Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje talks about roles in "Bullet to the Head" and "Thor: The Dark World"

Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje is best known for his roles in TV series like Mr. Eko on “Lost” and Simon Adebisi on “Oz”. He has one hell of a busy year planned for 2013 with “Bullet to the Head” with Sylvester Stallone, Marvel’s “Thor: The Dark World” and a coming-of-age film “The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete”. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Adewale about how he gets into characters and his busy year.

Mike Gencarelli: How was it going head-to-head with Sylvester Stallone in “Bullet to the Head”?
Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje: Well as you can imagine there was a lot of testosterone, but also a lot of fun. You are working with a legend of that genre, also Walter Hill, who is a legendary director. It was a lot of fun but it was also strictly business. It was bullets to the head…get in there and deliver. Just had a great time overall man!

MG: Give us some background on your character Morel?
AAA: He is an African businessman, who is somewhat corrupt. He has escaped from Africa with huge amount of funds, moved to the United States and landed in New Orleans. He is very smart and also ruthless and his goal is to own most of New Orleans…by any means necessary. He has his stable of henchmen and is also very sophisticated. It is all camouflage for what lies below, which is a ruthless and cold-hearted businessman. He is also conflicted with a crippling disability but he does not allow that to impede him as a formidable force. In fact he uses that to propel him and try harder.

MG: Is there anything in particular you do to prepare for a role like that?
AAA: It is just a matter of having dialogue with the director. A lot of it was on the page but then we added texture and dimension. I chatted with the director and saw what he would like to explore. Also I was given the choice if I wanted to make him crippled or not. I thought it would be an interesting challenge to do so and add more texture to the character. So we went for that. I think as we started to see him on screen we started to see him unravel with different layers. I did have to hobble around on sticks for a good 2-3 weeks before we shot it though in order to get the disability right. Other than that it was really get in there and feel the character. We shot it in very opulent locations in New Orleans and that always adds to your performance.

MG: How did you prepare for such an iconic comic villains playing both Algrim the Strong and Kurse in “Thor: The Dark World”?
AAA: It was a huge opportunity to pull double duty. In order to prepare you obviously go through and read the comics and research the characters history. You also look at the imagery and have discussions with Marvel and the directors to see their vision for the characters. Then the rest is left for the designers who create the costumes, which really then assists in your performance. Specifically for Kurse, it was very much looking at the costume and what I thought it would embody. For instance it had a certain look, so I used that look for his interpretive actions. I found that very useful. So with the horns and everything, I just went with that flow and tried to define a way of moving and fighting that was in the rhythm and the way that he looked. With Algrim, again the aesthetic look and the outfit really factored in as does the location and the set. From the moment you step into that world, you immediately become that character. You make them real. So in a way you have to ground the character in reality that makes it normal for them to be in that world. I believe and hope that we have done that well in this and that the audiences are going to enjoy it.

MG: You were called “The Biggest Badass in Hollywood” (by Huff Post); what keeps you coming back and playing the villain in roles like this?
AAA: What makes me or what makes them keep hiring me? I think it is one in the same thing. I think we both enjoy it. I think the industry knows that I can deliver when playing the villain. I certainly enjoy playing the villain because you have this created likeness to really go anywhere. When you play the hero, there are parameters that you cannot cross. But with the bad guy, there is no such thing and you can do basically what you like. That is a creative freedom and luxury that I love. They also always make the most interesting character for me. The funny thing is though; I never really look at these as bad. I look at them as guys who have agendas and they will do what they need to do in acquire, obtain or accomplish them. So to make the most interesting villain is that you need to see him as an ordinary guy who have a mission.

MG: From action to superheroes we go to the coming-of-age “The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete”, tell us about this project?
AAA: This is a very different type of movie. As you can see we have done all genres across the board from huge Marvel tentpole to iron-packed action. This film really comes down to what I really love, a small independent film. It premiered at Sundance and was shot by George Tillman Jr. It has got Jeffrey Wright, Jennifer Hudson, Anthony Mackie and an absolutely spectacular group of children actors. It is based on the survival of these two children in a hot and tough summer in Brooklyn. I play a cop, on the other side of the law this time, who is trying to keep these straight kids off the streets. It is just one of those endearing stories of survival and friendship. It is very real. I also love shooting in New York during the summer. This one is not about the costumes or effects or anything. It is about heart-to-heart relationships.

Be sure to follow @Adewale on his official twitter page.

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Dark New Day’s Will Hunt talks about new album "Hail Mary"

Will Hunt is a hard rock drummer who plays or has played with everyone from Evanescence and Black Label Society to Tommy Lee’s Methods of Mayhem and Static-X. Hunt is also a part of the rock super group Dark New Day consists of Brett Hestla (Virgos Merlot), Troy McLawhorn (DoubleDrive), Clint Lowery (Sevendust) and Corey Lowery of Stereomud. The group is set to release their 3rd full length studio album titled “Hail Mary” in February and Media Mikes had the chance to ask Will about his work on the record and how he juggles working with so many different bands at the same time.

Adam Lawton: What type of approach did you take with your playing on the new album “New Tradition”?
Will Hunt: We were going for a little more of a structured sound this time as opposed to what can be heard on “12Year Silence” where everything is just sort of thrown in. The drum parts on this record were more composition than improvising. I played knowing that I wanted the drums to sound huge, and the way to do that is to give them room to breathe and leave space for that in the parts. Corey Lowery and I wanted the bottom end to be ridiculous.

AL: How does this album compare to the previous releases from Dark New Day?
WH: Like I said, we were going for a more structured sound and that’s what we got. We were really experimenting, which in some ways was liberating, in other ways we now know what we wouldn’t do in the future! (Laughs) All though, we’re very proud of the experimentation and what we got from this album.

AL: Does the band have any plans to tour in support of the release?
WH: No touring plans for this release. I’m not saying there won’t be a couple of shows here and there if our schedules can line up. We obviously would love to rock some shows together, but there no concrete plans at this time

AL: Personally what do you find to be the most difficult thing about working with multiple bands and projects at the same time?
WH: It’s like air traffic control! (Laughs) You just have to make sure to get all the projects in line and land them without crashing!( Laughs) Sometimes it works, sometimes not, but I love it! I can’t play and write enough.

AL: Can you tell us about any of your other projects that are in the works as we speak?
WH: Yes. I am officially a member of David Draimen’s new band, DEVICE. Our 1st single “VILIFY” is hitting radio in February, and the self titled album will be released in April with a tour to follow. Our 1st show is going to be at SXSW in Austin. I’m really excited about this band, I think people are going to freak on how bad ass it is. The music is absolutely amazing, and I can’t wait for people to hear it! I’m also going to record the new Soil album which I’m really looking forward to. That will be a good time making music with some old friends!

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Film Review "Zero Dark Thirty"

Starring: Jessica Chastain, Joel Edgerton and Jason Clarke
Directed by: Kathryn Bigelow
Rated: R
Running time: 2 hours 37 mins
Columbia

Our Score: 4.5 out of 5 stars

The last time director Kathryn Bigelow and writer Mark Boal teamed up they created a little film called “The Hurt Locker,” a movie that went on to not only win the Best Picture Academy Award but Oscars for both Boal and Bigelow, making her the first women in history to win the directing Oscar. Pretty hard act to follow I’d say. But the duo pull it off with the gripping story about the hunt and capture of Osama bin Laden, “Zero Dark Thirty.”

Tuesday, September 11, 2001. A day that will forever change not only the United States but the world. We are reminded of the horrors of that day and then are transported to a military installation on the other side of the world. There, a local man is being interrogated by Dan (Clarke) one of America’s best at what he does. “If you lie to me…I hurt you.” This sentence is repeated over and over. And it best be heeded. If not, things can get a little rough. Enter Maya (Chastain), a CIA operative who has been sent along to help in the capture of bin Laden (often referred to as UBL). Maya seems a little squeamish at some of Dan’s techniques but doesn’t question them. The search for freedom isn’t always pretty.

A thrilling piece of filmmaking that takes a little too long to get into gear, “Zero Dark Thirty” is a film that is going to inspire debate for years to come. Named after soldier jargon for the middle of the night (though when I was in the Army we called it “O-dark-30), “Zero Dark Thirty” is neither a whiny apology for torture nor a flag waving chant of “U.S.A….U.S.A.” It’s actually a film about perseverance and sticking to your guns. Maya, who faces an uphill battle daily as a woman in a perceived “mans” environment, must constantly fight to have her opinions heard. Chastain is excellent here. She gives Maya the innocence that is the audience…seeing things on screen for the first time. Maya flinches when a prisoner is water boarded but she also understands that some things are necessary. But when strength is needed Chastain summons it. As she sits in on a top level meeting where bin Laden’s compound is being discussed she is pointed out to C.I.A. director Leon Panetta (James Gandolfini) who questions why she is in the room. “I’m the mother-f***** that found this place, sir,” she replies. Like Chastain the cast is strong, especially Clarke and Kyle Chandler, who plays one of her superiors.

The script and direction are straight forward but the film drags in its first hour, as the audience is given a lengthy introduction to the events that lead up to the staging of the raid on bin Laden’s compound. But once there, the action reflected back to the audience courtesy of night vision goggles, the heart-rate begins to ramp up. The last 45 minutes will have you on the edge of your seat as a group of Navy Seals infiltrate the compound, knowing that the slightest mistake will put them at the mercy of the nearby townspeople. A former journalist, Boal surely has an ear for “soldier-speak.” He also has a sense of humor. When told that the man the C.I.A. is searching for is old, thin, tall and using a cane Maya asks, “who the hell are we looking for…Gandolf?”

 

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Dylan McDermott talks about his dark return in “American Horror Story: Asylum”

Connecticut born, Dylan McDermott was encouraged by his playwright step-mother to pursue acting as a career. He began his career on stage, doing both Regional Theater and Broadway, and made his film debut in the Vietnam War film “Hamburger Hill.” His first major role was that of Jackson Latcherie, husband to the doomed Shelby in “Steel Magnolias.” In 1993 he got his first major role, that of Clint Eastwood’s partner in the Secret Service themed film “In the Line of Fire.” Starring roles in films such as “Miracle on 34th Street,” “Home for the Holidays” and “Wonderland” followed. In 1997 he began a long run on the Emmy Award winning series “The Practice,” winning a Golden Globe for his work on the show as well as an Emmy nomination. He also headlined series like “Big Shots” and “Dark Blue” and now, after appearing last year, he re-appears on the critically acclaimed “American Horror Story: Asylum.” While preparing for a new story arc on the show McDermott took the time to speak with Media Mikes about his work on the show, what scares him and the difference between appearing in a remake or a sequel.

Mike Smith: What is the strangest thing that has happened to you on set, or personally, from doing this show.
Dylan McDermott: Well, I mean if you watched all the episodes, you know that I’ve had to do some strange things clearly, but that was part of the ride when I talked to Ryan [creator Ryan Murphy] about this show. Obviously the cry baiting and walking around naked, and now I’m playing a serial killer, is all in terms of doing American Horror Story, this is what comes with the dinner. So you just have to be up for it.

MS: As a show that not only really stretches your acting abilities but part of your personal fear factor is there any one fear that you would like to try to conquer by doing this show?
DM: Well, I think if you had any fears , you’d better not have them walking into this show because all your personal things are public. So I think that you really have to be not too shy to do a show like this, let me just put it that way.

MS: Can you tell us a little bit about your character and where you hope he ends up at the end of the season.
DM: Well, he’s obviously a troubled man, so where I hope he goes and where he goes are two different places But I think he’s got a sole purpose in life and really that is, he feels so scorned by his mother. Everything is about his mother. The reason he’s doing all these horrible things is because he was rejected so harshly by his mother, obviously aborted. His father was a serial killer. His mother aborted him and he still lives. So his whole trajectory in life is really about her.

MS: Can you give us a breakdown as to how you got involved in this show again? Were you looking to come back and what happened? Did Ryan give you a call and say, listen, I’ve got this sick, twisted character that I want you to play?
DM: Yes, we talked in the summer and he said he was looking for something for me to come back. I wanted to come back and we weren’t sure in what capacity. Then the day the show aired, he called me and said he wanted me to come back as the son of ‘Bloody Face,’ the modern day ‘Bloody Face.’ He just told me; I hadn’t read any of the script, so I knew nothing about it. It was sort of a blind call. When he told me the story of it, I was just like flabbergasted. I mean, I couldn’t get—because it was just so horrendous how this guy would survive and what he would become and who he was. I was just fascinated by him. It was so different from, obviously, ‘Ben Harmon,’ to come back to this same show with a different character. I just thought it was a great way to make television completely different from anything you see on television, because when do you get to play different characters on the same show.?

MS: Without giving too much away, can you tell us how many more episodes you’re going to be appearing in?
DM: I will be, I believe, in the next three out of four.

MS: I realize it’s early yet, but could you see yourself coming back for the third series, if Ryan came up with another big idea for you?
DM: Yes, I mean I love this show. I just think it’s just really—if I wasn’t on the show, I’d be watching it; so I’m a fan of this show as much as an actor on the show. So whatever—like I said before, I really trust Ryan and he has a great instinct with me. If he asks me to come back on, of course.

MS: Do you have a favorite type of horror story?
DM: I do like the Polanski stuff more than anything else. I mean, “Rosemary’s Baby” is still one of my favorite movies of all time. The idea of her being impregnated with the devil and all that stuff is just like so frightening and being in New York at The Dakota, it’s so scary. I’m going to work on a movie, actually, in February, called “Mercy from Jason” and there is a similar theme to “Rosemary’s Baby” in the movie. So somewhere I am attracted to that in a strange way, so that does scare me; the sort of demon baby, more than anything else. Like we had in the first season of American Horror.

MS: Since you like psychological thrillers a lot…the whole demon baby aspect, would you ever consider doing a remake of “Rosemary’s Baby?”
DM: No, because that’s a great movie. I don’t think you can—it’s like remaking “Psycho.” You can’t. Some movies you just can’t remake and that certainly is one of them. Some things should be just left alone—maybe the sequel to “Rosemary’s Baby,” but not the remake.

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Blu-ray Review “The Dark Knight Rises”

Actors: Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Anne Hathaway, Tom Hardy
Directors: Christopher Nolan
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures
Release Date: December 4, 2012
Run Time: 165 minutes

Film: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 4 out of 5 stars

Prior to the release of “The Dark Knight Rises”, there were many questions that were being asked.  Most importantly “Could it actually be better “The Dark Knight”? Well, the answer is no but it is still fantastic and easily one of the best films of the year.  “The Dark Knight” exists in a world entirely of it own.  It is by far the best superhero movie to date, yes even better than “The Avengers”.  “The Dark Knight Rises” does provide a very satisfying ending to a fantastic trilogy from Christopher Nolan.  I am sure some might disagree but I was left very happy with how the events came together in this film.  But I have to give Tom Hardy the coolness award since Bane was easily my favorite part of the film and no, his voice was not a problem for me at all.  In fact, his voice was one of the factors that I loved the most. Speaking of voices, I am also glad that Bale calmed down his Batman voice, so it is not so cowlI saw this film in IMAX and though it is a hard act to follow the Blu-ray presentation is extremely impressive as well.

This releases comes in a three-disc set including two Blu-rays and one DVD.  There is also a Ultraviolet digital  streaming copy included. Warner Bros’ 1080p transfer does look stunning, as I started to say above.  The most important factor is that the switch between traditionally filmed sequences presented at 2.40:1 and 70mm IMAX scenes presented at 1.78:1 are seamless. Though, I was impressed most with the audio on the film.  Literally my surround sound was pumping with this DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track. I wasn’t a major fan of Hans Zimmer’s score prior to this but I was really digging it on this Blu-ray.  I see myself revisiting this score again now. Overall easily, one of the best Blu-ray presentations of the year!

Before we get to the special features, I would like to quickly mention that Warner Bros has just released the new “The Dark Knight Rises FX” app, which is jam-packed with some really cool features including being able to shoot their own video and have the Camo Tumbler drive through it; put themselves in the Camo Tumbler in a photo. You can also impose yourself into The Dark Knight Rises “RISE” poster and also place the mask from Batman, Bane or Catwoman onto your own photo. This is highly recommended for all fans of the film. The app is free and available now from the App store and is compatible with 4th generation iPod touch devices, iPhone 4, iPad2 and the New iPad. Check it out, here.

The special features are impressive and a really step up from fellow-superhero Blu-ray release “The Avengers”.  Most of the extras of located on the second Blu-ray with the exception of “The Second Screen Experience”, which allows allows you to sync your device with the Blu-ray for additional content. The first feature on the second disc is quite the whooper filed under “Production”, running just over an hour.  It is consisted of twelve featurettes including  “The Prologue: High-Altitude Hijacking,” “Return to the Batcave,” “Beneath Gotham,” “The Bat,” “Batman vs. Bane,” “Armory Accepted,” “Gameday Destruction,” “Demolishing a City Street,” “The Pit,” “The Chant,” “The War on Wall Street” and “Race to the Reactor.”   They feature Christopher Nolan along with cast and crew as they dig deep into the film’s production. “Characters” are broken down in two three featurettes, totally about 30 minutes, including “The Journey of Bruce Wayne,” “Gotham’s Reckoning” (Bane) and “A Girl’s Gotta Eat” (Selina Kyle).  “Reflections” consists of two features including “Shadows & Light in Large Format” which focuses on Wally Pfister role and “The End of a Legend” looks into the end of this trilogy. “The Batmobile” is an awesome piece on of the coolest aspects of Batman…his car, it also runs just sign of an hour. Lastly there are four theatrical trailers summing up this release.

Official Premise: The Dark Knight Rises” is the epic conclusion to filmmaker Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy. It has been eight years since Batman vanished into the night, turning, in that instant, from hero to fugitive. Assuming the blame for the death of D.A. Harvey Dent, the Dark Knight sacrificed everything for what he and Commissioner Gordon both hoped was the greater good. For a time the lie worked, as criminal activity in Gotham City was crushed under the weight of the anti-crime Dent Act. But everything will change with the arrival of a cunning cat burglar with a mysterious agenda. Far more dangerous, however, is the emergence of Bane, a masked terrorist whose ruthless plans for Gotham drive Bruce out of his self-imposed exile. But even if he dons the cape and cowl again, Batman may be no match for Bane.

“The Dark Knight Rises” available on Blu-ray Combo pack, DVD and for download 12/4!
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Blu-ray Review “Dark Star: Thermostellar Edition”

Starring: Brian Narelle, Cal Kuniholm, Dre Pahich, Dan O’Bannon
Director: John Carpenter
Rated: G (General Audience)
Studio: VCI Entertainment
Release Date: November 6, 2012
Run Time: 83 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 4 out of 5 stars

I remember the first time that I saw “Dark Star” was in the early 90’s when the box called out to me at the local mom and pop video store.  Since then I have always been a fan of this campy sci-fi that was before its time.  In fact it was released two years prior to “Star Wars” but never really found a large audience, must like all of Carpenter’s films outside of “Halloween”.  I still enjoy watching this film and after all these years, I still get some good laughs out of “Dark Star”.  VCI Entertainment is behind this “Thermostellar Edition” and for price the it is set at, it is a no-brainer for fans of sci-fi and Carpenter’s work.

Official Premise: In the mid twenty-first century, mankind has reached a point in its technological advances to enable colonization of the far reaches of the universe. DARK STAR is a futuristic scout ship traveling far in advance of colony ships. Armed with Exponential Thermosteller Bombs, it prowls the darkest reaches of space on a mission to seek out and destroy unstable planets ahead of the colonist. But there is one obstacle that its crew members did not count on — one of the ship’s thinking and talking bombs is lodged in the bay, threatening to destroy the entire ship and crew!

In this “Thermostellar Edition”, it is a real step up from the VHS copy that I used to watch but the 1080p transfer presented in 1.85:1 is far from perfect. But that is set flat out at the start of the film with Dan O’Bannon’s text prologue, in which he almost apologizes for the transfer state.  So overall it not perfect but still a far cry from terrible.  With the audio on this release their are two tracks, the first is an uncompressed LPCM 2.0 track and also a supped up LPCM 5.1 surround track. I actually enjoyed the 5.1 track quite a bit, especially with Carpenter’s score.

The special features are out of this world…get it? (sorry).  To start there is an audio Commentary by “Super Fan” Andrew Gilchrist, which is decent but not amazing. The star of this release though is the nearly two hour retrospective called “Let There Be Light: The Odyssey of “Dark Star””.  It includes some really great interviews with the cast but Carpenter declined to be a part of the documentary and is only available via archive audio.  Still it is a nice companion to the film. There is an interview with Sci-Fi Author Alan Dean Foster, who did the novelization. There is another interview with Brian Narelle who played Doolittle in the film.  There is a “3D Guide to the Dark Star Ship” which allows viewing of various locations on the ship. Lastly, there is trivia on the film.

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DVD Review “Dark Night of the Scarecrow (Deluxe Collector’s Edition)”

Actors: Charles Durning, Tonya Crowe, Larry Drake, Lane Smith
Directors: Frank De Felitta
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: VCI Entertainment
DVD Release Date: September 11, 2012
Run Time: 96 minutes

Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 4 out of 5 stars

If you are a fan of horror, then you surely know about “Dark Night of the Scarecrow”.  The film has never had love from studios and was only just finally released on DVD for the first time in late 2010, thanks to VCI Entertainment.  It is hard to believe that this was a made-for-TV movie back in the day. Even for a TV movie, the film is still extremely disturbing and unsettling.  If it wasn’t for VCI, this film might still be missing and might have never seen the light of day. This Deluxe Collector’s Edition includes some great new special features and worth the purchase you don’t already own this.  There are certain horror films that have stood the test of time and this is certainly one of them.  Thanks to VCI, the film was given a wonderful restoration for the DVD release and really looks amazing.

Official Premise: When young Marylee Williams (Tonya Crowe) is found viciously mauled, all hell breaks loose in her small rural town. Officious postmaster Otis P. Hazelrigg (Charles Durning) leads a gang of bigots in pursuit of the suspect: her mentally challenged friend Bubba Ritter (Larry Drake). Finding him hiding inside a scarecrow, they exact brutal mob “justice”…only to discover a tragic mistake! Now a strange apparition stalks the land seeking each of them out, as the legend of the Scarecrow begins.

This DVD comes with two fantastic audio tracks, a Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono & 5.1 Surround track.  I prefer the 2.0 since it feels original but the later is very well-done.  Like I mentioned above, the transfer is very sharp and the colors look brand new and not from 1981 at all, especially within its original aspect ratio – 1.33:1. There special features are a nice improvement from the 2010 release.  There is a commentary track from director Frank De Felitta and writer J.D. Feigelson.  There are two trailers including the Original CBS World Premiere Trailer and CBS Rebroadcast Trailer.  There is also a great Behind the Scenes Photo Gallery included.  The new features include “Bubba Didn’t Do it: 30 Years of the Scarecrow” (2012 Extended Version) it is directed by Daniel Griffith and produced by Ballyhoo Motion Pictures.  It includes a new video interview with composer Glenn Paxton.   There is also the “DNOTS Cast Reunion Q & A” -that was recorded at the 2011 Frightfest Film Festival in Louisville, KY.

 

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Book Review “Dark Shadows: The Visual Companion”

Author: Mark Salisbury
Hardcover: 192 pages
Publisher: Titan Books
Release Date: November 27, 2012

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

When I first saw Tim Burton and Johnny Depp’s “Dark Shadows”, I have to say I was a little let down.  I am very familiar with the 70’s Soap Opera series and I thought this would have been a perfect collaboration for them.  After my second viewing of the film, I enjoyed it a bit more.  Honestly after reading this visual companion, I am feeling very compelled (vampire…get it?) to watch this film again. This book literally takes you through every aspect of the film from the characters to the score.  If you have your doubts about this film, I suggest you check out this book it will easily convince you to give the film a chance.

“Dark Shadows: The Visual Companion” is wonderful produced by Titan Books, yet another gem. Author Mark Salisbury was in close cooperation with Tim Burton and the production team during its creation.  It includes a very nice foreword by Depp, an Introduction by Burton and an afterword by the late producer Richard D. Zanuck.  I really enjoyed Zanuck’s words, it is sad that this was his last film but at least from his what he said it seems like he really enjoyed the experience.  Mark Salisbury is the former editor of Britain’s magazine, Empire, and has worked with Burton before including “Alice in Wonderland: A Visual Companion” (one of my favorites) and also on “Burton on Burton”.

Like the film itself, this book really took two going throughs in order to really wow me.  I did my usual quick flip through to see what catches my eye and I though it looked good but not great.  But when I really dug into this book, I realized that it was in fact a great visual companion, as it is titled.  It is jam packed with wonderful photos, concept drawings and production designs.  You really get to learn about the characters and their part in the film.  There are also some great interviews with the cast and crew.  All that would normally be good enough for me but there is still more.  They touch on the visual effects, creating the town of Collinswood and even the score from Danny Elfman.  There is not a detail left out here.  So if you whether you are a fan of this film or a curious party, I highly recommend picking this up.

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Blu-ray Reviews “House of Dark Shadows / Night of Dark Shadows”

Cast: Jonathan Frid, Grayson Hall, Kathryn Leigh Scott, Roger Davis, Nancy Barrett, David Selby, John Karlen
Director: Dan Curtis
Studio: Warner Bros.
MPAA Rating: PG
Running Time: 97 / 95 minutes

House of Dark Shadows: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Night of Dark Shadows: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1/2 out of 5 stars

“Dark Shadows” is the longest running horror soap opera, actually I think it is also the only. I never saw this show on TV but I have watch many many episodes courtesy of Netflix Instant over the years. The original series had actually ran for over 1200 episodes.  With Tim Burton/Johnny Depp’s recent reboot recently released on Blu-ray, it is prime-time to finally release these movies for the first time ever on DVD, let alone Blu-ray. These films are definitely a bit campy, but they also have a few decent creepy moments. “House of Dark Shadows” features Jonathan Frid in the lead as Barnabas Collins and is my favorite of the two. “Night of Dark Shadows”  was originally supposed to bring back Barnabas, but the show ended before the film started production and Jonathan Frid had moved on.  It is still a decent installment to the series.

Warner Brothers delivers the good with both of these 1080p transfer presented in 1.78:1 aspect ratio. They also look good since these were just low-budget movies and weren’t large productions at the time. They are still catalog release quality but are much more impressive that I would have expected. Both films also have DTS-HD Master Audio Mono audio tracks, which work well for each. It setups up the mood and works well with the dialogue.  If you are a fan of the “Dark Shadows” series, I would definitely recommend picking up these reasonably priced Blu-rays. They are a nice upgrade since the films were only previously available on VHS and Laserdisc.  So if you are looking for a flashback to the 70’s to meet up with the Collins again, then this is a no-brainer.

Official Premises: “House of Dark Shadows”: Rejoice, night creatures! Collinwood’s affected Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid) hopes a series of serum injections will make him normal. Alas, nothing can be normal at eerie Collinwood! “Night of Dark Shadows”: One bite is never enough! New blood comes home in Night of Dark Shadows, as Quentin Collins (David Selby) arrives with his bride (Kate Jackson).

House of Dark Shadows + Night of Dark Shadows both available on October 30th! http://bit.ly/QYt7ht
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Win a Blu-ray for Johnny Depp/Tim Burton’s “Dark Shadows” [ENDED]

THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED AND WINNERS HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED VIA EMAIL. PLEASE CHECK BACK EACH WEEK FOR NEW GIVEAWAYS!

Warner Bros. Pictures is proud to announce the release of Dark Shadows on DVD and Blu-Ray October 2nd 2012;  Media Mikes would like to giveaway a copy of the film on Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray™ + DVD). If you would like to win one of these great prizes, please leave us a comment below or send us an email and let us know your favorite character from the series. This giveaway will be open until October 5th at Noon, Eastern Time and is only open to residents of the United States. Only one entry per person, per household; all other entries will be considered invalid. Once the giveaway ends, Media Mikes will randomly pick out winners and alert the winners via email.

From the incredible mind of Tim Burton comes the hit film Dark Shadows, based on the classic television series! Barnabas Collins (Johnny Depp) has been trapped for two centuries by an evil witch (Eva Green) who just happens to be an ex lover. Barnabas now has to struggle with the ever changing 1970s and save his families business! With an all star cast that includes Michelle Pfeiffer, Helena Bonham Carter, Chloe Grace Moretz, Jonny Lee Miller and more, Dark Shadows will be sure to whet your appetite for fun.

Check out the great features below:

  • Are You Creepy Enough Quiz! Do your friends refer to you as a Child of the Night or do you shiver at the thought of a creepy crawly? Take the Are You Creepy Enough quiz to find out.
  • Barnabas’ Terror Trivia! Are you a Barnabas buff? Take the 3 truths and a lie trivia all about Barnabas Collins and you can unlock clips and downloads from Dark Shadows.
  • Dark Shadows Horror-Scope! Whether you are a Virgo Vampire or a Transylvanian Taurus, you can get your custom hauntified Horror-Scope.
  • Get Social! Tweet with the #DarkShadows hashtag to get your audience excited for this blockbuster h

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Blu-ray Review “Dark Shadows”

Directed by: Tim Burton
Starring: Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Helena Bonham Carter, Eva Green, Jackie Earle Haley
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Distributed by: Warner Home Video
Release Date: October 2, 2012
Running Time: 113 minutes

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

When I heard that Tim Burton was directing Johnny Depp as Barnabas Collins in “Dark Shadows”, I almost fell out of my chair. I am a big fan of the original series and low the duo’s past collaborations. This film was a bit disappointing and has a lot of story and pacing issues. Johnny Depp is brilliant in the film that otherwise feelings cloudy and claustrophobic. The screenplay is from Seth Grahame-Smith, author of “Pride & Prejudice and Zombies” and “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter”. This was also the last film that was produced by Oscar® winner Richard D. Zanuck (“Jaws”). Besides Depp, this also has a great supporting cast including Michelle Pfeiffer, Helena Bonham Carter, Eva Green (my second favorite) and Chloë Grace Moretz. Upon second viewing this film improved a bit but not even close enough to make this one of my top 20 of the year.

The Blu-ray Combo Pack features a high-definition Blu-ray and standard definition DVD copy of the film as well as an UltraViolet digital streaming copy. The 1080p transfer looks nearly perfect and really shines. The colors in the film are absolutely sharp and works well with light and dark situations. The audio is also nearly perfect with its DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. The film relies heavily on its score and themed 70’s music and it comes with very clearly with this track. The special features are decent but lacking any commentary tracks, which I would have liked to seen with this release.

The special features are primarily made up with nine behind-the-film Focus Points. The first is called “Becoming Barnabas”, which takes us through Depp’s transformation. “Welcome to Collinsport!” takes us on a trip through the created town. “A Melee of Monstrous Proporitions” looks into the plans for the final battle sequence. “Angelique: A Witch Scorned” is a character profile with Johnny Depp and Eva Green chatting about their plot-relationship. “Reliving a Decade” takes Collinsport into the music of the 70s. “Dark Shadowy Secrets” brings us into the mind of Tim Burton for the films props and special effects that bring this world alive. “The Collinses: Every Family Has It’s Demons” looks at the rest of the Collin family with Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter and their co-stars. “Cooper Rocks Collinsport!” is a party featurette with Alice Cooper and cast on the roof of Collinsport Manor. “Vampires, Witches and Werewolves, Oh My!” examines the twists behind Burton’s plans to include his favorite classic movie monsters in the gothic universe of Dark Shadows.

Synopsis: From the wonderfully warped imagination of Tim Burton comes the story of Barnabas Collins (Johnny Depp), a dashing aristocrat who is turned into a vampire by a jilted lover and entombed for two centuries. Emerging from his coffin into the world of 1972, he returns to his once-majestic home, only to the few dysfunctional descendants of the Collins family who remain. Determined to return his family name to its former glory, Barnabas is thwarted at every turn by his former lover – the seductive witch Angelique (Eva Green).

Own it on Blu-ray Combo Pack or Digital Download 10/2! http://bit.ly/N9oyxM
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Author Brandon T. Snider talks about his book “The Dark Knight Manual”

Brandon T. Snider is the author of best selling “The Dark Knight Manual”, also one of my favorite Batman books. It has recently been featured in Entertainment Weekly, Time, Forbes and Wired. Brandon has also done writing for Comedy Central’s “Come Inside with Amy Schumer” and contributed humor to the Huffington Post. Media Mikes had a chance to ask Brandon a few questions about his new book and his favorite comic characters.

Mike Gencarelli: What was your biggest challenge with your book “The Dark Knight Manual”?
Brandon T. Snider: The deadlines were quite challenging, actually! The turnaround was very quick so I didn’t have a ton of time to second guess myself and the direction we ultimately went in. At first I approached the material with a slightly more personal take but it was decided to make it more cut and dry so I had to rethink how I wanted to do it and plow ahead. I wrote it in about a month which was kind of insane. I usually like writing something, taking a breather and then returning with fresh eyes. In this case I had to finish parts and then get them in quickly while wading through the material for the next part. And somehow it all came together in the end.

MG: The design of the book literally feels like a pop-up manual for the series, why did you decide that route for the book?
BTS: That format was already in place before I signed on. Insight Editions has cornered the market on cool, coffee table-sized booksthat are filled with fold outs and fun stuff. I was approached to write the book based on my previous experiences with my editor Chris Cerasi. As far as the interactive features, I wasn’t as involved in their selection but I did give suggestions based on the material I included. Process-wise we decided early on what weapons and characters to feature and then the designer, Jon Glick, would pull the appropriate artwork and create the beautiful visuals. Christopher Nolan and his team had a true vision for Batman and his world and thankfully we were able to incorporate the best pieces of that vision into the book.

MG: How much research did you have to do in order to complete this book?
BTS: I did a fair amount of research but I never strayed from what was established in the Nolan trilogy. I didn’t use the comic books or any other version of Batman than the one you’ve seen in the recent films. My main resources were Batman Begins and The Dark Knight which I watched more times than I can count. For each viewing I’d look for different things; broad themes, embellishments and sometimes just straight up information. I wanted the entirety of the films to inform my work so it was important for me to absorb as much as I could. I had ancillary resources for the more specific details and incorporated real world factoids to enhance the idea that much of Batman’s arsenal is rooted in established technology.

MG: Based on your work, is it safe to say that you are DC Comics fan over Marvel?
BTS: I don’t think it is safe to say that, my good man! I’ve not yet had a chance to work with many Marvel characters as of yet. Had I the chance, I might just take it as I think they have a great stable ofproperties. Don’t get me wrong, I love DC Comics characters. Hopefully more opportunities will come my way to do stuff with them in the near future but that’s not for me to decide. And, truth be told, I think the Marvel and DC universes are quite different. I know fans love to compare the two but the reason they’ve both been so successful are because they’re not like one another. There are parallels but overall their mythologies are unique. It sounds diplomatic but it’s true.

MG: Who would you say is your favorite superhero/villain?
BTS: I’ve always had a soft spot for Lex Luthor and I love all the versions of him; the mad scientists, the jerk capitalist and everything in between. A man with unlimited money and resources who chooses to pursue the selfish agenda of destroying the one person who he believes is a spotlight-stealing fraud? I mean…that’s pretty great. And the parallels to politics that can be drawn fascinate and scare me.

MG: Who would be your dream character to do a book on?
BTS: I suppose my answer depends on the type of book but in general terms I’d love to write a Justice League story. If we’re talking about a manual-style book I think there’s a lot of potential in Superman’s world for that type of informational ledger.

MG: What do you have planned next after “The Dark Knight Manual”?
BTS: I recently worked as a staff writer on a Comedy Central pilot that just got picked up and stars comedian Amy Schumer. I’m also working on a few books for Harper Collins featuring The Annoying Orange. Everything else is too soon to talk about but I’m lucky to have been given a range of opportunities in my writing career and I hope to continue working on as many diverse projects as I can get my hands on.

 

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Book Review “The Art and Making of The Dark Knight Trilogy”

Author: Jody Duncan Jesser
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Abrams
Release Date: July 20, 2012

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

First things first, let me clear this up right off the bat (get the pun?). This book is labeled as a “Art of” book but really this leans a lot more in the “making of” aspect. It you look at it from that prospective then it works well. I would have love to see a full on “art of” book though. Director Christopher Nolan really did an amazing job of reviving the Batman franchise. Casting Christian Bale as the Caped Crusader was such an amazing choice, as he was perfect for the role. “Batman Begins” was a really sharp reboot of the franchise exploring the origins of billionaire Bruce Wayne to Batman. “The Dark Knight”, which is my personal favorite in the series, took the franchise to such a high level putting Batman against the Joker (plays by the late Heath Ledger). The final film of Nolan’s trilogy, “The Dark Knight Rises”, provided a very exciting and satisfying closing to this trilogy. Bane is one of my new favorite villains, played by Tom Hardy, who was out of this world. “The Art and Making of The Dark Knight Trilogy” focuses on the complete behind-the-scenes stories from each of these three epic films. Die-hard fans of The Dark Knight should know that this is a no-brainer.

There are eleven chapters included in the book.  The first focuses on “Screenplay”, the birth of the scripts and inspiration from the comics.  The second takes a look at the “Production Design”, which is key to this series.   It focuses on the sets, shooting locations and includes some nice concept art. Next up is “Cast”, which focuses on picking Christian Bale to play Bruce Wayne but look at all primary roles. Chapter four is titled, “Costumes & Makeup” and goes into details on Bat’s suit, the Joker’s makeup etc. The next three chapters are titled “The Shoot” and covers each of the film in the trilogy during production.  Special effects coordinator Chris Corbould takes the lead in the next chapter “Special Effects & Stunts “, covering the fight sequences and stunts from the three films. Next up, Lee Smith covers “Editing, Music, and Sound”, also includes quotes from composers Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard. “Visual Effects” is a great chapter, especially since it was a critical part of the franchise.  This series used multiple different types of visual effects ranging from models and miniatures to CGI.  The last chapter focuses on the franchises “Marketing” and various aspects of promotion for these films. I mean can you ask for more? I think not.

Author Jody Duncan Jesser, editor of Cinefex magazine since 1992, really delivered a very intensive and thorough look into this franchise. She is no stranger to “making of” angle for Hollywood films having worked books for “Terminator 2”, “Jurassic Park”, and “Avatar”. She includes many in-depth interviews with Christopher Nolan and the films’ key cast and crew, including cowriters David S. Goyer and Jonathan Nolan, cinematographer Wally Pfister. There is much detail into the creative process behind the epic “Dark Knight” Trilogy, which is backed with (some) art and beautiful never-before-seen photography. The book runs over 300 pages and includes hundreds of photos, so it guaranteed to please any fan of the series. The book also includes a foreword by Christopher Nolan and an intro by Michael Caine. If that all isn’t enough there is also Nolan’s tribute originally published in Newsweek in 2008 about Heath Ledger, titled “Charisma as Natural as Gravity”. As good as this book does in covering each film, I also really enjoyed and highly recommend this book: “The Dark Knight Manual: Tools, Weapons, Vehicles and Documents from the Batcave”.

 

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CD Review “The Dark Knight Rises: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack”

Composer: Hans Zimmer
Release Date: July 17, 2012
Label: WaterTower Music
Tracks: 15
Running Time: 43 minutes

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

Hans Zimmer has worked on every score in Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy along with James Newton Howard.  On “The Dark Knight Rises“, he takes this task on solo.  It ended up but being a decent but not outstanding finale score to a fantastic trilogy.  “The Dark Knight” score definitely trumps this one by quite a bit, sort of like the film does as well.  Normally, I really do love Hans Zimmer’s work but overall it is not his best work.  I just don’t see myself spending a lot of time revisiting it like I did with his past work like “Inception”.  Also there were a definitely some mastering and clipping volume issues on a bunch of tracks. Despite my feelings on the album, it is still a big success charting at #7 on the Billboard top 200 making it the first score in over 10 years to break the top 10!

The score runs a very short 43 minutes and the only real notable track is “Rise”.  If the whole album played as epic on this track, then the whole album would have benefited. “Rise” also is the final track on the album and in fact possibly the last Batman track from Zimmer.  The song takes it time getting started but really gets epic and runs a nice 7+ minutes. But it is so good I just wish it was longer.  I do see myself leaving this song on my iPhone for many months to come.  Although not able to be reviewed, there are 3 additional tracks available for download and 2 are exclusive to the CD: “Bombers Over Ibiza (JunkieXL remix)”, “No Stone Unturned (exclusive)” and “Risen From Darkness (exclusive)”.  There is also an Extended Original Motion Picture Soundtrack available but I am not sure how much it could improve the overall score. Overall, if you are a die-hard Batman fan, you might enjoy this final chapter in the trilogy…or at least keep “Rise” on loop.

Track Listings:
1. A Storm Is Coming
2. On Thin Ice
3. Gotham’s Reckoning
4. Mind If I Cut In?
5. Underground Army
6. Born In Darkness
7. The Fire Rises
8. Nothing Out There
9. Despair
10. Fear Will Find You
11. Why Do We Fall?
12. Death By Exile
13. Imagine The Fire
14. Necessary Evil
15. Rise

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Film Review “The Dark Knight Rises”

Starring: Christian Bale, Anne Hathaway and Tom Hardy
Directed by: Christopher Nolan
Rated: PG 13
Running time: 2 hrs 44 mins
Warner Brothers

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

They began showing up in the 1930s. Tough guys that took on crime. Dick Tracy. The Shadow. And Batman. Sorry, THE Batman. In my opinion, Batman was the first great hero (I hesitate to use the word “superhero” because people always point out that Batman doesn’t have any special powers – can’t fly, can’t run fast, can’t communicate with fish). The 1960s introduced a campy, cool Batman to television audiences. The late 1980s gave us Tim Burton’s visionary version. The 1990s saw Joel Schumacher drive a nail into the heart of the franchise. Enter Christopher Nolan. He took over the character and made him what he always was in the comic books…one bad ass Caped Crusader. In “Batman Begins” and “The Dark Knight” we saw a Batman that thrived on vengeance and battled evil at all costs. Now, with “The Dark Knight Rises,” he may have to pay the ultimate price!

Gotham City. It has been eight years since District Attorney Harvey Dent was murdered by Batman. Or so the story goes. Only Police Commissioner Gordon (Gary Oldman) knows the truth about what happened on that fateful night. However, the city took up Dent as a martyr. Laws were passed in his name that pretty much eradicated crime in the city. In fact, the only thing missing is Batman. In order to preserve Dent’s legacy he had to hang up the cape. Now the only reminder of him is Bruce Wayne. Wayne spends his days holed up in his mansion, rarely appearing in public, speaking only to his long time butler, Alfred (Michael Caine). But when a madman known as Bane (Hardy) threatens the all out destruction of Gotham City and its citizens, it’s time to take the cape off of the hanger!

With a running time of almost three hours, “The Dark Knight Rises” is like a carnival ride that seems like it will never stop. Through twists and turns, up and down and all around, the film hurls you into an adventure you’ll be anxious to ride again and again. Along with the action you get a first rate cast operating at the top of their game. Bale, his voice rough and menacing, shows us a more vulnerable side of Batman then we’ve seen before. The same is true in his portrayal of Bruce Wayne. His scenes with Alfred are particularly moving. Oldman also fleshes out Gordon more, showing him as a man torn between telling the truth about Dent or allowing the charade to continue for the good of his city. New to the cast is Hathaway, who plays Selina Kyle, a small time cat burglar caught up in a situation she can’t control and Hardy, whose performance as Bane is truly menacing. He’s like Robert Shaw’s Red Gant in “From Russia With Love” – the first bad guy that looked like he could kick James Bond’s ass. Also new to the cast is Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who plays a young, idealistic Gotham police officer. If there is any drawback with the characters it is that Bane must speak through a mask that appears to have been mounted on his face. Unfortunately this makes him sound like Sean Connery playing Darth Vader. Not too disrupting but you need to listen hard to catch everything he says.

Visually the film is amazing. The special effects are top notch, including one scene highlighted in the coming attraction: the complete and utter annihilation of a football field. On game day! Throw in an assortment of new “Bat” vehicles and you’re in for the ride of your life. Move over, “Avengers.” You guys may be the latest but Batman was the first. And “The Dark Knight Rises” is the best!

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