CD Review: The Devastated “Devil’s Messenger”

The Devastated
“Devil’s Messenger”
Century Media Records
Producer: Chris Eck
Tracks: 12

Our Score: 2.5 out of 5 stars

“Devil’s Messenger” is the first release from Southern California’s The Devastated a band whose line up consists of former Impending Doom and Oblige members. Their album is being released via Century Media Records and features 12 original tracks produced by Chris Eck. Fans of these members’ previous groups will surely want to check out this album.

Each of the 12 tracks contained on “Devil’s Messenger” is a gritty, down tuned master piece each containing enough power to raise the dead. The song “Swallowing Tumors” is what I would assume pure evil would sound like while tracks like “The Devils Messenger” and “Zombies” will feed the needs of those in love with the standard breakdowns often associated with grind core music.

Chris Eck did a good job of capturing the sheer intensity of the music while creating a very listenable album. If you are looking to expand you grind core collection go out and get the debut album from The Devastated.

Track Listing:
1.) Drip Drip
2.) Psuedo Smile Campaign
3.) Swallowing Tumors
4.) Failure in Thrive
5.) Roof Top Party Drop
6.) The Devil’s Messenger
7.) Spit Vitriol
8.) Zombies
9.) Blood Bag Drag
10.) Tongue In Cheek
11.) Caprice
12.) Conductor

 

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CD Review: Municipal Waste “The Fatal Feast: Waste in Space”

Municipal Waste
“The Fatal Feast: Waste in Space”
Nuclear Blast Records
Producer: Municipal Waste
Tracks: 16

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

“The Fatal Feast: Waste in Space” is the fifth album from the Richmond, VA thrash band Municipal Waste. The band consists of Tony Foresta- Vocals, Ryan Waste- Guitar/Vocals, LandPhil- Bass/Vocal and Dave White- Drums. “The Fatal Feast: Waste in Space” features 16 new tracks and is being released via Nuclear Blast Records. This album is the follow up release to the bands 2009 album “Massive Aggressive”.

Relentless and in your face thrash metal! From the opening riffs of “Repossession” to the last note of “Residential Disaster” the latest album by Municipal Waste takes hold and won’t let go. The albums sound is very reminiscent of early 80’s hardcore groups like M.O.D. and Suicidal Tendencies.

Guitarist/Vocalist Ryan Waste lays down some blistering riffs that are truly worthy of the head banging induced neck pain they will surely cause. Vocalist Tony Foresta’s straight forward guttural vocal performances energize all 16 songs while bassist Landphil and drummer Dave White provide a thunderous bass driven back line.

While tracks such as “Covered in Sick/The Barfer” and “The Monster with 21 Faces” were personal favorites all of the tracks on the album had a little something for everyone. Fans of both new and old thrash/hardcore will surely enjoy listening to Municipal Wastes “The Fatal Feast: Waste in Space”.

Track Listing:
1.) Waste in Space
2.) Repossession
3.) New Dead Masters
4.) Unholy Abductor
5.) Idiot Check
6.) Covered in Sick/The Barfer
7.) You’re Cut Off
8.) Authority Complex
9.) Standards and Practices
10.) Crushing Chest Wound
11.) The Monster with 21 Faces
12.) Jesus Freaks
13.) The Fatal Feast
14.) 12 Step Program
15.) Death Tax
16.) Residential Disaster

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CD Review: 3 Inches of Blood “Long Live Heavy Metal”

3 Inches of Blood
“Long Live Heavy Metal”
Century Media Records
Producer: Terry “Sho” Murray
Tracks: 12

Our Score: 2.5 out of 5 stars

“Long Live Heavy Metal” is the newest album from the Canadian heavy metal band 3 Inches of Blood. The bands 5th full length album was produced by Terry “Sho” Murray and is being released via Century Media Records. The group consists of Cam Pipes, Justin Hagberg, Shane Clark and Ash Peason. Together the band blends a variety of both new and classic metal techniques while still forging new ground.

Vocalist Cam Pipes could be describes as half Halford and half Dickinson as his vocals ring out in the highest of falsetto ranges while tracks like “Look Out” and “Storming Juno” are drenched with dual guitar chugging, and sweeping solo passages.

Though a majority of the songs on “Long Live Heavy Metal” have a more vintage sound and structure, Tracks like “Dark Messenger” and “Die for Gold” feature a unique blend of the two which makes the latest release from 3 Inches of Blood quite an entertaining listen.

Track Listing:
1.) Metal Woman
2.) My Sword Will Not Sleep
3.) Leather Lord
4.) Chief and the Blade
5.) Dark messenger
6.) Look Out
7.) 4000 Torches
8.) Leave it on the Ice
9.) Die for Gold
10.) Storming Juno
11.) Men of Fortune
12.) One for the Ditch

 

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Interview with Kim Evey

Kim Evey has produced five seasons of Felicia Day’s hit series “The Guild” as well as “Dragon Age: Redemption”. Kim is working with Felicia Day on this latest project called “Geek and Sundry”, which is a premium YouTube channel that is going to include six new original series. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Kim about create this channel and what we can expect.

Mike Gencarelli: You’ve worked with Felicia Day now on “The Guild” and “Dragon Age”, tell us about your latest project: “Geek and Sundry”?
Kim Evey: It is a YouTube Premium video channel, which is set to premiere on April 2, 2012. It is going to include six new original series. We have been working really hard and are really excited for its launch.

MG: Tell us about the lineup of six new original series premiering on “Geek and Sundry”?
KE: Felicia Day is doing a new vlog show called “The Flog”, which is airs every Monday. It is like a basic vlog where she checks out quirky hobbies and just shares her experiences with her fans. Since it is on premium channel, Felicia wanted to take it one step further. She actually has been filming this little adventures which she has been filming the last few months. On Tuesdays, we are airing season 5 of “The Guild”, which has never been aired on YouTube. In part with that every Thursday there will be a behind the scenes look at that week’s episode as well. Next there is Dark Horse Motion Comics, which airs every Wednesday. Basically that is a series where our favorite comics are brought to life by some amazing artists. There is also some new content from Dark Horse as well that they wanted to include. Every other Friday, we have a show with Wil Wheton called “TableTop”. It is a really cool idea where he will invite other geeks, TV talent and YouTube personalities to play various tabletop games with him. Think “Celebrity Poker” meets “Dinner for Five”. It is a really cool idea because if you are a fan of the games, you would be most likely a fan of the people on the show also. It also gives people that do not play these games a look into them and gets a chance see how the rules are setup. On the other rotating Friday, there will be a show called “Sword & Laser”, which is already a podcast but is going to be a show hosted by Veronica Belmont and Tom Merritt. It will focus on science fiction and fantasy books with reviews and author interviews. They are hoping to setup a book of month part of the show also. I am also working on a show myself called “Written by a Kid”, where we get real kids ages 4-9 to submit stories and they have them animated or made live-action. It is really cool and will be premiering on July 18th. Lastly we have a show premiering in the Fall called “Learning Town”, which will feature the nerd music duo Paul & Storm.

MG: “Geek and Sundry” looks to be the ultimate channel for geeks, what is the hardest task in developing this YouTube channel?
KE: I think the hardest part is just getting it all done. We have all the different aspects of this channel and we just want to get it out there to the fans. We are really trying the best possible content to the channel and please our fan base.

MG: Besides YouTube channel, “Geek and Sundry” also has a great website for fans to interactive, tell us about that?
KE: We just want people to feel like they are part of the show. We want them to be as interactive with the fans as Felicia is. That is why “The Guild” has been so successful is because Felicia as been in touch with her fans on the show. I just want to give a shout out to our designer, Luisa Lie, she designed our logo and the website. She is fresh out of school and loves coding. She has really been amazing.

MG: When can we expect new seasons of both “The Guild”?
KE: Right now we are still negotiating if season six is going to happen for “The Guild”. Right now [laughs], we are just trying to get back next week and this launch.

Click here to visit the website for “Geek and Sundry”

 

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Interview with Shadows Fall’s Brian Fair

Brian Fair is the lead singer of the metal group Shadows Fall. The band has released 6 full length studios and is set to release their as yet titled 7th album sometime in 2012. Media Mikes had a chance to talk with Brian about the upcoming album and the bands tour plans for this year.

Adam Lawton: What can you tell us about the upcoming album?
Brian Fair: The band always tries to cover a good amount of ground with each record and we have a wide variety of influences. I feel this album is a further extension of us. We are getting more comfortable with putting all those influences into great songs. There are songs on the album that are on the real heavy side, some that are more classic metal and some that are full on thrash tunes. We try to cover a variety of styles without sounding schizophrenic.

AL: Do you guys have an album name and release date set?
BF: Everything is still being wrapped up. We have just started getting the mixes. Until everything is really mastered and finalized all of our release dates are just hopeful. Everything is best case scenario. (Laughs) It’s looking like by early May we should have the album out.

AL: Did you guys take any different approaches to the recording process this time around?
BF: Yes. It was a real different approach. We recorded with Adam D. of Killswitch Engage for the first time. That was a new experience in general bringing him in. Adam was involved from the demoing stages. He wasn’t helping us write or anything but he helped with the structuring and editing of the tracks. It was cool to have him involved and suggesting different twists and turns. With Adam on board we could step back and look at the songs as a whole. He was very easy to work with. Adam is like a comedian so it was really fun working with him even though we were there for hours at a time.

AL: How do you guys go about the writing process for your material?
BF: Usually Matt or Jon will have sort of a frame work of riffs that they are working on. They will put together a general song structure. From there we start jamming on it and add each of our own tweaks and suggestions. We will make a rough recording and then take it from there. Some songs fall together within the first few practices. Some take shape over the course of a month or so. The last song on the new record we wrote on the spot in the studio. That has never really happened before so it was kind of cool. Once there is a general idea for the song is when I start writing lyrics. I usually don’t get to that point until the music is about 80 percent there. Once I see where the songs going I can start to add lyrics.

AL: Can you tell us about the upcoming Australian tour?
 BF: It’s going to be sick! This will be our third time doing the Sound Waves festival. It’s always unbelievable. This year the line features bands like Slipknot, System of a Down and Hatebreed. It’s going to be like summer camp. We also will be doing some off dates while we are there with Machine Head and Chimaira. I can’t wait.

AL: Are you going to be playing any songs from the upcoming album during those shows?
BF: We have one new song that will be in the set. We have really only had time to rehearse that one new track. We were thinking about slipping in another one but we are only playing short festival sets. We don’t want to spend a lot of time playing songs people don’t know yet but, we do want there to be a preview of what’s to come.

AL: Are there any plans in the process for more shows in the states?
BF: Yes. When we get back we will have a lot of set up and promo type stuff for the new album going on. We then will be taking a break from shows until about mid-April when we have some shows booked in Mexico City with Anthrax. Right after that we will be starting our own tour. Everything will start to be announced in the coming weeks after things have been confirmed.

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Interview with Cory Johnson

Cory Johnson is the guitarist for the Christian death metal band Impending Doom. Cory and the band are set to release their 4th studio album titled “Baptized in Filth” on March 13th. Media Mikes had a chance to talk with Cory about the new release and his thoughts on the bands upcoming tour with Devildriver.

Adam Lawton: What can you tell us about the new album?
Cory Johnson: We feel that this album is the best musical album we have ever done. The album is being released via Eone and we think that this album is really our best effort. We are anxiously waiting to get out on the road.

AL: What was the recording process like?
CJ: We spent about 6 months writing the album. It was probably our most stressful. We had a headlining tour over the past summer and we left for the road prior to completion of the writing phase. We ending up taking our demo rig out on the road which made things a lot harder than we thought it would be. Not only were we doing a headlining tour but we also had to find time to get away from everything and write the rest of the album. Every album is stressful but this one felt more out of control. As soon as we got in the studio with Andreas Magnusson he took everything and helped us tie it all together. Having an actual producer this time around helped a lot. We have never had that before. Prior to this record the engineer would just push record and we would take the best takes. Andreas was very involved in the musical process. We think that helped us put out a better musical product. Having Machine produce the albums vocals also helped out. He is phenomenal.

AL: Was there any specific inspiration behind the album?
CJ: The album is not a concept album. We do try and push some boundaries as we are a Christian band with Christian views. We try and step out of our comfort zone and push people to do the same thing with their faith. A lot of Christians see the title of the new album and think it sounds kind of evil. If you read our lyrics it will all make sense.

AL: Do you find it harder to write material having that Christian background/association?
CJ: We don’t want to step outside of faith but, whatever inspires us comes out. We then will take time to evaluate it and see if it’s what we really want to do. It’s not that much different than any normal band.

AL: Are there any songs off the new album you are really looking forward to playing live?
CJ: The song “Murderer”. We just finished a video for that song a few days ago and hope to have it out soon. That song will be available as a single also. We are definitely looking forward to playing that song live.

AL: What are the tour plans for the album?
CJ: This summer we have dates confirmed on the Warped Tour. Starting March 13th we will be part of this year’s Metal Alliance tour. We will be playing with Devildriver, Job for a Cowboy and Dying Fetus.

AL: Do you find it hard blending in on tours where the other bands/fans don’t have Christian backgrounds?
CJ: We have never toured with an older set of bands before. All of our previous tours were with bands like White Chapel where everyone is around the same age. There has never been an issue when we have toured with bands that have different beliefs than us. I am interested to see how this upcoming tour will go. We have never toured with such extreme bands. I am confident that we will all be getting along back stage. I think the fans are going to really enjoy the show. We have such an extreme live show that I think everyone will have a good time. We don’t preach on stage or try to make people feel uncomfortable. I feel as long as we go up there and put on a good show people will enjoy it. Everyone can have a good time no matter what.

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Interview with Paul Bunnell

Paul Bunnell is the writer and director of the new film “The Ghastly Love of Johnny X”. The film is tribute to the 50’s B&W sci-fi genre. It recently premiered at the Cinequest Film Festival. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Paul about his film and it’s road to the big screen.

Mike Gencarelli: Tell us about the origin behind “The Ghastly Love of Johnny X”.
Paul Bunnell: “Johnny X” came about after a few failed attempts to get other projects off the ground. Time had been ticking away and I felt too much of it had been wasted since the completion of my previous film, “That Little Monster”. I wanted to make a movie that would be completely original and fun — a movie with all the things I love: drive-in theaters, diners, movie palaces. It was kind of like my life all rolled into one movie. It’s who I am.

MG: How did you manage to pay homage to the 50’s B&W sci-fi genre without spoofing it entirely?
PB: By simply being sincere and true to the things that I love and what the characters in the movie love. It’s their world. They (the characters) aren’t making fun of the things in their universe. I had the actors play every line of dialogue with the utmost sincerity. That’s the key. Believability.

MG: How were the songs in the film created and were they difficult to shoot?
PB: The songs began as an afterthought to the story. I wasn’t always happy with parts of the script. I felt it either needed to be trimmed or rewritten. I decided to try out one song, which Scott Martin wrote. I loved it so much that I started combing through the script to find other places to switch out dialogue with a musical telling of the story. This became the rule: the songs had to move the story forward or they would not be in the film. Period. The only time where a song does not move the story forward is when Mickey O’Flynn (Creed Bratton) sings, but he is performing the song in concert. The songs in Johnny X were not any more difficult to shoot than the rest of the movie. One thing was certain, the crew seemed to be having fun whenever we had a song to shoot. So if anything, they were a breeze.

MG: How did you get Will Keenan, Kevin McCarthy and Reggie Bannister involved?
PB: Will Keenan was suggested to me by filmmaker Ramzi Abed. I saw Will’s reel on YouTube and decided to get in touch with him for an interview. I was not familiar with his work prior to meeting him but I brushed up before we met and screened a few of his “classics” like “Tromeo and Juliet”. He was an interesting fellow and had the exact look I wanted for the role, so I gave him the job. Kevin McCarthy was a guest at Cinecon, a classic film festival I attend every year with my wife. I introduced myself to Kevin and told him about my new project. After several phone calls and meetings he finally decided to take a chance on Johnny X and said he would do it because he “didn’t want to disappoint my wife.” As for Reggie Bannister, he appeared in my 1994 film, “That Little Monster”. I wanted to continue the tradition and offered him the role of the dead rock star, Mickey O’Flynn (that Creed Bratton plays). But he didn’t want to do that. He really liked the King Clayton character, so I gave him that role and boy is he great!

MG: You wore a lot of hats in this film, what was the most difficult task?
PB: Wondering if I was ever going to find the money to finish the movie. Six years of wondering! The planets aligned and a very good friend stepped forward and gave me the money. “Miracle” is not a word I use lightly, but in this case I think it applies.

MG: What is the release schedule for this film?
PB: For now, The Ghastly Love of Johnny X is having its world premiere at the Cinequest Film Festival in San Jose, California on March 3rd, 2012. There are two other screenings at Cinequest on March 6th & 10th. For tickets go to: http://www.cinequest.org/event_view.php?eid=1623

MG: I am sure people would love a soundtrack released, any plans?
PB: As a matter of fact, yes! “Kritzerland” is releasing it on their independent label in a few months. Stay tuned for more news.

MG: What do you have planned next?
PB: A little sleep and then on to the next project! It’s kind of top secret at the moment but if you’re a fan of fantasy and Victor Hugo, I think you will enjoy it.

 

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Blu-ray Review “Angels Crest”

Directed by: Gaby Dellal
Starring: Thomas Deckker, Jeremy Piven, Elizabeth McGovern, Mira Sorvino
Distributed by: Magnolia Pictures
MPAA Rating: R
Release Date: April 3, 2012
Running Time: 93 minutes

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

In the past year alone, Magnolia Pictures has released some of my recent favorite films. “Angels Crest” is a movie that would normally fly by the waist side and I wouldn’t see. Since it was being released by Magnolia it caught my attention. I am very happy that it did because the film is an emotional train-wreak that won’t allow you to look away. The film is packed with such amazing and powerful performances.

Thomas Deckker, known for his film roles in films like “Freddy vs. Jason” and TV series “The Sarah Conner Chronicles”, really gets a chance to show his drama chops. The film is so emotionally charged that he is able to give his best performance to date. Jeffrey Piven also gives a notable performance as well. What I also liked about this film is the fact that it isn’t a dragging drama. 93 minutes and out the door, the film does not waste time from the moment it starts.

The film follows the disappearance and death of 3 year-old Nate Denton. While going to build a snowman in the hills, the boy wanders away from his father’s truck and disappears. Dealing with his death, Ethan (Thomas Dekker) ends up putting the small foothills community of Angel’s Crest in an up roar. The town blames Ethan for the death and he struggles to accept this accusation. A local prosecutor (Jeremy Piven) with a haunted past of this own goes after Ethan in order to bring justice for the town.

The Blu-ray looks stunning with its 1080p transfer shot in the beautiful snowy mountains of Calgary, Canada. The landscapes are gorgeous and looks really sharp. The 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track also works well with the films heart pounding score. The special features on the disc are decent overall. There are a few deleted scenes with optional commentary from director Gaby Dellal. There are cast interviews, which does provide some great insight into the film’s story and production. Like all Magnolia release, there is an HDNet’s A Look at Angels Crest, which is a basic featurette. Lastly there is the theatrical trailer included.

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Book Review “Hardware: The Definitive SF Works of Chris Foss”

Author(s): Rian Hughes, Imogene Foss
Hardcover: 240 pages
Publisher: Titan Books
Release Date: September 6, 2011

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

When it comes to anything science fiction…sign me up. I have always been a fan of the genre ever since my family used to take me to the Sci-Fi Diner in MGM Studios (now Hollywood Studios) in Walt Disney World. There was always just something about the out-of-this-world design that really drew me in. Chris Foss is known for his work in this area with creating some of our times “coolest” sci-fi art.  The book is a beautiful visual journey through his work. Though it if you are looking for supporting text to provide insight into each piece you will be disappointed.

Foss’s unique and groundbreaking science fiction art dramatically raises the bar in the 70’s-80’s. It is known for its realism and invention mixed with his science fiction twist. The art you will find within this definitive work ranging from his trademark battle-weary spacecraft to his dramatic alien landscapes. If you ever read any science fiction novels in the 70’s-80’s, then you are familiar with his novel artwork for sure. I just love his ideas and his creations. I just would have like more background on each image.

This volume features Foss’ work for books by Isaac Asimov, Doc Smith, Arthur C. Clarke, A. E. van Vogt and Philip K. Dick, and film design for Ridley Scott and Stanley Kubrick. Titan Books did a great job of releasing a very sweet looking book overall. The images on the pages are so crisp and colorful that it literally draws you to the page. If you are fan of Foss, you will enjoy being able to view many rare and classic images that have never been seen or reprinted before.

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Book Review “The James Bond Omnibus 002”

Author: Ian Fleming
Paperback: 344 pages
Publisher: Titan Books
Release Date: April 12, 2011

Our Score: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Who doesn’t love James Band.  Ever since I saw my first Bond film “Goldfinger”, I was hooked.  There is just something about this character that is just timeless throughout generations.  Ian Fleming has easily created the world’s most famous secret agent.  This book is the second volume in a collection of James Bond original daily comic strips.  This book is easily one of the best in the series as well.  You can read out past reviews here for “Omnibus 001” and “Omnibus 003“.  If you love yourself some James Bond, than these books are sure win.

Bond is renowned for sipping a Vodka Martini while winning in a casino, join him today by visiting www.galacasino.co.uk

This volume contains seven of Iam Fleming’s stories and contains where “Omnibus 001” left off bringing us the comics based on the novels that inspired the movies. If you are a fan of these that you are going to love a chance to read these in the original comic format.  The stories included are: “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”, “You Only Live Twice”, “The Man with the Golden Gun”, “The Living Daylights”, “Octopussy”, “The Spy Who Loved Me” and “The Hildebrand Rarity”. This is the very first time that these comic strips have been available in one format.

” Omnibus 002″ is the longest in the three volume series to date.  It matches “Omnibus 003” with seven stories but less than “Omnibus 001” with eleven stories.  James Bond has been entertaining audiences for over 50 years and this just proves that it will continue for many more.  Titans Books is well known for releasing high quality work and this one definitely does not stray from its norm.  Like its previous volumes, it has very sharp and clear black and white color and the paper feels like an old newspaper.  This is really a treat and very much recommended to any true 007 fan.

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Book Review “The James Bond Omnibus 001″

Author: Ian Fleming
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Titan Books
Release Date: December 1, 2009

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

Usually with volumized books, you would start at volume 1, or 001 in this case. I recently had “The James Bond Omnibus 003″ show up at my door to review. I was not familiar with this series but loved it, read review here.  Nonetheless, I tracked down the first volume in the series and in fact it is actually better than the later.  James Bond has always held a special place in my heart.  I though have been a bigger fan of the earlier films than the recent ones from Pierce Bronson onwards.  If you are a fan of 007, this series is a must own.

“Omnibus 001” in case you didn’t known is a collection of comics featuring our special agent 007 from Ian Fleming.  This volume contains eleven of these original daily comic strips.  The following is the reason why this triumphs over “Omnibus 003”.  This volume includes the very well known stories of: “Casino Royale”, “Live and Let Die”, “Moonraker”, “Diamonds Are Forever”, “From Russia with Love”, “Dr. No”, “Goldfinger”, “From a View to a Kill”, “For Your Eyes Only” and “Thunderball”.  If you are a fan of these amazing films, you are going to love a chance to read them in comic format.

Titan Books is really known for treating the world’s most famous secret agent 007 very well.  They have released many great collections and these “Omnibus” books are just a great item to own for all fans of 007.  As I mentioned in the review for “Omnibus 003”, the paper in the book feels like an old newspaper so it really makes it feels authentic.  Like i mentioned before I hope there are more volumes in the work for this series because I can never get enough of Ian Fleming and his crafty suave secret agent.

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Film Review “Bully”

Directed by: Lee Hirsch
Distributed by: The Weinstein Company
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Running time: 90 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

Bully is an eye opening and heartfelt doc from Lee Hirsch taking an extremely close look at the victims of bullying in America’s schools. Through the eyes of a select few subjects, Hirsch exposes larger problems in the handling of a growing epidemic.

Bullying is not a new problem in American schools and perhaps, as this film shows, that is at the heart of the ambivalence with which it can often be dealt. If something is viewed as a rite of passage, there is a heavy level of acceptance associated with it that must be overcome. Hirsch has chosen his subjects to show the diverse range the impact of bullying can have. From two sets of parents whose boys committed suicide, to a girl in juvenile detention for wielding–but not firing– a gun at her tormentors. Ultimately, the film is a call to action for students and teachers to find the tools and support needed to cope with and prevent abuse.

At the heart of the film and given the most screen time as far as I could tell was Alex, a sweet, if awkward, 12 year old from Iowa. He’s been branded “fish face” by his bullies and is additionally physically tormented on a daily basis. Disturbingly Alex doesn’t raise a fuss about it because he’s accepted it as the other boys “messing around.” Despite this, the filmmakers deem some of the physical abuse Alex endures on the bus–sometimes he’s jabbed with pencils– to be too dangerous to ignore and bring the footage Alex’s parents.

When I was in elementary school the bus was rowdy to a point. If it reached critical volume, our iron lady driver hollered us into quiet submission. The bus was definitely ruled over by a supervising adult. So why does a film director need to intervene? Hirsch literally captures physical abuse of Alex in the same frame as a young driver nonchalantly glancing into her rear view mirror. When shown the footage, a principal assures his infuriated parents that when she rode that bus route the children were “as good as gold.” Of course they were. This is just one of several moments Hirsch captures of school staff being shockingly out of touch. When seeing this film in theaters, expect your audience to get vocal, mine certainly did.

If there’s one mystery to this film, it might be Hirsch’s choice to omit exploring the bullies themselves. Especially bullies who are so bold as to continue to lash out despite the presumed knowledge that they’re being filmed (only one boy’s face is blurred out in the footage of Alex being threatened). Also surprising is lack of a look at cyber bullying which has really expanded the borders of torment from the school yards right into targets’ homes in recent years.

Finally, adding to the outrage the film can often inspire is the recent controversy that has sprung up around the MPAA’s ruling to brand this movie with an R-rating for language. Children swear. They do it to emulate their friends, their role models, and yes, the characters in films they’re technically not supposed to even have access to (but who are we kidding?). The subjects who swear in “Bully” are none of these things, so that the MPAA is in effect stopping this doc from reaching its intended audience for probably less than $2 worth in the swear jar is ridiculous. Kudos for the Weinstein company going ahead unrated and hopefully theater chains will let students see it. If not, one can only hope teachers will have the good sense to bring the DVDs into their classrooms regardless.

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Filed Under: Film Reviews Tagged With: bully, film, review

Film Review “Mirror Mirror”

Directed by: Tarsem Singh
Starring: Julia Roberts, Lily Collins, Armie Hammer, Nathan Lane, Sean Bean
Distributed by: Relativity Media
MPAA Rating: PG
Running time: 106 minutes

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

Director Tarsem Singh has made a family film that is just charming. Which is fitting for a retelling of Snow White. Children will love it and adults will definitely enjoy it if a slightly offbeat, if not ground breaking, storybook tale is what they’re up for.

Julia Roberts playing the evil queen sets up the story, narrating a beautifully animated opening sequence where we learn her step daughter Snow White’s (Lily Collins) father was lost in the dark forrest and now she must raise the princess, who she keeps locked away in the castle under the pretense that she’s too naive or crazy to be out in the world. Let alone to rule the kingdom that’s rightfully hers.

At eighteen years old, Snow decides to test her stepmother’s image of her and ventures outside the castle to learn the toll the wicked Queen’s vanity is taking on her subjects. And luckily she also bumps into a charming Prince.

Roberts mostly steals the show in her villainous role with the writers lending a motivation to her quest for youth and beauty in the form of Armie Hammer’s rich and handsome Prince Alcott, whom she aims to wed despite his affection for Snow. Never before had I seen Roberts’ trademark booming laughter used for evil purposes, but she should do it more often. Adding to her impact are the gasp inducing gowns she wears by the late designer Eiko Ishioka (Bram Stoker’s Dracula).

New-comer Lily Collins definitely looks the part of Snow White, though she’s given less to work with than her co-stars. After Roberts, Hammer in particular gives a wonderfully committed performance to his princely role which calls for him to be charming but also very silly at times which many young actors might not have been able to do with the same degree of sincerely that he brings here.

After the Queen tries and fails to have Snow White killed by her servant (Nathan Lane), the young princess of course is left in the care of a troop of seven dwarves. Here they’re bandits instead of miners, but going with the Disney method, the dwarves are mostly identified by a simple character trait (Grub eats, Chuckles…chuckles, etc). Again, this all works, even if it’s not very original.

If there’s an overall flaw with Snow’s story it’s that Collins isn’t exactly fit to sell the transition she’s meant to make from meek palace dweller to strong bandit-trained fighter. Nor are the stakes very high. A tiny village serves as the whole kingdom the princess is meant to be fighting for. Though perhaps I’ll be grateful for this when Snow White and the Huntsman releases its armies on audiences this summer. We’ll see.

Still the gentle humor, dazzling costumes and sweet nature of this film are enough to recommend it to anyone who enjoys a well crafted fairy tale.

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Filed Under: Film Reviews Tagged With: film, mirror, review

Film Review “Wrath of the Titans”

Starring: Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes
Directed by: Jonathan Liebesman
PG 13
Running time: 1 hour 39 mins
Warner Brothers

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

The answer is YES. “Wrath of the Titans” is 100 times better then 2010’s “Clash of the Titans.” But wait, there’s more…

The film picks up many years after the first film ended. Perseus (Worthington), the son of Zeus (Neeson), recently widowed and raising young son Helius (John Bell), is living the quiet life of a fisherman. One night he is visited by his pop who tells him that because so many people have stopped praying to the Gods they are getting weak. If they get any weaker the world as the people know it will be destroyed. The source of that destruction is blamed on the common folk and their lack of prayer. Only after investigating does Zeus find that his brother, Hades (Fiennes), still bitter from the whole “sent to the underworld” thing, has teamed with nephew Ares (Edgar Ramirez) to release Kronus, the king of the underworld and father of Zeus, from where he has been seemingly forever. Kronus’ goal is to retrieve the lightning bolt of Zeus, the triton of Poseidon and the helm of Hades, which when assembled together will allow Kronus to defeat the Titans. Chaos ensues.

Featuring strong performances by Neeson and Fiennes, “Wrath of the Titans” features some brilliant effects (the fire and ash monster that is Kronus) and, though still converted, much better 3D then the last film. Which I’m sure will make Warner Brothers happy after the backlash the studio took from fans due to the horrible 3D conversion they shelled out good money for. The story is pretty much your standard mythological tale…monster threatens town/village/city/world and is eventually defeated by unassuming hero. Of course, the hero here is part man/part God, so he has a slight edge. The story has a more humorous tone as well, when Perseus encounters a trio of Cyclops. And, despite what I’m sure was against Worthington’s wishes (he spoke out very negatively about an appearance in the first film), Bubo the owl makes another appearance here.

I’d also urge you to get in your seats early as preceding the film is an incredible trailer for Peter Jackson’s upcoming “The Hobbit.” Worth an extra rating star all by itself!

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Filed Under: Film Reviews Tagged With: film, review, titans, wrath

Disneynature’s “Chimpanzee” World Premiere Event Giveaway [ENDED]

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

To celebrate the release of Disneynature’s “Chimpanzee”, Media Mikes would like to giveaway One (1) family 4-pack of tickets to the WORLD PREMIERE event at AMC Downtown Disney in Orlando FL on April 13th. If you would like to win this once in a lifetime prize, all you have to do is “LIKE” our Facebook page and then post “Disneynature” and the name of your favorite animal. If you’re already a fan of our Facebook page, just head over and post “Disneynature” and the name of your favorite animal. One (1) person will be randomly selected from all entries to win the family 4-pack of tickets.

No purchase necessary.
©2012 Disney Enterprises, Inc.

This giveaway will be open until Sunday April 8th at Noon, Eastern Time and is only open to residents of the United States, preferably in the Orlando FL area. Only one entry per person, per household; all other entries will be considered invalid. Once the giveaway ends, Media Mikes will randomly pick out winners and alert the winners via email. The winner will need to respond by Monday, April 9th. Good luck and thanks for visiting MediaMikes.com!

WHEN/WHERE:
Friday, April 13, 2012
Red Carpet: 11:00 a.m
Film Screening: 12:00 p.m

AMC Downtown Disney
1500 E. Buena Vista Drive
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

WHAT:
The WORLD PREMIERE of the feature film “Chimpanzee,” Disneynature’s newest True-Life Adventure featuring the wildly entertaining and heart-warming story of Oscar, an enchanting young chimpanzee whose life is caught on camera for the world to share. SAVE THE DATE to join directors Alastair Fothergill (“African Cats” and “Earth”) and Mark Linfield (“Earth”), as well as Dr. Jane Goodall for the celebration.

The WORLD PREMIERE of “Chimpanzee” is part of the Disney Kids and Nature Celebration (April 12-14, 2012, at the Walt Disney World Resort), which recognizes, rewards and inspires lifelong conservation leadership. The Celebration features a host of events, including a special Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund Awards Ceremony that honors five organizations for programs that connect kids to nature, and the Friends for Change Youth Summit.

ABOUT THE MOVIE:
Disneynature takes moviegoers deep into the forests of Africa with “Chimpanzee,” a new True-Life Adventure introducing an adorable young chimpanzee named Oscar and his entertaining approach to life in a remarkable story of family bonds and individual triumph. Oscar’s playful curiosity and zest for discovery showcase the intelligence and ingenuity of some of the most extraordinary personalities in the animal kingdom. Working together, Oscar’s chimpanzee family—including his mom, Isha, and the group’s savvy leader, Freddy — navigates the complex territory of the forest.

The world is a playground for little Oscar and his fellow young chimpanzees, who’d rather make mayhem than join their parents for an afternoon nap. But when Oscar’s family is confronted by a rival band of chimpanzees, he is left to fend for himself until a surprising ally steps in and changes his life forever. Directed by Alastair Fothergill (“African Cats” and “Earth”) and Mark Linfield (“Earth”). “Chimpanzee” swings into theaters on April 20, 2012, just in time for Earth Day 2012. “Chimpanzee” is rated G by the MPAA.

See “Chimpanzee” * Save Chimpanzees. See “Chimpanzee” opening week and Disneynature will make a donation to the Jane Goodall Institute to protect chimpanzees today and tomorrow. Visit Disney.com/Chimpanzee for more information.

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Filed Under: Giveaways Tagged With: chimpanzee, disneynatures, event, giveaway, premiere, world, ...
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