New Decade, New Rules, Same Poster

If we needed any more proof that the makers of the upcoming Scream 4 (or as they prefer Scre4m, or as I'm insisting, Screfourm) are desperately trying to appeal to fans of the original three slasher flicks, this new poster pretty much seals it.

More than just a little bit familiar to the first three films' posters, I'm pretty sure it's the same image of Neve Campbell's eye that was used for the second and third films, just more washed out and stretched to the wrong proportions. I suppose they're just sticking with what they know, but perhaps a new approach might have been interesting for this reboot, seeing as it's the first film in a proposed new trilogy.


One thing's for sure, if they're planning on introducing new actors to the franchise, they need to work on their alphabet a bit.

Police Academy: The Posters

With World's Greatest Dad finally out on DVD this week, lets take a look at the posters for the series of films where Bobcat Goldthwait first made his name. Ladies and Gents, it's time to join the Police Academy...

WORLD'S GREATEST DAD DVD review

Out now on DVD is the new Robin Williams starring, Bobcat Goldthwait directed black comedy, World's Greatest Dad.

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

BROTHERHOOD DVD review

Out now on DVD is this thriller about a fraternity initiation gone wrong.

Watch the trailer and read my review, next...

What The F*ck Is Jungle Burger?

Probably the most vulgar piece of animation I've ever seen, this Monday sees the release of the Bill Murray and John Belushi voiced Tarzan spoof, Jungle Burger, on DVD.

Before you watch the following videos I'd also better mention that they are unequivocally, 100% definitely, I'm really not lying...

All clear? Okay then, brace yourself...

THE HOLE BLU-RAY review

Out now on DVD and Blu-Ray is Joe Dante's new kids horror film, The Hole.

Watch the trailer and read more, next...

[the films of] SOFIA COPPOLA

As I think I made clear in my review of her latest effort Somewhere, I am a unashamed fan of Sofia Coppola's work. To answer those who say that her work is somewhat shallow, this expertly put together video (using clips and split screens of all of her films so far), highlights all the recurring themes that prove Coppola's work is more than skin deep.

Juxtaposing the faces, locales, emotions and experiences of her main characters, it pretty much sums up all that I love about Sofia Coppola's work in just over two minutes. As well as showcasing all of her strong, individual female leads, it also serves as a helpful reminder that Coppola's films have great music too.

This is just the first entry into a series of videos YouTube user keesvdijkhuizen is going to create, based on a multitude of different filmmakers. I'll be honest that this one interests me especially, but I'm intrigued enough to check in next month to see which filmmaker they've chosen to look at next.

As always, I'll keep you informed.

Total Film Movie Blog Awards: THE RESULT

After three weeks of people pressing buttons depending on who they were friends with, the voting for the Total Film Movie Blog Awards has finally come to an end. It was a well fought contest in my category, and Kino Obscura ended up taking the title of Best Review Blog. That's fine with me as it's a well deserved victory (not that I would have minded winning), and congrats to all the other blogs that were nominated. Here's the final top three for the Best Review Blog category.

Rather annoyingly I missed out on that podium finish, but it wasn't exactly a close run thing (there were about 150 votes between me and third place One Photo Reviews) and I finished a very respectable 4th place in the contest. As I like to think of it, if there were two podiums, I'd be on the top of the second one. Or, to use the lexicon of Total Film...

"(Not So Highly Commended)"

In all seriousness though, there were 20 pretty cool sites to choose from, and 4th place is higher than I could ever have wished for. Thanks to everyone who voted for me, as it's given me some validation to keep doing what I'm doing and really is most appreciated.


Despite all the accusations of vote rigging and such (I don't think there was any of that going on in my category, but apparently it was rife elsewhere), it was a fun experience to be a part of, and although I may not have won anything at least it got loads more visits to Slacker Cinema. Also, I'd never really thought of my blog as a 'review blog' before, but I kinda like the sound of that (and to be honest, I'd have got destroyed in the Best Overall Blog category).


So, thanks to Total Film for running the awards and for giving us lowly blogger types a whole heap of exposure. I'll see you guys again next year, when I plan on winning the whole thing.


Click here to check out all of the winners.

Obscurity Files #38 - Smiley Face

With Anna Faris about to be seen guarding Picnic baskets in Yogi Bear, lets take a look at her with a major case of the munchies. Today, it's time to check out Smiley Face.

More, next...

SAVAGE DVD review

Out now on DVD is this new Irish thriller about one mans quest for vengeance after a brutal attack.

Read my review, next...

JACKBOOTS ON WHITEHALL DVD review

Screaming into the world like the bastard child of Team America and Churchill: The Hollywood Years, this new animated film is now out on DVD.

Check out the trailer and read my review, next...

BLACK DYNAMITE DVD review

This affectionate pastiche of the films of the Blaxploitation era is now out on DVD. Can you dig it?

Check out the trailer and read my review next, sucka...

NINE DEAD DVD review

Out now on DVD is this new thriller starring Sabrina's Melissa Joan Hart.

Check out the trailer and read my review, after the jump...

BLACK SWAN review

Out now in cinemas is the new film by Darren Aronofsky.

Read my review, next...

How To Sum Up The Vast Difference Between Being At The Sundance Film Festival and Being In The United Kingdom In Two Photographs

 
...Just sayin' is all.

SCREAM 4 trailer review

Now officially available to view after the leaked copy was removed from the internet by the movie police, this new trailer gives us clues to how they're going to reincarnate Ghostface and the Scream franchise.

Check out the trailer, next...

"And May Their First Child Be A Masculine Child"

As if Robert De Niro's GodFocker routine from earlier this year wasn't bad enough, we've now got Tyler Perry pissing all over the Godfather's memory. I don't know what's worse; the complete desecration of one of cinemas most iconic posters, or that people still find a grown man in a wig funny.


It's not like I was going to see the new unexplainably successful Tyler Perry film anyway, but I'm sure as hell not going to now.


Oh look, I can refuse!

Obscurity Files #37 - Beverly Hills Ninja

As Grown Ups is out now on DVD and Blu-Ray, it gave me an excuse to watch this lost 90's Chris Farley "classic".

Read more, next...

RUBBER trailer review

Earlier this week we had a new poster, and now here's the first feature trailer for Rubber. You've never seen anything like this before, unless maybe you work at a haunted Kwik-Fit.

Watch the trailer, next...

CHOOSE DVD review

Out now on DVD is this new slasher film to rival the Saw franchise. Yeah right, of course it will..

Watch the trailer and find out more, next...

OUTCAST DVD review

Out now on DVD is this new James Nesbitt/Kate Dickie starring horror.

Check out the trailer and read my review, next...

How To Disappoint Your Children This Week

The cost of Tangled Up on DVD = £3.00
The cost of a family ticket to take your child to see 

Disney's Tangled at the cinema = £22.00

The look on their face when they realise you've gone for the cheaper option = PRICELESS

Hobo With A Shotgun - Coolest Poster Ever

Yeah, but my question is, what's it all about? Joke.

Continuing the Grindhouse aesthetic from 70's cinema as well as the somewhat failed Tarantino/Rodriguez experiment from a couple of years back, this film is actually the result of a competition that ran during the release of Planet Terror/Death Proof to find a fan made trailer that captured the spirit of Grindhouse.

After winning that contest with his original short, director Jason Eisener was able to get funding to make a feature length version of the film, with Rutger Hauer picking up the shotgun in the lead role. Looking at the poster that's pretty good casting in my opinion. He's one angry Hobo.

This looks to me like it could be better than both Planet Terror and Death Proof. I quite liked Planet Terror, although it was more like John Carpenter gone mad and didn't really capture what Grindhouse was all about. Death Proof was closer to the real thing (simple premise, cheap execution), but was a bit too car orientated for me.

Apart from a couple of well made 70's style posters making the rounds, little has been seen of Hobo With A Shotgun yet (although the poster looks like it holds some clues), but with its world premiere at Sundance later this month, I expect it to become a much talked about slice of throwback cinema. Michael Madsen, take note.

I hope the film is as good as the retro styled posters. If so, count me in.

What Do Washed Up Movie Stars Do Whilst They're Waiting For Quentin Tarantino To Call?

I think I've just found a new front runner for worst film of all time. A film so cringingly terrible that no one looks good in it. A film that undoes any goodwill Quentin Tarantino had created for the cast. A film called...

Check out the trailer, next...

Obscurity Files #36 - Gleaming the Cube

Quite possibly the most random film I've ever chosen to review, let's take a look at the Christian Slater skateboarding drama, Gleaming the Cube.

More, next...

HAPPYTHANKYOUMOREPLEASE trailer review

Here's the trailer for Josh 'How I Met Your Mother' Radnor's directorial debut. No-one mention Zach Braff.

A multi strand story about a group of New Yorkers going through existential crises and suffering from mid-20's malaise. It may sound like the plot outline of a million different self-indulgent indie movies, but I'm totally on board for this one, largely due to the cast. This is Josh Radnor's first big screen outing as a writer and director, and the comparisons to Zach Braff's Garden State are unavoidable, but I think this looks interesting enough to get past that. Not that I didn't enjoy Garden State back in 2004, but Braff's career since hasn't done wonders to his film's legacy.

HappyThankYouMorePlease managed to get some good word of mouth at Sundance last year, going on to win the Audience Award for best dramatic feature. It looks like the Malin Akerman surviving cancer thread carries some dramatic weight, but with Tony 'Buster Bluth' Hale featuring also, there's the chance it could be sweetly romantic.

I'll freely admit that I'm a fan of How I Met Your Mother, and hopefully Radnor's picked up some tips there on how to deliver a believable story about dating in the modern world without pushing it too far in the direction of cheesiness. I'm sure Radnor's story is going to feature a romance between him and Kate Mara, while the segment with the lost young boy will surely lead to some Cop and a Half style hijinks. I hope it manages to stay the right side of schmaltz and offer up a few good laughs.


Who knows? This may just be light enough to appeal to a mainstream audience, and the obscure but quotable title alone will be enough to pull in the indie hipster crowd. That's clearly who this film is unashamedly aimed at. The advert at the end of the trailer, telling you to download the song from iTunes, says it all really.


Due March 2011
Anticipation Level

SPIDERMAN PICTURE EXCLUSIVE!!

I guarantee* you won't see this photo anywhere else on the internet today.


*Not a real guarantee.

Rubber - Could This Be The Greatest Movie Poster Pun of All Time?

Okay, so it loses some of the overall effect thanks to the American spelling of tyre, but still good work fellas. That's some top-notch punnery.

SEASON OF THE WITCH review

Out now in cinemas is the new Nicolas Cage supernatural thriller.

Check out the trailer and read my review, next...

Cineworld In Failure To Grasp French Shocker

Sacre Bleu! Or should that be Vert?

Oh Adam Sandler, Where Did It All Go Wrong?

Laidback statement of the week...

Frank reply of the week...

F DVD review

Out now on DVD is this latest entry into the 'Hoodie Horror' sub-genre.

Check out the trailer and read my review, next...

Obscurity Files #35 - The Craft

With Nicolas Cage currently in cinemas battling against the dark arts in Season of The Witch, I thought I'd take a look at some other on screen witches.

Today, it's the turn of 1996's teen Wicca movie, The Craft.

Total Film Movie Blog Awards

The nominees for the 2011 Total Film Movie Blog Awards have just been announced, and you'll never guess who got nominated in the Best Review Blog category? ME!

There's a list of 20 cool sites to peruse at your leisure, but any support thrown my way would be most appreciated. Voting is open until Thursday 27th January, with the winners announced the day after. I imagine there's some big ceremony where I get to meet the Queen and Alan Carr, but I'll have to wait and see the results.


I recommend you take a look at the other categories too, as they feature some of Slacker Cinema's personal favourites. Follow this link to see the full list of nominees and cast your vote!


Best of luck to all my fellow nominees!

A SERBIAN FILM DVD review

Out now on DVD is this new horror, set within the dark recesses of the Serbian porn industry.

If you dare, check out the trailer and read my review, next...

And the Oscar Goes To... Steve-O????!!!

Without a doubt the best film last year to feature someone getting slapped in the face by a giant hand, kudos to Johnny Knoxville et al for seeking the glory they so rightly deserve. You can just see them walking on stage to collect their Oscars now, Can't you? Can't you? The best thing about this Oscar campaign is how they've not bothered to put themselves forward for consideration in the Best Documentary category, the one place where I think they had a chance of a nomination (a very small chance yes, but it could happen).


If only Simon Cowell owned the Oscars too, there'd be a facebook group right now, determined to spoil his fun by having Jackass 3D take home Best Picture. But seeing as that's not the case (yet), I think it may end up being a fruitless campaign.


Methinks the Oscar voters aren't too keen on Poo Volcanoes.

The Social Network: It's The Film Everybody's Talking About. Badum Tish!

All hail the cover art for the soon to be released DVD and Blu-Ray of last year's best film, The Social Network. It's the same as the US cover, except they've switched out some of the lesser known US reviews for more UK-centric ones. Who needs The New Yorker when you've got RadioTimes.com?


It's a clever cover, emulating the style of a facebook feed without being overtly copycat. I like the way Jesse Eisenberg's Mark Zuckerberg is looking on in that slightly smug way, re-appropriating that particular scene to make it look like he's spotted at all the plaudits his story has garnered. Hey, who could blame him?


It's a smart cover for a smart film, although I can guarantee that blue band on the top will confuse old people looking for the DVD into thinking it's a Blu-Ray. Trust me, I have to work with these people. Anyways, the Social Network will be released on DVD and Blu-Ray on February 14th, and it's jumped to the top of my most anticipated releases from last year.


I suppose a more apt way to put it would be...

DEATH RACE 2 DVD review

Out now on DVD and Blu-Ray is this prequel to Jason Statham's 2008 prison based car-racing actioner.

Watch the trailer and read my review, next...

PIRANHA 3D DVD review

Out now on DVD and Blu-Ray is this remake/sequel to the 70's Roger Corman exploitation flick.

Read my review, next...