Film Junk » Wintle http://www.filmjunk.com Blog and Podcast Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:09:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en TAD 2011: Manborg Review http://www.filmjunk.com/2011/11/03/tad-2011-manborg-review/ http://www.filmjunk.com/2011/11/03/tad-2011-manborg-review/#comments Thu, 03 Nov 2011 15:21:58 +0000 Wintle http://www.filmjunk.com/?p=66146 In a future where the denizens of Hell have conquered the Earth, humanity's only salvation lies in the cybernetic fists of Manborg and his companions Mina, Justice and Number One Man. Manborg! Say it out loud right now. Let it roll off your tongue. That's what it would feel like if you could have sex in your mouth. Manborg! A jury-rigged junk masterpiece, Manborg finds its inspiration in the heady days of early '90s cross-media, where movies would spawn video games that would inspire comics that would be adapted into movies, with each iteration getting shoddier and stranger than the last, like a demented game of Telephone. While on the surface Manborg may seem like nothing more than a straight parody of the sci-fi opuses of Charles Band and Albert Pyun, the cast and crew of the film only take that as their basic framework, adding their own absurdist humour to the mix. Come for the third-degree Terminator rip-off, stay for the hilarious dialogue, impeccable delivery and endearing characterization. The main draw for me was in the brief glimpse of stop-motion found in the trailer. I had assumed that it would only be used in the climactic centrepiece, as almost no one uses stop-motion anymore, but I was delighted to find that the entire movie was filled with the stuff. Compounding my surprise was just how effective the integration of live-action and animation was, with the battles between human and monster proving to be better choreographed than most of the fights with actual actors. One word of warning: despite the joy I got from watching this with a crowd, Manborg was painful to view on the big screen, not unlike if they released Rebel Assault or Sewer Shark into theatres. Sure, that sounds great, but it will make your eyes bleed. I imagine this will play even better on a smaller screen, especially on a computer as God intended. If only the Sega CD played DVDs. Also, while I was a little put off by the dominance of green screen in the beginning, I became so used to it that I found the few non-effects scenes jarring. But those are minor quibbles in what will surely be the break-out CD-ROM video game movie of 2011. In closing, I am glad I did not wear jogging pants to the screening of Manborg. -- Wintle

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]]> In a future where the denizens of Hell have conquered the Earth, humanity's only salvation lies in the cybernetic fists of Manborg and his companions Mina, Justice and Number One Man. Manborg! Say it out loud right now. Let it roll off your tongue. That's what it would feel like if you could have sex in your mouth. Manborg! A jury-rigged junk masterpiece, Manborg finds its inspiration in the heady days of early '90s cross-media, where movies would spawn video games that would inspire comics that would be adapted into movies, with each iteration getting shoddier and stranger than the last, like a demented game of Telephone. While on the surface Manborg may seem like nothing more than a straight parody of the sci-fi opuses of Charles Band and Albert Pyun, the cast and crew of the film only take that as their basic framework, adding their own absurdist humour to the mix. Come for the third-degree Terminator rip-off, stay for the hilarious dialogue, impeccable delivery and endearing characterization. The main draw for me was in the brief glimpse of stop-motion found in the trailer. I had assumed that it would only be used in the climactic centrepiece, as almost no one uses stop-motion anymore, but I was delighted to find that the entire movie was filled with the stuff. Compounding my surprise was just how effective the integration of live-action and animation was, with the battles between human and monster proving to be better choreographed than most of the fights with actual actors. One word of warning: despite the joy I got from watching this with a crowd, Manborg was painful to view on the big screen, not unlike if they released Rebel Assault or Sewer Shark into theatres. Sure, that sounds great, but it will make your eyes bleed. I imagine this will play even better on a smaller screen, especially on a computer as God intended. If only the Sega CD played DVDs. Also, while I was a little put off by the dominance of green screen in the beginning, I became so used to it that I found the few non-effects scenes jarring. But those are minor quibbles in what will surely be the break-out CD-ROM video game movie of 2011. In closing, I am glad I did not wear jogging pants to the screening of Manborg. -- Wintle

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]]> http://www.filmjunk.com/2011/11/03/tad-2011-manborg-review/feed/ TAD 2011: The Divide Review http://www.filmjunk.com/2011/11/02/tad-2011-the-divide-review/ http://www.filmjunk.com/2011/11/02/tad-2011-the-divide-review/#comments Wed, 02 Nov 2011 14:32:04 +0000 Wintle http://www.filmjunk.com/?p=66052 As New York City is annihilated above them, a group of tenants survive by taking shelter in the basement of their apartment building only to face the dangers of interpersonal conflicts, radiation poisoning, and an unknown threat from the outside. The Divide combines two of my favourite scenarios; the apocalypse and the pressure cooker. There's nothing quite so satisfying as watching a diverse group of people try to keep their shit together during a high stress situation, and it doesn't get more dire than the End of Civilization. Unfortunately, The Divide adds yet another ingredient into the mix: improvisation. The actors seem to have entered The Divide without exchanging notes, as nearly every one of them is indistinguishable from the others in their bland awfulness. The majority of the running time is spent in the company of a group of mopey losers lounging around eating endless cans of beans. When something significant does happen to stir them out of their stupor, it's only temporary and doesn't seem to have any lasting effect. And just when you think things couldn't get any worse, when the action finally revs up the characters react in ways that are wholly inconsistent with everything that has come before. On my way home from the screening I found myself thinking about another suspense film that was based largely on improvised performances: The Blair Witch Project. That movie succeeded where The Divide failed by creating a narrative thread throughout, giving the actors something to react against instead of simply leaving it up to them to create conflict. That's not to say that The Divide is a complete waste. There are a few visually breathtaking set pieces scattered about, and occasionally the improvisation does pay off with some truly revelatory character vignettes. Further, despite my distaste for the film, I would still recommend The Divide based almost entirely upon the performance of Michael Biehn as Mickey, the superintendent who lives in the shelter. While so many genre actors decline in their abilities over the years, Biehn is currently at the top of his game, making watchable every direct-to-DVD piece of shit he appears in. One day Hollywood is going to get wise and cast him in something worthy of his incendiary talents. Unfortunately, The Divide is not that vehicle. -- Wintle

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]]> As New York City is annihilated above them, a group of tenants survive by taking shelter in the basement of their apartment building only to face the dangers of interpersonal conflicts, radiation poisoning, and an unknown threat from the outside. The Divide combines two of my favourite scenarios; the apocalypse and the pressure cooker. There's nothing quite so satisfying as watching a diverse group of people try to keep their shit together during a high stress situation, and it doesn't get more dire than the End of Civilization. Unfortunately, The Divide adds yet another ingredient into the mix: improvisation. The actors seem to have entered The Divide without exchanging notes, as nearly every one of them is indistinguishable from the others in their bland awfulness. The majority of the running time is spent in the company of a group of mopey losers lounging around eating endless cans of beans. When something significant does happen to stir them out of their stupor, it's only temporary and doesn't seem to have any lasting effect. And just when you think things couldn't get any worse, when the action finally revs up the characters react in ways that are wholly inconsistent with everything that has come before. On my way home from the screening I found myself thinking about another suspense film that was based largely on improvised performances: The Blair Witch Project. That movie succeeded where The Divide failed by creating a narrative thread throughout, giving the actors something to react against instead of simply leaving it up to them to create conflict. That's not to say that The Divide is a complete waste. There are a few visually breathtaking set pieces scattered about, and occasionally the improvisation does pay off with some truly revelatory character vignettes. Further, despite my distaste for the film, I would still recommend The Divide based almost entirely upon the performance of Michael Biehn as Mickey, the superintendent who lives in the shelter. While so many genre actors decline in their abilities over the years, Biehn is currently at the top of his game, making watchable every direct-to-DVD piece of shit he appears in. One day Hollywood is going to get wise and cast him in something worthy of his incendiary talents. Unfortunately, The Divide is not that vehicle. -- Wintle

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]]> http://www.filmjunk.com/2011/11/02/tad-2011-the-divide-review/feed/ Tura Satana 1938-2011 http://www.filmjunk.com/2011/02/07/tura-satana-1938-2011/ http://www.filmjunk.com/2011/02/07/tura-satana-1938-2011/#comments Mon, 07 Feb 2011 18:40:01 +0000 Wintle http://www.filmjunk.com/?p=52234
"Let's examine closely then this dangerously evil creation, this new breed, encased and contained within the supple skin of woman. The softness is there, the unmistakable smell of woman, the surface shiny and silken, the body yielding yet wanton. But a word of caution: handle with care and don't drop your guard."
Russ Meyer's films have such an unabashed energy, are so far ahead of their time, that it's sometimes hard to believe that his most famous movie was released over four decades ago. That realization hit me hard when I went to a screening of Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill! with star Tura Satana in attendance. It was disheartening to see someone who portrayed one of the most vibrant characters in cinematic history struggle to ascend a flight of stairs. Time catches up to us all. Then Tura spoke. I can't remember a single word she said, but I certainly remember how she said it. She laid into us with ferocity, fists flying, eyes gleaming, regaling us with her misadventures in the underbelly of the sleazy '60s. She drew you in despite every decent instinct in your body screaming to run the other way, the kind of woman that only comes along a few times in your life and is best viewed through a set of solid steel bars. As the night wore on the years just fell away and, like the film that made her famous, I realized that some things are truly timeless. Rest in peace, Tura. You were too much woman for this world.

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]]>
"Let's examine closely then this dangerously evil creation, this new breed, encased and contained within the supple skin of woman. The softness is there, the unmistakable smell of woman, the surface shiny and silken, the body yielding yet wanton. But a word of caution: handle with care and don't drop your guard."
Russ Meyer's films have such an unabashed energy, are so far ahead of their time, that it's sometimes hard to believe that his most famous movie was released over four decades ago. That realization hit me hard when I went to a screening of Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill! with star Tura Satana in attendance. It was disheartening to see someone who portrayed one of the most vibrant characters in cinematic history struggle to ascend a flight of stairs. Time catches up to us all. Then Tura spoke. I can't remember a single word she said, but I certainly remember how she said it. She laid into us with ferocity, fists flying, eyes gleaming, regaling us with her misadventures in the underbelly of the sleazy '60s. She drew you in despite every decent instinct in your body screaming to run the other way, the kind of woman that only comes along a few times in your life and is best viewed through a set of solid steel bars. As the night wore on the years just fell away and, like the film that made her famous, I realized that some things are truly timeless. Rest in peace, Tura. You were too much woman for this world.

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]]> http://www.filmjunk.com/2011/02/07/tura-satana-1938-2011/feed/ Obsessed Review http://www.filmjunk.com/2009/04/30/obsessed/ http://www.filmjunk.com/2009/04/30/obsessed/#comments Fri, 01 May 2009 03:52:10 +0000 Wintle http://www.filmjunk.com/?p=19753 A psychotic temp stalks a successful businessman, and only the man's equally psychotic wife can stop her. There's a certain kind of movie that many would dismiss as simply bad that appeals to me on a visceral level. These films tend to embrace their conceits, throwing away the pretense of sophistication that so many lesser movies hide behind and pushing their frenzied visions into the absurd. I admit, I hadn't felt this kind of excitement for a mainstream release since I Know Who Killed Me. So does Obsessed measure up? No one seemed to expect much from Obsessed. Pundits are tearing out their hair trying to figure out its success. The screen I saw it on was one of those second or third tier rooms, as if the theatre management itself didn't believe in the commercial appeal of the movie, and it was overflowing. I think the answer is obvious. In the same weekend in which a film called Fighting was released, Obsessed delivered the goods. The moment I saw that trailer I knew that I was going for one reason, the same thing the couple who entered the theatre an hour into the movie and left five minutes before the end were seeking; a knockdown, drag-out fight between Ali Larter and Beyoncé. My first thought was that it was the campy, catfight aspect to the movie that brought them in, and while I don't doubt that it was a huge enticement for a certain type of audience member, I don't think it was the only reason. Cinematic fights these days are incredibly competent to the point of being sterile. They rarely show the give and take of a real fight, something dirty, mean and exhausting. The last time I can remember seeing something similar was the fight between Elle and The Bride in Kill Bill Vol. 2. The acting was particularly impressive, particularly considering none of the characters had more than a line or two devoted to their history. These were blank slates that allowed the actors a chance to be forceful, if not nuanced. By far the biggest surprise was Beyoncé, who stole the few scenes which she appeared in. It was to the detriment of the film that she wasn't more fully involved. Otherwise, Obsessed is as textbook as it comes, stripped down to the point that it could have been written in hieroglyphs on a cave wall, forgoing originality for a base level of craft. Normally this workmanlike approach would merit a higher score from me, but while Obsessed displays a refreshing lack of pretension in most respects, where it fumbles is in its length and repetitiveness. The stalker's attempts at getting with her target don't seem to escalate, they just reiterate what's already been stated multiple times already, and slow the movie to a crawl when it should be galloping toward the finale.

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]]> A psychotic temp stalks a successful businessman, and only the man's equally psychotic wife can stop her. There's a certain kind of movie that many would dismiss as simply bad that appeals to me on a visceral level. These films tend to embrace their conceits, throwing away the pretense of sophistication that so many lesser movies hide behind and pushing their frenzied visions into the absurd. I admit, I hadn't felt this kind of excitement for a mainstream release since I Know Who Killed Me. So does Obsessed measure up? No one seemed to expect much from Obsessed. Pundits are tearing out their hair trying to figure out its success. The screen I saw it on was one of those second or third tier rooms, as if the theatre management itself didn't believe in the commercial appeal of the movie, and it was overflowing. I think the answer is obvious. In the same weekend in which a film called Fighting was released, Obsessed delivered the goods. The moment I saw that trailer I knew that I was going for one reason, the same thing the couple who entered the theatre an hour into the movie and left five minutes before the end were seeking; a knockdown, drag-out fight between Ali Larter and Beyoncé. My first thought was that it was the campy, catfight aspect to the movie that brought them in, and while I don't doubt that it was a huge enticement for a certain type of audience member, I don't think it was the only reason. Cinematic fights these days are incredibly competent to the point of being sterile. They rarely show the give and take of a real fight, something dirty, mean and exhausting. The last time I can remember seeing something similar was the fight between Elle and The Bride in Kill Bill Vol. 2. The acting was particularly impressive, particularly considering none of the characters had more than a line or two devoted to their history. These were blank slates that allowed the actors a chance to be forceful, if not nuanced. By far the biggest surprise was Beyoncé, who stole the few scenes which she appeared in. It was to the detriment of the film that she wasn't more fully involved. Otherwise, Obsessed is as textbook as it comes, stripped down to the point that it could have been written in hieroglyphs on a cave wall, forgoing originality for a base level of craft. Normally this workmanlike approach would merit a higher score from me, but while Obsessed displays a refreshing lack of pretension in most respects, where it fumbles is in its length and repetitiveness. The stalker's attempts at getting with her target don't seem to escalate, they just reiterate what's already been stated multiple times already, and slow the movie to a crawl when it should be galloping toward the finale.

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]]> http://www.filmjunk.com/2009/04/30/obsessed/feed/ Megan Fox Shore Is Purty Fer Jonah Hex http://www.filmjunk.com/2009/04/30/megan-fox-shore-is-purty-fer-jonah-hex/ http://www.filmjunk.com/2009/04/30/megan-fox-shore-is-purty-fer-jonah-hex/#comments Fri, 01 May 2009 02:40:10 +0000 Wintle http://www.filmjunk.com/?p=20012 I met with Sean for lunch the other day, and at one point we discussed that most ornery of movie blog topics; finding something to say about news that offers little in the way of meaningful dialogue. The example that came up was the recent behind-the-scenes pictures of Megan Fox on the set of the supernatural Western Jonah Hex. Since my job description basically entails covering the stories no one else wants, I figured I'd take a stab at it. Besides, I wanted to talk about Jonah Hex before I vamoose, if anyone even bothers reading past that link. Jonah Hex is one of my favourite comics. For the longest time it was as close as North American comics got to Spaghetti Westerns, with morally ambiguous characters, spidery artwork and a horribly disfigured hero among other oddities. Despite its peculiarities, Jonah Hex rarely dealt with the supernatural, though the gothic atmosphere certainly gave some people that impression. That's why I'm dreading this film as much as I am looking forward to it. I think Brolin is a great pick for the title character, but I'm worried the movie is going to be trading in atmosphere and grit for zombies and cheap thrills. What kind of Western do you prefer, if any? Please remember to phrase your comments in Wild West dialects.

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]]> I met with Sean for lunch the other day, and at one point we discussed that most ornery of movie blog topics; finding something to say about news that offers little in the way of meaningful dialogue. The example that came up was the recent behind-the-scenes pictures of Megan Fox on the set of the supernatural Western Jonah Hex. Since my job description basically entails covering the stories no one else wants, I figured I'd take a stab at it. Besides, I wanted to talk about Jonah Hex before I vamoose, if anyone even bothers reading past that link. Jonah Hex is one of my favourite comics. For the longest time it was as close as North American comics got to Spaghetti Westerns, with morally ambiguous characters, spidery artwork and a horribly disfigured hero among other oddities. Despite its peculiarities, Jonah Hex rarely dealt with the supernatural, though the gothic atmosphere certainly gave some people that impression. That's why I'm dreading this film as much as I am looking forward to it. I think Brolin is a great pick for the title character, but I'm worried the movie is going to be trading in atmosphere and grit for zombies and cheap thrills. What kind of Western do you prefer, if any? Please remember to phrase your comments in Wild West dialects.

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]]> http://www.filmjunk.com/2009/04/30/megan-fox-shore-is-purty-fer-jonah-hex/feed/ Jackie Chan Returns To Armour Of God http://www.filmjunk.com/2009/04/30/jackie-chan-returns-to-armour-of-god/ http://www.filmjunk.com/2009/04/30/jackie-chan-returns-to-armour-of-god/#comments Thu, 30 Apr 2009 18:50:54 +0000 Wintle http://www.filmjunk.com/?p=19962 Now that James Brown is gone, Jackie Chan has little competition when it comes to the title of Hardest Working Man In Show Business. I've posted about some of his upcoming movies over the past few months, but this one is something special. To celebrate his 100th movie, Jackie Chan is resurrecting one of his most popular franchises with a new installment, Armour of God III: Chinese Zodiac. The Armour of God series deals with a globe-trotting treasure hunter, in a similar vein to Indiana Jones. I wonder if the hundred movies includes cameos, documentaries and that one porno he'd rather we all forget about. Even more pressing is why he would choose Armour of God. I imagine it may be because of that series' accessibility, though I would love it if he did a third Drunken Master, or even better, one last reunion with Yuen Biao and Sammo Hung for a Project A 3. That guy has a lot of unfinished trilogies lying around. So long as we're daydreaming, what project would you want Jackie Chan to star in while he's still movin', doin' it, y'know? Can I count it off?

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]]> Now that James Brown is gone, Jackie Chan has little competition when it comes to the title of Hardest Working Man In Show Business. I've posted about some of his upcoming movies over the past few months, but this one is something special. To celebrate his 100th movie, Jackie Chan is resurrecting one of his most popular franchises with a new installment, Armour of God III: Chinese Zodiac. The Armour of God series deals with a globe-trotting treasure hunter, in a similar vein to Indiana Jones. I wonder if the hundred movies includes cameos, documentaries and that one porno he'd rather we all forget about. Even more pressing is why he would choose Armour of God. I imagine it may be because of that series' accessibility, though I would love it if he did a third Drunken Master, or even better, one last reunion with Yuen Biao and Sammo Hung for a Project A 3. That guy has a lot of unfinished trilogies lying around. So long as we're daydreaming, what project would you want Jackie Chan to star in while he's still movin', doin' it, y'know? Can I count it off?

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]]> http://www.filmjunk.com/2009/04/30/jackie-chan-returns-to-armour-of-god/feed/ McG Will Show You His If You Show Him Yours http://www.filmjunk.com/2009/04/28/mcg-will-show-you-his-if-you-show-him-yours/ http://www.filmjunk.com/2009/04/28/mcg-will-show-you-his-if-you-show-him-yours/#comments Wed, 29 Apr 2009 03:29:32 +0000 Wintle http://www.filmjunk.com/?p=19857 Stop the presses! I've been wrestling with a number of news items all day long, but it wasn't until I read this latest item that I truly felt the urge to comment. In an interview with Details magazine, McG, director of Terminator: Salvation, has challenged Michael Bay, director of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, to a penis-measuring competition. No metaphorical dick swinging for McG. This is a man who wants to see the real deal in all its glory.
"Michael Bay has a big c*ck," he says. Huh? "But I'd like to believe mine is bigger." McG smiles. "If he's up for it, we can both reveal ourselves on the Spartacus steps at Universal and put the question to rest."
Arguably the best part of the above statement is McG's acknowledgment that Michael Bay is totally packing. I wonder if Michael Bay will be up for the challenge. It can't be that hard. When you lay in bed at night, staring at the ceiling trying desperately to fall asleep, who do you imagine has the larger junk, McG or Michael Bay? Choose wisely!

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]]> Stop the presses! I've been wrestling with a number of news items all day long, but it wasn't until I read this latest item that I truly felt the urge to comment. In an interview with Details magazine, McG, director of Terminator: Salvation, has challenged Michael Bay, director of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, to a penis-measuring competition. No metaphorical dick swinging for McG. This is a man who wants to see the real deal in all its glory.
"Michael Bay has a big c*ck," he says. Huh? "But I'd like to believe mine is bigger." McG smiles. "If he's up for it, we can both reveal ourselves on the Spartacus steps at Universal and put the question to rest."
Arguably the best part of the above statement is McG's acknowledgment that Michael Bay is totally packing. I wonder if Michael Bay will be up for the challenge. It can't be that hard. When you lay in bed at night, staring at the ceiling trying desperately to fall asleep, who do you imagine has the larger junk, McG or Michael Bay? Choose wisely!

FOR MORE DAILY MOVIE GOODNESS, VISIT FILMJUNK.COM!

]]> http://www.filmjunk.com/2009/04/28/mcg-will-show-you-his-if-you-show-him-yours/feed/ Lynchian Bollywood Cobra Woman Trailer For Hisss http://www.filmjunk.com/2009/04/28/lynchian-bollywood-cobra-woman-trailer-for-hisss/ http://www.filmjunk.com/2009/04/28/lynchian-bollywood-cobra-woman-trailer-for-hisss/#comments Tue, 28 Apr 2009 17:38:25 +0000 Wintle http://www.filmjunk.com/?p=19768 2008 was a bit of a wash for me in regards to the movies. Other than Rambo, Kung Fu Panda and a handful of others, it was a dead zone. Thankfully 2009 is picking up the slack. It's as if they held back all the good stuff just to surprise me later. So far the trailers of 2009 alone have proven better than the combined feature films of 2008. Case in point, Jennifer Lynch's Hisss. Mallika Sherawat stars as a Naga, a mystical snake woman who journeys into human society to rescue one of her cobras from a scientist. The effects by Robert Kurtzman look tight and the action is hot and sticky, just how I like it. Check out the teeny-tiny trailer below and let us know if Hisss has put a spell on you.

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]]> 2008 was a bit of a wash for me in regards to the movies. Other than Rambo, Kung Fu Panda and a handful of others, it was a dead zone. Thankfully 2009 is picking up the slack. It's as if they held back all the good stuff just to surprise me later. So far the trailers of 2009 alone have proven better than the combined feature films of 2008. Case in point, Jennifer Lynch's Hisss. Mallika Sherawat stars as a Naga, a mystical snake woman who journeys into human society to rescue one of her cobras from a scientist. The effects by Robert Kurtzman look tight and the action is hot and sticky, just how I like it. Check out the teeny-tiny trailer below and let us know if Hisss has put a spell on you.

FOR MORE DAILY MOVIE GOODNESS, VISIT FILMJUNK.COM!

]]> http://www.filmjunk.com/2009/04/28/lynchian-bollywood-cobra-woman-trailer-for-hisss/feed/ Lunatics To Remake Videodrome http://www.filmjunk.com/2009/04/27/lunatics-to-remake-videodrome/ http://www.filmjunk.com/2009/04/27/lunatics-to-remake-videodrome/#comments Mon, 27 Apr 2009 20:01:03 +0000 Wintle http://www.filmjunk.com/?p=19712 Universal Studios has announced that they are moving forward with a Videodrome remake. For those of you not familiar with the movie, it is an hallucinatory satire of mass media starring James Woods as an independent softcore pornography television broadcaster who becomes involved in an international conspiracy involving snuff films, stomach vaginas, and Deborah Harry. So, y'know, perfect material for a big-budget action remake. I made an oath long ago that I would no longer get upset over remakes. This was an easy promise to keep considering most of my favourite movies have already been updated and my heart is now a small lump of calcified stone. However, with this announcement I feel a different emotion, one I never thought I would experience due to a remake; confusion. The original Videodrome is at once visionary and indecipherable, a sleazy psycho-sexual tone poem so idiosyncratic that I doubt anyone, even Cronenberg, could come close to replicating it today. Only the insane would take on a project like this. If anything, maybe it will make a nice companion piece as the kind of entertainment shown within the original. Is this move incredibly wrong-headed, or are you ready to embrace the New Flesh?

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]]> Universal Studios has announced that they are moving forward with a Videodrome remake. For those of you not familiar with the movie, it is an hallucinatory satire of mass media starring James Woods as an independent softcore pornography television broadcaster who becomes involved in an international conspiracy involving snuff films, stomach vaginas, and Deborah Harry. So, y'know, perfect material for a big-budget action remake. I made an oath long ago that I would no longer get upset over remakes. This was an easy promise to keep considering most of my favourite movies have already been updated and my heart is now a small lump of calcified stone. However, with this announcement I feel a different emotion, one I never thought I would experience due to a remake; confusion. The original Videodrome is at once visionary and indecipherable, a sleazy psycho-sexual tone poem so idiosyncratic that I doubt anyone, even Cronenberg, could come close to replicating it today. Only the insane would take on a project like this. If anything, maybe it will make a nice companion piece as the kind of entertainment shown within the original. Is this move incredibly wrong-headed, or are you ready to embrace the New Flesh?

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]]> http://www.filmjunk.com/2009/04/27/lunatics-to-remake-videodrome/feed/ Wrong Turn 3: Left For Dead Trailer http://www.filmjunk.com/2009/04/24/wrong-turn-3-left-for-dead-trailer/ http://www.filmjunk.com/2009/04/24/wrong-turn-3-left-for-dead-trailer/#comments Fri, 24 Apr 2009 22:10:42 +0000 Wintle http://www.filmjunk.com/?p=19660 One of the recurring things I hear when I speak with people about film, after expressing my lack of knowledge concerning a particular favourite, is that I've lost all credibility. This came up again recently, so I decided it might be a good idea to find out the extent of my ignorance by listing some of the acclaimed movies I have yet to see. While I was jotting them down, Sean sent me a link to the trailer for Wrong Turn 3 and asked if I had any insight into it. Insight. Into Wrong Turn 3. I realized where I had been going wrong and threw my guilt list away! Who needs to watch Lord of the Rings when you're considered an authority on the Wrong Turn series? I have no idea whether the movie will be any good, and considering director Declan O'Brien has been tapped to helm The Little Shop of Horrors remake I suspect he's got some chops, but this trailer is shit. There's no hook, no build-up, and no hint of characterization. It's just an f/x reel spoiling at least three or four kills. Having watched it a few times it appears that a few of the victims are wearing orange jumpsuits. If some of them are escaped convicts, and they have to band together with a bunch of horny teens to fight against inbred redneck cannibals, why not emphasize that fact? That's awesome! Has the trailer enticed you back into the woods for more?

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]]> One of the recurring things I hear when I speak with people about film, after expressing my lack of knowledge concerning a particular favourite, is that I've lost all credibility. This came up again recently, so I decided it might be a good idea to find out the extent of my ignorance by listing some of the acclaimed movies I have yet to see. While I was jotting them down, Sean sent me a link to the trailer for Wrong Turn 3 and asked if I had any insight into it. Insight. Into Wrong Turn 3. I realized where I had been going wrong and threw my guilt list away! Who needs to watch Lord of the Rings when you're considered an authority on the Wrong Turn series? I have no idea whether the movie will be any good, and considering director Declan O'Brien has been tapped to helm The Little Shop of Horrors remake I suspect he's got some chops, but this trailer is shit. There's no hook, no build-up, and no hint of characterization. It's just an f/x reel spoiling at least three or four kills. Having watched it a few times it appears that a few of the victims are wearing orange jumpsuits. If some of them are escaped convicts, and they have to band together with a bunch of horny teens to fight against inbred redneck cannibals, why not emphasize that fact? That's awesome! Has the trailer enticed you back into the woods for more?

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]]> http://www.filmjunk.com/2009/04/24/wrong-turn-3-left-for-dead-trailer/feed/ Rodriguez To Reboot Predator Franchise http://www.filmjunk.com/2009/04/23/rodriguez-to-reboot-predator-franchise/ http://www.filmjunk.com/2009/04/23/rodriguez-to-reboot-predator-franchise/#comments Fri, 24 Apr 2009 03:53:00 +0000 Wintle http://www.filmjunk.com/?p=19592 Robert Rodriguez dropped some pretty big news today as he announced his slate of upcoming projects, including Machete, Nervewrackers, The Jetsons, Sin City 2 and, wait for it, a Predator reboot. With so many movies in the work I wonder if Rodriguez even has time to bleed. While Predator isn't one of my favourite movies, it does have a special place in my heart as the first R-rated film I snuck into. So it's surprising that the news of this so-called reboot doesn't really faze me. Based on the title change alone it's obvious this is going to be quite different from the original, and the concept lends itself to stand-alone installments. I can just imagine this being yet another Predator movie, not a replacement for the first one, like how the recent Friday The 13th remake was practically a sequel. I guess it's too early to tell, but in a way I'm excited to see Predator finally get another solo film two decades after the last one. Anyone else up for another slice of Predator action, and do you think Rodriguez is the man for the job?

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]]> Robert Rodriguez dropped some pretty big news today as he announced his slate of upcoming projects, including Machete, Nervewrackers, The Jetsons, Sin City 2 and, wait for it, a Predator reboot. With so many movies in the work I wonder if Rodriguez even has time to bleed. While Predator isn't one of my favourite movies, it does have a special place in my heart as the first R-rated film I snuck into. So it's surprising that the news of this so-called reboot doesn't really faze me. Based on the title change alone it's obvious this is going to be quite different from the original, and the concept lends itself to stand-alone installments. I can just imagine this being yet another Predator movie, not a replacement for the first one, like how the recent Friday The 13th remake was practically a sequel. I guess it's too early to tell, but in a way I'm excited to see Predator finally get another solo film two decades after the last one. Anyone else up for another slice of Predator action, and do you think Rodriguez is the man for the job?

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]]> http://www.filmjunk.com/2009/04/23/rodriguez-to-reboot-predator-franchise/feed/ Blood Wrestling With Vampire Girl Vs Frankenstein Girl http://www.filmjunk.com/2009/04/23/blood-wrestling-with-vampire-girl-vs-frankenstein-girl/ http://www.filmjunk.com/2009/04/23/blood-wrestling-with-vampire-girl-vs-frankenstein-girl/#comments Fri, 24 Apr 2009 01:37:02 +0000 Wintle http://www.filmjunk.com/?p=19585 With his work on such films as Meatball Machine, Tokyo Gore Police and Machine Girl, make-up guru Yoshihiro Nishimura is spearheading the recent Japanese gore movement. His latest, Vampire Girl Vs Frankenstein Girl, has just dropped its first trailer, and it appears to be a thoughtful dissertation on just how much blood the human body contains. Not since the heady days of William Beaudine and Santo have we seen such a delightful monster rally. As happy as I am to be receiving even more outrageous gore, it doesn't appear as if the action choreography has gotten any better. While I enjoy the blood-soaked sight gags in these movies, they tend to lack that extra punch that comes with decent pacing, which unfortunately makes the exposition between the carnage that much more tiring. That said, if you're not squeamish please check out the trailer and let us know what you think.

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]]> With his work on such films as Meatball Machine, Tokyo Gore Police and Machine Girl, make-up guru Yoshihiro Nishimura is spearheading the recent Japanese gore movement. His latest, Vampire Girl Vs Frankenstein Girl, has just dropped its first trailer, and it appears to be a thoughtful dissertation on just how much blood the human body contains. Not since the heady days of William Beaudine and Santo have we seen such a delightful monster rally. As happy as I am to be receiving even more outrageous gore, it doesn't appear as if the action choreography has gotten any better. While I enjoy the blood-soaked sight gags in these movies, they tend to lack that extra punch that comes with decent pacing, which unfortunately makes the exposition between the carnage that much more tiring. That said, if you're not squeamish please check out the trailer and let us know what you think.

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]]> http://www.filmjunk.com/2009/04/23/blood-wrestling-with-vampire-girl-vs-frankenstein-girl/feed/