On a movie scale, if the original 2005 “JawsFEST” was the fan equivalent of “Jaws” then the recent “JawsFEST: The Tribute” was more like “Jaws: The Revenge!”

I took some time off between the end of the Fest and writing this because I wanted to make sure that other fans shared some of my feelings about the event.  Some did.  Some didn’t.  Some were pleased.  Some were pissed.  Some were downright angry.    The quotes that I include in this piece are real.  And before I list the Top 5 Reasons “JawsFEST: The Tribute” was not well received I want to point out that this is not an indictment of the people behind the event.  They did what they could with what they had.  In my opinion (and a majority of those I spoke with) there just weren’t enough hands to go around.  There was some fan input (mine included) but a lot of things were either dismissed at the beginning or fell off during the planning stages.  The people in charge were nothing but great to deal with, both as a fan and as a member of the media.  I was proud to have some of my memorabilia on display and even prouder to host one of the “Location Bus Tours.”  That being said, here we go:

1.  EXPENSIVE! (Part One)

If you’ve ever been to Martha’s Vineyard you know things are just a little bit more expensive than elsewhere.   Never is that statement truer than during the month of August, the busiest (and most expensive) time of the season.  Like the fictional town of Amity, the island needs summer dollars.  The same hotel where I’ve stayed in early June for $145.00 a night was renting for $450.00 a night during the Fest.  My wife and I were lucky to have found a nice 1BR studio to rent for the time we were there, averaging $225 a night.  A little more than what we were used to but it had a kitchen where we could make breakfast before we headed out for our day.  Even still, we spent almost as much on food as our airfare from Kansas City and back cost.  Lunch and dinner routinely came to $30-35.00, including tip.  And this was for what I would call “simple” food:  sandwiches and such.  We did have one “nice” meal which came to about $100 with tip but if you can’t splurge on a romantic dinner while overlooking the water on Martha’s Vineyard when can you?

2.  EXPENSIVE (Part Two)

From the $295.00 VIP bracelets to the $20.00 programs, it seemed that every time you turned around you were opening your wallet.  Let me be up front here and inform the reader that because of my assistance with the Fest, the fact that I was also there as a member of the media and that I had actually won a free general admission for winning a contest describing my best original 2005 “JawsFest” memory, neither myself or my wife had to pay for our bracelets.  Those that did were disappointed to find that not everyone was checking them.  “I feel so bad for people who paid for the gold bracelets,” said one fan.  “People with red bracelets got into things meant for gold bracelets, people with no bracelets got into things meant for people with bracelets period. Things were sold at outrageous prices and then just handed out for free on the same day.  I’m pretty sure my $50 red bracelet wasn’t worth the free keychain (that wasn’t even like…given to us… we had to go find them) and the foam fin hat that Discovery channel pushed at us.”    Said another, “gold bracelets basically got nothing for their money.  I had an absolutely amazing time but it had nothing to do with “JawsFest.”  If anything, it was in spite of it. The screening was a disaster.   I can’t imagine people that paid $75 for the kayak to the movie + gold bracelet and they had to leave because the movie was bounced. Just seems like everything was very disorganized and very poorly laid out. You want to say ‘Well it was a labor of love, they did what they could.’  Then you realize people were dropping hundreds of dollars on bracelets and then the sympathy goes out the window.  It’s not hard.   Clearly define what you get for the bracelets and then make sure people get it.  One worker said gold (bracelets) got free bags.  Other worker said they didn’t but got a special bag.  A third worker said the special bags were for special bracelets above gold.  No one had a clue what you got and the answer was really nothing.  Red bracelets got a free key chain bottle opener that can’t open bottles.  That’s it.  $50 for a $1 key chain? You could say they got to see the movie in the park but IT WAS IN THE PARK and I was sitting next to people without bracelets.”

In my opinion, the Fest was a cash grab.  Autographs were $20.00 each.  They were free at the 2005 JawsFEST.  Having done many celebrity events in my lifetime I’ve always tried to include the guests signing fee in their appearance fee.  Maybe limit autographs to (2) per person per guest so as not to take advantage.  I have no problem with the celebrity guests charging for their autographs.  For some of them that is how they make their living and I certainly don’t fault them.  For a brief time they were charging $10.00 for admission to the memorabilia display, even though it was advertised as free.  . One woman told me, “the red bracelet got me nothing but $50.00 lighter…it almost seemed like it cost money to breathe the air!”  One of the main problems I saw was that “JawsFEST: The Tribute” was NOT sponsored by the Martha’s Vineyard Chamber of Commerce as 2005’s event was.  It was put on by a private promotional company and the goal in putting on an event is to make money.

One of the questions I’ve been asked constantly is “where did the money go?”  I really don’t know.  I know that money put in the donation cans is earmarked for the SHARK SAVERS organization and that money will continue to be raised into September.  I’ve sent out a couple of emails but haven’t heard if any of the proceeds from the sale of bracelets, T-shirts, etc was going to anything but to offset the cost of the event.  Perhaps if there is a profit some of that money will go to SHARK SAVERS.

3.  WHERE WAS AMITY?

Another complaint registered by many of the fans who had attended the 2005 event was that Edgartown looked exactly like…Edgartown!  Unlike the original Fest, the sign on the city hall still read “Edgartown,” there were no welcoming banners (Amity Island Welcomes You) and several of the businesses that still had their “Amity” business signs neglected to hang them.

4.  THE GUEST LIST

Though a final confirmed guest list was posted on line in early June, several earlier promoted appearances never occurred, including Brenda Scheider (widow of Roy) and Virginia Shaw (widow of Robert) and their children.  As I was working on a charity event in Roy Scheider’s memory and had wanted Brenda’s input I was informed that she would not be attending.  But even though these family members were originally listed as attending nothing was posted to say they wouldn’t be.  In fact, if I hadn’t overheard “The Shark is Still Working” director Erik Hollander speaking with her I never would have known that Mr. Shaw’s sister, Joanna, was in attendance.  She was included on the V.I.P. list but it was virtually unknown to “Jaws” fans that she was indeed there.  One fan had hoped to share a tragic coincidence with Brenda Scheider.  Sadly, her father had not only passed away from the same cancer that took Roy Scheider from us all too early, he had been under the care of the same physician and passed away in the same hospital as Roy had.   Tragic, yes, but a tragedy that had touched both of them similarly and one she’d hoped to share.

5.  THE TRIBUTE?

What happened to “the Tribute” part of “JawsFEST:  The Tribute?”  Fans were promised a “multi-media tribute to Peter Benchley, Roy Scheider and Robert Shaw.”  Due to my past relationship and association with Roy Scheider I had asked to be a part of whatever tribute was being prepared for him.  My understanding was that “the Tribute” was to be presented prior to the outdoor screening of “Jaws.”  The original screening planned for Saturday evening was moved inside the Old Whaling Church due to the threat of rain that evening.  It was re-scheduled for Sunday evening at the park in Oaks Bluff.    Again, from a fan, “there were two guys playing some weird instruments and a poet laureate from the island read a poem about sharks and Wendy Benchley spoke for two minutes. No “tribute” whatsoever.”  Another asked, “(you mean) they couldn’t find some college kid to ‘intern’ and edit together some sort of tribute montage of people who had passed away?”  And a final comment on the screening pretty much summed up the event in total:  “A large group of obnoxious full grown adult men and women were sitting WITH NO RED BRACELETS AT ALL next to us at the film screening. When they were asked to leave the VIP area by the soccer mom security JawsFest 2012 representative, they basically started yelling at her that (and I quote verbatim) “We ain’t goin’ no place!” So what did the JawsFest 2012 rep do? She GAVE them (for FREE) a handful of red bracelets (that I had to pay $50 each for) and told them to “just flash these if anyone else asks to see your bracelets”.  We literally sat there and witnessed this first hand. If that wasn’t a kick in the balls to those of us who played by the rules and trusted that the event planners had this all under control, I don’t know what was.  If it matters to anyone, the woman who gave away the red bracelets (that we had to pay $100 for) was walking around the film screening wearing the JAWSFEST 2012 banner over her shoulders like it was James Brown’s cape. She was also the person I heard yell to the angry fans who DID pay to sit in that area that “Hey, I told them (the non-payers) to leave. What more do you want? Call the police if you want to.” This was the level of professionalism our hard-earned dollars got us. It was essentially an “Amateur Night at the Apollo” free-for-all and we (the fans who actually paid) were footing the bill.”

Ouch!

On the positive side, many of us who have been “Jaws” friends for years got to spend time with each other.  Old friendships were rekindled and new ones fostered.  Which makes sense because Amity, as you know, means friendship.  I was able to put a face to so many people I had only known via the computer and I began new friendships that I hope will last forever.

So where do we go from here?

2015 will mark the 40^th anniversary of the release of “Jaws.”  This gives the powers that be, if they are so inclined, to start planning.  One of my friends on the island stated that the original “JawsFest” had “caught lightning in a bottle.”  And he was right.  Everything fell together perfectly.  Maybe it was because the people in charge weren’t planning on a huge turnout.  My understanding is that they had hoped 500 fans would show up, not the 3,000 plus who came from literally all over the world.  And I mean ALL OVER THE WORLD.  I shared a house with fans who had traveled from New Hampshire, California, Kansas, Great Britain and Australia!  Many of us have held our own “Fests” since the first “JawsFest.”  50 of us spent a week at Camp Amity for the exciting “NOFest” of 2006.”  A Tom (“Smallville”) Welling sighting was one of the highlights of RestFest in 2007.”  Even as I write this many fans are already talking about getting together unofficially next year in Amity.  Should the island undertake another “Official ‘Jaws’” event, I’m hoping the Chamber of Commerce will not only be involved but will invite some fans to help plan some of the events.  And hopefully it will be in June, the month the film originally opened and when the rates are a little more reasonable.  It will give us a chance to not only celebrate our favorite film but to celebrate our friendships.  Which is really what “JawsFEST” should be about.

 Star Wars Celebration VI
August 23-26, 2012
Orange County Convention Center
Orlando, Florida

When I was asked to cover “Star Wars Celebration VI”, I was nervous but also very excited.  I have been a “Star Wars” fan from before I could walk.  Now with a daughter of my own, I am able to introduce her to these same films.  When I arrived at the event early Friday morning, we were instantly surrounded by many fans dressed as Storm Troopers and Slave Leia’s (not all were women…yikes!).  Since we missed the events of Thursday, we immediately ran to the Celebration merchandise booth.  We were very disappointed to find that most of the official Celebration shirts were sold out before Friday even started.  I think that was very poor planning since at $30 a pop and three more days to day they could have made A LOT more money.  We all know that “Star Wars” fans have very deep pockets.  After getting some merchandise it was off to the main hall to check for cool vendors and hit up some panels.

The main hall was jam packed with great vendors, including Hallmark, LEGO and Disney…just to name a few.  These had the longest lines just to even get near due to selling exclusive merchandise.   There were also various  “Star Wars” sets and photo ops available to fans…and for FREE!!  I have attended many horror conventions and nothing is free.  This was a real treat for us “Star Wars” fans. The highlight for me was the life-size Rancor named Roxi, thanks to the 501st Legion.  There was also live tattooing going on, which was very tempting for me to finally get my Imperial logo tattoo (but I couldn’t get the nerve).  Next up, we went over to the autograph hall to catch a glimpse of our favorite talent from the films.  Signing at the event was  Mark Hamill, Carrie Fischer, Anthony Daniels, Ian McDiarmid and Warwick Davis.  Personally, I immediately sought out the line for Tim Rose or better known as Admiral Akbar.  Let me tell you this guy had a constant steady line ALL weekend non-stop.  I guess people didn’t know that it was a trap (HAHA, sorry).

Throughout the weekend, we attended some really interesting and fun panels.  One of my favorites was the “Super Secret Star Wars Panel!” with Todd Grimes, Seth Green and Matt Senreich.  They gave us an exclusive first look at their top secret animated “Star Wars” project, now we know is called “Detours”.  This is a new computer animated television series, which is going to take “Star Wars” into a whole new world of possibilities.  It is mashin up the “Star Wars” universe and bringing back all of our favorite characters and putting them in a social setting when their is no war going on.  It is a super cool idea and going to be airing in 2013, which is definitely not soon enough.  Check out the trailer here:

We also had the really cool opportunity to attend an invitation only press conference for “Star Wars: The Clone Wars”.  The talent attending were Ashley Eckstein, Dave Filoni, Dee Bradley Baker, Joel Aron, Matt Lanter and Sam Witwer.  It was a very informative panel and the cast was just having a blast chatting about what we can expect from season 5.  Besides the press conference, we had the chance to interview Matt Lanter, voice of Anakin Skywalker on “Star Wars: Clone Wars” one-on-one.  He is one of the nicest guys and just so humble.  We were lucky enough to chat with Anthony Daniels, who played C3PO in the series.  Mr. Daniels was nice enough to chat with us one-on-one about his role in the series.  Both these interviews will be posted the first week of September…so check back!

The highlight of the show had to be “The Clone Wars: Season Five Premiere”. The energy in the room was just so extraordinary and the show has never looked better. It is easily going to be the best season yet. Speaking of “Clone Wars”, if you were able to catch the panel on Saturday then you had the chance to see and hear the creator of “Star Wars” George Lucas stop in for a chat.  This had to be the total dream for all fans of the series.  I had the chance to catch a glimpse of Mr. Lucas walking around the main hall before opening on Saturday morning and it was such a thrill.  Another very cool panel was The Future of “Star Wars 3D”, which gave a sneak peak into what we can expect from “Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones”.  This panel also provided us with super cool exclusive collectible 3D glasses.  If you attended the closing ceremony, they announced there that they are bringing both “Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones” and “Star Wars: Episode III -Revenge of the Sith” to theaters back-to-back in the Fall of 2013. What an announcement!

Overall the event was a blast and I hope to attend this event again in the near future.  Though it is doubtful to be next year since Celebration will be returning to Europe comes 2013, but I say share the “Star Wars” love.  I would like to thank everyone at Lucas Film & ReedPop for allowing us a chance to cover this amazing event.  “Star Wars” fans are very devoted people and the people behind “Star Wars Celebration VI” really appreciate that and delivered a very impressive event.

…..

GET READY FOR SPOOK-TACULAR FUN AND ADVENTURE IN:
THE GARFIELD SHOW: SPOOKY TAILS

Celebrate Halloween With Six Out-Of-This-World Episodes Materializing On DVD August 23 From Vivendi Entertainment

UNIVERSAL CITY, CA – Join Garfield and Odie on a fun-filled Halloween escapade when The Garfield Show: Spooky Tails arrives on DVD August 23 from Vivendi Entertainment. This uproarious collection includes six Halloween-themed episodes filled with spooky fun and high jinks from the fan-favorite series currently airing on The Cartoon Network. Voted favorite comic strip character by Nickelodeon Magazine readers, Garfield continues to delight audiences of all ages. The CGI-animated cartoon is based on Jim Davis’ multiple award-winning comic strip and follows the hilarious antics of the world-famous flabby tabby and his affable canine friend Odie. Arriving just in time for Halloween fun and gift-giving, The Garfield Show: Spooky Tails DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $14.93.

Synopsis:
Follow the witty and silly duo as they run into spooky trouble again! It’s all fun and games for Garfield and Odie as they take a fun-filled trip on Halloween until Garfied is mistaken by a loose wild cat! Includes other out-of-this-world adventures!

Check out the following images from Comic Con for “The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn”. The performance capture film is starring Jamie Bell, Andy Serkis, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and Daniel Craig. The film is directed and produced by Steven Spielberg and also produced by Peter Jackson. It is set for release December 23, 2011.

Photo credit: WETA Digital Ltd. Left to right: Captain Haddock (Andy Serkis), Snowy, and Tintin (Jamie Bell) in THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN, from Paramount Pictures and Columbia Pictures.

Photo credit: © Alex Berliner / ABImages THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN Director/Producer Steven Spielberg and Producer Peter Jackson discuss their film at a panel in Hall H for Comic Con in San Diego, CA on Friday, July 22nd, 2011.

Photo credit: © Alex Berliner / ABImages THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN Director/Producer Steven Spielberg shows off his Inkpot Award at Hall H in San Diego, CA on Friday, July 22nd, 2011.

Photo credit: © Alex Berliner / ABImages THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN Actor Andy Serkis, Producer Peter Jackson, and Director/Producer Steven Spielberg (with his Inkpot Award) backstage at Hall H in San Diego, CA on Friday, July 22nd, 2011.

Photo credit: © Alex Berliner / ABImages Left to right: THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN Producer Peter Jackson and Director/Producer Steven Spielberg discuss their film at Comic Con in San Diego, CA on Friday, July 22nd, 2011.

Universal Pictures released a first look at “Snow White and the Huntsman” Characters from Comic-Con 2011!  The films stars Kristen Stewart, Charlize Theron, Chris Hemsworth, Sam Claflin and will be released on June 1, 2012

Official Website: www.snowwhiteandthehuntsman.com
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/snowwhiteandthehuntsman
Follow on Twitter: @SnowWhite and @UniversalPics

In the epic action-adventure Snow White and the Huntsman, Kristen Stewart (Twilight) plays the only person in the land fairer than the evil queen (Oscar^® winner Charlize Theron) who is out to destroy her.  But what the wicked ruler never imagined is that the young woman threatening her reign has been training in the art of war with a huntsman (Chris Hemsworth, Thor) who was dispatched to kill her.  Sam Claflin (Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides) joins the cast as the prince long enchanted by Snow White’s beauty and power.

The breathtaking new vision of the legendary tale is from Joe Roth, the producer of Alice in Wonderland, producer Sam Mercer (The Sixth Sense) and acclaimed commercial director and state-of-the-art visualist Rupert Sanders.

BEYBLADE: METAL FUSION VOL. 4

FEARLESS HEROES FACE THE POWERS OF DARKNESS IN THE EXCITING, ONGOING SAGA

The Epic Battle Continues As The Next Chapter In The BEYBLADE Story
Debuts On DVD August 23

DVD includes EXCLUSIVE CODE to unlock special features, including the
ability to battle other Beybladers on Beybladebattles.com

UNIVERSAL CITY, CA – Only the brave stand between the world and the forces of true evil in BEYBLADE: Metal Fusion Vol. 4, spinning onto DVD August 23 from Nelvana Enterprises and Vivendi Entertainment. From Nelvana and d-rights Inc., BEYBLADE: Metal Fusion chronicles the epic battle with the Dark Nebula in a fresh take on the original hit BEYBLADE. Only Gingka, the courageous hero with an in-depth knowledge of the Beyblade, and his loyal friends can prevent sinister forces from conquering their world.

BEYBLADE: Metal Fusion continues to grow in popularity, having already spawned a successful toy line from Hasbro and an action-packed video game for the Nintendo DS™ and Wii™. The new season of the popular series will debut this year on Cartoon Network, along with new toys from Hasbro and a new videogame.

The BEYBLADE: Metal Fusion Vol. 4 DVD includes an exclusive code unlocking special features, including the ability to battle other Beybladers on Beybladebattles.com. The DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $14.97.

Synopsis:
The battle between good and evil is even more intense and dangerous than ever as Gingka and his friends face a villain with a plot to unleash a long forbidden Beyblade in his quest to take over the world.

Who Needs a Big-Budget Summer Blockbuster?
TCM Finds Just as Much Fun with 10 Favorite Low-Budget Science Fiction Films

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956), The Blob (1958),
Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959) and The Terminator (1984) Included on TCM’s List

As summer blockbusters invade theaters across the country and fans descend upon San Diego for Comic-Con 2011, Turner Classic Movies (TCM) has unveiled a list of movies that show how popular and critical success doesn’t require multi-million-dollar budgets. TCM’s 10 Favorite Low-Budget Science Fiction Films is a celebration of what can happen when minimal budgets spark maximum imagination.

TCM’s list spans from the 1953 monster-on-the-loose thriller The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms, featuring Ray Harryhausen’s memorable stop-motion model animation effects, to 2001’s offbeat The American Astronaut, a black-and-white western/sci-fi hybrid. The list includes such acclaimed masterpieces as Invaders from Mars (1953) and Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956), cult classics like The Blob (1958) and I Married a Monster from Outer Space (1958) and independent hits like The Brother from Another Planet (1984) and The Terminator (1984), not to mention the film delightfully hailed as the worst ever made, Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959).

TCM’s Favorite Low-Budget Science Fiction Movies is the network’s latest list highlighting the history of the movie industry. TCM’s previous lists have included 10 Great Overlooked Performances, 10 Favorite Baseball Films, 10 Great Comedy Lines and 15 Influential Soundtracks. Here, in chronological order, are the 10 films chosen as TCM’s Favorite Low-Budget Science Fiction Movies:

The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953) – Directed by Eugene Lourie
Warner Bros. brought the monster movie into the nuclear age when it bought this low-budget film and turned it into a box-office bonanza. It led the way for a parade of revived dinosaurs and mutated creatures despoiling cities of the world. The story of a prehistoric carnivore awakened from its frozen sleep by an A-bomb test at the North Pole was inspired by the successful reissue of King Kong (1933) in 1952. Producers Jack Dietz and Hal E. Chester thought that by combining nuclear paranoia and giant critters they could create a new kind of monster movie. They enlisted special effects genius Ray Harryhausen – who apprenticed with Kong’s creator, Willis O’Brien – to undertake his first solo job animating the creature. When he realized how low the budget was, Harryhausen dipped into his own pocket. The script set the basic plot structure for most future giant monster movies, moving from isolated incidents in remote locations to a full-scale attack on a major city. Warner Bros. bought the finished film for $450,000, about twice the original cost, and scored a $5 million gross. Monsters were now big business. Warner Bros. followed up with the giant ant movie Them! (1954), though without Harryhausen the effects were far from convincing. Before long, almost every studio was making its own creature features. The real impact was felt in Japan, where The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms inspired Godzilla (1954) and the whole daikaiju (giant monster) genre.

Invaders from Mars (1953) – Directed by William Cameron Menzies
Three years before Invasion of the Body Snatchers warned us about pod people from outer space, this 1953 feature poured on the paranoia with the tale of a child (Jimmy Hunt) who sees an alien ship land behind his house, then finds his parents turned into emotionless robots. Director-production designer William Cameron Menzies may not have had much money to work with (an estimated $290,000), but he put it to good use with surrealistic sets and a score dominated by pulsating choir music that upped the eeriness. The man who created the look of such classics as Gone With the Wind (1939) and The Pride of the Yankees (1942) was a master at visual storytelling. In this case, he used deep sets with unusually high walls to create a child’s perspective of a threatening world as Hunt discovers that the people he depends on are joining the enemy. Hunt, nearing the end of his days as a child star, gives the role the perfect sense of wounded innocence. Tobe Hooper remade Invaders from Mars (1986) to somewhat less effect, with Hunt coming out of retirement to play the local police chief and give the film its high point. When he arrives at the hill where the Martian ship has landed and says, “Gee, I haven’t been here since I was a kid,” the original’s many fans got an echo of the dreamlike paranoia that had delighted them for decades.

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) – Directed by Don Siegel
When Kevin McCarthy shouted, “You’re next!” into the camera near the end of this classic sleeper, audiences around the world jumped, shaking at the prospect of being replaced by emotionless beings. Invasion of the Body Snatchers was shot for less than half a million dollars, and only $15,000 went to special effects, proving a small budget can be overcome by a big dose of imagination and a great story. Small-town doctor McCarthy returns from a medical convention to discover an epidemic of paranoia afflicting the town of Santa Mira. Suddenly, many feel their friends, neighbors and relations – the people they’ve known all their lives – are “not themselves.” As the sick miraculously cure themselves, he realizes everyone was right to be afraid; the town’s residents are being replaced by humanoid vegetables from outer space. Critics have argued over what the invaders symbolize. Is the film a metaphor for conformism, McCarthyism or communism? But the film’s makers didn’t have an agenda; they just wanted to scare the audience, and that’s exactly what they did. Invasion of the Body Snatchers earned five times its investment domestically and, even with a studio-imposed “frame” at the beginning and end that allows for a happy ending, it continues to shock audiences. It has inspired three official remakes, numerous parodies and rip-offs and even a Radiohead song, “Bodysnatchers.” It also helped resurrect producer Walter Wanger’s career after a prison sentence for a crime of passion and is often hailed as director Don Siegel’s best film. It added the phrase “pod people” to the vocabulary to describe those devoid of emotion and individuality.

The Blob (1958) – Directed by Irvin S. Yeaworth
Who could resist the idea of people and even entire buildings being consumed by a mass of red gelatin from outer space? Not thousands of audience members, mostly at drive-ins, who made this film a hit and helped turn first-time leading man Steve McQueen into a star. Made by a Pennsylvania-based company specializing in educational and religious films, The Blob was created by people who didn’t know what not to do. As a result, they produced a winning combination of science fiction and juvenile delinquent drama in which the troubled teens of a small town fight to convince the authorities they’re under siege by the title monster. The writers gave the characters believable motivations, and even on a miniscule budget, director Irvin S. Yeaworth shot in widescreen and color. The producers claimed to have made The Blob for $240,000 (Yeaworth later admitted the budget was half that) and turned a profit when Paramount picked up distribution rights for $300,000. The studio originally intended to release it as the bottom half of a double bill with I Married a Monster from Outer Space, but when previews indicated the independent film was generating more interest, they switched the pictures’ positions. Now a movie legend, The Blob has inspired a sequel, two remakes (the next due in 2012) and Blobfest, a three-day annual celebration at the shooting location in Phoenixville, Pa., featuring original props and a re-creation of the scene in which moviegoers flee from a movie theater after the title creature eats the projectionist.

I Married a Monster from Outer Space (1958) – Directed by Gene Fowler Jr.
Though this sci-fi shocker’s plot matches the confessional tone of its title (inspired by the director’s 1957 I Was a Teenage Werewolf), the quality is far greater than that of a tawdry confessional. In fact, this story of a newlywed who realizes her husband and another man have been replaced by aliens hoping to breed with Earth women can withstand comparison to the more acclaimed Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956). Writer Louis Vittes approached the project with a good deal of imagination, creating aliens who drop their disguises when startled (a creepy effect), can’t drink alcohol, die if given oxygen and repel dogs (an idea later writers would borrow). Gene Fowler Jr. shot it as though it were a film noir, with an impressive use of shadows and disturbing camera angles. Released on the bottom half of a double bill with The Blob, the $125,000 feature wasn’t taken very seriously by reviewers. But television screenings have brought it a devoted audience, while later critics have reappraised the film as an anti-Communist tract (the masquerading aliens lack emotion until they fall for their wives) or an early feminist dissection of marriage and gender roles.

Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959) – Directed by Ed Wood Jr.
With cardboard tombstones, wooden performances and a character who changes size and shape from shot to shot, this would be a bad film in anybody’s hands. But only Ed Wood Jr. could have made it so bad that it turned out to be loads of fun. Although widely hailed as the worst director in movie history, Wood is too entertainingly awful to really deserve the title – and managed to sneak too many ideas into his films. This film, often described as the world’s worst, is actually more watchable than some big-budget Hollywood epics. When friend and frequent co-star Bela Lugosi died while shooting another project, Wood put the footage to use by concocting this tale of aliens using reanimated corpses to alert humanity to their disarmament message. He fleshed out the late star’s scenes by putting a cape on his wife’s chiropractor, even though the man was at least a foot taller, and told him to keep his face covered. The result was a movie too cheerfully inept for anyone to hate. Long before it was hailed as the worst movie ever made, or immortalized in Tim Burton’s 1994 biopic Ed Wood, Plan 9 from Outer Space had developed a devoted following through frequent television screenings. It also triggered the re-discovery of other Wood classics like Glen or Glenda (1953), his semi-autobiographical tale of a transvestite in love. With two remakes and four stage versions in various states of development, it continues to be one of the most popular sci-fi films ever made, all for a budget of just $60,000.

La Jetée (1962) – Directed by Chris Marker
When you have vision you can work with little money, or in the case of this 28-minute film, little movement. While making another picture (1966’s Le jolie mai) pioneering documentary filmmaker Chris Marker composed this black-and-white short almost entirely from still images played against voiceover narration. Rather than calling it a film, he called it a “photo-roman” (literally “picture-novel”), alluding to a popular European genre of comic book made from photos. La Jetée tells of a man from a post-apocalyptic world who uses a traumatic memory of seeing a man killed at Orly Airport to travel to the past in search of salvation for the future. He finds it, along with love and the key to his memory. Throughout, Marker plays with concepts of time, making the audience watch a movie that seems not to move (except for one shot of the leading lady waking up after a night of romance). He even plays with that convention when the leads visit a natural history museum, where the use of still photos makes the stuffed creatures seem as animated as the living people. La Jetée was inspired by Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo (1958), and Marker even copies a scene from that film by having the leading man point out his birth date in the cross section of an ancient tree trunk. It has, in turn, inspired other films, most notably Terry Gilliam’s 12 Monkeys (1995).

The Brother from Another Planet (1984) – Directed by John Sayles
Writer-director John Sayles has always made the most of low-budget limitations, nowhere moreso than in this fascinating mash-up of blaxploitation, science fiction, western and social satire. Joe Morton plays a mute, runaway alien who can pass for human as long as nobody notices that his feet have three over-sized toes. Because of his skin color, he ends up in Harlem, where he builds a new life, using his telekinetic powers to repair video games and his silence to become a sounding board to the city’s many troubled souls. Although Morton does not understand prejudice based on skin color, the bounty hunters pursuing him refer to him as “three toes,” suggesting that bigotry is universal. Sayles drew part of his $350,000 budget from a MacArthur Foundation “genius grant,” and though the low budget sometimes shows in the special effects, the freedom Sayles enjoyed by refusing to sign with a major studio led to an innovative movie that overcomes all its limitations imaginatively. The result is a loosely plotted film that makes trenchant comments on race in America while also capturing the essence of immigrant spirit that built a nation. With its catchy title and low budget, The Brother from Another Planet had little trouble turning a modest profit. It also attracted champions like Roger Ebert, who compared Morton favorably to Buster Keaton, and a devoted fan following that has continued with Sayles through such films as Eight Men Out (1988) and Lone Star (1996).

The Terminator (1984) – Directed by James Cameron
When Arnold Schwarzenegger uttered one of his most famous lines, “I’ll be back,” in this action classic, nobody could have realized what a prophet he was. Not only would he return for two more sequels that transformed him from super-villain to superhero, but The Terminator made him a true superstar – with just 16 lines. Writer-director James Cameron and Schwarzenegger created the perfect combination of actor, role and story. Inspired by a nightmare in which a metal cyborg skeleton emerged from a fiery explosion, Cameron fashioned the story about a robot who travels from the future to destroy the mother of his greatest enemy. Originally Cameron interviewed Schwarzenegger to play the future rebel leader who follows the cyborg back in time to stop him. Intrigued by the former bodybuilder’s physical presence, Cameron reshaped his concept, eventually creating a dazzling, low-budget epic with Schwarzenegger as the cyborg. Distributor Orion Pictures didn’t seem to have high hopes for the picture; they didn’t even want to hold a press screening until the actors’ agents insisted. To their surprise, the picture won respectable reviews and went on to earn more than $38 million on a meager budget of just $6.5 million. Thanks to creative merchandizing tie-ins, Cameron’s persuasive direction and Schwarzenegger’s compelling presence, The Terminator became a cult favorite, inspiring three sequels (with a fourth scheduled for 2014), a TV series and numerous video games.

The American Astronaut (2001) – Directed by Cory McAbee
This cheerfully demented film doesn’t just mix genres; it explodes them. It’s sci-fi with still paintings as special effects, a Western with no shoot-outs and a musical in which the leading man dances his big number opposite another man. Inspired by Dennis Potter’s musicals (Pennies From Heaven, 1981), producer-director-writer-star Cory McAbee combined carefully integrated musical numbers (by his band, The Billy Nayer Show) with a decidedly iconoclastic plot. In McAbee’s Wild West vision of the universe, the sexes are segregated by planet, with the all-male workers on Jupiter worshiping The Boy Who Actually Saw a Woman’s Breast and the all-female colony on Venus in need of someone to replace their deceased consort. McAbee’s title character tries to get rich with a series of trades between worlds, all the while followed by a mad scientist out to kill him for no clear reason. But then, little in this film makes sense or even tries to. Shot in black and white for between $1 million and $2 million, the picture features Southern belle dresses made from shower curtains, a spaceship only shown in still shots and interiors built in an abandoned dance hall in Queens. It’s all compulsively watchable thanks to the off-the-cuff acting, surrealistic dialogue and ironic score. With a cast that includes former rockers Annie Golden of The Shirts and James Ransone of Early Man, The American Astronaut captures the spirit of gritty, inexpensive films punk rockers produced in the ‘80s, before Sundance made the indie scene respectable.

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School is back in session September 6th when Community: The Complete Second Season arrives on DVD from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. The sophomore season of this smart comedy series, starring Joel McHale (TV’s “The Soup”), Ken Jeong (The Hangover Part II) and Emmy® winner Chevy Chase, resumes with the return to GreendaleCommunity College where our favorite study group is back at it with more outrageous adventures and unintentional bonding. The quick-witted, sarcastic ensemble cast includes Gillian Jacobs (TV’s “The Book of Daniel”), Danny Pudi (TV’s “Greek”), Yvette Nicole Brown (TV’s “Rules of Engagement”), Alison Brie (TV’s “Mad Men”), and Donald Glover (TV’s “30 Rock”).

Community: The Complete Second Season contains tons of uncensored special features, including cast and crew commentary on every episode, deleted scenes, outtakes on every disc, season 2 cast evaluations, “The Paintball Finale: From Script to Screen” featurette, “Creating Wonderland” featurette, animatics and more!

Guest stars for the season include Josh Holloway, Betty White, Hilary Duff, Drew Carey and Malcolm-Jamal Warner. The four-disc DVD contains all 24 episodes and will be available for $45.99 SRP.

Get a sneak a peek at “Community” bloopers from the season 2 DVD, click here!!!

In support of tomorrow’s opening of CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER, Dunkin’ Donuts has partnered with the USO throughout Florida to support our troops at home and abroad.

At seven Dunkin’ Donuts locations throughout the state of Florida, fans are being encouraged to stop by their local store and sign a giant THANK YOU card in support of America’s troops. In exchange for signing the card, the first few hundred people will receive a special gift courtesy of Dunkin’ Donuts. At the end of the events, the cards will be shipped off to the Greater Jacksonville USO (Florida’s only USO) for distribution to the troops.

At select locations throughout the state, there will also be other special events taking place, like our very own CAPTAIN AMERICA stopping by the store to take photos with fans or the local National Guard bringing a some of their toys down and personally thanking everyone for their support.

Please see below all of the exact details throughout the state:
JACKSONVILLE (two locations) 7 to 10 a.m. – Free star shaped donuts per location to the first 100 who sign the USO card
– 2158 Mayport Rd., Atlantic Beach
– 5555 Roosevelt Blvd., Jacksonville

MIAMI – 10am to 1pm. – Free star shaped donut to first 250 to sign USO card
– 901 West State Road 84, Ft. Lauderdale

ORLANDO – (two locations) 7 to 10 a.m. – Free Dunkin Donuts/Captain America gift bags to first 200 and 100 star shaped donuts per location to those who sign the USO card
– 4510 W State Road 46, Sanford FL 32771 9009
– 1935 East Osceola Pkwy, Buena Ventura Lakes FL 34743

TAMPA – 7 to 10 a.m. – Free Star shaped donut to first 300 to sign the card
– 22722 State Road 54, Lutz, FL 33549

WEST PALM BEACH – 10am – 1pm. – Free Captain America Tri-Cups with the purchase of any beverage to the first 100 people, in addition to star shape donuts to the first 250 to sign the USO card
– 5401 N Military Trail Riviera Beach, FL

ONE OF NORWAY’S MOST SUCCESSFUL DIRECTORS PROVES FAIRY TALE CREATURES CAN BE DEADLY

Witness The Government Conspiracy of First-Hand On Blu-ray Disc And DVD August 23 with “TROLLHUNTER” From Magnolia Home Entertainment Under The Magnet Label

“An enjoyably off-kilter hybrid of THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT and WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE.” – The Hollywood Reporter

Everyone will believe it when they see it! Norwegian director Andre Ævredal (Future Murder) presents an “enormously entertaining” (Variety) look at a creature thought only to exist in fairy tales when Trollhunter is uncovered on Blu-ray Disc and DVD August 23 from Magnolia Home Entertainment under the Magnet label. Shot in vérité style in the vein of popular films like Paranormal Activity and Cloverfield, Trollhunter follows three Norwegian film students as they travel to the mountains to catch a real-life troll on camera, a creature whose existence has been covered up for years by the local government. Their persistence quickly pays off as they trail a shadowy poacher, leading them straight into the path of the menacing trolls and documenting every last second of this “Trollhunter’s” heroics.

“The coolest monster movie import since The Host” (FEARNet) and “the best ‘found footage’ movie ever” (Screen Junkies), Trollhunter is beautifully shot, offering awesome images of the titular monsters destroying the Norwegian countryside. The Blu-ray Disc and DVD are loaded with special features including a making-of featurette, deleted scenes, an HDNet special on the film and the international trailer and will be available for the suggested retail price of $29.98 and $26.98, respectively

Synopsis
The government says there’s nothing to worry about – it’s just a problem with bears making trouble in the mountains and forests of Norway. But local hunters don’t believe it – and neither do a trio of college students who want to find out the truth. Armed with a video camera, they trail a mysterious “poacher,” who wants nothing to do with them. But their persistence lands them straight in the path of the objects of his pursuits: Trolls. They soon find themselves documenting every move of this grizzled, unlikely hero –The Troll Hunter – risking their lives to uncover the secrets of creatures only thought to exist in fairy tales.

Truly one-of-a-kind, Tom Six’s twisted biological horror film “The Human Centipede” confidently goes where few films have dared to go. The sick vision of a demented surgeon, a role portrayed so brilliantly by Dieter Laser it is sure to join Freddy, Jason, and Leatherface in the horror pantheon, is a 100% medically accurate nightmare.

Premise for “The Human Centipede”:
During a stopover in Germany in the middle of a carefree roadtrip through Europe, two American girls find themselves alone at night when their car breaks down in the woods. Searching for help at a nearby villa, they are wooed into the clutches of a deranged retired surgeon who explains his mad scientific vision to his captives’ utter horror. They are to be the subjects of his sick lifetime fantasy: to be the first to connect people, one to the next, via their gastric system, and in doing so bring to life ‘the human centipede’.

Fans of the first film can rejoice that Tom Six has already completed the second film in the series titled “The Human Centipede II (Full Sequence)”, which has been scheduled for release on DVD in 2011 but was refused a classification for distribution in the UK due to its explicit content.

Click here to check out our review of the film
Click here to play the 8-bit video game for “The Human Centipede”

We recently interviewed Tom Sullivan known for his work on the “Evil Dead” series.  The full interview will be posted in mid-August during our “Evil Dead” interviews series, including Danny Hicks, Betsy Baker, Theresa Tilly and Timothy Quill.

Following our interview with Mr. Sullivan, he said  he had a little news that we could break for him as a MovieMikes exclusive:

Ryan Meade, a friend of Mr. Sullivan and a filmmaker, is finishing up a documentary film about Mr. Sullivan called “Invaluable.” The title comes from the word Fangoria Magazine has used to describe Mr. Sullivan’s involvement in the “Evil Dead” films. The film covers Mr. Sullivan’s art and film career and includes interviews with some of films biggest stars, including, of course, the cast and crew of the “Evil Dead” films. The film will also feature a lot of behind the scenes looks at the “Evil Dead” films.

Here is an official quote from Tom:
“It’s official. There’s a documentary about Tom Sullivan. The Evil Dead FX Guy, Tom Sullivan. Not the other ones. Although they would be worthy subjects of well made documtarys too. Except for maybe that one Tom Sullivan but we won’t talk about him. But it’s shaping up to be a lot of fun and I learned a lot about Tom Sullivan. The Evil Dead one. And it’s by Ryan Meade.”

Check out the press release below from Glee’s Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch, in character) discussing the upcoming “Glee The 3D Concert Movie”.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

From the desk of Sue Sylvester
William McKinleyHigh School
July 15, 2011

For two years, we’ve been mercilessly bombarded with the pubescent nonsense of carnival sideshow freaks calling themselves “The Glee Club.” These tone deaf, howler monkeys conned the plebian masses into downloading millions of songs; won Emmy Awards and Golden Globes; and have charted more singles than the Beatles. Roll over Beethoven, something stinks, and it ain’t the cheese, it’s The Glee Club.

And now, they’re trying to shove a 3-D concert movie down our throats.

It is with this declaration that I put forth this nation’s most important initiative since the McCarthy hearings: The Sue Sylvester “STOP BELIEVING” campaign.

It’s time to make a stand against these pimply-faced, hormone-ridden twits by joining the “STOP BELIEVING” campaign on Her inaugural journey. Say “NO” to their insignificant cinematic experiment. I don’t know about you, but I can’t stand looking at their little satanic faces in 2-D, much less 3D.

Watching this movie is not only an atrocity to this great nation, but it’s also bad for your health. If I may be so bold as to quote Dr. Charlie Sheen out of context, “Your face will melt off, and your children will weep over your exploded body.”

General public, join me and together, we can put an end to this vomit-inducing, ear-ringing virus called The Glee Club.

Internationally Recognized Cheerleading Coach
Sue Sylvester
dictated, but not read

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MIDNIGHT IN PARIS BECOMES WOODY ALLEN’S HIGHEST GROSSING FILM OF ALL TIME IN NORTH AMERICA

NEW YORK, NY (JULY 17, 2011) – Sony Pictures Classics announced today that MIDNIGHT IN PARIS has become Woody Allen’s highest grossing film of all time in North America.  MIDNIGHT IN PARIS has grossed $41,792,695 to date. This is Allen’s 42^nd feature film that he has written and directed and his 4^th film with Sony Pictures Classics.

Sony Pictures Classics’ upcoming releases include THE GUARD; HIGHER GROUND; RESTLESS; TAKE SHELTER; THE SKIN I LIVE IN; CARNAGE; and A DANGEROUS METHOD.

ABOUT SONY PICTURES CLASSICS

Michael Barker and Tom Bernard serve as co-presidents of Sony Pictures Classics—an autonomous division of Sony Pictures Entertainment they founded with Marcie Bloom in January 1992, which distributes, produces, and acquires independent films from around the world.

Barker and Bernard have released prestigious films that have won 27 Academy Awards^® (23 of those at Sony Pictures Classics) and have garnered 114 Academy Award^® nominations (93 at Sony Pictures Classics) including Best Picture nominations for AN EDUCATION, CAPOTE, HOWARDS END, AND CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON.

TIMELESS SOUND-ERA FILMS FROM THE LEGENDARY HAL ROACH LIBRARY DEBUT IN ONE EXTRAORDINARY DVD SET FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE U.S.

LAUREL & HARDY: THE ESSENTIAL COLLECTION

Digitally Remastered And Digitally Restored, Loaded With Over Two Hours Of Special Features, The Spectacular 10-Disc Set Arrives October 25 From RHI Entertainment And Vivendi Entertainment

UNIVERSAL CITY, CA – Celebrating the genius of the most beloved comedy team of all time, LAUREL & HARDY: THE ESSENTIAL COLLECTION debuts in a stunning 10-disc set on October 25, 2011 from RHI Entertainment and Vivendi Entertainment. With a comedic style that defined an era and created a legacy that is still celebrated today, 58 of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy’s talking shorts and feature films, produced under legendary movie mogul Hal Roach from 1929 through 1940, are now available for the first time in the U.S. all together in one magnificent collection.

Transferred in high definition for the first time and digitally enhanced for home viewing in the finest quality available to date, the set contains favorites that have been enjoyed for generations including Helpmates, Hog Wild, Another Fine Mess, Sons of the Desert, Way Out West, and the Academy Award^® winning* film The Music Box.

LAUREL & HARDY: THE ESSENTIAL COLLECTION comes housed in collectible, book-style packaging with an extensive, detailed film guide. The set also boasts over two hours of special features including exclusive, never-before-seen interviews with comedy legends Dick Van Dyke, Jerry Lewis, Tim Conway and more, who discuss the enduring impact and influence of Laurel and Hardy.

Additional features include commentaries by Laurel and Hardy aficionados, along with a virtual location map that allows viewers to take an interactive tour of the iconic places in and around Los Angeles where Laurel and Hardy filmed. Available for the suggested retail price of $99.98, LAUREL & HARDY: THE ESSENTIAL COLLECTION showcases some of the most cherished and hilarious films in cinema history and is a must-have for comedy fans and collectors everywhere.