“Shark Night 3D” Prize Pack Giveaway [ENDED]


To celebrate the release of “Shark Night 3D”, Media Mikes would like to giveaway the following items below. If you would like to win one of these great prizes, please leave us a comment below or send us an email and let us know your favorite creature in the water film. This giveaway will be open until Tuesday September 6th at Noon, Eastern Time and is only open to residents of the United States. Only one entry per person, per household; all other entries will be considered invalid. Once the giveaway ends, Movie Mikes will randomly pick out winners and alert the winners via email

Click here to view our interview series for “Shark Night 3D”

  • $25.00 iTunes Gift Card
  • Shark Fin Ice Tray
  • Shark Night 3D Keychain
  • Shark Night 3D Pint Glass
  • Shark Night 3D T-Shirt
  • Shark Night 3D Water Gun

 

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Filed Under: Giveaways Tagged With: 3d, giveaway, night, pack, prize, shark, ...

Film Review “Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark”

Starring: Guy Pearce, Katie Holmes and Bailee Madison
Directed by: Troy Nixey
Rated: R
Running time: 1 hour 39 mins
Miramax

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

Filmmaker Guillermo del Toro describes the 1973 “made for television” film “Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark” as the scariest movie ever made for that medium. While my first choice would actually be “Trilogy of Terror,” it was pretty scary to my 13-year old mind. del Toro is the producer behind the new version of the Kim Darby/Jim Hutton (Tim’s dad) scare-fest and, while it has a few good moments, it’s another unnecessary new film based on an old film.

In a quiet part of Rhode Island, little Sally (Madison) has been sent by her mother to live with her dad, Alex (Pearce) and his girlfriend Kim (Holmes). Unhappy with the move, Sally is a brooding child. When she spies a broach that Kim is wearing Kim tells her, “my mother gave it to me.” “My mom gave ME to my dad,” Sally replies. She is also unhappy about the house, an old mansion that we’re introduced to in a prologue that makes the “is it safe?” scene in “Marathon Man” look like fun. While exploring the grounds Sally discovers a hidden basement. What she finds inside will make you think twice before you look for a quarter under your pillow.

With one seventeen-minute short film on his resume’, Troy Nixey certainly seems like an odd choice to direct a feature horror film. The film moves well but it’s obvious that Nixey (as well as screenwriters del Toro and Matthew Robbins) have been influenced by what they’ve seen before, including “Poltergeist,” “Gremlins,” “The Amityville Horror” and del Toro’s own “Pan’s Labyrinth.” Though there is some blood and violence, the majority of the scares depend on how they are set up. I can put a camera over someone’s shoulder, play the music loud and, when I feel like it, throw a cat up on screen to make everybody jump. There are no flying cats, thank goodness, but a lot of the scares are basically Horror Movie 101. I would LOVE to have seen what del Toro would do with it.

The cast tries it’s best to convey the terror. As little Sally, Madison appears to be in full “Damien” mode at first. Quiet and brooding, she begins to try to make friends with the creatures that live in the basement and want her to be their friend. Holmes is strong as the young woman not prepared to be a mother, even in a temporary roll. Pearce, looking creepily like a young Mark Wahlberg or Scott Glenn, circa “Urban Cowboy,” is also strong as his Alex must first battle with Sally’s mood then the eventual creatures that she encourages with her action. The visual effects, by effects maestros Greg Nicotero and Howard Berger, are a little jumpy, with the creatures resembling Salacious Crumb, the little guy that sat on Jabba the Hutts’ lap in “Return of the Jedi.”

“That place is unsafe for children,” a local handyman repeatedly tells Alex and Kim about the basement. Unsafe? I guess so. But, with the exception of a few scares, there’s really no reason to be afraid of the dark. I wasn’t.

 

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Filed Under: Film Reviews Tagged With: afraid, dark, film, review

ABC Bans Commercial Spot for the Weinstein Company’s Comedy “Our Idiot Brother”

ABC BANS COMMERCIAL SPOT FOR The weinstein company’s comedy OUR IDIOT BROTHER

Network Refuses To Air Spot, Prompting Studio To Cut New Red Band Trailer For Film In Advance Of August 26 Opening

New York, NY, August 25, 2011 – The Weinstein Company (TWC) announced today that ABC has refused to broadcast the commercial spot for its new comedy OUR IDIOT BROTHER,  unless TWC makes specified cuts.  The ad is already airing in its current form on other broadcast and cable networks.  The action has prompted to TWC to cut a new red band trailer for the film.

Commented TWC Co-Chairman Harvey Weinstein, “We’d like to dedicate our new red band trailer for OUR IDIOT BROTHER to censorship everywhere.  Enjoy!!”

An ensemble comedy about three sisters and an incurably optimistic sibling, OUR IDIOT BROTHER was a breakout hit at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival.  It is directed by Jesse Peretz and stars Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Banks, Zooey Deschanel, Emily Mortimer, Steve Coogan, Hugh Dancy, Kathryn Hahn, Rashida Jones, Shirley Knight, T.J. Miller and Adam Scott.  The screenplay is by Evgenia Peretz and David Schisgall.

The banned television spot can be viewed below and also at:

http://www.youtube.com/theweinsteincompany and the new restricted trailer can be viewed exclusively on AOL’s Moviefone at http://blog.moviefone.com/2011/08/24/our-idiot-brother-red-band-trailer/.

OUR IDIOT BROTHER opens nationwide on Friday, August 26th.

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Filed Under: Film Headlines Tagged With: abc, bans, brother, comedy, commercial, companys, ...

First Ever TCM Classic Cruise Announced

Hitchcock Blondes, Shipboard Affairs, Tropical Drama
And Conversations with Film Legends Top Itinerary for First TCM Classic Cruise

Ernest Borgnine, Tippi Hedren, Norman Jewison and Eva Marie Saint
On Board for Unique Event Taking Place Dec. 8-12


A pair of Hitchcock blondes, a classic shipboard love affair, tropical drama in the Florida Keys and intimate conversations with legendary Hollywood figures are just a few of the once-in-a-lifetime treats awaiting passengers on the first-ever TCM Classic Cruise, a new, one-of-a-kind experience taking place Dec. 8-12, 2011. TCM has unveiled the first slate of events for the high-demand voyage, which will feature film legends Ernest Borgnine, Tippi Hedren, Eva Marie Saint and Norman Jewison, along with Turner Classic Movies primetime host Robert Osborne, TCM weekend-daytime host Ben Mankiewicz and the Alloy Orchestra. They will join scores of classic-movie fans for the four-day voyage aboard Celebrity Millennium, sailing from Miami to Key West and Cozumel.

The following is the first roster of events lined up for the TCM Classic Cruise. Additional events and programming will be announced soon.


Hitchcock Blondes: Eva Marie Saint and Tippi Hedren
Oscar® winner Eva Marie Saint and Golden Globe® winner Tippi Hedren will sit down to share their memories of working with the legendary director Alfred Hitchcock. Fans will also be treated to two of their greatest films with the director, North by Northwest (1959), starring Saint as a seemingly innocent bystander drawn into a case of mistaken identity with Cary Grant, The Birds (1963), with Hedren as a spoiled heiress who finds herself in an avian nightmare with Rod Taylor.

A Conversation with Ernest Borgnine
Ernest Borgnine will sit down with TCM host Robert Osborne for an in-depth conversation about the 94-year-old Oscar winner’s storied life and career.

Key Largo in the Keys
There may be no better way to enjoy Bogie and Bacall in John Huston’s 1948 classic Key Largo than by watching the movie while sailing to the Florida Keys. TCM will present a special screening of the dramatic thriller starring Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Edward G. Robinson, Lionel Barrymore and Oscar-winning supporting actress Claire Trevor.

A Poolside Affair
TCM invites passengers to a special poolside screening of one of the most romantic shipboard romances of all time – An Affair to Remember (1957). Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr star in the tale of a couple who falls in love on a cruise, then makes arrangements to meet later on the roof of the Empire State Building.

A Night at the Opera on the Ocean
TCM will screen the frantic Marx Brothers comedy A Night at the Opera (1935), featuring a memorably hilarious scene in which 15 people are crammed into a stateroom on board a ship.

Speedy and the Alloy Orchestra
The Alloy Orchestra, an innovative three-man musical ensemble that has written and performed live accompaniment to classic silent films for more than two decades, will perform their original score for Harold Lloyd’s delightful comedy Speedy (1928) during a special screening.

Guests will also enjoy a variety of movie-themed events, including live music, dancing and classic movie trivia contests for great prizes.

Cabins for the TCM Classic Cruise were in high-demand and quickly filled to capacity. Although the cruise is currently sold out, fans hoping to get on board can add their names to the waiting list by going to http://www.tcmcruise.com or calling (877) 223-7030.

The TCM Classic Cruise is a partnership between Turner Classic Movies (TCM) and Sixthman, the industry leader in theme cruises. Sixthman specializes in bringing like-minded people together on vacation and recently completed its 35th full-ship charter.

About Turner Classic Movies (TCM)
Turner Classic Movies is a Peabody Award-winning network that presents great films, uncut and commercial-free, from the largest film libraries in the world. Currently seen in more than 85 million homes, TCM features the insights of veteran primetime host Robert Osborne and weekend daytime host Ben Mankiewicz, plus interviews with a wide range of special guests. As the foremost authority in classic films, TCM offers critically acclaimed original documentaries and specials, along with regular programming events that include The Essentials, 31 Days of Oscar and Summer Under the Stars. TCM also stages special events and screenings, such as the TCM Classic Film Festival in Hollywood; produces a wide range of media about classic film, including books and DVDs; and hosts a wealth of materials at its Web site, www.tcm.com. TCM is part of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news; entertainment; animation and young adult; and sports media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.

About Sixthman
Sixthman, headquartered in Atlanta, creates theme cruises with an emphasis on celebrating music and fan communities. These one-of-a-kind vacation experiences bring like-minded people together in exclusive, interactive and intimate environments. Sixthman’s mission is to break down the walls between artists, heroes, partners and their passionate fan bases. Sixthman has partnered with entertainers such as Lynyrd Skynyrd, John Mayer, Kid Rock, Barenaked Ladies, Jillian Michaels, Sister Hazel, Lyle Lovett, Sarah MacLachlan, Patty Griffin, Zac Brown Band, and 311, and brands such as VH1 and Graceland. Sixthman has hosted more than 35 full-ship charters since 2001, and maintains a more than sixty percent return rate amongst guests.

About Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Cruises’ iconic “X” is the mark of the world’s top-rated premium cruise line, with spacious, stylish interiors; dining experiences elevated to an art form; personalized service, with a guest-to-staff ratio of nearly 2:1; unexpected, trendsetting onboard activities, all designed to provide an unmatchable experience for vacationers’ precious time. Celebrity sails to Alaska, Australia/New Zealand, Bermuda, California, Canada/New England, the Caribbean, Europe, Hawaii, the Pacific Coast, Panama Canal, South America and year-round in the Galapagos Islands. Celebrity also offers immersive cruise tour experiences in Alaska, Australia/New Zealand, Canada, Europe and South America. One of the fastest-growing major cruise lines, Celebrity’s fleet currently consists of nine ships, with two additional Solstice Class ships scheduled to join the fleet: Celebrity Silhouette in July 2011 and Celebrity Reflection in Fall 2012. For more information, dial 800/437-3111, visit www.celebritycruises.com or call your travel agent.

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Interview with Christine Quinn

Christine Quinn is playing the role of Jess in “Shark Night 3D”.  Her role in the film is reminiscent of Susan Backlinie’s character in “Jaws”.  Christine is also in the upcoming film “Humans vs. Zombies” and is currently filming “The Ghost of Goodnight Lane” with Billy Zane, Danielle Harris and Lacey Chabert.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Christine about “Shark Night 3D” and her upcoming movies.

Mike Gencarelli: Tell us about your character Jess in “Shark Night 3D”?
Christine Quinn: It is cool because I am in the opening scene of the movie.  They did it like “Jaws” style and everyone remembers the girl from the opening scene.  Basically my boyfriend and I go the lake for the weekend.  We decide it is a good idea to drink and swim around the lake.  He goes to make a sandwich and I get attacked by the shark.  So he comes out and finds me dead…[laughs] So yeah that’s the quick version.

MG: How does it feel to be the poster girl for the film and also a prominent sell for the trailer?
CQ: My family came to me also and said “Oh my God, you are on the poster”.  It is really cool thing.  I guess they kind of dubbed it all together.  I never thought from such a little part it would have so much publicity.  Everyone loves sharks and they have Shark Week last month so everyone is excited.

MG: How was it working in the water?
CQ: We filmed it in September last year and it was so cold, the water was freezing.  The stunt guys were wearing full-on wet suits.  I am in a bikini and I was freezing [laughs].  The technicalities of the stunts were so amazing.  You see movies and you see what goes in them but you wonder how they actually do that.  It was cool to get to see the behind the scenes of how they pull it all together.  For example, I was attached to a harness on my body.  I have like six stunt guys underwater at different times pulling me in different directions.  I had to be in super good shape because otherwise it would have been hard to pull off.  When we did the breakaway ladder shots, if the stunt guy pulled me down and I moved the wrong way I could hit my head.  All these little technicalities go into this movie.  The scene is only like three minutes long but it took three days to shoot.

MG: Tell us about working with David Ellis?
CQ: David is coolest director I have ever worked with.  He just let’s you do your thing.  He tells us to just feel the lines and do what we think is right.  He puts all of his trust in the actors.  He knows who he hired and he hired them for a reason.  So basically my co-star Damon Lipari and I, we have the only kiss in the entire movie.  It was totally improved because David said to do whatever we want.  He thought it was so perfect.  I have never had a director that praises the actors so often.  It makes you feel so good and makes you just want to work with him and I hope I can work with him again.

MG: From sharks to zombies, tell us about the film “Humans vs. Zombies”?
CQ: That was a super fun shoot to do.  I am in the trailer but you would not recognize me because I look so scary.  I was so zombied out [laughs].  I love horror films and having an opportunity to work on them.  I could have not been any more thrilled.  The cool thing about that movie is that my boyfriend and I AGAIN [laughs] are at the lake and we are playing around.  This guy comes up to us and he is all zombied out and ends up bitting me.  I am on the one that brings the virus back to the city.  It was fun movie.  All the special effects in the film are so cool.

MG: I love you in the GameStop commercial for the “Mortal Kombat”, was that fun to shoot?
CQ: [laughs] Yeah that was so much fun.  I went to the audition and I didn’t know my lines at all.  The director asked me if I knew the lines and I said “No”, so he told me just to improv.  I don’t know much about games but I just did a bunch of improv and he loved it.  So he then booked me the role.  During the shoot, rvery take that we did he was like “No, no, no you are too smart for me…I need you to be dumber” [laughs].  We finally got it and it turned out really funny.

MG: What else do you have planned next?
CQ: I am in Dallas right now and  I am working on a movie with Billy Zane, Danielle Harris and Lacey Chabert called “The Ghost of Goodnight Lane”.  I am really about this film since I am the lead in next to Billy Zane.  It is going to be really amazing.  I want to continue in the horror film genre, since it has been really good to me. Also the same month that “Shark Night” comes out, I am going to be in Playboy, not naked or anything.  Playboy found out about “Shark Night” and they asked me to be in their article called “Up and Coming”.  It features athlete and movie stars etc.  So that is really exciting also.  So I will be purchasing my first Playboy next month [laughs].

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Filed Under: Film Interviews Tagged With: christine, interview, quinn

From Martial Arts Choreographer Yuen Woo Ping Comes “True Legend”

“The real true legend here is Yuen Woo Ping…a man whose action choreography defines the post-Bruce Lee era of martial-arts cinema.  Jackie Chan, Jet Li and Sammo Hung, among countless others, owe him their careers.”

– David Fear (Time Out New York)

“True Legend opens with one of the best action sequences I’ve ever seen.”

– Phillip French(The Observer)

FROM THE RENOWNED MARTIAL ARTS CHOREOGRAPHER YUEN WOO PING COMES THE FIGHT EPIC: TRUE LEGEND

 AVAILABLE ON DVD & BLU-RAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

 Martial Arts Idols VINCENT ZHAO, MICHELLE YEOH and JAY CHOU Star

Opposite DAVID CARRADINE in His Last Film Role

 

LOS ANGELES, CA (August 23, 2011) – From Indomina Releasing and Director Yuen Woo Ping  (lead martial arts choreographer of The Matrix Trilogy, Kill Bill Volumes I and II andthe Academy Award®-winning Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) comes the martial arts epic, True Legend, available on Blu-Ray/DVD on September 13, 2011.  The timeless battle between good and evil is at the center of True Legend, whichwill be distributed by Vivendi Entertainment at an SRP of $29.95 for Blu-Ray and $19.97 for the DVD.

After years of blockbuster success as one of the most distinguished martial arts choreographers in the world, Yuen Woo Ping stepped back into the director’s chair, after a 15-year absence, to make True Legend.   By blending his famed, time-honored wuxia style with high-intensity, computer generated sequences, he has managed to create some of the most brilliant and captivating fight scenes ever filmed for the screen.

SYNOPSIS

Su Can’s (Vincent Zhao) respectable life is obliterated when his vengeful brother, Yuan (Andy On), returns from war armed with the deadly Five Venom Fists.  Weakened but not destroyed, Su Can learns a never-before-seen form of martial arts: the Drunken Fist.  Armed with this new power, he returns home to honor his family through retribution by taking on his brother in a battle to become the ultimate warrior.  Packed with the distinct fighting styles of director Yuen Woo Ping, the film stars martial arts legends Vincent Zhao, Michelle Yeoh, Jay Chou and David Carradine in his final screen performance.

DVD SPECIAL FEATURES

  • Five Original Featurettes
  • Two Storyboard to Scene Sequences
  • Music Video
  • International Trailer
  • Aspect ratio: 16×9 2.35 Widescreen Version
  • Sound: Manadarin 5.1 Dolby Digital, English Stereo
  • Subtitles:  English, French

ABOUT INDOMINA RELEASING

The Indomina Group is a vertically integrated independent studio launched in 2008 by Vice Chairman and CEO Jasbinder Singh Mann.  Operating in Los Angeles and the Dominican Republic, Indomina takes a transmedia approach to collaborating with content creators around the world to bring innovative entertainment properties to the market. The company’s global operations include the production and distribution of motion pictures, television, music, interactive games, and the ownership of world-class studio facilities and production services.  For more information please visit www.indomina.com

 

ABOUT VIVENDI ENTERTAINMENT

Vivendi Entertainment is a full service independent film, television, DVD and digital distribution company operating in the United States and Canada. Representing a vast range of genres including action, comedy, urban, family, Latino, sports and stand-up comedies, Vivendi Entertainment has become a favorite distribution partner for independent content providers. The company has built an extensive catalog of over 3,000 titles, and its customer-centric business model was founded on the principles of collaboration and financial transparency. The company provides sales, marketing, and distribution services to many of the home entertainment industry’s most prestigious brands including: World Wrestling Entertainment, The Weinstein Company, Shout! Factory, Classic Media, Big Idea, RHI, Code Black, National Geographic, Salient, Televisa, Sid and Marty Krofft Pictures and Nelvana. Vivendi Entertainment is a division of Universal Music Group Distribution, the award-winning sales, marketing and distribution arm of Universal Music Group, the world’s leading music company.

 

For more information about True Legend, please visit indomina.com.

Street Date:  September 13, 2011

Pricing: Blu-Ray, $29.95/DVD, $19.97

Feature Running Time: 116 minutes

MPAA Ratings: R for sequences of battle violence and fighting 

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Relativity Media & Future Games of London Create Game “Hungry Shark Night”

Bikinis?  Check.  Jet skis?  Check.  Beautiful lake house in the middle of nowhere?  Check. Blood-thirsty sharks in the lake? Double Check!  From the developers of the popular “Hungry Shark” games and  the makers of the mega-hit film Limitless and the upcoming Immortals, Future Games of London and Relativity Media bring you something extra special: Hungry Shark Night!

The game is an adaptation of this Fall’s sexy and terrifying release of Shark Night 3D.  A sexy summer weekend turns into a blood-soaked nightmare for a group of college students trapped on an island surrounded by voracious underwater predators in Shark Night 3D, a terrifying thrill ride featuring a red-hot young cast including Sara Paxton (Superhero Movie, Last House on the Left), Dustin Milligan (“90210,”Slither), Chris Carmack (“The O.C.”), Joel David Moore (Avatar) and Katharine McPhee (The House Bunny).  Shark Night 3D is directed by David R. Ellis (The Final Destination) and written by Will Hayes and Jesse Studenberg.

In this new exhilarating game, player can choose to be one of three sharks:  Tiger Shark, Hammerhead Shark and of course, always the crowd’s favorite: The Great White

Swim through the darkness, navigate your way tomunch on packs of fish, unsuspecting swimmers and discover hidden treasures in the mist of crimson bath.

Game Features:

+ In-App purchases for extra blood, health boost and many more

+ Hidden Treasures
+ Hi-Score Leaderboard
+ HD Graphics
Get the app now at:
http://itunes.apple.com/app/id454429226?mt=8

So grab your suits, hold your breath and watch out for what’s in the water!

ABOUT SHARK NIGHT 3D
DIRECTOR: David Ellis (The Final Destination)
WRITERS: Will Hayes and Jesse Studenberg
CAST: Sara Paxton- SARA (Sleepover, Superhero Movie)
Dustin Milligan- NICK (Final Destination 3)
Chris Carmack- DENNIS (The Butterfly Effect 3: Revelations)
Joel David Moore- GORDON (Avatar)
Katharine McPhee- BETH (The House Bunny)
Sinqua Walls- MALIK (From the Head)
Donal F. Logue- SABIN (Max Payne)
Joshua Leonard- RED (The Blair Witch Project)
Alyssa Diaz- MAYA (Red Dawn)
Chris Zylka- BLAKE (The Amazing Spider-Man).
PRODUCERS: Mike Fleiss, Lynette Howell and Chris Briggs
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Douglas Curtis

A sexy summer weekend turns into a blood-soaked nightmare for a group of college students trapped on an island surrounded by voracious underwater predators in Shark Night 3D, a terrifying thrill ride from director David Ellis (The Final Destination, Snakes On a Plane), featuring a red-hot young cast including Sara Paxton (Superhero Movie, Last House on the Left), Dustin Milligan (“90210,” Slither), Chris Carmack (“The O.C.”), Joel David Moore (Avatar), Chris Zylka (The Amazing Spider-Man) and Katharine McPhee (The House Bunny).

Arriving by boat at her family’s Louisiana lake island cabin, Sara (Sara Paxton) and her friends quickly strip down to their swimsuits for a weekend of fun in the sun. But when star football player Malik (Sinqua Walls) stumbles from the salt-water lake with his arm torn off, the party mood quickly evaporates. Assuming the injury was caused by a freak wake-boarding accident, the group realizes they have to get Malik to a hospital on the other side of the lake, and fast.
But as they set out in a tiny speedboat, the college friends discover the lake has been stocked with hundreds of massive, flesh-eating sharks! As they face one grisly death after another, Sara and the others struggle desperately to fend off the sharks, get help and stay alive long enough to reach the safety of dry land.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/sharknight3d
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SharkNight3D
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/sharknight3d
Official Site: http://www.iamrogue.com/sharknight3d

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Filed Under: Game Headlines Tagged With: create, future, game, games, hungry, london, ...

DVD Review “iCrime”

Directed by: Bears Fonte
Starring: Sara E.R. Fletcher
Sure Crossing Films
Rated: N/A
Runtime: 103 min.

Our Score: 3 out of 5

“iCrime” is a technology based thriller directed by Bears Fonte. The film follows its lead character Carrie Kevin (Sara E.R. Fletcher) a small town girl new to the glitz and glamour of Hollywood as she attempts to uncover the truth behind a missing online star. As the story progresses Carrie starts to find that things in Hollywood are not always what they appear to be.

Though “iCrime” is somewhat of a slow starter the film wasn’t half bad. “iCrime” is your typical small town girl moves to Hollywood to become famous type story however with a slight twist that involves a kidnapped internet star. “iCrime” has no shortages of good looking actresses which in my opinion made up for the films quirky approach which at times seemed to be a blend of half after school special and half late night cable flick. I enjoyed the use of different recognizable locations around the Pasadena area such as South Pasadena High School which was also featured in John Carpenter’s horror classic “Halloween”. If you are looking for a fun movie to watch with friends or on your own give “iCrime” a shot.

 

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Jennifer Grant talks about her memoir called “Good Stuff: A Reminiscence of My Father, Cary Grant”

Jennifer Grant is the daughter of late Hollywood legend Cary Grant. She recently released her memoir called “Good Stuff: a Reminiscence of My Father, Cary Grant”. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Jennifer about her father and her new memoir.

Mike Gencarelli: What made you decide to write your memoir?
Jennifer Grant: My whole life people have asked me to do something on my dad, since my father passed away actually. About five years ago people very close to me started recommending I do something and that is what got my attention. We were always a private family especially my father, so I never really considered the idea of doing anything. I brought the idea to my step-mother and she said it was a wonderful idea and that I must do it. I thought wow this is something that my dad may have actually welcomed and maybe it was just me that’s been sort of greedy with my memories. So I decided I should open up and speak.

MG: How long did the process take from the initial idea to completion?
JG: Once I had the idea I had to sit down alone and write in a notebook to see what I was doing. That took awhile and then it came to writing a book proposal and meeting with publishers. Once that I happened then I was into writing the book so from conception to having the book on the stands was about a five year process. There was probably two and a half years of writing and nine months of legalese and then another nine months waiting till press.  My father left me a tremendous amount of archives about our personal history together including audio tapes that he made. He retired when I was born and I think that all of his time on movie sets was ingrained in him that he was used to recording life. He took slides, photos, super 8 videos and audio tapes. He kept every letter and card from me, so I had boxes and boxes of material to go through while I was writing. It was a wonderful, cumbersome and cathartic process all at once.

MG: The title of the book is “Good Stuff” can you tell us how you came up with that and the back ground behind it?
JG: It’s something my dad used to say when he was happy. It could have been the simplest day where we were sitting outside on the patio eating coffee cake and listening to classical music and my dad would look around and say “Good Stuff isn’t it.” It was his way of expressing happiness.

MG: What would you say was your most challenging part in the writing process?
JG: I think it was allowing me to commit to making things public. It is one thing to write stuff for yourself or to share with friends, which I hadn’t really done. I sort of closed this stuff off to myself because I had some repressed grief about it. Going through the archives was incredibly cathartic but then to really realize that I was going to share this with the world. My manager used to joke with me because when we had our initial meeting with my wonderful book agent Dan Strone I think I had twenty pages of writing to show him. I had it in manila envelope which was quite literally clutched to my chest. I think throughout our meeting I let go of the pages and that was very much what the process was like holding those things very dear to my heart and finally letting them go.

MG: Growing up for you was it spending time with Cary Grant or was it spending time with dad?
JG: It was very much spending time with dad. He retired when I was born, so I never saw dad on a movie set. Dad and I went to baseball games and he would wake me up in the morning and we would have breakfast together. We spent our time together. He would drive me to school and pick me up. He was really ready to be a dad because he had already reached iconic status with his acting career. I was very lucky.

MG: In today’s Hollywood who do you feel resembles his tremendous presence?
JG: I don’t think there is one person who embodies dad’s qualities. There are two people who come to mind that have aspects of dad. One is George Clooney as he has some of that charisma and he is a bit mysterious as dad was but his comedy is entirely different. George Clooney is very left of center with his comedy and dad was very mainstream in his comedy. Then there is also Hugh Jackman, but not the Wolverine side, that also reminds me of dad. There is something about the way he carries himself. He has this elegant side that is like dads.

MG: How do you feel when you watch your father’s films? And do you watch them often?
JG: Since writing the book it’s been easier for me to watch his films. I think I missed him more and now that I have been through this whole process.  It’s not that I didn’t miss him…I just really indulged myself and gotten in there. Now the memories are a lot cooler, so to speak, so to watch his films are more of a pure viewing experience. I just enjoy them and I am awed by his talent as he was so unique. He worked with so many amazing people. The stars and directors he worked with were just phenomenal. I am just in awe of his talent and very proud of him.

MG: Do you have plans to do anymore writing in the future?
JG: Absolutely!

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Filed Under: Author Interviews Tagged With: grant, interview, jennifer

DVD Review “Rice Field of Dreams”

Director: Daron Ker
Starring: Joe Cook, Phil Beaudoin and Mike Griffin
Water Buffalo Pictures
Runtime: 74 minutes

Our score: 3.5 out 5 stars

“Rice Field of Dreams” written and directed by Daron Ker is a documentary about Joe Cook and a team of 22 Cambodian Baseball players brought together as one team to play and compete as the first ever Cambodian National Baseball team. With the help of Major League baseball and several coaches from North America the team prepares for its first attempt at bringing baseball glory home to Cambodia. The bottom line is take 74 minutes out of your schedule and check out this film.

“Rice Field of Dreams” was a great film that not only showcased the triumphs and struggles of the first ever Cambodian National Baseball team but it also showed some of the past struggles for people who lived in Cambodia. Director Daron Ker a native of Cambodia really made a great film which as he puts it in the start of the film is not a typical “feel good” story instead the film is a straight forward documentary which shows the positives and the negatives of those in the film. Throughout the film you get to hear both players and coaches reactions to certain events and what they hope to get out of the experience. Though the film is centered on the baseball team you don’t have to be a fan or have an understanding of the game to appreciate this film.

 

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Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: dreams, dvd, field, review, rice

DVD Review “Night of the Living Dead: Reanimated”

Director: Mike Schneider
Neoflux Productions
Runtime: 101 minutes

Our score 3.5 out 5 stars

“Night of the Living Dead: Reanimated” directed by Mike Schneider is an animated film version of the 1968 George Romero film. The film features work by various artists, animators and filmmakers from around the world who together created an animated revision of the horror classic “Night of the Living Dead”. Through various mediums such as animation, clay-mation and puppetry the joint group of artist tell the classic story of Barbara and her unlikely encounter with the undead while adding a fresh comedic twist to the films original story.

This revision of George Romero’s horror staple was spot on. It also had some added laughs which were provided by some really great animation and clay-mation additions. “Night of the Living Dead: Reanimated” was filmed entirely in black and white which kept it true to the 1968 original.

About 2 minutes into the film I really stopped paying attention to the story and focused all my attention on the different artist interpretations of the scenes depicted in the film. Various types of sketches ranging from stick figures to extremely detailed drawings made this film really fun to watch. My personal favorite would have to be the clay-mation scenes which were very reminiscent of Sunday morning “David and Goliath” episodes. This film yielded a fun and enjoyable film to watch alone or with friends. Get your hands on a copy of this film, kickback and, prepare for a good time.

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Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: dead, dvd, living, night, reanimated, review, ...

Film Review “The Kids Grow Up”

Director: Doug Block
Copacetic Pictures and Hard Working Movies
Runtime: 92 minutes

Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

“The Kids Grow Up” is a documentary written and directed by Doug Block. The film shows the relationship between Doug and his daughter as she prepares to leave home for the first time to attend college.

“The Kids Grow Up” does a great job showcasing the feelings and worries that I am sure all parents have when their child or children leave home for the first time. Block shares not only his feeling about the upcoming changes in his life but also takes time to re-examine the relationship between him and his own parents and how that affected his parenting style. Block’s daughter Lucy at times shows frustration with the camera which she states has been on her for as long as she can remember. It seems as though she too has some uneasy feelings about leaving home. “The Kids Grow Up” is an interesting look at one families parenting style and their ability to cope with everyday life struggles. This film may not appeal to the teen or younger audience however I think parents will really enjoy the film.

The special features portion of “The Kids Grow Up” has just over 50 minutes of bonus material. In this section you can also find a bio on the director the original trailer for this film and several other films that are being distributed by Docurama films. The bonus material had some great clips that further solidified the bond between father and daughter that is so prevalent in this film. The extra material was almost too much at times but it was an enjoyable watch.

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Filed Under: Film Headlines Tagged With: film, grow, kids, review

DVD Review “Strigoi”

Directed by: Faye Jackson
Starring: Constantin Barbulescu, Camelia Maxim, Catalin Paraschiv
Distributed by: Breaking Glass Pictures
Rated N/A
Running Time: 105 minutes

Our Score: 2 out of 5 stars

After seeing the promo poster for “Strigoi” I was somewhat excited to sit down and watch the film. However I guess I shouldn’t have gotten my hopes up as “Strigoi” was nothing but a dull drawn out attempt at a dark comedy/horror/vampire film. The films basic concept was nothing new as it was your typical story of a town turning on two of its residents and killing them. The two then return from the grave as extremely hungry vampires hell bent on carry out their revenge on the towns people responsible for their deaths. “Stigoi” was in my opinion just really hard to figure out what type of film I was watching and how I should take the characters. At times there were touches of comedy but then the film would take an extremely dark serious turn leaving the previous scene in question as to whether or not it was in the right film.

“Strigoi” written and directed by Faye Jackson is the story of Vlad (Catalin Paraschiv) a fledgling med school student who returns to his grandfather’s village after a trip to Italy. Upon his return Vlad stumbles across an odd cast of characters that all seem to be hiding something. Determined to get to the bottom of the strange occurs in the small Romanian town Vlad quickly finds that he may be up against something other than just odd towns people. “Strigoi” had potential however I think the film would have been a bit more accessible if the director had focused on one genre and maybe have jumped on the whole vampire band wagon.

 

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Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: dvd, review, strigoi

DVD Review “Asylum Seekers”

Directed by: Rania Ajami
Starring: Pepper Binkley, Bill Dawes and Judith Hawking
Crowned Heart Pictures/Kinetic Arts Production
Rated: N/A
Runtime: 104 min.

Our Score: 2.5 out of 5

“Asylum Seekers” a dark comedy written and directed by Rania Ajami is the story of six people who have decided they can no longer deal with daily life. In an effort to get a hold on reality the six people attempt to check themselves into a lushly appointed asylum. What the six people don’t know is that there is only one room for which they must compete against each other to gain access.

“Asylum Seekers” seems like a psychedelic experiment gone bad! It’s as if the director crammed everything odd or awkward into this 104 minute spectacle. The acting in my opinion was sub-par at best however it was quickly overshadowed by the oddness of the film. “Asylum Seekers” has an interesting storyline and is full of interesting characters. If you’re in the mood for something off the wall then this movie will do the trick!

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Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: asylum, dvd, review, seekers

DVD Review “I Ride”

Directed by: Daron Ker
Distributed: Water Buffalo Pictures
Rated: N/A
Runtime: 82 min.

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars/strong>

“I Ride” directed by Daron Ker is a documentary about The Fryed Brothers Band which is a country rock band that formed in 1982. The band has been dubbed “The Most Dangerous Biker Band in the World” due to their affiliation with several outlaw motorcycle groups. “I Ride” documents the band from their beginnings as well focusing on their place within the motorcycle ranks.

“I Ride” is an interesting film on motorcycle culture. The film doesn’t solely look at the people who ride motorcycles but it focuses on a band that is followed by motorcyclist. Filming this way I think allowed Director Damon Ker to show an interesting perspective that until now has not been seen by anyone outside of the groups featured in the film. The Fryed Brothers Band has a great story and the film helps show that story. They were a great choice making Ker’s decision to focus the film around them a great one! If you have a chance check out “I Ride”.

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Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: film, review, ride
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