The Allmovie Blog

Why So Misogynistic?

Perry Seibert — Wed, 07 May 2008 20:20:29 +0000

Ever wonder what the Batman franchise might look like if Neil LaBute wrote and directed it? Comedy Central’s Matt Tobey did too.

DVD Review - The Forest

Jason Buchanan — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 19:01:29 +0000

Anyone raised when the VCR became a common household item and VHS was still king is sure to remember those long walks down the seemingly endless aisles of the local mom and pop video store – those clunky, oversized plastic treasures beckoning to be rented, taken home, and enjoyed in the comfort of one’s own living room. The striking artwork on a number of those clamshell cases was so luridly vivid that it seemed to dare the indecisive movie lover to pass it by, such was the case with the cover of Don Jones killer-in-the-woods frightener The Forest – the image of two crazed eyes peering wildly from behind prickly branches and hand firmly clutching hunting knife hinting at horrors that might make the average viewer give up camping for the foreseeable future. Now Code Red and BCI have teamed to bring this seldom seen tale of terror and cannibalism to DVD for the enjoyment of a whole new generation of retro loving horror hounds. The 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen image certainly bears signs of wear and tear, though film looks decent for not having been digitally restored and the Dolby Digital Stereo soundtrack is clean and well-balanced. Cinema completists and fans of obscure slasher flicks will no-doubt be happy to hear that this release of The Forest offers not just one (as the packaging suggests) but two commentary tracks for the film. The first commentary track, featuring director Jones and star Gary Kent, sounds like it was captured on a tape recorder as the pair watched the film in an actual movie theater and touches on a number of interesting details regarding the production. The second track finds genre writer Greg Goodsell moderating a relaxed commentary track featuring director Jones and cinematographer Stewart Asbjornsen. The latter of the two may be a bit more technical in nature, but still makes for a fairly lively and entertaining listen. As if two commentary tracks weren’t enough, {@Code Red} has also seen fit to include a satisfying, thirteen-minute featurette featuring extensive on-camera interviews with Jones, Asbjornsen, and Kent. Among other things, the featurette finds director Jones revealing why he sees The Forest as more of a psychological shocker than a slasher film and discussing a botched early screening for a potential distributor. A photo gallery offers glimpses at some old VHS covers, production stills, and candid shots, and a promo trailer for the film gives viewers an idea of what kind of rural mayhem to expect in the flick. Trailer hounds will be happy to note the inclusion of seven Code Red previews including promo spots for Schoolgirls in Chains, Devil Times Five, and Secrets of Sweet Sixteen among others.

Hell Above Water and in Trailers

Jason Buchanan — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 15:52:17 +0000

Got a high-octane action flick (perhaps of the comic book variety) that you’re looking to sell to a multiplex crowd and wondering what music to slap over that seizure-inducing, seven-frames-per-cut-maximum trailer… might we suggest the track “Hell Above Water” by the now-defunct UK electronica-goth legends Curve?

Perhaps one of the most under-appreciated and influential techno-based bands of the 1990s, Curve was the collaborative creation of guitarist Dean Garcia and Toni Halliday, and created atmospheric music that could be at once ferocious, vulnerable, sensual, and hypnotic. Don’t believe us? Take a listen to any Garbage album and try to deny that it’s a more mainstream reworking of the exact same musical model. As enjoyably poppy and radio-friendly as the music of Garbage may be, it sounds downright anemic compared to the overwhelming sonic assault of their primary influence.

Which, of course, means that the music of Curve perfectly compliments just about any trailer where lots of stuff blows up, superheroes duke it out with villains while dangling precariously from instantly-recognizable landmarks, and the camera glides smoothly around the protagonist in an impossible, CG-enhanced 360 degree shot. The first time I remember hearing “Hell Above Water” in a theater was when I saw the trailer for Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man, and it truly flipped me out; I couldn’t believe that someone had finally realized the cinematic potential of what just may be my favorite band. Over the course of the next few years, it seemed as if others had also become privy to this fact as the song turned up frequently in trailers for such films as X-Men, Miami Vice, and, most recently, both the teaser and full trailers for Iron Man.

But that’s only the beginning, because Curve’s music could frequently be heard as background buffer music on MTV, featured in a memorable scene on the show Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and even in a version of the ongoing FIFA Soccer series as well as the official trailer for the PS3 game Motorstorm.

Of course the double-edged sword to this is the fact that some of the best tracks by Curve aren’t the most frenetic ones, but the more pensive, dreamlike tracks that masterfully layer instruments, vocals, and ambient sounds in a way that completely envelopes the listener: tracks such as “Superblaster” and “Horror Head.”

Curious to hear more? No need to scour the web, as your ever-accommodating reporter here at the All Movie Blog has assembled a collection of trailers featuring the music of Curve, as well as links to some of the band’s best music videos. While I couldn’t locate the trailers for Miami Vice or the X-Men that used Curve’s music, I think the modest collection below is a decent introduction to both the band and their unique cinematic legacy. And though the band proper may be no more, I for one look forward to many years of watching trailers and being pleasantly, nostalgically surprised by those familiar ethereal sounds.

Enjoy!

Official:

Iron Man

Spider-Man

X-Men

Miami Vice

Video Games:

Fan Made Fun:

Curve Music Videos:

Horror Head
Clipped
Coast is Clear
Ten Little Girls
Fait Accompli
Superblaster

…and then, for the die-hard fans, there’s always this.

Indy IV Trailer!

Jeremy Wheeler — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 14:25:10 +0000

Well here it is — the Jones trailer the world has been waiting for. And how hot is it? Smokin’ says us. As far as scorecards go, Kingdom of the Crystal Skull’s action looks huge — with lots of Indy swinging, whipping, running and dishin’ out quips as only he can. Spielberg also serves up an iconic silhouette shot (which he references in the official site’s latest video on Jones’ trusted fedora) and goes lengths to remind audiences that this aging action star still has a whole lot of fight in him. Oh yes, and for all of you scared of a certain young actor screwing things up — the good news is that Shia LaBeouf is hardly in the 1:45-minute trailer, though curiously, so is Karen Allen. One thing is for sure, there are plenty more surprises left in this sucker. In a day and age when Hollywood spoils everything online before a film even is released, it’s good to know that one of the most anticipated flicks of all time still has some guarded tricks up its sleeve. The countdown has begun — let May 22nd not come fast enough!

Click here to see the tease in wondrous HD.

UPDATE 2/15/8: For anyone that was wondering just what the heck was going on with Ray Winstone’s CG waistline at the 57-second mark, Ain’t It Cool did some digging and stumbled upon some E.T. rerelease-styled computer trickery. It seems that the filmmakers might’ve been forced by the MPAA to erase out a group of soldiers that were pointing guns at our favorite fearless archeologist and his new British buddy. If that’s not bad enough, an American flag was also added into U.S. teaser as well. Photographic proof can be found at the link, along with a path leading to the International trailer.

The Passing of a Prolific Poster Artist — John Alvin: 1948-2008

Jeremy Wheeler — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 22:39:30 +0000

Few in the movie industry have had quite as big of an impact as John Alvin, renowned poster designer, whose death at the age of 60 has once again sent us down nostalgia lane as we look back on glorious ad art gone by. The Internet Movie Poster Awards have a statement from his family, with other sites chiming in with their own memorials. Here at AMG, we’d like to commemorate Alvin’s life with this collection of his work, spanning such films as Cape Fear, Gremlins, E.T. as well as a host of others. His legacy will live on in his superb illustrations and deft design schemes that made him a go-to guy for the likes of Steven Spielberg, Mel Brooks and Walt Disney Animation during its successful run in the ’90s.

Most recently Alvin was featured in the Blade Runner Collector’s and Ultimate DVD editions, both of which dedicated a feature to the iconic ad art of the groundbreaking film. Click through the jump to see what made Alvin one of the most highly regarded draftsmen in the business.

For more examples of Alvin’s art, feel free to visit this fan site, filled with alternate designs as well as artwork never carried over for home entertainment releases.

Son of Rambow trailer shoots a flaming arrow of nostalgia straight into the hearts of Gen-Xers everywhere

Jason Buchanan — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 17:34:27 +0000

Now that we’ve all been eviscerated, decapitated, chopped, filleted, flayed, and riddled with bullets by Rambo, battle-weary moviegoers may be in desperate need for something a little more uplifting. While some may see the title “Son of Rambow” and immediately assume that Asylum is once again seeking to cash-in on the box-office of a major theatrical release, a closer look reveals that this film isn’t just another cheap knock-off, but a nostalgic coming of age comedy drama that actually uses the original Sylvester Stallone action classic First Blood as a springboard to explore such themes as faith, imagination, and friendship. Granted this concept may sound a bit too heady in black and white, but a closer look at the recently released trailer for Son of Rambow reveals that writer/director Garth Jennings may have in fact assembled all the ingredients necessary to whip up one of the year’s most quirky and endearing indie films.

Shyamalan’s The Happening Gets Teased

Jeremy Wheeler — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 20:29:19 +0000

Just last week I stared at a standee for M. Night Shyamalan’s upcoming thriller The Happening and wondered just when the heck 20th Century Fox was going to unleash a sneak peek at this bad boy — well, wonder no more, for the teaser has finally hit and it is good. The flick follows a father (Mark Wahlberg) and son that embark on a frantic journey to outrun a mysterious airborn virus. This is the first time that Shyamalan has dipped his foot into the R-rated game, so expect some dark material both thematically as well as viscerally. The Happening opens on June 13th and co-stars Zooey Deschanel and John Leguizamo.

Dead On: The Life and Cinema of George A. Romero

Jason Buchanan — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 18:41:50 +0000

As the release of Diary of the Dead draws near and zombie fanatics across the globe shiver in anticipation, what better way to celebrate the cinema of a true living legend than to reflect back on his remarkable life and career? Independent filmmaker Rusty Nails has been working on a documentary about horror visionary George A. Romero for some years now, and recently, a trailer for his film Dead On: The Life and Cinema of George A. Romero debuted online.

Take a look at the trailer below, and when you’re done why not head on over to the official website for the film to find out more. Judging by the looks of things, Nails has really outdone himself in crafting a comprehensive retrospective on the man who frightened generations of horror fans into seeing the world from a unique, and truly thought-provoking vantage point.

First Glimpses of Choke and Star Trek

Matt Tobey — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 19:15:44 +0000

From Twitch comes our first ever look at footage from Choke, the adaptation of Chuck Palahniuk’s book, which is premiering at Sundance this week. The clips of the flick are interspersed with a short interview with first-time director Clark Gregg, who’s sure to come under heavy scrutiny from devotees of the source material. Palahniuk fans looking for the grit of David Fincher’s Fight Club will be disappointed, but I think the stark look of Gregg’s movie will work really well with the story. See for yourself after the jump.

Meanwhile, Yahoo has the teaser trailer for JJ Abrams’ Star Trek.

Post-Apocalyptic Trailer Goodness!

Jeremy Wheeler — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 15:51:29 +0000

Good gravy — it’s 1981 all over again. Universal has just posted the new trailer for Neil Marshall’s ’80s action throwback, Doomsday. After stunning the horror world with The Descent and before that, Dog Soldiers, this UK golden boy is back with a return to big stunts, big mohawks, and big vehicles busting through other big vehicles. Rhona Mitra stars as an agent for the government who has to brave a no man’s land filled with virally-infected inhabitants that hold the key to the future of humanity. Along the way, she battles crazy tattooed chicks with swords and whacked-out dudes in suits of armor. And waiting for her at the end of the journey — Malcolm McDowell in a monk’s outfit. Sounds like Excalibur Escapes From the UK to the US, making it one of the must-see flicks in 2008. Follow the link for the trailer and then be sure to click through to catch more stills from this exciting project that’ll turn on the nostalgic taps for genre-guzzling followers of guns, car chases, and wild mash-ups of the movies of yesteryear.

Click here for the trailer.