Elfar Adalsteins is the writer/director of the amazing short film “Sailcloth”, which stars John Hurt.  Elfar was able to tell an amazing story through this short without any dialogue.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Elfar to chat about the short and what he has planned next.

Mike Gencarelli: Tell us about the origin of the short “Sailcloth”?
Elfar Adalsteins: The idea presented itself couple of years after my grandfather passed away and revolved around the bedsheets transforming into the sail that allow the old man to go on a last great journey. I guess it you can say it’s my farewell vignette to him.

MG: How did John Hurt become on board?
EA: I simply sent his agent the script with a personalized note to John stating why I thought he would be perfect for the role. A week later his agent called and told me John wanted to meet to discuss the script. That was surprising and scary in equal measures but that soon passed after meeting him as I could feel we were on the same page. After talking things through John said “Elfar, let’s go make a film” and we did.

MG: The short is wordless, yet it says so much, tell us about that?
EA: There wasn’t any need. The Man wants to go unnoticed, to vanish without a trace. The only bump in his road is when he sees the young boy on the beach. But he swallows hard and keeps going. It’s one of my favourite scenes in the film, so wonderfully portrayed by John and my son.

MG: Tell us about the wonderful score in the short?
It was written by Richard Cottle, a close friend of mine who I had worked with on numerous occasions. He was on board from the offset and as soon as the rough cut was ready we began testing things out. I wanted an accordion, double bass and cello, which was our starting point. Richard plays dozens of instruments and played the piano on the soundtrack along with masterfully conducting the string section. He was pure joy to work with.

MG: Where you involved with the cinematography in the film?
EA: The relationship between the director and DP is probably the closest on set. I had story-boarded the script so Karl had a good idea of what we were aiming for. He has a great eye and offered up some interesting angles. Shooting is like everything else in filmmaking, it’s a collaborative exercise.

MG: How long did short take to complete from script to finished product?
EA: It was a good six months, mainly because there was a couple month delay before I got an editor. The editing process was quite arduous for such a short film, because the scenes on the ocean were hard to assemble. But after a few sleepless nights we eventually got there.

MG: Was the short a success during its festival tour?
EA: Rhode Island International Film Festival put us on the map by awarding us with the Grand Jury Prize for Best Short. That automatically qualified us for the Short Film Oscar where we progressed to the last ten, or the Oscar Shortlist. Unfortunately we didn’t make the final nominations, so no tuxedo this year. We also got a Cinematic Achievement Award at the Thessaloniki Short Film Festival, so I’m really pleased with how well the film has done.

MG: We have had inquires of where people can see “Sailcloth”, any plans of releasing?
EA: It will be distributed for TV to begin with, then released as a download on iTunes or similar in a year’s time. I’m happy to hear that people have been asking for it. Hopefully it will secure us a few downloads next year.

What do you have planned next? Any features?
I’m finalising my first feature script that I’m attached to direct, backed by a US based prodction company. It’s still early days so I don’t want to say to much… I’ve probably jinxed it already.

Nathan Baesel plays the lead character Leslie Vernon in the cult horror classic “Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon”.  Horror fans will hopefully get to see Nathan play the fantastic role about soon in the planned sequel.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Nathan about his iconic role in the film and its sequel plans.

Mike Gencarelli: How did you get involved with “Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon”?
Nathan Baesel: I got the script from my agent and, given that I hadn’t had that much professional acting work at the time, attending the audition was a foregone conclusion. I was very excited however when I began reading the script because everything clicked for me and I was able to envision the whole world very clearly. Scripts usually have at least a few moments where you’re left thinking, “I’ll have to fix this because it just doesn’t work”. The script for BTM didn’t have any of those moments! In addition, I’ve always enjoyed playing characters who are completely self-revolving, where “it’s all about me”. Those characters are a huge source of fun playing but also poking fun at. Like the way Jack Black or Will Ferrel play ego maniacal asses. Leslie thinks enough of what he’s doing that he has a camera crew following him around documenting his every move for Pete’s sake! I saw a lot of potential humor in making Leslie so serious that he’d be the last guy to see how absurd he is.

MG: Tell us about working with Scott Glosserman?
NB: I can’t say enough good about Scott. From the audition till now he’s been a laugh waiting to happen and I always felt as though I could do no wrong because it seemed as though the laughs kept coming. As long as he was pleased the path seemed clear. And he’s really easy to please! Scott is also the most industrious person I know. He’s never at rest, always with an eye on the next task at hand. That’s a priceless commodity when you’re the producer, director, co-writer and even actor (though his scenes didn’t make the final cut unfortunately). Scott was endlessly cheerleading us all on and reinvigorating the cast and crew whenever energy or enthusiasm dipped. He put so much of himself into making the film that by the time the shoot had completed he was sick and exhausted. You know how mushy your brain gets when you’ve stayed awake for 2 days? I don’t think he got more than 4 hours sleep a day during the 5 or so weeks we were shooting. Scott completed the shoot as a laughing, smiling, mushy-headed mess!

MG: Leslie Vernon has now become a horror icon himself, tell us about how it feel to play that icon?
NB: It’s incomprehensible to me that people have responded as well as they have. I was just running around, having fun, playing hard and thrilled to be payed for it. Leslie was the most fun I’ve had as an actor, the closest I’ve come to realizing the value of actors in our culture and the most fully lived-in character I’ve had the opportunity to play. I don’t think I’ll ever have another opportunity like it so in a real way I feel like I’ve done what I set out to do in my career and can leave Leslie behind as my legacy.

MG: How was it working with horror legends Robert Englund and the late Zelda Rubinstein?
NB: Both Robert and Zelda were so gracious both to me and to the movie. They lent not just their talent but their legends built with their blood, sweat and tears. People may sometimes have wanted them in their films because of the associations they brought with them but in our case we NEEDED those legendary associations to make our film work in important academic ways. Yes, they gave great performances but their presence alone makes it possible for some BTM fans to pause the film mid-view and say, “Holy shit, my mind has just been blown!”

MG: Tell us about the film’s prequel/sequel “Before The Mask: The Return of Leslie Vernon”?
NB: I don’t know how much about B4TM I can say but I’ll tell you that what I’m looking forward to most, besides getting the band back together, is exploring all of the ways that Leslie’s path and mine continue to intersect. He’s chosen a rough road to go down but it’s one of integrity. There’s a million reasons why he didn’t hit the big time and there’s a million ways that he could have sold out to try to make it happen anyway. But he stayed true to himself and his friends and he’s going to take another stab at making a legend the old school way. That’s about as close to an autobiography as a film is going to get for me.

MG: What can fans do to assure that this film get’s made?
NB: Look, even if you’re not a hard-core fan and just enjoyed BTM and would enjoy watching another film like it you can make it happen for less than the price of a ticket to the theater. We’re taking pledges on our Before The Mask Facebook page and in exchange for a commitment of whatever dollar amount you choose you’ll get in return a poster, a DVD of the new film once it’s released, a Blu-ray, the opportunity to get killed off in a scene of B4TM. If everyone who has “liked” the page committed $10 we’d be able to start shooting within a couple months! Behind The Mask has had the life that it’s had only because of the love, support and enthusiasm of the fans. This sequel fundraising is continuing with that dynamic. Check out the Facebook page. Surf around. There’s a number of fun things to explore and a ton of information about how people can help B4TM get made. And you can even come away with some pretty sweet swag.

Directed by: Terry Miles
Starring: Steve Austin, Danny Trejo, Serinda Swan
Distributed by: Vivendi Entertainment
MPAA Rating: R
Release Date: March 6, 2012
Running Time: 93 minutes

Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2.5 out of stars

When it comes to Steve Austin, the guy knows action and can definitely kick some ass. He never got the mainstream attention like The Rock but he deserves it. Of course then you thrown in Danny Trejo, who is known for amazing roles like “Machete”. He is one scary son bitch but he is also just an awesome baddie. The film itself is nothing special and falls into the cheesy action genre.  Luckily the film has a key cast and is worth watching just for that and also a few great action sequences.

The film follows Ryan Varrett (Austin) who is on a revenge mission to find the criminals who murdered his family. Ryan takes it upon himself to punish those responsible…and anyone who gets in his way. When he meets the killer Drayke (Trejo), the two go head to head in an all out blood vendetta.

For a low-budget action film, the video is very impressive with its 1080p transfer especially with its kick-ass action scenes. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track is also impressive with the action.

The special features included are short but not completely terrible. There is a brief but interesting featurette “The Making of Recoil” looking into the film’s production. There are also a few deleted scenes, which run about 5 minutes and focus on Steve Austin’s character. Lastly there is the film’s trailer included.

Starring: Buster Keaton
Distributed by: Kino Lorber
MPAA Rated: Not Rated
Release Date: March 20, 2012
Run Time: 306 minutes

Shorts: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1 out of 5 stars

In 1934, Buster Keaton signed a contract with Earle W. Hammons Educational Pictures which focused on comedy short subjects. This Blu-ray release is very impressive and includes over five hours within its 16 educational shorts. In fact, the reason why this is amazing set is because 14 of these shorts have never been available. Fans of Buster Keaton needs to check this out as it is one very cool set.

The video looks great with its 1080p transfer. These shorts were remastered in HD from 35mm negatives, so they are high quality but some of the shorts still show their age. The audio includes an LPCM 2.0 Mono track, which works well with the content but is really nothing special.

The films included are “The Gold Ghost”, “Allez Oop”, “Palooka From Paducah”, “One Run Elmer”, “Hayseed Romance”, “Tars and Stripes”, “The E-Flat Man”, “The Timid Young Man”, “Three on a Limb”, “Grand Slam Opera”, “Blue Blazes”, “The Chemist”, “Mixed Magic”, “Jail Bait” and “Ditto and Love Nest on Wheels”.

There are very few special features but I feel that the shorts are enough to make this release worth purchasing.    On the first disc, there is a photo gallery with sixteen stills.  On the second disc, there is a funny but short feature called “Why They Call Him Buster”, which features Buster falling. Inside the Blu-ray case, there is a booklet with overviews of each film in the set.

Directed by: David Gordon Green
Starring: Jonah Hill, Sam Rockwell
Distributed by: 20th Century Fox
MPAA Rating: R
Release Date: March 20, 2012
Running Time: 81 minutes

Film: 2 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2.5 out 5 stars

Recently Jonah Hill is a hit and miss when it comes to comedy. After “Superbad”, he seemed like a sure bet for laughs but this totally feels like him going from A to F and seems a very sad role. I do not believe he really deserved an Oscar nomination for “Moneyball” but I think he looks hysterical in “21 Jump Street”.  The film features a supporting case that is funnier including a crew performance by Sam Rockwell. David Gordon Green is a great director but he doesn’t really show up in this film at all. Lastly, the film barely runs 80 minutes and I am all for short comedies but it feels like a 2 hour movie easily.

Jonah Hill stars as Noah, a slacker with no drive that ends up doing his mom a favor by babysitting his neighbor’s children (Max Records, Landry Bender, Kevin Hernandez). He is completely unqualified but get’s overtaken by the kids. While sitting, his girlfriend (Ari Gaynor) promises sex if he brings her some cocaine to a party. This causes him to take the kids out on the town and get caught up with crazy drug dealer (Sam Rockwell).

The Blu-ray release is well packaged and contains not only the Blu-ray but also a DVD and a digital copy. It also includes both the theatrical and unrated versions of the film, even though neither work. The 1080p transfer on the Blu-ray is impressive and looks good especially for a comedy. The same goes for the audio DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, it works with the music and action scenes the best.

The special features included are good but run very short and seems like one long gag. There are ten deleted/extended scenes, which run about 25 minutes. There is a gag reel, which I always love. “Sits-N-Giggles” is a collection of the film’s improvised lines, which is also very funny. These two features are funnier than the whole film together. “For Your Consideration” is a waste of time joke about Blake beat-boxing. “The Making of The Sitter” is a basic/decent behind-the-scenes featurette. “Jonah the Producer” features Jonah trying to teach kids. Lastly there is the theatrical trailer included.

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Kristanna Loken is probably best known for her role as the super sexy Terminator in “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines”. Media Mikes had a chance recently to talk with Kristanna about the upcoming DVD/Blu-Ray release of her latest film titled “The Legend of Awesomest Maximus”.

Adam Lawton: Can you tell us about your character in “The Legend of Awesomest Maximus”?
Kristanna Loken: I play Hottessa. The character is very loosely based on the character Lady Macbeth. She is a princess who will use her powers of female manipulation to get what she wants. Ultimately she wants to be queen. She is a crafty character whose prince is played by Mr. Will Sasso. The film came about from me wanting to do something different. A broad spoof was something I had yet to really tackle. I have done comedy in the past but nothing like this type of spoof. Since then I have done some other comedy work and have really enjoyed it. I thought the script was really funny and that it would be great working with Jeff Kanew.

AL: How was it working with such a diverse cast?
KL: The group was very eclectic and diverse. Ian Ziering was in super great shape and really dedicated to his role. Will was awesome! He is just so quick and funny. Everyone had a really great time. We shot the film in Salt Lake City, Utah which was a really unlikely place. It was fun!

AL: What was it like behind the scenes of the film?
KL: We all stayed friendly after making the film. Will likes to throw parties where we all would convene. It was nice that we were all able to keep in touch. A lot of times you are not able to do that but, Will really made an effort to get everyone together.

AL: What other projects of yours can we be watching for?
KL: I started a production company with a couple of partners called Loken Man Productions. One of those partners is my father. He wrote a script called “Love Orchard” and another partner Farhad Mann who I worked with on “Painkiller Jane” and I collaborated on this film which is inspired by actual events. The film deals with the immigration crisis in America. Bruce Dern plays my dad in the film. We are really looking forward to getting the film out. We hope to get it into some of the larger film festivals. I will also be back for the new season of “Burn Notice”.

AL: Is it hard working with family members?
KL: It’s been a really amazing experience. The project is something that is very close to all of our hearts. I grew up on the farm where we shot the story. My parents have had this farm for 43 years. It was an amazing opportunity to go back there and to the town where I grew up to shoot this film.

AL: How was the experience of working on “Burn Notice”?
KL: It’s a fun show to be a part of and Miami is a great city. The people involved with the show definitely know what works and what doesn’t. The show has had a lot of success and is going into its 6^th season. It’s a well oiled machine. I had fun being a part of the cast.

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Directors: Lars Von Trier
Actors: Kirsten Dunst, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Kiefer Sutherland, Alexander Skarsgard, Brady Corbet
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed by: Magnolia Home Entertainment
Release Date: March 13, 2012
Running Time: 135 minutes

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

If you are not already familiar with Danish director Lars von Trier, this may not be the best film for you to watch. Especially after von Trier’s last film “Antichrist”, I approach his film’s gently. This one isn’t even half as disturbing as his last but it is extremely deep, a little bit confusing, a bit long and also mega depressing. So if you get over that then I say got give “Melancholia” a shot. I mean if not just for Kirsten Dunst amazing performance (and she is also nude, so that’s a plus obviously guys!). Fans of von Trier, this will be a must see if you haven’t seen it already don’t get ready for a very filling movie.

The film follows Justine (Kirsten Dunst) and Michael (Alexander Skarsgård) who are getting ready to attend their recent marriage at a party thrown by Justine’s sister Claire (Charlotte Gainsbourg) and brother-in-law John (Kiefer Sutherland). Of course like any family gathering there is drama and issues arrise that put a damper on the night. Of course to add to all that there is a planet a planet called Melancholia that is heading on a collision course with Earth and is possible to destroy all of humankind.

The 1080p transfer is what I loved most about this film. The video is so absolutely beautiful to look at, the CG effect shots are absolutely breathtaking. I wish they had an isolated score track because I would just leave on all day. Even though the film is based on the end of the world it is not an action packed more and is quite the opposite. The audio is still very impressive with its DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track and perfectly accompanies the films score.  This is a must to watch on HD Blu-ray for sure, if you have the choice.

The special features are good but missing some of the extras from the British release including the commentary track. “About Melancholia” features Lars von Trier, Kirsten Dunst, Charlotte Gainsbourg and a psychologist Irene Oestrich as they discuss the film’s themes. Since the film is very “Special Effects” heavy, this is a great feature to see how it was done during post production. “The Visual Style” is another important feature because director Von Trier definitely has one of the most unique vision of any directors I know. “The Universe” is another visual effects feature, short but worth checking out. There is the typical HDNet promo included “HDNet: A Look at Melancholia”, only feature not in HD. Lastly there are two theatrical trailers wrapping up this disc.

Mega vs. Metal

Monster vs. Machine

Mega Shark vs. Mecha Shark

Legendary Mockbuster Studio The Asylum Greenlights Third Installment

in the Mega Shark Franchise

LOS ANGELES, CA (March 23, 2012) – After fan-favorite Mega Shark battled a giant octopus and a ferocious “crocosaurus”, fans of the franchise have demanded more action from the enormous Mega Shark who can leap thousands of feet in the air and destroy half the Golden Gate Bridge. The Asylum, the motion picture production and distribution company behind films such as Syfy’s “Zombie Apocalypse” and “Battle of Los Angeles,” has met those demands by giving Mega Shark her most dangerous enemy yet, her mechanical  doppelgänger – Mecha Shark!

The Asylum has officially greenlit production on MEGA SHARK VS. MECHA SHARK, a much anticipated third installment in the “Mega Shark” franchise, following Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus in 2009 and Mega Shark vs. Crocosaurus in 2010.  When Mega Shark returns in this all-new feature film, the government releases the top-secret Mecha Shark to defeat the franchise’s popular monster in a fierce battle that threatens the planet.

“The fan response to the Mega Shark franchise has been rabid,” said The Asylum partner Paul Bales.  “In addition to a very persuasive online petition, we found that Mega Shark has taken on a life of her own. We’ve received photos of Mega Shark cakes, toys and games on a near-daily basis, and we thought it was high time she did battle with an iconic Mecha monster.”

Mega Shark’s success was evidenced early on when the studio released the “Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus” trailer, garnering 2.5 million online views within the first week. “Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus” and “Mega Shark vs. Crocosaurus” both have had successful runs on the Syfy Network in the U.S. and have seen great success in the international market.

But one question remains – who will be Mega Shark’s next victim? The Asylum will begin casting later this year.

Sid Haig has been appearing in over 100 films since the early 1960’s. More recently he has appeared in the new Fred Andrews film titled “Creature”.  Media Mikes had a chance to speak with Sid recently about his role in the film as well as his role in the upcoming Rob Zombie film “Lords of Salem”.

Adam Lawton: Can you tell us about your role in the film “Creature” and how the role came about?
Sid Haig: I play a wacked out, maniacal religious type fellow by the name of Chopper. My character worships this “Creature” who lives out in the middle of a swamp and is well fed. Someone stumbles across our path and decides they are going to come check things out. It’s your pretty standard formula for when people start to run into creature. (Laughs) I became involved with the project through the most simplest of ways as my manager submitted me for the role. The people running things said “Hell Yes!” and away we went.

AL: How was it working with Fred Andrews?
SH: Working with Fred was very cool. Fred has been in the business for a long time and has gotten to observe how different things are done when it comes to making a film. He really had a good idea of how he wanted things with this film which made the situation very easy to work in.

AL: Can you tell us about your work on Jesse Dayton’s film “Zombex”?
SH: I’m not too sure what the status of that project is right now however, I have seen some poster work for the film on the internet. It’s kind of strange sometimes when people want me to do a film but they feel they can’t afford me. I often will get brought in for a day and end up doing 3 days worth of work. I was in a number of scenes very briefly with people like Malcolm McDowell and Cory Feldman. We pretty much did our thing and got out. Jesse gave us an idea of what he wanted and we just went from there. There was quite a bit of improvisation work which I very much enjoy. Everything went smoothly.

AL: How does working on recent independent films compare to working on independent films from earlier in your career?
SH: When I first got involved in films around 1961 there was a lot more time as the budgets sort of matched the scripts. Nowadays a lot of films have been written that have more to them than the budget will allow. You often will be racing through stuff. It’s very similar to television where you have to do 20 plus set ups a day or your dead. You really don’t get time to interact with most of the cast. You are working with a small number of people for just a day or two. You often times will not know what happens before or after your scenes take place. I am usually just given the pages of the script that I am involved in. In my earlier films everyone got a full script. That just doesn’t happen that much anymore.

AL: What can you tell us about Rob Zombies new film “Lords of Salem”?
SH: I am sort of in the dark on that. I went in and worked on my scenes and that’s all I really know about the film. I didn’t get the immersed story but I have a feeling it’s going to be something very special. The entire look of the film is very different. There is a much more gothic look to everything. The section of the film that I was involved in could be considered the prologue.

AL: Can you tell us about any of your other upcoming projects?
SH: I have a variety of projects that are all in different stages of production. I have been a very active boy. My publicist who is also my wife keeps a lot of the stuff about me on the internet updated so if you see my named attached to a project the chances are pretty good that things are under way. She has a good lock on that stuff.

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Stanley Tucci
Directed by: Gary Ross
PG 13
Running time: 2 hours 22 mins
Lionsgate

Our Score: 4 out 5 stars

It happens every year. Called “The Reaping,” it consists of children being randomly selected to fight to the death in what has been known as, for the past 73 years, The Hunger Games. The winner is treated to a life of luxury. The losers…you know.

In District 12, 16 year old Katniss Everdeen (Lawrence) is hunting for food. No, really. Bow and arrow in hand she scopes out a deer. But the deer is startled by the sudden appearance of Gale Hawthorne (Liam Hemsworth). It’s obvious the two are sweet on each other but there are more serious things afoot. Like the upcoming “Reaping.” To be eligible, a child must be between the ages of 12 and 18. Katniss’ sister Prim just turned 12 this year and is nervous that she will be picked. With only one entry in the drawing her chances seem slim. But when the time comes it is Prim who is called. To save her sister Katniss offers herself up as tribute. Together with Peeta Mellark (Hutcherson), Katniss is sent to the Capitol to prepare herself for, literally, the battle of her life.

Based on the first of a series of popular novels by Suzanne Collins, “The Hunger Games” is a smart cross between “The Running Man” and “The Truman Show,” with a little “Romeo and Juliet” thrown in for good measure. In a brief intro we are informed that, many years ago, 13 districts tried to overthrow the government. When the rebellion was quashed, those in charge declared that, because of their actions, each year two children (a boy and a girl) would be “chosen” to fight to the death on live television. That’s right. “The Hunger Games” is a national phenomena….the Super Bowl of Carnage. “May the Odds be forever in your favor” is the often repeated phrase that the participants hear. But when there can only be one winner, the odds are pretty much stacked.

I haven’t read the books but I do know of the outcry fans of the novels had when Lawrence was cast. I liken it to the screams that came from Anne Rice fans when Tom Cruise was picked to play Lestat in “Interview With a Vampire.” The fans I talked to after the “HG” screening seemed pretty pleased with Lawrence and with good reason. Coming off an Oscar-nominated breakout performance in “Winter’s Bone,” Lawrence is continuing to prove herself as one of the best new talents working today. Cute as a button, Lawrence also manages to project the quiet strength needed to make Katniss believable. As Peeta, Hutcherson comes off a little whiny. If I had to bet on the outcome of the games I think I’d take the little 12 year old girl over Peeta. The supporting cast shines, even if they do so in hairdos that look like they were left over from a Tim Burton film. As the games master of ceremonies, Tucci chews the scenery in huge teeth and what appears to be a chonmage (the official name of the hairstyle you’d find on a Sumo wrestler) on his head. As Haymitch, the “mentor” for the team from District 12, Woody Harrelson hits all the right notes. As a past “winner,” he can’t help but be cynical about his charges chances. And a true tip of the hat to musician Lenny Kravitz for a strong performance as Cinna, the District 12 style guru. Coupled with fine work in “Precious” a couple of years ago, Kravitz could easily build a fine career in films.

As he has in previous films like “Pleasantville” and “Seabiscuit,” director Ross manages to get inside the characters he’s filming, allowing them to not be overshadowed by the action on screen. And speaking of the action, the film carries a rating of PG 13 largely because of the subject matter. There is some violence on screen but I don’t think it’s anything too rough for the book’s tween-age readers.

One thing I caught that might confuse those who haven’t read the books (and this is not a spoiler). During the opening “video” it is announced that 13 Districts revolted yet in the film only 12 are represented. I asked someone who read the books and was informed that the 13th District was destroyed…something that is made more of in the later books. Thought I’d share this so, like me, you’re not sitting in the theatre trying to figure out how two times thirteen equaled twenty four!

Planet Comicon, one of the largest pop culture and comic book conventions in the Midwest, opens it’s 2012 edition this weekend, March 24 and 25, at the Overland Park International Trade Center in Overland Park, Kansas. The show runs from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm on Saturday the 24th and 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on Sunday the 25th.

As usual, actors and artists from every area of pop culture will be appearing live to meet and greet their fans. Major attendees at Planet Comicon 2012 include Oscar nominated actor Edward James Olmos (“Stand and Deliver,” “Battlestar Galactica,” “Miami Vice”) and Billy Dee Williams (“The Empire Strikes Back,” “Batman,” “Brian’s Song”).

Other guests appearing include Jake Lloyd (young Anikan Skywalker in “Star Wars Episode One: The Phantom Menace”), Gil Gerard, Erin Grey and Felix Silla from “Buck Rogers in the 25th Century,” and Amy Okuda and Robin Thorsen from “The Guild.”

There will also be a plethora of comic book artists as well as a jam packed dealers room. Admission is $20 for an Adult Weekend Pass, $15 for a one day Adult Pass and $5 for kids ages 7-14. Kids under 7 are admitted free.

For more information head to http://www.planetcomicon.com/

Fred Andrews is the writer/director of the horror film “Creature” which stars Sid Haig, Mehcad Brooks and Serinda Swan. Media Mikes had a chance to talk with Fred recently about the upcoming DVD release of the film.

Adam Lawton: What can you tell us about the upcoming DVD release of “Creature”?
Fred Andrews: Right now I don’t know a lot about the specifics of the release.  The intention has always been to release it on Blu-Ray and DVD but I don’t know what the distributor’s plans are. I am pretty excited about it being released in these formats as it will allow a lot more people to be able to see the film and enjoy it.

AL: Did you find it hard both writing and directing the film?
FA: This was a story that had been with me in many different forms since the early 2000’s. The hardest part was probably going through the revision process with the producers when we were still in the scripting phase. There was quite a bit of back story and some other situations that we had to work on. As far as being on set we never had to wait if we wanted to re-write some lines so that was pretty convenient.

AL: What was the casting process like?
FA: Having a very young and attractive cast was something that I wanted to do from the beginning. I had a fantastic casting director by the name of Kelly Wagner who brought in a lot of great people. The people she brought in all had great energy and experience. Having Amanda Fuller, Serinda Swan and Mehcad Brooks was just great. Aaron Hill was another person that was really great to have in the film as well. I was also lucky enough to have Sid Haig and some other great character actors to be a part of the film also. I was very fortunate but a lot of that credit goes to Kelly Wagner.

AL: What did you find to be one of the more difficult aspects of the project?
FA: The post side of things I think were for sure the most difficult. Once you get in there and deliver your directors cut there is then a producers cut of the film. We then had to submit it to the MPAA which was something I had never done before. There was quite a lot of cinematic stuff that tripped the film up with the MPAA. We had a lot of back and forth with the people there. We actually had to submit the film over 6 different times to the MPAA. It was very frustrating. To get to the finished project there was a whole series of compromises.

AL: Do you see yourself doing more writing or directing in the future?
FA: I think I will continue to do both. I do however have a project coming up in the fall that I didn’t write. I will just be directing that one. I feel very fortunate to do whatever I can to tell stories. I am not opposed to doing both or one or the other.

AL: Is the horror genre a place where you feel most comfortable?
FA: I have always been a big fan of the horror genre. It has had a huge influence on my art. I am more of a monster fan than a slasher fan. I am very comfortable in the genre and it is one of the places as a director/film maker that you can take more risks. Comedy and horror for me are what I enjoy most. The mind set of those genres are very similar.

AL: What other projects do you have coming up?
FA: I am currently working on an animation piece that is sort of like a dark comedy. That project is in the pilot stage right now. I am also still working as a production designer.

AL: Is there a dream project out there that you want to work on someday?
FA: There is a book titled “A Choir of Ill Children” by Tom Piccirilli that I would love to make into a film. Even though I don’t have the rights to the book yet I think that is a project that is very close to my heart. There is also a script I wrote a few years ago that I would really like to see get made. That script has more of a horror/crime vibe to it.

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Directed by: Ed Wood
Starring: Bela Lugosi, Tor Johnson, Vampira
Distributed by: Legend Films
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Release Date: March 6, 2012
Running Time: 79 minutes

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

Legend Films is known for colorizing classic films and they their restoration of “Plan 9 from Outer Space” is very impressive. The coloring on the film is looks like it was done with care and very sharply with each scene. Even though this film is considered one of the “worst films of all-time”, I really have sweet spot for it and always enjoy watching it. This is technically the first time that this film has been properly released on Blu-ray. The first being by Rifftrax as a glorified commentary track, though that release wasn’t restored or cleaned up at all. Legend Films really did a great job restoring it in both color and black-and-white.

So many have tried to figure out the actually plot of this film and how it actually comes together as a film. The film itself and Ed Wood’s life even inspired the 1995 Tim Burton directed bio-pic with Johnny Depp as Ed Wood (one of my personal favorites). In “Plan 9”, it is just plain simple fun or madness or both as aliens resurrect the dead as zombies in order to stop human kind from creating a sun-driven bomb. The film has many issues during production including the death of Bella Lugosi. I wish Ed Wood could see this film today as it has become such a cult classic. Love it or hate it, this film will always be around.

The video resolution looks really sharp in its 1080p transfer. The only main concern is that the aspect ratio on the Blu-ray is 1.33:1 compared to the original aspect ratio of 1.85:1. Nothing major missed though. Theaudio is actually quite decent as it includes an DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track. Since this film is considered one of the “worst”, you might not expect much but in video and audio this release definitely succeeds, thanks to Legend Films.

The special features are impressive for this release. Starting off is a commentary track by MST3K’s Mike Nelson, which definitely delivers some great laughs. There is trivia subtitles, which I enjoyed quite a bit about the film. There are also a few features on Ed Wood. The first is called “Ed Wood Home Movies”, it is presented in HD even though it is old grainy footage. It is short but definitely worth checking out for a rare look into some personal moments with Ed Wood. Then there is “Ed Wood Commercials”, also in HD included some really priceless shorts, definitely in the spirit of Ed Wood. Lastly if you prefer the classic black and white version of the film, as with all Legend releases they included the original black and white version as well, so everyone is happy.

Directed by: Roger Corman
Starring: Dick Miller, Jack Nicholson, Jonathan Haze, Mel Welles
Distributed by: Legend Films
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Release Date: March 6, 2012
Running Time: 70 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2 out of 5 stars

Legend Films is known for colorizing classic films and they did a very notable job with 1960’s “The Little Shop of Horrors”. The color is very subtle and feels like it was beautiful hand panted on each scene. I have seen this film many times and I am big fan of Roger Corman and this film still works well for me. This is the first time that this film has been released on Blu-ray and Legend films really did a great job restoring it in both color and black-and-white.

Everyone knows the classic story of “The Little Shop of Horrors”. This 1960 film was also one of Jack Nicholson’s first roles. Seymour grows an exotic plant that has an insatiable appetite for blood and people. As the plant grows larger and larger and hungrier and hungrier, things start to get out of the control for the local flower shop and their bloodthirsty plant.

The video resolutions looks really sharp in its 1080p transfer. The only main concern is that the aspect ratio on the Blu-ray is 1.33:1 compared to the original aspect ratio of 1.85:1. Nothing major missed though. The audio is nothing special but includes a DTS-HD Master Audio Mono track.

The special features only included a commentary track by MST3K’s Mike Nelson, which definitely delivers some great laughs. Lastly if you prefer the classic black and white version of the film, as with all Legend releases they included the original black and white version as well, so everyone is happy.

Directed by: Ralph Bakshi
Starring: Bob Holt, Steve Gravers and Jesse Welles
Distributed by: 20th Century Fox
MPAA Rating: PG
Release Date: March 13, 2012
Running Time: 81 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2 out of 5 stars

If you are a fan of Ralph Bakshi then you would be excited for this release, if not then you probably have never heard of this film. Bakshi is the director of film’s like “Fritz the Cat”, “The Lord of the Rings (1978)” and “Cool World”. His animation style is so unique and very interesting to watch. This film holds up well over the years and looks decent on Blu-ray. The real draw on this release has to be the Digibook packaging. The release comes with a 24-page full-color digibook. It includes a note from Ralph Bakshi, a short essay on the film, and lots of sketches and concept art. Definitely worth picking up if you are fans of Bakshi and the film.

The film itself follows the battle between Avatar and his evil brother Blackwolf. Avatar is an eccentric but kind sorcerer-ruler of Montagar, which is a magical place inhabited by elves and fairies. Blackwolf has plans to dominates Montagar. But with the help from fairy Elinore, a robot assassin named Peace, and Elfin spy Weehawk, Avatar must save his world from darkness.

The Blu-ray presentation is good but not amazing. The video looks good in 1080p transfer but is not perfect. The color really pop and the animation looks sharp even though its shows a little age. The audio boasts an impressive DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track and also includes a English Dolby Digital mono track. Note: this US release does not include the score-only audio track like the UK release unfortunately.

Since this is the 35th Anniversary release, I was hoping for some new special features but there is nothing new and everything is only presented in standard definition. There is a commentary track from Bakshi, which was used on the 2004 DVD release. It is a good commentary track though and very informative. There is a 35 minute making-of feature called “Ralph Bakshi- The Wizard of Animation Featurette”, definitely worth checking out and wish this was in HD. Lastly there is two trailers, TV spot and a photo gallery included.