THE DEADPOOL CORPS INVADED THE BIG APPLE
ON A “BIG A** BUS TOUR” TO CELEBRATE THE
HIGHEST-GROSSING R-RATED FILM OF ALL TIME

LESLIE UGGAMS (AKA BLIND AL, AKA BESTIE FOR LIFE) JOINED
THE DEADPOOL VARIANTS AT NEW YORK COMIC CON

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE IS NOW ON DIGITAL AND ARRIVES ON
4K UHD, BLU-RAY AND DVD THIS TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22

Photo Credit: offbrandproject

LFG!!! To celebrate the summer blockbuster hit, Marvel Studios’ Deadpool & Wolverine, the Deadpool Corps rolled through the Big Apple for the first time on a wild bus tour that had fans losing their chimichangas in excitement! The tour gave superfans the chance to take iconic selfies and grab exclusive prizes from the Deadpool variants.

The adventure, in true Merc-with-a-Mouth style, broke the fourth wall at every turn, with stops at some of Manhattan’s most famous landmarks, including Times Square, Grand Central Station and St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

The action-packed day ended at New York Comic Con, where fans were joined by none other than Leslie Uggams (aka “Blind Al”) and an army of Deadpool and Wolverine cosplayers, capping off an epic celebration of the iconic duo.

The #1 R-Rated movie of all time is now available at digital retailers (Prime Video, Apple TV and Fandango at Home), and arrives on 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD on October 22.

Film Synopsis
Marvel Studios presents their most significant mistake to date – Deadpool & Wolverine. A listless Wade Wilson toils away in civilian life. His days as the morally flexible mercenary, Deadpool, behind him. When his home world faces an existential threat, Wade must reluctantly suit up again with an even more reluctantlier… reluctanter? Reluctantest? He must convince a reluctant Wolverine to… oh hell, just watch the movie. Synopses are stupid.

SHUDDER GOES BIG AT NEW YORK COMIC CON WITH
MULTI-PROJECT ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR 2025

Poster And Release Date Revealed For Wrestling Horror Film
DARK MATCH Starring Chris Jericho

V/H/S Franchise To Continue With Eighth Installment
Following Success of V/H/S/BEYOND

Teaser Trailer Premiere For Flying Lotus’ ASH
Starring Eiza González And Aaron Paul

Shudder, AMC Networks’ premium streaming service for horror, thriller and the supernatural, previewed its highly anticipated 2025 film lineup during a special panel at New York Comic Con 2024. The event, titled “Shudder is here to Scare the S*** Out of You,” was led by Shudder’s VP of Programming, Samuel Zimmerman, and featured a distinguished group of horror industry talents including actors David Dastmalchian and Devon Sawa, musician and director Flying Lotus, actor and director Kate Siegel, and director Tina Romero. During the panel, Shudder revealed several key updates: the upcoming release of DARK MATCH, a wrestling-themed horror film debuting on January 31, 2025, and a first-look teaser for the sci-fi horror feature ASH, set for theatrical release through RLJE Films and streaming on Shudder in 2025. Additionally, Shudder confirmed the greenlight for the highly anticipated eighth installment of the V/H/S franchise.

“At New York Comic Con we are not only celebrating an exciting 2024 at Shudder, showcasing the fearless and provocative voices of our filmmakers, but looking ahead,” commented Samuel Zimmerman. “As 2025 and our 10th anniversary draws near, DARK MATCH, V/H/S/8, and ASH are just the beginning of our boldest, most frightening year yet.”

Shudder has acquired the US, UKI, and ANZ rights to DARK MATCH, written and directed by Lowell Dean and starring wrestling superstar Chris Jericho (TERRIFIER 2), Ayisha Issa (TRANSPLANT), Steven Ogg (THE WALKING DEAD, WESTWORLD), Sara Canning (THE VAMPIRE DIARIES), Michael Eklund (THE CALL) and Jonathan Cherry (GOON).

In DARK MATCH, a small-time wrestling company accepts a well-paying gig in a backwoods town only to learn, too late, that the community is run by a mysterious cult leader with devious plans for their match. The film will debut on Shudder on January 31, 2025.

The found footage franchise V/H/S will continue with an eighth film, set to debut on Shudder in 2025. The news comes on the heels of a record-breaking opening for the latest installment V/H/S/BEYOND, which debuted on Friday, October 4 and became the #2 most streamed film of all time across Shudder and AMC+ and the most streamed movie in the V/H/S franchise.

RLJE Films and Shudder have acquired the US rights to Grammy Award Winner Flying Lotus’ second feature ASH. The film stars Eiza González (BABY DRIVER, 3 BODY PROBLEM), Aaron Paul (BREAKING BAD, WESTWORLD), Iko Uwais (THE RAID, THE NIGHT COMES FOR US), Beulah Koale (NEXT GOAL WINS), and Kate Elliott (WENTWORTH), and will feature an original score composed by Flying Lotus, whose previous films include the Shudder Original KUSO and a segment in V/H/S/99. ASH will have a wide theatrical release through RLJE Films and streaming on Shudder in 2025.

On the mysterious planet of Ash, Riya (González) awakens to find her crew slaughtered. When a man named Brion (Paul) arrives to rescue her, an ordeal of psychological and physical terror ensues while Riya and Brion must decide if they can trust one another to survive.

KEVIN SMITH ENLISTS BEAR McCREARY FOR THE SOUNDTRACK TO NEW FILM
THE 4:30 MOVIE

FILM AND ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK OUT TODAY – LISTEN

This week, writer-director Kevin Smith’s new film, The 4:30 Movie, premieres with an original soundtrack by award-winning composer Bear McCreary. The two-time GRAMMY®-nominated, Emmy and BAFTA Award-winning composer’s original soundtrack is available now on all DSPs via Sparks & Shadows Records.

Set in the pre-cell phone, social media-free era of the ’80s, The 4:30 Movie is a coming-of-age story about three sixteen-year-old friends (played by Austin Zajur, Nicholas Cirillo, and Reed Northrup) who spend their Saturdays sneaking into movies at the local multiplex. But when one of the guys also invites the girl of his dreams (Siena Agudong) to see the latest comedy, each teen will learn something serious about life and love before the credits roll.

Smith shot the film at his Smodcastle Cinemas in New Jersey—the same movie theater he haunted every weekend when he was a teenager. The trailer and more info about the film are available here.

The film marks the third collaboration between Smith and McCreary, who teamed up previously on Smith’s star-studded animated series for Netflix and Mattel, Masters of the Universe: Revelation and Masters of the Universe: Revolution.

“Bear McCreary made magic with The 4:30 Movie, composing a sonic salute to the ’80s era that’s as much a time tunnel to 1986 as it is a joyful movie score,” says Smith. “The closing banger he and his brother, Brendan, wrote and recorded for the end credits, “24 Karat Case of Love,” is the greatest ’80s radio hit that never happened!”

Adds McCreary, “I was thrilled to join Kevin Smith to score The 4:30 Movie, his nostalgic odyssey back to the 1980s. Inspired by his sweet-natured story, I had a blast writing a synth-soaked score oozing with arpeggios, drum machines, and hair-metal riffs, backed with classic symphonic orchestration. A highlight was collaborating with my brother, Brendan McCreary, on the film’s two original songs, “Astroblaster and the Beaver Men,” which evokes that ’80s futuristic-rock aesthetic, and the film’s end title song, “24 Karat Case of Love,” which feels like a lost synth-pop gem from the neon-tinged, balmy summer of 1986.”

Listen to Bear McCreary’s The 4:30 Movie soundtrack

Bear McCreary – The 4:30 Movie (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Tracklist

1. 24 Karat Case of Love (feat. Brendan McCreary)
2. Astroblaster and the Beaver Men (feat. Brendan McCreary)
3. A Very Unassuming Day
4. In the Pool
5. Major Murder
6. Manager Mike
7. Trailers
8. Banned for Life
9. Friends Don’t Fight
10. Death to the Moviemobile
11. Melody’s Melody

Written and Directed by Benjamin Barfoot Streaming on Shudder Friday, October 11th

Fantastic Fest Screenings
World Premiere
Sunday, September 22nd
11:25pm

Screening #2
Monday, September 23rd
5:15pm

Synopsis
In the wake of his father’s untimely death, a young boy is left in the eerie solitude of a sprawling country estate with his newly widowed stepmother. Struggling to navigate the overwhelming task of parenthood, his stepmother grows distant, leaving their fragile bond at risk of collapse. Amidst the growing tension, the boy begins to hear unsettling sounds echoing through the corridors, and is soon haunted by the presence of a grotesque creature bearing a disturbingly familiar resemblance to his late father. As the boy’s warnings are dismissed as the imagination of a grieving child, the sinister entity tightens its grip on their crumbling lives.

About the Director
Benjamin Barfoot is a self-taught filmmaker from Torbay, Devon. Beginning with animation films as a child, he quickly moved onto video where he taught himself an array of skills from cameras and editing to animation, visual effects and sound design. Moving to London with a short animated film he had made at home, he was nominated for a Broadcast Young Talent Award and began cutting his teeth in London with everything from film trailers, motion graphic promos to documentaries for BBC. Whilst between these jobs, he continued to create his own work, experimenting with dark animated shorts to fully improvised comedies that he shot and edited.

It was these comedy films, created with his friend and collaborator Danny Morgan, that eventually lead to his directorial debut, Double Date. Released in 2017 to cinemas nationwide, the film saw him shortlisted for a BIFA for best debut director, whilst winning best international feature at Strasbourg that year. Benjamin also worked with the band Goat on the soundtrack. The success of this musical collaboration inspired him further to experiment with music production whilst developing his own original screenplays. Daddy’s Head is Barfoot’s second feature; He wrote, directed and edited the film, as well as composed the soundtrack.

Director: Benjamin Barfoot
Screenwriter: Benjamin Barfoot
Cast: Julia Brown, Rupert Turnbull, Charles Aitken, Nathaniel Martello-White
Producers: Matthew James Wilkinson, Patrick Tolan
Cinematographer: Miles Ridgway
Editor: Benjamin Barfoot
Composer: Benjamin Barfoot
Language: English
Country of Origin: UK
Running Time: 97 minutes

 

Susan Backlinie getting into the harness that would pull her across the water in “Jaws”

Fifty years ago this month the film JAWS began filming on Martha’s Vineyard.  The first scene shot consisted of members of the cast finding the remains of a young girl who had gone for a midnight swim and been attacked by a shark.  The young woman’s name was Christine Watkins, and she was played by Susan Backlinie.  Ms. Backlinie passed away today (May 11^th) at the age of 77.

 

A skilled swimmer, Susan easily found work as a “Mermaid” at the Weeki Wachie attraction in Florida in the mid-1960s.  I remember my grandparents taking me there but it was after Susan had moved on to become an animal trainer.  Her work, and beauty, was later profiled in the January 1973 issue of “Penthouse” magazine.

Susan performing as a “Mermid” at Weeki Wachee

 

Her first film role was as Chrissie Watkins, the first victim of the shark in JAWS.  Swimming naked in the Atlantic Ocean she is attacked and violently killed, her body thrashing across the water as her screams go unheard.  Clinging to a buoy as her life slowly flows out of her, she recites the Lord’s Prayer, to no avail.  The scene set the tone for the film and was not easily forgotten by filmgoers.

 

 

 

 

 Photo by Moviestore/REX Shutterstock (1597310a)  Used by permission.
Her work in JAWS got her noticed and soon she was working as a stuntwoman, appearing in such films as Grizzly, Day of the Animals, and Two-Minute Warning and on such television programs as “The Incredible Hulk” and, naturally, “The Fall Guy.”  She also recreated her midnight swim to comic effect when Steven Spielberg cast her as the Polar Bear swimmer who finds herself “attacked” by a submarine in 1941.    Filming the opening scene for “1941.”

I first met Susan at the 1^st JAWSFest in 2005.She was very nice, answered questions and signed autographs for anyone that asked.  It wasn’t until the next JAWSFest, in 2012, that our paths would cross again.  My wife and I were in Menemsha visiting a small shop when I noticed both Susan and Jeff Kramer standing around outside.  I said hello and Kramer commented that they had been waiting for sometime for someone from the Fest to come pick them up and take them back to Edgartown.  However, they couldn’t get ahold of anyone.  We quickly volunteered to take them back to town but, as they both were quite hungry – they had been at the shop for several hours – we offered to take them to lunch.  Jeff recommended a small shack at the end of the harbor and we headed there.  I was shocked to see that it was situated right next to the (still) vacant lot where quint’s shack had been built.  If you stood in the lot and looked towards the water you got the same view seen through the shark jaws when the ORCA pulls out of the harbor in JAWS.  We had a great lunch as both Susan and Jeff told some amazing stories.  I would see her occasionally over the years, usually at fan conventions.  She was always friendly.  I last saw her the past October when she was a guest at ScareFest in Lexington, Kentucky.  We said “hello” and I presented her with a t-shirt highlighting our JAWS 50 group.  She loved it.  As we said our goodbyes, I noted that, among the items she was signing was a Star Wars movie poster.  I was curious and I asked her why.  Had she possibly been a Stormtrooper in the film?  No.  As I mentioned earlier, Susan was an animal trainer and had, among her animals, a bear cub.  Her cub’s growl was recorded and was used for the growls of Chewbacca the Wookie! 

 

Susan is survived by her husband of nearly three decades, Harvey Swindall. 

 

Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan’s epic about the dawn of the nuclear age, took home seven Oscars, including Best Picture, last night at the 96^th Annual Academy Awards.  The film, which led all films with thirteen nominations, also received awards for Director (Nolan), Actor (Cillian Murphy), Supporting Actor (Robert Downey, Jr.), Film Editing, Cinematography and Original Score.  On the other side of the massive Barbieheimer battle, Barbie only took home one award, for the original song “What Was I Made For?”, written by Billie Eilish  and Finneas O’Connell.  The win made Ellish, at age 22, the youngest person ever to have won two Academy Awards  She received her first Oscar two years ago for the title song to the James Bond film No Time to Die.

Other major award winners were Emma Stone, who won her second Best Actress award for Poor Things, Da’Vine Joy Randolph (Best Supporting Actress for The Holdovers) and The Zone of Interest, which was named the Best International Feature Film.  Seventy years after making his film debut, Godzilla Minus One earned the big green guy his first Oscar, winning for Visual Effects. 

 

Hosted again by talk show host Jimmy Kimmel, the show moved quickly, coming in at just under three and half hours.

 

While Ellish’ song from Barbie took home the Oscar, it was another song from the film, “I’m Just Ken,” performed by Best Supporting Actor nominee Ryan Gosling.  The number, which featured Gosling all in pink as a tribute to Marily Monroe’s “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend,” featured guest appearances by guitarists Slash and Wolfgang Van Halen.  Another fun bit was John Cena coming out to present the Best Costume award wearing just his birthday suit.

 

The low point for me was the IN MEMORIAM portion of the show.  The segment began with a brief clip of Alexi Navalny, who recently passed away in a Russian prison.  However, it was all downhill from there because, for whatever reason, the tv director felt it was best to go with a long shot most of the time, so the names of many of those being honored could not be read on the screen.  Also, in what I assume was an attempt to silence the fans who, the next day, always complain that “so and so” wasn’t mentioned, the segment ended with about 50 names all crammed into a circle.  One of those names was Oscar nominee Burt Young, who deserved better!

 

Here is a complete list of the winners:

 

Best picture: “Oppenheimer”

Best director: Christopher Nolan, “Oppenheimer”

Best actress: Emma Stone, “Poor Things.”

Best actor: Cillian Murphy, “Oppenheimer”

Best supporting actress: Da’Vine Joy Randolph, “The Holdovers”

Best supporting actor: Robert Downey Jr., “Oppenheimer”

Best original screenplay: Justine Triet and Arthur Harari, “Anatomy of a Fall”

Best adapted screenplay: Cord Jefferson, “American Fiction”

Best animated feature: “The Boy and the Heron”

Best animated short: “War is Over! Inspired by the Music of John Lennon and Yoko Ono”

Best international feature: “The Zone of Interest” (United Kingdom)

Best documentary feature: “20 Days in Mariupol”

Best documentary short: “The Last Repair Shop”

Best live action short: “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar”

Best score: Ludwig Göransson, “Oppenheimer”

Best original song: Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell, “What Was I Made For?” from “Barbie”

Best sound: Tarn Willers and Johnnie Burn, “The Zone of Interest”

Best production design: James Price, Shona Heath and Zsuzsa Mihalek, “Poor Things”

Best cinematography: Hoyte van Hoytema, “Oppenheimer”

Best makeup and hairstyling: Nadia Stacey, Mark Coulier and Josh Weston, “Poor Things”

Best costume design: Holly Waddington, “Poor Things”

Best editing: Jennifer Lame, “Oppenheimer”

Best visual effects: Takashi Yamazaki, Kiyoko Shibuya, Masaki Takahashi and Tatsuji Nojima, “Godzilla Minus One”

Caitlin Carmichael has been acting since the age of 3 and already has a very impressive resume. Her latest film “Roadkill” was released earlier this year and co-stars scream queen Danielle Harris. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Caitlin to discuss the film and her plans for 2024!

 

Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan’s epic story about the dawn of the Atomic Age, dominated the nominations for the 96^th Annual Academy Awards, earning a total of (13) nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director for Nolan.  Also earning double-digit nominations, Poor Things and Killers of the Flower Moon, which received (11) and (10) nods respectively.  Both films are also in the running for Best Picture, alongside American Fiction, Anatomy of a Fall, Barbie, The Holdovers, Maestro, Past Lives and The Zone of Interest. 

 

The nominations were announced by Zazie Beetz and Jack Quaid, who for some reason seemed to think they were leading a pep rally.  Their vocal inflections and over enthusiasm for some nominees were actually pretty annoying. 

 

This year’s acting nominations were a great representation of the talent working today.  Kudos to Jeffrey Wright, who is great in anything he does, earning his first Best Actor nomination for American Fiction.  A surprise non-nominee in this category was Leonardo DiCaprio for Killers of the Flower Moon.  In Leo’s defense, it was a strong season for acting this year so no shame in not making the top five.  His Killers co-star, Lily Gladstone, became the first Native American actor to be nominated for an acting award. 

 

2023’s biggest moneymaker, Barbie, earned (8) nominations, including Best Supporting Actor for Ryan Gosling, Best Supporting Actress for America Ferrera and Best Adapted Screenplay.  Surprisingly, star (and co-producer) Margot Robbie, did not earn a Best Actress nod. 

 

Martin Scorsese, at age 81, became the oldest nominee in the Best Director category, earning his tenth  nomination in this category for Killers of the Flower Moon.  

 

The great John Williams received nomination number (54) when he earned a nod for his original score for Indian Jones and the Dial of Destiny.   

 

 

The 96^th Annual Academy Awards will air on Sunday, March 10^th. 

 

Below is a complete list of nominees:

Best Picture

“American Fiction”

“Anatomy of a Fall”

“Barbie”

“The Holdovers”

“Killers of the Flower Moon”

“Maestro”

“Oppenheimer”

“Past Lives”

“Poor Things”

“The Zone of Interest”

Best Actor

Bradley Cooper, “Maestro”

Colman Domingo, “Rustin”

Paul Giamatti, “The Holdovers”

Cillian Murphy, “Oppenheimer”

Jeffrey Wright, “American Fiction”

Best Actress

Annette Bening, “Nyad”

Lily Gladstone, “Killers of the Flower Moon”

Sandra Hüller, “Anatomy of a Fall”

Carey Mulligan, “Maestro”

Emma Stone, “Poor Things”

 

Best Supporting Actor

Sterling K. Brown, “American Fiction”

Robert De Niro, “Killers of the Flower Moon”

Robert Downey Jr., “Oppenheimer”

Ryan Gosling, “Barbie”

Mark Ruffalo, “Poor Things”

 

Best Supporting Actress

Emily Blunt, “Oppenheimer”

Danielle Brooks, “The Color Purple”

America Ferrera, “Barbie”

Jodie Foster, “Nyad”

Da’Vine Joy Randolph, “The Holdovers”

 

Best Director

Jonathan Glazer, “The Zone of Interest”

Yorgos Lanthimos, “Poor Things”

Christopher Nolan, “Oppenheimer”

Martin Scorsese, “Killers of the Flower Moon”

Justine Triet, “Anatomy of a Fall”

 

International Feature Film

“Io Capitano,” Italy

“Perfect Days,” Japan

“Society of the Snow,” Spain

“The Teachers’ Lounge,” Germany

“The Zone of Interest,” United Kingdom

Animated Feature Film

“The Boy and the Heron”

“Elemental”

“Nimona”

“Robot Dreams”

“Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse”

Adapted Screenplay

“American Fiction”

“Barbie”

“Oppenheimer”

“Poor Things”

“The Zone of Interest”

Original Screenplay

“Anatomy of a Fall”

“The Holdovers”

“Maestro”

“May December”

“Past Lives”

Visual Effects

“The Creator”

“Godzilla Minus One”

“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3”

“Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One”

“Napoleon”

Original Score

“American Fiction”

“Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny”

“Killers of the Flower Moon”

“Oppenheimer”

“Poor Things”

Original Song

“It Never Went Away” from “American Symphony”

“I’m Just Ken” from “Barbie”

“What Was I Made For?” from “Barbie”

“The Fire Inside” from “Flamin’ Hot”

“Wahzhazhe (A Song For My People)” from “Killers of the Flower Moon”

Documentary Feature Film

“20 Days in Mariupol”

“Bobi Wine: The People’s President”

“The Eternal Memory”

“Four Daughters”

“To Kill a Tiger”

Cinematography

“El Conde”

“Killers of the Flower Moon”

“Maestro”

“Oppenheimer”

“Poor Things”

Costume Design

“Barbie”

“Killers of the Flower Moon”

“Napoleon”

“Oppenheimer”

“Poor Things”

Animated Short Film

“Letter to a Pig”

“Ninety-Five Senses”

“Our Uniform”

“Pachyderme”

“War Is Over! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko”

Live Action Short Film

“The After”

“Invincible”

“Knight of Fortune”

“Red, White and Blue”

“The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar”

Documentary Short Film

“The ABCs of Book Banning”

“The Barber of Little Rock”

“Island in Between”

“The Last Repair Shop”

“Nǎi Nai & Wài Pó”

Film Editing

“Anatomy of a Fall”

“The Holdovers”

“Killers of the Flower Moon”

“Oppenheimer”

“Poor Things”

Sound

“The Creator”

“Maestro”

“Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One”

“Oppenheimer”

“The Zone of Interest”

Production Design

“Barbie”

“Killers of the Flower Moon”

“Napoleon”

“Oppenheimer”

“Poor Things”

Makeup and Hairstyling

“Golda”

“Maestro”

“Oppenheimer”

Welcome to our Shout! Studios 2023 Holiday Gift Guide!!! We some great titles to showcase for you this year. First up we have one of my favorite underrated films from Laika Studios, “Kubo and the Two Strings”. This film has great replay value and looks absolutely gorgeous in this Limited Edition SteelBook 4K UHD release.

TITLE: Kubo and the Two Strings (Limited Edition SteelBook 4K UHD)

RELEASE DATE: February 28, 2023

RELEASE FORMAT: 4K UHD

SRP: $34.98 each (Limited SteelBook Edition)

Kubo and the Two Strings is available in 4K for the first time ever, allowing fans to experience this cherished films in the highest possible fidelity. Supervised by LAIKA’s visionary filmmaking team, this dazzling 4K remaster features HDR and Dolby Vision plus Dolby Atmos for the ultimate entertainment experience.

The scrupulous remastering process for this title was overseen by the team at LAIKA, led by LAIKA CEO (and Kubo and the Two Strings Director) Travis Knight, and Visual Effects Supervisor Steve Emerson, who pored over each film shot-by-shot, paying close attention to every last detail and color to present these groundbreaking films in the most dynamic format. 

The SteelBook™ release features new hand drawn art from acclaimed illustrators: the Kubo and the Two Strings cover art was drawn by Kevin Tong, an artist living and working out of Austin, TX.

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Next up for up fellow anime fans, there is “Evangelion:3.0+1.11 Thrice upon a Time”, which is coming from legendary director Hideaki Anno, “Evangelion:3.0+1.11 Thrice upon a Time” is the fourth and final installment of the REBUILD OF EVANGELION films, bringing an epic conclusion to the story of Shinji and his fellow Eva pilots, with the stunning visuals and thought-provoking storytelling that has made EVANGELION a global pop culture phenomenon.

TITLE: EVANGELION: 3.0 + 1.11 THRICE UPON A TIME (Collector’s Edition) from GKIDS

RELEASE DATE: October 17, 2023

RELEASE FORMAT: 4K UHD + Blu-Ray™

SRP: $79.98

The 4K UHD Collector’s Edition of EVANGELION:3.0+1.11 THRICE UPON A TIME is a three-disc set that includes one 4K UHD disc featuring the film, a Blu-Ray™ of the feature film, and a disc of brand-new bonus features encased in a rigid box case. Featuring both the original Japanese language version and an English dub, the set includes a 28-page book, art cards, and a poster, as well as bonus features including EVANGELION:3.0(-46h), EVANGELION:3.0(-120min.), character promotion reels, stage greeting, trailers, and more!

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This next one is one of my favorites from 2023, I had the privilege of seeing this stage presentation of “Spirited Away” on the big screen and it was absolutely stunning. This Blu-ray features not one but two performances featuring both Kanna Hashimoto and Mone Kamishiraishi as Chihiro.

TITLE: SPIRITED AWAY: LIVE ON STAGE from GKIDS

RELEASE DATE: November 7, 2023

RELEASE FORMAT: Blu-Ray™

SRP: $32.98

Hayao Miyazaki’s Academy Award®-winning* animated feature film comes to life in this first-ever stage adaptation full of dazzling sets, captivating musical numbers, and wondrous puppets of beloved characters. Adapted and directed by Tony Award® winner John Caird (Les Misérables), SPIRITED AWAY: Live on Stage features two unique casts and performances filmed during the show’s acclaimed 2022 run at Tokyo’s historic Imperial Theatre, featuring Kanna Hashimoto and Mone Kamishiraishi as Chihiro.

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Growing up in the 80’s (I know I am dating myself), I would look forward to watching “ALF” all the time on the TV with my family. It always have been a favorite of mine. The deluxe edition DVD set includes not only every episode of the hit series, it also includes the 1996 film Project: ALF starring Martin Sheen, and all episodes from Saturday morning’s ALF: The Animated Series and ALF Tales! 

TITLE: ALF: The Complete Series (Deluxe Edition) + Bundle

RELEASE DATE: October 17, 2023

RELEASE FORMAT: DVD

SRP: $239.97 (Shout Exclusive Bundle), $89.99 (Box Set)

Everyone’s favorite wise-cracking alien from Melmac, Gordon Shumway — better known to Earthlings as ALF crash-lands onto DVD in this definitive 24-disc collection. The collection includes every episode of this interstellar hit series, restored to their original broadcast length for the first time in 30 years. It also includes the 1996 film Project: ALF starring Martin Sheen, and all 47 episodes of Saturday morning’s ALF: The Animated Series and ALF Tales! 

Never has a collection been so out of this world! This ShoutFactory.com Exclusive includes the NEW DVD release of ALF, an exclusive 18” x 24” rolled poster featuring new artwork, a retro prism sticker, a 7″ vinyl, an enamel pin set, a lunch box, and an authentic Melmac rock.

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Following ALF comes another TV series that I was completely obsessed with in the late 90’s/early 00’s, “Farscape”. The show was produced by The Jim Henson Company and they were responsible for the various alien make-up and prosthetics, and two regular characters (the animatronic puppets Rygel and Pilot) were entirely Creature Shop creations.

TITLE: Farscape: The Complete Series (25th Anniversary Edition)  + 3 Prism Stickers + Poster + Enamel Pin Set

RELEASE DATE: November 21, 2023

RELEASE FORMAT: Blu-Ray™

SRP: $305.98 (Shout exclusive bundle), $219.98 (Box Set)

A fusion of live action, state-of-the-art puppetry, prosthetics and CGI, Farscape features mind-boggling alien life forms, dazzling special effects, edge-of-your-seat thrills, irreverent humor and unforgettable characters all brought to life by the creative minds at Jim Henson’s Creature Shop in this definitive 22-Disc set. The ShoutFactory.com Exclusive bundle contains the new BLU-RAY BOX SET of FARSCAPE, an EXCLUSIVE 18” X 24” ROLLED POSTER featuring a brand new design from artist Joe Corroney, a set of three retro prism stickers, and a LIMITED EDITION ENAMEL PIN SET via Gutter Garbs.

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TITLE: Shaw Brothers Classics, Vol. 3

RELEASE DATE: Volume 3: October 24, 2023

RELEASE FORMAT: Blu-Ray™

SRP: $169.98 each

Jam-packed with epic kung-fu tales from the legendary Hong Kong studio, this box sets make the classic films available on Blu-Ray™ in North America for the first time, with the action-packed Volume 3 further houses the classic martial art films, including Killer Clans, The Shaolin Avengers, The Web of Death, The Vengeful Beauty, Death Duel, Life Gamble, Soul of the Sword, The Deadly Breaking Sword, Clan of the White Lotus, Shaolin Abbot and Shaolin Rescuers.

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TITLE: Night of the Demon (Collector’s Edition)

TITLE: Night of the Demon 2 (Collector’s Edition)       

TITLE: Night of the Demon 3 (Collector’s Edition)

RELEASE DATE: October 3, 2023

RELEASE FORMAT: 4K UHD + Blu-Ray™ 

SRP: $36.98 each

Just in time for Halloween, horror enthusiasts and collectors can experience bone-chilling suspense, ancient dark rituals, and terrifying horror like never before when SCREAM FACTORY™ unleashes three creepy supernatural cult hits with NIGHT OF THE DEMONS Collector’s Edition in a 4K UHD™+ Blu-Ray™ combo pack, NIGHT OF THE DEMONS 2 Collector’s Edition Blu-Ray™, and NIGHT OF THE DEMONS 3 Collector’s Edition Blu-Ray™. For the first time ever in 4K UHD™ format, NIGHT OF THE DEMONS Collector’s Edition includes a 2023 restoration from an earlier 4K scan of the unrated negative, as well as special content and new interviews.

Celebrating the iconic 1984 classic The NeverEnding Story, formerly called “Life After Atreyu”, LIFE AFTER THE NEVERENDING STORY stars Noah Hathaway (Atreyu), Tami Stronach (the Childlike Empress), Deep Roy, Limahl & Klaus Doldinger, Katja Eichinger, Herman Weigel, Renato Casaro, Jason James Richter, Keith Coogan and more!

This NeverEnding Story documentary will be premiering around September 2023 at film festivals, then will be released on REGION FREE BLURAY early 2024.

PRE-ORDER your copy NOW from www.lifeaftertheneverendingstory.com

Your pre-order helps cover the post production costs and with indie film, it all helps. All discs ship worldwide, and come with your very own limited edition collectors patch!

10/16/2023 – Los Angeles, CA / Brisbane, Australia] 90’s pop icon Vanilla Ice stars as himself alongside Australia’s darling Sophie Monk, who is also playing herself in the upcoming action-comedy, “Zombie Plane”. Radioactive and Entertainment Squad (subsidiary of Studio Dome) revealed this morning in The Hollywood Reporter the cast which includes Chuck Norris, starring as Commander Chuck Norris who mentored and trained Ice to be the deadly secret agent he is today.

In “Zombie Plane,” a secret government agency recruited celebrities to be undercover agents, and together they saved humanity from an imminent zombie attack. The film is littered with celebrity cameos as well as well-known pop music from the 90’s including Vanilla Ice’s own library.

The film was shot earlier this year in Australia with the support of Screen Australia. Directed by Lav Bodnaruk and Michael Mier, of Chop Shop Post, an established post-production and VFX company who’s recent work includes Paramount+ ‘Last King of the Cross’ and Amazon’s ‘Troppo’.

Producer and Radioactive MD Jessica Butland commented: “audiences can expect a wild ride, Vanilla Ice is in his element as secret agent and Chuck Norris having trained him is excellent and it just works”

Executive Producer Shaked Berenson added “Zombie Plane uses comedy, the zombie genre and 90’s nostalgia as a vehicle, to comment on pop-culture as much as it feeds it, creating unforgettable one-liners and situational comedy ‘to the extreme’.

Studio Dome will launch international sales at the upcoming American Film Market in November.

Radioactive is an Australian production and distribution company founded by Jessica Butland (RUBY’S CHOICE, THE RED). Radioactive’s recent releases include UK Sci-fi/Drama AROUND THE SUN, John Soto’s Action/Thriller AVARICE and Lily Taylor & Stefania LaVie Owen starring in multi-award winner PAPER SPIDERS.

Entertainment Squad is the production arm of Studio Dome, founded by veteran producer Shaked Berenson (TURBO KID, TALES OF HALLOWEEN). Recent productions include the Shudder Original SLAXX, and the critically acclaimed horror-comedy SUMMONING SYLVIA.

MERMAIDS’ LAMENT is the latest upcoming film from GB Hajim (Strange Frame), which premieres on June 25th at 9:30pm at the TCL Chinese Theater as part of Dances with Films festival. You can get tickets here. Check out our raving review here and the latest trailer below!

The story of two women who find strength in each other despite their personal struggles, MERMAIDS’ LAMENT follows two women: Oee (Dayva Summer Escobar) a traumatized woman who has lost her voice and may or may not be a mermaid. Her therapist, Dr. Nell Jamison (Justina Mattos) battles with anxiety herself, attempts to help Oee overcome her delusions and connect with reality. As they bond over their experiences, they learn to be resilient like the ocean and embrace the power of imagination to navigate the chaos of the world.

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A post shared by Mermaids’ Lament, (2023) (@mermaidslament)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Director GB Hajim’s ode to Resilience through trauma and imagination, MERMAID’S LAMENT will screen at the Dances with Films film festival in Hollywood, California, June 25.

The story of two women who find strength in each other despite their personal struggles, MERMAID’S LAMENT follows two women: Oee (Dayva Summer Escobar) a traumatized woman who has lost her voice and may or may not be a mermaid. Her therapist, Dr. Nell Jamison (Justina Mattos) battles with anxiety herself, attempts to help Oee overcome her delusions and connect with reality. As they bond over their experiences, they learn to be resilient like the ocean and embrace the power of imagination to navigate the chaos of the world.

GB Hajim has been supporting the Hawaiian Renaissance through his multimedia work for over 25 years. He has produced over 150 Hawaiian language dramas, animations, documentaries, podcasts, and educational programs.

MERMAID’S LAMENT is GB’s second feature film, following the self-produced 2D animated sci-fi lesbian musical, “Strange Frame” (2013), which featured an all-star cast including Claudia Black, Cree Summer, Tim Curry, George Takei, Academy Award winner Gary Rizzo for sound, and Roger Waters of Pink Floyd for music.

GB is excited to bring his passion for storytelling and his love for the ocean to MERMAID’S LAMENT. He splits his time between working with the Hawaiian community, writing screenplays, freediving, and farming.

See the heartfelt and moving story that explores the power of imagination and the strength that comes from human connection, MERMAID’S LAMENT – screening June 25th at 9:30pm at the TCL Chinese Theater as part of Dances with Films.

METALLICA: M72 WORLD TOUR LIVE FROM ARLINGTON, TX – A TWO NIGHT EVENT COMING TO CINEMAS WORLDWIDE AUGUST 18 & 20

METALLICA & TRAFALGAR RELEASING TO LIVE* BROADCAST TWO CONCERTS FROM TEXAS’ AT&T STADIUM

Major Metallica news from Down Under! Metallica: 72 Seasons – Global Premiere has just screened in cinemas in New Zealand and moviegoers there were the first to learn that Metallica’s M72 World Tour is set to burst onto the big screen, live from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX, in cinemas worldwide on Friday, August 18 and Sunday, August 20.

Titled Metallica: M72 World Tour Live From Arlington, TX – A Two Night Event, this unprecedented global theatrical event will see the band playing two nights with two completely different setlists, with songs spanning the group’s 40+ year career, from 1983’s classic Kill ‘Em All to 2023’s long-awaited 72 Seasons. The band won’t play a single song twice, making for a total of more than 30 songs across both nights.

The M72 tour will feature a bold new in-the-round stage design that relocates the famed Metallica Snake Pit to center stage, while giving fans a complete 360-degree view from every seat in the house. With a state-of-the-art multi-camera set up, fans will be right in the middle of the action, no matter where they are in the world. For more information, visit metallica.film.

Metallica: 72 Seasons – Global Premiere, the worldwide listening party for Metallica’s forthcoming 12th studio album, 72 Seasons, continues to launch across the globe over the next 20 hours. Tickets are still available for this tonight-only event at metallica.film. At the event, 72 Seasons will be played in full in pummeling surround sound, exclusively for cinema audiences worldwide—with every one of the new songs featuring its own music video and exclusive commentary from the band. The result will offer fans an unforgettable night as they experience 72 Seasons first and fully on the eve of its April 14 release date.

“We feel like we are a part of the Metallica family now that we are doing our third release together (Metallica: M72 World Tour Live From Arlington, TX – A Two Night Event, 72 Seasons Global Premiere, and S&M²),” said Kymberli Frueh, SVP Programming and Content Acquisitions, Trafalgar Releasing. “Since Metallica is touring in very limited markets this year, we are so happy that we can extend that tour into cinemas across the globe. The cinemas create a virtual tour stop for fans in thousands of locations where Metallica isn’t touring this year. What better way to create a VIP experience with every seat in the cinema feeling as if you are in the front row of the concert.”

Hailed as “some of the deepest, hardest-hitting music of their career” (Rolling Stone), Metallica’s 72 Seasons will be released April 14 via the band’s own Blackened Recordings. Produced by Greg Fidelman with Hetfield and Ulrich, and clocking in at over 77 minutes, the 12-track 72 Seasons is Metallica’s first full length collection of new material since 2016’s Hardwired…To Self-Destruct. For a full listing of configurations, pre-orders and further information, go to https://www.metallica.com/store/72-seasons/.

The ticket on-sale date for Metallica: M72 World Tour Live From Arlington, TX – A Two Night Event will be announced later. Visit metallica.film for the most updated information.

* Screenings in some countries/territories will be time-shifted to best suit local time zones.

About Metallica

Formed in 1981 by vocalist/guitarist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich, Metallica has become one of the most influential and successful rock bands in history, selling nearly 120 million albums worldwide and generating more than 15 billion streams while playing to millions of fans on all seven continents. Metallica’s catalog of multi-platinum studio albums includes Kill ‘Em All, Ride the Lightning, Master of Puppets, … And Justice for All, Metallica (commonly referred to as The Black Album), Load, Reload, St. Anger, Death Magnetic, Hardwired…to Self-Destruct, and the forthcoming 72 Seasons, out April 14, 2023, on the band’s own Blackened Recordings label. Metallica’s awards and accolades include nine Grammy Awards, two American Music Awards, multiple MTV Video Music Awards, a 2009 induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and Sweden’s Polar Music Prize. In 2017, Metallica established the All Within My Hands Foundation to give back to communities that have supported the band. To date, All Within My Hands’ collective efforts have raised nearly $12 million – providing $5.9 million in grants to career and technical education programs, over $2.5 million to combat food insecurity, and more than $3.3 million to disaster relief efforts.

 

Let’s take a trip back in time.  It’s 2011 and this site was still known as MovieMikes.  I posted a review for the Adam Sandler film Jack and Jill and all hell broke loose.  The reason?  I had rated it as positive on Rotten Tomatoes.  Let me go more in depth.  I was the ONLY critic to give Jack and Jill a positive rating.

 

If you’ve learned anything about me in the 13-plus years this site has been in existance, it’s that, even though I’m now 62, inside I’ll always be a 13-year old boy.  I love Adam Sandler’s goofy brand of comedy.  Yes, some of his films are pretty, well, not-good, but I usually laugh at them.

 

That was the case of Jack and Jill.  Yes it was durmb, but come on….you had Al Pacino singing and dancing for Christ’s sake!  I gave it 2.5 stars out of 5, but instead of rating it as “Rotten” on RT I rated it “fresh.”  And the madness began.

 

I received so many negative comments on the post on RT that they stopped allowing people to comment.  I received a bunch of horrible emails, many of which I can’t quote here.  What I thought was odd was that these comments began piling up the moment I posted my review.  The day before the film even opened.  These people were criticizing me for liking a film they hadn’t even seen.  However, there is a certain silver lining to this adventure as Adam Sandler recently was awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.  That’s right.  Richard Pryor.  Steve Martin.  Carol Burnett.  ADAM SANDLER!!

 

 

As the ONLY critic to give Jack and Jill a “fresh” rating, this site was not only mentioned nationwide on the “Opie and Anthony” radio show, but was mentioned on “E!” Entertainment Television.  Adam Sandler, and Mike G’s series of “Walking Dead” interviews that same year put us on the map!  Thirteen years later we continue to be one of the most popular entertainment sites out there.  And for that I say, “thank YOU, Adam Sandler!”

 

And thanks to all of yolu for your continued support!