tagged w/ Now in Theaters
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[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="420" caption="Cory McAbee and Willa Vy McAbee in Stingray Sam"][/caption]
One of the things I caught at CineVegas this year was Cory McAbee's Stingray Sam. At first, it's an impossible concept to get behind unless you're remotely familiar with McAbee's The American Astronaut. After all, you try telling someone to watch a film that's split into six parts about a western set in space.
As a genre nerd, it wasn't hard to be convinced, but how does someone who isn't a fan of Serenity/Firefly or a Wild West set in Space become convinced to sit down for the exploits of a guy nicknamed for a Stingray?
It's easy--just be Cory McAbee.
Developing a film intentionally for the small screen, Sam harkens back to sci-fi serials that literally bring something for everyone; in this case every episode is ear-marked by a song that sums up the theme of retro-futurism like Episode 1's Mars (done on the stage of Union Pool, which instantly redeems it from Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist.)
Set in some distant and possible future, or maybe it's the past, Stingray Sam (McAbee) is a lounge-singer and haphazard owner of a club on Mars, whisked away by the surprise arrival of his old partner The Quasar Kid (Crugie) to help find The Carpenter's Daughter, Girl (Willa Vy McAbee). And who kidnapped her? Why Fredward (Joshua Taylor), the king of an entire planet who also happens to be the most stupid person...but there's more. There's always more.
McAbee's lo-fi approach drags tired terms like "steampunk" out of the gloomy basement goth kids threw it into, dusts it off and hops into jams like "Stingray" and the reprises version about giving birth to Stingrays. It's like a rock-a-billy call and response gig set at a mad scientist's party. So does Stingray save the girl? What is Fredward's secret? Why does The Quasar Kid eat olives?
You just have to tune into Stingray Sam to find out the rest.
[You can purchase Stingray Sam digitally here, or watch tonight (9/15) live at 7 pm PDT here.]
-John Lichman
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It sure has been a long time since we've even uttered the phrase "three word review" around the office. But looking over these four releases this Labor Day weekend, it seems like the perfect time to air out some old favorites and let you crazy Internet people have a whack at them.
In case you forgot, the premise for 3WR is simple:
See a movie that came out this weekend.
Think of three words.
Write those three words in the comments.
?????
Profit!
It is that awesome in its' simplicity.
Anyway, leave 'em in the comments if you see 'em or can think about one. Nothing too formal about this. Just keep it in mind while you're celebrating Labor Day with the ones you love--in a dark, air conditioned room with surround sound.
-John Lichman
It sure has been a long time since we've even uttered the phrase "three... more
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In the this episode of The Rotten Tomatoes Show, Brett and Ellen lead reviews of The Final Destination, Big Fan, and Halloween II; Ellen sings about Hookers being the best role in town, to celebrate Labor Day Brett breaks down the Top 5 Worst Jobs in the movies and Chris "Ludacris" Bridges shares his Five Favorite Films.
There's also a brand new Trailer Time, an Inglourious Basterd Haiku Review, a peek at this and next week's releases and...I've Got a Bad Feeling About This.
Well, maybe I don't. So what else is happening?
- Hey, even the Times can admit this summer was boring. Their suggestion? See The Hurt Locker. [NYT]
-The Green Hornet will open in December 2010 against Tron Legacy. And that third Narnia film. [SHH]
-Mastodon will score Jonah Hex. Score! [Current]
-Tyler Perry and Lionsgate have announced the latest film in the "Tyler Makes Money" series. [Current]
-The trailer for Defendor. Watch. [Current]
-French filmmaker Christian Poveda was shot dead in a town outside of San Salvador. His recent film, La Vida Loca, was about the Mala Salvatrucha gang. It is reported the area Poveda was murdered was under the gang's control. [CNN]
-John Lichman
In the this episode of The Rotten Tomatoes Show, Brett and Ellen lead reviews... more
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[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="Wilkus (Sharlto Copley) standing before a giant metaphor"][/caption]
[District 9 opens in wide release today. It's also one of the films we're reviewing next week on The Rotten Tomatoes Show, so make sure to leave us a webcam review and you could get $100.]
Within scarce minutes of being drawn into the subtle CGI skyline hovering above South Africa, the idea that we're watching a political allegory unfold in front of us is all too apparent. After all, the subtleties of Neill Blomkamp's District 9 are perfectly represented by the alien weapons we're shown soon after: a patchwork of technology that ultimately results in shit being blow'd up incredibly well.
But this isn't a take-down for a film that falls under the usual metaphors involving aliens and humanity. Blomkamp's entire strategy is to promote the film through viral marketing and constant reminders that there is nothing wrong with keeping boundaries in place ("HUMANS ONLY" or "D-9 Residents Have Escaped!") Before the lights have dimmed, we know the residents of District 9 are dangerous--to us.
Wikus Van De Merwe (Sharlto Copley) is a paper-pusher at best, inspired by an "OfficeCon Telephone Worker," who wants nothing more than to do his job and meekly rise to a promotion--be the field leader in a reorganization effort to move the alien inhabitants of District 9 to a new camp farther from Johannesburg. We're treated to a documentary that gives way into a narrative, choosing to eschew the formal camera framing set-up for a constant "doc" view that plays with how we interpret the scene.
The little nuances work wonders, such as the gradual shift in the opening tone from MNU explaining their purpose with keeping the "Prawns," as the aliens are referred to, from humanitarian to the reveal that MNU is a weapons' manufacturer. Likewise when we first meet Wikus, only to hear the subtle-as-a-punch foreshadowing about his "betrayal" and "unfortunate end." While the apartheid reference is obvious, the question of changing one's own race and nature is something that is kept to an unspoken reference throughout the film. Wilkus as the reluctant hero is all the more interesting as his literal transition from nepotistic office worker into courageous revolutionary only when he sheds his original skin.
As a hopefully stand-alone film, Blompkamp's District is one of the more exciting and original sci-fi films to appear in the last year or two. And it certainly demands to be seen, but don't be surprsied if you never find yourself wanting to watch it again.
-John Lichman[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="450"... more
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The irony when you lay off a lot of people? Your product will start to suck, New York Observer.
Even with the keen, Defamer approved critical insight of Rex Reed.
[NYO]
-John Lichman
The irony when you lay off a lot of people? Your product will start to suck, New... more
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In the this episode of The Rotten Tomatoes Show, hosts Brett Erlich and Ellen Fox lead ensemble reviews of Brüno, Cherí, and I Love You, Beth Cooper; Brett tries to watch all five previous Harry Potter movies and Ellen learns Romantic Stalking by watching the movies.
There's also a Haiku Review for Public Enemies, we delve into a filmmaker's Bag of Tricks for the Dolly Zoom and see a Stormtrooper hit his head. Repeatedly.
Then we take a peek at this weekend's release (and also our webcam callouts for next week's show) involving Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, (500) Days of Summer and Homecoming. Hoo ray, Friday!
-John Lichman
In the this episode of The Rotten Tomatoes Show, hosts Brett Erlich and Ellen Fox... more
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You've certainly got a decent toss-up this weekend with Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, (500) Days of Summer and Homecoming. And while you can submit webcams and get paid $100 if we use them on The Rotten Tomatoes Show next week, there's a more pressing question involved:
"When can I pee?"
Thanks to our good friends at RunPee, this burning question can be finally answered! So if you're seeing Potter and you grab a large White Cherry Icee, set your watch for the 73-minute and 107-minute mark.
But if you're trying to catch up on Brüno, use the 45-minute or 60-minute mark to dash to the restroom.
Now go and run wild.
-John Lichman
You've certainly got a decent toss-up this weekend with Harry Potter and the... more
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This review was written by blog editor John Lichman and in no way reflects the opinions of The Rotten Tomatoes Show.
It's almost redundant, but the opening of Terminator Salvation is a harsh reminder that we're not under the watchful hand of James Cameron or even witness to Jonathan Mostow's ham-fisted glory. Thematically, it should be the same: orchestral tones, the slow-burn title sequence and jolting futuristic action. Instead we're given a computer code-inspired sequence littered with colons, dashes and brackets to remind us that we're about to see something involving robots and lasers. Instead of focusing on the actors, like the original, the first thing we're told as an audience: this is "A Derek Anderson and Victor Kubicek production." Two minutes later, as the familiar "DA-DA DA, NUH NUH" blares across the THX, it is confirmed: this is "[Directed by McG;]"
If you didn't catch that the first time, there'll be a credits sequence redux after we're introduced to Marcus (Sam Worthington) and Brief Female Cameo (Helena Bonham Carter) with a uniformly creepy bit of foreshadowing ("This is what death tastes like"). The entire credits sequence begins again in the same order, but still takes the time to transition to a completely white screen after Marcus' Christ-like murder to make sure we understand: this film is "directed by McG."
So what exactly does this phrase mean since it's important enough to be brought up twice? It means explosions, Virginia.
To read the rest of the review, click here.
This review was written by blog editor John Lichman and in no way reflects the... more
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