of trying to get a new TMNT live-action film made, which would basically be a “reboot” or “remake” of the original live-action film. Of course, I posted about how insane the idea of men in rubber turtle suits would be.
In the interview with Splash Page, Laird quelled the rumors of rubber suits saying the following:
As it stands now, there is no intention of doing another live-action film like the first three, with actors and stuntmen in actual Turtle suits, contrary to what was said by Kevin. We have pretty much decided that the next “TMNT” movie should be what we’ve been calling a “hybrid” — that is to say, live-action humans and sets combined with very realistic CGI Turtles (and possibly some other CGI characters).
Alright, so no rubber suits. That’s a good thing right? Well, how damn realistic can you get with giant damn ninja turtles? I don’t care what kind of technology is used, this formula can only mean one thing: another shitty remake. The new TMNT CGI movie worked because it was completely CGI. It was a great movie for kids and the cartoon style fit perfectly. I don’t give a damn if they’re in rubber suits or cartoons interacting with real actors, this will be absolute shit. Sorry, Mr. Laird, the turtles’ best days are behind them. If you want to do anything, make a sequel for the TMNT film but please don’t torture the world with any form of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles live-action film.
So, I’m starting this new thing on the blog here which I will be calling “Shit to Get You Through the Weekend.” In my first installment, I’ll be examining 5 horror films which you probably haven’t seen, but should see. So, if you don’t have shit to do this weekend, go out, rent these, and watch them. If you do, let me know what you thought in the comments. Here we go:
Bow before the loc-nar bitches!
Geeks worldwide may rejoice in the fact that Guillermo Del Toro and Zack Snyder will be joining in to direct some of the segments of the new Heavy Metal animated film. The original 1981 cult classic featured a series of animated segments with one central theme. Eastman and co. attempted a sequel eight years ago, Heavy Metal 2000, which was absolutely terrible. The magazine and films are known for their liberal use of foul language, violence, and nudity.
Personally I wasn’t too excited originally at the thought of another Heavy Metal film, but knowing that Snyder and Del Toro will be lending their creative talents gives a lot of credibility to the project. Can you imagine Del Toro’s monsters imagined for this film? It’s enough to make geeks blow their loads the world over. Just keep Julie Strain out it this time, for the love of God.
If you’ve never seen the original 1981 classic, you can watch it online for free on Netflix if you’re a member.
Hell, Barker is gay and even he will admit that PG-13 horror is...well...gay
The MTV Movie Blog conducted an interview with master of horror, Clive Barker, on his take on the state of horror in Hollywood today, specifically PG-13 horror:
“It’s one of the most disgusting developments in the last few years,” Barker said of toned-down horror. “The whole notion of a PG-13 horror movie to me is a contradiction in terms. It’s like having a XXX Disney picture. It doesn’t work.”
Indeed the idea of Pinocchio fucking Cinderella just leaves one with a feeling of nausea. The same could be said for recent explorations into PG-13 horror. I’m not a huge fan of gore in films. I don’t think it’s important that blood and guts fly all over the place in order to create a good scare, but with a PG-13 rating you basically know the limits of what you’ll see in a horror film. The horror genre and the PG-13 rating don’t go together as Mr. Barker points out:
“To me, you don’t have to throw blood around in every scene, but there has to be a sense — and this is not my quote, it’s Wes Craven’s quote. Wes says that ‘When you go into a horror movie, you need to feel that you’re in the hands of a madman.’ Now what madman makes a PG-13 picture, right? Your horror-movie madman…doesn’t neaten up all the edges and make it all nice for mommy.”
I can’t say I was all too excited about the Hellraiser and Candyman remakes but as long as Barker is involved I know he’ll do the shit the right way. They are, after all, his creations and he knows better than anyone what it takes to make them work. Personally, I think that everytime a PG-13 horror movie is made, a demon get his wings.
The turtles will be back on screen in a live-action remake of the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie,
Men in rubber turtle-suits may be coming to a theater near you...again
if Kevin Eastman has his way about it anyway. That’s right, not a CGI sequel to the decent animated movie TMNT. No, a full-fledged turtle-suit, live-action remake. According to /Film, Eastman has been quoted as saying:
“Yes, it is true. Although the CGI film did well enough to warrant a sequel, there has been much talk between Imagi and Warners to do a better “re-invention” (newest Hollywood buzzword) of the TMNT’s, in a live action film–like what was done with Batman. Back to basics, back to the origin and the intro of the Shredder, etc…there have been talks, trips to Northampton to talk to Mr Laird, and discussions with the original “first” TMNT film director Steve Barron to come back and do it right–but no official word yet…will keep you posted.”
Holy shit! I haven't been worth watching in a movie since Seven!
The guys that brought us the dude that abides and the dude that kills mother fuckers are back at it again with this fall’s sure-to-be-hit, Burn After Reading. Sometimes I think the Coen brothers are the only reason I keep watching movies. Sure No Country for Old Men had a shitty ending, but the film was genius. The Big Lebowski is a classic comedy with some of the most memorable lines in Hollywood history. Knowing their track record, it’s quite easy to see why I’m really looking forward to Burn After Reading. Hell, even Brad Pitt and George Clooney can’t fuck this up.
The film is about the discovery of a CIA agent’s memoirs on a CD by some dudes that work at a gym. They try to blackmail the dude and shit hits the fan from there. Burn After Reading opens on September 12th. Check out the red band trailer for the film below:
