FanDominion

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April 5th, 2009 by Davodd

Review: Scab

scab-flRATING: R (Graphic Sex, Nudity, Gore, Violence, Language)
OPENS: Currently playing the art-house circuit and expected on DVD for Halloween 2009.
GENRE: Horror, Gay, Indie

CHILD FRIENDLY: NO
PARENTAL WARNING: This is a film for adults. It has graphic gore, violence, same-sex sexual situations, full frontal nudity . This is ot a film you’d want to watch with any of your family members in the room – let alone children.

This film is not for the faint of heart – or the easily offended. It is full of gore, violence, seedy graphic sex (both heterosexual and homosexual) and language that would make a sailor blush.

But if that kind of stuff doesn’t bother you, Scab offers an original take on the vampire mythos.

Throughout the literary and filmed history of movies, the line between vampirism and sexuality has been blurred – at best. In Scab, the debut film by writer-director Thomas Jason Davis, who explains his own film’s matter-of-fact take on sexuality:

In my twisted little geek-boy fantasy, the lusted-for slut-boy Ajay finally admits that he loves the geek. It’s like Sixteen Candles with cockrings. Say Anything with fangs and lube and a touch more self-loathing.

- Thomas Jason Davis, Director

The Plot

The movie starts with a rather graphic and violent gay one-night stand where Ajay learns “not” doesn’t always mean know at the hangs of a vampire.

We have our initial assessment confirmed in the following scene through his two friends, Teague and Floor, talk – unknowing what happened to Ajay – discussing how their good friend Ajay is a slut who is living an empty life. We also learn that nerdy Teague has an unrequited crush on Ajay and the hunky and straight Floor is a heterosexual version of Ajay who is not above flirting with anyone – men or women – to get advantage of a situation.

Needless to say, the next time we see Ajay, he’s woken up undead and is dealing with his new hunger for neck tartar and loses touch with Teague and Floor, who come over to check in on their friend.

This leads to a road trip to Las Vegas for the three, where their journey brings about some much-needed self discovery – with a body count. This is a vampire movie, after all.

The film crates yet another mythos of what vampirism is and how it spreads. In doing so, it eliminated the already blurred line between vampires and sex.

WATCH THE TRAILER

WARNING: Course language

[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9KETJHoKm0]

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April 4th, 2009 by Davodd

Dollhouse: “Echoes” (Watch the full episode)

Dollhouse, Episode 7

Echo is strangely drawn to a college campus, where a new drug is causing the students to kill themselves. She has flashbacks to her life as Caroline, where her boyfriend Leo was killed at the same college.

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April 4th, 2009 by Davodd

Top 50 Genre Films of 2008

 

Following are the top-grossing science fiction, fantasy, horror and spy-fi films of 2008.

 

Rank Overall Title Gross
(in millions) 		 Budget
(in millions)
 1. 1.  The Dark Knight  $1,001
US: $533 		  $185
 2. 2.  Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull  $787
US: $317		  $185
 3.   3.    Kung Fu Panda  $632
US: 417		  $130
 4.  4.   Hancock  $624
US: $396 		  $150
 5.  6. Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa  $591
US: $180		  $150
 6.  7.  Iron Man  $582
US: $318		  $140
 7. 9.  WALL-E  $535
$US: 224		  $180
 8. 10.  The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian  $420
US: $141M		  $200
 9. 12.  The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor  $401
US: $103 		  $145
 10. 13.  Twiight  $377
US: $192		  $37
 11. 14.  Wanted  $341
US: $135 		  $75
 12. 15.  The Curious Case of Benjamin Button  $329
US: $127 		  $150
 13. 17.  Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who!  $297
US: $155 		  $85
 14.  18.  Bolt  $287
US: $114 		  $150
 15. 19.  10,000 B.C.  $270
US: $95 		  $105
 16. 20.  The Incredicle Hulk  $263
US: $135 		  $150
 17. 22.  Journey to the Center of the Earth  $242
US: $102 		  $60
 18. 23.  The Day the Earth Stood Still  $231
US: $79 		  $80
 19. 24.  Get Smart  $230
US: $130 		  $80
 20. 26.  Jumper  $222
US: $80 		  $85
 21. 30.  Bedtime Stories  $209
US: $110 		  $80
 22. 36.  Cloverfield  $171
US: $80		  $25
 23. 39. The Happening  $164
US: $65 		  $48
 24. 40.  The Spiderwick Chronicles  $163 
US: $71 		  $90
 25. 41.  Hellboy II: The Golden Army  $160
US: $76 		  $85
 26. 47.  Beverly Hills Chihuahua  $141
US: $95 		  N/A
 27. 48.  The Forbidden Kingdom $129
US: $52 		  N/A
 28. 59.  Nim’s Island  $100
US: $48 		  $37
 29. 60.  Speed Racer  $94
US: $44 		  $120
 30. 63.  Max Payne  $85
US: $41 		  $35
 31. 64.  The Tale of Despereaux  $84
US: $51 		  $60
 32. 70.  Mirrors  $76
US: $31 		  N/A
 33. 72.  Death Race  $75
US: $36 		  $45
 34. 74.  Babylon A.D.  $72
US: $23 		  $70
 35. 75.  Superhero Movie  $71
US: $26 		  N/A
 36. 78.  The X-Files: I Want to Believe  $69
US: $21 		  $30
 37. 79.  Star Wars: The Clone Wars  $68
US: $35 		  N/A
 38. 81.  Space Chimps  $65
US: $30 		  $37
 39. 85.  The Eye  $57
US: $31 		  N/A
 40. 94. Shutter $48
US: $26 		  N/A
 41. 95.  CJ7  $47
US: $0.2 		  N/A
 42. 96.  One Missed Call  $46
US: $27 		  $20
 43. 105.  Quarantine  $41
US: $32 		  $12
 44. 114.  The Spirit  $38 
US: $20 		  N/A
 45. 115.  Fly Me to The Moon  $38
US: $13 		  $25
 46. 129.  Igor  $30
US: $20 		  $25
 47. 134.  Ghost Town  $27
US: $13 		  $20
 48. 144.  The Ruins  $23
US $17 		  N/A
 49. 146.  Doomsday  $22
US: $11 		  N/A
 50.  148. Over Her Dead Body  $21
US $8 		  N/A

Source: Box Office Mojo

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April 3rd, 2009 by Davodd

Missing 2 hours of Metropolis found

If you’re a fan of the 1927 silent science fiction classic Metropolis, I’ve got some news for you: you haven’t seen the whole movie. In fact, you don’t know the half of it. Literally.

This past summer, film archivists discovered Fritz Lange’s director’s cut of the 1927 film that has been thought lost for 80 years.

The version known to most audiences is the 1929 114-minute theatrical release version by U.S. studio,Paramount.

The director’s original cut, on the other hand is three and a half hours, or a whopping 210 minutes.

According to the discoverers, the previously deleted scenes – once restored – flesh out entire subplots and give new meaning to secondary characters in the film.

Because of scratches and degraded condition of the long-lost film, restorers say it could be years before the full 3.5 hour epic director’s cut is ready to be shown in theatres or available for sale on DVD.

 

Sources/Additional reading:

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April 2nd, 2009 by Davodd

Trailer: Alien Trespass

OPENS: April 3, 2009
RATING: PG (Cartoon violence)
GENRE: Science Fiction Comedy

Starring: Eric McCormack, Jenni Baird, Robert Patrick, Jody Thompson

Director: R.W. Goodwin

Writer: Steven P. Fisher based on the story by Steven P. Fisher and James Swift.

Plot: Aliens invade – and hilarity ensues. Set in 1957, Alien Trespass chronicles a fiery object from space that crashes into a mountaintop in the California desert, bringing the threat of disaster to Earth. Out of the flying saucer escapes a murderous creature – the Ghota, which is bent on destroying all life forms on the planet. A benevolent alien from the spaceship, Urp, inhabits the body of Ted Lewis (Eric McCormack) – a local astronomer – and with the help of Tammy, (Jenni Baird) a waitress from the local diner, sets out to save mankind.

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April 2nd, 2009 by Davodd

Review: Kröd Mändoon tickles the brain as well as the funny bone

 

Kröd Mändoon and the Flaming Sword of Fire – following the exploits of a neurotic hero, a free loving pagan warrior woman, a conman/sorcerer, a pig-troll-man, and a fiercely proud queen as they quest to fight evil while battling to overcome their own foibles.

krod-flNETWORK: Comedy Central
DAY: Thursdays 10 p.m. (9 Central)
STARTS: April 9, 2009

GENRE: Raunchy Action-Adventure, Anachronistic Period Comedy, Fantasy, One-Camera Sitcom (no laugh track)
RUN: 6 episodes (Premiere: 1-hour; other eps: 30 min.)

CHILD FRIENDLY: No
PARENT WARNING: Although semi-adult language may be a concern to some, the overriding theme of this show is its sexuality with the open mocking of heterosexual and homosexual foibles. This is refreshing for an adult audience – but may not be appropriate for children.

EYE CANDY: Lots of well-toned male and female body parts are shown. But rest assured, the only nipples on display are male.

(NO SPOILERS)

I have to be honest that when I heard that Comedy Central was planning a spoof series lampooning the sword and sorcery genre, with the name of Kröd Mändoon and the Flaming Sword of Fire, my reaction was more about skepticism than excitement.

Let’s face it, Comedy Central is much more frat boy than fanboy.

Added to that, the title character is played by British actor Sean Maguire – best known to American audiences as “Leonidas” in the groaningly un-funny and not-good 300 spoof, Meet the Spartans.

So, when I sat down to watch the reviewer’s screening pilot episode, I was dreading the worst. Boy, was I wrong.

This show is brilliant. Seriously. Despite some cheap shot broad comedy and fleshy gratuity, I was laughing out loud and wishing out loud that the episode was longer than a mere hour.

HERE’S WHY THIS SHOW IS GOOD: The WRITING

The studios that created this series are MTV Networks and the BBC, believe it or not. How can this be any good?

It’s quite simple: the creative energy behind this show is BBC Television – not Comedy Central parent, MTV Networks. That means the writing is witty, subversive and written for folks with IQs in the three-digit range. But the MTV influence really helps this show be more accessible to a broader audience. Somehow it works.

The creative force is series creator Peter A. Knight, creator of turn of the century cult favorite, Big Wolf on Campus.

HERE’S WHY THE SHOW IS GREAT: The VILLAIN

The old saw in fannish circles is that a heroic adventure series is only as good as its villain. If that is true, Krod Mandoon is destined for greatness.

Here, the personification of petty blithe evilness is Chancellor Dongalor, played by the glorious Matt Lucas, from Little Britain . He brings his talent for being unabashedly unselfconscious and somehow brings a sense of wit and dignity to what otherwise would be a series of cheap gross-out scenes in less able hands.

The character Dongalor is self-centered and so ignorantly blissed out in a stream of consciousness manner, he is a joy to watch. It’s like he embodies all that is shockingly hilarious about the best of Monty Python and Saturday Night Live skits.

OH YEAH – THE STORY

This show follows the all-too-familiar formula of an unwitting but able hero who discovers and accepts his destiny to save the world from an evil overlord. And as you can tell by the title, it has a flaming sword in it.

I’d tell you more, but I promised no spoilers.

THE CAST
The obligatory “Scooby Gang”:

  • Sean Maguire (Eastenders, Meet the Spartans) as Krod Mangoon, the “golden one”
  • India de Beaufot (Run, Fatboy, Run) as Aneka, the pagan warrior
  • Steve Speirs (PotC: Dead Man’s Chest) as Loquatso, the half ogre
  • Kevin Hart (Superhero Movie) as Zezelryck, the sorcerer
  • Marques Ray as Bruce, the widow queen

 

Other Noteworthy cast members and future guest stars:

  • Matt Lucas (Little Britain) as Chancellor Dongalor
  • John Rhys Davies (Lord of the Rings trilogy) as Grimshank
  • James Murray (Primeval) as Longshaft
  • Roger Allum (V for Vendetta) as Gen. Arcadius


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December 18th, 2008 by Davodd

Review of Reviews: Critics hate new ‘Day the Earth Stood Still’

earthstoodstill-flOpens: December 12, 2008
Rating: PG-13 (Violence)
Genre: Science Fiction

What do you get when you re-make a classic landmark of science fiction film history like the 1951 film The Day the Earth Stood Still?

Better yet, throw in box-office favorite Keanu Reeves as the alien with the warning to humanity and replace the cold war message with one dealing with today’s obsession about environmental catastrophe.

Sound like a good idea?

Well, according to most of the mainstream critics, the result is an unqualified mess that may not appeal to anyone with a mental age over 12. And critics make a special note to point out to fans of the original film to skip this version altogether.

Of the few good comments on this update, critics point to a winning performance by Kathy Bates in a supporting role as a tough-as-nails politician. Also, the use of special effects and computer-generated imagery also got high marks.

But the lowest marks went to the story and script. More than one critic called the dialogue unintentionally laughable.

So, for those in fandom, this version it either destined for cult comedy status – or is headed to the dustbin alongside atrocities such as the remake of Planet of the Apes and the film version of Battlefield Earth.

WATCH THE TRAILER

{for=”San Jose Mercury News” value=”1″}

“… will probably resonate best with the preteens in the crowd, who might not necessarily care about the sluggish direction or the considerable gaps in logic. Everyone else would be much better off staying home and revisiting Armageddon or Deep Impact, which — compared to this movie — are models of intelligence, wit and complexity.” – Christopher Kelly

{/for}
{for=”MSNBC” value=”1″}

“… Klaatu barada stinko. Pointless remake of the sci-fi classic is loaded with unintentional laughs.” – Alonso Duralde

{/for}

{for=”CNN” value=”3″}

“… The original movie is beginning to show its age, but at least it holds up as a story. That’s more than you can say for a preachy, draggy blockbuster that espouses a radical message of Luddite technophobia at the same time as it conspicuously plugs Honda and LG Electronics, and dresses up its half-baked thinking in blinding (but not that brilliant) CGI wizardry.” – Tom Charity

{/for}

{for=”Hollywood Reporter” value=”4″}

“… the best science fiction has always been about innovative ideas and challenging issues. In this regard, the updated The Day the Earth Stood Still falls far short of the original.” – Tom Charity

{/for}

{/rw_score} –>

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September 21st, 2008 by Davodd

Review of Reviews: Ghost Town a popular destination among critics

Opens: September 19, 2008
Rating: PG-13 (Strong language, sexual humor, Drug references)
Genre: Fantasy, Comedy

“He sees dead people … and they annoy him,” or so goes the tag line to the new light fantasy romantic comedy, Ghost Town, starring British comedic sensation Ricky Gervais and American actors Greg Kinnear and Tea Leoni.

By and large the critics either like or love this film – which treads on all-too-familiar terrain of romantic fantasy comedies about the living communicating with the dead.

There is near unanimous praise for Gervais – in his ability to breathe a new life and energy into a concept as familiar in Hollywood as the action movie chase scene.

Also praised are the comedic skills for Leoni, once called the next Lucille Ball, with the ability to elicit a laugh or a grimace in the audience with a tilt of the head – or less.

IN the era of gross-out comedies where subtlety describes the differences in the color of various bodily functions, critics were quick to praise Ghost Town for always choosing the more witty and intelligent option rather than the easy laugh of a gross out shot below the belt.

Of the negative concepts, critics were no impressed with the plot of the film – which is so familiar as to have become a cliche. But, most of them say Gervais’ original take on a familiar theme saved the movies from mediocrity and raised the film to near greatness.

WATCH THE TRAILER

<!– {rw_good}

  • Talented cast
  • Star-making American role for Ricky Gervais
  • Gorgeous cinematography of urban landscapes

{/rw_good} –>

<!– {rw_bad}

  • Not an original concept
  • Choppy plot development

{/rw_bad} –>

<!– {rw_score}

{for="Salt Lake Tribune" value="9"}

"Gervais is lethally funny.” – Kyle Smith

{/for}

{for=”New York Post” value=”9″}

“… a bubbly and delightful comedy.” – Sean P. Means

{/for}

{for=”Vancouver Sun” value=”7″}

“Ghost Town nails some forgotten truisms with a lightness of spirit and a generosity of heart that’s downright moving without being sloppy.” - Katherine Monk

{/for}

{for=”CNN” value=”7″}

“Ghost Town doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it does goose the formula romantic comedy clichés.” – Tom Charity

{/for}

{for=”San Jose Mercury News” value=”7″}

“Striking just the right balance between sarcastic and sweet, Ghost Town breathes new life into supernatural comedy..” – Bob Strauss

{/for}

{for=”Washington Post” value=”8″}

“… heart and intelligence that too often are missing at the multiplex.” – Ann Hornaday

{/for}

{for=”Washington Post” value=”8″}

“…  is both very funny and a bit of a tearjerker….” – Walter Addiego

{/for}

{/rw_score} –>

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September 21st, 2008 by Davodd

Top 10 Genre Movies: Igor masters weekend box office

Animated Weinstein film Igor was master of the sci-fi box office this past weekend. The film brought in $8 million in its first weekend, easily outdistancing No. 2 genre flick, Ghost Town, a fellow newcomer which brought in $5.2 million over the same period.

Last week’s No. 1, The Dark Knight, fell to the third spot with just under $3 million in ticket sales in its 10th week in release.

Genre films set to debut next week: Blindness, a dystopian thriller starring Mark Ruffalo, Julianne More, Gael Garcia Bernal, Danny Glover and Sandra Oh opens in limited release – with a wider release expected over the next few weeks. 

Following are the Top 10 speculative fiction movies in release in North America for the weekend of September 19-21, 2008.

RANK #. (Overall Rank) Title – Weekend Gross | Total Gross [Budget]

  1. (4) Igor – $8.0 million | $8.0 million [$30 million]
  2. (8) Ghost Town – $5.2 million | $5.2 million [$20 million]
  3. (9) The Dark Knight – $3.0 million | $522million [$185 million]
  4. (13) Death Race – $1.0 million | $35.0 million [$45 million]
  5. (17) Journey to the Center of the Earth – $0.8 million | $99.1 million [$60 million]
  6. (18) Babylon A.D. – $0.74 million | $21.7 million [$70 million]
  7. (19) Fly Me to the Moon – $0.73 million | $11.0 million [$25 million]
  8. (22) Mirrors – $0.47 million | $29.9 million [budget unreported]
  9. (23) The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor – $0.40 million | $102.2 million [$145 million]
  10. (24) Star Wars: The Clone Wars – $0.36 million | $34.4 million [budget unreported]

Source: Box Office Mojo – list only includes science fiction, spy fi, fantasy and dark fantasy/horror titles.

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September 19th, 2008 by Davodd

Review of Reviews: Igor’s appeal may be limited

OPENS: September 19, 2008
RATING: PG (Scary scenes, Violence)
GENRE: Fantasy, Animation, Comedy

The Weinstein Company releases its latest entry in animated film with Igor, a French import featuring a top-notch American cast.

A spoof of American horror movie stereotypes, the film follows the exploits of a hunchback who isn’t willing to settle for being a mindless servant to an evil genius.

According to critical reviews, Igor gets points for a winning premise, but most negative criticism is aimed at a script that is supposedly a little too unpolished for what today’s audiences expect in computer animation.

Other critics pointed out that this film seemed a little schizophrenic in that a plot tailor made for an adult audience is awkwardly shoehorned into a kiddie flick movie with mixed results.

Of the positive notes, all t=of the critics point out that the cast is talented – perhaps to the point of being better than the material they are reading.

WATCH THE TRAILER

 

<!– {rw_good}

  • Script has sharp dialogue
  • Top-notch cast

    • {/rw_good} –>

    <!– {rw_bad}

    • Scary Imagery and Violence unsuitable for young children
    • Humor too complicated for children

      • {/rw_bad} –>

      <!– {rw_score}

      {for="Toronto Globe and Mail" value="1"}

      “Are kids actually supposed to laugh at this? And if they do, should you get them into therapy?” – Liam Lacey

      {/for}

      {for=”San Francisco Chronicle” value=”5″}

      “While much of the banter between the characters is inventive, the plot turns are predictable – complete with a romantic misunderstanding straight out of “The Karate Kid” (and 20 other films). The movie ends with a big-action sequence that highlights the shortcomings of the animation and seems to go on forever.” – Peter Heartlaub

      {/for}

      {for=”San Jose Mercury News” value=”4″}

      “Chatty and dull, a bit too reliant on innuendo for a kids’ film. And the voice actors (Jay Leno rules Malaria) are funnier than their material.” – Roger Moore

      {/for}

      {for=”Seattle Post Intelligencer” value=”4″}

      “Igor trudges through its story without a single surprise or unanticipated turn while marginally clever sight gags fill in the dead spaces between the flat jokes. Despite a familiar moral, this is no “Iron Giant,” just a haphazard collection of spare movie parts cobbled together in a pale imitation of better-animated comedies.” – Sean Axmaker

      {/for}

      {for=”The Hollywood Reporter” value=”5″}

      “ The visual style grows a bit monotonous, but a more serious problem is that the story is undernourished, and the wit erupts only in flashes.” – Stephen Farber

      {/for}

      {for=”New York Newsday” value=”7″}

      “Not all the jokes work, but most do, and the overall tenor of Igor is goofily funny – probably a bit sophisticated for kids but certainly good-natured.” – John Anderson

      {/for}

      {/rw_score} –>

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