Hope you all have a Happy Halloween.
SiM Crew
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
SiM Trailer: Uncertainty
What happens if a coin flip could change the direction of your story?
Director: Scott McGehee (The Deep End), David Siegel (The Deep End)
Cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt ((500) Days of Summer), Lynn Collins (Life in Flight), Nelson Landrieu (Naked Under Heaven)
Studio: IFC Films
Release Date: November 13th, 2009
Synopsis: Scott McGehee and David Siegel, thrust Bobby Thompson and Kate Montero (Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Lynn Collins) into two alternate realities on the same steamy summer day in New York City. With the flip of a coin, the couple are sent in opposite directions – a delicate drama set in Brooklyn examines familial love, self-discovery, loss and the ordinary choices we make everyday, while Manhattan offers a vastly different tale of intrigue, suspense and murder on the streets of Chinatown.
Director: Scott McGehee (The Deep End), David Siegel (The Deep End)Cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt ((500) Days of Summer), Lynn Collins (Life in Flight), Nelson Landrieu (Naked Under Heaven)
Studio: IFC Films
Release Date: November 13th, 2009
Synopsis: Scott McGehee and David Siegel, thrust Bobby Thompson and Kate Montero (Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Lynn Collins) into two alternate realities on the same steamy summer day in New York City. With the flip of a coin, the couple are sent in opposite directions – a delicate drama set in Brooklyn examines familial love, self-discovery, loss and the ordinary choices we make everyday, while Manhattan offers a vastly different tale of intrigue, suspense and murder on the streets of Chinatown.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Paranormal Activity Leaves a Mark
Not since The Blair Witch Project has a movie forced so many unsuspecting viewers to sleep with the lights on
BY EMIL TIEDEMANN
Tossing and turning in my bed, alone at night, I kept imagining that some alter-dimension entity would tug my shielding blanket from my grip and then toss me around the room at its disposal. That's how I slept the night I paid 12 dollars and 50 cents to see Paranormal Activity at the only theatre in the city playing the do-it-yourself terror flick that was made for a reported $15,000.
Israeli-born filmmaker Oren Peli (2010's Area 51) directed, scripted and even edited his cinematic inauguration, which is being hailed as the suburban Blair Witch Project, due to their familiar style of shooting and techniques.
The one-time video game designer filmed the entire 86-minute movie at his own home in San Diego, using a hand-held home video camera to offshoot expenses and, of course, to induce an atmosphere of plausibility and authenticity.
Katie (Katie Featherston) is a college student living with her boyfriend Micah (Micah Sloat), a day trader, in a humble 2-story tract house in the suburbs of San Diego. We learn that since the age of eight, Katie has been haunted by something that can't easily be explained away, but the malevolent entity comes and goes for any given period of time. Well, now it's back, and an unconvinced Micah is determined to capture its exsistance on his new video camera.
Over the coming weeks the demonic phenomena terrorizes the frazzled couple, tip-toeing on their nerves before menacing their--and the audience's--most internal fears, captured in a rawness that only amplifies the tension.
"[Oren] Peli preys on our humanistic vulnerabilities...and sets the tension for every ordeal with a minimalist musical note that arouses a parade of goose bumps before each fear-mongering climax"
Slamming doors, flickering lights and loud thuds in the middle of the night escalate into eerie visions caught on film when Micah decides to position his new camera on a tripod situated near the foot of their bed. Its abrupt ending was unsettling, not because it left loose ends, but rather because it stretched beyond just an ominous chill unlike almost any Hollywood creation in the "horror" section at your local Blockbuster. Its unnerving realism is its most sinister trait, proving that the director had done his homework in evoking fear out of an audience.
Like the filmmakers did with The Blair Witch Project, Peli cast unheard-of actors for Paranormal, and relied on their improvisational skills to gap the bulk of the film's dialogue. And, as in Blair Witch, onscreen scripture fills us in on the rest of the story, representing that this footage was found and is being screened for our own amusement, sorta. It's all very believable, almost too familiar for comfort, but right on target of Peli's overall view for the project.
Peli preys on our humanistic vulnerabilities, tests our imaginations to fill in what we never get to see, and sets the tension for every ordeal with a minimalist musical note that arouses a parade of goose bumps before every fear-mongering climax.
The hype that preceded Paranormal Activity's wide release was both credible and legit, enticing us as "one of the scariest movies of all time." I bought in, and so did $50 million worth of ticketholders (so far) who've made this sleeper hit one of the most profitable films in history. I can assure you that if you go see this movie you'll get what you came for. What I cannot assure you is that you'll get to sleep that night.
4 outta 5 stars
This review was originally posted on "I Heart Edmonton."
e
BY EMIL TIEDEMANN
Tossing and turning in my bed, alone at night, I kept imagining that some alter-dimension entity would tug my shielding blanket from my grip and then toss me around the room at its disposal. That's how I slept the night I paid 12 dollars and 50 cents to see Paranormal Activity at the only theatre in the city playing the do-it-yourself terror flick that was made for a reported $15,000.Israeli-born filmmaker Oren Peli (2010's Area 51) directed, scripted and even edited his cinematic inauguration, which is being hailed as the suburban Blair Witch Project, due to their familiar style of shooting and techniques.
The one-time video game designer filmed the entire 86-minute movie at his own home in San Diego, using a hand-held home video camera to offshoot expenses and, of course, to induce an atmosphere of plausibility and authenticity.
Katie (Katie Featherston) is a college student living with her boyfriend Micah (Micah Sloat), a day trader, in a humble 2-story tract house in the suburbs of San Diego. We learn that since the age of eight, Katie has been haunted by something that can't easily be explained away, but the malevolent entity comes and goes for any given period of time. Well, now it's back, and an unconvinced Micah is determined to capture its exsistance on his new video camera.
Over the coming weeks the demonic phenomena terrorizes the frazzled couple, tip-toeing on their nerves before menacing their--and the audience's--most internal fears, captured in a rawness that only amplifies the tension.
"[Oren] Peli preys on our humanistic vulnerabilities...and sets the tension for every ordeal with a minimalist musical note that arouses a parade of goose bumps before each fear-mongering climax"
Slamming doors, flickering lights and loud thuds in the middle of the night escalate into eerie visions caught on film when Micah decides to position his new camera on a tripod situated near the foot of their bed. Its abrupt ending was unsettling, not because it left loose ends, but rather because it stretched beyond just an ominous chill unlike almost any Hollywood creation in the "horror" section at your local Blockbuster. Its unnerving realism is its most sinister trait, proving that the director had done his homework in evoking fear out of an audience.
Like the filmmakers did with The Blair Witch Project, Peli cast unheard-of actors for Paranormal, and relied on their improvisational skills to gap the bulk of the film's dialogue. And, as in Blair Witch, onscreen scripture fills us in on the rest of the story, representing that this footage was found and is being screened for our own amusement, sorta. It's all very believable, almost too familiar for comfort, but right on target of Peli's overall view for the project.Peli preys on our humanistic vulnerabilities, tests our imaginations to fill in what we never get to see, and sets the tension for every ordeal with a minimalist musical note that arouses a parade of goose bumps before every fear-mongering climax.
The hype that preceded Paranormal Activity's wide release was both credible and legit, enticing us as "one of the scariest movies of all time." I bought in, and so did $50 million worth of ticketholders (so far) who've made this sleeper hit one of the most profitable films in history. I can assure you that if you go see this movie you'll get what you came for. What I cannot assure you is that you'll get to sleep that night.
4 outta 5 stars
This review was originally posted on "I Heart Edmonton."
e
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
WTF Book of the Month: Pet Sematary
"Death is a mystery, and burial a secret"
by Laura Gies
In honour of Halloween, this month’s WTF book is Pet Semetary (for anyone outraged by my poor spelling, this is how the title of the book is spelled) by Stephen King.
Best WTF moment: the possessed body of toddler Gage taunts and kills his elderly neighbour with a scalpel.
As creepy as zombies and other undead are, they are made exponentially more so when they started as adorable animals or cute kids. This is a technique King grasps in most of his novels. From the dead kids in It to the possessed dog in Cujo, to the lonely twin girls in The Shining (come play with us Danny, forever, and ever, and ever), evil lurking beneath seemingly benign characters are a frequent staple of a King novel. In Pet Semetary he manages to use both creepy kids and animals.
The horror in this story is the sympathy you feel for the protagonist, Louis Creed. His family is destroyed not through anything he did, but a simple accident, and the horrifying events that follow stem from his trying to put things back to rights. You see his descent into madness. There is no moral to this story, no “and then the sun came up and all was right with the world” ending. Things go from bad to worse, and Creed doesn’t learn the lesson imparted to the viewer, don’t mess with the dead. Instead, he blames timing or ritual, and tries again.
Not only is this a must-read for anyone that likes a good spine tingling horror, but also should be on the list of anyone that tries to keep up with pop culture references. The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror III featured an homage to this horror classic, as Bart and Lisa try to resurrect Snowball, instead bringing to life a cemetery full of Zombies to plague upon the residents of Springfield.
On the lighter side for a King novel (my copy weighs in at 411 pages), if you feel like getting in a nice creepy read before Halloween, it’s a good choice. Just remember, “death is a mystery, and burial is a secret.”
3 out of 5
by Laura Gies
In honour of Halloween, this month’s WTF book is Pet Semetary (for anyone outraged by my poor spelling, this is how the title of the book is spelled) by Stephen King.Best WTF moment: the possessed body of toddler Gage taunts and kills his elderly neighbour with a scalpel.
As creepy as zombies and other undead are, they are made exponentially more so when they started as adorable animals or cute kids. This is a technique King grasps in most of his novels. From the dead kids in It to the possessed dog in Cujo, to the lonely twin girls in The Shining (come play with us Danny, forever, and ever, and ever), evil lurking beneath seemingly benign characters are a frequent staple of a King novel. In Pet Semetary he manages to use both creepy kids and animals.
The horror in this story is the sympathy you feel for the protagonist, Louis Creed. His family is destroyed not through anything he did, but a simple accident, and the horrifying events that follow stem from his trying to put things back to rights. You see his descent into madness. There is no moral to this story, no “and then the sun came up and all was right with the world” ending. Things go from bad to worse, and Creed doesn’t learn the lesson imparted to the viewer, don’t mess with the dead. Instead, he blames timing or ritual, and tries again.
Not only is this a must-read for anyone that likes a good spine tingling horror, but also should be on the list of anyone that tries to keep up with pop culture references. The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror III featured an homage to this horror classic, as Bart and Lisa try to resurrect Snowball, instead bringing to life a cemetery full of Zombies to plague upon the residents of Springfield.
On the lighter side for a King novel (my copy weighs in at 411 pages), if you feel like getting in a nice creepy read before Halloween, it’s a good choice. Just remember, “death is a mystery, and burial is a secret.”
3 out of 5
Colorful and Dizzying: Coupland's jPod
The literary equivalent of that anime show that causes seizures?
Douglas Coupland has a way of reaching into your head, grabbing at the muddled, half-expressed thoughts, ripping them out and then springing them onto you in the midst of his wild narratives as simplistic yet profound little jewels of expression. For example, the main character of jPod explains, "What I don't like is being exposed to unfiltered social contact, like at parties or meeting, when anyone can just talk to you with no other reason than that you happen to be there." That's exactly how I feel! Or, this statement, "People who advocate simplicity have money in the bank; the money came first, not the simplicity." Or perhaps even more true: "Most anger is justifiable."
By ASHLEY BLUNT
Douglas Coupland has a way of reaching into your head, grabbing at the muddled, half-expressed thoughts, ripping them out and then springing them onto you in the midst of his wild narratives as simplistic yet profound little jewels of expression. For example, the main character of jPod explains, "What I don't like is being exposed to unfiltered social contact, like at parties or meeting, when anyone can just talk to you with no other reason than that you happen to be there." That's exactly how I feel! Or, this statement, "People who advocate simplicity have money in the bank; the money came first, not the simplicity." Or perhaps even more true: "Most anger is justifiable."My one complaint against jPod then, is that it seems like a collection of thoughts, reflections and observations on life stitched together by a loose narrative which at times seems cold and unfeeling, and other times like its in need of Ritalin. And perhaps this is the feel the book was intended to achieve: a vast swirl of colors, brand names, video game violence, the local drug trade, a very believable, not-at-all-lovey love story, typical Couplandian family dysfunction, a murder and a kidnapping, a rescue, China, your average office work day, all connected but disjointed, all leaving me with the feeling that I need to lie down for a while.
If you've never read Coupland, don't start here. Start with Generation X or, if you like a more traditional, chronological sort of story, maybe Girlfriend in a Coma. If you're a real Coupland fan, you've probably already plunged into jPod -afterall, it's been out long enough to be made into a Canadian TV flop, apparently. If you're somewhere in between, don't hesitate, just be warned: this novel is the literary equivalent of those pizzas with "all" the toppings, the ones that come with breakfast cereal sprinkled between the gorgonzola and strips of pollock. Which may or may not make you laugh, but will definitely make you think.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
A First Look: V
Yes a remake of the 1983 miniseries
BY COLIN ENQUIST
ABC plans to bring V back to television. Starting on November 3rd, 2009, a re-imagining of the 1983 miniseries of the same name airs, 4 episodes will air in November before the show goes on a break until after the 2010 Winter Olympics. Originally created by Kenneth Johnson, the new series is produced by Scott Peters, Jace Hall, Steve Pearlman, and Jeffrey Bell. ABC president Steve McPherson also said, “We always intended to break the show up into ‘pods’ to make it more of an event.”
For those that do not know the premise of this series or the original, here is a breakdown. Giant spaceships appear over all major cities in the world, and Anna, a beautiful and charismatic leader of the extra-terrestrial “Visitors,” claims to come in peace. Small groups of humans start to doubt the sincerity of the Visitors. An FBI counter-terrorism agent Erica Evans (Elizabeth Mitchell) discovers the aliens have spent decades infiltrating human governments and businesses, and are now in the final stages of their plan to take over Earth. Soon, Erica joins a resistance movement, which includes Ryan (Morris Chestnut), a Visitor sleeper agent who wants to save humanity. The resistance is in trouble when the aliens gain favour among many humans because they cure a variety of diseases.
Below is a 9 minute preview of the show. The pilot is already getting rave reviews. Maybe this show will be what FlashForward was intended to be?
BY COLIN ENQUIST
ABC plans to bring V back to television. Starting on November 3rd, 2009, a re-imagining of the 1983 miniseries of the same name airs, 4 episodes will air in November before the show goes on a break until after the 2010 Winter Olympics. Originally created by Kenneth Johnson, the new series is produced by Scott Peters, Jace Hall, Steve Pearlman, and Jeffrey Bell. ABC president Steve McPherson also said, “We always intended to break the show up into ‘pods’ to make it more of an event.”
For those that do not know the premise of this series or the original, here is a breakdown. Giant spaceships appear over all major cities in the world, and Anna, a beautiful and charismatic leader of the extra-terrestrial “Visitors,” claims to come in peace. Small groups of humans start to doubt the sincerity of the Visitors. An FBI counter-terrorism agent Erica Evans (Elizabeth Mitchell) discovers the aliens have spent decades infiltrating human governments and businesses, and are now in the final stages of their plan to take over Earth. Soon, Erica joins a resistance movement, which includes Ryan (Morris Chestnut), a Visitor sleeper agent who wants to save humanity. The resistance is in trouble when the aliens gain favour among many humans because they cure a variety of diseases.
Below is a 9 minute preview of the show. The pilot is already getting rave reviews. Maybe this show will be what FlashForward was intended to be?
Monday, October 26, 2009
Was Paranormal Activity the Scariest Movie Ever?
It sure warrants a debate!
BY COLIN ENQUIST
If you have been reading Stories in Medium the past couple of months, you would already know how excited I was to see Paranormal Activity. Paranormal Activity is the newest indie darling film to get a nation wide theatrical release, thanks to the 1 million people who clicked Paramount’s Demand It button. Also the horror film is just in time for the Halloween season too!
Oren Peli made this film on a minuscule budget of $15, 000. Part of the reason Paranormal Activity is selling out shows everywhere has to be the two stars of the film. The relative unknown, Katie Featherston (Mutation) and Micah Sloat, really are fantastic. You could easily put up an argument that neither will ever win an Academy Award but the outstanding chemistry the two have make up for any minor glitches in their performance. Featherston really does a wonderful job of playing a college student about to have a nervous breakdown.
A simple plot like Paranormal Activity’s causes possible ticket holders to question the hype the film has generated. The couple is being haunted by a demon, really Katie is being haunted and Micah is along for the ride. Micah is adamant that he can stop the entity and films the ordeal they are going through, never letting the camera out of his sight. The sluggish moving plot Peli has created is something we do not see enough of. As the demon begins to torment Katie and Micah more and more, the tension is leisurely starting to reach its boiling point.
Instead of using the overrated bag of tricks Hollywood is now obsessed with, Peli tests each viewer’s imagination by solidifying the presence of the invisible demon, off camera. Rattling the chandelier, moving the door or banging on the walls, slowly disturbs Katie and the audience. Micah still senses what is happening is unbelievable, even with the footage proving that something is fucking with them.
Suspense filled at first, Paranormal Activity begins to transform itself into the horror film the hype machine has created. With Micah provoking the demon while Katie is not around, the attacks he instigated get worse. This leads to a few truly terrifying nights for the couple. Who would have thought baby powder could be so scary?
I will not ruin the few moments that ring true to the hype, as the posters states, “Paranormal Activity is one of the scariest movies of all time. You will be affected as it’s hard to ignore the imprint it leaves on your psyche. Nightmares are guaranteed.”
For those that did not know, the ending has been changed from the original cut. It still keeps the same tone so it is not really a big change. Steven Spielberg is the apparent cause of the change and you can not really fault him for the switch. You can view the original ending here. Both are creepy, the theatrical cut evokes a more startling image for the audience but the original ending drives home the spine-chilling scares of the film that will sit in the back of your mind for the next few nights to come.
Personally, this film scared the shit out of me. It was not to the point that I had to walk out of the theatre like a few did. This film will be loved or hated; it will all depend on your imagination. Creepy, disturbing, terrifying, and tons of suspense make this film a must watch. If only Hollywood focused more on making films like this instead of seven Saw films (which I still adore to an extent) and counting! The Hurt Locker and Moon are the best films I have seen this year. Who would have thought a low budget horror film would also be grouped into this category.
4 out of 5
BY COLIN ENQUIST
If you have been reading Stories in Medium the past couple of months, you would already know how excited I was to see Paranormal Activity. Paranormal Activity is the newest indie darling film to get a nation wide theatrical release, thanks to the 1 million people who clicked Paramount’s Demand It button. Also the horror film is just in time for the Halloween season too!
Oren Peli made this film on a minuscule budget of $15, 000. Part of the reason Paranormal Activity is selling out shows everywhere has to be the two stars of the film. The relative unknown, Katie Featherston (Mutation) and Micah Sloat, really are fantastic. You could easily put up an argument that neither will ever win an Academy Award but the outstanding chemistry the two have make up for any minor glitches in their performance. Featherston really does a wonderful job of playing a college student about to have a nervous breakdown.A simple plot like Paranormal Activity’s causes possible ticket holders to question the hype the film has generated. The couple is being haunted by a demon, really Katie is being haunted and Micah is along for the ride. Micah is adamant that he can stop the entity and films the ordeal they are going through, never letting the camera out of his sight. The sluggish moving plot Peli has created is something we do not see enough of. As the demon begins to torment Katie and Micah more and more, the tension is leisurely starting to reach its boiling point.
Instead of using the overrated bag of tricks Hollywood is now obsessed with, Peli tests each viewer’s imagination by solidifying the presence of the invisible demon, off camera. Rattling the chandelier, moving the door or banging on the walls, slowly disturbs Katie and the audience. Micah still senses what is happening is unbelievable, even with the footage proving that something is fucking with them.
Suspense filled at first, Paranormal Activity begins to transform itself into the horror film the hype machine has created. With Micah provoking the demon while Katie is not around, the attacks he instigated get worse. This leads to a few truly terrifying nights for the couple. Who would have thought baby powder could be so scary?
I will not ruin the few moments that ring true to the hype, as the posters states, “Paranormal Activity is one of the scariest movies of all time. You will be affected as it’s hard to ignore the imprint it leaves on your psyche. Nightmares are guaranteed.”
For those that did not know, the ending has been changed from the original cut. It still keeps the same tone so it is not really a big change. Steven Spielberg is the apparent cause of the change and you can not really fault him for the switch. You can view the original ending here. Both are creepy, the theatrical cut evokes a more startling image for the audience but the original ending drives home the spine-chilling scares of the film that will sit in the back of your mind for the next few nights to come.
Personally, this film scared the shit out of me. It was not to the point that I had to walk out of the theatre like a few did. This film will be loved or hated; it will all depend on your imagination. Creepy, disturbing, terrifying, and tons of suspense make this film a must watch. If only Hollywood focused more on making films like this instead of seven Saw films (which I still adore to an extent) and counting! The Hurt Locker and Moon are the best films I have seen this year. Who would have thought a low budget horror film would also be grouped into this category.
4 out of 5
Image of the Week: October 26th, 2009
The Fourth Kind
This movie looks creepy as hell! Check it out in theatres near you on November 6th, 2009.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Metal On Metal
Real Life Spinal Tap
BY GORAN SAVIC
BY GORAN SAVIC
Anvil is the story of a Metal Band from Canada, who has struggled for many many years to make it to the top of the Metal Scene. We follow the bands struggles from day to day.
They go through many bad times. Bad management, almost no fans at their shows, but they continue on. They miss their train connections, get lost in a city and are late for a gig, club owners refuse to pay them. Whatever seems that could go wrong, does go wrong.
There are interviews with members of bands that did make it big, such as Lemmy from Motorhead, Slash, Lars Ulrich. While they all say that Anvil was a really good band, no one can really say why they didn't achieve it to the next level, and are a struggling band.
The 2 main members of the band, Steve"Lips" Kudlow, and Robb Reiner have stuck with it for 30 years, thinking that they can still make it really big. As you watch this film, you wonder what it will take before they throw in the towel.
Through it all, "Lips" keeps going even after going through small crowds, a bad manager who can't get them decent paying gigs,rejection after rejection from record labels, he still goes on about his day and is still a happy guy through it all.
With all the bad things that go through both of their lives, you start to cheer for them and hope that some good news will come their way, and when the final scene has them going to Japan to play, and "Lips" worrying about their maybe only being 5 people show up to see them play, it was really nice to see a full arena to watch them.
There are interviews with members of bands that did make it big, such as Lemmy from Motorhead, Slash, Lars Ulrich. While they all say that Anvil was a really good band, no one can really say why they didn't achieve it to the next level, and are a struggling band.
The 2 main members of the band, Steve"Lips" Kudlow, and Robb Reiner have stuck with it for 30 years, thinking that they can still make it really big. As you watch this film, you wonder what it will take before they throw in the towel.
Through it all, "Lips" keeps going even after going through small crowds, a bad manager who can't get them decent paying gigs,rejection after rejection from record labels, he still goes on about his day and is still a happy guy through it all.
With all the bad things that go through both of their lives, you start to cheer for them and hope that some good news will come their way, and when the final scene has them going to Japan to play, and "Lips" worrying about their maybe only being 5 people show up to see them play, it was really nice to see a full arena to watch them.
Friday, October 23, 2009
DVD Vault: Bye Bye Blues
A heart-warming tale everyone should see
BY COLIN ENQUIST
Films can just creep up and surprise you sometime. Not because you did not expect the film to be good. Rather it slams you with such an emotional response that leaves you questioning your life and what exactly you cherish in it. Anne Wheeler’s 1989 film, Bye Bye Blues left me doing just that.
Set in the early days of the Second World War, the tale begins with the Cooper family and the duress that besets them while they are living abroad in India. Daisy’s (Rebecca Jenkins) husband Teddy (Michael Ontkean) is transferred deeper into the war, so she must relocate back home to live with her mother and father in law on their farm in Canada. More specifically, a small town in Alberta, less than a days drive from Edmonton.
Anne Wheeler wrote, directed and produced this wonderfully looking film almost entirely in her home province of Alberta. She truly makes good use of the variety of seasons over the decade this story follows. A few shots evoke such beautiful imagery of the rolling hills that many people find boring.
Daisy is the main protagonist, although the film touches on the entire Cooper family and how they deal with the lack of information about the whereabouts of Teddy during the war, wondering if he is even still alive.
Rebecca Jenkins started off the film without much confidence. It really showed for the first set of scenes that she was not comfortable with the character yet. I was worried at this point that I was about to watch a train wreck after the opening scenes in India. It was the furthest thing from it though! As Jenkins settled into her role as Daisy and her new life, you really start to see her amazing acting ability shine. She also has a very talented voice that takes center stage quite a few times in the film.
As Daisy begins her journey with the realization that she may never see her husband again, she sets out to find work to provide better for her family. This brings Daisy into the hardships women endured back in the 1940s, but her persistence eventually lands her a well paying career in a local dance band. The subtext about her being the only woman in the band is continually in the background.
It is a about this time where Anne Wheeler’s screenplay starts to bring a unique love triangle into Daisy’s life. Fellow band member Max Gramley (Luke Reilly), the man with the mysterious past, begins to fall in love with her. How can he compete with a man who has been out of her life for years now and could possibly be dead? Max pushes Daisy about a relationship but never pushes very hard, just enough to get an honest response. At least until his next opportunity arises.
Somewhere after the band got together did I realize that Anne Wheeler has gotten me so emotionally invested into these characters that I did not want anything to change for them. Aside from Daisy and Teddy’s boy Richard, everyone was content with life and the way things were turning out.
So when the war ends, you can really witness how the demeanour of all the characters shifts. Not because anything has changed, but they know the change is already on the way. Still unsure if the change will be because Teddy will return home or they finally find out that he is deceased.
Teddy does make his way back home, causing some heart wrenching moments that would probably make me cry again and again when watching this film. This puts everyone’s life in a state of flux. We never find out if Teddy returning was good for the family or if his return slowly changed everything for the worse. The saddest part is, Teddy realizes this and really is not sure what to say to Daisy about it.
The music is also a great complement to this film, really helping to sell the time period. Sure you could tell from the visuals themselves but the use of the music really adds to the overall experience.
I saw this film outside on a blow up screen on a very nice evening. My lawn chair, thermos filled with hot chocolate and a friend (Emil!) were prepared to watch this free film, our expectations were not very high. I think we were both blown away by this film. Anne Wheeler made a film full of complexities that will last forever; so many filmmakers fail to achieve making a film of this calibre in their entire careers. I think she can say Bye Bye Blues will last the test of time.
4.5 out of 5
BY COLIN ENQUIST
Films can just creep up and surprise you sometime. Not because you did not expect the film to be good. Rather it slams you with such an emotional response that leaves you questioning your life and what exactly you cherish in it. Anne Wheeler’s 1989 film, Bye Bye Blues left me doing just that.Set in the early days of the Second World War, the tale begins with the Cooper family and the duress that besets them while they are living abroad in India. Daisy’s (Rebecca Jenkins) husband Teddy (Michael Ontkean) is transferred deeper into the war, so she must relocate back home to live with her mother and father in law on their farm in Canada. More specifically, a small town in Alberta, less than a days drive from Edmonton.
Anne Wheeler wrote, directed and produced this wonderfully looking film almost entirely in her home province of Alberta. She truly makes good use of the variety of seasons over the decade this story follows. A few shots evoke such beautiful imagery of the rolling hills that many people find boring.
Daisy is the main protagonist, although the film touches on the entire Cooper family and how they deal with the lack of information about the whereabouts of Teddy during the war, wondering if he is even still alive.
Rebecca Jenkins started off the film without much confidence. It really showed for the first set of scenes that she was not comfortable with the character yet. I was worried at this point that I was about to watch a train wreck after the opening scenes in India. It was the furthest thing from it though! As Jenkins settled into her role as Daisy and her new life, you really start to see her amazing acting ability shine. She also has a very talented voice that takes center stage quite a few times in the film.As Daisy begins her journey with the realization that she may never see her husband again, she sets out to find work to provide better for her family. This brings Daisy into the hardships women endured back in the 1940s, but her persistence eventually lands her a well paying career in a local dance band. The subtext about her being the only woman in the band is continually in the background.
It is a about this time where Anne Wheeler’s screenplay starts to bring a unique love triangle into Daisy’s life. Fellow band member Max Gramley (Luke Reilly), the man with the mysterious past, begins to fall in love with her. How can he compete with a man who has been out of her life for years now and could possibly be dead? Max pushes Daisy about a relationship but never pushes very hard, just enough to get an honest response. At least until his next opportunity arises.
Somewhere after the band got together did I realize that Anne Wheeler has gotten me so emotionally invested into these characters that I did not want anything to change for them. Aside from Daisy and Teddy’s boy Richard, everyone was content with life and the way things were turning out.
So when the war ends, you can really witness how the demeanour of all the characters shifts. Not because anything has changed, but they know the change is already on the way. Still unsure if the change will be because Teddy will return home or they finally find out that he is deceased.
Teddy does make his way back home, causing some heart wrenching moments that would probably make me cry again and again when watching this film. This puts everyone’s life in a state of flux. We never find out if Teddy returning was good for the family or if his return slowly changed everything for the worse. The saddest part is, Teddy realizes this and really is not sure what to say to Daisy about it.
The music is also a great complement to this film, really helping to sell the time period. Sure you could tell from the visuals themselves but the use of the music really adds to the overall experience.
I saw this film outside on a blow up screen on a very nice evening. My lawn chair, thermos filled with hot chocolate and a friend (Emil!) were prepared to watch this free film, our expectations were not very high. I think we were both blown away by this film. Anne Wheeler made a film full of complexities that will last forever; so many filmmakers fail to achieve making a film of this calibre in their entire careers. I think she can say Bye Bye Blues will last the test of time.
4.5 out of 5
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Short Film of the Month (October 2009)
If God were a DJ...
Director: Jamin Winans
Writer: Jamin Winans
Distributor: Double Edge Films
Year of Release: 2005
Running Time: 8:15
Synopsis: "Penned, shot, chopped & scored" by Jamin Winans (Ink), the 8-minute Spin film has no dialogue, and stars Hayz II as a mysterious street DJ with God-like abilities that allow him to bend time and control objects with his fold-away turntable. The indie short has won dozens of festival awards around the world, and has been viewed on YouTube more than 2 million times.
Director: Jamin WinansWriter: Jamin Winans
Distributor: Double Edge Films
Year of Release: 2005
Running Time: 8:15
Synopsis: "Penned, shot, chopped & scored" by Jamin Winans (Ink), the 8-minute Spin film has no dialogue, and stars Hayz II as a mysterious street DJ with God-like abilities that allow him to bend time and control objects with his fold-away turntable. The indie short has won dozens of festival awards around the world, and has been viewed on YouTube more than 2 million times.
Toy Story and Toy Story 2: 3D
Toy Story and Toy Story 2: 3D
By MATTHEW LUECKE
In my continuing effort to see every kid’s movie ever made, the family and I went to see Toy Story and Toy Story 2 in 3D. Other than the thrill of looking like Buddy Holly, I generally enjoy the movies I’ve seen in the new-fangled 3D movie-making, be it live action or animation. The best part of the 3D is the depth and detail. The sensation of stuff coming out of the screen and at me is a bonus, and normally not critical to the plot or story. For instance, the depth and clarity of the 3D in Up was far more important to me as a viewer than the classic effect.
Toy Story and Toy Story 2 are similar in this regard. But, it is difficult for me to tell exactly how much of the depth and clarity was provided by the 3D and how much was there to begin with. As you may remember, Toy Story was revolutionary when it came out because of the animation’s depth, clarity, and how realistically the toy characters were rendered. The few 3D effects that were added were cute and novel. However, Toy Story needs far less “gimmicking up” than other movies. And that is simply because of what a great movie it still is and how good the animation was the first time around.
To recap, a pre-teen (Andy) boy’s toys come to life when nobody is around. They are led by “Woody,” a pull-string cowboy. Andy’s birthday party gets moved up because the family is moving soon. Woody and the rest of the toys (Bo-Peep, Mr. Potato Head, Hamm the Piggy Bank, Rex the Dinosaur, etc.) worry about any new toys that will take Andy’s attention. Lo and behold, Andy gets a Buzz Lightyear toy, the coolest toy around. To top it off, Buzz does not even realize he is a toy. Woody gets jealous of the attention Buzz receives from Andy, inadvertently knocks him out of Andy’s window, and has to rescue him. Buzz learns he is, in fact, a toy and gets depressed. Woody rescue’s Buzz, Buzz overcomes the fact that he is toy, and they are reunited with Andy just in the nick of time.
In Toy Story 2, Andy goes off to “Cowboy Camp” and his mother has a garage sale. Woody tries to rescue a broken penguin toy named Wheezy and ends up in a “for sale” bin. Andy’s mother realizes that Woody is not supposed to be for sale, but “Al” of Al’s Toy Barn steals Woody because he is part of a complete set of rare and valuable nostalgia toys. Woody discovers that he was part of an enormously popular television franchise until the launch of Sputnik caused kids to forget about cowboys and pay attention to racecars—I mean space based toys. “Stinky Pete,” the prospector toy, really wants to be sold to Japanese collectors and does whatever he can to make it happen. Buzz, Rex, Hamm, and Mr. Potato head set off to rescue Woody.
What I had forgotten is that these are GOOD movies. I also hadn’t realized that I missed part of Toy Story and that I had never seen Toy Story 2. (I was aware of the plot from a toddler’s video game my son played over and over and over and over.) There is humor for adults and kids. There is a positive message in accepting who you are and your purpose in life. There is a positive message in overcoming your shortcomings. The main characters grow and change over the course of the movie to something better. Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Kelsey Grammar and the rest of the voice talent are excellent at acting with only their voices.
I have to say, if you get a chance to see these movies, go and see them again or for the first time. Not for the 3D, but for how good these movies are. And besides, when else can you see a double feature these days?
Toy Story and Toy Story 2 are similar in this regard. But, it is difficult for me to tell exactly how much of the depth and clarity was provided by the 3D and how much was there to begin with. As you may remember, Toy Story was revolutionary when it came out because of the animation’s depth, clarity, and how realistically the toy characters were rendered. The few 3D effects that were added were cute and novel. However, Toy Story needs far less “gimmicking up” than other movies. And that is simply because of what a great movie it still is and how good the animation was the first time around.
To recap, a pre-teen (Andy) boy’s toys come to life when nobody is around. They are led by “Woody,” a pull-string cowboy. Andy’s birthday party gets moved up because the family is moving soon. Woody and the rest of the toys (Bo-Peep, Mr. Potato Head, Hamm the Piggy Bank, Rex the Dinosaur, etc.) worry about any new toys that will take Andy’s attention. Lo and behold, Andy gets a Buzz Lightyear toy, the coolest toy around. To top it off, Buzz does not even realize he is a toy. Woody gets jealous of the attention Buzz receives from Andy, inadvertently knocks him out of Andy’s window, and has to rescue him. Buzz learns he is, in fact, a toy and gets depressed. Woody rescue’s Buzz, Buzz overcomes the fact that he is toy, and they are reunited with Andy just in the nick of time.
In Toy Story 2, Andy goes off to “Cowboy Camp” and his mother has a garage sale. Woody tries to rescue a broken penguin toy named Wheezy and ends up in a “for sale” bin. Andy’s mother realizes that Woody is not supposed to be for sale, but “Al” of Al’s Toy Barn steals Woody because he is part of a complete set of rare and valuable nostalgia toys. Woody discovers that he was part of an enormously popular television franchise until the launch of Sputnik caused kids to forget about cowboys and pay attention to racecars—I mean space based toys. “Stinky Pete,” the prospector toy, really wants to be sold to Japanese collectors and does whatever he can to make it happen. Buzz, Rex, Hamm, and Mr. Potato head set off to rescue Woody.
What I had forgotten is that these are GOOD movies. I also hadn’t realized that I missed part of Toy Story and that I had never seen Toy Story 2. (I was aware of the plot from a toddler’s video game my son played over and over and over and over.) There is humor for adults and kids. There is a positive message in accepting who you are and your purpose in life. There is a positive message in overcoming your shortcomings. The main characters grow and change over the course of the movie to something better. Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Kelsey Grammar and the rest of the voice talent are excellent at acting with only their voices.
I have to say, if you get a chance to see these movies, go and see them again or for the first time. Not for the 3D, but for how good these movies are. And besides, when else can you see a double feature these days?
Monday, October 19, 2009
DEDfest!
Thrills, chills, laughter and booze make for a great night!
BY COLIN ENQUIST
It is that time of year again. Halloween is right around the corner. Horror films are beginning to take over the cinema world for a few weeks and if you live in a city big enough, you probably have a horror film festival that you could attend. Some are world famous, others, not so much. Last Friday night I attended DEDfest (Day 2 of 4), Edmonton, Alberta’s horror film festival. To be fair, this is the first year of the festival, although it is run by some of the same group that ran last years Deadmonton festival.
The Friday showing consisted of two big showings: Neighbor and Return of the Living Dead. It is the first time since 1985 that Return of the Living Dead has been seen in Canada on 35MM. Like many horror fests, short films were spread throughout the two marquee films. Here is a quick review for each film I saw that night.
To get the crowd in the laughing mood, Clowning Around was unleashed on us. It was a terrible looking trailer that really just played off the title of the film, essentially it was just like the faux trailer Don’t, in front of the Grindhouse double feature. I am still not sure if this is an actual film or just a trailer made for laughs.
Next up was the short film, Thirsty, based off of a Joe Knetter story. It was directed by Andrew Kasch and stars Wrong Turn 2 director Joe Lynch, Michael Bailey Smith (The Hills Have Eyes) and Tiffany Shepis (a scream queen herself of many horror films!). Lynch is on a cross-country drive when he starts to crave a frozen slushy. His destiny seems to not want him to get his slushy, as it keeps providing complications attempting to thwart his slushy efforts. This is full of laughs from the start and was one of the best shorts at the festival.
Next up was a few trailers of older films, Savage Streets, Punk Rock and another I cannot recall. These looked terrible but the Linda Blair exploitation/revenge flick Savage Streets is supposed to be quite good.
Every year Adam Green makes a Halloween short film. The Tiffany Problem, King in the Box and last years The Tivo are fantastic. This year’s film is Jack Chop, it is a real short short, running just over two and a half minutes but it is so entertaining. Jack Chop is just a parody of the Slap Chop infomercial but I can say I was laughing (and so was most of the audience) for the entire two and a half minutes. Take a gander at it below!
Finally we reached our first feature film, the debut (at least to Edmonton) of Neighbor. This film prides itself with the tag on one of the posters as the film that “caused its own editor to vomit”. I can see why, my guess is that the editor was male and he vomited during the “love scene”. I was looking away during the sequence of events that I would never wish on anyone! The image will haunt me (and probably most of the audience) for a few evenings. The film was created by writer/director Robert A. Masciantonio (Cold Hearts). Christian Campbell (who also was in Cold Hearts) and America Olivo star in the sadistic horror film. Olivo simply plays “The Girl”, a crazed psychotic who breaks into neighbours houses and tortures them. She uses a wide array of household items that now scare the living hell out of me. I will never look at a pizza cutter the same way ever again!!! Typically I am not a big fan of the torture horror films, this one is not really an exception either but I did enjoy it more then the others that would fall into this same category. I felt that, unlike most torture films, Neighbor created an unreal amount of character development in the opening that I was actually concerned for the group of friends. Masciantonio does not just make us cringe but feel an attachment to Don (Campbell) during his ordeal. The film does get a bit muddled throughout with an obscure set of flash backs and flash forwards. Never really understanding why he chose this at first, but after thinking about it, I realized that the director wanted to remind us about the emotional attachment we were feeling for the characters earlier in the film. It still was mystifying to an extent, never explaining if the flash forwards were a hallucination or just a possible future. I would probably file this in with most other torture porn films, but it would go to the top of my list if I was forced to watch one, although I would probably “excuse” myself from the room so I wouldn’t have to sit through the “love scene” again!
Intermission time led to a quick bathroom break. What can I say, beer goes right through me. A few speeches from the gracious hosts of the festival (beer in hand!) and we were back on track.
The 3 short films showed before the big finale was all Alberta made to some aspect. Two of the films, Escape From Death Planet and Fallow were shot in Edmonton. Both were from Edmonton directors as well. I wouldn’t call these films great but Fallow at least had a sense of creepiness to it that caused a few shivers. Deadwalkers was a quick-draw western zombie film from Calgary. If the sound was matched up better with the picture I would have said this short was made extremely well, even though it was not very entertaining.
Finally the big finale, Return of the Living Dead! How can you not love this film? Of course it isn’t what it was back in 1985 but it is still worth viewing! This film probably juggles the humour and horror aspect better then any film. Dan O’Bannon’s fanboy take on George A. Romero’s lifeblood is fantastic. The dialogue crackles on screen and the film is filled with quotes that last still to this day. Not to mention the kick ass soundtrack of Billy Idol, The Cramps, 45 Grave and SSQ. See this film if you have not already, before a zombie eats your BRAAAAIIIIINNNNSSSSSSSSSS!
I had an excellent time during DEDfest even with a few of the films not being my cup of tea. Already I am wondering what next year will bring. This proves that even if the films are good, terrible or not worth your time, a good crowd and some alcohol can still make the night worthwhile.
BY COLIN ENQUIST
It is that time of year again. Halloween is right around the corner. Horror films are beginning to take over the cinema world for a few weeks and if you live in a city big enough, you probably have a horror film festival that you could attend. Some are world famous, others, not so much. Last Friday night I attended DEDfest (Day 2 of 4), Edmonton, Alberta’s horror film festival. To be fair, this is the first year of the festival, although it is run by some of the same group that ran last years Deadmonton festival.
The Friday showing consisted of two big showings: Neighbor and Return of the Living Dead. It is the first time since 1985 that Return of the Living Dead has been seen in Canada on 35MM. Like many horror fests, short films were spread throughout the two marquee films. Here is a quick review for each film I saw that night.
To get the crowd in the laughing mood, Clowning Around was unleashed on us. It was a terrible looking trailer that really just played off the title of the film, essentially it was just like the faux trailer Don’t, in front of the Grindhouse double feature. I am still not sure if this is an actual film or just a trailer made for laughs.
Next up was the short film, Thirsty, based off of a Joe Knetter story. It was directed by Andrew Kasch and stars Wrong Turn 2 director Joe Lynch, Michael Bailey Smith (The Hills Have Eyes) and Tiffany Shepis (a scream queen herself of many horror films!). Lynch is on a cross-country drive when he starts to crave a frozen slushy. His destiny seems to not want him to get his slushy, as it keeps providing complications attempting to thwart his slushy efforts. This is full of laughs from the start and was one of the best shorts at the festival.Next up was a few trailers of older films, Savage Streets, Punk Rock and another I cannot recall. These looked terrible but the Linda Blair exploitation/revenge flick Savage Streets is supposed to be quite good.
Every year Adam Green makes a Halloween short film. The Tiffany Problem, King in the Box and last years The Tivo are fantastic. This year’s film is Jack Chop, it is a real short short, running just over two and a half minutes but it is so entertaining. Jack Chop is just a parody of the Slap Chop infomercial but I can say I was laughing (and so was most of the audience) for the entire two and a half minutes. Take a gander at it below!
Finally we reached our first feature film, the debut (at least to Edmonton) of Neighbor. This film prides itself with the tag on one of the posters as the film that “caused its own editor to vomit”. I can see why, my guess is that the editor was male and he vomited during the “love scene”. I was looking away during the sequence of events that I would never wish on anyone! The image will haunt me (and probably most of the audience) for a few evenings. The film was created by writer/director Robert A. Masciantonio (Cold Hearts). Christian Campbell (who also was in Cold Hearts) and America Olivo star in the sadistic horror film. Olivo simply plays “The Girl”, a crazed psychotic who breaks into neighbours houses and tortures them. She uses a wide array of household items that now scare the living hell out of me. I will never look at a pizza cutter the same way ever again!!! Typically I am not a big fan of the torture horror films, this one is not really an exception either but I did enjoy it more then the others that would fall into this same category. I felt that, unlike most torture films, Neighbor created an unreal amount of character development in the opening that I was actually concerned for the group of friends. Masciantonio does not just make us cringe but feel an attachment to Don (Campbell) during his ordeal. The film does get a bit muddled throughout with an obscure set of flash backs and flash forwards. Never really understanding why he chose this at first, but after thinking about it, I realized that the director wanted to remind us about the emotional attachment we were feeling for the characters earlier in the film. It still was mystifying to an extent, never explaining if the flash forwards were a hallucination or just a possible future. I would probably file this in with most other torture porn films, but it would go to the top of my list if I was forced to watch one, although I would probably “excuse” myself from the room so I wouldn’t have to sit through the “love scene” again!Intermission time led to a quick bathroom break. What can I say, beer goes right through me. A few speeches from the gracious hosts of the festival (beer in hand!) and we were back on track.
The 3 short films showed before the big finale was all Alberta made to some aspect. Two of the films, Escape From Death Planet and Fallow were shot in Edmonton. Both were from Edmonton directors as well. I wouldn’t call these films great but Fallow at least had a sense of creepiness to it that caused a few shivers. Deadwalkers was a quick-draw western zombie film from Calgary. If the sound was matched up better with the picture I would have said this short was made extremely well, even though it was not very entertaining.Finally the big finale, Return of the Living Dead! How can you not love this film? Of course it isn’t what it was back in 1985 but it is still worth viewing! This film probably juggles the humour and horror aspect better then any film. Dan O’Bannon’s fanboy take on George A. Romero’s lifeblood is fantastic. The dialogue crackles on screen and the film is filled with quotes that last still to this day. Not to mention the kick ass soundtrack of Billy Idol, The Cramps, 45 Grave and SSQ. See this film if you have not already, before a zombie eats your BRAAAAIIIIINNNNSSSSSSSSSS!
I had an excellent time during DEDfest even with a few of the films not being my cup of tea. Already I am wondering what next year will bring. This proves that even if the films are good, terrible or not worth your time, a good crowd and some alcohol can still make the night worthwhile.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Friday Flyer: Volume 1
FlashForward gets full season, Toy Story 3 trailer and ID4 2?
BY COLIN ENQUIST
-ABC picks up several shows for a full first season. FlashForward is the most prominent of the shows but Modern Family, The Middle and Cougar Town were also picked up. FlashForward has performed very well in the competitive Thursday night time slot. The show has also been very well liked by critics.
-The Box is Richard Kelly’s newest film. Based off of the 1970 short story Button, Button by author Richard Matheson. The film stars Cameron Diaz, James Marsden and Frank Langella. The website just launched. Click the picture poster below to check it out. If you were a fan of Richard Kelly’s film Donnie Darko and got a chance to see the fantastic site for that film, check this one out for sure.
-Mel Gibson is returning to acting, his first film since The Singing Detective in 2003, and is starring in Edge of Darkness, based off a 1985 BBC mini-series of the same name. As homicide detective Thomas Craven (Mel Gibson) investigates the death of his activist daughter (Bojana Novakovic), he uncovers not only her secret life, but a corporate cover-up and government collusion that attracts an agent tasked with cleaning up the evidence.
-Joe Hill has put out some fantastic stories. I am a big fan of his short story collection 20th Century Ghosts and his comic book series, Locke & Key. Heart-Shaped Box was his first novel (which has gotten rave reviews) but I have not gotten around to reading it. His next book, Horns, is set to be released this coming February but the books is already optioned by Mandalay. It is a story about a man who wakes up after a drunken blackout, only to find horns growing out of his head.
-Independence Day was a surprise blockbuster back in 1996, making an absurd $817.4 million at the worldwide box office. The director, Roland Emmerich, has a new film debuting this year (2012) and Fox wants to bring the director back for a sequel to the Will Smith’s first blockbuster. Emmerich wants to bring Smith back but negotiations between him and Fox have seemed to hit a standstill. Would you watch an ID4 sequel without him?
-The Cleveland Show will now have 22 episodes for the second season. Fox just announced that they ordered a full season. The series premiere of The Cleveland Show was Fox’s highest rated Sunday comedy series debut in over six years. Follow Cleveland’s adventures Sunday evenings (8:30 ET).
-It looks like Bryan Singer may be returning to the X-Men film franchise. According to The Associated Press, Singer and Fox are discussing the possibility of his return. “I’m still looking to possibly returning to the X-Men franchise. I’ve been talking to Fox about it,” the X-Men and X2: X-Men United director said at South Korea’s Pusan International Film Festival. “I love Hugh Jackman. I love the cast.” With the train wreck that was X3 a big disappointment I do hope he returns.
-October 13th we saw the release of Nine Dragons by Michael Connelly. Connelly created his lead character of this series, Harry Bosch, back in 1992. Nine Dragons will be the 15th novel featuring Bosch.
-CBS has given a pilot commitment to Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci (both co-wrote: Star Trek, Fringe, and Mission: Impossible III to name a few). They will update the classic cop series which chronicled the workings of the fictional Hawaiian state police department led by Steve McGarrett (Jack Lord). Originally the series ran from 1968-1980. Not many details have been given on what direction the new show will take.
-Toy Story 1 and 2 were just released in theatres again, this time in glorious 3D! The double feature has a nice trailer before it for the third film…here it is below.
BY COLIN ENQUIST
-ABC picks up several shows for a full first season. FlashForward is the most prominent of the shows but Modern Family, The Middle and Cougar Town were also picked up. FlashForward has performed very well in the competitive Thursday night time slot. The show has also been very well liked by critics.
-The Box is Richard Kelly’s newest film. Based off of the 1970 short story Button, Button by author Richard Matheson. The film stars Cameron Diaz, James Marsden and Frank Langella. The website just launched. Click the picture poster below to check it out. If you were a fan of Richard Kelly’s film Donnie Darko and got a chance to see the fantastic site for that film, check this one out for sure.
-Mel Gibson is returning to acting, his first film since The Singing Detective in 2003, and is starring in Edge of Darkness, based off a 1985 BBC mini-series of the same name. As homicide detective Thomas Craven (Mel Gibson) investigates the death of his activist daughter (Bojana Novakovic), he uncovers not only her secret life, but a corporate cover-up and government collusion that attracts an agent tasked with cleaning up the evidence.
-Joe Hill has put out some fantastic stories. I am a big fan of his short story collection 20th Century Ghosts and his comic book series, Locke & Key. Heart-Shaped Box was his first novel (which has gotten rave reviews) but I have not gotten around to reading it. His next book, Horns, is set to be released this coming February but the books is already optioned by Mandalay. It is a story about a man who wakes up after a drunken blackout, only to find horns growing out of his head.
-Independence Day was a surprise blockbuster back in 1996, making an absurd $817.4 million at the worldwide box office. The director, Roland Emmerich, has a new film debuting this year (2012) and Fox wants to bring the director back for a sequel to the Will Smith’s first blockbuster. Emmerich wants to bring Smith back but negotiations between him and Fox have seemed to hit a standstill. Would you watch an ID4 sequel without him?
-The Cleveland Show will now have 22 episodes for the second season. Fox just announced that they ordered a full season. The series premiere of The Cleveland Show was Fox’s highest rated Sunday comedy series debut in over six years. Follow Cleveland’s adventures Sunday evenings (8:30 ET).
-It looks like Bryan Singer may be returning to the X-Men film franchise. According to The Associated Press, Singer and Fox are discussing the possibility of his return. “I’m still looking to possibly returning to the X-Men franchise. I’ve been talking to Fox about it,” the X-Men and X2: X-Men United director said at South Korea’s Pusan International Film Festival. “I love Hugh Jackman. I love the cast.” With the train wreck that was X3 a big disappointment I do hope he returns.
-October 13th we saw the release of Nine Dragons by Michael Connelly. Connelly created his lead character of this series, Harry Bosch, back in 1992. Nine Dragons will be the 15th novel featuring Bosch.
-CBS has given a pilot commitment to Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci (both co-wrote: Star Trek, Fringe, and Mission: Impossible III to name a few). They will update the classic cop series which chronicled the workings of the fictional Hawaiian state police department led by Steve McGarrett (Jack Lord). Originally the series ran from 1968-1980. Not many details have been given on what direction the new show will take.
-Toy Story 1 and 2 were just released in theatres again, this time in glorious 3D! The double feature has a nice trailer before it for the third film…here it is below.
Monday, October 12, 2009
SiM Trailer: The Crazies
Zombie-like chaos strikes small-town America in Hollywood's latest remake
Director: Breck Eisner (Sahara)
Cast: Timothy Olyphant (Scream 2), Danielle Panabaker (Friday the 13th), Radha Mitchell (Pitch Black), Joe Anderson (Across the Universe), Preston Bailey (Dexter)
Studio: Paramount Vantage/ Overture Films
Release Date: February 26, 2010
Synopsis: Helmed by the son of former Walt Disney Company chief executive Michael Eisner, The Crazies is a modern-day remake of George A. Romero's 1973 thriller classic of the same name. Insanity and death are what folks in a small Iowa town have to look forward to after a mysterious toxin contaminates the water supply. The screenplay was penned by Ray Wright and Scott Kosar. In case you didn't know, the song you hear in the trailer is Gary Jules' "Mad World," which was also used in the cult classic Donnie Darko (2001).
Director: Breck Eisner (Sahara)Cast: Timothy Olyphant (Scream 2), Danielle Panabaker (Friday the 13th), Radha Mitchell (Pitch Black), Joe Anderson (Across the Universe), Preston Bailey (Dexter)
Studio: Paramount Vantage/ Overture Films
Release Date: February 26, 2010
Synopsis: Helmed by the son of former Walt Disney Company chief executive Michael Eisner, The Crazies is a modern-day remake of George A. Romero's 1973 thriller classic of the same name. Insanity and death are what folks in a small Iowa town have to look forward to after a mysterious toxin contaminates the water supply. The screenplay was penned by Ray Wright and Scott Kosar. In case you didn't know, the song you hear in the trailer is Gary Jules' "Mad World," which was also used in the cult classic Donnie Darko (2001).
Zombieland Wants To Give Thanks…
Thank god for rednecks!
BY COLIN ENQUIST
Zombieland is the brain child of Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick. Ruben Fleischer directs the horror/comedy which stars Jesse Eisenberg (Adventureland), Woody Harrelson (Seven Pounds), Emma Stone (Ghosts of Girlfriends Past) and Abigail Breslin (My Sister's Keeper). No major thought is involved in the premise, zombies take over the world, a few survivors team up to survive, and funny things ensue.
The beginning of this film (narrated by Eisenberg) shows us zombie hi-jinks over a wonderful use of title credits. As we begin to understand a little about Zombieland (what was once the U.S.A.) we are introduced to Columbus (also Eisenberg) and his OCD rules that have, so far, kept him alive. Rule #1: Cardio, it keeps you alive!
Soon enough, a lonely Columbus finds himself teaming up with a completely opposite personality in Tallahassee (Harrelson). When these characters are thrust into any situation, their reactions are opposing the others. It does not help that Columbus believes Tallahassee’s quest to find the last Twinkie in Zombieland is pointless. It is the character dynamics of Columbus and Tallahassee that make this film a colossal enjoyment.
The duo becomes a quartet, shortly after Wichita (Stone) and Little Rock (Breslin) con them into giving up their vehicle and arsenal. Eventually they concede to work together, joined by a single cause, getting to Pacific Playland in California. More hilarity ensues.
The group dynamics begin to shift when Columbus falls for Wichita, almost making Columbus violate one of his rules. Rule #17: Don’t be a hero. Although he is happy enough to step aside so Tallahassee can kill more zombies. It is the only thing Tallahassee is good at!
Not a preachy film by any means. Zombieland does not have much to say thematically. Of course there are a few exceptions. Rule #32: Enjoy the little things.
The third act is what keeps this film from being placed alongside Shaun of the Dead. It lacks the actual horror element, as it never feels like the characters are ever in any kind of danger. Also, this film has possibly one of the best cameo appearances I have ever witnessed. I am not going to spoil it for you but be prepared for a ton of laughter.
I highly recommended this film; it is funny, insane and just pure fun. Your sides will hurt from the constant laughter this film provides. Surprising the hell out of me, Zombieland is worth your hard earned cash.
4 out of 5
BY COLIN ENQUIST
Zombieland is the brain child of Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick. Ruben Fleischer directs the horror/comedy which stars Jesse Eisenberg (Adventureland), Woody Harrelson (Seven Pounds), Emma Stone (Ghosts of Girlfriends Past) and Abigail Breslin (My Sister's Keeper). No major thought is involved in the premise, zombies take over the world, a few survivors team up to survive, and funny things ensue.The beginning of this film (narrated by Eisenberg) shows us zombie hi-jinks over a wonderful use of title credits. As we begin to understand a little about Zombieland (what was once the U.S.A.) we are introduced to Columbus (also Eisenberg) and his OCD rules that have, so far, kept him alive. Rule #1: Cardio, it keeps you alive!
Soon enough, a lonely Columbus finds himself teaming up with a completely opposite personality in Tallahassee (Harrelson). When these characters are thrust into any situation, their reactions are opposing the others. It does not help that Columbus believes Tallahassee’s quest to find the last Twinkie in Zombieland is pointless. It is the character dynamics of Columbus and Tallahassee that make this film a colossal enjoyment.
The duo becomes a quartet, shortly after Wichita (Stone) and Little Rock (Breslin) con them into giving up their vehicle and arsenal. Eventually they concede to work together, joined by a single cause, getting to Pacific Playland in California. More hilarity ensues.
The group dynamics begin to shift when Columbus falls for Wichita, almost making Columbus violate one of his rules. Rule #17: Don’t be a hero. Although he is happy enough to step aside so Tallahassee can kill more zombies. It is the only thing Tallahassee is good at!
Not a preachy film by any means. Zombieland does not have much to say thematically. Of course there are a few exceptions. Rule #32: Enjoy the little things.The third act is what keeps this film from being placed alongside Shaun of the Dead. It lacks the actual horror element, as it never feels like the characters are ever in any kind of danger. Also, this film has possibly one of the best cameo appearances I have ever witnessed. I am not going to spoil it for you but be prepared for a ton of laughter.
I highly recommended this film; it is funny, insane and just pure fun. Your sides will hurt from the constant laughter this film provides. Surprising the hell out of me, Zombieland is worth your hard earned cash.
4 out of 5
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Because You Demanded It
1, 000, 000 times!
BY COLIN ENQUIST
A few days ago, Paranormal Activity reached one million demands! That means Paramount will give the film a wide release across the country. Oren Peli's film is being touted as one of the greatest horror films in recent years.
“an ingenious horror film.It's so well made it's truly scary” - Roger Ebert - THE CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
“A POTENT FRIGHTFEST That will fry your nerves and CREEP YOU OUT” - Peter Travers ROLLING STONE
“SO SCARY! Just when you thought it was safe to close your eyes…GOOD LUCK GOING TO SLEEP!” - Harry Knowles AINT IT COOL NEWS
“Go See It. Tell Your Friends GOOD LUCK SLEEPING” - FILM SCHOOL REJECTS
“THE SCARIESTMOVIE OF THE DECADE ” - CHICAGONOW.COM
I can not wait to go check this film out! Are you going to brave seeing this film?
BY COLIN ENQUIST
A few days ago, Paranormal Activity reached one million demands! That means Paramount will give the film a wide release across the country. Oren Peli's film is being touted as one of the greatest horror films in recent years.
“an ingenious horror film.It's so well made it's truly scary” - Roger Ebert - THE CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
“A POTENT FRIGHTFEST That will fry your nerves and CREEP YOU OUT” - Peter Travers ROLLING STONE
“SO SCARY! Just when you thought it was safe to close your eyes…GOOD LUCK GOING TO SLEEP!” - Harry Knowles AINT IT COOL NEWS
“Go See It. Tell Your Friends GOOD LUCK SLEEPING” - FILM SCHOOL REJECTS
“THE SCARIESTMOVIE OF THE DECADE ” - CHICAGONOW.COM
I can not wait to go check this film out! Are you going to brave seeing this film?
Friday, October 9, 2009
Bite Club
Get Your Free Membership Card Here!
BY COLIN ENQUIST
Vampire fiction is nothing new. Many writers attempt to reinvent the genre with a bold new take on the mythical creatures every year. Howard Chaykin (American Flagg!) and David Tischman (Greatest Hits) filled that role in 2004 with their 6 issue mini series, Bite Club, from DC Comics Vertigo imprint. Art duties were handed to Vertigo alum David Hahn, who has worked on Fables and Lucifer, two well respected series in the Vertigo library. The stunning series covers come from the frequent Grant Morrison collaborator Frank Quitely. If you are reading this in the $9.99 trade paper back, don’t worry, Quitely’s covers are in the back!
At first glance, it seems Bite Club is just another attempt to modernize the vampire genre. This could not be more wrong. Yes Chaykin and Tischman use vampires throughout the entire body of the book but the blood of the story is about the Del Toro crime family and the many troubles following its dysfunctional members after their patriarch Eduardo Del Toro is gunned down.
The backstabbing siblings Leto, Risa and Eduardo Jr. all have a stake at becoming the new leader. Not to mention their cousin Victor who feels he is entitled to become the new patriarch of the Del Toro family. Everything starts getting out of hand when the will of Eduardo Sr. is read, naming Leto as his successor.
Chaykin and Tischman create a story that is solely focused on the Del Toro’s. The subtle use of vampire lore just adds a dimension to the book that may not have even been required. If you pick this up to read about vampires, you may be disappointed.
David Hahn’s art is not superb. Many times a page will show up with characters faces looking very similar. Hahn must know that this is a weakness in his ability though because he covers it up well with different hair styles, glasses or hats to distinguish each character when needed. Any aspiring artist should look at this book for Hahn’s simple yet beautiful layouts. The lack of full page spreads in the book (most pages are 5-10 panels) really hits home the emotion you should feel about that specific moment.
Bite Club is coloured by Brian Miller. The colouring of this book was fantastic. Each characters story being told in one book could have been confusing. Miller fixes that easily. Using a different colour tone for each time the story jumps from one characters story to the next. The green and blue pages really jump out at you. I am curious as to how this technique would transfer over to other books which require the reader to follow several characters at once.
Picking up this book, I was sold solely on the Quitely cover art of the trade and the fact that it was only $9.99. I was a little unsure of the book when I read the brief synopsis but Chaykin and Tischman deliver a good tale filled with deceit, death, vampires, discrimination, god, family and drugs. Mix in a little bit of The Sopranos and you got yourself Bite Club.
3 out of 5
BY COLIN ENQUIST
Vampire fiction is nothing new. Many writers attempt to reinvent the genre with a bold new take on the mythical creatures every year. Howard Chaykin (American Flagg!) and David Tischman (Greatest Hits) filled that role in 2004 with their 6 issue mini series, Bite Club, from DC Comics Vertigo imprint. Art duties were handed to Vertigo alum David Hahn, who has worked on Fables and Lucifer, two well respected series in the Vertigo library. The stunning series covers come from the frequent Grant Morrison collaborator Frank Quitely. If you are reading this in the $9.99 trade paper back, don’t worry, Quitely’s covers are in the back!
At first glance, it seems Bite Club is just another attempt to modernize the vampire genre. This could not be more wrong. Yes Chaykin and Tischman use vampires throughout the entire body of the book but the blood of the story is about the Del Toro crime family and the many troubles following its dysfunctional members after their patriarch Eduardo Del Toro is gunned down.
The backstabbing siblings Leto, Risa and Eduardo Jr. all have a stake at becoming the new leader. Not to mention their cousin Victor who feels he is entitled to become the new patriarch of the Del Toro family. Everything starts getting out of hand when the will of Eduardo Sr. is read, naming Leto as his successor.
Chaykin and Tischman create a story that is solely focused on the Del Toro’s. The subtle use of vampire lore just adds a dimension to the book that may not have even been required. If you pick this up to read about vampires, you may be disappointed.
David Hahn’s art is not superb. Many times a page will show up with characters faces looking very similar. Hahn must know that this is a weakness in his ability though because he covers it up well with different hair styles, glasses or hats to distinguish each character when needed. Any aspiring artist should look at this book for Hahn’s simple yet beautiful layouts. The lack of full page spreads in the book (most pages are 5-10 panels) really hits home the emotion you should feel about that specific moment.
Bite Club is coloured by Brian Miller. The colouring of this book was fantastic. Each characters story being told in one book could have been confusing. Miller fixes that easily. Using a different colour tone for each time the story jumps from one characters story to the next. The green and blue pages really jump out at you. I am curious as to how this technique would transfer over to other books which require the reader to follow several characters at once.
Picking up this book, I was sold solely on the Quitely cover art of the trade and the fact that it was only $9.99. I was a little unsure of the book when I read the brief synopsis but Chaykin and Tischman deliver a good tale filled with deceit, death, vampires, discrimination, god, family and drugs. Mix in a little bit of The Sopranos and you got yourself Bite Club.
3 out of 5
Monday, October 5, 2009
Uncanny X-Men Receives the Axe
And I gave it a good chance to stick around
BY COLIN ENQUIST
The X-Men have always been one of my favourite titles. When I really started getting into comics the two big X-titles were the first to be thrown onto my pull list. Not only were Uncanny X-Men and X-Men good at the time but it looked like they were not slowing down.
I got a lot of enjoyment out of the two X-titles. Uncanny X-Men was always the better of the two books in my opinion, even with the Alan Davis art on X-Men. Suddenly the fortunes of each book changed, along with the dynamics of the teams. Grant Morrison came aboard X-Men (changing the title to New X-Men) and started a legendary run that has shaped the X-universe still to this day.
Soon after Morrison left the book, it reverted back to its original title, X-Men. Not entirely sure how long I stuck around but it was not very long. The book got terrible quickly, so I stopped picking X-Men up.
A coupe of months later, I realized that Uncanny X-Men was just as brutal. So now I am picking up comics without my usual X-titles. And these were the two books that helped get me into comics.
I still checked out solicits to see if it looked like either series was getting any better. Even reading a few reviews online, these only helped cement my decision of dropping the books though. It sounded like the books were a complete train wreck.
Then issue #500 of Uncanny X-Men was going to be released. A new creative team was promising a bold new direction. Sure I hated the art by Greg Land and Terry Dodson but I really enjoy Matt Fraction’s writing. So picking up a couple issues was worth a shot.
16 issues later and I’m back in the same boat as before! Fraction just finished tying up his big crossover with the Dark Avengers, leaving the team headed in a “bold new direction” again. Yes I disliked the start of the Exodus crossover bit it did end really strong.
Sadly the next issue lost my faith in Fraction. Most of the issue was devoted to Cyclops telling us that he has no plan; he was just rolling with the punches. At this point it seems like Fraction is doing just that, rolling with the punches, having no idea what to do with the characters or the series.
*insert sound of an axe falling*
That was the sound of Uncanny X-Men getting chopped from my pull list. Yes out of those 16 issues I bought over the last year or so, 6 might have been really good. That just is not enough to keep me buying the book..
BY COLIN ENQUIST
The X-Men have always been one of my favourite titles. When I really started getting into comics the two big X-titles were the first to be thrown onto my pull list. Not only were Uncanny X-Men and X-Men good at the time but it looked like they were not slowing down.I got a lot of enjoyment out of the two X-titles. Uncanny X-Men was always the better of the two books in my opinion, even with the Alan Davis art on X-Men. Suddenly the fortunes of each book changed, along with the dynamics of the teams. Grant Morrison came aboard X-Men (changing the title to New X-Men) and started a legendary run that has shaped the X-universe still to this day.
Soon after Morrison left the book, it reverted back to its original title, X-Men. Not entirely sure how long I stuck around but it was not very long. The book got terrible quickly, so I stopped picking X-Men up.
A coupe of months later, I realized that Uncanny X-Men was just as brutal. So now I am picking up comics without my usual X-titles. And these were the two books that helped get me into comics.
I still checked out solicits to see if it looked like either series was getting any better. Even reading a few reviews online, these only helped cement my decision of dropping the books though. It sounded like the books were a complete train wreck.
Then issue #500 of Uncanny X-Men was going to be released. A new creative team was promising a bold new direction. Sure I hated the art by Greg Land and Terry Dodson but I really enjoy Matt Fraction’s writing. So picking up a couple issues was worth a shot.
16 issues later and I’m back in the same boat as before! Fraction just finished tying up his big crossover with the Dark Avengers, leaving the team headed in a “bold new direction” again. Yes I disliked the start of the Exodus crossover bit it did end really strong.
Sadly the next issue lost my faith in Fraction. Most of the issue was devoted to Cyclops telling us that he has no plan; he was just rolling with the punches. At this point it seems like Fraction is doing just that, rolling with the punches, having no idea what to do with the characters or the series.
*insert sound of an axe falling*
That was the sound of Uncanny X-Men getting chopped from my pull list. Yes out of those 16 issues I bought over the last year or so, 6 might have been really good. That just is not enough to keep me buying the book..
Friday, October 2, 2009
Guillermo Del Toro Writes The Strain
With a little help from Chuck Hogan
BY COLIN ENQUIST
The Strain is a novel co-authored by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan and was released June 2nd, 2009. The Academy Award-winning creator of Pan’s Labyrinth and the Hammett Award-winning author of Prince of Thieves bring us an epic tale about the horrifying battle between man and vampire. It is the first instalment of what will be a trilogy of novels.
When I heard Guillermo Del Toro was writing a prose novel, well, I might have shrieked. Guillermo Del Toro is fast becoming one of my favourite writer/director and his imaginative mind could only bring us a fantastic story, right?
I will get to the novel in a moment. First I want to say that all I knew about this book was the name of the author(s), the title and the release date. When I received my copy of the book in the mail I did not even read the dust jacket. Tossing the jacket aside, I was flying completely blind into the novel. I was giving Del Toro (and Hogan!) the complete benefit of the doubt of telling a compelling story. Hopefully they would not disappoint.
The novel opens with what seems to be an all too common scenario since 9/11 for starting a story. A plane, loaded to the brim with passengers, has some strange misfortune at JFK airport in New York City. The writers do something a little different though, when the plane touches down on the runway, blackness envelops the plane, killing all the electronics. As the plane stalls in the middle of the runway, no movement comes from inside. Airport security calls in for emergency help. After consideration if this is some kind of terrorist attack, CDC (Centers for Disease Control) is called in and we are introduced to Dr. Ephraim Goodweather. Looking for a biological weapon, a fellow agent and Ephraim board the plane, dead, on the tarmac. They discover that everyone on board is pale and now a corpse. The puzzles are starting to pile up and Del Toro has me fighting my chores because I do not want to put the novel down! Almost the entire first section of the novel has you wanting to keep reading, hoping something will arise on the next page.
As Del Toro and Hogan start unravelling their story we are given hints through a few interludes to what exactly Ephraim and his fellow CDC agents are dealing with. The interludes bring us back into Nazi Germany, during the war. We are introduced to a young Abraham Setrakian (he was vaguely introduced earlier in the novel) and his battle to stay alive during the Holocaust in a concentration camp. To my surprise, Setrakian is more frightened by the monster that is hunting the weak in the concentration camp. We soon learn that this monster is actually the monster from his grandmother’s story that she told Setrakian at the start of the novel. These interludes are explanations throughout the novel to flesh out not only Setrakian’s story but also a good chunk of mythology that will be used later in the book (and possibly the series).
Shortly after a couple interludes, Del Toro and Hogan join Ephraim and Setrakian’s stories. Once the two meet up, questions really start to get answered. The ideas used by the writers actually made me second guess what I thought was happening. I was correct in my theory (but I was not confident about it!), vampires are active in this novels’ world.
Del Toro and Hogan created something new, building off the already existing (but underused) myths about vampires. Not only do they make the vampires seem highly original but the writers vivid imaginations cause them to be scary, disgusting, almost zombie like creatures that have no remorse for human life, truly treating us like a food source. Part of me wonders if cows think of us like this. If you have watched Blade II then you are already imprinted with some of Del Toro’s take on vampires. The visuals from that film really help generate the image your mind creates when you read the words on the page.
The one weaker side to this novel was the introduction to so many characters. Aside from Ephraim and Setrakian, not a single character felt fleshed out. An exception could be made for Ephraim’s son, Zack, who seemed interesting but was merely used as a plot device to direct some of Ephraim’s actions. Some characters play pivotal roles but are left without much use, popping up only when needed, silently waiting in the background for when called upon. The writers will hopefully expand more on one of the minor characters (an exterminator) in the next two novels who was featured very little in the novel but is a compelling character from what we read.
A gripping conclusion brings us to the end of act one, of the seemingly apocalyptic story, with an epilogue that is absolutely chilling. This novel was very intriguing but it is not the greatest stand alone story. More answers on the mythology will probably help to make this story a little more cohesive as well. You must know ahead of time that you will be required to read the next two chapters in the coming future (titled The Fall and The Night Eternal which will be released annually) to understand the entire story.
4 out of 5
BY COLIN ENQUIST
The Strain is a novel co-authored by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan and was released June 2nd, 2009. The Academy Award-winning creator of Pan’s Labyrinth and the Hammett Award-winning author of Prince of Thieves bring us an epic tale about the horrifying battle between man and vampire. It is the first instalment of what will be a trilogy of novels.
When I heard Guillermo Del Toro was writing a prose novel, well, I might have shrieked. Guillermo Del Toro is fast becoming one of my favourite writer/director and his imaginative mind could only bring us a fantastic story, right?I will get to the novel in a moment. First I want to say that all I knew about this book was the name of the author(s), the title and the release date. When I received my copy of the book in the mail I did not even read the dust jacket. Tossing the jacket aside, I was flying completely blind into the novel. I was giving Del Toro (and Hogan!) the complete benefit of the doubt of telling a compelling story. Hopefully they would not disappoint.
The novel opens with what seems to be an all too common scenario since 9/11 for starting a story. A plane, loaded to the brim with passengers, has some strange misfortune at JFK airport in New York City. The writers do something a little different though, when the plane touches down on the runway, blackness envelops the plane, killing all the electronics. As the plane stalls in the middle of the runway, no movement comes from inside. Airport security calls in for emergency help. After consideration if this is some kind of terrorist attack, CDC (Centers for Disease Control) is called in and we are introduced to Dr. Ephraim Goodweather. Looking for a biological weapon, a fellow agent and Ephraim board the plane, dead, on the tarmac. They discover that everyone on board is pale and now a corpse. The puzzles are starting to pile up and Del Toro has me fighting my chores because I do not want to put the novel down! Almost the entire first section of the novel has you wanting to keep reading, hoping something will arise on the next page.
As Del Toro and Hogan start unravelling their story we are given hints through a few interludes to what exactly Ephraim and his fellow CDC agents are dealing with. The interludes bring us back into Nazi Germany, during the war. We are introduced to a young Abraham Setrakian (he was vaguely introduced earlier in the novel) and his battle to stay alive during the Holocaust in a concentration camp. To my surprise, Setrakian is more frightened by the monster that is hunting the weak in the concentration camp. We soon learn that this monster is actually the monster from his grandmother’s story that she told Setrakian at the start of the novel. These interludes are explanations throughout the novel to flesh out not only Setrakian’s story but also a good chunk of mythology that will be used later in the book (and possibly the series).
Shortly after a couple interludes, Del Toro and Hogan join Ephraim and Setrakian’s stories. Once the two meet up, questions really start to get answered. The ideas used by the writers actually made me second guess what I thought was happening. I was correct in my theory (but I was not confident about it!), vampires are active in this novels’ world.
Del Toro and Hogan created something new, building off the already existing (but underused) myths about vampires. Not only do they make the vampires seem highly original but the writers vivid imaginations cause them to be scary, disgusting, almost zombie like creatures that have no remorse for human life, truly treating us like a food source. Part of me wonders if cows think of us like this. If you have watched Blade II then you are already imprinted with some of Del Toro’s take on vampires. The visuals from that film really help generate the image your mind creates when you read the words on the page.
The one weaker side to this novel was the introduction to so many characters. Aside from Ephraim and Setrakian, not a single character felt fleshed out. An exception could be made for Ephraim’s son, Zack, who seemed interesting but was merely used as a plot device to direct some of Ephraim’s actions. Some characters play pivotal roles but are left without much use, popping up only when needed, silently waiting in the background for when called upon. The writers will hopefully expand more on one of the minor characters (an exterminator) in the next two novels who was featured very little in the novel but is a compelling character from what we read.
A gripping conclusion brings us to the end of act one, of the seemingly apocalyptic story, with an epilogue that is absolutely chilling. This novel was very intriguing but it is not the greatest stand alone story. More answers on the mythology will probably help to make this story a little more cohesive as well. You must know ahead of time that you will be required to read the next two chapters in the coming future (titled The Fall and The Night Eternal which will be released annually) to understand the entire story.
4 out of 5
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