Tag Archives: Matt Craven

MOV018: “There’s nothing like a good moose.”

Sequel news, Indian Summer, Resident Evil: Afterlife, and *sigh* Gulliver’s Travels.

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News:

Discussions:

The Past: Indian Summer (1993)

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Director: Mike Binder

Starring: Alan Arkin, Matt Craven, Diane Lane, Bill Paxton, Elizabeth Perkins, Kevin Pollak, Sam Raimi

Trivia:

  • Filmed at director Mike Binder’s childhood summer camp.
  • The characters of Matt and Brad are based on the two Michigan-born founders of the Canadian clothing company Roots. They attended Tamakwa, which is a real camp in Ontario’s Algonquin park.
  • Horror director Sam Raimi, who plays the character Stick Coder also attended this camp (Camp Tamakwa) as a child.
  • One of the founders of the real Camp Tamakwa is ‘Unca’ Lou Handler, whom the character in the movie is named after.
  • Matt Craven plays one of the adults returning to summer camp, where they have such fond memories. Craven also played a CIT (counselor in training) in Meatballs (1979), another film about summer camp. Both films were shot in Canada.
  • Ashley Williams, who plays Ida Heinken in the flashback scenes, is the younger sister of Kimberly Williams-Paisley, who plays Gwen.
  • There are a few scenes in which there are illustrations of Spider-Man. This is interesting considering that actor/director Sam Raimi went on to direct the original (ten years later), including its sequels.
  • During the closing credits, the Stick Coder character stares at the screen, just like the earlier characters who were staring at a moose.
  • The Shrek word was used in this film and was used as a camp gag/joke. This reference was based on the Shrek! book by William Steig. In the credits, Shrek kings are listed.

Talking Points:

  • Was the point about racism necessary or poignant to the story?

What We’ve Learned:

  • Shrek was a practical joke
  • Shrek is also a camp gag or joke (was that too mean?)
  • In the early 90s, even the 30 something men had mullets and all women had perms
  • Reunions are a good thing! Get together with some old friends and reminisce.

Trailer:
No trailer available online! 🙁

Recommendations:
Jeff: Holy crap! This is such a good movie! Definite buy for me.
Ray: Wow. I really had a hard time enjoying this film. It actually bummed me out.
Steve: Love it! Not a fan of the drug stuff, but otherwise it’s just a fun movie that reminds us to enjoy the fun times of our past.

The Present: Resident Evil: Afterlife 3D

Director: Paul W S Anderson

Starring: Milla Jovavich, Ali Larter, Kim Coates, Shawn Roberts, Wentworth Miller

Trivia:

  • The name of this movie “Afterlife” is the same working title that was used in the previous movie before it became “Extinction”.
  • This is the first live-action movie based on a video game to be in 3-D.
  • The first Resident Evil film to be released in IMAX.
  • At the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con International, Anderson and Jeremy Bolt told ShockTilYouDrop.com that a fifth Resident Evil film would be possible, saying, “We always take it one movie at a time. We put so much effort into them and it is a family affair. It is all about making the best possible movie now and then promoting well and getting it out there. Making sure it is seen in the right way. When the dust settles then you think about something else. For us, it is not a business, it is a passion. You don’t want to start talking about the next baby until you make sure this one is okay.”
  • Anderson later told IGN that if the film is a success, he will do the fifth film and would like Leon Kennedy to make an appearance.

Talking Points:

  • Did the storyline deviate too much from the source? (game)

What We Learned:

  • Bullet time is one of the coolest movie tricks ever!
  • How to use bullet time to stretch 1 hours worth of story into 1 hour and 40 minutes.
  • Don’t give yourself the t-virus.
  • Just about anyone can either land or take off in a plane on a roof top.

Feedback:
Shadowolf1970

Hey Jeff, Ray and Steve
I’ve been a casual fan of the RE films for a while. Nothing more than a brainless distraction for an hour or so. Resident Evil: Afterlife is more of the same complete with cliffhanger ending. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. I just thought this was going to be the last one.
STORY
They conveniently wrap up the last film’s story line by blowing up all the Alice clones. It was a nice action sequence but i didn’t feel sorry for the girls when they died. Plus they de-power the protagonist in the first act but she still kicks butt later in the film like a super person? Then there are characters from the game dropped in (Chris Redfield and Wesker)and one bad guy that has NO place in this film. The Axe man. Oh and there’s also NO explanation as to why some of the zombies have weird things coming out of their faces. I played the games so I know what they are but if I was just a casual moviegoer I would be clueless. Still it’s clear who is good and who is bad in the film.
SFX and 3D
The visual effects overall were pretty decent. There were no CG characters except for the dogs at the end. The digital compositing could have been better in the clone’s action scenes. The 3D seemed a bit too gimmicky for me. It was really over the top in a couple of places, but there was one instance where it really worked and that was when the Axe man’s head exploded and gore flies into your face and sticks to the lens. I had to fight the urge to whip off my glasses! Still the 3D in the Tron Legacy teaser was much better than what we got in this whole film.
AFTER THOUGHTS
As low budget sci-fi/horror/action flicks go you could do worse. At least they are managing to keep some continuity going. Not a bad distraction for an afternoon matinee.
I give 3 out of 5.

Trailer:

Recommendations:
Jeff: Enjoyed the hell out of this movie, the 3D was great, especially the subtleties see it. Warning, this is an Action movie and that’s the point.
Ray: I enjoyed it, Definite see for the game fans.. Zombie movie fans might be a bit disappointed. Didnt think it was all that “3D”
Steve: I liked the 3D a lot, albeit many of the shots were gimmicky. Was glad to see Ali Larter got in on the action, as well.

The Future: Gulliver’s Travels

Starring: Jack Black, Emily Blunt, Jason Segel, Amanda Peet

Trivia:

  • Emily Blunt backed out of Iron Man 2 (2010) to do this movie.
  • Sarah Michelle Gellar was considered to play Princess of Lilliputia.
  • Taylor Lautner was originally cast as Horatio. But was dropped after producers changed their minds and considered him too young. Jason Segel replaced him.
  • The official trailer for Gulliver’s Travels was released on June 3, 2010 and attached to Marmaduke a day after.

Talking Points:

  • Why?

Summary:
The plot, according to news, centers on Lemuel Gulliver (Jack Black), a free-spirited travel writer who, on an assignment to the Bermuda Triangle, suddenly finds himself a giant among men when he washes ashore on the hidden island of Lilliput, home to a population of industrious, yet tiny, people.

Trailer:

Excitement:
Jeff: Never want to see this for two words, Jack Black.
Ray: Would only want to see it for two words, Cathrine Tate
Steve: Don’t really have any words for this movie other than…next!

Coming Attractions

The Past: Romancing The Stone
The Present: Alpha & Omega
The Future: It’s Kind of A Funny Story

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MOV017: “All Bones, No Bullshit”

The Dangerous Lives of Alter Boys, Machete, and Devil. Also it’s a slow news week. Yeah, that’s about it. But the show was good.

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News:

The Past: The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys (2002)

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Director: Peter Care

Starring: Jodi Foster, Emile Hirsch, Keiran Culkin, Vincent D’Onofrio, Jena Malone

Trivia:

Chris Fuhrman died of cancer before completing the final draft of the book. The movie is dedicated to him at the beginning of the final credits.

  • The final shot in the scene where the boys find an injured dog was actually just footage shot of the actors “resetting” after a blown take. It was kept in since it so clearly shows their fatigue and frustration.
  • In order to adapt the book in an effective way, Director Peter Care and Producer Jay Shapiro decided to use segments of animation throughout the film. Since most of the book is from Francis’ perspective and takes place in his mind, they needed to find a way to stay true to this “internal narrative”. “Animation seemed like a natural way to go in and out of this interior world and use that as the thread that ties everything together,” says Shapiro
  • Neither filmmakers nor Jodie Foster had planned on Foster also playing the part of the stern Catholic school teacher and headmistress, Sister Assumpta, as well as being producer. Foster was somehow attracted to the role, and called producing partner Meg Lefauve up with the offer to play this role, who graciously accepted, saying that it’s not “traditional casting to see a young beautiful woman in that kind of a role.”
  • Although the novel by Chris Fuhrman was set in 1970’s Savannah, Georgia, the filmmakers wanted a more “universal look” and decided not to specify a place. Most of the filming for the movie took place in Charleston, South Carolina and Wilmington, North Carolina. There was also a lot of debate about whether the characters should have Southern accents, but to keep with this “universal feeling,” the producers decided against any strong accents.
  • In 2002, the film and Director Peter Care won the award for Best New Filmmaker from the Boston Society of Film Critics.
  • In 2003, the film won the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature.

Talking Points:

  • Does Keiran Culken seem to play the same character over and over?
  • Did the animation enhance the movie?

What We’ve Learned:

  • 3 full servings of distilled and reduced nyquil has no effect on the average house cat
  • Statues of Saints are much heavier than they appear, but magically get lighter once they reach the ground.
  • Nuns make excellent comic book villains
  • That’s a really thoughtful question
  • Always better to wait a few dates before dropping the incest bomb on someone

Trailer:

Recommendations:
Jeff: It’s a cute movie, the animated scenes were integrated well, recommendable but couldn’t keep my attention outside the animated scenes.
Ray: A very unique and interesting coming of age story, I highly recommend.
Steve: Stand By Me in the 80s, in a Catholic school…but liked the unique twists.

The Present: Machete

Director: Ethan Maniquis & Robert Rodriguez

Starring: Danny Trejo, Robert DeNiro, Jessica Alba, Steven Seagal, Michelle Rodriguez, Jeff Fahey, Cheech Marin, Don Johnson, Lindsay Lohan

Trivia:

  • The film was based on the fake trailer featured before Robert Rodriguez’s double feature for Grindhouse (2007), Planet Terror (2007), which was co-produced by Quentin Tarantino and is also the producer on this film.
  • Danny Trejo, Jeff Fahey and Cheech Marin who are featured in the fake trailer featured in Grindhouse (2007), reprise their roles for this film as well. Tito Larriva, one of Robert Rodriguez’s closest friends and who’s acted in several films was featured in the trailer but at this point not confirmed to be in this film. Fahey was also featured in Planet Terror (2007) which was written, produced and directed by Rodriguez.
  • This film marks the second time that Robert De Niro and Quentin Tarantino have worked together. They previously worked together on Jackie Brown (1997), which De Niro was part of the ensemble like this film and Tarantino wrote, directed and produced that film.
  • Cheech Marin and Don Johnson both co-starred in the hit CBS series “Nash Bridges” (1996), as well as the Kevin Costner golf film Tin Cup (1996). This is the first time they have been in a film together in 10 years, with the end of “Nash Bridges” wrapping in 2000/2001.
  • This film is being made because of the fake trailer’s popularity after being featured in the theatrical version of Grindhouse (2007) along with the other fake trailers and advertisements featured in the film. “Thanksgiving” is the other popular fake trailer included in the film and was directed by Eli Roth and is now in development to be made into a full length film.
  • According to some reports, Robert Rodriguez claims to have filmed half this movie while making the fake trailer to be included for the theatrical version of Grindhouse (2007). These have yet to be confirmed by Rodriguez himself.
  • Robert Rodriguez wrote the script back in 1993 after he wrote Desperado (1995).
    Actor Chris Cooper reportedly turned down a role in the movie saying “it’s the most absurd thing I’ve ever read” after getting the script.
  • Lindsay Lohan filmed her role in three days.
  • Steven Seagal’s first theatrically released film since Half Past Dead (2002).
  • This marks the third time Steven Seagal and Danny Trejo have appeared together in a movie. First, briefly, in Marked for Death (1990), and again in Urban Justice (2007).
  • While Steven Seagal has played an anti-hero on more than one occasion, this film will mark the first time he’s ever played a full-out villain.
  • A fake trailer for the film was released on May 5, 2010, through Ain’t It Cool News. The trailer opened with Danny Trejo saying, “This is Machete with a special Cinco de Mayo message to Arizona,” followed by scenes of gun fire, blood shed, and highlights of the cast. The fake trailer combined elements of the Machete trailer that appeared in Grindhouse with footage from the actual film, and implied that the film would be about Machete leading a revolt against anti-immigration politicians and border vigilantes. According to Fox News, critics of illegal immigration were offended by the contents of the movie trailer. Production of the film predates the legislation, however. Rodriguez later revealed the trailer to be a joke, explaining “it was Cinco de Mayo and I had too much tequila.” The official theatrical trailer was released on July 8, 2010.
  • Fake Trailer

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Talking Points:

  • Do you think the “Grind house” aspect of this is lost on typical audiences?
  • Why the hell would anyone bring kids to this movie?
  • Cheech Marin as a “serious” actor?

What We Learned:

  • How to steer a car with a machete through someones back
  • Intestines are 60 feet long and incredibly rope like
  • Weed Whackers make awesome weapons
  • Machete don’t text
  • DeNiro makes a more convincing Mexican than Seagal

Trailer:

Recommendations:
Jeff: It was confusing on what this movie wanted to be. Had good laughs and some good action scenes but was just too inconsistent, meh.
Ray: Loved it, cant wait to see the next “Grindhouse” movie, I will definitely own this one!
Steve: Enjoyed it. I realized I laughed out loud several times during tense moments.

The Future: Devil

Starring: Logan Marshall-Green, Bojana Novakovic, Geoffrey Arend, Chris Messina, Caroline Dhavernas, Jacob Vargas, Bokeem Woodbine, Matt Craven, Jenny O’Hara

Trivia:

  • In October 2008, Shyamalan announced, with the partnership of Media Rights Capital, that Devil will be made with the Dowdle brothers as the directors and Brian Nelson as the screenwriter. A year later, filming started on October 26 in Toronto. There was additional shooting for the film several months later in Los Angeles.
  • The film was set to have a release date on February 11, 2011 but was bumped up to September 17, 2010. The film’s trailer debuted online on July 13, 2010. The trailer is also attached with Inception, The Expendables, Salt, The Other Guys, and Scott Pilgrim vs. The World.
  • On June 23, 2010, Shyamalan announced the second film in The Night Chronicles, currently titled Fourteen Seconds. The film is about a jury discussing a case dealing with the supernatural. Chris Sparling is set to write the script but there is no director presently attached.

Talking Points: The Night Chronicles- Movies Written but not Directed by M.Night… at this point is his name hurting these films?

Summary:
Set in an office building, five strangers are riding in an elevator when they suddenly find themselves trapped. After several terrifying and inexplicable events occur, such as the local fire department unable to open the elevator, the people begin to turn against each other when they begin to suspect that one of them is in fact, the Devil.

Trailer:

Excitement:
Jeff: Meh, Might be good but not that interested.
Ray: The first of the Night Chronicles… anything with M.Nights name on it makes me cringe, but the trailer does look interesting.
Steve: Trailer actually looks good to me. I like these “close quarters” kind of movies where everyone is a suspect. As long as I’m not able to figure it out right away, I’ll be happy.

Coming Attractions

The Past:  Indian Summer
The Present:  Resident Evil: Afterlife
The Future:  Gulliver’s Travels

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