CD Review “Brendon Small’s Galaktikon”

Brendon Small
“Galaktikon”
Producer: Ulrich Wild
Tracks: 9

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

“Galaktikon” is the first solo release from “Metalocalypse” master mind Brendon Small. Produced by Ulrich Wild “Galaktikon” is a concept album based around a superhero’s divorce and the subsequent kidnapping of his ex-wife. Each of the nine tracks are arranged so that the listener can follow along on this space themed musical adventure.

Being a fan of Brendon’s work in Dethklok I was very anxious to hear this album. Along with Small are Dethklok alums Gene Hoglan and Bryan Beller. Together the three provide some very in-depth and technical arrangements that are quite a bit different than the ear splitting, guttural tracks the group is primarily know for. Each of the album’s 9 tracks feature some really great melodic elements that I feel will help the album appeal to a broader audience. Tracks such as “Beastblade” feature heavy instrumentation with a unique blend of echo infused vocals. While the track “You Can’t Run Away” feels like a metal infused psychedelic odyssey cranked way beyond 11.

Brendon Small’s album “Galaktikon” will surely feel right at home next to your “Dethklok” and other metal albums. However you do not need to be a fan of Small’s previous work to appreciate this album. Personally I would have liked to have heard a duet with Small and his character Nathan Explosion as that I think would have put this album over the top. One can only hope that we will be privy to something of that magnitude in the near future. If you are looking for something heavy but without the cookie cutter layout of modern metal bands then do yourself a favor and pick up this album.

Track Listing:
1.) Triton
2.) Prophecy of the Lazer Witch
3.) Beastblade
4.) Deathwaltz
5.) Truth Orb and the Kill Pool
6.) You Can’t Run Away
7.) Arena War of the Immortal Masters
8.) Dangertits
9.) On My Way

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Film Review “The Cabin in the Woods”

Directed by: Drew Goddard
Starring: Kristen Connolly, Chris Hemsworth, Anna Hutchison, Fran Kranz, Jesse Williams, Richard Jenkins, Bradley Whitford
Distributed by: Lionsgate Entertainment
Running time: 105 minutes

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

In this campy horror film, five young adults plan a vacation in the woods at a cabin only to end up with a lot more than they expected. This movie starts out as what one would presume is your typical comedy/horror film. Although it takes a whole other angle and leaves the audiences surprised. I would have to say that this is a must see if you like quirky movies and especially if you are a Joss Whedon fan, who co-wrote and produced.

When the group ends up at this cabin in the middle of the woods, they are just looking at an secluded escape from daily life. If the location wasn’t creepy enough, the house is filled with animal heads mounted on the walls, a one way mirror hidden behind a gruesome picture and a cellar filled to the brim with odd knickknack and trinkets from times past. The quintuplet of friends soon find themselves in the middle of a horror story, unable to escape what turns out to be a ritual killing with a much much bigger picture.

If you are already familiar with other works by Joss Whedon, then early on you will begin to recognize faces. If your like me and love his work, you’ll get more and more excited as the movie progresses. With a menagerie of familiar and new actors and a story only Joss Whedon could weave, this movie proves to be a perfect blend of horror and comedy. I felt that it rides the fine line between the two genres expertly. I have seen many films but this theater experience was just amazing.  The audience was totally just glued to the screen, as was I.  This film will not disappoint.

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Film Review “The Three Stooges”

Starring: Sean Hayes, Chris Diamantoupoulos and Will Sasso
Directed by: Bobby and Peter Farrelly
PG
Running time: 1 hour 32 mins
20th Century Fox

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

In 1930, a film called “Soup to Nuts” was released. Though it didn’t break box office records it is best remembered for one great achievement: introducing the world to The Three Stooges. Consisting of brothers Moe and Shemp Howard (Shemp would be replaced by Curly shortly afterwards) and violinist Larry Fine, the trio poked, kicked and nyuk-nyuk-nyuked their way through almost 200 shorts and feature films. Their popularity was so great that their studio, Columbia, would refuse to rent them to theatre owners unless they promised to play a poorly performing Columbia feature. The Stooges continued on in various forms (after Curly died, Shemp returned – following Shemp’s death both Joe Besser and Joe DeRita followed). In the 1960s, as television took off, the Stooges were introduced to a new generation, including me. Parents began to complain that their children were poking each other in the eyes and I’ve heard of several cases of one sibling hitting another one in the head with a hammer just because it looked funny on TV. Now, almost four decades after the last Stooges, Moe and Larry, passed away, comes a film that tries to recapture the magic of good, old fashioned slapstick comedy.

Presented in a series of faux-shorts (the first one titled “More Orphan Then Not”), “The Three Stooges” begins with three boys being dropped off at an orphanage. As they grow up they seem to attract any mishap that might be in the area. Moe (Skyler Gisondo) is the bossy one of the bunch. Larry (Lance Chantiles-Wertz) is the quiet one. His silence, along with his very unusual head of hair, make prospective parents wonder if he is undergoing chemotherapy. Curly (Robert Capron) is the million-miles-a-minute hyper one. But they are a team. Years later, now adults, the boys learn the orphanage is in threat of being closed due to funding. Determined to save their home, the Stooges make their way out into the world.

Full of the classic timing and slapstick humor that have made the Stooges fan favorites for almost a century, “The Three Stooges” could have been a horrible disappointment. It would have been difficult to create a bio pic about the boys because their personalities are so engrained in our memories. But to actually emulate all that made the Stooges popular, and do it well, is a miracle. All three leads are superb comedians in their own right, with Emmy award winner Hayes (Larry) being the most recognizable. Sasso (Curly) is a comedy vet with a long stint on “Mad TV” while Diamantoupoulos (Moe) is known more for his serious work on shows like “24.” They all succeed in bringing the Stooges to life with Diamantoupoulos seeming to be channeling Moe Howard. To learn that Howard died less than a week before Diamantoupoulis was born makes that last sentence eerie!

The comedy is pretty toned down by Farrelly brother standards. The majority of the laughs come from the onscreen shenanigans. When the script calls for the inclusion of peeing babies and a testicle joke or two, these modern comedy attempts seem startlingly out of place. But old fans and new fans should rejoice as the Stooges are introduced to a new generation.

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Film Review “Lockout”

Directed by: James Mather, Stephen St. Leger
Starring: Guy Pearce, Maggie Grace, Vincent Regan, Joseph Gilgun, Lennie James, Peter Stormare
Distributed by: Open Road Films / FilmDistrict
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Running time: 95 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

I went into this thinking it would be just another prison rescue movie. Well the movie definitely proved me wrong. Not only was there action from start to finish it was also very funny and kept your attention throughout.

The year is 2079 and Snow (Guy Pearce) is being framed for murder. He finds himself in a no-win situation but with a possibility to clear his name. Pearce does an excellent job and has a lot of one liners that are very humorous. Emilie Warnock (Maggie Grace) plays the president’s daughter. When the two finally meet their personalities clash and find themselves in situations they would rather not be in. Hydell (Joseph Gilgun) plays a very psychotic trigger happy inmate. I do hope to see him in more movies.

The special effects were pretty good for the most part. At the start of the film when Snow is fleeing a crime scene there is a chase. This scene doesn’t look that well and almost feels as if you were watching a video game. Through the rest of the movie the effects weren’t as bad and done quite well.

As I stated before, this is not your typical prison break movie. The movie is filled with action and humor throughout. I definitely left the theater enjoying the movie more than I thought I would have. If you like action/thrillers this movie does not disappoint.

 

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DVD Review “The Fields”

Directed by: Tom Mattera, David Mazzoni
Starring: Cloris Leachman, Tara Reid, Joshua Ormond
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Distributed by: Breaking Glass Pictures
Release Date: April 24, 2012
Running Time: 98 minutes

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

When I first heard about this movie, I thought to myself “Cloris Leachman and Tara Reid in a horror movie…I gotta see this”. Well, the latter was a little bit of a let down because Tara Reid is only in maybe 10 minutes of the film. The main star of the film is young actor Joshua Ormond. He definitely delivers a haunting performance. Cloris Leachman is great as usual but doesn’t get to shine much in the role. The ending is a little anti-climatic but overall the film is tight and delivers a few good jumps. Compared to come of the recent “gems” from Breaking Glass Pictures, this one definitely stands out.

The film is set in 1973, where the news is filled with reports of Manson’s killings. Steven (Joshua Ormond) is sent to live with his grandparents (Cloris Leachman and Bev Appleton) in the country while his mother (Tara Reid) and father are temporarily seperated. The grandparents have only one rule…stay away from the corn stalks. Of course Steven is drawn into the fields and what he finds will turn his life into a nightmare. Strange things start happening including strange noises and strange people watching him. It is up to Steven’s family to protect him from what lies beyond the field.

The DVD special features are impressive as usual for Breaking Glass release. The include hiliarious outtakes from Cloris Leachman (what a mouth she has). There is a great making-of documentary included. There are a few behind-the-scenes featurettes, including interviews with real people this film is based of. There is footage from the world premiere focusing on Cloris. Lastly there is a photo gallery and trailer included.

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DVD Review “Marvel Anime: X-Men – Complete Series”

Directed by: Fuminori Kizaki
Japanese Cast: Toshiyuki Morikawa, Rikiya Koyama, Katsunosuke Hori, Yurika Hino – Jean Grey, Hideyuki Tanaka, Kaori Yamagata
English Cast: Steven Blum, Scott Porter, Cam Clarke, Jennifer Hale, Ali Hillis, Fred Tatasciore
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Distributed by: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Release Date: April 24, 2012
Running Time: 287 minutes

Series: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

I grew up reading the comics for Marvel’s X-Men and I have always been a fan.  I though have never really enjoyed the live-action “X-Men” films especially the “Origins” series.  This Japanese anime series definitely redeems the “X-Men” brand and kicks some major ass.  It is non-stop action and really intense.  I also very recommend watching with the intended Japanese audio track.  I feel it adds a lot to the anime feel of the series.  Fans of X-Men are going to want to jump at the chance to see this series.  I only wish this series was longer than twelve episodes but luckily there is also a stand-alone “Marvel Anime: Wolverine” series as well.  You here that Sony, please release that one as well!

The series follows the reuniting of The X-Men the death of Jean Grey in order to track down Hisako Ichiki (Armor), a missing teenage girl in Northern Japan. The X-Men need to also go up against fanatical anti-mutant group, the U-Men.  They find out that Professor Xavier reason for bring them back together is bigger than they think. The result could either bridge the gap between mutants and humans, or tear the two species apart forever.

The special features on this DVD are worth checking out though . “Re-Examining The X-Men” is a behind-the-scenes looks into the creating these episodes. “X-Men: A Team of Outsiders” in an in-depth look at Marvel’s famous mutants. “Special Talk Session” is a roundtable discussion with the series creator. though not as cool as this series, check out our review of “Marvel Anime: Iron Man”.

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DVD Review “Marvel Anime: Iron Man – Complete Series”

Directed by: Yuzo Sato
English Cast: Adrian Pasdar, Neil Kaplan, Milo Ventimiglia, Cindy Robinson
Japanese Cast: Keiji Fujiwara, Unshō Ishizuka, Rikiya Koyama, Hiroe Oka
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Distributed by: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Release Date: April 24, 2012
Running Time: 287 minutes

Series: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3.5 out of 5 stars

I am a huge fan of Japanese anime. Combine that with the amazing work of Marvel superheros and you should have match made in heaven. Although besides the fact that this series looks really cool as an anime, it just doesn’t entertain as much as I thought it would. The series is rather slow and doesn’t get really start until it is almost over. Overall, this series had some good parts and I would recommend to Iron Man fans. I enjoyed the fact it was produced and default to Japanese audio with subtitles, I think that really adds a lot to the feel of the show. If you are looking for some kick-ass Marvel Anime, I would also highly recommend the X-Men series.

The show follows Tony Stark as his arrives in Japan to build a new arc reactor that will deliver unlimited free energy to the Japanese people. He also plans to retire from suiting Iron Man and focus on plans to mass-produce armor known as “Iron Man Dio”. Stark faces not only challenges from the Japanese government and a mysterious organization Zodiac funded by terrorists. Stark needs to battle of them in order to save the day. Keep an eye out for crossover from Marvel including X-Men’s Wolverine.

The special features on the DVD are impressive and included some decent extras. The first feature called “Re-Imagining Iron Man” focuses on converting the show to anime. “21st Century Hero: The Technology of Iron Man” focuses on Tony Stark’s goodies and gadgets. “Special Cross Talk” is a roundtable discussion with the shows creators. “Voicing Tony Stark” is an interview with Japanese voice of Tony Stark, Keiji Fujiwara. I hope Sony is planning on releasing the rest of the Marvel Anime series for “Blade” and “Wolverine” as well. Fingers crossed.

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Iron Maiden “En Vivo!” DVD Giveaway [ENDED]

THANK YOU FOR ENTERING, THE CONTEST HAS ENDED. WINNERS HAVE BEEN CHOSEN AND NOTIFIED VIA EMAIL. PLEASE CHECK BACK EVERY WEEK FOR NEW GIVEAWAYS!

To celebrate the release of the new live Iron Maiden DVD“En Vivo!” Media Mikes would like to giveaway one (1) copy of the 2 disc DVD edition to one of out lucky readers. If you would like to enter to win this great prize leave us a comment below or send us an email telling us your favorite Iron Maiden song. The giveaway will be open until Sunday April 29th 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 Media Mikes will randomly select one of the winners and notify them via email.

“EN VIVO!” was filmed on April 10, 2011, in front of over 50,000 ecstatic fans at the Estadio Nacional, Santiago, during the Round The World In 66 Days leg of The Final Frontier World Tour,and captures a magnificent performance by the band, ardently embraced by the legendary Latino passion and energy of their Chilean fans. With spectacular stage backdrops, dynamic musicianship and a literally jaw-dropping appearance by Eddie, this live show encapsulates to perfection the heart and soul of Iron Maiden 2011.

Product Description:
DVD DISC ONE LIVE AT ESTADIO NACIONAL, SANTIAGO (approx running time 120 min.)
BONUS DISC – DVD DISC TWO BEHIND THE BEAST (approx running time 102 min.)

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Chris Elliott talks about Season 2 of Adult Swim’s “Eagleheart”

Chris Elliott is the star of Adult Swim’s “Eagleheart” playing the role of US Marshall Chris Monsanto. The show is entering its second season on April 12, 2012. Chris is known for his film’s like “Groundhog Dog”, “Scary Movie 2” and “Cabin Boy”. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Chris about “Eagleheart” and what we can except from the second season.

Mike Gencarelli: What do you like most about playing US Marshall Chris Monsanto this season?
Chris Elliott: It is bigger, badder and more bloodier than season one.  Also it is more surreal that season one.  It has all these different plot turns and twists, all in 11 minutes.  It feels like a bigger show than last season and I thought that last season felt really big.

MG: Each episode is 11 minutes, how do you enjoy working in that format?
CE: Even though it is only 11 minutes long, it is the hardest show I have ever worked on.  It is so jam packed.  I also have to work with Brett Gelman…so…you know that feel a little long than 11 minutes [laughs].  Maria and Brett are just brilliant.  This season we get to do more plots with the three of us not just me.  The show is more evenly divided…so I have even less work to do [laughs].

MG: The show is so over-the-top and follows no rules, have you ever been told to tone it down on the show?
CE: It been pretty much no-holds barred.  I mean, with any network, Adult Swim will have notes on some scripts but in general we are left alone to do what we do.  That is really to Adult Swim’s credit. This show cannot be done anywhere else and if it was it would be a watered-down cop parody.  This show was always planned to be this fun, surreal almost psychedelic trip.  It really feels like that to me.  So much of the show is depending on editing and how fast it moves.  Sometimes I wished I had a little more time for a moment of acting here or there but we are so short on time you have to sacrifice that for the little bit of story we are telling.  You make up for it though with the laugh that you get with just how fast this thing is moving and that is a best part of it.

MG: Is there room for improv during shooting?
CE: That is a really good question.  We are like to improvising and like playing around…and we do on the set but not usually when the cameras are rolling.  We are usually on a really tight shooting schedule.  Also we know that once these scenes get into the editing room, you can only use the essential things you need to move the story along.  So there really isn’t a lot of room for improvising.  You can change line a little here or there or an alternate joke. In terms of going crazy for a whole scene, the rare times we do get to do that it hardly ever makes it in.

MG: Well there is always room for that material on the DVD releases, right?
CE: Yeah, that’s right.  Exactly, extra content!  Well the good thing is about these writers, Michael Koman, Andrew Weinberg and Jason Woliner, is that everything is funny right on the page.  There is little need to punch anything up.  These guys are really great writers.  They are especially good writing for me since they known I don’t like to learn long lines [laughs].

MG: Are you completed with shooting the season yet?
CE: Season two is done.  We are waiting to hear about season three.  I am sure we will do another season.  Then we will see how old I look after that and well see about a season four.

MG: What is the typical length it takes to shoot each episode?
CE: Well it is hard to pin that down since we shoot a number of episodes all at once. Honestly, it is probably only about two days per episode…maybe three.  In one shooting day, we can be shooting scenes, all out of order, from three different episodes at the same time in one day.  All the scripts are written in advance.  That is the only way we can do it with the budget we have.

MG: I hear we got some pretty sweet guest stars for season two?
CE: We have Ben Stiller this season.  Dean Norris from “Breaking Bad” pops in.  We have Bud Cort from ‘Harold and Maude”.  Lastly we have Conan (‘O Brien), who has a guest appearance as well.

MG: When is “Eagleheart: The Movie” coming out [laughs]?
CE: I will honestly do anything with this creative team, Adult Swim and my co-stars.  I think we all work together really well.  We talked about if we should do a 30 minute “Eagleheart” but it would actually change the show quite a bit.  You would have to slow it down quite a bit, you couldn’t maintain that pace.  So who knows?

MG: Tell us about what we can expect from the DVD release of the first season?
CE: We did commentary on a bunch of the episodes.  There is our comic con appearance footage.  I think there is also a gag reel included as well.  It is just packed with great stuff.

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Adult Swim’s “Eagleheart” Interview Series

“Eagleheart” follows US Marshall Chris Monsanto (Chris Elliott) as he fights crime with his two partners: the slow-witted Brett (Brett Gelman) and by-the-book Susie (Maria Thayer) They take on drug smugglers, art thieves, kidnappers, and con artists with bloody violence and gruesome deaths ensuing.

“Eagleheart” begins its second season on April 12, 2012 and will consist of 12 episodes. The first season of “Eagleheart” was also released on DVD on April 3, 2012. From the episodes, I have have seen in season two it is much more over-the-top and funnier than the first season.

Check out our interviews with Brett Gelman, Chris Elliott, Maria Thayer and Michael Gladis. Enjoy and please leave comments and don’t forgot to watch “Eagleheart” Thursday nights at Midnight on Adult Swim.


Brett Gelman
Chris Elliott
Maria Thayer
Michael Gladis

 

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Brett Gelman talks about Season 2 of Adult Swim’s “Eagleheart”

Brett Gelman has appeared in a number of films and television shows. More recently Brett has reprised his as role as Brett alongside co-stars Chris Elliot and Maria Thayer in the late night Adult Swim series “Eagleheart” Brett took time out of his busy schedule recently to talk with Media Mikes about season 2 of the show.

Adam Lawton: How is this season of “Eagleheart” going to top the craziness of season 1?
Brett Gelman: There are a lot more head explosions than last season. There is organ cutting going on and a lot more specific violence happening rather than just people exploding or getting shot. The writers picked certain body parts to explode this season. I don’t remember a lot of it because it was so traumatic for me as I am very method. I blocked a lot of it out. (Laughs)

AL: Can you tell us about some of this seasons guest starts?
BG: We have Ben Stiller and Conan O’ Brien doing an episode this season. We have Dean Norris from “Breaking Bad” and Bud Cort all coming on this season as well. I didn’t get a chance to work with Ben or Conan as their footage was shot separately. I have met those guys before and they are heroes of mine. Working with Dean was really great. He is a pro and comes right out of the gate. Bud Cort is a 70’s icon, so that was really great also.

AL: What can you tell us about Brett having a baby this season?
BG: There is two me’s in that episode. I got to act with myself which was really fun. I finally got to work with an actor that was up to my ability. (laughs) It was challenging to work with a stand in and then be the other character. The Bezoar character is the evil version of Brett and in a lot of ways he is way more of a guy than Brett will ever be. Maria and I have a lot more going on this season and it’s more of an ensemble driven show in a way. Chris is still the star but you get the sense that we are a comedy team. It was more fun to do it that way. I was excited when they gave me such a meaty episode.

AL: Do you get to see the scripts prior to shooting?
BG: We get them about a week before. Sometimes we will get major changes right before. For me it doesn’t really matter because my character is so dumb and doesn’t know what’s ever going on. It kind of works for me. (laughs)  It’s kind of like a sparrow with no short term memory. He says something then another thing happens and he forgets it.

AL: Are you allowed to improv on the scripts at all?
BG: There is not a lot of improv as we just don’t have the time. There is so much stuff that needs to be dealt with on the shoots that we are constantly racing against the clock. You are also dealing with an 11 minute show so you can improvise but, really at that point you are just wasting time. The writing is very good and well orchestrated so all the pieces fit well into the puzzle. Everything is so good that often times you don’t need to improvise.

AL: What else can we expect from the Brett character this season?
BG: He will be constantly having hallucinations this season. Things are telling him that no one likes him and he is very insecure. Wanting to be liked by everyone especially Chris’s character really drives Brett this season. There will be a lot more of Brett and Maria which is really exciting.

AL: What other projects can we be looking for you to appear in?
BG: I will be guest staring on an MTV show called “The Inbetweeners” which will be coming out this summer. I will be playing the principle of a high school. The night that “Eagleheart” airs I will be on “The Office” as well. I will be continuing with my “Gel-Mania” Podcast’s and shooting things for Funnyordie.com. Tim Heidecker and I have some plans to do some videos together, so that should be a lot of fun. I am also scheduled to shoot an independent film this summer called “Lemons” as well. I am pretty excited for that.

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Maria Thayer talks about Season 2 of Adult Swim’s “Eagleheart”

Maria Thayer stars alongside Chris Elliot and Brett Gelman in the Adult Swim series “Eagleheart”. Media Mikes talked with Maria recently about the upcoming season of show and what it’s like working with such a funny cast.

Adam Lawton: What can we expect from you character Susie this season?
Maria Thayer: I think a lot more. Some really terrible things happen to Susie this season. It’s exciting! Susie is a little less uptight I think this season. She is still the sane one when being compared to Chris or Brett. I only had one fight scene last year but I have a lot more this time. I participated whole heartedly in the violence. There is one episode where I turn into a monster. That was pretty fun. I also have a relationship with a Bezoar in another episode.

AL: Did you notice any differences in the shooting this season as compared to last season?
MT: We didn’t have a lot of time last season and we really did not have a lot of time this season. It is always so fast. I think unless you are working with Clint Eastwood or someone like that  you will always feel like you didn’t have enough time. A lot of times we were shooting 5 different scenes from 5 different episodes all in one day. Sometimes it would take a second or two to remember what was happening. There are always a lot of things going on. I don’t know how the directors did it.

AL: Did you get to work with any of this season’s guest stars?
MT: I didn’t get to work with Conan O’Brian this time however I have worked with him previously. He is actually how I met two of the executive producers. When I was first in New York I did sketches on Conan. It’s funny as 10 years later I am still working with those guys. I worked with Dean Norris and he was really great. I love his other work as well.

AL: How does working on “Eagleheart” compare to working on film like “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”?
MT: Everything is different. Because of the time crunch on this show and the smaller operation you get closer to everybody. We only have two writers so everyone contributes. Even though Chris, Brett and I are only together for about 10 weeks for shooting we become like a family, a dysfunctional family. I am really excited for people to be able to see the new episodes.

AL: Do you have any other upcoming projects you can tell us about?
MT: I have started doing a web series with Funny or Die. I have never done something on my own before so I have been blowing other things off in order to be able to do this project. The series is based around Pilot season here in Los Angeles. Janeane Garofalo is going to be in one of the episodes. The episodes are going to be me going to various auditions.

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Book Review “Dead Letters: The Very Best Grateful Dead Fan Mail”

Author: Paul Grushkin
Hardcover: 208 pages
Publisher: Voyageur Press
Release Date: October 22, 2011

Our Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

There are rock bands. There are rock legends. There are rock phenomena. And then, there’s the Grateful Dead.

Within the group’s thirty-year history, the Dead performed 36,504 songs at 2,318 shows. Far more impressive than the band’s numerical statistics, though, is the legion of fans whose devotion to the band was unlimited and propelled them down endless cross-country golden roads to see as many GD concerts as possible. To merely refer to them as a “fan base” is like calling the Mona Lisa just another painting. Indeed, the Dead didn’t just create a following – they created a culture of Deadheads that always turned on the hippie vibe and tuned into to the swirling jam vibe that the band dropped out at them throughout shows that rarely went less than three hours in length.

As the Dead’s fan-base grew from the beginning days of the acid tests to larger venues like San Francisco’s Fillmore to selling out massive stadiums, obtaining tickets to their shows became increasingly more difficult. Grateful Dead Ticket Sales (GDTS) was formed in 1983 to deal with this demand – and to ensure that Deadheads would have dibs on the best face-value tickets to each show. The organization predominantly operated as a mail-order entity to which fans would send their requests for tickets to specific shows on selected dates. As a result, thousands upon thousands of envelopes poured into the GDTS’s offices, many adorned with sprawling psychedelic artwork that often spanned the entire envelope – front and back – and left not a single spec of white space. A large portion of these letters featured graphical symbols that were associated with the band: dancing bears, skeletons and the iconic “Steal Your Face” skull-with-lightning-bolt logo. Looking through the images in the book is like peering into the collective unconscious shared by the fans and the band. Also included is a hand-written letter from Jerry Garcia to a fan, in response to the fan’s question, which is interesting to read.

Paul Grushkin’s “Dead Letters: The Very Best of Grateful Dead Fan Mail” presents over 300 of these micro-masterpieces in fourteen chapters that are organized by visual theme rather than chronological order. It’s a sprawling and beautiful tome that more than adequately documents the phenomenon that the GDTS inadvertently created and is fascinating and engaging as a skim-through coffee-table book or as a full-on read. And while the artwork is clearly the focal point of the book, Grushkin’s accompanying text provides an informative and enjoyable history of the Grateful Dead and insight into the behind-the-scenes activity that helped the legacy endure.

Even though “Dead Letters” will turn up at bookstores and online in the category of “music” books, it’s also a sweeping romance that chronicles the love between flocks of Deadicated followers and the band they adored.

~~~~~~~~

Many thanks to my dear friend (and long-time Deadhead)
Donna Marland for her contributions to this article.

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Filed Under: Book Reviews Tagged With: Bill Kreutzmann, Bob Weir, Brent Mydland, Dead Letters, Deadhead, GDTS, ...

Meet Stars of Darren Lynn Bousman and Terrance Zdunich’s “The Devil Carnival” When Tour Comes to Your City!

Do you want to meet the stars and minds behind the new musical movie sensation, THE DEVIL’S CARNIVAL, face-to-face? Now is your chance! THE DEVIL’S CARNIVAL team recently confirmed the list of cast and crew appearing on each date of this exclusive road tour and are now revealing this list to the world!

The creators of the film, director Darren Lynn Bousman and Terrance Zdunich (Lucifer), are scheduled to appear at each tour stop and will be joined at several exclusive showings by numerous stars of the film. The stars will participate in meet & greets, Q&A forums, sing-a-longs, and more! See below for a list of the cast and crew currently confirmed to appear on the tour and stay tuned for more appearance confirmations for the remainder of the tour coming soon.

***Stars CONFIRMED to join THE DEVIL’S CARNIVAL creators Darren Lynn Bousman and Terrance Zdunich on the tour are:

TUCSON, AZ
Marc Senter

EL PASO, TX
Hannah Minx

HOUSTON, TX
Hannah Minx

AUSTIN, TX
Hannah Minx

DALLAS, TX
Hannah Minx

NASHVILLE, TN
J LaRose

ATLANTA, GA
J LaRose

ORLANDO, FL
J LaRose

TAMPA, FL
Ivan Moody of Five Finger Death Punch

CHARLOTTE, NC
Ivan Moody

RICHMOND, VA
Ivan Moody
J LaRose

PITTSBURGH, PA
Briana Evigan

BALTIMORE, MD
Briana Evigan

NEW YORK CITY, NY
Briana Evigan

CHICAGO, IL
Emilie Autumn

DES MOINES, IA
Emilie Autumn
M. Shawn “Clown” Crahan

KANSAS CITY, KS
Emilie Autumn

MORE BEING ADDED SOON!

***All celebrity special guests are confirmed on tour but are subject to cancellation due to professional commitments outside of THE DEVIL’S CARNIVAL’S control. Please visit our official Facebook page for tour news and updates: www.facebook.com/devilscarnival.

Buy your tickets NOW to experience the devilish insanity in person with your favorite actors and musicians. Keep in mind, THE DEVIL’S CARNIVAL can only be seen on this exclusive tour, so you must attend a showing to witness the madness!

See below for all CONFIRMED cities and theaters showing THE DEVIL’S CARNIVAL and buy your tickets here: http://thedevilscarnivaltour.eventbrite.com/

4/9 – Tucson, AZ @ Tucson Loft Cinema

4/11 – El Paso, TX @ El Paso Starplex

4/12 – Austin, TX @ Alamo South Lamar

4/13 – Houston, TX @ Alamo Drafthouse

4/14 – Dallas, TX @ Lakewood Theater

4/17 – Nashville, TN @ The Nashville Limelight

4/18 – Atlanta, GA @ The Plaza Theater

4/19 – Orlando, FL @ The Premiere Cinema 14 (at Fashion Square Mall)

4/20 – Tampa, FL @ The Tampa Pitcher Show

4/21 – Charlotte, NC @ The Neighborhood Theater

4/22 – Richmond, VA @ The Byrd

4/24 – Pittsburgh, PA @ The Hollywood Theater

4/25 – Baltimore, MD @ The Charles Theatre

4/26 – New York, NY @ Times Scare NYC

4/27 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Painted Bride

4/28 – South Hadley, MA @ The Tower Theater

4/29 – Boston, MA @ The Foxboro Theater

5/1 – Toronto, ON, Canada @ Toronto Underground Theater

5/2 – Toledo, OH @ Collingwood Arts Center

5/3 – Chicago, IL @ The Music Box Theater

5/4 – Des Moines, IA @ The Fluer Cinema Cafe

5/5 – Kansas City, KS @ Leawood Cinema Theater

5/6 – Denver, CO @ The Oriental Theater

5/7 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Tower Theater

5/9 – Seattle, WA @ The Admiral Theater

5/10 – Portland, OR @ The Clinton St. Theater

5/11 – Sacramento, CA @ The Colonial Theater

For more information and to view the official trailer, visit http://www.TheDevilsCarnival.com.

Purchase the sinister THE DEVIL’S CARNIVAL soundtrack at www.TheDevilsCarnival.com, iTunes, or Amazon.com!

THE DEVIL’S CARNIVAL is produced by EMPIRE FILM AND ENTERTAINMENT GROUP. Executive producer credit goes to Stephen Ruff and Thomas M Kastelz.

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Filed Under: Film Headlines Tagged With: bousman, carnival, darren, devil, lynn, meet, ...

Book Review “Every Night the Trees Disappear: Werner Herzog and the Making of Heart of Glass”

Author: Alan Greenberg
Hardcover: 224 pages
Publisher: Chicago Review Press
Release Date: May 1, 2012

Our Score: 4 out 5 stars

Werner Herzog is easily one of the world’s greatest filmmakers. His films include “Aguirre, the Wrath of God”, “Nosferatu the Vampyre”, “Grizzly Man”, “Rescue Dawn”, “Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans” and of course “Heart of Glass”. This book is an up-close and rare look into the making of “Heart of Glass”, courtesy of friend and collaborator to Herzog, Alan Greenberg. Herzog is known for his unique approach to filmmaking and it is shown throughout all of his films. I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book but it is one of those rare books that you honestly can’t put down. Page after page this book is extremely interesting and informative.

Alan Greenberg and Warner Herzog have known each other for almost 40 years and there is no better person to cover this material. If you have seen “Heart of Glass”, you know it is a very dark and haunting film but easily one of Herzog’s best. In this book you will find out many interesting facts that many have never known. Greenberg revealed that Herzog, in an attempt to control his actors, hypnotized them before shooting their scenes. I wouldn’t give it a second thought when it comes to Herzog’s style.  That is only the tip of the iceberg reveled about the production, I want to say more but I don’t want to spoil it.  Read for yourself.

This book is fully backed by Herzog as he provides both the foreword and the afterword. I have read many “making-of” books and none of them have felt as real as this one does. It feels more like a novel spilling insider secrets that have been hidden for years. I also need to point out that the book also has very personal and crisp color photos lying within the middle of the book, very nice touch to complement the book. I recommend this book highly to all fans of Werner Herzog, but I warn you expect to finish the book in one sitting.

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Filed Under: Book Reviews Tagged With: book, disappear, glass, heart, herzog, making, ...
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