October 31st, 2007 by 2xKnight
Oops, almost forgot to say Happy Halloween.
This is the pumpkin I carved this year. The pictures turned out pretty well so I thought I’d post one. I might update this post a little later with a couple more pics. Or maybe I’ll just add a new post, with the other Jack O’ Lantern pics and a couple of costume pics.
October 29th, 2007 by 2xKnight
Today we’re taking a look at horror with a review of Prison of the Psychotic Damned from Red Scream Films LLC. Some of the best horror films of all time are independent works. It makes sense. Horror movies deal with some things that make the big names nervous. Horror also has a tendency to get slapped with ratings that the studios don’t like.
Prison of the Psychotic Damned follows a small team of documentary film makers as they investigate the shocking past of an abandoned train station in Buffalo, NY. The station was built with a bright future ahead of it, but that all came crashing down when the depression hit. Eventually the station was turned into an asylum for the criminally insane. Corruption among those running the institution resulted in horrifying conditions among those who were unlucky enough to be inmates. As bad as that is, it’s only part of the dark history of the place they’ve come to explore.
There are some great moments and a couple of decent scares.
The filmmakers responsible for Prison of the Psychotic Damned show some real potential. There are some great moments and a couple of decent scares. As they improve their craft they’ll be making some very good movies. Prison isn’t one of them.
From the beginning of the film they made some choices I don’t agree with. It opens with a scene that I think is supposed to be disturbing, but falls far short. Once that is over we get right to the action, or about as much action as we’ll see for most of the movie. The crew is on their way to spend the night in the station and do some filming. We get a rundown of the history of the place and a brief explanation of why they’re going there. The scene drags on far too long. The rest of the movie follows suit.
With the exception of a handful of cool scenes this movie is more suited to being an audio book. It’s filled with exposition. The characters talk about creepy stuff, but we don’t see it. There are numerous “artistic” quick shots and underlying audio that is apparently meant to put the audience on edge. All it does is irritate. Luckily the sound effects are so overused that before long you won’t even notice them anymore. It’s too bad the same can’t be said for the disjointed images that flash on the screen.
This film had a lot of potential. There’s a good story in there somewhere. The unfocused execution and the maker’s choice to talk about the story instead of showing it to us ruined it. You might find something you enjoy in Prison of the Psychotic Damned if you’re a fan of bad horror.
October 29th, 2007 by 2xKnight
I was pretty happy when I heard the people from the new Battlestar Galatica were involved with bringing back the Bionic Woman. They did an excellent job with Battlestar after all. The new Galatica is one of the best shows on television. So I was pretty surprised when I didn’t like the new Bionic Woman. After watching the episodes so far, I think I know why it sucks. I also know how to fix it.
Jaime Sommers is the biggest problem with the show. Not the actress playing Jaime, the character itself is bad. I’m sure Michelle Ryan could play a great Jaime Sommers, it’s the creative team behind the camera that won’t let her. The main character is saddled with problems that are supposed to make her human. They don’t, they make her dull.
The web site for the show says “Ultimately, it’s Jaime’s journey of self-discovery and inner strength that will help her embrace her new life as the Bionic Woman…”, but that’s inaccurate. She has no inner strength. Sure she can leap 50 feet into the air and punch through a brick wall, but she can’t stand up to her little sister. Her dealings with the shady agency she’s now working for aren’t any better. One minute she seems like she’s standing up for herself and the next she’s slinking off to do whatever they tell her to. She had her legs and right arm replaced. What she needs is a backbone.
Wait, wrong show. Katee Sackhoff plays Sarah Corvus, the first Bionic Woman. Unfortunately she’s gone just a tiny bit crazy. Bad for her, great for the viewers. Sarah is almost the only thing that makes this show tolerable. Seriously, I barely pay attention when she isn’t involved.
If the creators want this show to be any good at all they’ll surprise everyone and kill off Jaime Sommers switch focus to Sarah Corvus and pretend like they planned it that way. That would be talked about across the country the next day and the following episode would be at the top of the ratings. They could even have some fun with the press. “Hey, the name of the show is Bionic Woman, not Jaime Sommers, Bionic Woman. Sarah Corvus is Bionic. Sarah Corvus is a Woman. She was the star all along.”
Will they do that? Not likely.
Will the show get better? Also not very likely.
: Fandoms, TV, Sci-Fi, Action, NBC, Bionic Woman, Jaime Sommers, Michelle Ryan, Sarah Corvus, Katee Sackhoff October 25th, 2007 by 2xKnight
I’m working on something for the site. Posting to the blog has slowed because of this. I do have a few good post planned, so keep an eye out.
In addition to the posts I have planned, I also have something else lined up. Someone I know is writing up a nice little fandom guide. I don’t want to say too much about it, but I think it’ll be good. I’m looking forward to reading it myself.
October 20th, 2007 by 2xKnight
Who knew an old guy wearing robes in a proffesion here he works with children would be gay?
Oh yeah, Catholics.
October 20th, 2007 by 2xKnight
This could be bad news, but even bad news is great when it’s reported by Stephen Colbert.
October 18th, 2007 by 2xKnight
Moist Von Lipwig makes money the old fashioned way, he prints it. Actually, printing money is a new idea in Ankh-Morpork. Moist is going to have a tough time convincing people that paper is worth it’s weight in gold. Especially when he has his Bank Director licking his face and the Assassins’s Guild looking over his shoulder. He’s already been hanged as a criminal once. What’s the worst that could happen?
It seems like everyone is out to get him, even those that want him to succeed.
Making Money continues the story of Moist Von Lipwig, formerly known as Arthur Spangler con man extraordinaire, introduced in Terry Pratchett’s book Going Postal. As the story opens Moist has the Post Office running like, well, a Post Office. Things are running as smoothly as they can for any public service. That’s a bit too smooth for Moist.
After living his life by relying on his wits any normal job, even one as respectable as Post Master, is just a bit too normal. Oh there are ways of keeping a hand in, like picking the occasional lock, but it’s just not enough. Even Extreme Sneezing doesn’t provide the edge of your seat, and possibly your life, thrill of his old career. The gods must have taken pity on him because he’s about to have all the thrills he can handle.
Through some very odd occurrences Moist becomes acting Director of the Royal Bank of Ankh-Morpork. It seems like everyone is out to get him, even those that want him to succeed. It’s going to take every con man’s trick he knows, and he may have to invent a few as he goes along, just to stay alive.
If you enjoy the Discworld books, be sure to pick this one up. I don’t know if it’s Terry Pratchett at his best, but it’s darn close. The hoops that Moist has to jump through in this book would make any stunt man cringe.
October 15th, 2007 by 2xKnight
Simon Pegg and John Cho join the cast of the new Star Trek movie. Simon Pegg will be playing Scotty. John Cho will be playing Sulu. In a comment to StarTrek.com about the casting of Cho as Sulu, George Takei said…
“Sulu’s in good hands. John Cho is an exciting actor. I’ve seen Cho in many productions at East West Players and he always brings a vigorous sense of individuality to his roles. Under the leadership of J.J. Abrams, the Star Trek franchise is being infused with new energy and I hope John Cho plays a critical part for many years — and films — to come.”
—George Takei, October 12, 2007
I agree with Mr. Takei that John Cho is a talented actor. I’m still unsure if anyone has enough talent to take on such an iconic role and not be seen as a poor substitute.
Mr. Scott’s shoes will be just as hard to fill. Simon Pegg may have a tough time living up to the character so closely associated with James Doohan.
I believe both actors are capable of performing their roles very well. Most of my worries come from the fans. I don’t know if enough fans will be able to accept new actors portraying characters that are so dear to them. I just hope Star Trek can survive if they don’t.
: Fandoms, Star Trek, Casting, Sci-Fi, Movies, Sulu, George Takei, John Cho, Scotty, James Doohan, Simon Pegg, J.J. Abrams October 14th, 2007 by 2xKnight
I haven’t posted a one of these in a while. I really should post more of these, there are a lot of sites that I think deserve a link.
With Halloween coming up I thought I’d talk about Fright Catalog. It’s one of my favorite Halloween stores. I’ve used them before and I’ll certainly use ‘em again. They have everything. Costumes, decorations, special FX and even professional quality animatronics.
October 10th, 2007 by 2xKnight
I did some looking into it and there are a few things to look forward to in October.
October 19-31
The 13 Nights of Halloween returns to ABC Family in 2007. Expect the usual stuff like Beetlejuice, Hocus Pocus and Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride. They might throw in something closer to a real horror movie late at night before the infomercials start.
Witches and Wizards night, October 12th at 8 o’clock, featuring Twitches Too and Wizards of Waverly Place. Twitches Too will also be repeating at various times during the month. Wizards of Waverly Place is a new series, so there should be at least a few episodes on during October.
In addition to Halloween episodes of the normal shows, Cartoon Network will be showing R.L. Stein’s Goosebumps series through October. I remember when this came out on Fox. It was pretty good for a show aimed at kids. Goosebumps has some real scares.
October 21-31
Monsterfest is the best Halloween programing on TV. Lots of classic monster movies. From old black and white favorites like Dracula and Frankenstien to original movies like Piñata: Survival Island. I kid you not, Piñata: Survival Island starring Nicholas Brendon of Buffy the Vampire Slayer fame. The only bad thing about Monsterfest is that it seems like it gets shorter every year. Maybe I’m embellishing the memory of Halloween past, but it seemed like it was on all month long before.
AMC is also running a Monsterfest Sweepstakes. So head on over and enter to win the AMC Classic Monsters DVD set.
Don’t forget the video store. Do what I do and rent some of your favorite scary movies. You might even find some of your favorite Halloween TV specials. There are a lot of TV shows on DVD these days. That should hold you over til Halloween.
: Fandoms, TV, Horror, Movies, Halloween, AMC, Monsterfest, Monsterfest Sweepstakes, Dracula, Frankenstien, Piñata: Survival Island, ABC Family, 13 Nights of Halloween, Beetlejuice, Hocus Pocus, Tim Burton, Corpse Bride, Disney Channel, Twitches, Twitches Too, Wizards of Waverly Place, Cartoon Network, R.L. Stein, Goosebumps, 
