Directed by: Law Wing-cheong
Starring: Anthony Wong, Richie Ren, Janice Man
Distributed by: Vivendi Entertainment
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Release Date: January 24th, 2012
Running time: 94 min.

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

The people behind “Punished” are more exciting than the film actually is. Producer Johnnie To and director Law Wing Cheong make this film seem extremely interesting. If you add in star Anthony Wong from “Infernal Affairs” and Richie Jen from “Fire of Conscience”, it should seal the deal, but it doesn’t. The film has a lot of twists and turns but utterly leaves you confused and a little bit bored.

The film follows real estate tycoon Wong Ho-Chiu (Anthony Wong) as he deals with the kidnapping and killing of his daughter Daisy (Janice Man). Wong Ho-Chiu turns to his trusted bodyguard Chor (Richie Jen) to find the people who are responsible for her death and seek revenge on them. As Wong gets deeper into this world, he will find that things may not be what they seem in his search for revenge.

The special features are slim and only really consist of two behind-the-scenes featurettes. They are interesting but leave you wanting more. Also included is a photo gallery and an international trailer. One cool feature is an exclusive QR Code on the DVD, which leads you to additional footage.

Director: Danfung Dennis
Starring: Sergeant Nathan Harris, Ashley Harris, The Marines of Echo Company 2nd Battalion
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Distributed by: New Video
Run Time: 88 minutes

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

If you haven’t heard of this film it is the 2011 Sundance Film Festival World Cinema Grand Jury Prize and Cinematography Prize Winner. Director Danfung Dennis really dives into behind the lines and captures the action of being in Afghanistan and follows 25-year-old Sergeant Nathan Harris and the aftermath of him being shot, returning home and coping with regular life. The film is well paced and has a good blend of blending the past and present. It really puts you in the shoes of the soldiers fighting for our country.

The footage in Afghanistan feels very real and gives an inside look inside to what is it like to be behind the lines. You really feel for Sergeant Harris and his struggles with recuperating after his injury. The Blu-ray also shines in video with a clear picture and great sound to back this release. Although it is not to an action film this format definitely adds a lot to this film. Also notable with this release is the fact that this film comes with both the Blu-ray and a DVD of the film which I enjoy having both.

The special features includes on this Blu-ray are really great starting with a great and informative commentary from director Danfung Dennis and editor Fiona Otway. It is very detailed and worth listening to if you are a fan of commentary tracks. In “Technical Gear Demo: How HELL AND BACK AGAIN was filmed”, it is pretty self explanatory, it goes into the process of how this film was made. I really enjoyed the inside look into the process. “Willie Nelson’s Hell and Back: Slide Show” is basically a glorified photo gallery with some good tunes. Lastly there are a few deleted scenes. I think the film was tight at 88 minutes and none of these really jumped out as being needed in the film but they are worth a watch if you enjoyed the film and want a little more.

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Directed by: David R. Ellis
Starring: Sara Paxton, Dustin Milligan, Chris Carmack, Katharine McPhee, Donal Logue, Joshua Leonard
Joel David Moore
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Distributed by: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Running Time: 91 minutes

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

I had very high anticipation for this movie when I saw it in theaters but was utterly disappointed. I thought the 3D was decent but the film fails to really entertain. When re-watching the Blu-ray, my feelings on the film did improve slightly.  My main issue with the film was the side story of how the local hillbillies capture the kids to be shark bait for their planned TV show. I thought that was beyond stupid and ruined the movie. The sharks in the film are OK but not great. I wish they would have had a lot more screen time and less crappy teen angst. The problem I have with this home release is…where is the 3D? The film was original called and marketed as “Shark Night 3D”. I really hope that Fox is planning on releasing it in the near future.

When I think sharks, I think kick ass death scenes usually. The kills are lame in this one and really suffer from its PG-13 rating. Honestly, I feel that there are better kills in the cheesy SyFy creature features.  If they would have made this movie rated R and amped up the kills and got rid of the hillbillies, this probably would have been 100 times better.  The video on the Blu-ray does look very clear and definitely showcases what little shark scenes there is.  The sound is also very sharp and plays well with the films action scenes. One thing that I felt about the film on home release compared to theater is that I was able to replay the quick but cool shark scenes, which made this worth wild for us shark enthusiasts.

The extras are decent but run less than 20 minutes all in all.  The first extra is called “Shark Attack! Kill Machine!”, which just sums up all the kills into one five-minute scene. Honestly its plays better than the whole film since the only good scenes are the shark scenes. “Shark Night’s Survival Guide” is trivia game about shark attacks, using clips from the film.  It is lame overall but worth checking out once.  “Fake Sharks, Real Scares'” is a great featurette about the film’s animatronic and CGI sharks, my favorite feature but it runs too short.  “Ellis’ Island” is another short making-of featurette about the film, this one is worth missing.  Lastly there is the theatrical trailer and about 10 minutes of sneak peek trailers for upcoming 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment.

Beverly Mitchell is co-starring in the new film “Infected” along side Vinnie Jones and Danny Glover.  She is known best for her role in the TV series “7th Heaven” and also appeared in films like “Saw II”. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Beverly about her new film and also her other work.

Mike Gencarelli: Tell us about your character, Isabelle, in “Infected”?
Beverly Mitchell: We like to call her the “ugly duckling.” She’s the girl who was friends with all the guys. She was very awkward growing up but now she’s grown into a beautiful girl. She still has a lot of the insecurities she had in high school. She’s super-sweet, but she’s also sarcastic and fun. She doesn’t have a filter and she says what’s on her mind. She doesn’t have a mean bone in her body but she doesn’t always do the right thing. She has an unspoken love for Travis. They’re definitely the two most flirtatious…they definitely have something going on that neither one will recognize. What I love about it is that it’s like going back to when you were a child and if the little boy likes someone he goes up and hits them. It’s kind of like that between Travis and Izzy. She is so much fun to play because it’s so real and you can totally relate to it. It was fun for me to play this character because I typically play the nice girl. I’m always the goody two shoes. So it was kind of fun to play the girl that gets in trouble and puts her foot in her mouth. And a little more on the sexier side because she’s still trying to overcome the fact that she never felt pretty. It’s was really fun. I loved it.

MG: You are currently in production, tell us about the shoot so far?
BM: The film is about a group of friends that go to help out Dean’s grandma who is getting infected. There is a company that is developing an anti-virus so they can make money. And it turns out, lo and behold, that we all start getting involved and, one by one, we start getting infected. The film is about whether the group can overcome the virus and if they can survive and take down the huge pharmaceutical company that is trying to make money by making people sick.

MG: How is it working with Vinnie Jones, Danny Glover and director Jason Dudek?
BM: It was so much fun. Jason is such a fantastic director. He’s so involved and has every beat clearly choreographed in his head. As an actor you trust absolutely everything that he brings…he doesn’t miss anything. He was so supportive and so understand…just a perfect “actors” director. I’ve seen a little bit of the footage (the film is currently in post-production) and it looks amazing. It is going to be one fantastic film. I’m so excited about it. It’s one of those films where I was excited to go to work every day. 16 hour days. YEAH! And I’ll do it all over again tomorrow! And that doesn’t happen very often. It was a great set. Every actor brought his “A” game every day. And then you have a phenomenal director who continues to remind you why we do this. It was really exciting. I just love that.

MG: Sticking with sci-fi/horror genre, tell us about working on “Pennhurst,” directed by Michael Rooker?
BM: “Pennhurst” was quite an experience because we actually shot at the actual Pennhurst in Pennsylvania. It’s….well I don’t know if you’d call it haunted or what…but there is definitely something going on at Pennhurst. And while we were shooting there we saw all of it! It was crazy. We were there for eleven days. Batteries kept dying…cell phones went wacky…cameras began taking random photos on their own. Everything that they say happened there, which made the filming experience more interesting…just to be able to shoot on the actual location of Pennhurst. To see the beauty of the buildings and learn what Pennhurst is all about. For the audience it’s going to be interesting. And creepy. And scary. (laughs)

MG: How is it working on a show like “The Secret Life of the American Teenager” and how does it compare to when you worked on “7th Heaven”?
BM: Obviously the subject matter is much different then what we dealt with on “7th Heaven.” We talk a lot about sex on “Teenager” and a lot of other stuff we never talked about on “7th Heaven.” But what’s fantastic about “Secret Life” is that a good portion of our crew also worked on “7th Heaven.” So it’s like going home because it’s the crew that I grew up with. We just had our 15th Anniversary of when “7th Heaven” started, which is crazy to me. It doesn’t feel like it’s been 15 years. It’s so fantastic to go to work with everyone. The cast on “Secret Life” is fantastic. They’re so talented. They’re so much fun. They’re so welcoming every time I come back. Brenda Hampton (creator of both “7th Heaven” and “The Secret Life of an American Teenager”) is such a genius. I owe so much to her. She’s always been so supportive. She started this all out for me with “7th Heaven” and I can’t thank her enough.

MG: While you were working on “7th Heaven” you did “Saw II.” How hard was it to work on two completely different projects almost simultaneously?
BM: Believe it or not, I’m really not a horror film fan. I can’t stand horror movies because they scare the crap out of me. I am not good at watching anything horror. I totally freak out. I’m the girl who has to watch the movie during the middle of the day in daylight and then have to watch a comedy immediately after. It took me seven times before I finally got through watching the first “Saw” film. But part of me was really excited. You can’t describe it. And you certainly can’t compare “7th Heaven” to “Saw II.” But I was really excited. And I had no idea it would become the franchise it is today…what are they on, “Saw 17” by now? (laughs) But it was a lot of fun. Working up in Toronto was amazing. I love actually making horror films but I don’t love watching them. And I have a new found respect for the art of blood. “Saw II” was where I got my first lesson in blood and I loved the fact that I was able to tell them “throw more blood on me…make me look worse.” (laughs) It was so much fun. It’s fun to be able to do something that’s completely different then what you’re used to. That’s why I like to take roles that pull me in different directions and scare me. “Saw II” was definitely the thing that scared me most. I didn’t know if I could scream. I knew I could yell but I didn’t know if I could scream because I never really had the need to. So when I got to Toronto I thought, “I hope I got this.” And apparently I’ve got some good lungs on me because it worked out just fine.

MG: Besides acting, you’re also a country singer. Are you still recording?
BM: Actually, I’m not. I’m not doing anything currently. The whole country music thing was something I wanted to do my whole life. We were wrapping up “7th Heaven” and I talked to Brenda about it and she said, “just go…go to Nashville and do it.” Which is so not like me because I’m an Aquarius and I always have a plan. So I started writing. I met with producers and we did the album. It was such an experience. I equal it to being naked in front of everybody and just showing your soul and everything you have to the world. That’s what music is for me. Acting is very different because you get to hide behind other characters and you get to immerse yourself into them. But music is very much about who you are and what story you’re trying to tell. It was just a great experience allowing me to be me and to tell the story I wanted to tell. I absolutely loved it. I’m not doing it now because everything right now is going in a different direction. I’ve been doing a lot of writing. And I’m actually currently signed on to produce a Broadway play. It’s going to be off the chart…so fantastic and so much fun. It’s going to be like nothing anybody has seen before. So my time has been taken away from music. But that’s alright. I know that whatever I’m supposed to be doing I’m doing right now. And writing and creating and getting into the producing side is where I believe that my life is taking me. And I’ll always act. That’s like breathing and you can’t take that away from me.

MG: What is the name of the play?
BM: It is called “The Fabulous Lives of Hollywood Whores.” (laughs) Isn’t that fantastic?

Director: Matthew Bate
Starring: Ivan Brunetti, Daniel Clowes, Mitch Deprey
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: New Video Group
Running Time: 89 minutes

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

Eddie Lee and Mitchell D’s audio vérité recordings of Peter and Raymond has been used in pop culture over the last 20 years in music, comics and film. This documentary follows the Eddie Lee and Mitchell D as they take us through how this whole phenomenon was born and what is has turned into today. The interviews are really interesting and we even have rare interview Peter himself back in 1993. If you are fan of where these recordings came from and their background leading to today, this is a very interesting film.

The recordings made by Eddie Lee Sausage and Mitchell D. where done back in the last 80’s when they discovered that their neighbors, Peter Haskett and Raymond Huffman, who at the time were constantly  arguing and Peter was often screaming “shut up, little man!” at Ray. If you have never heard these recordings, it is sure to impact you more than others who have been listening for years. Still though, the film is so well done that it will still make these recording feels fresh and document them well.

I was hoping for decent special features with this DVD and I was definitely impressed. There is an interesting extended interview with Ivan Brunetti, Peter Haskett and Raymond Huffman roommate. There is a shit load of deleted/extended scenes. Some of them are decent and some feel wasted. If you want some information on the behind the scenes about this documentary, you will be happy with the featurette that is included as well. Overall if you are looking for a good laugh, this DVD is a no-brainer.

Greg Jacobs is one of the directors of the documentary film “Louder Than a Bomb”. The film takes a look at an annual poetry competition held in Chicago, IL and follows four schools preparing to compete in the event. Media Mikes had a chance recently to talk with Greg about his work on the film.

Adam Lawton: Can you tell us about your film “Louder Than a Bomb”?
Greg Jacobs: The film is about the world’s largest high school poetry competition. The competition is called Louder than a Bomb and it takes place each year in Chicago. The film follows four schools from the beginning of the school year until the end of the contest. Over the course of the film you start to see the film shift into being about something very different than what you envision at the start.

AL: What was it about the project that really interested you?
GJ: Documentaries have a funny way of finding you instead of you finding them. That is what happened with this film. I was driving down Clark St. in Chicago in the spring of 2005 and we went pass The Metro which is a famous rock club. I looked up at the marquee to see who was playing and it was the finals of the Louder than a Bomb competition. There was a line of kids made up of all different shapes, colors and sizes stretching down the block. Chicago is such a segregated city that it was really weird to see that type of crowd on the North side of Chicago for a poetry competition on a Saturday night. I mentioned this to my partner and everything sort of got started from there.

AL: Were you aware of this type of performance prior to the project?
GJ: We were both aware of slam poetry as it was something that came out of Chicago. We didn’t know that it existed as a high school thing or about the Louder than a Bomb program. It was really fun getting to know everyone involved and the culture of the teams.

AL: How did you go about choosing the four teams featured in the film?
GJ: Kevin Coval who is one of the founders of the program served as our tour guide. Over the course of a year he kind of directed us towards the school that had really serious programs. We visited about 12 schools to begin with. We attended the competition in 2007 on a scouting mission. The kids who made it into the film really jumped out and it was clear who we were going to follow. A lot of the kids we met at the event kind of pointed out who we should really follow as well.

AL: What do you think was the hardest part of shooting the film?
GJ: Everyone involved was really co-operative. We in a sense were part of the family. The real trick came when we took the 350 hrs. of footage we had shot into the editing room. Editing for the film took about 2 yrs. It really took a lot to get the film cut down and to get the story right. We have a really great editor.

AL: Over the course of shooting did the kids ever get you to try your hand at any poetry?
GJ: I don’t think anybody wanted to see that! (Laughs) That would have been catastrophic.

AL: Can you tell us when we can see the film?
GJ: The film will be airing on the Oprah Winfrey network January 5th. It’s a huge honor to be one of the first dozen documentary clubs to shown on that network. We also are planning a DVD release for early March.

AL: Do you have any other upcoming projects?
GJ: Jon Siskel and I also do television series. We have been doing a series of shows for National Geographic. We actually just won an Emmy for one we did on Hurricane Katrina. “Loader than a Bomb” just keeps growing and over the last year we have really been able to expand the outreach of the program. We are very slowly taking this thing that’s in Chicago and turning it into a national thing. Doing all this has really taken up a lot of our time and energy so we haven’t really been open to the next big idea.

Directed by: Chris Paine
Narrated by: Tim Robbins
Starring: Elon Musk, Carlos Ghosn, Bob Lutz, Greg Abbott, Dan Neil
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Distributed by: New Video
Running time: 90 minutes

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

If you are aware of the film “Who Killed the Electric Car?”, directed by Chris Paine, then you should known about this one. It is his follow up film focusing on the return of electric cars. The film is definitely interesting and shows a lot of great points. There are celebrity appearance from Danny DeVito, Jon Favreau and Arnold Schwarenegger. I enjoyed the flow of the film and I felt that it kept my interest from beginning to end. Docuramafilms is one of my favorite sources for choosing really great documentary subjects. It is rare to find that you are that entertained from a documentary especially about electric cars.

The film starts off around 2006 after the electric cars where destroyed, now they are back and want revenge. The film is narrated by Tim Robbins and follows GM and Elon Mush as they bring the return of the electric car. The film shows what the future of the car will be and how it is back faster, furiouser and cleaner than ever. The fighters to bring the electric car are Bob Lutz from General Motors, Elon Musk from Tesla Motors, Carlos Ghosn from Nissan, and Greg Abbott, an independent electric car converter. The director, Chris Paine, did a great job and is definitely on my radar now. He knows how to take a topic and turn it into a great documentary.

The extras on the film are really decent and impressive. There is a Tribeca Film Festival Talk which runs about 35 minutes. The panel features Elon Musk, Dan Neil, Carlos Ghosn, David Duchovny and director Chris Paine. There is about 20 minutes of additional bonus footage, definitely worth checking out if you enjoyed the film. If you enjoyed the celebrity interviews in the film, there are about 25 minutes of additional interviews. Lastly there is the theatrical trailer and Nissan Leaf promo trailer also included.

Josh Hammond is an actor with a resume of around 35 films. Josh is probably best known for his role as Jake Spencer in the horror film “Jeepers Creepers II”. Josh has a new film coming out titled “Agua Caliente” which also features Jason Mewes and WWE Veteran Al Snow. Media Mikes had a chance to speak with Josh about the film and some of his upcoming projects.

Adam Lawton: What can you tell us about the film “Agua Caliente”?
Josh Hammond: “Agua Caliente” is a comedy about 4 misfit film makers who receive $100,000 to make a film. However instead of using it for the film they blow all their money on one night of debauchery and are left with the task of shooting a film in 48hrs. We decide to shoot a horror film at a Halloween birthday party. We end up delivering the film but that’s all I am going to say. (Laughs)

AL: Can you tell us about your character in the film?
JH: I play a guy by the name of Lake Palmer. He is an out of work C-list actor working in construction. One of my friends in the film gets this money from my Uncle played by Al Snow to make a film. The film will hopefully make it so I don’t have to work in construction my whole life. I am pretty much a deadbeat alcoholic. (Laughs) he is sort of the zero to hero type guy.

AL: How did you get involved with the project?
JH: I had done a film a few years ago with Bill McAdams Jr. and Jessica Sonneborn. We had stayed in contact over the years and one holiday weekend we all went out to Palm Springs. The house we went to is actually the house we used in about 90% of the film. Bill brought up the idea of making a movie and we just started bouncing ideas back and forth while we were sitting in the pool. Over the next couple months we kept going out there and writing more and more around the location. Next thing I know we had a finished script and we started looking for money. We called in favors from friends and had some crew member friends come in to help us out.

AL: Had you worked with your wife (Kristina Page) on screen prior to this film? And how was the experience?
JH: I had actually never worked with her before this. We had been attached to a film together but we shot our scenes on different days. When you are producing, starring and writing it can be a little stressful. When you finally do go home I pretty much didn’t want to look at her even though I love her. (Laughs) It is hard to work together on that many levels and then go home and have to cook and clean.

AL: How was it working with Jason Mewes?
JH: Jason was very fun to work with. I have actually worked with him twice before. We worked together on “The Tripper” and “Noah’s Ark”. It was fun to be his boss and be able to tell him what to do. (Laughs) Jason is very creative and a lot of fun. Jason’s mind is so far out there that you have to be going his speed in order to keep up. It was exciting to have him attached to the project. It was a pleasure working with him.

AL: What are the release plans for the film?
JH: We have just submitted it to the Palm Springs Film Festival. I think the decisions are going to be made on that in the coming weeks. We are really hoping to get in there because we shot the film in the Palm Springs area and my wife grew up around there as well. There is also one or two other festivals we are looking to get in to. At the same time we are shopping for distributors. There are a lot of options out there to get the film out.

AL: What other upcoming projects do you have in the works?
JH: I have one film in the can titled “The Penny Dreadful Picture Show”. That film was done by Imaginarium and Dreadful Pictures. We shot that in Connecticut with Lee Scott directing. The film is 3 short films combined to make the picture show. I play the lead in the middle film titled “Slaughter House”. The story is based around a Charles Manson type family. I am slated to do a film in January titled “American Girls” where I play a serial rapist. In March I am supposed to start on a film called “Gallows Road” with Kevin Sorbo. I am also in the process of writing a Christmas film with Bill and my wife. I have a lot of things on my plate and am very happy.

Directors: Troy Nixey
Starring: Katie Holmes, Guy Pearce, Bailee Madison, Bruce Gleeson, Eddie Ritchard
MPAA Rated: R
Distributed: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Running Time: 99 minutes

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

When you have a horror film, or any film, that is written and produced by Guillermo del Toro, you set your expectations very high. This film unfortunately disappoints and  fails to delivers his usual charm. The film is a remake of the 1973 horror film of the same title but it doesn’t capture the same spark that the first film did. One of the film’s faults is that it is an R-rated film that plays like a PG-13 rated film.

The film follows a young girl, Sally, who moves to live with her father and his new girlfriend in a 19th-century mansion, that her father is restoring. During Sally’s exploration of the old mansion, she starts to finds out that creatures are living in the basement. Her curiosity ends up releasing them loose in the house and she finds out that they have a lust for little children.

I actually really enjoyed the performances from Katie Holmes, Guy Pearce and specifically Bailee Madison. They all gave decent performances, especially for a horror film. I wish that they also didn’t show the creatures as much as they did. It could have been a lot more successfully if we didn’t have a close up on them each scene. The Blu-ray looks clear and definitely uses the dark scenes to deliver great picture.  The sound also is great but I wish the film was more suspenseful because it could have benefited more.

The special features are slim but decent overall. There is a behind the scenes featurette, which consists of three parts. The first focuses on “The Story”, the second focuses on “Blackwood’s Mansion” and the last focuses on “The Creatures”. I feel that it covers all the proper grounds and gives decent insight into the films story and production. There is also a Conceptual Art Gallery included and it is actually decent, especially since it feels like it comes from Guillermo del Toro’s mind. Lastly, the film comes with the new instant streaming using UltraViolet digital copy.

Directed by: Scott Spiegel
Starring: Kip Pardue, Brian Hallisay, John Hensley, Sarah Habel, Skyler Stone, Zulay Henao, Thomas Kretschmann
Distributed by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Running time: 88 minutes

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

Alright so here we are at “Part III” of the Hostel series and surprisingly this series still had a lot of steam left in it and a bright future. Most of this praise needs to go to the film’s director Scott Spiegel, writer of “Evil Dead II” and writer/director of “Intruder”. Scott knows horror for sure and in fact actually produced “Hostel” and “Hostel: Part II” as well, so he has been invested in this series. What is great about this series is that they can just pick up and move to a new location and grab some new kids and it definitely works again in this film. What better of a location to pick-up and move to then VEGAS!

The third film in the franchise follows a group of guys going on a bachelor party to Vegas. The group gets swopped to a private party off-the-strip and that is where things go wrong, of course. The group gets taken hostage and are sent to their death to the highest bidder at an elite hunter’s club. The plot is similar from the from two films but puts a new spin on it. The film is backed with amazing gore and some really new kick ass kill scenes.  That is really key for this franchise and it definitely doesn’t disappoint.

I hope this series continues because I could see many new opportunities. After enjoying the film, I was hoping for some decent extras but the DVD special features are disappointing with only a commentary track included. The commentary track though is with director Scott Spiegel and star Kip Perdue, it is informative and fun and definitely worth checking out. Horror fans should give this film a chance.  I would say it falls in line with “Hostel: Part II”, so if you enjoyed that this will not disappoint.

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Barbara Nedeljakova is known best for her role in the film “Hostel”.  She has also been in a bunch of other genre films like “Children of the Corn: Genesis” and the upcoming “The Hike” and “Strippers vs. Werewolves” with Robert Englund.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Barbara over Skype and chatted about her roles to date and working with such great talent and directors.

Mike Gencarelli: Looking back on “Hostel”, what was the most challenging part for you on the film?
Barbara Nedeljakova: It was my first major role and I was new to the horror genre. The first scene we shot actually was my death scene. I think the whole story was a challenge. I wanted the audience to like me in the beginning and to be all sweet and innocent. The whole transformation to become evil and cold-blooded was interesting and challenging. To find the truth in a role in a good challenge to have.

MG: Tell us about working with Eli Roth?
BN: It was great experience. It is probably my best experience on a set. Eli is great and is very excited about being on a set and working with his actors. He makes you feel very confident. His energy was great and so fun to be around. When we were shooting bloody scenes, he was jumping around and all excited and has had such energy. I would love to work with him again definitely.

MG: Tell us about working on “Children of the Corn: Genesis”?
BN: It was a very small cast. We shot the film in a desert outside of Los Angeles. I play a mother of one of the boys and that was pretty interesting. Billy Drago plays my husband. He is this creepy preacher and I am his abused wife, right out of Russia. There is this couple that comes to our house and they have no idea what they are getting into. It was interesting playing a mom in this role and it was definitely a different kind of part.

MG: What can you tell us about your role in “The Hike”, directed by Rupbert Bryan?
BN: It is a very dark film and also very violent. They had a screening and I took a bunch of my friends and they left feeling sick. It is very realistic. It is a about a reunion of a few girls that haven’t seen each other in a few years and they go for this hike and, of course, everything goes bad. It is going to be for people who can take real gore.

MG: The film looks like a “Hostel” in the woods, tell us about the shoot?
BN: Yeah, there was a lot of dark and difficult scenes that we had to shoot in the woods at night. There was also a lot of bad weather and rain during the shoot. We also had to be some pick up shots like a half a year later back in the forest in the same outfits…in the snow. So yeah, it was a little challenging.

MG: Tell us about working on the film “Isle of Dogs” and when can we see it?
BN: “Isle of Dogs” is basically a story about a betrayal. It had a lot of fighting and drama scenes. The whole film is about chasing and we had a lot of stunt work, so it was exciting for me. I know they are currently editing and doing some re-cuts.

MG: Tell us about your role of Raven in “Strippers vs. Werewolves” with Robert Englund?
BN: [laughs] Yeah, I just finished that one a few months ago. It is a horror comedy. It was fun. My role was a sexy but strong girl who takes the gun and shoot them in the balls. I had a lot of fun doing it. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to be on the set the same day as Robert and didn’t get to meet him.

MG: What film did you recently film in London?
BN: I worked with the same director from “Isles of Dogs”, Tammi Sutton. The film is called “Whispers”. It is a mystery drama. It is a small cast. It follows two couples and a house. Not sure how much I can giveaway but there is a woman who recently lost her child. I am playing this Russian girl, who is a real bitch. Things go wrong and one by one we get picked off. It was a fun film to work on.

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Starring: Asa Butterfield, Chloe Grace Moretz and Ben Kingsley
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Rated: PG
Running time: 2 hours 6 mins
Paramount

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

High above the crowds in the Paris Train Terminal, young Hugo Cabret (Butterfield) tends to the clocks, making his way through a seemingly never ending maze of tunnels and catwalks. Orphaned after the sudden death of his father (Jude Law in a nice cameo), a clockmaker, Hugo is put in the charge of his uncle Claude (Ray Winstone), a heavy drinker who brings Hugo to live with him in a small apartment behind one of the great clocks. Apparently the knowledge of gears and springs runs in the family. When not spying on the comings and goings of the people below, Hugo is attempting to repair an automaton: a mechanical man his father had discovered at the museum where he worked and had brought home as a kind of father and son project. He only needs a few more gears and a mysterious heart shaped key to wind it up.

Based on the award winning book “The Invention of Hugo Cabret” by Brian Selznick, the film is a faithful adaptation that unfolds beautifully thanks to its heart, director Scorsese. While the film is centered around the mechanical man, the main character here is the quiet owner of a toy shop (Kingsley, who should most definitely receive an Oscar nomination for his work) whose past is celebrated without his knowledge. To say more would give away a major plot point but when it’s revealed you realize that not only was Martin Scorsese the perfect choice as director, he might possibly was the only choice.

The cast is aces across the board. As young Hugo, Butterfield shines. His wide eyes taking in the world around him, while still projecting the sorrow behind them, Hugo is wise beyond his years in some ways. As the book loving girl he meets in the train station, Moretz (“Kick Ass,” “Let Me In”) continues to add to an incredible early career that puts her on the same track as Jodie Foster and Kirsten Dunst…a child actress that will seamlessly grow on screen before our eyes. Kingsley, who is surely this generations Robert Duvall (the man NEVER gives a bad performance) makes the character of Papa George come to life. Credit also to Sacha Baron Cohen as a local constable, Christopher Lee as the book seller and, in smaller roles, Richard Griffiths and Emily Mortimer. And though he doesn’t say a word, I should point out that the actor who plays early jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt is Emil Langer. I say this because he bears an uncanny resemblance to Johnny Depp (I heard more than one whisper during the film). Further confusing is that Depp is a producer on the film.

If I have one problem with “Hugo,” it’s that no one in authority seems to know that Uncle Claude is no longer working the clocks. You’d think that his paychecks would stack up in the office. Just a quibble but something that occurred to me.

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Directed By: Joe M Castro
Starring: Brinke Stevens, Nick Principe, Cleve Hall, Lisa Garcia, Lauren Boehm, Felipe Winslett, Scott Barrows, Tim Cooley
Distributed by: Breaking Glass Pictures
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 98 minutes

Our Score: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Right off the bat, this film has an instant draw for me with the fact that it holds the Guinness World Records™ for “Highest Body Count in a Slasher Film” with a ridiculous 155 body count. The film heavily uses CG effects, which could normally be annoying but for this it sort of works. I am not sure how but this film has also received over 20 film festival awards including Best Horror Film, Best Visual Effects, Best Editing, Best Action Sequence, and Best SFX Feature. It is not the best horror/slasher ever but it definitely deserves some attention.

The man behind the “Terror Toons” series, Joe Castro brings us this very original anthology slasher film which follows eight different killers through five different stories. This film also includes a decent genre cast featuring Brinke Stevens from “Slumber Party Massacre”, Nick Principe from the “Laid to Rest” series, and Cleve Hall from “Nightmare”. The first stories follows the brutal beatings of a young man who then sets off a bloody rampage. The next story deals with a paraplegic girl as she heads out to kill her older, beautiful sister after she tries to murder her. Another story deals a woman who was raped 36 years ago by her biological father and after hiding for year he finds them. The next one follows a group of teenagers that are stalked in the forest. The last story features three serial killers that terrorize Los Angeles by murdering everyone in sight.

There were no special features included on my screener but the retail copy includes the following: Director’s Commentary, Director’s Diary (Behind-the-scenes), Interview with Brinke Stevens, Cast Auditions, Director Joe Castro’s Childhood Massacre Short Film. Definitely packed with some good stuff.  Overall this is just a fun ride that answers to no one and just goes nuts with itself.

Directors: Mark Kassen, Adam Kassen
Starring: Chris Evans, Brett Cullen, Michael Biehn, Mark Kassen, Vanessa Shaw
Studio: Millennium Entertainment
MPAA Rating: R
Running Time: 100 minutes

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

It is very surprising that a film like this was dropped direct to DVD/Blu-ray, especially when Chris Evans is at the top of his career and just come off playing the role of Marvel’s Captain America. This film is very deep and definitely heavy on the drama. Chris Evans delivers a pretty emotional performances and shows off those acting skills. Overall though the film fails to really delivers the entertaining factors for me. I enjoyed the story but I didn’t really become very attached to it.

The film follows lawyer and also drug addict, Mike Weiss (Chris Evans) and Paul Danziger (co-director Mark Kassen) as they take their law firm against the health care and pharmaceutical companies. They are underdogs in this battle to get safety needles but in all hospitals, after a local ER nurse is pricked by a contaminated needle on the job. Not only is Mike fighting the case…he is also fighting his own demons.

The special features are virtually non-existent. Though if you enjoy the film and are a fan of digital copies than it will be a plus for you as a free digital copy is included. There are also a few preview for other Millennium Entertainment films. Fans of Evans, should give this a shot for the acting and fans of law films should enjoy it as well.

Directed by: Steven Soderbergh
Starring: Marion Cotillard, Matt Damon, Laurence Fishburne, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Winslet
Distributed by: Warner Bros. Pictures
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Running time: 106 minutes

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

With a stellar cast including Matt Damon, Jude Law, Laurence Fishburne, Kate Winslet and Gwyneth Paltrow and a scary yet intriguing story, this film should have delivered but it didn’t.  The acting is definitely fantastic and is the only redeeming factor in this film.  The story was unable to connect all of its intertwining stories into one decent paced story.  The story moves very slow and doesn’t express the thriller aspect of the events happening.  When you have a film about global epidemic, I just would expect it to be a little more exciting. Unfortunately this  film drags and is not exciting at all.

The special features includes in this set are good but not great.  The first is called “Contagion: How A Virus Changes The World” is a decent featurette about the effects of the virus. “The Reality of Contagion” delves into the truth behind the films events and the cast talk about the reality.  It is an interesting feature.  “The Contagion Detectives” talk about how the cast was prepared for their roles and the people that helped them get ready. Lastly included is the UltraViolet Digital Copy for instant streaming, which is a great feature just too bad I am not looking forward to watching this film anytime again soon.

Synopsis: Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law, Laurence Fishburne and Bryan Cranston, along with medical journalist Sanjay Gupta, explore the real science of global viruses and what they mean to the human race. The world is preparing for the next biological disaster…but is it too late?

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