Acting off the pretense that it’s smarter than we all think, for approximately two and a half hours, Richard Kelly’s “Southland Tales” is proof positive that “Donnie Darko” was a fluke and he is a one trick pony, and an insufferable one to boot. And alas, Kelly will always ride on the reputation that precedes this rancid pile of garbage and anything else on the way out of his mind. Here, Kelly taps the “Donnie Darko” well again. There are chapters, spirituality, a disjointed series of sub-plots, visual flourishes all with a touch of self-awareness that kicks us in the face every single second. And in the process, Kelly also manages to beat us over the head with political commentary that is warranted but so clumsily delivered he often seems to try too hard.
The Walking Dead: Special Edition #1
Do you know that “The Walking Dead” was originally supposed to be titled “Night of the Living Dead”?
Kirkman was so desperate for interest in his idea, that he named the series after the Romero movie. And since Romero’s masterpiece is in the public domain, he could have done such a thing without suffering legal scorn, but he’d have sported plenty of fan scorn. But Kirkman admits it and seems pretty apologetic about it when he discusses the origins of the fantastic horror series from Image Comics. We can relate, can’t we? It’s tough being in any artistic medium, and some of us will do anything to become a success.
Teeth (2007) (DVD)
Director Mitchell Lichenstein’s controversial dark comedy is a strong contender for one of the best of 2008 featuring one of the most twisted comedies I’ve ever seen. Though it’s heavily steeped in the horror genre, writer Lichtenstein doesn’t just pose a concept that’s potentially ridiculous, but he takes it and turns it into a rather surprising and brilliant allegory on sex, and evolution. “Teeth” is the antithesis of every coming of age romance you’ve ever seen with a twist of Tim Burton, and John Waters thrown in for good measure. Dawn is the next step of evolution with her infliction of Vagina Dentata, and she doesn’t even know it. In a town with a radioactive plant always present in the backdrop in every shot of the film, Dawn has taken the next step of evolution for women and doesn’t quite know how to deal with it.
Hacking at the Bone: Interview with Tim Seeley
Creator Tim Seeley, a confessed horror geek with a talent for satisfying the horror geeks who flock to Devil’s Due currently announced a pact with the fantastic alt model website Suicide Girls, pairing the eponymous Cassie Hack, with the gorgeous Suicide Goth’s and punks. Seeley, still reeling from the New York Comic Con was kind enough to talk with “Rot Your Brain” and yours truly (a Seeley and Hack/Slash fan) about upcoming issue developments, and what this pact will bring fans of old and new.
So, firstly, thank you very much for agreeing to this interview, Mr. Seeley. “Hack/Slash” is one of my favorite horror comics.
Thanks, no problem!
How did the New York Comic Con go?
Heh, I actually had a pretty miserable time! I had some kind of hellish space virus or something, so I was sick the whole time I was there. Man, nothing is lamer than sitting in a hotel room in Times Square watching AMC. Not to mention that my nose started running like crazy during a video interview! But, I’m feelin’ better now.
The Hottie & the Nottie (2008)
“The Hottie and the Nottie” is nothing but a big game of “pretend” that director Putnam asks his audience to play along with, but… we can’t. Pretend Paris Hilton is hot, pretend Paris Hilton is one of the most desirable women on the planet, pretend the CGI used to cover Hilton’s fugly features isn’t there, pretend even with an utterly disgusting but sweet woman, that Paris hilton would be the better alternative, pretend this movie is funny, pretend this movie isn’t one of the worst comedies ever made. I can’t even pretend Paris Hilton is good looking, so from the start even with the body doubles (how did she get that ghetto booty?!) and trick camera angles, this “comedy” is a tall order and attack on my senses from the first twenty seconds. Because, a movie where Paris Hilton is a bombshell is less comedy and more Science Fiction.
An American Crime (2007)
Last year I saw the film adaptation of author Jack Ketchum’s novel “The Girl Next Door,” a dramatic thriller based on the infamous case involving a young girl kept prisoner in a basement to be tortured relentlessly by her aunt and cousins. While I absolutely loved the Ketchum film, I was interested to see if it was any better or not as good as “An American Crime,” a festival runner that made considerable waves among audiences, but has yet to be released in America. Determined to seek out most (if not all) of Ellen Page’s prior work, I sought out “An American Crime,” and was surprised to see that it pretty much equaled in quality, and proved how much of a versatile actress Page is and will soon become.
The Dragon Painter (1919)
While I would have loved to adore “The Dragon Painter” and the story that unfolds, I can’t say that I did. For a movie made in 1919, Sessue Hayakawa’s film is a wonderful epic with some rather incredible splashes of stark color and sweeping landscapes. Even for a print that’s aged and was nearly lost the picture transfer for “The Dragon Painter” is awfully fantastic with crystal clarity, and an incredible score. Even those who dislike the movie will find some value in the backdrops and set pieces, including Hayakawa’s eagerness to break all stereotypes of the Asian culture.