Halloween: The Posters

As it's Halloween tonight, we thought we would take a look back at the often iconic posters used throughout the long running Halloween film franchise.

Tron: Legacy Preview

The other night I was lucky enough to get to see 23 minutes of 3D footage from the soon to be released Tron: Legacy. In short, it was glorious. The whole event was part of a preview that Disney had organised across the country, and I was fortunate enough to receive some tickets from Adam at the excellent film site, hopelies.com. If you want to know my feelings on what I got to see from the film, I recommend you head over to hopelies.com to check out my report.

Being Bill Murray

Someone had the bright idea to do an exhibition of art based on the films of Wes Anderson, called Bad Dads. It's over in San Francisco so of course I can't go, but there's stuff from a whole bunch of artists that's pretty cool. One guy, Casey Weldon, has imagined what it would be like if Bill Murray played all the major Wes Anderson roles for some bizarre 'Malkovich Malkovich' reason. These are some peculiar portraits that show his talent as an artist, but perhaps also his need for a touch of therapy. Just kidding.

I find these at best disturbing, but I'm pretty sure I'm still going to make one of them my new Facebook profile picture. Maybe the Margot one.


via Slashfilm.

UNSTOPPABLE = OUT OF CONTROL!

The new Tony Scott film Unstoppable is out soon. It looks like Tony's got his hands on the script for an Asylum-type knock off of Speed, and is dragging Denzel Washington along for the ride again.

It's a nice poster I suppose, but it doesn't really hammer home the idea of a big ass train that's unable to stop. It's more about Denzel's gaze and Chris Pine's designer stubble. Maybe the German's can do a better job...

Blam!! That's a bit more like it! The train is almost literally coming out of the poster. Now, my GCSE German may be a little bit rusty, but I think 'Kino' means 'cinema' and 'Ausser Kontrolle' probably means 'Out of control'.


Hmmm... Out Of Control. That's got to have been used as the German title for a Hollywood action extravaganza before, surely? Oh it has! Which one, dare I ask?

Oh dear. That can't be a good sign.

CARLOS

Out in cinemas this weekend is the new film Carlos.

An epic tale of the notorious revolutionary Carlos The Jackal, it comes in two different versions; the original uncut version that clocks in at just short of 6 hours, and a trimmed down 2 1/2 hour version. Y'know, for wimps.

Ordinarily I'd always recommend that people view things cinematically, but even I'm put off by that 6 hour running time. It was originally meant to be a TV mini-series, so watching it at home isn't the worst crime ever. Added to the fact that no cinemas near me are daring to show it, I've not got much choice really.

Carlos arrives on DVD on November 1st, so you can watch it at home in all its glory... and make cups of tea, have bathroom breaks and wear pyjamas if you want too.

THE EXPERIMENT DVD review

This new Adrien Brody/Forest Whitaker starring thriller is now out on DVD.

Read my review and find out more, after the jump...

Obscurity Files #26 - Hudson Hawk

With RED hitting our screens this weekend, I though I'd take a look back at one of Bruce Willis' less fondly remembered films. Today, it's Hudson Hawk.

More after the jump...

Let The Right Cover Win

The release of Let The Right One In's remake Let Me In is now imminent, so we've been treated to the inevitable re-release of the original film on DVD. Why a film that only got released on DVD 14 months ago needs a re-release, I don't know. Well actually, of course I know.

The blood letting scene depicted on the cover definitely happened in the original film, but it's not exactly the first image I think of from the swedish vampire movie. This cover doesn't look like any of the marketing materials used for the original, but what it does look a bit like is the posters for the new one. I can just see it now...

"Hey Ma! We dont hav to go see that nuw vampire film at the sinemer. HMV hav got it fur a fiva!"

This release strategy happens all the time, recent examples being the original Clash Of The Titans and Inglorious Bastards (correct spelling) suddenly appearing on shelves when the new version is at the cinemas. You may think I'm being a bit cynical about the timing but trust me, I work in entertainment retail. They want stupid people to think it's the new one.

In a way, I'm all for this. I don't mind the existence of the remake, but the more people who watch the original, the better. I was a fan of the original film, and from what I've heard the remake is pretty good too, but I'll report on how they compare once they new version is released in cinemas in a couple of weeks. For now, I do like some of the things that they've done with this cover, in particular the quote from Empire...

Yep, last year. And just in case you're wondering what these guys think of the new version, they've put a bloody great sticker on the box to let you know.

SCREAM 4 trailer review

There's been a crappy copy floating around the internet for a couple of days, but here's a proper version of the new teaser trailer for Wes Craven's Scream 4 (or Scre4m if you want to be more accurate).

Back in 1996 I was a massive fan of the original film. It may seem a bit tame now, but I consider that my introduction to the horror genre. Don't judge me, I was young. I also enjoyed the second installment for all its intertextuality, but the third film was terrible, both in idea and execution.

The first thing I'd note is that this new film seems very much like a continuation of the first three. The bad guy's exactly the same, it's the same director and most of the original cast is back. As for my opinion of the trailer? Meh. Don't get me wrong, I'm excited to see the new installment, but all this trailer shows me is the new cast members. Kristen Bell, Hayden Panetierre, Emma Roberts...they're just there, they don't do anything.

It is reassuring to see all of the familiar faces (including Ghostface), but I'm pretty sure at least one of them isn't going to make it to after the opening credits. Don't look too closely as I think this trailer shows the death of one of those familiar faces. Of course, with a new Scream film comes a whole new set of rules, and it's up to Rory Culkin and Erik Knudsen to dispense them. You can tell they're the nerds, one has long hair and the other is wearing a headset.

The trailer keeps pointing out that they'll have to appeal to a new audience with new tricks, but from what I've seen here they're sticking to what they know. It's only a teaser so we'll see more before the April 2011 release date, but as a taste of things to come, I'm not completely sold on it yet.

Release Date April 2011
Anticipation Level

THE COLLECTOR DVD review

Out now on DVD is this horror from the writers of the new Saw, The Collector.

Watch the trailer and find out more, after the jump.

FROZEN DVD review

Here's another entry into the Claustrocore movement.

Watch the trailer and read my review, after the jump...

SUCK DVD review

Out now on DVD is the vampire rock opera, Suck.

Watch the trailer and find out my opinion of the film, after the jump...

BLACK SWANNAGE

These four new posters have just been released for Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan. It doesn't get released in the UK until February, but it's being screened at the London Film Festival on Friday. Don't bother trying to get tickets though, they're long gone. So if you're a chump like me who's got to wait until FEBRUARY 2011, I suppose at least these posters are pretty to look at until then.

Adverts-a-gogo

If there was ever any doubt that Wes Anderson and Roman Coppola were two cool motor-scooters, this new advert the pair have directed for Stella Artois pretty much answers my question.
It almost makes me want to start drinking.


On the rounds to find that video, I also found this recently released ad by Coppola featuring his cousin Jason Schwartzman. It's for the New Yorker app for the iPad, so on many levels is selling me a lifestyle I know nothing of...but it's still effortlessly cool. Man, I wish I was friends with these guys.

The Future's Black, The Future's Orange

If there's one film I'm really looking forward to getting released this year, it's Gulliver's Travels. Not that I want to watch it, lord no...but when it gets released I won't have to watch that stupid Orange ad anymore. If you've had a trip to the cinema recently you may have seen this little film before your main feature.

I've now seen this advert TEN times in cinemas, and I'm sure I'll have to sit through it many more times before Gulliver's Travels gets released at the end of the year. I understand that it's a clever little way to build awareness of an upcoming film, but how many times are we supposed to watch it before it becomes incredibly annoying?


Admittedly, I do visit the cinema more than your average filmgoer, but I've had to sit through it too many times, and never found it amusing. They must have a target viewing amount and I think I've hit mine now. This is Orange's second stab at this kind of ad, following the A-Team sting that was used a couple of months ago. I actually didn't mind that ad (although I lost count of how many times I had to watch it), because it was genuinely mildly amusing and helped to build the anticipation for the film.


Basically, I'm pleading with whoever is in charge to CHANGE IT NOW, or I think I'm going to boycott Gulliver's Travels when it comes out. Or I might start a rumour about Jack Black touching little people.

THE SOCIAL NETWORK review

Out this week in cinemas is the new David Fincher directed 'Facebook movie', The Social Network.

Find out more and read my review, after the jump...

MONSTER, MONSTER!!

The more I hear about the new film Monsters, the more I'm intrigued about it. I can't help but feel that I've seen the marketing campaign somewhere before though...

Hmmmm.....

The Dead Will Walk

The Walking Dead TV series starts soon, and I can't wait... except I'll have to for a bit. Those lucky bastards in the US get to watch the first episode on Halloween night. It's worth giving up candy for.


Here in the UK we have to wait a fraction longer, with the first episode appearing on FX on Bonfire Night. It's worth giving up fireworks for.

THE KILLER INSIDE ME DVD review

Out now on DVD and Blu-Ray is Michael Winterbottom's new film, The Killer Inside Me.

Watch the trailer and find out more, after the jump...

Obscurity Files #25 - Stuck

Obscurity Files aims to put the spotlight onto a series of films that time and audiences have otherwise forgotten. With the Ryan Reynolds starring Buried continuing the wave of Claustrocore films, I though I'd take a look at 2007's car crash thriller, Stuck.

More after the jump...

THE HUMAN CENTIPEDE DVD review

Out now on DVD and Blu-Ray is the 100% medically accurate, The Human Centipede.

Join me after the jump for my full, unflinching review...

THE BROTHERS BLOOM DVD review

Rian Johnson's follow-up to Brick is now out on DVD and Blu-Ray. Watch the trailer and find out more, after the jump...

Back To The Future - Now In Cinemas

Back To The Future is now back in cinemas for a limited time only. I can't stress how much I still love this film so I went to see it today at the earliest opportunity. I'd happily count it amongst my favourite films, and one that I can watch over and over again, but I've never had the chance to see it on the big screen before. Of course, I've viewed it at home countless times on many different formats (the Blu-Ray gets released at the end of this month, at which point I'll watch all three films all over again), but there was a special joy in experiencing it cinematically.


I'm not going to give the film a full review as I'd hope that everyone on the planet has already seen it, and if you haven't... well I don't know what's wrong with you.


All I'll say is that it looks great with its new digital print, and the sound quality was amazing. I heard background noise that I'd never heard in the film before, cleaned up to pristine condition. I need to check on this, but I'm sure there were alternate takes included in the film too. There were some line readings and some shots that seemed completely different to me, but maybe that was a side effect of seeing it on the big screen for the first time.


Seeing Back To The Future cinematically is almost as much a joy as actually travelling back in time to see it during its original run. Don't hesitate and go and see it before its gone. Check out findanyfilm.com to see where it's showing locally.