Suffice to say that I haven’t been this entertained by a Batman animated movie since “Gotham by Gaslight.” Chris Palmer’s animated production of the 13-issue limited comic series by writer Jeph Loeb and artist Tim Sale has been a masterful, absolutely mesmerizing amalgam of a murder mystery, mob thriller, relationship drama, and action thriller pairing Batman and his unlikely partner Catwoman against increasingly impossible odds.
Flight to Mars (1951): Special Edition [Blu-Ray]
Well, say what you want about “Flight to Mars” (reaching its 70th anniversary this year) but damn it, they make good on their promise in the title. There is definitely a flight to mars. It’s just a long, drawn out, monotonous, tedious flight to mars involving four boring male characters and one woman whose duties involve getting aggressively hit on by the spaceship’s captain, taking notes, and making the men coffee.
In Sp-a-a-a-a-ce!
The Boy Behind the Door (2020)
After two boys get kidnapped, one of them manages to free himself. Knowing his friend is still captive, he can’t leave without him.
Fear Street, Part 3: 1666 (2021)
Director Leigh Janiak’s creation of the “Fear Street” trilogy has to be one of the most impressive cinematic accomplishments this year. It’s tough to find a horror trilogy where every film feels different, but clicks together like a puzzle, so seamlessly. “Fear Street” had every chance of being a complete mess, especially with how it goes backward in time to fill in the gaps in its narrative. Not to mention the fact that it trusts audiences will return is ambitious and often impressive.
Masquerade (2021)
I’ll be honest, I have a soft spot for home invasion thrillers; most of the time they always entertain me, because I love how they can be twisted for various narratives by writers and or directors. It’s sad though when I was finished with “Masquerade” that I couldn’t get over how boring it was. This is a movie with a genuinely good idea that fails to derive much tension or suspense at every turn, and doesn’t make much of a case for caring about any of the characters. Even when it drops a big climax twist on us, I was generally indifferent toward the entire experience.
The Bootleg Files: Frank Sinatra Hosts ‘The Tonight Show’
BOOTLEG FILES 774: “Frank Sinatra Hosts ‘The Tonight Show’” (1977 episode with Sinatra filling in for Johnny Carson).
LAST SEEN: On YouTube.
AMERICAN HOME VIDEO: None.
REASON FOR BOOTLEG STATUS: There might be a problem with music clearance rights.
CHANCES OF SEEING A COMMERCIAL DVD RELEASE: I wish it would be released.
Frank Sinatra did not give many interviews – he certainly didn’t need the publicity, nor did he welcome questions about his personal life that he considered to be intrusive. But there was one time in Sinatra’s life when he had the opportunity to be the one asking the questions – and, believe it or not, he was very good at it.
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Five Films We’re Anticipating for Fantasia Film Festival 2021
For yet another year, Cinema Crazed’s own Felix Vasquez and Emilie Black will be covering the Fantasia Film Festival, and this year the Festival celebrates 25 years. Going digital once again due to COVID restrictions, Fantasia Fest will continue from August 5th to August 25th with its usual line up of groundbreaking and original foreign, fantasy, horror and action films, as well as innovative short films and showcases from unique voices from film and pop culture from all over the world.
In anticipation of the coverage, we thought we’d list five films that we’re eagerly anticipating for this year’s line up! And if you’re attending the festival digitally, these are five we hope you check out.
Let us know what you’re anticipating, below!