On October 26, 1997, Tower of Terror aired as ABC’s The Wonderful World of Disney feature presentation, initiating a trend that would go on to shift the paradigm that had long existed between Disney’s immersive theme park attractions and their successful movie slate. The line between rides and movies was blurring and soon the path that carried the silver screen to the realm of reality would no longer be one-way.
Twenty six years later, the studio is on the cusp of their twelfth ride adaptation and their second big screen attempt at a blockbuster Haunted Mansion movie. Far removed from the made-for-tv Steve Guttenberg starring spook fest that served as a gateway horror flick to so many young and impressionable minds, these multimedia ticket drivers have left behind low budget simplicity in lieu of multi-million dollar CGI driven set pieces and A-list casts. Still, with its on-ride filming sites, colorful...
Twenty six years later, the studio is on the cusp of their twelfth ride adaptation and their second big screen attempt at a blockbuster Haunted Mansion movie. Far removed from the made-for-tv Steve Guttenberg starring spook fest that served as a gateway horror flick to so many young and impressionable minds, these multimedia ticket drivers have left behind low budget simplicity in lieu of multi-million dollar CGI driven set pieces and A-list casts. Still, with its on-ride filming sites, colorful...
- 7/18/2023
- by Paul Farrell
- bloody-disgusting.com
"I'd like to take you back 17 years when a peanut farmer was in the White House, a group-a boys callin' themselves Queen topped the record charts and Gladys Leeman was Gladys Wood and she was Mount Rose American Teen Princess!"
I wasn't even old enough to tie my own shoes the first time I competed in a beauty pageant. Now, it's crucial in a post-"Toddlers and Tiaras" world to emphasize that the pageant circuit I grew up in was far less "spray tans and Go-Go juice," and a lot more like the film "Drop Dead Gorgeous." Directed by Michael Park Jann from a brilliant script by Lona Williams, the mockumentary "Drop Dead Gorgeous" was a financial and critical flop, but has developed a die-hard cult following over the years. The film follows underdog Amber Atkins (Kirsten Dunst), small-town socialite Becky Leeman (Denise Richards), as well as the contestants and...
I wasn't even old enough to tie my own shoes the first time I competed in a beauty pageant. Now, it's crucial in a post-"Toddlers and Tiaras" world to emphasize that the pageant circuit I grew up in was far less "spray tans and Go-Go juice," and a lot more like the film "Drop Dead Gorgeous." Directed by Michael Park Jann from a brilliant script by Lona Williams, the mockumentary "Drop Dead Gorgeous" was a financial and critical flop, but has developed a die-hard cult following over the years. The film follows underdog Amber Atkins (Kirsten Dunst), small-town socialite Becky Leeman (Denise Richards), as well as the contestants and...
- 12/6/2022
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
Comedian Sandi Toksvig has given fans an update on her health after being admitted to hospital.
The 64-year-old Bake Off presenter was touring Australia when she contracted bronchial pneumonia. She was then taken to hospital for treatment.
Writing on Twitter, Toksvig said: “Thank you to everyone who has sent such kind words while I’ve been unwell. I am now out of hospital and continuing my convalescence in Australia until I’m fit to fly home.
“My undying (literally) thanks to the amazing Australian health service.”
Before being sent to hospital, Toksvig had performed dates in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, and had been due to tour New Zealand next week, with dates lined up in Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland.
A previous statement shared on Toksvig’s Twitter account on Saturday (3 December) read: “Due to illness, Sandi has cancelled the New Zealand leg of her tour.
“She has been admitted to...
The 64-year-old Bake Off presenter was touring Australia when she contracted bronchial pneumonia. She was then taken to hospital for treatment.
Writing on Twitter, Toksvig said: “Thank you to everyone who has sent such kind words while I’ve been unwell. I am now out of hospital and continuing my convalescence in Australia until I’m fit to fly home.
“My undying (literally) thanks to the amazing Australian health service.”
Before being sent to hospital, Toksvig had performed dates in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, and had been due to tour New Zealand next week, with dates lined up in Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland.
A previous statement shared on Toksvig’s Twitter account on Saturday (3 December) read: “Due to illness, Sandi has cancelled the New Zealand leg of her tour.
“She has been admitted to...
- 12/6/2022
- by Louis Chilton
- The Independent - TV
Hey, "NCIS: Los Angeles" fans. Unfortunately, we have a bit of bad news for you again in this article. It turns out that your favorite show is due for one more break before season 10 wraps up. That break is going to take place next Sunday night,April 21, 2019. CBS will not be airing the next, new episode 21 on April 21, 2019. Instead, they are planning to air it on Sunday night, April 28, 2019. So, be sure to mark down that very important date on your TV show calendars. So, what will CBS be airing instead of NCIS: Los Angeles next Sunday night, April 21, 2019? Well, according to the TV Guide listings, they will be airing a special Grammy show called, "Motown 60: A Grammy Celebration." The short description for this special reads like this, "Hosted by Cedric the Entertainer and Grammy winner Smokey Robinson, the tribute to the iconic sound that changed America will feature Boyz II Men,...
- 4/14/2019
- by Andre Braddox
- OnTheFlix
Westerns are all hell bent on revenge.
Web series Red Bird follows a woman, Kitty Mae, as she roams the countryside for her son’s killers.
The eight-episode short series is created by husband and wife team Misti Boland and Jeremy Osbern. The series stars Alexandra Goodman, Ian Stark, Alexis Michelle Bartkoski, Michael McShane and Armin Shimerman.
Latino-Review caught up with director Misti Boland last month in Downtown Los Angeles during WonderCon 2016.
We’ve attached four episodes after the article. For the rest of the series, head over to Red Bird’s web site by clicking here.
Check out the episodes and the interview below.
Source: Latino-Review.co...
Web series Red Bird follows a woman, Kitty Mae, as she roams the countryside for her son’s killers.
The eight-episode short series is created by husband and wife team Misti Boland and Jeremy Osbern. The series stars Alexandra Goodman, Ian Stark, Alexis Michelle Bartkoski, Michael McShane and Armin Shimerman.
Latino-Review caught up with director Misti Boland last month in Downtown Los Angeles during WonderCon 2016.
We’ve attached four episodes after the article. For the rest of the series, head over to Red Bird’s web site by clicking here.
Check out the episodes and the interview below.
Source: Latino-Review.co...
- 4/7/2016
- by Gig Patta
- LRMonline.com
Recently, Fox delivered the new, official synopsis/spoilers for their upcoming "Wayward Pines" finale episode 10 of season 1. The episode is entitled, "Cycle," and it turns out that we're going to see some very intense and high drama action go down when Kate and Ethan try to save everyone from the deadly repercussions Wayward Pines is facing, and more! In the new, 10th episode press release: The Future Of Wayward Pines Is In Jeopardy On The Conclusion Of "Wayward Pines." Press release number 2: After Pilcher decides to turn off the electricity in Wayward Pines with deadly repercussions, Ethan and Kate will take the initiative to make sure everyone is out of harm's way. In the meantime, Nurse Pam will confront Pilcher on his decision and tries to convince him to reconsider. Ethan and Kate are going to plan for an attack and the first generation will try to protect the...
- 7/16/2015
- by Chris
- OnTheFlix
Recently, Fox served up the new,official synopsis/spoilers for their upcoming "Wayward Pines" episode 7 of season 1. The episode is entitled, "Betrayal," and it turns out that we're going to see some pretty intense and interesting stuff happen as Amy and Ben get steamy. Ethan becomes the recipient of a deadly bomb, and more! In the new, 7th episode press release: Ethan Is Betrayed By Those Closest To Him. Press release number 2: After discovering the truth behind Wayward Pines, Ethan will find a bomb planted in his car, which makes him question people whom he thought he could trust. In the meantime, Kate and Harold are going to have a fertility consult meeting with Nurse Pam , and Ben and Amy's (guest star Sarah Jeffery) relationship will heat up. Guest stars feature: Sarah Jeffery as Amy; Hope Davis as Megan Fisher; Michael McShane as Big Bill; Andrew Jenkins as Ted...
- 6/25/2015
- by Andre Braddox
- OnTheFlix
Last night, Fox released the new,official spoiler photos for their upcoming "Wayward Pines" episode 6 of season 1, and they offer up new-look scene snapshots that feature Kate (Carla Gugino) showing up at the real estate office to see Theresa. Theresa (Shannyn Sossamon, R) having a run-in with Big Bill (guest star Michael McShane, L). The episode is titled, "Choices." The official plot summary for episode 6, reads like this: "Ethan will get a tour of the facility and personnel that manage the day-to-day operations of Wayward Pines ,and learns more about the history and how the residents ended up in the eerie town. Meanwhile, at the realty office, Theresa is going to find a map of an unusual plot of land she wants to investigate. Kate and Harold will be planning a covert operation." Episode 6 is due to air on Thursday night, June 25th at 9pm central time on Fox.
- 6/12/2015
- by Andre Braddox
- OnTheFlix
Recently, Fox released the new,official synopsis/spoilers for their upcoming "Wayward Pines" episode 6 of season 1. The episode is entitled, "Choices," and it turns out that we're going to see some very interesting stuff take place as Kate and Harold cook up a covert operation. Ethan discovers more intel behind Wayward Pines, and more. In the new, 6th episode press release: Ethan Discovers The Truth Behind Wayward Pines. Press release number 2: Ethan is going to get a tour of the facility and personnel that manage the day-to-day operations of Wayward Pines ,and learns more about the history and how the residents ended up in the eerie town. In the meantime, at the realty office, Theresa will find a map of an unusual plot of land she wants to investigate. Kate and Harold will be planning a covert operation. Guest stars feature: Greta Lee as Ruby, Megan Fisher as Hope Davis,...
- 6/11/2015
- by Megan
- OnTheFlix
Recently, Fox released the new,official synopsis/spoilers for their upcoming "Wayward Pines" episode 5 of season 1. The episode is entitled, "The Truth," and it turns out that we're going to see some very intriguing and intense stuff go down when a surprising discovery is made by Ethan after making his way outside of Wayward Pines, and more! In the new, 5th episode press release: Ethan Ventures Outside Of Wayward Pines And Makes A Shocking Discovery. Press release number 2: Ethan will venture outside of Wayward Pines and will be shocked by what he discovers. In the meantime, Theresa will report to her new realty job and meet her first client who is as confused as Theresa about the eerie town. Ben is going to go through orientation and learn the truth about Wayward Pines from his teacher, Megan Fisher (guest star Hope Davis). Guest stars feature: Sarah Jeffery as Amy...
- 6/4/2015
- by Eric
- OnTheFlix
WWE.com
Three former WWE employees have launched a class action suit against the professional wrestling promotion, claiming that the world’s largest pro wrestling organization, has been engaging in “egregious mistreatment” of its workers and that “the WWE has known for years …the brutality in the ring has resulted in dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and a lot more.”
Further claims state that the WWE has withheld medical research and other evidence related to traumatic brain injuries suffered by WWE wrestlers.
The suit, filed by Russ McCullough, Ryan Sakoda, and Matt Wiese (Luther Reigns), represents workers past and present, and as with the recently filed class action lawsuit against the Ufc, it’s possible that other professional wrestlers past and present could join in.
For those who aren’t familiar with the initial three names attached to the suit, who are represented by Michael McShane and Jonas P. Mann of Audet & Partners Llp,...
Three former WWE employees have launched a class action suit against the professional wrestling promotion, claiming that the world’s largest pro wrestling organization, has been engaging in “egregious mistreatment” of its workers and that “the WWE has known for years …the brutality in the ring has resulted in dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and a lot more.”
Further claims state that the WWE has withheld medical research and other evidence related to traumatic brain injuries suffered by WWE wrestlers.
The suit, filed by Russ McCullough, Ryan Sakoda, and Matt Wiese (Luther Reigns), represents workers past and present, and as with the recently filed class action lawsuit against the Ufc, it’s possible that other professional wrestlers past and present could join in.
For those who aren’t familiar with the initial three names attached to the suit, who are represented by Michael McShane and Jonas P. Mann of Audet & Partners Llp,...
- 4/11/2015
- by Jay Anderson
- Obsessed with Film
Uncle Slavko's All-American Family Lodge is a friendly vacation destination... until toxic waste infects the workers dressed as Bigfoot. Creature horror gets a twist in Matt Jackson's Love In The Time Of Monsters, a new film starring Doug Jones and Kane Hodder that's now available on DVD and VOD. We have an exclusive clip from the horror-comedy in which Hodder wears a monstrous costume that's more animalistic than his signature hockey mask.
Synopsis: "Love In The Time Of Monsters will take you on a horrifying, hilarious trip through the backwoods of the Pacific Northwest, as two sisters battle murderous, toxic-waste ravaged monsters to save the ones they love.
As children, Marla (Gena Shaw) and Carla (Marissa Skell) lost their father in a horrific accident at a roadside attraction. Fifteen years later, the girls find themselves in a similarly lethal tourist trap after Carla’s fiancé Johnny and the other...
Synopsis: "Love In The Time Of Monsters will take you on a horrifying, hilarious trip through the backwoods of the Pacific Northwest, as two sisters battle murderous, toxic-waste ravaged monsters to save the ones they love.
As children, Marla (Gena Shaw) and Carla (Marissa Skell) lost their father in a horrific accident at a roadside attraction. Fifteen years later, the girls find themselves in a similarly lethal tourist trap after Carla’s fiancé Johnny and the other...
- 2/19/2015
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Tagline: "We all love family vacations." Matt Jackson's Love in the Time of Monsters is getting set for a home entertainment release. The film, which is set in Bigfoot country, involves a toxin, which turns people into crazed killers. Love in the Time of Monsters stars Doug Jones (Hellboy), Kane Hodder (Jason X), Michael McShane and Shawn Weatherly. Recently, the film's official DVD artwork was release; it can be found here. The film brings zombie Bigfeet into reality! A pair of sisters, Carla (Marissa Skell) and Marla (Gena Shaw), go on vacation. Soon, they find themselves in the middle of a Battle Royal as a parasite infects the local workers and holidayers. This duo must fight for their lives as the infection spreads and spreads. The graphic shows some of the film's infected populace. Several workers, dressed as Bigfeet, are infected first. They can be seen at the top of the graphic.
- 2/4/2015
- by noreply@blogger.com (Michael Allen)
- 28 Days Later Analysis
Love in the Time of Monsters is an indie horror title from director Matt Jackson and writer Michael Skvarla. In the film, a toxin infects several workers, leading to a murderous pandemic. The film stars Doug Jones (Hellboy), Kane Hodder and Michael McShane. Recently, a full length trailer was released for the film. The grisly clip can be seen here. For more on the story, the film focuses on a tourist trap. This locale brings costumed bigfeet out of the local fauna, while a strange microbe infects the water supply. Now, the bigfeet are filled will with both toxin and rage! Currently, this title is on a film festival run. The film will play in Manhattan, on January 7th, 2015. As well, the film will show in San Francisco tonight (Dec. 11th, 2014), at the Arrow in the Head film festival. Fans on both sides of America will get there chance to...
- 12/11/2014
- by noreply@blogger.com (Michael Allen)
- 28 Days Later Analysis
Menier Chocolate Factory Artistic Director David Babani welcomes Jamie Lloyd's major revival of Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman's Assassins as part of the theatre's 10-year anniversary season. Joining Carly Bawden, Simon Lipkin, Mike McShane, Andy Nyman, David Roberts and Catherine Tate are Stewart Clarke, Harry Morrison, Aaron Tveit and Jamie Parker. The production opens tonight, 1 December 2014, and runs until 7 March 2015. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below...
- 12/1/2014
- by BWW News Desk
- BroadwayWorld.com
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The Kevin Costner-headlined Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves is a darker blockbuster than people seem to remember...
This article contains spoilers for Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves. It is entirely illustrated with pictures of the late, great Alan Rickman. It was written and originally published before his death earlier this year.
It tends to be a forgotten fact that, in the late 1980s, there were actually three competing Robin Hood projects fighting for a greenlight. A trio of separate scripts were being developed by Tristar Pictures, 20th Century Fox and Morgan Creek Productions, and the only one that would go forward to become a movie would, ultimately, be the Robin Hood screenplay that Kevin Costner chose he wanted to make.
Of the three, the Tristar project was apparently barely in the running. But for a long time, it looked as if 20th Century Fox would win this particular race. It had a director on board, with John McTiernan – hot off the back of Die Hard and in the midst of The Hunt For Red October – set to make its Robin Hood film. And at that stage, it was the most advanced of the projects.
Costner, while this was going on, was making his directorial debut, Dances With Wolves, and was determined not to get boxed in on screenplay changes as he had done on the film before that, Tony Scott’s Revenge. He took a meeting or two with McTiernan with that in mind, and things looked like they might happen.
"Wait a minute. Robin Hood steals money from my pocket, forcing me to hurt the public, and they love him for it?"
The problem was that Fox’s script wasn’t ready enough, and also that McTiernan was also interested in a different, new project with Sean Connery (that ultimately didn’t get made). Upcoming independent Morgan Creek thus moved quickly (having originally sought and failed to get Mel Gibson for the role of its Robin), and pulled a masterstroke by hiring one of Costner’s best friends, Kevin Reynolds, to direct.
Reynolds had directed Costner before on the really very good Fandango, and his involvement – along with a screenplay from Pen Densham and John Watson that was willing to go broader than the traditional Robin Hood legend – led Costner committing to Prince Of Thieves. The Fox and Tristar projects shut down shortly after (although a competing Robin Hood movie, starring Patrick Bergin, would get a UK cinema release in 1991, heading straight to telly in the States).
Yet even with Costner and Reynolds on board, the difficult days were still ahead. It didn’t help that, when Reynolds signed on, he had just a month and a half to prepare a movie that was mainly shooting in the UK. Reynolds, a Texan, would also have to factor in that the movie was not only filming thousands of miles from home, but also that he was shooting in a British winter ("I think the weather in particular was a problem on that shoot because we were shooting in the fall, and especially up north, we had a lot of weather problems, all very rainy and all", he told us). The locations – not one of them the actual Sherwood Forest – would afford Reynolds and his crew comparably few hours of decent daylight a day. It would not be long before Robin Hood would run over schedule. And time was already tight.
Perhaps the first sign of problems came just ahead of shooting. Robin Wright had been cast in the role of Maid Marian, but discovered she was pregnant. Four days before cameras were set to roll, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio was drafted in (the film would then overrun, causing - and don't say we never give you killer bits of trivia - her wedding licence to lapse), more than holding her own in the part. That said, she would pinpoint many people’s feelings about Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves when she said in a 2009 Sunday Herald interview that “It felt like different films, different attitudes, and I’d have much rather been in Alan Rickman’s film. I wanted to do what he was doing”. So let’s start there.
"You, my room, 10.30 tonight. You, 10.45... and bring a friend"
You don’t need us to tell you that the most fun moments in Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves centre around the last outright villain Alan Rickman has played on screen, the Sheriff of Nottingham. He turned the role down a couple of times before eventually agreeing (Sam Neill and Richard E Grant were considered, too), on the condition that he could have relatively free reign with the part.
There’s not a line in the film he doesn’t deliver deliciously, and the story goes that the film was re-edited to take bits of Rickman out, and put more of Costner in, such was the Sheriff’s dominance of the movie.
As it turned out, a longer cut would emerge later on DVD and Blu-ray, and it’s the 148 minute version that’s now available on the UK disc release. Oddly enough though, adding more Rickman makes the film a little weaker. The longer cut explores in more detail his relationship with the bizarre Mortianna, revealing more backstory - specifically that she's his mother - and adds in his worshipping at the altar of dual Gods. But it slows down an already bloated film, weakens the character a little and the leaner cut – which even then, isn’t too lean – is arguably the best.
Not that that either appears to be the director’s cut. Most stories about Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves tend to centre on the sizeable disagreement and falling out between Costner and Reynolds, that led to the latter having his cut of the film taken away from him. Costner (who reportedly did some second unit directing) and his producers instead assembled the final version – as they would do with Waterworld, Costner and Reynolds’ next collaboration – and the director was not impressed with it. However, he didn’t hold the cards here, and whilst the final cut was approved by a director called Kevin, it wasn’t the Kevin who actually helmed the film.
Again, we spoke to Kevin Reynolds back in 2008, and he admitted he was pleased that the longer version had seen the light of day in the end. "What you really wish is that the original version had been that, the original release had been your version. But yeah, to some extent I am happy that people saw more of what I intended", he told us. "But... you'd make yourself crazy if you constantly dwelt on it. I sort of don't understand filmmakers that can go back ten, fifteen years later and want to re-work their film or restore it, because you have to let it go".
"I had a very sad childhood, I'll tell you about it sometime. I never knew my parents; it's amazing I'm sane"
Rewatching Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves, time hasn’t altered at all the rights and wrongs of it. Its introduction of Azeem, the Moor companion that Robin befriends in a savage scene in Jerusalem at the start of the movie (Costner had been keen that we saw backstory of Robin outside of Sherwood Forest) gave Morgan Freeman a decent, if unexpected role. It’s one of the biggest deviations from the Robin Hood legend, but in fairness, it lends the film its best non-Rickman comedy moments (co-writer Pen Densham went on to say in an interview abut including Azeem that "I was told it was a stupid idea by studios, so overcoming those objections made it worth the effort").
And at times, it needs that early comedy. It takes 40 minutes or so for Robin to finally set foot in pretend Sherwood Forest and meet those who will become his merry men, and the journey there is surprisingly dour. A cast iron example of its seriousness: the film has Brian Blessed appear in its opening ten minutes or so, and promptly kills him. What's going on there?
In fairness, we have met the two villains of the piece in that time. And we get our introduction to Alan Rickman's Sheriff. Take his gleeful promise to "cut out your heart with a spoon" as just one example of what he does right here. It's delivered with delicious, pitch-perfect villainy, one step short of winking at the audience (in fact the film does break the fourth wall, right at the end, with such a wink). But let's not forget Michael Wincott's hardly cheery and really quite intimidating Guy Of Gisborne. He rarely gets mentioned when people talk about the film and his work here is actually really good.
It's useful, because - and I say this as a huge fan of the man - Costner's isn't so much. He pitches his Robin as an anti-Errol Flynn, but the first time I saw the film, the cinema erupted in a guffaw when he said in his California tone "this is English courage". As the film went on, Costner wisely abandoned any attempt at an English accent, and his performance thus improved. Furthermore, his comedy moments are strong. Comedy has always been a Costner strength, and is again here.
That said, the accent criticisms would stick, and Mel Brooks would have fun with it in his spoof inspired by Prince Of Thieves, Robin Hood: Men In Tights. When his Robin Hood, Cary Elwes, says "this Robin speaks with an English accent", Men In Tights gets one of its few laughs right there.
"Cut out his heart with a spoon"
It'd be remiss too not to mention a few other standouts.
Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves is the only film to date that brings Kevin Costner and Elmo from Brush Strokes together on the big screen (to date, anyway, depending on Howard Lew Lewis' schedule). And the merry men feature no shortage of fun characters: step forward Nick Brimble's grand Little John, Soo Drouet as his wife, Fanny (behave), and the marvellous Michael McShane as Friar Tuck. It's a grand ensemble.
There's also another American accent in the mix, this time belonging to Christian Slater's Will Scarlett (a role once earmarked for Johnny Depp). It's credit to the writers here that they tried to deepen the story with the twist about Will being Robin's brother, even if Slater's stroppy looks probably gave the game away a bit earlier. Slater also improvised the "fuck me, he cleared it" line, that had to be cut from the UK release to earn a PG rating (14 seconds were chopped in all).
That said, BBFC chief James Ferman would express that his only regret on his retirement was allowing Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves through with such a soft certificate. He had a point. This is a brutal, violent film, with a surprisingly nasty edge for a family movie. And there's also the ending of the film, which leaves a really sour taste.
Up until the final act, Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves is generally enormous fun (appreciating the downbeat early scenes, and the remarkably adept blind man, Duncan). Reynolds - shooting his arrows at 300 frames a second - has a busy camera, that he's willing to point wherever he needs to keep the film moving. His action moments - clearly practical - are strong, and the arrows of fire being launched into the Sherwood camp make for an excellent sequence. He breathlessly mixes up action and comedy, and then takes time to set up a potentially brilliant final sequence, as Robin and chums must halt the Sheriff's wedding, and save ten of their men - one of whom is John and Fanny's son - from being hanged.
What leaves the sour taste is that it's underpinned by a prolonged scene of attempted rape. Even more sourly, it's shot from an audience point of view. And at the time of the film's release, nobody (including me) seemed to notice.
I certainly notice it now, and what makes it doubly unpleasant and disturbing is that it's played for comedy. As the Sheriff tries to have his way with Marian, he's firing out one liners. There's not a blockbuster film now that could or should get away with that as Robin Hood does here. Arguably, Robin Hood shouldn't have done either.
In an era where films such as Die Hard have been downgraded to 15 from 18, it's interesting that Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves is one of the few to have gone the other way. The disc release, with the original 142 minute cinema cut we saw in the UK is now a 12, and even then, there's a sense the BBFC is being a bit generous.
"God bless you, Fanny! And God bless Robin Hood!"
Before I wrap up, It'd be remiss not to touch on the music. Bryan Adams' infamous song would spend longer at the top of the British singles chart that any before it or since.
But more interestingly, Michael Kamen's energetic score to Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves, is brilliant. Kamen died of a heart attack at the age of just 55, and it's one of several excellent scores he penned in his lifetime. It's a tragedy we never got to hear more.
Still, revisiting Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves has been interesting for me. I've always liked the film an awful lot, but my reservations about the ending grow with each viewing. It just doesn't feel right. It did not stop the film from being a massive hit, though.
For Costner, he wouldn't just come through the criticism of his performance unscathed, he'd emerge with a huge success. What's particularly notable about Kevin Costner at the height of his movie star days is that he didn't get there by being symbolised with a gun in his hand. Granted, he had a gun in scenes in a few of his films, yet that wasn't the image of him. At a point when Arnold Schwarzenegger was the world's other biggest movie star, the difference between the two was firmly pronounced.
Costner and Reynolds would patch up their differences, only to fall out in even more spectacular style on Waterworld (only to patch up their differences again and reunite for Hatfield & McCoys). But with Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves, against considerable odds, they fashioned an often hugely entertaining - and hugely uncomfortable - blockbuster, with an immense villain.
And yep, even Sean turning up at the end still raises a smile. Even though his surprise cameo was widely leaked even before the world wide web routinely did that sort of thing for you...
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See related The top 10 movie performances of Alan Rickman The top 25 Kevin Costner films Looking back at Kevin Costner films: The Bodyguard Kevin Reynolds: The Den Of Geek interview Field Of Dreams revisited: why it still hits me every time Movies Feature Simon Brew Kevin Costner 14 Jun 2016 - 06:49 Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves Sean Connery Alan Rickman...
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The Kevin Costner-headlined Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves is a darker blockbuster than people seem to remember...
This article contains spoilers for Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves. It is entirely illustrated with pictures of the late, great Alan Rickman. It was written and originally published before his death earlier this year.
It tends to be a forgotten fact that, in the late 1980s, there were actually three competing Robin Hood projects fighting for a greenlight. A trio of separate scripts were being developed by Tristar Pictures, 20th Century Fox and Morgan Creek Productions, and the only one that would go forward to become a movie would, ultimately, be the Robin Hood screenplay that Kevin Costner chose he wanted to make.
Of the three, the Tristar project was apparently barely in the running. But for a long time, it looked as if 20th Century Fox would win this particular race. It had a director on board, with John McTiernan – hot off the back of Die Hard and in the midst of The Hunt For Red October – set to make its Robin Hood film. And at that stage, it was the most advanced of the projects.
Costner, while this was going on, was making his directorial debut, Dances With Wolves, and was determined not to get boxed in on screenplay changes as he had done on the film before that, Tony Scott’s Revenge. He took a meeting or two with McTiernan with that in mind, and things looked like they might happen.
"Wait a minute. Robin Hood steals money from my pocket, forcing me to hurt the public, and they love him for it?"
The problem was that Fox’s script wasn’t ready enough, and also that McTiernan was also interested in a different, new project with Sean Connery (that ultimately didn’t get made). Upcoming independent Morgan Creek thus moved quickly (having originally sought and failed to get Mel Gibson for the role of its Robin), and pulled a masterstroke by hiring one of Costner’s best friends, Kevin Reynolds, to direct.
Reynolds had directed Costner before on the really very good Fandango, and his involvement – along with a screenplay from Pen Densham and John Watson that was willing to go broader than the traditional Robin Hood legend – led Costner committing to Prince Of Thieves. The Fox and Tristar projects shut down shortly after (although a competing Robin Hood movie, starring Patrick Bergin, would get a UK cinema release in 1991, heading straight to telly in the States).
Yet even with Costner and Reynolds on board, the difficult days were still ahead. It didn’t help that, when Reynolds signed on, he had just a month and a half to prepare a movie that was mainly shooting in the UK. Reynolds, a Texan, would also have to factor in that the movie was not only filming thousands of miles from home, but also that he was shooting in a British winter ("I think the weather in particular was a problem on that shoot because we were shooting in the fall, and especially up north, we had a lot of weather problems, all very rainy and all", he told us). The locations – not one of them the actual Sherwood Forest – would afford Reynolds and his crew comparably few hours of decent daylight a day. It would not be long before Robin Hood would run over schedule. And time was already tight.
Perhaps the first sign of problems came just ahead of shooting. Robin Wright had been cast in the role of Maid Marian, but discovered she was pregnant. Four days before cameras were set to roll, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio was drafted in (the film would then overrun, causing - and don't say we never give you killer bits of trivia - her wedding licence to lapse), more than holding her own in the part. That said, she would pinpoint many people’s feelings about Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves when she said in a 2009 Sunday Herald interview that “It felt like different films, different attitudes, and I’d have much rather been in Alan Rickman’s film. I wanted to do what he was doing”. So let’s start there.
"You, my room, 10.30 tonight. You, 10.45... and bring a friend"
You don’t need us to tell you that the most fun moments in Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves centre around the last outright villain Alan Rickman has played on screen, the Sheriff of Nottingham. He turned the role down a couple of times before eventually agreeing (Sam Neill and Richard E Grant were considered, too), on the condition that he could have relatively free reign with the part.
There’s not a line in the film he doesn’t deliver deliciously, and the story goes that the film was re-edited to take bits of Rickman out, and put more of Costner in, such was the Sheriff’s dominance of the movie.
As it turned out, a longer cut would emerge later on DVD and Blu-ray, and it’s the 148 minute version that’s now available on the UK disc release. Oddly enough though, adding more Rickman makes the film a little weaker. The longer cut explores in more detail his relationship with the bizarre Mortianna, revealing more backstory - specifically that she's his mother - and adds in his worshipping at the altar of dual Gods. But it slows down an already bloated film, weakens the character a little and the leaner cut – which even then, isn’t too lean – is arguably the best.
Not that that either appears to be the director’s cut. Most stories about Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves tend to centre on the sizeable disagreement and falling out between Costner and Reynolds, that led to the latter having his cut of the film taken away from him. Costner (who reportedly did some second unit directing) and his producers instead assembled the final version – as they would do with Waterworld, Costner and Reynolds’ next collaboration – and the director was not impressed with it. However, he didn’t hold the cards here, and whilst the final cut was approved by a director called Kevin, it wasn’t the Kevin who actually helmed the film.
Again, we spoke to Kevin Reynolds back in 2008, and he admitted he was pleased that the longer version had seen the light of day in the end. "What you really wish is that the original version had been that, the original release had been your version. But yeah, to some extent I am happy that people saw more of what I intended", he told us. "But... you'd make yourself crazy if you constantly dwelt on it. I sort of don't understand filmmakers that can go back ten, fifteen years later and want to re-work their film or restore it, because you have to let it go".
"I had a very sad childhood, I'll tell you about it sometime. I never knew my parents; it's amazing I'm sane"
Rewatching Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves, time hasn’t altered at all the rights and wrongs of it. Its introduction of Azeem, the Moor companion that Robin befriends in a savage scene in Jerusalem at the start of the movie (Costner had been keen that we saw backstory of Robin outside of Sherwood Forest) gave Morgan Freeman a decent, if unexpected role. It’s one of the biggest deviations from the Robin Hood legend, but in fairness, it lends the film its best non-Rickman comedy moments (co-writer Pen Densham went on to say in an interview abut including Azeem that "I was told it was a stupid idea by studios, so overcoming those objections made it worth the effort").
And at times, it needs that early comedy. It takes 40 minutes or so for Robin to finally set foot in pretend Sherwood Forest and meet those who will become his merry men, and the journey there is surprisingly dour. A cast iron example of its seriousness: the film has Brian Blessed appear in its opening ten minutes or so, and promptly kills him. What's going on there?
In fairness, we have met the two villains of the piece in that time. And we get our introduction to Alan Rickman's Sheriff. Take his gleeful promise to "cut out your heart with a spoon" as just one example of what he does right here. It's delivered with delicious, pitch-perfect villainy, one step short of winking at the audience (in fact the film does break the fourth wall, right at the end, with such a wink). But let's not forget Michael Wincott's hardly cheery and really quite intimidating Guy Of Gisborne. He rarely gets mentioned when people talk about the film and his work here is actually really good.
It's useful, because - and I say this as a huge fan of the man - Costner's isn't so much. He pitches his Robin as an anti-Errol Flynn, but the first time I saw the film, the cinema erupted in a guffaw when he said in his California tone "this is English courage". As the film went on, Costner wisely abandoned any attempt at an English accent, and his performance thus improved. Furthermore, his comedy moments are strong. Comedy has always been a Costner strength, and is again here.
That said, the accent criticisms would stick, and Mel Brooks would have fun with it in his spoof inspired by Prince Of Thieves, Robin Hood: Men In Tights. When his Robin Hood, Cary Elwes, says "this Robin speaks with an English accent", Men In Tights gets one of its few laughs right there.
"Cut out his heart with a spoon"
It'd be remiss too not to mention a few other standouts.
Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves is the only film to date that brings Kevin Costner and Elmo from Brush Strokes together on the big screen (to date, anyway, depending on Howard Lew Lewis' schedule). And the merry men feature no shortage of fun characters: step forward Nick Brimble's grand Little John, Soo Drouet as his wife, Fanny (behave), and the marvellous Michael McShane as Friar Tuck. It's a grand ensemble.
There's also another American accent in the mix, this time belonging to Christian Slater's Will Scarlett (a role once earmarked for Johnny Depp). It's credit to the writers here that they tried to deepen the story with the twist about Will being Robin's brother, even if Slater's stroppy looks probably gave the game away a bit earlier. Slater also improvised the "fuck me, he cleared it" line, that had to be cut from the UK release to earn a PG rating (14 seconds were chopped in all).
That said, BBFC chief James Ferman would express that his only regret on his retirement was allowing Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves through with such a soft certificate. He had a point. This is a brutal, violent film, with a surprisingly nasty edge for a family movie. And there's also the ending of the film, which leaves a really sour taste.
Up until the final act, Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves is generally enormous fun (appreciating the downbeat early scenes, and the remarkably adept blind man, Duncan). Reynolds - shooting his arrows at 300 frames a second - has a busy camera, that he's willing to point wherever he needs to keep the film moving. His action moments - clearly practical - are strong, and the arrows of fire being launched into the Sherwood camp make for an excellent sequence. He breathlessly mixes up action and comedy, and then takes time to set up a potentially brilliant final sequence, as Robin and chums must halt the Sheriff's wedding, and save ten of their men - one of whom is John and Fanny's son - from being hanged.
What leaves the sour taste is that it's underpinned by a prolonged scene of attempted rape. Even more sourly, it's shot from an audience point of view. And at the time of the film's release, nobody (including me) seemed to notice.
I certainly notice it now, and what makes it doubly unpleasant and disturbing is that it's played for comedy. As the Sheriff tries to have his way with Marian, he's firing out one liners. There's not a blockbuster film now that could or should get away with that as Robin Hood does here. Arguably, Robin Hood shouldn't have done either.
In an era where films such as Die Hard have been downgraded to 15 from 18, it's interesting that Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves is one of the few to have gone the other way. The disc release, with the original 142 minute cinema cut we saw in the UK is now a 12, and even then, there's a sense the BBFC is being a bit generous.
"God bless you, Fanny! And God bless Robin Hood!"
Before I wrap up, It'd be remiss not to touch on the music. Bryan Adams' infamous song would spend longer at the top of the British singles chart that any before it or since.
But more interestingly, Michael Kamen's energetic score to Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves, is brilliant. Kamen died of a heart attack at the age of just 55, and it's one of several excellent scores he penned in his lifetime. It's a tragedy we never got to hear more.
Still, revisiting Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves has been interesting for me. I've always liked the film an awful lot, but my reservations about the ending grow with each viewing. It just doesn't feel right. It did not stop the film from being a massive hit, though.
For Costner, he wouldn't just come through the criticism of his performance unscathed, he'd emerge with a huge success. What's particularly notable about Kevin Costner at the height of his movie star days is that he didn't get there by being symbolised with a gun in his hand. Granted, he had a gun in scenes in a few of his films, yet that wasn't the image of him. At a point when Arnold Schwarzenegger was the world's other biggest movie star, the difference between the two was firmly pronounced.
Costner and Reynolds would patch up their differences, only to fall out in even more spectacular style on Waterworld (only to patch up their differences again and reunite for Hatfield & McCoys). But with Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves, against considerable odds, they fashioned an often hugely entertaining - and hugely uncomfortable - blockbuster, with an immense villain.
And yep, even Sean turning up at the end still raises a smile. Even though his surprise cameo was widely leaked even before the world wide web routinely did that sort of thing for you...
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See related The top 10 movie performances of Alan Rickman The top 25 Kevin Costner films Looking back at Kevin Costner films: The Bodyguard Kevin Reynolds: The Den Of Geek interview Field Of Dreams revisited: why it still hits me every time Movies Feature Simon Brew Kevin Costner 14 Jun 2016 - 06:49 Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves Sean Connery Alan Rickman...
- 11/17/2014
- Den of Geek
From November 21, the Chocolate Factory presents the musical Assassins by Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman. Broadway favorite Aaron Tveit will make his UK stage debut as 'John Wilkes Booth', alongside Carly Bawden as Squeaky Fromme, Simon Lipkin as The Proprietor, Mike McShane as Samuel Byck, Andy Nyman as Charles Guiteau, David Roberts as Czolgosz and Catherine Tate as Sara Jane Moore. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from inside rehearsal below...
- 11/6/2014
- by BWW News Desk
- BroadwayWorld.com
The year was 1999 and by the summer, teen films were all the rage. The year kicked off with two unexpected box office successes, Varsity Blues and She’s All That, before studios started pumping out hit after hit. In the same year, Drop Dead Gorgeous, a dark comedy about teenage girls competing in a local Minnesota beauty pageant, bombed at the box office. Unable to capture the same excitement as American Pie or 10 Things I Hate About You, the film quickly disappeared from theaters after earning a dismal $10.5 million at the box office.
It was only later, when released on DVD and VHS, did the movie become a cult classic. Similarly to Jawbreaker, which also came out in 1999, Drop Dead Gorgeous proved to be a pivotal film — introducing audiences to Amy Adams, making use of the mockumentary style — even if it was overlooked at the time.
On the 15th anniversary of the theatrical release,...
It was only later, when released on DVD and VHS, did the movie become a cult classic. Similarly to Jawbreaker, which also came out in 1999, Drop Dead Gorgeous proved to be a pivotal film — introducing audiences to Amy Adams, making use of the mockumentary style — even if it was overlooked at the time.
On the 15th anniversary of the theatrical release,...
- 7/23/2014
- by Stacy Lambe
- VH1.com
The year was 1999 and by the summer, teen films were all the rage. The year kicked off with two unexpected box office successes, Varsity Blues and She’s All That, before studios started pumping out hit after hit. In the same year, Drop Dead Gorgeous, a dark comedy about teenage girls competing in a local Minnesota beauty pageant, bombed at the box office. Unable to capture the same excitement as American Pie or 10 Things I Hate About You, the film quickly disappeared from theaters after earning a dismal $10.5 million at the box office.
It was only later, when released on DVD and VHS, did the movie become a cult classic. Similarly to Jawbreaker, which also came out in 1999, Drop Dead Gorgeous proved to be a pivotal film — introducing audiences to Amy Adams, making use of the mockumentary style — even if it was overlooked at the time.
On the 15th anniversary of the theatrical release,...
It was only later, when released on DVD and VHS, did the movie become a cult classic. Similarly to Jawbreaker, which also came out in 1999, Drop Dead Gorgeous proved to be a pivotal film — introducing audiences to Amy Adams, making use of the mockumentary style — even if it was overlooked at the time.
On the 15th anniversary of the theatrical release,...
- 7/23/2014
- by Stacy Lambe
- TheFabLife - Movies
We've been talking about the upcoming Sasquatchploitation film Love in the Time of Monsters for some time now, and the good news is the film has found distro so we'll actually be able to see it, too! Oh, happy day!
From the Press Release
After a successful premiere at the Cinequest Film Festival and a recent screening at the Chinese Theater in Hollywood (through Dances with Films), Indican Pictures is proud to announce that they’ve secured the domestic distribution rights to horror comedy Love in the Time of Monsters.
“We just came to love this gem of a movie, and after watching it on the big screen with a riled up audience, I knew I had to have it!” (Randolph Kret, Indican Pictures VP)
Kane Hodder (Friday the 13th, Hatchet I, II, III, Daredevil, Wishmaster), Doug Jones (Pan’s Labyrinth, F/X’s "The Strain," Hellboy, Hellboy II, TNT...
From the Press Release
After a successful premiere at the Cinequest Film Festival and a recent screening at the Chinese Theater in Hollywood (through Dances with Films), Indican Pictures is proud to announce that they’ve secured the domestic distribution rights to horror comedy Love in the Time of Monsters.
“We just came to love this gem of a movie, and after watching it on the big screen with a riled up audience, I knew I had to have it!” (Randolph Kret, Indican Pictures VP)
Kane Hodder (Friday the 13th, Hatchet I, II, III, Daredevil, Wishmaster), Doug Jones (Pan’s Labyrinth, F/X’s "The Strain," Hellboy, Hellboy II, TNT...
- 7/2/2014
- by Steve Barton
- DreadCentral.com
Arkansas gives mixed rulings, Idaho denied a stay, National Organization for Marriage denied standing in Oregon
Dolly Parton is very aware of her Lgbt fans. “The guys all want to look like me. I’ve always said it’s a good thing I was born a woman or I would have been a drag queen. I think they definitely relate to my flamboyance. I’ve always been so outgoing. But, I think more than anything, everybody realizes I’ve been through a lot myself. I’ve been persecuted for looking the way I looked in the early days, for saying what I think and feel. They know I understand what it’s like to be me, and to fight for being myself, and overcoming a lot of things. I think they also know that I just love them. I don’t judge or criticize anybody. God loves us all. I...
Dolly Parton is very aware of her Lgbt fans. “The guys all want to look like me. I’ve always said it’s a good thing I was born a woman or I would have been a drag queen. I think they definitely relate to my flamboyance. I’ve always been so outgoing. But, I think more than anything, everybody realizes I’ve been through a lot myself. I’ve been persecuted for looking the way I looked in the early days, for saying what I think and feel. They know I understand what it’s like to be me, and to fight for being myself, and overcoming a lot of things. I think they also know that I just love them. I don’t judge or criticize anybody. God loves us all. I...
- 5/15/2014
- by Ed Kennedy
- The Backlot
Laura Prepon says Scientology isn’t anti-gay, don’t watch HBO with your parents, Madonna finds Crocs “effective”
In a new interview, Matt Bomer reveals he’s been a married man since 2011. Does that mean we have to go back and amend all those stories where we talked about his “partner” Simon Halls?
Judge Michael McShane has denied Nom’s request to delay the marriage equality trial in Oregon so they can intervene. But he did schedule a hearing on standing for May 1, making it unlikely that activists will get a ruling before the May 23 deadline to turn in signatures for a ballot initiative.
By now you’ve seen the incredible portrait of Tom Daley created out of the homophobic tweets directed at the diver since he came out. Created by Conner Collins, he spoke to Buzzfeed about the inspiration. “All I wanted to show was that there is a person involved.
In a new interview, Matt Bomer reveals he’s been a married man since 2011. Does that mean we have to go back and amend all those stories where we talked about his “partner” Simon Halls?
Judge Michael McShane has denied Nom’s request to delay the marriage equality trial in Oregon so they can intervene. But he did schedule a hearing on standing for May 1, making it unlikely that activists will get a ruling before the May 23 deadline to turn in signatures for a ballot initiative.
By now you’ve seen the incredible portrait of Tom Daley created out of the homophobic tweets directed at the diver since he came out. Created by Conner Collins, he spoke to Buzzfeed about the inspiration. “All I wanted to show was that there is a person involved.
- 4/23/2014
- by Ed Kennedy
- The Backlot
This one's for you, fans of Sasquatchploitation... the new film Love in the Time of Monsters is getting set to have its world premiere, and we have those details for you along with a brand new one-sheet. Dig it!
The flick will be making its world premiere at the 24th Annual Cinequest Film Festival in San Jose, CA, where it will screen three times - the first of which is midnight on March 8th.
Directed by Matt Jackson, Love in the Time of Monsters features a killer cast including Doug Jones (Hellboy, Pan's Labyrinth), Kane Hodder (Friday the 13th, Hatchet), Mike McShane ("Whose Line Is It Anyway?," Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves), Heather Rae Young (Playboy Playmate of the Month February 2010), Shawn Weatherly ("Baywatch," Police Academy 3), Gena Shaw ("Granite Flats"), Marissa Skell (Scream Queens), and Paula Rhodes (Shuffle).
Check out the newly released music video and poster below.
Synopsis
Two...
The flick will be making its world premiere at the 24th Annual Cinequest Film Festival in San Jose, CA, where it will screen three times - the first of which is midnight on March 8th.
Directed by Matt Jackson, Love in the Time of Monsters features a killer cast including Doug Jones (Hellboy, Pan's Labyrinth), Kane Hodder (Friday the 13th, Hatchet), Mike McShane ("Whose Line Is It Anyway?," Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves), Heather Rae Young (Playboy Playmate of the Month February 2010), Shawn Weatherly ("Baywatch," Police Academy 3), Gena Shaw ("Granite Flats"), Marissa Skell (Scream Queens), and Paula Rhodes (Shuffle).
Check out the newly released music video and poster below.
Synopsis
Two...
- 2/6/2014
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
Bigfoot. You know him. You love him. You know that we love him. Yep, we just cannot get enough of everyone's favorite missing link, and the new film Love in the Time of Monsters will surely bring out the beast in you!
Directed by Matt Jackson, Love in the Time of Monsters features a killer cast including Doug Jones (Hellboy, Pan's Labyrinth), Kane Hodder (Friday the 13th, Hatchet), Mike McShane ("Whose Line Is It Anyway?" Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves), Heather Rae Young (Playboy Playmate of the Month February 2010), Shawn Weatherly ("Baywatch," Police Academy 3), Gena Shaw ("Granite Flats"), Marissa Skell (Scream Queens) and Paula Rhodes (Shuffle).
Check out the first teaser trailer below.
Synopsis
Two sisters travel to a cheesy tourist trap where they battle toxic monsters dressed in bigfoot costumes in order to save the ones they love.
Visit The Evilshop @ Amazon!
Got news? Click here to submit it!
Directed by Matt Jackson, Love in the Time of Monsters features a killer cast including Doug Jones (Hellboy, Pan's Labyrinth), Kane Hodder (Friday the 13th, Hatchet), Mike McShane ("Whose Line Is It Anyway?" Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves), Heather Rae Young (Playboy Playmate of the Month February 2010), Shawn Weatherly ("Baywatch," Police Academy 3), Gena Shaw ("Granite Flats"), Marissa Skell (Scream Queens) and Paula Rhodes (Shuffle).
Check out the first teaser trailer below.
Synopsis
Two sisters travel to a cheesy tourist trap where they battle toxic monsters dressed in bigfoot costumes in order to save the ones they love.
Visit The Evilshop @ Amazon!
Got news? Click here to submit it!
- 4/30/2013
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
The Fall of the Ponds. The Last Page. The Great Weeping. You knew it was coming, The Grand Moff Steven made it clear. Who died, who lived, and who will have a Lot of explaining to do to the parents. Spoilers abound, even more than usual, so here we go…
The Angels Take Manhattan
by Steven Moffat
Directed by Nick Hurran
The episode jumps between 1938 and 2012 Manhattan – in 1938, detective Sam Garner is asked to investigate a mysterious apartment house “where the angels live”, only to meet…himself, years older. In modern day, The Doctor is visiting Central Park with Amy and Rory, when Rory is sent backwards by a weeping angel, into the arms of his daughter River Song. How do you fight an enemy that can suddenly make you go decades into the past? Perhaps the answer in some cases is: you can’t.
The story bears more than...
The Angels Take Manhattan
by Steven Moffat
Directed by Nick Hurran
The episode jumps between 1938 and 2012 Manhattan – in 1938, detective Sam Garner is asked to investigate a mysterious apartment house “where the angels live”, only to meet…himself, years older. In modern day, The Doctor is visiting Central Park with Amy and Rory, when Rory is sent backwards by a weeping angel, into the arms of his daughter River Song. How do you fight an enemy that can suddenly make you go decades into the past? Perhaps the answer in some cases is: you can’t.
The story bears more than...
- 10/1/2012
- by Vinnie Bartilucci
- Comicmix.com
To mark the launch of Doctor Who Series 7 Part 1 on DVD on October 26, star Matt Smith is to attend McM's London Comic Con.
The British actor, who plays the 11th incarnation of the Time Lord, will participate in a panel discussion with the show's executive producer, Caroline Skinner.
For a chance to hear the inside gossip on their favourite show, fans will need to head to the event's McM Theatre.
The panel discussion will also be freely available online so all Doctor Who fans can tune in.
Matt Smith will also sign 100 copies of the new DVD. The first 100 people to purchase the DVD at the BBC Worldwide stand will receive a wristband for the Signing Hall.
Starring Matt Smith, Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill, Doctor Who Series 7 Part 1 features five episodes showcasing new monsters and some familiar foes.
The DVD follows the last days of the Ponds on their final,...
The British actor, who plays the 11th incarnation of the Time Lord, will participate in a panel discussion with the show's executive producer, Caroline Skinner.
For a chance to hear the inside gossip on their favourite show, fans will need to head to the event's McM Theatre.
The panel discussion will also be freely available online so all Doctor Who fans can tune in.
Matt Smith will also sign 100 copies of the new DVD. The first 100 people to purchase the DVD at the BBC Worldwide stand will receive a wristband for the Signing Hall.
Starring Matt Smith, Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill, Doctor Who Series 7 Part 1 features five episodes showcasing new monsters and some familiar foes.
The DVD follows the last days of the Ponds on their final,...
- 9/25/2012
- by David Bentley
- The Geek Files
And the Doctor Who updates – and spoilers – just keep coming. Today we have for you the titles of those first five episodes of the season that we all keep talking about. Remember, those are the episodes that are airing before the Christmas episode when we meet the new companion. In other words, the first five episodes are the Ponds episodes.
They are:
“Asylum of the Daleks,” by Steven Moffat
“Dinosaurs on a Spaceship,” by Chris Chibnall
“A Town Called Mercy,” by Toby Whithouse
“The Power of Three,” by Chris Chibnall
“The Angels Take Manhattan,” by Steven Moffat
Now here comes the slightly spoilery part. We have synopses for the first three episodes, but they’re the kind of synopses that networks provide, that you’d read in TV listings. The interviews that follow also allude to the info in the synopses. If that’s too spoilery for you, you may...
They are:
“Asylum of the Daleks,” by Steven Moffat
“Dinosaurs on a Spaceship,” by Chris Chibnall
“A Town Called Mercy,” by Toby Whithouse
“The Power of Three,” by Chris Chibnall
“The Angels Take Manhattan,” by Steven Moffat
Now here comes the slightly spoilery part. We have synopses for the first three episodes, but they’re the kind of synopses that networks provide, that you’d read in TV listings. The interviews that follow also allude to the info in the synopses. If that’s too spoilery for you, you may...
- 8/16/2012
- by Erin Willard
- ScifiMafia
Although Office Space wasn't a mega-hit in theaters, the workplace comedy has become a cult classic. The 1999 movie, shot in Austin and Dallas, has lent such lines to the lexicon as "Looks like someone has the case of the Mondays." Mike Judge's first full-length live-action movie follows the plight of workers at a generic white-collar company called Initech.
Office drone Peter (Ron Livingston) has a job he hates, stuck in a cubicle across from a lady who repetitively answers her phone in a high-pitched tone, overseen by eight bosses -- one of which is Lumbergh (Gary Cole in ginormous specs). Peter's work buddies are Samir (Ajay Naidu) and Michael Bolton (David Herman), both of whom constantly vent frustrations on their wonky fax machine. Bolton is beleagured by folks who ask if he's related to the singer. When asked why he won't go by Mike instead, he responds, "Why should I change,...
- 7/10/2012
- by Elizabeth Stoddard
- Slackerwood
American actor Michael McShane is appearing in the new series of 'Doctor Who'. The 'Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves' star will be seen in episode five of Series 7 playing a villain alongside returning monsters the Weeping Angels. He revealed his involvement with the BBC sc-fi show on his twitter page writing: ''Most fantastic time doing Doctor Who; best cast and crew I've been with in a while! Long live Gallifrey. (sic)'' The episode is set in New York and has huge significance in the programme's storyline because it will be the last adventure to feature the Doctor's companions Amy Pond and Rory...
- 4/25/2012
- Virgin Media - TV
American actor Michael McShane is appearing in the new series of 'Doctor Who'. The 'Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves' star will be seen in episode five of Series 7 playing a villain alongside returning monsters the Weeping Angels. He revealed his involvement with the BBC sc-fi show on his twitter page writing: ''Most fantastic time doing Doctor Who; best cast and crew I've been with in a while! Long live Gallifrey. (sic)'' The episode is set in New York and has huge significance in the programme's storyline because it will be the last adventure to feature the Doctor's companions Amy Pond and Rory...
- 4/23/2012
- Virgin Media - TV
Simon salutes the sterling work of Kevin Costner in a list of the 10 best films of his career so far. “Let’s do some good”…
It’s a topic we seem to return to on an annual basis at Den Of Geek, and we’re firm believers with an ‘on with the tradition’ philosophy here. But, of all the movie stars who have risen and fallen over the past few decades, have any had quite as much of an eye for a good risk, or taking a chance, as Kevin Costner?
It’s testament to his body of work just going through some of his quality films that didn’t make the following run-down of his top ten movies. For Love Of The Game is a woefully underrated baseball movie, for instance, while there’s a lot to like in Mr Brooks, too. And you’ll notice the almost-criminal omission...
It’s a topic we seem to return to on an annual basis at Den Of Geek, and we’re firm believers with an ‘on with the tradition’ philosophy here. But, of all the movie stars who have risen and fallen over the past few decades, have any had quite as much of an eye for a good risk, or taking a chance, as Kevin Costner?
It’s testament to his body of work just going through some of his quality films that didn’t make the following run-down of his top ten movies. For Love Of The Game is a woefully underrated baseball movie, for instance, while there’s a lot to like in Mr Brooks, too. And you’ll notice the almost-criminal omission...
- 10/27/2011
- Den of Geek
If you don't know who Greg Proops is, you probably haven't watched television, listened to the radio, been to a stand-up comedy show, or otherwise been exposed to any form of entertainment in the last 30 years. From "Whose Line is it Anyway?" to "The Nightmare Before Christmas" to "Bob the Builder" to "Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace" to "The Smartest Man in the World," he's worked in comedy clubs all over the world, been on numerous television shows, recorded radio shows and podcasts, and provided the voices of characters in some of the biggest films of all time. And perhaps most miraculously, he's managed to move from one project to the next, for more than three decades, without sacrificing any of his personality, much less his '50s hipster personal style.
Proops got his start as a class clown before venturing out in front of the microphone in San Francisco as a teenager.
Proops got his start as a class clown before venturing out in front of the microphone in San Francisco as a teenager.
- 10/26/2011
- by IFC
- ifc.com
Photo Courtesy of Jeffrey Weissman
Actor Jeffrey Weissman got his big break auditioning for, but not being cast in War Games. Instead he caught the attention of a big agent and was soon cast in the Twilight Zone movie in the, "Nightmare at 30,000 Feet" story, with John Lithgow. He did small parts in Johnny Dangerously, Crackers with Sean Penn and Donald Sutherland and a few guest star spots on TV series like Dallas and Scarecrow and Mrs. King before landing a co-starring role opposite Clint Eastwood in Pale Rider. In a recent interview he told us, "It was a gas being on location with Clint. He was a real gentleman and did everything first class. It was a nice event."
After that came Back to the Future II. He played George McFly, Marty’s father, in the two sequels. He recalled what struck him most about making the film was the set decoration.
Actor Jeffrey Weissman got his big break auditioning for, but not being cast in War Games. Instead he caught the attention of a big agent and was soon cast in the Twilight Zone movie in the, "Nightmare at 30,000 Feet" story, with John Lithgow. He did small parts in Johnny Dangerously, Crackers with Sean Penn and Donald Sutherland and a few guest star spots on TV series like Dallas and Scarecrow and Mrs. King before landing a co-starring role opposite Clint Eastwood in Pale Rider. In a recent interview he told us, "It was a gas being on location with Clint. He was a real gentleman and did everything first class. It was a nice event."
After that came Back to the Future II. He played George McFly, Marty’s father, in the two sequels. He recalled what struck him most about making the film was the set decoration.
- 5/11/2011
- by Pop Culture Passionistas
- popculturepassionistas
Pixar’s classic A Bug’s Life brought together an amazingly talented group of people. As the film makes its Blu-ray debut, we find out what happened to its cast…
The classic Pixar production, A Bug's Life, brought together an amazingly talented group of people, including Kevin Spacey, David Hyde Pierce and Denis Leary. So, twelve years on from the film's original release, and to tie in with its UK debut on Blu-ray, we ask, where are the voices behind A Bug's Life now, and what have they done since?
Dave Foley - Flik
One of the former members of The Kids In The Hall and a stand-up comedian, Dave Foley has been well occupied since providing the voice for Flik. He's either providing voice talent for animated TV shows, or appearing in person as in a stint on Will And Grace, and the mini-series Kids In The Hall: Death Comes To Town.
The classic Pixar production, A Bug's Life, brought together an amazingly talented group of people, including Kevin Spacey, David Hyde Pierce and Denis Leary. So, twelve years on from the film's original release, and to tie in with its UK debut on Blu-ray, we ask, where are the voices behind A Bug's Life now, and what have they done since?
Dave Foley - Flik
One of the former members of The Kids In The Hall and a stand-up comedian, Dave Foley has been well occupied since providing the voice for Flik. He's either providing voice talent for animated TV shows, or appearing in person as in a stint on Will And Grace, and the mini-series Kids In The Hall: Death Comes To Town.
- 12/6/2010
- Den of Geek
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