Dreams With Sharp Teeth

When I heard that a documentary about Harlan Ellison was to be released, I knew that a copy of it would soon grace my DVD collection.  Entitled “Dreams with Sharp Teeth”, the film is a character piece on a man who is, in my opinion (and his, I’m sure), one of the elite authors of the 21st century. 

I’m anticipating the documentary will be extremely self-serving, but well-deserved at the same time.  Since Ellison is privy to over-the-top hour-long rants,  I expect that this will be full of the elitist, rabid commentary that we are used to from our esteemed writer.  While it may be a bit much for those who are not familiar with his work (or those that don’t enjoy opinionated talks) fans of the author will find this DVD to be a treat.

For some reason assholes (and I say this with the greatest amount of respect and admiration in regard to Mr. Ellison) make the best character pieces, and here you’ve hit the motherload.  Visit www.dreamswithsharpteeth.com for clips and eventual information on the DVD’s release.  For now, here’s a clip to whet your appetite.  Man, I can’t wait for this one. 

If you’re interested in Harlan’s work, please check out his site at www.harlanellison.com

You will not be disappointed. 

Review – You Kill Me

The main character is an alcoholic hitman for the Polish mob in Buffalo, NY.

That sentence sums up, in most part, why I rented this movie – the combination of traits and locale were just too interesting to pass up.  Once I got to the store and saw that Ben Kingsley was the hitman, that sealed the deal.  I knew, somehow, that I was going to thoroughly enjoy this flick. 

Frank Falenczyk (Kingsley) finds that his livelihood as an assasin is threatened by his unfortunate attraction to the bottle.  When he drinks himself into a sound sleep and misses the target of his latest assignment, his crime family (who also happens to corner the market on the snow plow business) sends him to San Fransisco to rehab and recollect himself.  He goes grudgingly, only to find that his inner demons truly are holding him back.  He has a job arranged for him as a funeral assistant, of all things, and the more he has the time to reflect on his situation, the more his character changes for the better. 

Tea Leoni and Luke Wilson play the love interest and AA sponsor respectively, and very well.  While Frank’s family is feeling the effects of his absence while fending off the Irish rival family back home, he experiences a path of discovery, pain, happiness and understanding on the opposite coast.

This is a fantastic tale of introspection, and the pace was one of the strangest in any of the movies I’ve seen.  Even the dialogue had a staccato-like feel to it, which enhanced the main character’s shut-in personality and made it even that much more enjoyable when he opened up.  The humor was extremely dry, which I prefer, and had me laughing at many points in the film.  However, that’s not to say that the comedy wasn’t tempered with a fair share of real drama.  Frank’s personal growth throughout the movie offers many opportunities for true character interaction, and they payoff well.  At it’s heart, the movie allows everyone to relate to Frank because it’s not about an assassin, it’s about being happy and feeling worth.

While this movie was more of a character piece, the plot was still present and well-written, and it had all the elements to balance it out.  Great film, simply put.

“They Live” Fight Scene

Since my wife is recording “Kid Nation” and “America’s Next Top Model” on our DVR, I don’t have the ability to change to a different channel at this point – the perfect time to throw in a classic “oldie but goodie.”

“They Live” is, in my opinion, John Carpenter’s finest movie – grade B excellence.  From an awesome premise, timeless quotes (“I came here to kick ass and chew bubblegum….”), and great fight scenes, this movie has it all.  Well, everything but a perfect story execution, but that’s part of the low budget charm.  I still vote this movie as an instant cult classic.

Since I constantly tell my brother about “one of my favorite all-time fight scenes” from this movie, I figured I’d post it here.  In this clip our protagonist Nada (Roddy Piper) tries to convince his co-worker Frank (Keith David) to put on a pair of special glasses that allow one to see aliens living among them.  Frank, of course, declines. 

This one’s for you, Ryan.  And for those of you who haven’t seen it, go rent it, grab some popcorn and a few beers and enjoy!

New Conan Movie in 2009

While you’re waiting for Conan to come out, head over to

WEHAVECONTACT.COM 

for more great posts and discussion!

Long passed are the days of Wilt Chamberlain, Grace Jones and Bridgette Neilsen sharing the screen with a younger Schwarzenegger.  After many years, Conan will grace theaters again, this time in a new version that is supposed to be more faithful to Robert E. Howard’s mythical conqueror – not the charcater that we were used to from the original movies. 

Not much else has been released about the movie except this teaser poster.  I’m looking forward to see who will land the starring role, and what kind of bestial ass he’s going to have to kick!

Darkon

Well, it’s one of those sleepless nights again.  I’ve just gone through the Godfather: Part II (on cable, no less, so I was treated to 2 extra hours of commercials), Session 9, and now I’m half-watching the original Creepshow at 2 in the morning.  If there is a silver lining to this cloudy night, it is this: I just saw a commercial for a independent movie called “Darkon.”

The documentary (running time 1:45) follows a group of Baltimore-based LARPers through their trials and tribulations while playing.  On the commercial alone, I’m not sure if it supposed to be a mockumentary, or if there is a more serious message to be relayed (I hope not – please, people, this is LARPing we’re talking about).  However, from the dialogue I did hear, they may be trying to achieve the latter – all the more reason to watch what is destined to follow in the vein of Trekkies. 

With images of an over-sized cardboard monster having bean-bags thrown at him by a kid yelling “sleep!” and “lightning bolt!”, I am heartily looking forward to this.  My TIVO is set.  Here are some links to the gaming group’s page, and the not-so-informative movie site:

The Darkon Wargaming Club

Darkon: The Movie

For those of you with DirecTV, the show will air on 11/12 at 9pm, Channel 550 (IFC).  There will be another showing on 11/13 at 1am for you night owls.  I’m not sure what channel it will be (or if it will even air) on cable, so you may want to check.  Come back with your comments!

First Dragonlance Trailer Released

Here it is: the rough draft that was screened at both GenCon and DragonCon.  I’ll reserve judgement until I hear some of your comments, so take a look and see if it meets your expectation.  Remember that this rough draft was made public because of the great demand for the final version, which has yet to be edited.  I’m not sure if that’s a goood thing – either they’re not nearly as far done with the film as they lead on, or they are foregoing the trailer in lieu of completing the product. 

Anyway, enjoy!

Alien vs Predator: Requiem

Yeah, I’m gonna see it.  There, I said it.

If this trailer doesn’t add the “official” stamp to the production of AVP:Requiem (the sequel to the first release), I’m not sure what will.  The original, a flop-story hybrid of two massive franchises, was a special effects treat and not much else.  However, if you are enamored by both of these creatures as I am, you didn’t care.  And with that, I welcome this next installment.

From what I can gather, the sequel takes place in a secluded town that’s just waiting to be overrun by the baddies (and why wouldn’t it).  We trade the cold, windswept temples of the arctic for the warm, humid skies of the southern regions.  This fact totally baffles me, and here’s why:  didn’t we cater to Predator enough in the first movie?  Now we’re moving him to the more comfortable hunting grounds that he’s used to from his series?  Man, my beloved aliens get no love.

Requiem definitely seems to have gone the horror route (based on the trailer), throwing in sci-fi as more of an afterthought.  Blood and guts abound in this flick, and it doesn’t seem like anyone will be making friends with either of the races (a fact that I much lamented in the first movie).  I did however see a bright-eyed young teenager in the trailer who will no doubt live until the end of the movie and assume some type of heroic role.  Ugh. 

Anyway, check out the trailer – I still am mystified that they are making a sequel to this, but there’s no mistaking the smile on my face.

AVP:Requiem Trailer

Dragonlance Movie

Dungeons and Dragons movies have had a history of being far below par, even when measured against grade-B standards.  That is why I am excited, but with trepidation, for the first Dragonlance movie to be released, “Dragons of Autumn Twilight.” 

The movie is going to be animated, and by the look of the screen-caps on the official site, I am unable to discern what the actual quality of the animation will be – it looks to be a mix of traditional drawing and CGI.  At first, I was disappointed, but given all of the popular new movies that follow that same vein (Shrek, Monster House, etc.), it seems that medium will not be a terrible choice for a fantasy story.

 A PG-13 rating is pending for the film that is due in, you guessed it, autumn of 2007.  Additionally, the voice of Raistlin will be Kiefer Sutherland, an excellent pick, in my opinion.  I can’t imagine that a big name like that would lend itself to a movie with little hope of success.

 Dust off that Dragonlance novel and re-read it again before you go and see the flick, and if you want more information you can find it at the official site:  http://www.dragonlance-movie.com/

300 – Please Don’t Screw This One Up

It’s been quite a while since our group walked out of the screening of Alien vs. Predator, wide-eyed and stunned at the terrible acting and idiotic story. Being the eternal optimist, I held out hope until the last half hour of the film, but to no avail. Why was I not surprised, or any of us for that matter? And why, you may ask, did I end up buying the DVD when it came out? I can only answer that with four words:

“Know what to expect.”

We all went into the movie knowing full well that it was a popcorn flick. I, personally, went for no other reason than to see the two creatures pitted against each other in battle. The lack luster acting and reaching plot didn’t affect me in the least, because I bought my ticket with full expectations of seeing crap. That does not mean, however, that I did not enjoy it (as evidence of my DVD collection). The fight scenes were fantastic, and I was able to eat my candy to two franchise greats that ranked at the top of my ‘favorites’ list. Yes, I knew what to expect, and anything more than that was a bonus. As with any cult favorite (and we all have them, those dark film skeletons in the back of our closets), you’re most likely not going to receive the silver screen’s pedigree. But I digress….

At the beginning of March, Frank Miller’s “300″ will be released to audiences, and I must say I went through the gambit of emotions while watching the trailer. It tells the story of the Battle of Thermopylae, where 300 Spartan soldiers held off waves of the massive Persian army at a small hot spring. It was, historically, one of the finest examples of valor and courage, blind or not. That being said, if you’ve seen the trailer for the movie, you will notice many, MANY historical inaccuracies, ranging from charging rhinos and elephants behind the Persian lines, to a tattooed, body-pierced menacing Xerxes, the Persian King.

Having great interest in this era, I couldn’t help but feel betrayed as Hollywood was bastardizing another moment in history that doesn’t need any “spicing up” to begin with (don’t even get me started on Pearl Harbor). Can’t we just tell a story, people?! Is the fact that 300 soldiers held off millions not enough of a pillar to stand on for a plot? In a few years, we’ll see a movie about how the World Trade Center was brought down by a dragon army, with Justin Timberlake leading troops in to tame the fallen beasts and turn them against each other. And the sad part is, we will go and watch it – and it will probably do well.

Now for the flip side of the coin, the Devil’s Advocate’s review. In keeping with the “know what to expect” motto, I can sit content with the realization that this movie is not meant to be historically accurate, nor is it meant to portray events as they happened (at least to a fine point). It is based on a graphic novel by an artist known for his fantastic renditions and very characteristic mood. Having seen Sin City and loved it, I am withholding any judgments against this movie from an artistic viewpoint. In fact, I can’t wait to see it and would easily say that I haven’t been this excited for a film in quite a while.

I’ll be in line to see this when it comes out, no doubt, but I am praying that they at least do the content (as skewed as it may be from actual events) justice. I am more than ready to suspend disbelief for this, so I’ll stick to the history books for the nitty gritty, and watch “300″ to see those events through the eye of an artist.

Check out these links to learn more about the real Battle of Thermopylae:
Wikipedia – The Battle of Thermopylae – The facts.
Gates of Fire by Stephen Pressfield – Historical fiction that follows a young scribe, and lone survivor of the battle.
The Hoplite – Battle analysis and geographic information.

Review – Queen of the Damned

Anne Rice’s famous vampire Lestat (Stuart Townsend) comes to us as the lead man in a goth/rock band titled simply, “Lestat.” When he uses his fame to announce publicly that there are vampires living among the masses, the undead do not take it well, and plan to kill him at his next concert. No one, however, expects Lestat’s announcement to unearth a greater evil – Akasha (Aaliyah), the brutal and beautiful mother of all vampires from centuries ago.

Sure, the whole storyline feels a little forced and hokey. In fact, one would even go so far as to call it ridiculous. I must admit that I did not begin this movie with high expectations, and perhaps that was the very reason I was pleasantly surprised with it.

The movie did a nice job of combining past events with current, giving the viewer a good synopsis of what has come to pass for our lead character. While the goth vampire cliché is a little overused and tired in my opinion, the film was moody, atmospheric and kept me interested to see what would happen next. The romantic vampire lore is done in traditional Rice fashion, delivered with one of the more impressive dark and sensual love scenes I’ve seen. Relationships between the characters were a little underdeveloped, but nevertheless were held up by a story that was not all that bad. There were some questionable explanations near the end of the film, but it was enough to look the other way.

If you can get by all of the black-leather-bound, club-going stereotypes in the modern portions of this film, this is definitely worth a rent. I wouldn’t say it is a close second to Interview with a Vampire, lacking final gap-filling details to the plot, but if you take it for what it’s worth, it’s a fun watch.