Battle Royale U.S. Release!

It's about time Anchor Bay!

The much loved (and personal favorite) film, Battle Royale and its sequel will be released in the U.S. on Blu Ray and DVD on March 20th!  I'm excited.  The set will include 4 discs with both the theatrical cut and director's cut of the films and a ton of bonus content, which includes:

• Battle Royale Director’s Cut with both Japanese and English language tracks and English subtitles
• Battle Royale Theatrical Cut with both Japanese and English language tracks and English subtitles
• Battle Royale II with Japanese language and English subtitles
• Battle Royale Bonus Content with Japanese language and English subtitles
• The Making Of Battle Royale
• Battle Royale Press Conference
• Instructional Video: Birthday Version
• Audition & Rehearsal Footage
• Special Effects Comparison Featurette
• Tokyo International Film Festival 2000
• Battle Royale Documentary
• Basketball Scene Rehearsals
• Behind-The-Scenes Featurette
• Filming On-Set
• Original Theatrical Trailer
• Special Edition TV Spot
• TV Spot: Tarantino Version

Check out the trailer release, and if you have never heard of this film before, you are in for a real treat.

Doodlebug by Christopher Nolan

 Doodlebug by Christopher Nolan

One of the first shorts by Christopher Nolan. I really enjoy randomly looking for shorts that directors shot in the begining of their film careers, kinda inspiring. Here is a short that's really short in length but has a rather interesting story line in a surreal psychologicial puzzle. A nightmare within a nightmare within a dream? 

Preview: The Dark Knight Rises - Prologue

Preview: The Dark Knight Rises - Prologue

Viewed the Prologue on a raining evening which set the mood for the less than 10 minute long viewing in anticipation that an actual advance screening would be take place but found a seat in the middle row with my girlfriend. Surprisingly there was less than 100 people in attendance.... I'm not going to spoil anything really but the story takes place 8 years after Harvey Dent dies and a new menace surfaces, Bane. If you followed the DC comics of Bane you know that he's this huge masked mammal that breaks Batman's back over his knee like a twig that puts the cape crusader to his knees in the most pain a comic can portray. The prologue introduces Dr. Palov being escorted with a couple of men with black hoods on with a CIA agent among a few mercenaries into a plane. The men are questioned about Bane and unmasked to find Bane himself which was all planned out. Previews of Catwomen, the Batwing and ending with Batman facing off with Bane. The final chapter in the Batman story. The quality of the film work was amazing and the introduction left me guessing what's going to happen next.  The casting is close to perfect with Thomas Hardy as Bane and Ann Hathaway as Catwomen. I still have my slight doubts about Catwomen's portrayal but it's Christopher Nolan. This is on my number one list of most anticipated films for 2012. Just have a hunch. 

Introducing: Dave, owner of Friends of Sound

Introducing: Dave, owner of Friends of Sound

Friends of Sound is a hidden jem on South Congress that's a gold mind for the record collector of all types. I've spent time in and out of the store with new sounds that ring through my ears for days. Of all the record stores I've been to in the good ole USA and England, I will highly reccommend this spot. I'm sure DJ Shadow and Madlib have selected records from this location on numerous occasions among other DJ's. An extremely knowledgeable staff lead by Dave the owner of the location. Also know as DJ Cool Hands. Dave took a moment to share his thoughts on records, tunes and a little bit about the record store industry.  

Feel free to take stroll down to his store or surf the internet highways to his site for more information. 

http://www.friendsofsound.com/

What are some jems that are in your records collection?

Gloria Ann Taylor, "Deep Inside of You," ep. This record epitomizes where I've ended up with my musical tastes. Most records come and go for me. Due to the business I am in I tend to keep them for a short time and then move them. But, the Gloria Ann Taylor is one that I could just never bring myself to let go of.

How long have you owned a record store and how did it come about?

I have owned Friends of Sound Records in Austin for approximately 6 years. The store came about because I had a problem. I couldn't stop amassing records and my personal collection surpassed 20,000. My wife said it was either me or them. At the time, I was also unemployed and it seemed like a far more enjoyable career than many others I could have chosen.

What goes into opening and maintaining a record store?

The collector in you has to die. You can't only stock records you like because the general record buyer doesn't necessarily want a store full of Japanese Modern Soul with a funky glockenspiel break. You have to put yourself in the position of a buyer with tastes other than your own. You need to constantly keep up to date on the trends in sales of different genres and keep a balanced stock available for consumers.

What are your thoughts on the record industry and digital distribution?

Since it's inception, the record business has been a constant evolving and shifting entity. The recent focus on digitizing music has positive and negative connotations. On the positive side, people have access to music like never before and it is easier for musicians to get their songs heard. On the negative side, I personally feel, that there is something lost when you digitize a song, Yes, people may be able to hear it, but there is more to music then just the song. There's a visual aesthetic that is important to the overall experience and that is often lost in digital translation.

Any producers that you would love to see scoring a film?

Pete Rock. He never gets enough credit and he's always been amazing.

You're a DJ as well? What tunes come in rotation and any upcoming gigs?

In Austin, I participate in a great soul night called the New Day. It is at the Highball on S. Lamar and takes place the third Saturday of every month. I also have a guest spot in February at Title Town in Pittsburgh.
 I have been on a late 70's/early 80's soul kick.

Some of your current tunes that are really tickling your ear?

My top 5 right now are 1) Split Decision Band- Everybody's Watchin Out   2) Trace of Smoke- Treasure Mind  3) The Spinners - It's a Shame  4) McKinley Mitchell - Party Across the Hall 5) Clifton Dyson - I'm Giving Up

What is your favorite film monster?

Animal from the Muppets. 

Film Review: Werewolves on Wheels

Film Review:Werewolves on Wheels

A biker/horror film directed by Michel Levesque from the early 70s. A gang of bikers while on their travels of wreaking havoc stumble onto an old church and mysteriously pass out after gluttonously devouring food offering from the church clergy to find themselves being slaughtered nightly by a creature. The bikers face the werewolf and soon head back to the church with vengeance to face their match with a Satanic cult in a very psychedelic manner. The film actually used real bikers for the scenes with no film experience for many of the road scenes. The music score was good and fit the film very well. The story was interesting but more shots of the werewolves would have been good. I found the film to be alright with good intentions.

2.5 out of 4 stars

Rick Baker

Rick Baker

Here's a really cool interview from the past with 6 time Academy award winning make up artist who has worked on American Werewolf In London, The Exorcist, King Kong and Star Wars to name a few. It's really nice to see this work compared to computer graphics in film.

Film Review:Beyond the Black Rainbow

Film Review:Beyond the Black Rainbow

Written and directed by Panos Cosmatos, his first feature. This Sci-Fi thriller takes place in the 1980s in an underground laboratory named The Arboria Initiative with it's main focus experimenting with mind altering drugs to push the envelope of the human mind. Lead researcher, Barry Nyle is overseeing the treatment of Alena.  The film is shot in a very stylish way that I can see paying homage to old 70s Sci-Fi films and Kubrick with it's intense edge of your seat in question of what is going on in a psychedelic way. The acting in the film was kept at a minimum with more focus on the surroundings. The music of the film is a perfect sound scape to the ambiance with a close feel to Boards of Canada meets Kraftwerk. I found this film to be very innovative in every aspect and look forward to more films from the director. 

Here is a trailor of the film. 

I give this 3 out of 4 stars.

Recent problems with the Zombie genre

So I just got done watching a movie on Netflix called The Horde.  I was suckered in by the high ratings the film received from the Netflix community.  Sadly I sat through a film teeming with problems that have become common place within the genre. 
The story involves a group of cops who enter a dilapidated high rise to get revenge on the gangsters who killed one of their own.  Unceremoniously (and never explained) a "horde" of zombies show up and start wreaking havok on the two groups.  They have to put their differences aside to survive, which sounds like an interesting premise, but that side story falls apart rather quickly.  They all decide, without a single debate, that they should find a way out of the building. 
I don't understand this logic at all.  They know there are 1000's of the undead just waiting for them outside. Why not try to hole up somewhere, build a strong defense, and wait out the storm... zombies or not flesh decays so inevitably they would pose less of a threat if their joints couldn't function anymore right? 
So it was difficult for me to root for their cause when the basic plan was so flawed.  Add in the fact that none of the characters are likable in the least and you have a recipe for tedium.  Anyways, I've been pondering what is wrong with the zombie genre after watching the film and came up with a few points.

1.  I may be alone in this, but I really don't like fast zombies.  It has been done decently before (Dawn of the Dead remake), but for the most part I just don't like the idea of them.  A dead person should be all stiff from rigor mortis, so it would make sense if they struggled to move and lumbered around.  I find it far more realistic (granted the idea of zombies in general is pretty crazy, but still).  These fast zombies always seem to have the strength of 10 men too.

2. I'm a bit tired of the whole social statement message.  The "we are the real monsters" thing.  I would much prefer a simple "oh crap they want to eat us, let's kill them before they kill us" scenario.  I know most people would freak out in a panic, but some of these movies just push this message to the extreme, The Horde being a prime example.

3. Zombie films have also become far more action oriented.  Now I love my gore and admittedly a lot of the reason for watching a film like this is to see some messed up stuff.  The problem with the action lately is the overfast editing.  I read an article a week or so ago about this new phenomena which has been called Chaos Editing.  Basically the scenes just come across as random madness, meant to overwhelm your senses and excite you.  As a contrast, think of one of your favorite action films from bygone eras.  Die Hard, for example, set up their confrontations in a well thought out and easy to understand way.  The final scene, where McClane has a gun taped to his back is a nice one to point to.  We are given the information, the crooks have the girl, he's seemingly unarmed, finds his opportunity, and takes it. 
In contrast, take a look at most action films today.  There's sooo much going on onscreen and so many edits, it is difficult to even get a sense for what side of the room everyone is standing on.  I believe this trend will eventually end, but in the meantime we will be forced to endure more of it.  I worry about future films I am looking forward to falling into this trap.  Jurassic Park 4 has been announced... I remember how well thought out the original was.  We knew where the raptors were, but it was still very tense and exciting.  They didn't need 5000 edits in the span of a few minutes to convey the terror and adrenaline we all were supposed to feel. 

4. Ammo conservation!  If you are fighting a legion of the undead and you have established that shots to the head will put them down for good DON'T keep pumping shotgun blasts into their chest!  Save your ammo.  GEEZ!

5. I'm just getting tired of zombies in general I think.  There have been just way too many.  Obviously some are going to be really good, but there sure is a lot of muck to walk through to get to the good stuff.  I didn't watch Zombieland for the longest time cause I was sick of em. Luckily I did cause it was a good one. 

Anyone have something to add to this topic?  Tired of Chaos Editing too?  I swear, once you know about it you will see it everywhere (The Dark Knight, James Bond, Superhero flicks... etc).

RANT OVER!

Film Review: Season of the Witch

Film Review: Season of the Witch

This is George A. Romero's third film about something different than zombies but with a common house wife whom becomes involved with witchcraft in her neighborhood. Her husband spends time away from home on buisness trips weekly and leaves his wife, Joan at home bored and lonely. She meets a new neighbor with friends for a tarot card reading. Well the neighbor is a witch and causes an avanlanche of drama in the neighborhood which leaves Joan lonely in the end. I found the movie to be interesting and enjoyed the the film stock of the 70s. That gave it that grainey type feel. I would rent it before having thoughts of purchasing it. It does have an amazing soundtrack though!

An amazing soundtrack of psychedelic surreal rock music that would put Jim Morrison in a trance. Trolling the net for a copy of it on vinyl.

2 out of 4 stars.

Film Review:Troll Hunter

Film Review:Troll Hunter

A Norwegian horror film directed and written by André Øvredal. Takes place in the Western forest and hills of Norway. This film will make you believe that the children story of Billy Goat's Gruff was based on real events. The film is shot in a moc-documentary type style which adds to the realism of the whole Troll life. A group of students find interest in documenting random bear poaches in the forest which leads them to find Hans. Attempting to follow and interview him they discover what he really does and the cause to the random findings of bears being mutilated. Trolls.. Not the small the type that are seen in past films but ones that are the size of four story buildings. They follow him in his journeys across Norway investigating why the Trolls are going mad and why the government is covering up the whole thing. It's been going on for a long time. The scene with Hans wearing a metal suit of armor coaxing a troll from under neath a bridge with three goats is reference to Billy Goat's Gruff which adds to the dark comedy of the film. The animation of the many trolls lurking in the forest at night is believable. The film is well written and directed. The cinematography is simply amazing of the lush hills and waterfalls of Norway to the snowy ending with a hum of ambiance. This is film will leave you at the edge of your seat in amazement and can't wait to own it on video. Looking forward to more film in this genre from the Netherlands. They seriously know what they are doing. Sad to say that someone already bought the rights in America for a remake. Can't you come up with your own ideas Hollywood???

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 4.

Interview with Ben Snakepit

Ben Snakepit Interview

Took a minute to have a chat with former Manager of I Love Video about the video rental industry. One of my favorite places to rent films and television stuff from. One of my favorite pass times is renting films and just being a film nerd. Been renting movies since 92 and maybe earlier. It deeply saddens me to see the Video Empire slowly crumple into a Cat5 cable to your computer or a Video box rental from the grocery store. Here's his thoughts on things.

How long did you work in the video rental industry and where did you work?

My first Video Rental job was at Tower Video in Richmond VA in 1997. After I moved to Texas I got hired at I Luv Video. I worked in the industry from then until the end of 2010. 

How did you get your start and what was it like to work at the beginning?

When I first started, DVDs had just come out. At the time, they were the most expensive, top-of-the-line media you could get. It was sorta like when CDs replaced tapes... At first you would only get really awesome movies on DVD, and regular stuff on VHS because it was cost-effective. Over time as VHS phased out, DVDs took over. The industry tried to do it again with the HD/Blu-Ray battle of the early 00's, and while Blu-Ray "won", it never really caught on.

What were some signs you noticed in the decline in sales in the video industry?

There were two huge glaring signs that the end was near... First, all of my friends that had previously always bugged me for free movie rentals stopped coming in to the store altogether once Netflix streaming started. Second, I knew it was over when a customer requested a certain rare title and I found it was ONLY available on Netflix streaming. I realized this was quickly going to become the rule, rather than the exception.

What are your thoughts on Net Flicks and the sudden rise of Video rental box units around town?

The Redboxes are stupid. They're intended for John Q. Popcorn to watch summer blockbusters on the DVD players in their SUVs. Nobody that actually enjoys movies uses Redbox. Netflix streaming is the future. All the movies you can watch, unlimited for ten bucks. No late fees, you don't even have to put on pants. Some people may argue that Netflix doesn't have everything, and those people are correct. Unfortunately, nobody has everything. Even Scarecrow Video in Seattle (the world's largest video store) doesn't have everything. I can assure you though, as a movie buff who's seen thousands and thousands of films, there is never a time where I can't find something I want to watch on Netflix. 

How are things changing that you noticed in the past time that you were working to now?

Something I noticed working in video rental was that ten years ago, a lot of people preferred to purchase and own movies rather than rent. I think the biggest reason for this was that a lot of people didn't feel comfortable leaving their credit card info in the hands of underpaid, unappreciated teenage video clerks. Also, many video stores deliberately make their late fee policies as confusing as possible, to trick customers into paying more than they need to. Nowadays, with almost everything readily available on the internet, there's no need to even go into a video store anymore, and I don't ever see things going back to the way they used to be. 

What are some other side projects that you enjoy?

I play in bands, hang out and get drunk, etc.

Who is your favorite film monster?

Jerkbeast!

Mario on Paper

Check out my latest creation in the "On Paper" series!  MARIO!
 Also, a VERY special announcement follows the short concerning my recent project: raising the funds for my very first feature length animated film!!!  Take a watch and help spread the word.


To view my kickstarter page click here: Kickstarter
To view my original Path of Blood short click here: Path of Blood

Evil Dead: Early interview with Bruce Campbell

Evil Dead: Early interview with Bruce Campbell

Old and rare interviews about the early process of Evil Dead. This interview took place in 1983 and the audio is not the best quality but it is interesting. Bruce Campbell is wearing a yellow sweater... Enjoy!

Film Review:The Man From Nowhere

Film Review:The Man From Nowhere

A very recent Korean Action/Thriller of vengeance and suspense directed by Lee Jeong-beom and starring Won Bin. The film starts out with Cha Tae-sik, a reclusive pawnshop owner that befriends a young girl, So-mee. Her mother is a junkie that steals from a drug trafficking gang and that leads to the mother and daughter being kidnapped until they find the heroin. This leads a gang of thugs into Cha tae-sik's pawnshop and they get a little surprise about his fighting ability. A former special forces agent that went into hiding and now holding a one man war against a ring of gangsters. The fighting sequences in the film are amazing and simply made me jump out of my seat. Accompanied by a very stylish cinematography made this simply one film to watch. Looking forward to more films from this director.

Remakes Remakes oh me oh my!

So here we go again everyone. More remakes are on the way of our favorite films from our youths. More often than not these are a big letdown, but occasionally gold has been struck so there is some hope left. Let's do a quick list of some successful remakes just to keep out spirits bright:

3:10 to Yuma
The Thing
True Grit
Dawn of the Dead
Ocean's 11
A Fistful of Dollars... let's face it, the film is a remake of Yojimbo
The Fly
Cape Fear

Feels good doesn't it? Which brings me to the news that kind of shocked me yesterday when I heard that Fright Night is getting a reboot. Fright Night!? How odd, don't you think? I loved the original, but damn, it seems like a strange choice. The trailer has been released and, to its credit, looks like an entirely different film rather than a rehash. This one could be good, but I doubt it will have the charm or the humor of the original. Who knows... I have my fingers crossed. I at least feel better about it than what I've seen of the new Conan. No one tops Arnold as Conan.
Another point that bothers me about these remakes is how they simply take the exact same name as the original.... now when we talk about these films we have to say things like "Man, have you ever seen Fright Night 1985?". Ridiculous and confusing. Anyways, here is the trailer to Fright Night. Take a look and let me know what you think.

Takashi Miike Hara Kiri remake!

I am usually not one to endorse a remake, but when I heard Takashi Miike was going to make a new version of Hara Kiri I admit I got excited. I loved the original film, it is one of my favorite classic samurai flicks and feels ripe for a re-telling. Miike recently created the super successful and all around amazing film 13 Assassins. I can't wait to see what he has done with Hara Kiri! Below is the first released still for his film and beneath that a scene from the original. After having recently watched the original film again, I can tell you this new still is right on point with what I was hoping for.

Troll Hunter

Troll Hunter:Preview

Straight from Norway and the cinema from has been amazing lately. Can't wait for this to hit the American cinemas. Basically it's about a group of students find out about  bears getting mysteriously murdered in the woods and discover different trolls lurking from the forest. The visual effects look amazing.

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter

 Here at Destroy all Monsters we celebrate all holidays since it's more of a reason to celebrate. Happy Easter from us.

Path of Blood - Demon at the Crossroads of Destiny

When a lone samurai sets his course towards the path of blood, unknown dangers and terror awaits. Will his great swordsmanship be enough to survive the treacherous demon lord and his minions? Path of Blood is a highly stylized paper animated short film that promises more paper cuts than you can handle.
The fantastic musical score was created by my good friends Many Birthdays! You can find more of their music here: www.manybirthdays.net
FUTURE PLANS: I am very interested in pursuing a full length animated version of Path of Blood with fully fleshed out characters, far more detailed animation and design, and a fantastic world built around the narrative. I have an excellent story currently being fleshed out. It is only a matter of procuring the funds necessary to begin such a large endeavor. Who wants to fund a film!? :D

Film Preview: The Silent House

Film Preview:The Silent House (La Casa Muda)

This South American haunted house film is shot all in one take. I'm really impressed and looking forward to catching this. Hitting theaters May 6. Just look at the trailer and judge for yourself.

More information can be found at:
http://www.lacasamuda.com/en/