Wanted 2 on the way?

Apparently, Universal has hired Derek Hass and Michael Brandt (two writers of the first film) to pen the sequel to the 2008 adaption of the comic book penned by Mark Miller and J.G Jones. The first film saw an accountant down on his life learning that he comes from a line of badass assassin and decides to follow down the family path. The first film starred James McAvoy, Angelina Jolie, and Morgan Freeman. None of the cast members have been confirmed to return as of this moment, will keep you posted on the projects progress as it becomes available. Read Derek Hass’ tweet confirming the project below.

“Michael and I were just hired by Uni to write WANTED 2.”

Props to Coming Soon for the scoop.

Lionsgate Bringing Dead Island to the Big Screen.

Dead Island: A first person horror game for Playstation 3 and XBox 360 centered around a bunch of poor schmucks having to survive on a zombie-infested tropical island is getting the big screen treatment via Lionsgate. Having sampled the game myself I can safely say I’m looking forward to what they can accomplish with this. We’ve had plenty of zombie films thrown our way over the years but none that have taken advantage of appealing locales like a tropical island, color me intrigued. Will keep you folks updated as soon as more is announced on the project, until then check out the trailer for the game. Good stuff.

New Human Centipede 2 (Full Sequence) Trailer

Was the first Human Centipede flick flat out gross at times? Yes! But did it have balls and take chances? You’re damn right. Director Tom Six brought with his first go round with this franchise something we haven’t seen before in the genre. And for that I respect him. Now he is throwing a bigger version of the movie he already gave us with Human Centipede 2: Full Sequence. You want a brief synopsis of the film?

“A psycho who idolizes the psycho from the previous film performs on 12 people a procedure that is ’100% Medically Inaccurate’.

Props go to Yahoo Movies for the video.

Stephen King tackling a sequel to The Shining.

So, what does an author’s sequel to one of his most beloved books have to do with movie news? I’d venture to say more than we are aware right now. Stephen King has decided to pen the sequel to his 1977 novel The Shining.  Said novel was adapted to the screen in 1980 by directing legend Stanley Kubrick. A movie that was critically panned, even by King himself. But has since gained a massive cult following.  The sequel novel is entitled Dr. Sleep and will chronicle what little Danny “redrum” Torrance has been up to since the events of the first book. Stephen King himself has given us some of his thoughts on where he would like to take this. Read his comments below.

“This is an idea that I’ve had for some time. I wrote a novel in the ’70s called The Shining… I always wondered what happened to that kid, Danny Torrance, when he grew up… and this story started to form. The book isn’t finished yet, it’s called Dr. Sleep. This kinda goes back to: what’s the worst thing you can think of? I knew that there were bad people in this story that were like vampires, only that what they sucked out was not blood, but psychic energy from special people like Danny Torrance. And I came to realize that these people were called The Tribe and that they move around a lot. Their leader is a woman called Rose [unintelligible] they all have these kinda pirate names, because pirates is sort of what they are.”

So, it goes without saying that once this bad boy hits the scene it will be adapted soon after. Who do you see playing a grown up Danny Torrance? Who should direct due to Stanley Kubrick no longer being with us? Either way I am pumped to see how this will develop. Props to JoBlo for the heads up.

TV Poll: What did you think of the Terra Nova premier?

Review: Apollo 18

Directed By: Gonzalo Lopez-Gallego

Starring: Lloyd Owen, Warren Christie

Plot:

Recorded footage is found of the once thought cancelled Apollo 18 mission to the moon, in which two astronauts touch done thinking their mission is to place early warning detectors, but quickly find out that is not the case.

 

 

 

The Good:

It was hard not to watch this movie and not compare it to the found footage films that came before it, namely the Paranormal Activity franchise which had the same structure in places only it took place on earth. This film was by the book but it had a few saving graces, namely the look of the movie. No fancy looking found footage stuff going on here, they pulled off when this “true story” was supposed to have taken place beautifully with the Super 8 looking film style and the constant interruptions in the feed. It was a sight to see. So was the location, I mean I’ve never been to the moon, but that’s what I would imagine it would look like. Almost felt real…almost. The cast shined through when shit hit the fan (which thankfully didn’t take too long) they conveyed frustration, confusion, and eventually hopelessness really well. Is this movie scary? It had it’s moments, there were definately instances when I squirmed in my seet and got a half an inch out of it. Not as many nail biting moments as I would have liked ironically the scariest bit for me was watching one of the astronauts gradually losing his mind, he conveyed that great.

The Bad:

Myself and my family were a little let down by what was revealed to be the source of all the hell raising. I get they were going for something different but it leaned a little on the ridiculous side to me. But despite that I didn’t get as much of it as I wanted to, these found footage film goes off the motto less is more…fuck that. Give me more action damnit and less establishing shots of the moon. We didn’t get enough time to really connect to these characters as well, but in space there is not much opportunity for that. One touching moment went down where we’re reminded that these are shmucks with lives back on our little blue and green orb. More would have been appreciated. Finally a decision made at the climax of the flick didn’t do it for me. All I will say is this…when you’re trained and accept the possibility of anything including this crazy shit when you’re given an order especially like this one you follow it. This life requires you to accept certain things and you have to do them no questions asked. Bullshit ending imo.

My Final Answer:

Apollo 18 gets a C+ from me, the look of the film was amazing and it was a feast for the eyes and this bad boy delivered some quick scares which was appreciated, kept me from completely being bored with this movie. What drove the terror and what resulted from it didn’t please me and it kinda turned me off to it a bit but director Gonzalo Lopez did what he could with it and it was a great effort. This is not the worst way in the world to spend an hour and a half.  Now the upcoming Bucky Larson? The creator of what that is lookin to be needs to be smacked.

Interview: John Fallon

John Fallon gained noteriaty for his reviews on his horror website Arrow in the Head. His style is uncensored, raw, and real, and that has appealed to the everyman who digs the shit he does. He has also tackled just about every aspect of the film industry. He has appeared in films such as Saw II, Alone in the Dark, 100 Feet, and the upcoming Dead Shadows. He has also acted, written, and produced  his action thriller Deaden. Check out his full resume here. As if that wasn’t enough food to pack on his plate the man finds time to run his own personal blog. Yep, John is a regular renaissance man and he has taken time out of his schedule to answer a few questions from this schmuck.

Looking back to your start in Film and Acting School, does it ever surprise you that you made a name for yourself running a horror website?

Not sure surprise would be the term; but yeah that wasn’t part of the master plan. You have to understand that since I was a kid; I knew what I wanted to do; act in and make films. I never changed my tune; that was IT! So I went to film school, I then went to acting school and after that I was working as a script doctor for local production companies while doing the audition rounds in my home town of Montreal, Canada.  Then the site came at me out of left field; I started it as a goof and next thing you know, it got popular and I got known for it. On that, to this day I don’t consider myself to be a journalist or a critic; just some asshole that knows how to write and that shares his opinion on his website with whoever reads it… that’s it!

Over the course of 10 years I’ve had a love/hate relationship with Arrow in the Head; grateful that it brought so much to my life, but yet resentful that it took me off course as to my “game plan”. I’ve had a lot of “What if AITH didn’t happen, where would I be today?” moments in the past; but now, after a long tug of war with it, I’ve finally made peace with it. This is where I am, this is what I got, nobody but myself is stopping me from what I want next, onward and forward!

You have been running Arrow In The Head for over a decade (sorry if I made you feel old), what has been your favorite part about running the site?

It’s all good I stopped counting my age at 25 years old. What’s the point? J I won’t bullshit ya; when the perks kicked in they kicked in hard. I got to travel the world cause of the site. I’ve also been privy to groupies (good times) and got to attend lots of cool parties. Industry shin-digs, red carpets, Playboy parties the works! I also made lots of good friends in the biz and really dig my fanbase as I got to interact with lots of cool peeps over the years. I’ve witnessed beginner filmmakers, that with SOME of my help wound up being big shots. Shit even the haters bring a smile to my face. Nothing like waking up in the morning and seeing a three page thread on some message board debating my sexual orientation to start the day right! Like I said, the site has brought me a lot and I am grateful for that. I don’t feel “lucky” though; cause I worked my ass off and fucking earned it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

As far as horror goes, the times that made us love horror have changed. The method of making us bite our nails and jump up from our seats has had to adapt in a way. What do you look for in a horror film these days? And what are you tired of seeing?

I am tired of remakes, for the sole reason that there is too many of them coming out. Alsmot feels like its all Hollywood does now of late with the genre and beyond. I’m the old generation now; Hollywood is catering its products to the new audience, so fuck me and how I feel. It gets tiresome seeing films you’ve already seen but with a new cast and alterations tagged to them. Granted some of them turn out to be pretty good in their own rights (TCM, Fright Night); with that, if I could choose, I would go without them. As for what I look for? I personally crave minimalist, low key genre films that are axed on tension. Psychological, supernatural oriented or even a good creature feature. Rape and torture driven flicks are played out for me.

Anyone who follows your work knows you are a big action lover, and I know you well enough now to know you think this particular genre has been castrated the last few years. Are there any upcoming action films that you are looking forward to? Or have seen recently that gives you hope for the genre?

The action films that I love, the ones that embrace a man being a man as I know it, are often politically incorrect and are loaded with nasty kills, gore, pussy and a mammoth body count. Pretty much a kind of film that goes against the definition of the “man” they’re trying to sell us today:  whipped, effeminate and politically correct. REAL ACTION films are seldom these days; THE EXPENDABLES was a breath of fresh air for me, and the same goes for the new CONAN which wore its balls on its sleeves and wasn’t afraid to get its hands dirty. Jason Statham seems to be the KING of manly man action now of late; so Crom bless him, I am grateful that at least he’s around to keep the testosterone flow going…

I love horror, I love action, but I also love drama. Movies that make me think about it for a week straight after seeing it that reach me on an emotional level. What movies has struck an emotional chord with you? Have worked those tear ducts? Have stayed with you for weeks, months, years?

Ya know its funny, once reviewing films became a job; one that I have been doing for over 10 years, when I have time off, I try to do anything but watch movies. So on my down time I don’t watch much, unless we’re talking about Star Trek (OG) which I’m really into these days, or old school action flicks from Chuck Norris, Dolph Lundgren, Arnie, Stallone etc which I clock to unwind. With those, I can just watch them, enjoy them and move on, which is to be honest, revitalizing for me. A movie that has recently stimulated my tear ducks? I guess The Eagle. I was moved by its themes of honour, courage and friendship and teared up a couple of times, but I also think I had my own shit going on when I watched it, so am not sure if it was the film’s fault 100%. All that to say; when I don’t watch movies for the site; I’m usually out of the house doing something else that doesn’t remind me of work. Like climbing a mountain, jumping out a plane, Sea-Dooing, reading books, playing hockey, working out or rafting rivers. That’s what fulfills me now.

Apart from your responsibilities at Arrow in the Head you’ve acted, written, directed, produced your own films as well as for others. What role in the industry has been the most fulfilling for you thus far?

I really got off on directing. When I did The Red Hours, every obstacle you can think of was slapped my way and I took them on with arms wide open. Shit I even severely sprained my ankle at a certain point during the shoot, like real bad, I remember the cast/crew looking down at me with a “now what” expression on their faces. So I got up, popped some painkillers and hobbled my way through the rest of the shoot, in the name of getting it done. So yeah, directing is the equivalent of commanding a troop into battle trying to take down a fort. As the director, everything is on your shoulders, so lots of pressure yes, but total control? Yes as well. So I’d have to say that directing was the most fulfilling of all and yes I do aim to do more of it in the near future.

You have written, produced and starred in Deaden and you directed a short film entitled Red Hours (both top notch IMO), what have those projects meant to you? And how did they make you grow as a filmmaker?

Deaden was a full plate. Personally. it was a project born out of frustration ( a Hollywood deal I had, one that I had been developing for 3 years went tits up), we had little money to do it and 13 days to shoot it; I had a gun to my head and director Christian Viel had a bazooka to his. But it was a trip to give everything you have to make something happen.  Deaden is far from a perfect film; but taking into account what we had to play with and the little time we had to make it, I am very proud of it. As for The Red Hours. Well I can call it the most expensive 8 minutes of my life.. The Red Hours has a good story behind it, as it started out as a feature, with a script (by me) that was celebrated within the industry but eventually sank into nothingness due to the ineptness/dishonesty of the producers attached to it at the time. Once I got the rights back to the property; I had to get it out of my system somehow, I had put so many years and so much energy into it, so doing a short version of it  with my own money was the only way I came up with.  So I did it and I don’t regret doing it. The Red Hours feature acted as my film industry education, the shit they don’t teach ya in school; and am kind of grateful I learned that lesson fairly early on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You have an upcoming role in the upcoming French film Dead Shadows, can you tell us a bit about that project? And what else you have lined up in the future?

DEAD SHADOWS was one of them left field kinda of things. The script is a mix of Demons 2, Night of the Comets, The Thing and Pitch Black. And I play the Vin Diesel-ish type role. Since I got ill in 2009, I lost 35 pounds in the name of my health, but once I got this role, I had to gain weight again, so I started stacking up on protein and training like a mad man. The role itself fits with my usual typecast; tough, short on words high on action. And it’s in French…so that will be a first for me, acting in French from France. Am very excited to be doing it and if I go by the script, the movie will own! In terms of what else I have going; well am writing an action script for a US prod company right now, have a couple of acting gigs up in the air, am cooking something with Eric Red and I have  a feature that I will direct in due time (i.e. when I get the money), its long overdue.

What upcoming films outside the horror or action genre do you have your eye on?

None. But am pumped for The Expendables 2 and Universal Soldier 4

If you were locked in a room with someone who wanted to accomplish the things you have accomplished so far in the industry, what advice would you give?

To be honest; I don’t feel like I’ve accomplished shit yet. I am very hard on myself, and I guess it’s what keeps me striving for more. The only advice I can give is don’t be like me a “Jack of all trades and Master of some”. It’s very exhausting to try to do everything at the same time and at the end of it all; you might wind up cheating yourself. I’m stuck with it now, it’s my deck of cards but I don’t recommend it. Find ONE THING you’re passionate about and do it. Fight to overcome the hurdles, the back stabbers, the lies, the bullshit, the false starts. Keep fighting till you get what you want.

Also, don’t trust anybody, look at what they do, don’t listen to what they say and remember that  nothing means nothing till the check clears and it’s done. Finally don’t listen to anybody but your heart. If I’d listen to the Fallon haters out there or if I let the crooked scum bags in the biz get me down, I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing now.

Thank you for taking the time John, wish you continued success. Grab this industry by the balls man!

Thanks brother!

Review: Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Directed By: Rupert Wyatt

Starring: James Franco, Freida Pinto, John Lithgow, Brian Cox, Tom Felton, and Andy Serkis

Plot: Will Rodman, a scientist trying to find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease has his world turned upside down when his heart of gold leads him to take in an infant ape and raise it as his own. But he finds that the genetically engineered virus he used on the infants mother which gave her increased intelligence has transfered unto him.

The Good:

I had not seen any of the original Planet of the Apes movies, I caught Tim Burton’s installment which I was not a fan of so while I was excited to see this film from the trailers I went in not knowing what to expect. What I got was a gripping, emotional, exciting revamp of this franchise that left me wanting more. In talking about the goods this movie brought I must first mention Andy Serkis and the special effects team that brought the intelligent ape Cesar to life. On not just Cesar but all the apes that were featured here the CGI was nothing short of beautiful, the fur, the movements, the facial expressions. All unbelievably top notch. What I did not expect this movie to offer was the emotional weight it carried. James Franco’s close to home reasoning behind why he needs this drug to be successfull introduces us to his father (extrodinary performance by John Lithgow) the family unit between father, son, and ape I bought with no problems. And when Cesar was seperated from the people who raised him I felt for him, all the mistreatment he received at the facility he was sent to made me want to jump into the screen and join the revolution right along with Cesar and his crew. Tom Felton (although with a one note performance, he was pretty much Draco Malfoy without a wand here) did his job well in adding to the evolution of Cesar’s character. Speaking of that evolution it was beautiful to watch, to see Cesar go from outcast among his own kind to head honcho was amazing to see and had my eyes glued to the screen. Now that’s how you build to something.

The Bad:

A few gripes, the love subplot between James Franco and Freida Pinto was underdevloped, which was ok by me because I wanted the focus to be on the apes. No respect to Freida but her role wasn’t needed. Brian Cox seemed to have no closure to his character once shit hit the fan, would have liked to have seen him more. Finally once the apes escaped and the mayhem started I wanted more, what we got was action packed and exciting to watch but I didn’t want the chaos to end, I am fully expecting a sequel after the box office domination of this film so I will let that beef go on the count of anticipation for continuation.

My Final Answer:

This sucker gets an A- from yours truly. Did not know what to expect but I came out fully satisfied. The CGI and performances from everyone, especially Andy Serkis were awesome. It made me feel something. Many emotional chords were struck and I have to say I sympathized with Cesar all the way and was rooting for the apes the whole time. Since watching the movie I have gone on to watch the original Planet of the Apes starring  Charlton Heston and will be watching the remaining films of the original franchise. SIDE NOTE: This film is loosely based on the film Conquest of the Planet of the Apes. It is said to be a reimagining. This film made me excited for more, and has convinced me to keep myself busy with the original films while I wait. Bravo.

Top Ten Tuesday: Inspirational Flicks Part One

1. Rocky: Rocky Balboa was down, but was he out? Fuck to the no. With the help of Mickey, a kick ass soundtrack, and the lovely girl of his dreams Adrian, he acheived what all thought was impossible. Sure the opportunity was given to him by a champion who wanted a marketable opponent, but in a message that everyone can take something from; Rocky took that opportunity and did more then run with it. Good on ya Rocko.

2. 8 Mile: Choke, choke, choke, choke. Imagine how haunting those words can be for somebody. Jimmy “Rabbit” Smith got the shit hand of a lifetime. A crazy bullshittin girlfriend, havin to move back in with a mother who depends on a jackass to live, and being caught in a world he doesn’t feel will except him or his talent. But this gem of a movie shows us that life can only push someones face in the dirt so long before they start fighting back. Some over-react and start shooting places up, some kick ass in rap battles. This film was the acting debut for rap phenomenon Eminem. His acting skills are top notch. Who knew?

3. Remember The Titans: Who better to take a bunch of high school football players dealing with 1970′s desegregation and swiftly remove their heads from their racist asses than Denzel Washington and Will Patton? Remember the Titans is a touching tale about two seperate teams with all the differences in the world, including race coming together and becoming one undefeated team. This flick could have been a disaster if it wasn’t for the actors that portrayed the brain washed youths who became enlightened. Such a great cast to back up this great story.

4. Men of Honor: Cuba Gooding Jr. makes us root for him all the way in the true story of Carl Brashear. The man who was destined to become the first African American Master Diver in the United States Navy. He overcame prejudice, and the loss of a leg. The man is a beast and a testament to say nothing should hold you back from accomplishing your dream.

5. Apollo 13: A group of brilliant men bring the group of astronauts who intended to land on the moon safely home after the ships liquid oxygen tanks start leaking. Odds after odds were stacked against the crew and the boys back home pulled all their minds together and did what needed to be done with the undying leadership of flight director Gene Kranz (wonderfully played by Ed Harris).

Movie Score of the Week!

You know those scores that add a hightened sense of intensity and emotion? Yeah…well. The whole soundtrack for Chris Nolan’s Inception did just that. Feast your eyes and be taken away.