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Repo! The Genetic Opera: One week event at The Bloor Cinema!

2008-11-21T13:56:50Z

I should have written this up after I saw this at TADFF. That would have been the proper thing to do but this was just one of those movies that I really wanted to write up but somehow found myself stymied to come up with a review. But with the one week of screenings starting tonight here in Toronto at our beloved Bloor Cinema the time is right to chime in. Love triangles, family betrayal, secrets and lies are all en vogue as Repo! delves into sonic darkness

Repo! takes place in the near future when an epidemic of organ failures devastates the planet and the scientific community gears up for a massive organ harvest. A biotech corporation, Genco, comes up with easy organ payment plans. Need a heart? Why not put that new one on easy monthly instalments? How about that spine? Spread that hefty fee over time instead of today. But, these organs are subject to legal default, failure to meet your payments could include repossession at the hands of Genco’s repo men. You thinking missing payments on your car is bad? Hardly.

We Gots A New Toy

2008-11-21T12:35:45Z

The observant among you may have noticed a bit of adjustment to the right column late yesterday but for those unaware here’s the skinny. We’re in the process of changing a few things in the back end of Twitch right now and the first to be addressed are our search engine functions. One of the frustrations on Twitch pretty much from day one has been how difficult it can be to find articles in our extensive archive. That situation improved a good degree when we switched to using Expression Engine - with it’s far superior search engine - from our days with Movable Type but ‘improved’ was still far from perfect and we’ve just taken a huge step forward.

Take a peek over at the right column. Directly beneath the ad at the top of that section you’ll see our new search engine, a ‘search cloud’ powered by Quintura. It’s based on a continuously updated site index which means it is BY FAR the most powerful fastest and most accurate search solution we’ve ever had access to. Which, in itself, makes it by far the best system we’ve ever used. But where things get really fun is with the cloud features ... the lower part of the search box is populated by a clickable ‘cloud’ of keywords. When the page loads initially the cloud is randomly generated based on current popular words and phrases on the site but as you enter search terms the cloud automatically adjusts to suggest refinements to your search. Click the keyword and your search results - displayed immediately below the cloud - are immediately refined and updated. It’s pretty sweet so take a minute or two to mess around with it.

INHABITED ISLAND! New Trailer! New Footage!

2008-11-21T12:27:14Z

We’ve been following the progress of Fyodor Bondarchuk’s big budget adaptation of the Strugatsky Brothers’ Inhabited Island for about a year now and throughout that entire duration the film has been taking an apparent ‘less is more’ approach to their marketing. Yes, there have been three teasers released so far but each varies from the other by only a single shot. And, yes, there have been three longer trailers as well so far but - again - those vary from each other only minimally. And so here’s some fantastic news. Regular Twitch reader Andrey has pointed out that there is a brand new full length trailer for the film now available and this one - finally - is made up almost entirely of new footage. New environments, new characters, new battle sequences. You name it, it’s all in there and it’s all looking impressive. Check the full slate of Inhabited Island goodies in the Twitch Player after the break.

Here’s Your Shot At Fantastic Fest 2009!

2008-11-21T02:15:42Z

Okay all you film makers out there, here’s your crack at the largest and most important genre film event in the good ol’ U.S. of A.

Fantastic Fest has just opened up submissions for the 2009 edition of the Austin based festival so get crackin’. You’ll find all the details below the break.

WHEN EXTRAS ATTACK (or: when disc 2 is actually better than disc 1…)

2008-11-21T00:10:54Z

As a Twitch-O-Meter, this post will remain up on top of the page for one day. There might be newer posts below this, so don’t forget to take a look!

When you start collecting films it sometimes is hard to stop, especially when you finally land the sort of job which gives you the financial thing to buy a crazy thing or two. Looking at my collection I certainly did my share of “blind buying” and sometimes that means you end up with a few duds. Then again, really bad movies are a fun and beloved genre all by themselves, and sometimes you even see truly crummy movies get a lovingly lavish DVD edition.

Sometimes I have the mind of a magpie. I can’t resist shiny things.

Which means I have bought a few titles solely on the basis of them being rather flash editions, or having a set of extras I was really interested in. It’s an odd thing when the “making of” documentary is more fun than the film it describes, but that does happen. Sometimes it’s because the feature is an epically bad movie and therefore easily eclipsed by some standard extras, but sometimes the movie isn’t really bad, yet the documentary is just so damn good.

A good example of a film I grabbed solely for the extras was “Faces of Death”, which I reviewed earlier this week.
Even though I hold that film (and indeed its entire genre) in low esteem, the commentary track and documentaries on the disc easily warranted acquiring this disc.

So after the break you can see my list of five other examples of DVD-editions where the extras in my opinion outshine the main film.

New Trailer for biopic ‘Ip Man’! UPDATE

2008-11-20T22:12:30Z

[Updated with an English-subtitled trailer included below the break.]

Okey dokey. Got ourselves a new trailer for the biopic Ip Man from Hong Kong’s dynamic duo, Wilson Yip and Donnie Yen. Any and all footage continues to impress. The new trailer showed up online and you can find it embedded after the break, along with other trailers and clips. I having troubles grabbing it and loading it up on the Twitch Video Player. For now just enjoy.

Yes, the punching to the floor is in it!

ASTRO BOY Teaser Trailer soars Online! UPDATE

2008-11-20T21:42:30Z

[Updated with the teaser now included in the Twitch Player below the break.]

A teaser trailer for Imagi Studios’ Astro Boy, an upcoming CG animated film based on the classic manga series by the legendary Osamu Tezuka, has finally arrive online. As mention before, the director is David Bowers (Flushed Away) and the voice cast include Nicolas Cage, Kristen Bell, Donald Sutherland, Nathan Lane, Bill Nighy, Eugene Levy, Matt Lucas and Freddie Highmore. Heres the synopsis:

A thrilling tale of a true hero, ‘Astro Boy’ is an all-new, full-length feature film full of action, adventure, humor and heart. It will be brought to life on the big screen in breathtaking CGI animation on October 23, 2009.

Set in futuristic Metro City, ‘Astro Boy’ is about a young robot with incredible powers. Powered by pure positive “blue” energy, Astro Boy (Freddie Highmore) is endowed with super strength, x-ray vision, unbelievable speed and the ability to fly- not to mention the purest spirit on the planet.

Embarking on a journey across the planet to discover his powers, Astro Boy encounters a netherworld of robot gladiators and other comic characters, and learns the joys and emotions of being human. When he learns his friends and family are in danger, Astro Boy marshals all his awesome super powers and returns to Metro City, in a valiant effort to save everything he cares about and to embrace his place in the world.

Dang, I wanted to see more. The teaser certainly serve its purpose and that is to show only a little but just enough to get me hooked. Its still almost a full year till it gets release to theaters. So what do you think? Check it below the break.

Korea Gets Bloody On 4 DAY

2008-11-20T20:49:14Z

Well, it appears as though all bets are well and truly off when it comes to film in Korea. With the bubble now thoroughly burst the once-thriving Korean film industry is contracting rapidly and all the old rules are being thrown out the window. Case in point: Korean horror films. Once released nearly exclusively in the summer months - where horror has been hugely successful for years - this year saw just a single horror title released in the summer season, the surprise commercial hit Gosa. And where Korean horror was once all about atmosphere and dread Gosa threw that approach out the window and instead functioned much more like a slasher picture, a trend that is growing rapidly in the region.

Enter 4 Day, a film that bucks Korean history by being both a horror film due for release out of season and one that - like Gosa - abandons the old ways of doing things in favor of large quantities of blood and violence. Unlike Gosa, however, which was purely a lowest common denominator assault designed to put as many teenaged butts in seats as possible with few considerations paid to anything else, 4 Day looks to be aiming a little higher. The cast is stocked with solid character actors, there are no pretty young things to be found, and the technical end of things looks far superior. Typically strong Korean cinematography and tech work fused with a more westernized, higher energy approach to horror? Yes, please.

Check the trailer in the Twitch Player below the break.

IDOL CHITCHAT: BRUCE CAMPBELL & PEACHES CHRIST!!!

2008-11-20T18:29:07Z

Hostess Peaches Christ is thrilled to announce that a great, big, B-movie dream of hers is about to come true! One night only on Wednesday, December 17th, at San Francisco’s Landmark Bridge Theatre, Peaches will present—not just once, but twice at 7:00PM and 9:40PM—a Midnight Mass produced stage-show featuring cult film icon and genre superstar Bruce Cambell live and in-person. Peaches has been dying to honor Bruce Campbell—as she says “forEVER”—and is putting together this San Franciscan evening of Idol Worship, preceding the Bay Area premiere of Bruce Campbell’s directorial debut My Name Is Bruce. Tickets are $10.50 and can be purchased here.

Synopsis for My Name Is Bruce: When the small mining town of Gold Lick, Oregon needs to rid itself of a vengeful monster, they kidnap actor Bruce Campbell—star of the Evil Dead trilogy, Bubba Ho-tep and countless B-movie horror films—and recruit him to be their local savior. Mortified at first, Bruce eventually goes along with the plan, convinced that it’s all an elaborate birthday present from his agent (Ted Raimi). But the scheme goes horribly wrong when their hero, known more for fighting directors than mythical warriors, haphazardly leads the town in battle against the beast. Confronted by a monster that’s not a guy in a rubber suit, and with the blood of innocents on his hands, Bruce has to choose between the harsh reality of Gold Lick and the sanctity of his former, artificial life. A horror comedy written by Mark Verheiden (Smallville, Battlestar Galactica), My Name Is Bruce co-stars Grace Thorsen and Taylor Sharpe.

This is a match made in heaven … well, maybe hell (as in hella fun)! See you there!

Cross-published on The Evening Class.

Hugely Impressive First Teaser For James Boss’ WHITEWALL

2008-11-20T17:30:43Z

Zowie. Every now and then a film just kind of comes out of nowhere, featuring talent that nobody’s really heard of, and yet it is done with such a sense of style, such a clear vision of what they want to do that it’s almost impossible to believe that it’s a first project at all. Some guys have to work to develop their world and style over time while for a rare few it just seems to emerge full grown and such is the case for James Boss and Whitewall. Here’s the synopsis, as far as it goes:

Set in a wasteland enclosed by a large white wall, the last survivor from a brutal child internment camp reluctantly takes on one final bounty hunting job to protect the idyllic life he has rebuilt.

A post-apocalyptic sci fi action flick that looks to incorporate a large dose of martial arts this one impresses on all levels. The cinematography is gorgeous, set designs convincing and from what you can see of action and cast they all certainly look their parts. Hell, they’ve even got the good sense to use music from Godspeed, You Black Emperor spinoff Thee Silver Mt Zion. The big test will be with a longer reel of footage when we can get a sense for the acting but this teaser is as strong as I’ve seen in a good while. Check it out below the break.

Finally, A Full Trailer For Cem Yilmaz’s AROG

2008-11-20T17:05:04Z

Well, it’s about time. After releasing a three minute promo a year ago followed by a string of five teasers over the past month or so the first full trailer for Cem Yilmaz’s Turkish time traveling comedy AROG has just arrived. A sequel / inversion to Yilmaz’s previous scifi hit GORA - a sort of Turkish Mel Brooks film with simply stellar production values - this one sends Yilmaz back in time to deal with cave men and dinosaurs and the early teasers - each of them self contained little scenes - were absolutely hysterical. So it’s a little sad that this first proper trailer is the weakest by far of the promo materials released thus far, though blame for that should be placed squarely on whoever cut it together rather than the footage itself since the problems here seem to be all about presentation and not actual content. Check ‘em all out in the Twitch Player below the break.

First Trailer For French Vampire Flick SODIUM BABIES

2008-11-20T16:59:58Z

If people aren’t very careful this whole vampire craze is going to collapse under it’s own weight very soon and, honestly, I’m kind of puzzled as to how it happened in the first place. With the finally subsiding zombie craze we at least had 28 Days Later as the obvious trigger point but there doesn’t seem to be any corresponding event in the vamp world, it’s like everybody simultaneously and independently transferred their need to make movies about the undead onto the other prime target and we’re now seeing the results. Odd.

Anyway, Sodium Babies. The first trailer for this indie French vamp action flick first appeared on the website of the producers last month but, due to vampire overload, I didn’t look at it at the time. In fact, I didn’t bother to look at it at all until today when the trailer began to pop up on big commercial French movie websites to promote its upcoming release. And, honestly, wile it shows its low budget roots a little bit it looks like solid, stylish stuff. Check it in the Twitch Player below the break.

Just Because We Can. It’s The Trailer For ZARDOZ.

2008-11-20T16:56:38Z

How on earth did Sean Connery survive the Zardoz period of his career? No particular reason for this post other than that I just found a nice, high res version of the trailer and it’s gloriously trashy 70’s pulp. And it’s got breast, so definitely of the not safe for work variety. Trailer’s below the break in the Twitch Player.

Gordon Chan’s Supernatural Kung Fu Romance PAINTED SKIN - With Donnie Yen - Coming To DVD

2008-11-20T16:19:27Z

Good news for fans of martial arts star Donnie Yen. Not only is his latest effort, supernatural kung fu flick Painted Skin from director Gordon Chan, about to hit DVD in Hong Kong but it is coming on an English friendly, all region DVD, which means it can be played anywhere in the world with no need for special equipment. While the film surprised many by handling its material as a romance rather than as the full on Bride With White Hair kung fu / horror throwback many - myself included - were expecting the film went on to be a major box office hit and has since been chosen as Hong Kong’s submission for the Best Foreign Film Oscar. Check the trailers below the break.

And while you’re at it the Louis Koo starring Connected - the hit Hong Kong remake of Cellular, new Francis Ng thriller Deadly Delicious and period martial arts epic Butterfly Lovers are all coming region free as well.

DE USYNLIGE (TROUBLED WATER) Review

2008-11-20T02:04:52Z

Why, why, why does Erik Poppe not get the respect he deserves? Yes, the Norwegian director tends to take a long time between projects, which probably contributes a good deal to people not knowing who he is, but the simple fact is that he is now three feature films into his career and each of those three are near-flawless works - impeccably crafted, beautifully observed, and neatly balancing style with substance. A difficult, beautiful, tragic film, Poppe’s third feature - De Unsylige, known in the international market as Troubled Water - is surely good enough to propel its creator into the top ranks on international film but will anybody notice?