tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901543645555057072010-03-04T13:30:51.127-08:00Reviews, history, and background on Horror, Science Fiction, Fantasy Films, and related media.Gareth Waltershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02439853440612765021garethwa@me.comBlogger79125TheAmazingMovieShowhttp://feedburner.google.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-390154364555505707.post-53174344172353041622010-03-02T19:51:00.000-08:002010-03-02T20:56:18.226-08:002010-03-02T20:56:18.226-08:00

The Crazies (2010)Production Company: Overture Films and Participant Media present in association with Imagenation, an Aguilar/Gergaris productionProducers: Michael Aguilar, Dean Gerogaris, Rob CowanExecutive Producers: George A Romero, Jeff Skoll, Jonathan KingDirector: Breck EisnerScreenplay: Scott Kosar, Ray Wright, based on the 1973 motion picture by George A RomeroCinematographer: Maxime

Gareth Waltershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02439853440612765021garethwa@me.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-390154364555505707.post-86702063790418487652010-02-20T21:37:00.000-08:002010-02-20T22:00:15.690-08:002010-02-20T22:00:15.690-08:00

Shutter Island (2010)Country: USAProduction Company: Paramount Pictures presents a Phoenix Pictures production, in association with Sikelia Productions and Appian WayProducers: Mike Medavoy, Arnold W Messer, Bradley J Fisher, Martin ScorceseExecutive Producers: Chris Brigham, Laeta Kalogridis, Dennis Lehane, Gianni Nunnari, Louis PhillipsCo-Producers: Joseph Reidy, Emma Tillinger, Amy

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Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever (2009)Country: USAProduction Company: Morningstar and Deerpath Films present, in association with Tunnel Inc, a Tonic Films ProductionProducers: Lauren Vilchick, Patrick Durham, Jonathan SacharCo-Producers: Sam Froelich, Evan AstrowskyExecutive Producers: Susan Jackson, Jerry Kroll; Carr Miller Entertainment, Everett Miller, Chris Rutter; Tunnel Post, Kyle Dean Jackson

Gareth Waltershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02439853440612765021garethwa@me.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-390154364555505707.post-45474010570310149742010-02-13T14:20:00.000-08:002010-02-18T13:29:28.574-08:002010-02-18T13:29:28.574-08:00

In one of those occasional coincidences/clashes of ego that crop up in Hollywood from time to time, the year 2000 saw two big-budget Mars movies, which together set the cause of serious cinema space exploration back a decade. First out was Brian de Palma's Mission to Mars, which aims for 2001/Abyss-style awe, but falters with some dodgy set-pieces and terminally dull chat between otherwise

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The Wolfman (2010)Country: UK/USAProduction Company: Universal Pictures presents in association with Relativity Media, a Stuber Pictures ProductionProducers: Scott Stuber, Benicio Del Toro, Rick Yorn, Sean DanielExecutive Producers: Bill Carraro, Ryan KavanaughCo-Producer: Stratton LeopoldDirector: Joe JohnstonScreenplay: Andrew Kevin Walker and David Self, based on the motion picture screenplay

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Tony (2009)Country: UKProduction Company: AbbottVision and the UK Film Fund present an AbbottVision ProductionProducer: Dan McCullochCo-producer: Kirstie Edgar Executive Producer: Paul AbbottDirector: Gerard Johnson Screenplay: Gerard JohnsonCinematographer: David HiggsEditor: Ian DaviesMusic: The TheProduction Designer: Naomi ReedCostume Designer: Suzie Harman Makeup Designer: Anna CashSound

Gareth Waltershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02439853440612765021garethwa@me.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-390154364555505707.post-86029560310656401522010-01-14T11:23:00.000-08:002010-02-18T13:25:16.367-08:002010-02-18T13:25:16.367-08:00

The Irrefutable Truth About Demons from New ZealandThe new millennium got off to a disappointing start with the news that George A Romero's Bruiser, his first film since 1993's The Dark Half would bypass a theatrical release. The fact that this followed a trio of less than stellar efforts (the others being Two Evil Eyes/Due occi diabolici from 1990 and 1988's Monkey Shines) dashed hopes that one

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It was the year that global communication networks did not die and Y2K proved to be a false alarm, President Bush was inaugurated, the USS Cole was attacked by Yemeni terrorists, Yugoslavian president Milosevic was overthrown, and a six-year-old boy named Elián González stood at the center of an international media circus. The human genome was deciphered, Mad Cow disease hit Europe, and Concorde

Gareth Waltershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02439853440612765021garethwa@me.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-390154364555505707.post-91403900965517023342010-01-01T12:53:00.000-08:002010-01-01T15:17:29.175-08:002010-01-01T15:17:29.175-08:00

As 2010 dawns, it's clear that (for better or worse) the mega-budget franchise ruled the box office in 2009.The biggest winner of the year was a film so appalling most viewers could barely comprehend its sheer dreadfulness - which proves that Hollywood producers are geniuses and that PT Barnum's misattributed dictum - "There's a sucker born every minute", not to mention "A constant hammering on

Gareth Waltershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02439853440612765021garethwa@me.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-390154364555505707.post-52571383855222469782009-12-24T12:35:00.000-08:002009-12-24T16:34:33.926-08:002009-12-24T16:34:33.926-08:00

The image of Santa Claus was not, as is often believed, the creation of Coca-Cola ad executives and the illustrator Haddon Sundblom, but developed over several decades, beginning with his description as a "jolly old elf" in "A Visit from St Nicholas" (aka "The Night Before Christmas"), a poem published in The Troy Sentinel, New York on December 22nd, 1823, and later claimed by Clement Clark Moore

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Gremlins (1984)Country: USAProduction Companies: Warner Brothers/Amblin EntertainmentExecutive Producers: Steven Spielberg, Kathleen Kennedy, Frank MarshallProducer: Michael FinnellDirector: Joe Dante Screenplay: Chris ColumbusCinematographer: John Hora (Technicolor)Editor: Tina Hirsch Music: Jerry Goldsmith Production Designer: James H. Spencer Set Designer: William F MatthewsCreature

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The prevailing critical opinion: clichéd, predictable – and really quite wonderful, either didn't matter, or worked in Avatar's favor and swept it to $77.02M at the weekend box office, beating even its own studio's estimates (see my review here). Heavy snow on the East Coast held it back from breaking too many records, but it stands as the highest grossing original work (not a sequel or a remake)

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Avatar (2009)Country: USAProduction Company: Twentieth Century-Fox, Dune Entertainment, Giant Studios, Ingenious Film Partners, Lightstorm EntertainmentProducers: James Cameron, Jon LandauExecutive Producer: Colin Wilson, Laeta KalogridisDirector: James CameronScreenplay: James CameronCinematographer: Mauro FioreCinematographer, LA [3D System]: Vince PaceEditors: Stephen Rivkin, John Refoua,

Gareth Waltershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02439853440612765021garethwa@me.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-390154364555505707.post-62668168981926176702009-12-15T15:07:00.000-08:002009-12-15T17:52:27.298-08:002009-12-15T17:52:27.298-08:00

Scrooge (1951), aka A Christmas Carol (US title)Country: United KingdomProduction Company: George Minter presents a Renown Film Productions Ltd pictureProducer: Brian Desmond-Hurst Production Manager: Stanley CouzinsDirector: Brian Desmond-HurstScreenplay: Noel Langley based on the story by Charles DickensCinematographer: C Pennington-RichardsEditor: Clive Donner Music: Richard Addinsell, Muir

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Another quiet pre-Avatar weekend at the box office was lead by the wide release of Disney's return to traditional animation The Princess and the Frog, which grossed $24.20M in 3,434 theaters against a budget of $105M. The Blind Side continues to do remarkable business, with $15M for a total of $149.81M after four weeks.Clint Eastwood's Invictus lands at #3 with a modest $8.61M, but this

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Ink (2009)Country: USAProduction Company: Double Edge FilmsProducer: Kiowa K WinansExecutive Producers: Jamin Winans, Kiowa K WinansDirector: Jamin WinansScreenplay: Jamin WinansCinematographer: Jeff PointerEditor: Jamin WinansMusic: Jamin WinansProduction Designer/Costume Designer: Kiowa K WinansSpecial Make-up Effects: Alison Chilen, Tom Debrecini (Ink Design)Sound Design: Kiowa K WinansFight

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The Student of Prague (1913); Der Student von Prag (German title); A Bargain with Satan; or, The Student of Prague (UK title)Country: GermanyProduction Company: Deutsche Bioscop GmbHDirector: Stellan RyeScreenplay: Hanns Heinz EwersCinematographer: Guido SeeberMusic: Josef WeissProduction Design: Robert A Dietrich, Klaus RichterLocation: Prague, CzechoslovakiaBudget: 30,000 MarksCast: Paul

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Very little excitement for genre fans this week as we all hold our collective breath for the Avatar juggernaut (tickets go on sale today). The Blind Side continues to rise and takes the #1 spot with $20.04M, while The Twilight Saga: New Moon comes in at #2 with $15.42M, down 64% after adding 84 theaters - but with a US running total of $255.36M and a global take of an additional $243M, nobody's

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Banish holiday gift-giving misery for the genre fanatic in your life. Simply identify your own particular breed of monster and pick from the selection of movies, books, apparel, and other goodies designed to delight even the most jaded fan. Distributor/publisher names are included, as are release/publication dates guiding you to the most current items, plus retail source and cost. Have a cool

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Hammer Glamour: Classic Images from the Archives of Hammer FilmsAuthor: Marcus Hearn. Design: Martin Stiff. Publisher: Titan Books, London. Price $29.95. Publication Date: September 25th 2009. Specifications: 9in x 11.6in, 160pp, Color.There was a time, back in the mid-1970s, when the only available book on Hammer Films was Lorrimer Publishing's The House of Horror: The Story of Hammer Films,

Gareth Waltershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02439853440612765021garethwa@me.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-390154364555505707.post-87957993274347381362009-12-01T12:03:00.000-08:002009-12-01T12:31:31.840-08:002009-12-01T12:31:31.840-08:00

An inauspicious opening for Viggo Mortensen in The Road, at this week's #10The astonishing performance of The Twilight Saga: New Moon came to something of a halt over the Thanksgiving weekend, recording the largest dollar decline on record for a film in its second weekend. Of course, all things being equal it still won the holiday, with $42.90M for a 10 day total of $230.90M, becoming the most

Gareth Waltershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02439853440612765021garethwa@me.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-390154364555505707.post-30471078348819941312009-11-27T17:48:00.000-08:002009-12-07T17:22:47.398-08:002009-12-07T17:22:47.398-08:00

La cámara del terror/Fear Chamber (1968; US release date 1971)Country: Mexico/USAProduction Companies: Providora Filmica Azteca/Filmica Vergara SAProducer: Lui Enrique Vergara C [Luis Enrique Vergara]Production Manager: José Luis Cerrada Director: Juan Ibáñez [and Jack Hill]Co-Director: JL González de LeónScreenplay: Jack Hill, E Vergara C [Luis Enrique Vergara]Editor: Felipe

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El coleccionista de cadáveres (1967), Blindman's Bluff (USA title), Cauldron of Blood (UK title), The Corpse Collectors (Spanish title translation)Country: Spain/USAProduction Company: A PC Hispamer Films Madrid, Robert D Weinbach Productions Inc New York PictureProducer: Robert D WeinbachAssociate Producers: Donald Havens Jr, Gilbert SimmonsIn Charge of Production: Sergio Newman"Realizador":

Gareth Waltershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02439853440612765021garethwa@me.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-390154364555505707.post-56540974546598551692009-11-24T12:52:00.000-08:002009-11-24T13:05:05.556-08:002009-11-24T13:05:05.556-08:00

The Twilight Saga: New Moon was unable to sustain its record breaking opening day ($72.7M) through the weekend, but still raked in an impressive $142.8M from a $50M budget. Not surprising, given that its predecessor is the highest-grossing vampire movie in history, with $384.99M worldwide – Van Helsing is second, God help us, with $300.25M. Opening simultaneously just about everywhere on the

Gareth Waltershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02439853440612765021garethwa@me.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-390154364555505707.post-4988904676640855232009-11-20T15:21:00.000-08:002009-12-07T17:24:03.529-08:002009-12-07T17:24:03.529-08:00

The House of the Devil (2008) Production Company: MPI Media Group presents in association with Constructovision and Ring the Jing Entertainment, a Glass Eye Pix ProductionProducers: Josh Braun, Roger Kass, Larry Fessenden, Peter PhokExecutive Producers: Malik B Ali, Badie Ali, Hamza Ali, Greg NewmanDirector: Ti WestScreenplay: Ti WestCinematographer: Eliot RockettEditor: Ti WestMusic: Jeff

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