Smallfoot is an animated comedy with a clear premise about a Yeti whose world is thrown upside when he finds a “smallfoot” human, who, he’s always been told, doesn’t exist. Migo is a young Yeti who’s excommunicated from the village when he declares that smallfoots exist. Migo’s assertion contradicts the infallible stone tablet that holds all the rules and knowledge for the Yetis. Migo, with the help of some new friends that believe him, decides to go find proof that smallfoots are real.
Smallfoot is a cute idea and has a great cast of voices and some fun musical numbers. However, it becomes too philosophical and boring, especially for children. The movie has odd parallels that can be made against Christianity, as well as a Romantic worldview that stresses embracing your fears with open arms. The movie fails to remind young viewers there are real dangerous things in the world that shouldn’t be embraced. On a final negative note, it’s unfortunate to have another animated movie where dim-witted parents are proven wrong by their children. Smallfoot warrants caution for older children.
Movieguide reviews all movies from a Christian perspective and how movies affect children at different stages of cognitive development. We analyze movies using over 150 different criteria that cover the dramatic elements, the literary, the worldview, and the theological… and much more.
Smallfoot is an animated comedy with a clear premise about a Yeti whose world is thrown upside when he finds a “smallfoot” human, who, he’s always been told, doesn’t exist. Migo is a young Yeti who’s excommunicated from the village when he declares that smallfoots exist. Migo’s assertion contradicts the infallible stone tablet that holds all the rules and knowledge for the Yetis. Migo, with the help of some new friends that believe him, decides to go find proof that smallfoots are real.
There are always a ton of animated feature films coming out on both the big screen and straight to home entertainment. The latest is putting a fun new spin on the legend of the Yeti is Small Foot and features a great voice cast including Channing Tatum, James Corden, Zendaya, Common, LeBron James, Gina Rodriguez, Danny DeVito, Yara Shahidi, Ely Henry, and Jimmy Tatro. Could this new direction for the snow creature bring something fun and fresh to the legend or will it fail to be able to prove its existence?
Small Foot follows a bright young Yeti who finds something he thought didn’t exist—a human. News of this “smallfoot” brings him fame and a chance with the girl of his dreams. It also throws the simple Yeti community into an uproar over what else might be out there in the big world beyond their snowy village, in a rollicking story about friendship, courage and the joy of discovery. I will admit that outside of a couple of silly laughs in the trailer I wasn’t overly sold on this film, but the twist in the legend did make it something that I needed to see. While it isn’t a perfect film I did have more fun than I expected with it.
As a whole the film felt pretty average in story, but is saved by some great animation and voice work. The unified design of the Yeti’s while still making them all look individual were great. Each of them sported a fun personality that stood out and memorable. The attention to detail and creative uses for their surroundings was so much fun to watch. A lot of it reminded me of similar things created in the Flintstones using stones, etc. for daily uses. There are a couple of musical numbers that are catchy, but to me felt kind of out of place with the rest of the movie.
In the end I admit that I had a great time with the film of for no other reason that the animation and story legend switch. This will no doubt be a great one for the kids, but I think parents will get a kick out of it as well. Check out Small Foot when it hits theaters on September 28th from Warner Bros. Pictures.
Review by Bobby Blakey - Bobby reviews way more movies on his own website than the genre-specific ones I post here. Check out Bobby's awesome website and his live show he co-hosts with his wife, Drusilla, at Hollywood Matrimony.
There are always a ton of animated feature films coming out on both the big screen and straight to home entertainment. The latest is putting a fun new spin on the legend of the Yeti is Small Foot and features a great voice cast including Channing Tatum, James Corden, Zendaya, Common, LeBron James, Gina Rodriguez, Danny DeVito, Yara Shahidi, Ely Henry, and Jimmy Tatro. Could this new direction for the snow creature bring something fun and fresh to the legend or will it fail to be able to prove its existence?
Movie Geek Feed gives you a few movies to check out on your way to the newest amusement park of terror, Hell Fest, which opens in theaters this weekend.
Plenty of horror films have been made over the years that take place at carnivals and amusement parks. Some are great while others are not. You can be the judge of which ones go in which category after you take a look at our list.
The Funhouse
In this 1981 film directed by Tobe Hooper (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Poltergeist), rebellious teen Amy (Elizabeth Berridge) defies her parents by going to a trashy carnival that has pulled into town. In tow are her boyfriend, Buzz (Cooper Huckabee), and their friends Liz (Largo Woodruff) and Richie (Miles Chapin). Thinking it would be fun to spend the night in the campy "Funhouse" horror ride, the teens witness a murder by a deformed worker wearing a mask. Locked in, Amy and her friends must evade the murderous carnival workers and escape before it leaves town the next day.
Final Destination 3
Six years after a group of high-school students first cheated death, another teen (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) has a premonition that she and her friends will be involved in a horrifying roller-coaster accident. When the vision proves true, the student and her fellow survivors must deal with the repercussions of cheating the Grim Reaper.
Freaks
When trapeze artist Cleopatra (Olga Baclanova) learns that circus midget Hans (Harry Earles) has an inheritance, she marries the lovesick, diminutive performer, all the while planning to steal his fortune and run off with her lover, strong man Hercules (Henry Victor). When Hans' friends and fellow performers discover what is going on, they band together and carry out a brutal revenge that leaves Hercules and Cleopatra knowing what it truly means to be a "freak" in Tod Browning's (Dracula, London After Midnight) 1932 classic.
Freaked
Embattled corporation Everything Except Shoes, or E.E.S., hires celebrity Ricky Coogin (Alex Winter) to serve as its spokesperson amid a spate of reports that the company uses a toxic substance in the products it manufactures. Ricky travels to South America to dispel the rumors, but instead he stumbles upon an oddball amusement park run by the demented Elijah C. Skuggs (Randy Quaid). It turns out that Skuggs is using the substance in E.E.S. products to turn humans into grotesque mutants. Alex Winter (Bill and Ted Movies) also co-directed this strange little piece of cinema.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2
Speaking of Tobe Hooper and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, the director must have been the victim of a bad experience at an amusement park or carnival at some point. In the 1986 sequel to his original film, chainsaw-wielding maniac Leatherface (Bill Johnson) is up to his cannibalistic ways once again, along with the rest of his twisted clan including the equally disturbed Chop-Top (Bill Moseley). This time, the masked killer has set his sights on pretty disc jockey Vanita "Stretch" Brock (Caroline Williams), who teams up with Texas lawman Lefty Enright (Dennis Hopper) to battle the psychopath and his family deep within their lair, a macabre abandoned amusement park.
Killer Clowns from Outer Space
When teenagers Mike (Grant Cramer) and Debbie (Suzanne Snyder) see a comet crash outside their sleepy small town, they investigate and discover a pack of murderous aliens who look very much like circus clowns. They try to warn the local authorities, but everyone assumes their story is a prank. Meanwhile, the clowns set about harvesting and eating as many people as they can. It's not until they kidnap Debbie that Mike decides it's up to him to stop the clowns' bloody rampage.
KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park
I'm a huge KISS fan, so no list I produce about weird happenings at amusement parks and carnivals will be safe from this Hanna-Barbera-produced masterpiece. KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park aired as a TV-movie of the week in 1978 to celebrate the Halloween season. It was theatrically released under the title KISS in Attack of the Phantoms in other countries.
Super hero rock band KISS battles an evil inventor (Anthony Zerbe) who has plans for destruction at a California amusement park. The mad scientist (Anthony Zerbe) makes robots of the group and pits them in battle at a sold-out concert.
Honorable Mention:
Scooby-Doo & KISS: Rock & Roll Mystery
Hanna-Barbera and Warner Bros. took KISS back to the fun park in the animated team-up Scooby-Doo & KISS: Rock & Roll Mystery. The Rock & Roll heroes voice themselves in this new Halloween tradition. The Mystery Inc. gang and KISS investigate a haunting, and discover the Crimson Witch has returned to summon The Destroyer from the Kissteria dimension.
You might be prepared to enter Hell Fest after watching these movies. Either way, you'll have a blast getting ready for it and seeing what most likely influenced its filmmakers. Most of these movies can be found on one of the dozens of streaming services out there I'm sure.
Hell Fest comes out in theaters on Spetember 28th.
A masked serial killer turns a horror themed amusement park into his own personal playground, terrorizing a group of friends while the rest of the patrons believe that it is all part of the show.
College student NATALIE (Forsyth) is visiting her childhood best friend BROOKE (Edwards) and her roommate TAYLOR (Taylor-Klaus). If it was any other time of year these three and their boyfriends might be heading to a concert or bar, but it is Halloween which means that like everyone else they will be bound for HELL FEST – a sprawling labyrinth of rides, games, and mazes that travels the country and happens to be in town. Every year thousands follow Hell Fest to experience fear at the ghoulish carnival of nightmares.
But for one visitor, Hell Fest is not the attraction – it is a hunting ground. An opportunity to slay in plain view of a gawking audience, too caught up in the terrifyingly fun atmosphere to recognize the horrific reality playing out before their eyes. As the body count and frenzied excitement of the crowds continues to rise, he turns his masked face to NATALIE, BROOKE, TAYLOR and their boyfriends who will fight to survive the night.
A terrifying thrill ride from iconic horror producer Gale Anne Hurd (The Walking Dead, The Terminator) and director Gregory Plotkin (Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension, Editor – Get Out, Happy Death Day), this September, audiences will discover that it’s fun going in… but it’s hell getting out.
Movie Geek Feed gives you a few movies to check out on your way to the newest amusement park of terror, Hell Fest, which opens in theaters this weekend.
Plenty of horror films have been made over the years that take place at carnivals and amusement parks. Some are great while others are not. You can be the judge of which ones go in which category after you take a look at our list.
The Moral Majority takes a look at Hell Fest this week from a Christian viewpoint. Who is the movie appropriate for and what can we expect going into it? Movieguide breaks it all down and grades films based on their content and possible messages they are trying to convey. Check out what they think after the jump.
On Halloween night, three young women and their respective boyfriends head to Hell Fest -- a ghoulish traveling carnival that features a labyrinth of rides, games and mazes. They soon face a bloody night of terror when a masked serial killer turns the horror theme park into his own personal playground in Hell Fest.
Lacking both plot and story, HELL FEST heavily relies on jump scares, gory theatrics, lighting, and some good cinematography. There’s no character development, including no information on the serial killer and his motive. The filmmakers leave it up to viewers whether the killer is an evil supernatural force from Hell or just insane. There’s no mention of morality, except as a joke or to condemn it. The movie contains excessive foul language, graphic violence, gore, and psychological and physical torture. One character jokes about being a child of Satan and publicly confesses to frequently violating the Seven Deadly Sins. Hell is best described as eternal suffering, which is what watching HELL FEST feels like.
Movieguide reviews all movies from a Christian perspective and how movies affect children at different stages of cognitive development. We analyze movies using over 150 different criteria that cover the dramatic elements, the literary, the worldview, and the theological… and much more.
The Moral Majority takes a look at Hell Fest this week from a Christian viewpoint. Who is the movie appropriate for and what can we expect going into it? Movieguide breaks it all down and grades films based on their content and possible messages they are trying to convey. Check out what they think after the jump.
I love a good slasher flick but sadly most of the horror films getting the big screen release these days focus more on the haunting horror genre. The latest from Paranormal Activity: Ghost Dimension director Gregory Plotkin, Hell Fest looks to fix that problem. It features a good cast including Amy Forsyth, Reign Edwards, Bex Taylor-Klaus, Christian James, Roby Attal, Matt Mercurio, and Tony Todd, but does it bring anything new to the slasher world or will it be too scared to make it through the maze?
Hell Fest follows college student Natalie who is visiting her childhood best friend Brooke and her roommate Taylor. If it was any other time of year these three and their boyfriends might be heading to a concert or bar, but it is Halloween which means that like everyone else they will be bound for Hell Fest – a sprawling labyrinth of rides, games, and mazes that travels the country and happens to be in town. Every year thousands follow Hell Fest to experience fear at the ghoulish carnival of nightmares. But for one visitor, Hell Fest is not the attraction – it is a hunting ground. An opportunity to slay in plain view of a gawking audience, too caught up in the terrifyingly fun atmosphere to recognize the horrific reality playing out before their eyes.
I try to keep expectations for these kinds of film low because sadly more often than not they fail to deliver. While this one isn’t breaking down any walls in the genre is still managed to be a lot of fun. In these kinds of movies the young adults are usually pretty annoying and this one is no different, but I found them to get better as the film progressed. With any slasher film you have to have a good killer for the film to work and be memorable. This one does offer up a simplistic and memorable look, but I was initially a little disappointed with the overall vibe of him until the final moments of the film. The direction they take it totally sold me making him an even more interesting character.
With these films it has become less common to get the fun gore and while this one doesn’t offer up a ton of it is does bring the blood in some fun kills. Most of them are pretty generic classic stabs, but the couple of over the top kills we do get are great gory fun. What really helps this film stand out is the visual tone of it all. It being set in this Halloween theme park of sorts makes it a non-stop visual treat for all the Halloween fans out there. Gone is the usual running through houses or buildings and instead everything is in these haunted houses and rides surrounded by some awesome décor and horror elements. The film isn’t scary, but does play up the jump scares so those that typicallyf all victim to them will be jumping fairly often.
This is one of those slasher films that gave me just what I hoped it would be but the added Halloween theme and ending took it to another level it would not have had otherwise. If you are a fan of the slashers then give it a try and decided for yourself.
Review by Bobby Blakey - Bobby reviews way more movies on his own website than the genre-specific ones I post here. Check out Bobby's awesome website and his live show he co-hosts with his wife, Drusilla, at Hollywood Matrimony.
I love a good slasher flick but sadly most of the horror films getting the big screen release these days focus more on the haunting horror genre. The latest from Paranormal Activity: Ghost Dimension director Gregory Plotkin, Hell Fest looks to fix that problem. It features a good cast including Amy Forsyth, Reign Edwards, Bex Taylor-Klaus, Christian James, Roby Attal, Matt Mercurio, and Tony Todd, but does it bring anything new to the slasher world or will it be too scared to make it through the maze?
The trailer for X-Men: Dark Phoenix is here, and it looks like we're treading familiar territory already visited in X-Men 3: The Last Stand. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but I'll reserve judgement for after I see the movie. The trailer feels a bit lackluster and I have rather low expectations after X-Men: Apocalypse.
The one good thing X-Men: Dark Phoenix has going for it is that Bryan Singer isn't directing it. By no means do I not like Singer's directing, but I have to say that the only X-Men movies that really caught my attention were X-Men: First Class, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and Logan. Singer's movies in the franchise are rather tedious and somehow dull amongst all the spectacle.
In DARK PHOENIX, the X-MEN face their most formidable and powerful foe: one of their own, Jean Grey. During a rescue mission in space, Jean is nearly killed when she is hit by a mysterious cosmic force. Once she returns home, this force not only makes her infinitely more powerful, but far more unstable.
Wrestling with this entity inside her, Jean unleashes her powers in ways she can neither comprehend nor contain. With Jean spiraling out of control, and hurting the ones she loves most, she begins to unravel the very fabric that holds the X-Men together. Now, with this family falling apart, they must find a way to unite -- not only to save Jean's soul, but to save our very planet from aliens who wish to weaponize this force and rule the galaxy.
In Theaters February 14, 2019
Written and Directed by: Simon Kinberg
Produced by: Simon Kinberg, Hutch Parker, Lauren Shuler Donner, Todd Hallowell
Cast: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult, Sophie Turner, Tye Sheridan, Alexandra Shipp, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Evan Peters, and Jessica Chastain
The trailer for X-Men: Dark Phoenix is here, and it looks like we're treading familiar territory already visited in X-Men 3: The Last Stand. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but I'll reserve judgement for after I see the movie. The trailer feels a bit lackluster and I have rather low expectations after X-Men: Apocalypse.
I am very sad to hear of the passing of Batman artist Norm Breyfogle. His artwork was my re-introduction to comics in the late 1980s. He was also the creator of one of my favorite characters - Anarky. I was fortunate enough to meet him a couple of times. I also interviewed him a few times over the years. I remember how hard he worked to re-train himself to draw after his stroke. No one will ever capture the Dark Knight quite like he did.
For those who didn't know, Breyfogle was widely regarded as [one] of the definitive Batman artists, primarily for his run as artist on Detective Comics alongside writer Alan Grant, as well as subsequent work on Batman and Batman: Shadow of the Bat during which Breyfogle co-created characters such as the Ventriloquist, Ratcatcher, Zsasz, and Jeremiah Arkham.
Breyfogle also co-created the character Prime for Malibu Comics. He continued to work for DC Comics until 2013, with his final work appearing in Batman Beyond Unlimited. Norm and I would correspond via Facebook and he was always open to speaking about his career and the evolution of his characters from printed page to small screen and beyond. I recently went through my website archives and found a couple of interviews / articles I did with Norm. I've attached some links below and hope that you'll take the time to read them in honor of one of the greatest Batman artists ever. Artist Norm Breyfogle Talks Batman Beyond Unlimited and "Beware the Batman" The above interview was done with Norm right before his stroke in 2013. Norm Breyfogle Responds to Anarky Character Coming to "Arrow" The article / interview above was done with Norm around a year after his stroke and he was working hard to continue working in the comic book industry.
Norm Breyfogle passed away on Monday, September 25th in Houghton, Michigan at the age of 58. Below is the announcement of Norm Breyfogle's passing by his good friend, Daniel Best. "Norm Breyfogle. 1960-2018 It is with the heaviest of heavy hearts that I wake this morning. After one loss, comes another. My best friend in the comic book industry, Norm Breyfogle, passed away this week.
Details are being kept private for now, and when they are able to be released, along with the funeral arrangements, I’ll be sure to let people know.
Right now I’m numb. Norm was more than just an artist and writer, he was a person who I connected with on so many levels.
I haven’t the words."
Myself with Norm Breyfogle at Dallas Comic Con.
Several comic book industry insiders shared their reactions to the news of Norm's death.
He drew my favorite version of The Bat for years. Norm Breyfogle honored the Dark Knight with a legendary career filled with some of the boldest, stylistically superior Batman renderings ever penciled. His work fueled my imagination and made me love Batman more. Rest In Peace... https://t.co/iQgVgPdjzq
Deeply saddened to hear of Norm Breyfogle's passing. His Batman was a staple of my youth, and his contributions to comics in general, and Gotham City in particular, are immeasurable. I imagine the Batsignal lit just for him tonight. #RIPpic.twitter.com/u4w20fZsD7
I just heard that Norm Breyfogle has passed away. I had the pleasure of working with Norm on THE SPECTRE and he was a wonderful collaborator: powerful drawing, impeccable storytelling—and he really thought about the stories. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/GTiBtgtQSn
There was a time when Norm Breyfogle's depiction of Batman was absolutely iconic and embraced by readers all over the world. He left us far too soon. RIP.
Tremendously saddened to hear of the passing of the great artist Norm Breyfogle. With his dynamic and expressive style, he was one of the beloved, definitive Batman artists who brought him to life for generations of appreciative comics fans. https://t.co/x38VMQCUgm
Saddened to hear of Norm Breyfogle's passing. He had a unmistakable style all his own and inspired many Batman creators with his work, including me. My thoughts go out to his family and friends. pic.twitter.com/UFSbXhnQZs
Sad to hear about the passing of Norm Breyfogle. He was the artist of the first superhero comic I ever bought, leaving a lifelong mark & influence on me. I was lucky enough to meet him once- he came an introduced himself to me at a con after hearing I was a big fan. R.I.P. pic.twitter.com/QRnIW6SiyK
Such sad news about #NormBreyfogle. Didn't really know him, only met him a couple of times. But he was one of the great Batman artists of the last 30 or 40 years, IMO. Hell, he was an all-time great. RIP, Norm. pic.twitter.com/YanqcXEkGs
Saddened by the news of Norm Breyfogle's passing. He was the storyteller behind same of my favorite Batman/Detective Comics runs. A HUGE talent gone way too soon. Thanks for your gift, Norm. pic.twitter.com/udQwbkD7m4
Norm Breyfogle was THE Batman artist for me, when I was a kid. I'd sit and try to copy his drawings for hours. Very saddened to hear about his passing. Please consider donating to @heroinitiative
I am very sad to hear of the passing of Batman artist Norm Breyfogle. His artwork was my re-introduction to comics in the late 1980s. He was also the creator of one of my favorite characters - Anarky. I was fortunate enough to meet him a couple of times. I also interviewed him a few times over the years. I remember how hard he worked to re-train himself to draw after his stroke. No one will ever capture the Dark Knight quite like he did.
Before Marvel dominated the box office with their cinematic universe it seemed that we were never going to get very many cohesive superhero flicks. Outside of films like Blade, Superman, and Batman there were just a lot of hits and misses. In 2000 that all changed when director Bryan Singer brought the iconic X-Men to the big screen for the first time and it all changed. Now after numerous films in the franchise 20th Century Fox is taking you back to the original trilogy bringing it to 4K Ultra HD for the first time.
The original X-Men follows a world where both Mutants and Humans fear each other. Marie, better known as Rogue, runs away from home and hitches a ride with another mutant, known as Logan, a.k.a. Wolverine. Charles Xavier, who owns a school for young mutants, sends Storm and Cyclops to bring them back before it is too late. Magneto, who believes a war is approaching, has an evil plan in mind, and needs young Rogue to help him. This film fully captured the essence of not only the X-Men but offered up the first real successful team film like we had never seen. The casting here is perfect across the board and truly felt like the characters jumped right off the page and onto the screen. Despite all of the amazing Marvel moves that have come since this one still holds up great and one of my favorites. I would have never thought after that first outing of Jackman as Wolverine the journey that character would take, but I am glad this film kicked it off in such a great way.
In 2003s X2: X-Men United, several months have passed since The X-Men defeated Magneto and imprisoned him in a seemingly impregnable plastic chamber. One day, a mutant by the name of Nightcrawler infiltrates the White House and attempts to assassinate the president, setting off a chain reaction of anti-mutant measures by the government. Meanwhile, Logan is trying to discover his past. As scientist named William Stryker discovers Professor X's secret school and Cerebro, Magneto's partner, Mystique, is planning to break her leader out of prison. But when Professor X's school is attacked by Stryker's forces, Logan, Rogue, Iceman and a few are lucky to escape. Those who remain meet in Boston, where they form an uneasy alliance with Magneto to stop Stryker and rescue Professor X. It continues to amaze me how this film took things to the next level and in most ways surpassed the original. The inclusion of Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler was something I never thought I would see. They not only took the story and film deeper into the X-Universe they brought along some great mutants as well to expand the world.
The final chapter of this group of mutants came in 2006s X-Men: The Last Stand. In the film a cure is created, which apparently can turn any mutant into a normal human being, there is outrage amongst the mutant community. Whilst some mutants do like the idea of a cure, including Rogue, many mutants find that there shouldn't be a cure. Magneto, who still believes a war is coming, recruits a large team of mutants to take down Warren Worthington II and his cure. Might seem easy for the X-Men to stop, but Magneto has a big advantage, which Wolverine doesn't have. Jean Grey has returned, and joined with Magneto. The Phoenix has woken within her, which has the ability to destroy anything in her way, even if that 'anything' is a X-Men. This last chapter didn’t quite have the impact as the previous two, but still had some great moments including getting to see Wolverine and Colossus execute the iconic fastball maneuver from the comics. For all of its issues I still enjoy this film for what it is. Getting to see Beast in full form, the hairy blue one no less was something I just didn’t think would work, but Kelsey Grammer knocked it out of the park.
These new 4K scans of the trilogy is a thing of beauty taking it to the next level of viewing. Films like these with a lot of effects and big visuals are so much better in this format and is all the better when they are this awesome to boot. In addition to all 3 original films in the franchise this collection features bonus content including Audio Commentaries, Behind-the-Scenes Footage, Deleted/Extended Scenes, The Mutant Watch, Animatics, Character and Production Design Stills. Join the mutant fight with the X-Men 3-Film Collection when it hits 4K Ultra from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment.
Review by Bobby Blakey - Bobby reviews way more movies on his own website than the genre-specific ones I post here. Check out Bobby's awesome website and his live show he co-hosts with his wife, Drusilla, at Hollywood Matrimony.
Before Marvel dominated the box office with their cinematic universe it seemed that we were never going to get very many cohesive superhero flicks. Outside of films like Blade, Superman, and Batman there were just a lot of hits and misses. In 2000 that all changed when director Bryan Singer brought the iconic X-Men to the big screen for the first time and it all changed. Now after numerous films in the franchise 20th Century Fox is taking you back to the original trilogy bringing it to 4K Ultra HD for the first time.
Horror master Eli Roth is one of those filmmakers that has taken some chances with projects that clearly offer up more what he wants to create as opposed to just trying to do the norm. Fresh off the hills of his awesome take on Death Wish he is now switching gears completely taking on his first foray into children’s films with The House With a Clock in Its Walls. The film is based on the famed book written by John Bellairs and illustrated by Edward Gorey stars Jack Black, Cate Blanchett, Kyle MacLachlan, Renee Elise Goldsberry, and Owen Vaccaro, but does it bring anything magical to the table or will it be a spell not worth casting?
The House With a Clock in Its Walls follows the spine-tingling tale of 10-year-old Lewis who goes to live with his uncle in a creaky old house with a mysterious tick-tocking heart. But his new town’s sleepy façade jolts to life with a secret world of warlocks and witches when Lewis accidentally awakens the dead. The trailers were a bit hit and miss with me seemingly offering a tone like the Goosebumps film Black starred in that I did enjoy. With the addition of Eli Roth I was way more interested in seeing what this team had put together and I was not disappointed. While this film is rocking the rare PG rating it never fails to push the limits to create the kind of family/kid film that we sadly haven’t gotten in a long time.
The overall tone here was very much like Gremlins, Escape To With Mountain and those other films of the 80s that took the genre in a direction that didn’t dumb it down to be a kids movie, but instead made it something that is creepy and fun all at once. Roth has done a fantastic job of creating an old school film that brings some great visuals and fun that offers up the over the top fun that kids love, but also elements that might scare them a bit in the best way possible. Black and Blanchett are pure magic together. Their chemistry and banter is some of the best elements of the film showcasing their love hate relationship and making you love every minute they are on screen.
Young Owen Vaccaro shines in his role bringing that nerdy innocence to the role along with a sense of wonder that makes you fully buy into what he has been thrust into. There are so many great visual moments and details that might remind some of the world of Harry Potter, but you can see Roth’s horror touch lightly spread onto it to make something that is truly fun and memorable.
I so hope this film does well and we get another outing with this trio. There are several books in the series and could make for a great new and different franchise for the kids to latch onto. This film reminded me of my childhood and I hope that this is not the last time we have seen this magical world.
Review by Bobby Blakey - Bobby reviews way more movies on his own website than the genre-specific ones I post here. Check out Bobby's awesome website and his live show he co-hosts with his wife, Drusilla, at Hollywood Matrimony.
Horror master Eli Roth is one of those filmmakers that has taken some chances with projects that clearly offer up more what he wants to create as opposed to just trying to do the norm. Fresh off the hills of his awesome take on Death Wish he is now switching gears completely taking on his first foray into children’s films with The House With a Clock in Its Walls. The film is based on the famed book written by John Bellairs and illustrated by Edward Gorey stars Jack Black, Cate Blanchett, Kyle MacLachlan, Renee Elise Goldsberry, and Owen Vaccaro, but does it bring anything magical to the table or will it be a spell not worth casting?
The first screen test for Joaquin Phoenix as the Joker have surfaced aaaand... I'm not impressed. Here's hoping they come up with something different before filming begins on what seems to be Director Todd Phillips's version of The Killing Joke. And by different, I mean the same.
Can we PLEASE just get a Joker that actually looks like it comes out of the pages of the Batman comics? For once, can't we just go with what works? Quit trying to be inventive and just embrace the tried and true original Joker as we knew him before the New 52 tried to re-invent everything.
I've got a great idea. How about a Joker that actually fell into a vat of chemicals and had his skin paled? Remember that old tale? I know it's not cutting edge and all angsty like kids today want. It does make for a heck of a backstory and seems to have worked for the past 70 years or so, however.
Here's my unwanted advice to everyone making DC films. DC just sent me their new Essential Graphic Novels promotional book. Open the book up to a random page with your eyes closed and then point at the page. Open your eyes and make whatever book you chose into a movie. Don't try to rewrite it or make it hipper or more relevant. Just make it exactly the way it is in the book. It's considered a classic or essential part of comic book history for a reason.
Let's talk about the makeup job we see in the screen test now. Here's my take on the whole thing. It looks like a group of five year olds at a birthday party made Phoenix sit down in a chair as they surrounded him. Then, they took out a makeup kit and painted him up to look like Heath Ledger's Joker. But they didn't want him to be so scary. My point? It looks pretty uninspired.
The first screen test for Joaquin Phoenix as the Joker have surfaced aaaand... I'm not impressed. Here's hoping they come up with something different before filming begins on what seems to be Director Todd Phillips's version of The Killing Joke. And by different, I mean the same.
WARNER BROS. HOME ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES THE CLASSIC DC SUPER HERO FILM SUPERMAN TO BE RELEASED ON ULTRA HD BLU-RAY COMBO PACK AND DIGITAL
CELEBRATING THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LANDMARK FILM AND THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BELOVED DC SUPER HERO, SUPERMAN WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 4K RESOLUTION WITH HIGH DYNAMIC RANGE (HDR)
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and DC Entertainment announced today that 1978’s Superman, featuring the beloved DC Super Hero, will be released on Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack and Digital on November 6th. An Alexander Salkind presentation and directed by Richard Donner (The Goonies, Lethal Weapon, The Lost Boys), the film stars Academy Award® winner Marlon Brando (On the Waterfront, The Godfather) as Jor-El, Academy Award winner Gene Hackman (The French Connection, Unforgiven) as Lex Luthor, Margot Kidder as Lois Lane, and Christopher Reeve as Clark Kent/Superman.
Based on the DC character created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, Superman was produced by Pierre Spengler from a story by Mario Puzo and a screenplay by Puzo, David Newman, Leslie Newman, and Robert Benton. Ilya Salkind served as executive producer. The film also features Ned Beatty as Otis, Jackie Cooper as Perry White, Glen Ford as Jonathan Kent, Valerie Perrine as Eva Teschmacher, and Terrance Stamp as General Zod.
Superman was nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Film Editing, Best Music (Original Score) and Best Sound. The film also received a Special Achievement Academy Award for Visual Effects. In 2017, Superman was inducted in to the Library of Congress National Film Registry.
Ultra HD* showcases 4K resolution with High Dynamic Range (HDR) and a wider color spectrum, offering consumers brighter, deeper, more lifelike colors for a home entertainment viewing experience like never before.
The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray disc of Superman will feature Dolby VisionTM HDR that dramatically expands the color palette and contrast range and uses dynamic metadata to automatically optimize the picture for every screen, frame by frame. The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray disc of Superman will also feature a Dolby Atmos® soundtrack remixed specifically for the home theater environment to place and move audio anywhere in the room, including overhead. To experience Dolby Atmos at home, a Dolby Atmos enabled AV receiver and additional speakers are required, or a Dolby Atmos enabled sound bar. Dolby Atmos soundtracks are also fully backward compatible with traditional audio configurations and legacy home entertainment equipment.
Fans can also own Superman in 4K Ultra HD via purchase from select digital retailers beginning on November 6th.
Academy Award winners Marlon Brando and Gene Hackman head an all-star cast in the fantastic, action-packed film that made Christopher Reeve an international star playing the greatest superhero of all time. From the doomed planet of Krypton, two parents launch a spaceship carrying their infant son to earth. Here he grows up to become Clark Kent, mild-mannered reporter for the Metropolis Daily Planet. But with powers and abilities far beyond those of ordinary men, he battles for truth and justice as Superman.
Ultra HD Blu-ray and Blu-ray Elements Superman Ultra HD Blu-ray contains the following previously released special feature: Commentary by Pierre Spengler and Ilya Salkind
Superman Blu-ray contains the following previously released special features: Commentary by Pierre Spengler and Ilya Salkind The Making of Superman: The Movie 1978 TV Special Superman and the Mole-Men Cartoons TV Spots and Trailers
DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION ELEMENTS On November 6th, Superman 4K UHD will be available to own for streaming and download to watch anywhere in high definition and standard definition on favorite devices from select digital retailers including GooglePlay, Vudu, Xbox and others, and will be made available digitally on Video On Demand services from cable and satellite providers, and on select gaming consoles.
