Blu-ray Review "TerrorVision / The Video Dead"

Actors: Rocky Duvall, Chad Allen, Roxanna Augesen, Diane Franklin, Mary Woronov, Gerrit Graham
Directors: Ted Nicolaou, Robert Scott
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Scream Factory
Release Date: February 19, 2013
Run Time: 171 minutes

Double Feature: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3.5 out of 5 stars

This is my first go at reviewing a title from Scream Factory, a division of Shout! Factory.  I grew up as a kid watching both “TerrorVision” and “The Video Dead” and have been fans.  Are they the best thing to ever come out of the 80’s? Probably not but they are fun as well and thanks to Scream Factory, they are on Blu-ray for the first time. Since they are more of an obscure titles, they probably wouldn’t be able to hold their own on individual Blu-ray. These films are plain and simple campy fun and this double feature should be a guilty pleasure for all horror fans.

“TerrorVision” is a very silly movie but it has really delivered a nice cult audience over the years. It is directed by Ted Nicolaou, who is known for his work with the “Supspecies” franchise also. It is co-produced and written by Full Moon’s Charles Band and composed by his brother Richard Band, who are both legends in the horror genre. The film also packs some decent creature effects for a low-budget indie. “The Video Dead” has become another fan favorite in the horror genre and even inspired a hardcore punk band of the same name. It features some solid zombie effects, not “Walking Dead” quality but still decent for 1987.

“TerrorVision” Official Premise: Life will never be the same for the Putterman family in Terrorvision. Stanley Putterman (Gerrit Graham) installs a state-of-the-art satellite dish in his backyard. Through a cosmic accident, a wayward monster’s energy is beamed across galaxies, into the satellite and onto the Puttermans’ television set. The Puttermans don’t notice any changes, only better reception and a strange monster continually appearing on the screen. But when the monster leaps off the screen and into the Puttermans’ living room, terror erupts, as it needs to feed on humans for its survival! Uh Oh!

“The Video Dead” Official Premise: On a quiet, tree-lined street, evil has arrived in a most ordinary way, an old television set. It receives a single channel, one that not only shows the same film over and over a horror film where zombies rise from the grave to kill but also frees the gnarled, evil monsters….and once out, they’re not going back! They like the real world. They’ve already killed five people and want more blood…and a new family is moving into the neighborhood!

I have only ever seen both of these films on VHS (what’s that right?) and television, so the quality of “TerrorVision” on Blu-ray is stunning compared obviously. It is not a perfect transfer and the film itself looks its age, which is almost 30 years old. But Scream Factory’s 1080p transfer is still a pleasure to view and fans of the film should enjoy it. The film also packs a solid DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 audio track. This works well with creature action and dialogue, which are both well-balanced.

“The Video Dead” also packs a decent high definition transfer. There is some noticeable grain for the film itself but it is acceptable and still impressive.  In fact, the 1080p transfer on “The Video Dead” is a notch better than “Terrorvision” although the can’t be said for its audio tracks.  The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 is a bit spotty especially with the dialogue. Luckily thought I think Scream Factory knew this, which is why they also included an DTS-HD MA 2.0 track, which sounds a little more like the film should sound. Fans will most likely prefer this track.

“TerrorVision” runs a little light in the special features department but what it does has works very well.  There is an audio commentary track with Writer/Director Ted Nicolaou and Stars Diane Franklin & Jon Gries. It is very entertainingm, informative and fans should eat it up. “Monster on Demand — The Making of TerrorVision” is an awesome all-new retrospective look into the production. This features tons of great talent including Writer/Director Ted Nicolaou, Stars Diane Franklin, Mary Woronov, Jon Gries, Ian Patrick Williams, Special Make-Up Effects Designer Jon Carl Buechler, Executive Producer Charles Band, Composer Richard Band and others!. If you are a fan of this film this is worth the purchase alone. Lastly there is a Poster & Still Gallery including.

“The Video Dead” comes with some more content but focuses more on commentary on documentaries. The first audio commentary comes from Writer/Producer/Director Robert Scott, Editor Bob Sarles, and Makeup Effects Creator Dale Hall, Jr. Decent track but not amazing.  The second is an commentary track from stars Roxanne Augesen and Rocky Duvall with moderator Chris MacGibbon, Production Manager Jacues Thelemaque, Makeup Effects Creator Dale Hall, Jr. and Makeup Assistant Patrick Denver.  Much better than the first and more interesting. “Pre-Recordead” is an interview with Makeup Effects Creator Dale Hale, Jr. and Makeup Assistant Patrick Denver. Lastly there are some Outtakes, a Behind the Scenes & Poster Still Gallery and wrapping it up with a trailer.

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Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: bluray, dead, review, terrorvision, video

Blu-ray Review "Dead Sushi"

Actors: Kentaro Shimazu, Shigeru Matsuzaki, Rina Takeda
Directors: Noboru Iguchi
Rated: Unrated
Studio: First Look Pictures
Release Date: March 26, 2013
Run Time: 91 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2.5 out of 5 stars

What can you expect from a film titled “Dead Sushi”? Well take what you think and throw it away because it will leave your mouth wide-open saying “WTF is going on here!”. That is the way I was watching this film but that was I was expecting. I am very familiar with Noboru Iguchi’s work like “Machine Girl”, “Robogeisha” and the upcoming “The ABC’s of Death”. If you are fans of these films then you are going to LOVE this film. I never thought that I would enjoy a film about mutant killer sushi but this is a laugh riot packed with amazing gore and humor.

Keiko the daughter of a legendary sushi chef runs away from home when his Karate-style regimen becomes too severe. Finding work at a rural hot springs inn she is ridiculed by the eccentric staff and guests including the employees of a pharmaceutical firm there on a work retreat. But little do they know that a disgruntled former researcher has also come to the inn with a plan for revenge using a serum he developed that can awaken the murderous instincts of ordinary sushi turning it into bloodthirsty monsters! Keiko must use both her sushi training and her martial arts skills to save the others and defeat the flying killers.

I have to admit, I expected much more from the Blu-ray presentation. The 1080p transfer looks decent and is presented with an aspect ratio of 1.78:1. The audio tracks is where I was very disappointed. There is both a Japanese and English audio track but they are only available in Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby Digital 2.0. Not sure why they couldn’t go the HD route on this but this may work for DVD but not Blu-ray.  In terms of special features there is a decent making-of featurette.  The World Premiere Stage Greeting and Fantasia Film Festival interview are not-bad.  Though, the best feature is a “Dead Sushi Extreme Sushi Eating Contest”, definitely worth checking out.  Lastly there is a trailer included as well.

 

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Blu-ray Review "Mimesis: Night of the Living Dead"

Actors: Sid Haig, Courtney Gains, Allen Maldonado, Taylor Piedmonte, David Schwager
Director: Douglas Schulze
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Starz / Anchor Bay
DVD Release Date: February 12, 2013
Run Time: 95 minutes

Film: 2 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1 out of 5 stars

“Mimesis” is a very clever homage to George Romero’s “Night of the Living Dead”…for the first 30 minutes. It plays out scene for scene at first…before it crashes and burns into a modern killer flick. I have to give it to them for trying to be original here but they lost focus in the second half. They also got horror genre favs like Sid Haig and Courtney Gains to make a brief appearance. They are listed on the back of the box as “starring” but one scene doesn’t constitute starring. Horror fans, I would say watch this if you want find it free or on Netflix but otherwise, I would steer clear.

Official Premise: A group of horror fans find themselves unwilling participants in a living nightmare that pays homage to a classic horror film. Seven complete strangers whose only common link is a love for classic era horror films are invited to attend an exclusive “horror fan” party at a remote farm. But as the sun sets, these strangers soon find themselves within a real life version of the 1968 George Romero cult horror classic “Night of the Living Dead”!

The Blu-ray presentation looks good enough with its 1080p transfer. The DTS TrueHD 5.1 track work well with the score and suspense in the beginning. I got tired real quick with the speed up/slow down shots throughout the whole film. This isn’t “The Matrix”, you know! The only special feature listed here is an audio commentary track from the Director/Co-Writer Douglas Schulze and Co-Writer Joshua Wagner. I love their passion for the genre but it still doesn’t make it up for it’s disappointing third act.

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Blu-ray Review “War of the Dead”

Directed by: Marko Makilaakso
Starring: Andrew Tiernan, Mark Wingett, Mikko Leppilampi, Jouka Ahola
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Entertainment One
DVD Release Date: January 1, 2013
Run Time: 86 minutes

Our Score: 1 out of 5 stars

Being a sucker for zombie flicks I was anxious to check out “War of the Dead”. Yes there have already been countless films based around zombie wars and Nazi experiments gone array but surely one more couldn’t hurt could it? A slow start and the absence any real recognizable names put this film in the red at the start however at about the 15 minute mark you catch your first glimpse of some zombies and the film starts to take off. Well somewhat.

March 1941. Captain Martin Stone (Andrew Tiernan) leads an American unit on a mission to destroy a secret Nazi underground bunker. Fighting alongside an elite platoon, the soldiers find themselves attacked by the same men they killed in an earlier assault. Now, the remaining officers must struggle to survive against the war’s most terrifying enemy…a flesh hungry army of the living dead.

The overall presentation of the film is decent but far from great. At times scenes appear dark, choppy and are rather chaotic making the film tough to watch especially if you get motion sickness easy. I should also point out that anyone expecting to find Academy Award winning performances from the actors involved should skip this. Though the Blu-Ray version of the film also includes a bonus DVD copy that’s about all you will find in the way of bonuses. Fans of zombie/war films should save their money and continue to wait patiently for the highly anticipated Marc Foster film “World War Z” which is being released in Spring of 2013.

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Charles Durning Dead at 89

Charles Durning, a highly decorated World War II vetaran and Oscar nominated actor, passed away today due to natural causes. He was 89.

Born on February 28, 1923 in Highland Falls, New York, Durning knew about the military life at a young age. His mother worked in the laundry at the West Point Military Academy and his father, who was an
immigrant from Ireland, earned his American citizen by enlisting in the United States Arny, He was considering a life in the priesthood when he was drafted into the Army in 1944. In June of that year he was badly wounded during the D Day invasion on Omaha Beach, suffering injuries to both legs as well as his chest, head and hands. Durning was the only member of his unit to survive the invasion. In December 1944 he was sent back into action and, as a rifleman, took part in the Battle of the Bulge, where he was again wounded in the chest Again, fate was on his side. Of the more than 100 soldiers in his unit he was one of only twenty to survive the battle. He was finally sent back to the States where he served until his discharge in January 1946. In his two short years of service he was awarded the Silver Star and three Purple Hearts. Like fellow war hero and actor Lee Marvin, Durning very rarely liked to discuss his military service.

After his discharge he earned money as a pro boxer. When he couldn’t get a fight, and despite his multiple leg injuries, he would find work as a dance instructor, teaching at the Fred Astaire Dance Studios. In the late 1950s he began finding work on and off-Broadway before finding work on early television programs. He came to prominence in 1972 with his role in Jason Miller’s “That Championship Season.” It was during a performance that director George Roy Hill spotted him and cast him as Lieutenant Snyder, the Chicago cop constantly chasing Robert Redford in “The Sting.” Other roles followed quickly, including “The Front Page,” “Breakheart Pass” and “Dog Day Afternoon,” which earned him a Golden Globe nomination. Other roles in film like “The Choirboys,” “The Fury” and “The Muppet Movie” helped him end the 70s as a highly sought after character actor. In 1982 he co-starred as an older man smitten with Dustin Hoffman in “Tootsie” and then returned to his dancing ways as the elusive governor in “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” earning him the first of two consecutive Oscar nominations as Best Supporting Actor. He was nominated again the next year for his work in the comedy “To Be or Not to Be.” He also lent his voice to the opening scene of “Scarface,” voicing over for the actor who first interrogates Al Pacino’s Tony Montana. “Whorehouse” began a long running association with Burt Reynolds, appearing alongside him in both films (“Sharky’s Machine,” “Stick”) and television (“Evening Shade,” which earned him two of his total nine Emmy Award nominations).

Durning continued to work on stage as well, playing Charley opposite Dustin Hoffman in “Death of a Salesman” (he also reprised the role in the television production). He won a Tony Award for his role as Big Daddy in Tennessee Williams’ “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.” In 1997 I had the extreme privilege of catching him on Broadway, opposite the great George C. Scott, in “Inherit the Wind.” I had the even greater honor of meeting him after the show, where he spoke for a few minutes and graciously signed a photo for me.

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Guns N’ Roses drummer Steven Adler talks about new solo album “Back from the Dead”

Steven Adler is probably best known for his work as the original drummer for the multi-platinum selling band Guns N’ Roses. After being fired from the group in 1990 Steven went on to work with a number of other acts and also appeared on the VH1 reality show “Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew”. More recently Steven and his new band simply titled Adler released their debut album “Back From the Dead” and Media Mikes had a chance to ask Steven a few brief questions about the album and the bands touring plans.

Adam Lawton: What type of writing process did the band take when putting songs together for the new album?
Steven Adler: Jacob Bunton and Lonny Paul would bring me songs and then Jeff Pilson and I would add our thing to them. Jeff also produced the record as well as played bass. Everyone in the group was real open to changes and ideas. That made the whole writing/recording process very fun and creative.

AL: How was it like working with Slash again?
SA: Slash and I have been friends since we were kids. I have always loved the way he plays and was honored that he took the time to play on our record.  Back in the GNR days, we took each other’s talents for granted.  At this stage in my life, I’ve learned to appreciate these moments.

AL: Are there plans to shoot any more videos for songs off the album?
SA: In a perfect world we would shoot a video for every song on the record.  But I can tell you from firsthand experience, we don’t live in a “perfect world”, so we’ll have to wait and see what happens.

AL: How did the band get involved with playing on this year’s Kiss Kruise?
SA: Our singer Jacob told us about it and passed the information onto our managers. From there they called Doc McGhee who is KISS’s manager and they made everything happen.

AL: Does the band have any tour plans in the works you can tell us about?
SA: Yes! We are playing some shows with Duff McKagan’s band “Loaded” in Japan starting in early March. Our manager and agents are working on some other things as well but for right now it’s nothing we can officially say. The band does plan on touring everywhere.

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Filed Under: Interviews, Music Interviews Tagged With: adler, album, dead, drummer, guns, roses, ...

IGN Offers “Evil Dead” Fans a Chance to Meet Bruce Campbell

Media Mikes is teaming up with IGN to offer the chance of a lifetime to the ultimate “Evil Dead” fans. By going to the Facebook link below fans can explain why they are the biggest “Evil Dead” fan. When they do this they will be entered to win prizes from Sony (including a television and Blu-Ray DVD player), a poster and the chance to have an exclusive premiere viewing of the new red band trailer WITH BRUCE CAMPBELL!

Click “here” for more details: http://bit.ly/MeetBruceCampbell

 

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IronE Singleton reflects on his role of T-Dog in AMC’s “The Walking Dead”

IronE Singleton is known best for his role of T-Dog in AMC’s “The Walking Dead”. His character has been a key aspect of the show for the last three seasons, until his recent demise in the fourth episode of the third season. Media Mikes had a chance to reflect with IronE about his role on the show and what we can expect next.

Mike Gencarelli: Tell us about how you prepared for shooting your death scene?
IronE Singleton: Mentally, I had a lot of time to prepare because I got word about a month in advance. So I was ready to do that. Plus, when I originally signed on it was only for two maybe three episodes and I ended up lasting three seasons. As far as the physicality was concerned, I had to wear a prosthetic. They put me this pasty stuff on me and let it dry on me for like an hour. Once it dried they cracked it off and that is what they used when the zombies were biting me and pulling out all the guts and veins etc. They were pulling from the prosthetic.

MG: I am a big horror fan and I cringed with your neck scene.
IS: Yeah, I hear that a lot. During one interview I had recently, one guy said he was eating his pizza and he had to stop eating since he almost hurled. People say they can’t eat when they watch this show. They love it but they can’t eat.

MG: What has been your highlight working on “The Walking Dead”?
IS: I have a two and a quarter season highlight reel. Every day was total bliss. Every day was something that I will relish for the rest of my life. I had great times throughout. I honestly did not have one bad day on set. It is hard for me to pin point because every day was like that. I would look forward to going in to work, getting the handshakes, the hugs and kisses. That is what I did everyday for two and a quarter seasons.

MG: Are you surprised with the fans reaction to your character T-Dog?
IS: It is a bit overwhelming. In a good way – in a great way! The amount of support and love that T-Dog is getting showered with is unbelievable. Let’s just say it has been a very emotional week for me since the episode has aired, to say the least. When I did “The Talking Dead” after my final episode, I had to choke back the tears. I am just taken back by all the love from fans, not just in the US but all over the world.

MG: What is it about “The Walking Dead” and it killing off key characters each season?
IS: It is so similar to real life though. When people die you don’t expect them to die unless they have a terminal illness. You just don’t see it coming. That is what happens on “The Walking Dead”. That is the stuff that grabs you the most.

MG: I was hoping for a T-Dog vs. Merle showdown this season.
IS: I think you and millions of others were waiting on that. Ever since the rooftop scene, where T-Dog dropped that key, people were talking about us meeting up again. It would have been great TV.

MG: What season was the most challenging for you?
IS: Season one…we are going to go with the rooftop scene. Oh my goodness, it was like 107 degrees but with humidity it was like 115-120 degrees. I almost fainted a few times and that is something that I don’t do. Having played football for 15 years, I have never come close. So there I was on this rooftop about to pass out, I was thinking “Man that is a big wuss move” [laughs]. Season 2 also was rough with the highway scene, where I cut myself and we had to do that twice. That was also a big one for me, as well as the well-walker scene.

MG: What do you got line-up next in the cards?
IS: I’ve got a project with Neve Campbell called “Sworn to Silence”. I play a small town cop, who was once a former army ranger. He moves to a small Amish community and him and Neve’s characters are out searching for a serial killer. This is based on a best-selling novel by Linda Castillo. I also have another movie “A Box for Rob” that is currently making its way around the festival circuit. I am also working on an autobiography, which I am currently searching for a title. It is related to my life coming from the projects and making it all the way to Hollywood. I am co-writing that Juliette Terzieff, she is the founder of The Zombie Survival Crew. We are halfway done with it and it is currently slated to be published in February 2013. Lastly, I have my song “We Are the Walking Dead”, which is available to purchase on my website: www.ironesingleton.com.

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Filed Under: Interviews, TV Interviews Tagged With: amcs, dead, irone, reflects, role, singleton, ...

DVD Review “The Definitive Document Of The Dead”

Actors: George A. Romero, Tom Savini, Roy Frumkes
Directors: Roy Frumkes
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Synapse Films
DVD Release Date: November 13, 2012
Run Time: 102 minutes

Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

When “The Document of the Dead” was first released in 1985, the documentary by filmmaker Roy Frumkes focused purely on the production of the 1978 film “Dawn of the Dead”. “The Definitive Document Of The Dead” expands more on Romero’s career including work on “Land of the Dead”, “Diary of the Dead” and “Survival of the Dead”. There is a disclaimer in the beginning stating that this film was film over 32 years and the film’s vision has changed over the years. Fans of “Dawn of the Dead” and Romero should already known about this film and respect that Roy Frumkes is a life-long fan of his work. The film as a documentary isn’t Shakespeare but I feel that it does give Romero the credit that he deserves and never seems to get. Synapse Film released a DVD of this film going back almost 15 years now. So this is a welcomed revisit and packaged with a new “Definitive” cut. Also if you are a mega-big fan of this film, there is an Exclusive Limited Edition Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack limited to just over 1,000 copies on the Synapse Website. So that would be the ticket for hardcore fans, if it is even still available at the time of writing this.

“The Document Of The Dead” primary focus is “Dawn of the Dead” and it covers everything from pre-production, production and post-production. Frumkes was there shooting during the production and includes some very intimate interviews with Romero, (producer) Richard Rubinstein, special effects artist/actor/stuntman Tom Savivi, as well as several cast and crew members. I also liked how the film comes around through time and we get to see Frumkes and Romero reunited and reflecting on the film over time specifically during a segment on “Two Evil Eyes”, which showcased on a detailed special effects segment. The new interviews included in this are also a real treat.  Being a horror fan myself “Dawn of the Dead” is so iconic and this is a perfect companion piece to the film itself. This “Defintive” cut really dives further into his career and the film/series over the years…especially with spin-off like “Night of the Giving Head”. Trust me if your a guy, you need to watch this!

Official Premise: “George A. Romero, director of the original Night of the Living Dead, is one of the horror genre’s most celebrated filmmakers. Roy Frumkes amazing 1978 documentary Document Of The Dead was an intimate look at Romero’s creative process, with an outstanding collection of interviews, effects demonstrations (courtesy of make-up artist, Tom Savini) and behind-the-scenes footage from the classic horror film, Dawn of the Dead. This newly re-edited and re-mastered 2012 version of the award-winning documentary contains all-new exclusive material including additional interviews with Romero’s family and friends, candid on-set footage from Two Evil Eyes, Land of the Dead, Diary of the Dead, Survival of the Dead and Many More Surprises! the Definitive Document of the Dead is a loving portrait of a horror legend, and a must-see for any hardcore horror fan!”

The DVD special features are a little bit of a let down since it is missing quite a bit of extras from the previous release. The only extra included on this release is an all-new 2012 audio commentary track with Roy Frumkes. It is fantastic to get a chance to hear a new perspective on the film from the director. I would have also like to had the previous audio commentary with director Frumkes, cinematographer Reeves Lehmann, and narrator Nicole Potter included as well, as well as the twenty minute interview segment from “Two Evil Eyes” with Adrienne Barbeau, George Romero, and Tom Savini. Still though if you already own “The Document of the Dead” DVD you have that already. This is the “Definitive” release with a longer cut doc and a new commentary, so it is all worth it in that sense.

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Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: dead, definitive, document, dvd, review

Blu-ray Review “The Walking Dead: The Complete Second Season”

Starring: Andrew Lincoln, Sarah Wayne Callies, Jon Bernthal, Laurie Holden, Jeffrey DeMunn
Number of discs: 4
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Distributed by: Anchor Bay
Release Date: August 28, 2012
Running Time: 578 minutes

Season Two: 4.5 out of 5 stars
EXtras: 5 out of 5 stars

Season two of “The Walking Dead” took the hit AMC original series to a whole new level. This season was a real focus on human survival and even though based around a zombie invasion it is really show survivalist story at its core. This show is easily one of the best shows on television and this release is easily a must-own Blu-ray. I am usually not a big proprietor of re-watching a television series but I can see myself easily revisiting this show very often. This season trumps every single aspect of the first season and really develops the story for each character throughout. It was even as brave to kill off three of the series main cast as well. This is easily one of my favorite Blu-ray releases this year. Hardcore fans of the show should pick-up the limited edition of this season that comes in a super cool screwdriver zombie case, not for the squeamish.

“The Walking Dead: The Complete Second Season” looks and sounds absolutely amazing on Blu-ray. It comes with a perfect 1080p transfer of each episode presented in the original broadcast 1.78:1 aspect ratio. The sound on this release is really the star with its stunning Dolby TrueHD 7.1 audio track. It really creates the atmosphere for the show and it’s action. The season also comes with a shit load of special features. I mean a shit load. There is commentary tracks spread across all four discs, as well as numerous deleted scenes, over 10 never-before-seen featurettes and webisodes by the great Greg Nicotero.

The audio commentaries appear on the 6 of the 12 episodes this season. The first is “What Lies Ahead” with Executive Producer Glen Mazzara, Executive Producer Gale Anne Hurd, Executive Producer/Writer Robert Kirkman, and Executive Producer David Alpert. “Pretty Much Dead Already” with Executive Producer Glen Mazzara, Producer Scott M. Glimple, Director Michelle Maclaren, and Editor Julius Ramsay. “Nebraska” features Executive Producer Glen Mazzara, Co-Executive Producer Evan Riley, and Actors Scott Wilson and Steven Yeun. “Judge, Jury, Executioner” includes Executive Producer Glen Mazzara, Co-Executive Producer/Special Effects Make-Up Artist/Director Greg Nicotero, Writer Angela Kang, and Actor Laurie Holden. “Beside the Dying Fire” is one of my favorites with Executive Producer/Writer Glen Mazzara, Director Ernest Dickerson, Co-Executive Producer/Special Effects Make-Up Artist Greg Nicotero, Executive Producer/Writer Robert Kirkman, and Actor Norman Reedus. I can honestly say that all these commentary are NOT TO MISSED.

There are 11 featurette covering all aspects of the show’s season. They are all a perfect length of 3-8 minutes. The first is “All the Guts Inside” which looks into the creation of the scene where the characters are ripping into a zombie’s stomach. “Live or Let Die” features cast and crew chatting about season two and its differences between the comic book and the show. “The Meat of the Music” looks into the series’ music and the work of composer Bear McCreary. “Fire on Set” focuses on the season’s final episode. “The Ink is Alive” looks deeper into the similarities and differences between comics and series. “The Sound of the Effects” focuses on the impact of the sound effects to the series. “In the Dead Water” looks into the “well zombie” sequence. “You Could Make a Killing” focuses on Media Mikes’ buddy Greg Nicotero and his contributions to the series. “She Will Fight” focuses on Andrea’s character arc this season. “The Cast on Season 2” is a wrap-up of the season with the cast discuss the show. “Extras Wardrobe” features the work of Costume Designer Eulyn Womble.

Also includes are the six internet webisodes, which follow the initial moments following the zombie outbreak. They are available with optional audio commentary with Writer/Director Greg Nicotero. There are also about 30 minutes of deleted scenes including “What Lies Ahead;” “Save the Last One;” “Secrets;” “Pretty Much Dead Already;” “Nebraska;” “Judge, Jury, Executioner;” “Better Angels;” and “Beside the Dying Fire.” They are also available with optional audio commentary with Executive Producer Glen Mazzara. I mean can you ask for anything else? This season release has got it all. I commend Anchor Bay on not cashing in for this release and just dumping the episodes on Blu-ray.  They seems to actually want to  give the fans what they want and have put a lot of time and love into this Blu-ray.

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“Top Gun” director Tony Scott dead at 68

Tony Scott who, along with his brother, Ridley, was one of the most successful directors of the past three decades, died yesterday after jumping off a bridge to his death in California. He was 68.

One of three sons born into a military family in Britain, Scott showed an interest in art and painting and pursued that career in college, earning a Masters of Fine Art from the Royal College of Art. After failing to make a successful living painting for a couple of years, he teamed with his brother, Ridley, to form the Ridley Scott Association, where he began directing commercials.

His 1983 feature film debut was “The Hunger,” a vampire romance starring David Bowie, Susan Sarandon and Catherine Deneuve. He followed that film with 1986’s “Top Gun,” which launched Tom Cruise to super-stardom. The next year he directed Eddie Murphy in the hugely successful sequel “Beverly Hills Cop II.”

Other early successes include “True Romance,” “The Last Boyscout” and “Days of Thunder.” He then began a long association with Denzel Washington by directing the actor in “Crimson Tide.” He guided Will Smith, Jon Voight and Marty Kircher through the political thriller “Enemy of the State.” His last four features, “Man on Fire,” “Deja Vu,” “The Taking of Pelham 1,2,3” and “Unstoppable” all co-starred Washington.

 

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DVD Review “Dead Season”

Directed by: Adam Deyoe
Starring: James C. Burns, Scott Peat, Marissa Merrill, Corsica Wilson
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Distributed by: Image Entertainment
Release Date: July 31, 2012
Running Time: 88 minutes

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

When it comes to zombie films, there are definitely no shortage. In fact there is almost a new one every month. “Dead Season” stays above the rest and delivers some great effects, gore and entertaining story. It is a film that is not afraid to get its hands dirty and really dive deep into the zombie genre and delivers a kick-ass fun time. It is low-budget but looks the complete opposite. Fans of the horror genre should consider giving this latest zombie entry a try. You should be pleasantly surprised for sure.

When the zombies apocalypse breaking out, we follow two survivors who are looking to flee the chaos and make their way to a remote island and looking to start a new life. Of course once they make it to the island there are already hordes of the flesh-hungry undead and other people already on the island. They are forced to join forces with the island group in order to survive and escape from the zombies with their lives.

Image Entertainment has been releasing some pretty great titles in the horror genre recently after this last months “Some Guy Who Kills People”. I wish they would bring these films to the Blu-ray format though. There are some decent special features included on this DVD at least. There is a Making of featurette. As well as a few deleted scenes and outtakes included. Lastly there is a trailer included for the film. I commend Adam Deyoe for taking zombie and without recreating the wheel delivering an great addition to this genre.

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Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: dead, dvd, review, season

“The Walking Dead” Featured at Universal Studios’ 2012 Halloween Horror Nights

AMC’S “THE WALKING DEAD” BECOMES FIRST TELEVISION SERIES FEATURED AT BOTH UNIVERSAL ORLANDO RESORT AND UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOLLYWOOD’S

HALLOWEEN HORROR NIGHTS EXPERIENCES 

Guests Experience The Post-Apocalyptic Zombie Horror

of AMC’s “The Walking Dead” At Nation’s Best Halloween Events

ORLANDO, Fla., UNIVERSAL CITY, Ca. (July 18, 2012) — Caught in the middle of a high-intensity struggle for survival, you fight off hordes of flesh-hungry, growling “walkers,” or zombies. No place is safe as you make your way through a post-apocalyptic wasteland with horror at every turn. Will you survive?

This fall, Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood are joining forces with AMC’s “The Walking Dead” for their Halloween Horror Nights events. Visitors to both theme parks will be able to experience the horror of AMC’s blockbuster original series, “The Walking Dead,” in elaborately themed, haunted mazes. It marks the first-time Universal Studios has featured a television series at Halloween Horror Nights on both coasts.

The Golden Globe-nominated, Emmy Award-winning, series “The Walking Dead” is based on the comic book written by Robert Kirkman and published by Image Comics. The series tells the story of the months and years that follow after a zombie apocalypse. It follows a group of survivors, led by police officer Rick Grimes, who travel in search of a safe and secure home. “The Walking Dead” is the number-one drama series in basic cable history for adults 18-49 and adults 25-54.

Universal Studios’ Halloween creative teams are working with AMC and “The Walking Dead,” to create an authentic experience that is true to the Emmy Award-winning hit series. The haunted mazes on both coasts feature eerily authentic, elaborately designed, movie-quality sets that include some of the most iconic locations and scenes from the show. Mobs of undead walkers bring to “life” the vicious, hungry, zombies from the show.

“We want people to experience the same terror of the walker-filled reality our characters faced in seasons one and two – and will continue to face in our third season,” said Greg Nicotero, Co-Executive Producer and Special Effects Make-up Artist for the series. “Our collaboration with Universal Studios’ creative teams is exciting as we work to truly capture the essence of the show.”

“The collaboration with Universal Studios’ creative teams is a fantastic cross-promotional opportunity and a great way to capture the spirit of the series, which makes its season three debut on AMC this October,” said Linda Schupack, AMC’s Executive Vice President of Marketing.

“‘The Walking Dead’ puts real people in incredibly horrific situations where they experience true, raw fear, and guests at Halloween Horror Nights experience the same thing,” said Jim Timon, Senior Vice President of Entertainment at Universal Orlando Resort. “We can’t wait to merge the two powerful concepts together.”

“With ‘The Walking Dead,’ we want to make fans of the series feel like they are literally walking in the footsteps of the show’s characters, experiencing all of the horrific events from the series just as they experienced them,” said John Murdy, Creative Director at Universal Studios Hollywood. “The goal is to make guests of Halloween Horror Nights feel like they are trapped in the world of ‘The Walking Dead,’ using all of the attention to detail and movie-quality production values that Halloween Horror Nights has become famous for. You’re no longer sitting on a couch, watching a show…you’re living it!”

Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights® events have a more than 20-year history of creating incredibly entertaining, horrifying Halloween experiences that are consistently rated the nation’s best.  The events on each coast feature highly-themed, disturbingly real, haunted mazes based on everything from film to nightmares — and streets filled with hundreds of specially trained “scareactors.”

For more information about Halloween Horror Nights at both Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood, visit www.HalloweenHorrorNights.com. Watch The Walking Dead announcement video on both Universal Orlando Resort’s YouTube Channel and on Universal Studios Hollywood’s YouTube Channel.

Universal Orlando Resort: There are many ways to enjoy your Orlando vacation, but there is only one place where vacation becomes adventure:  Universal Orlando Resort. It is a unique destination featuring two theme parks, three magnificently themed on-site hotels and a nighttime entertainment complex. It’s the only Orlando destination where you are not just entertained – you become part of the most exhilarating entertainment ever created. You can soar above Hogwarts with Harry Potter, swing above the streets with Spider-Man, be transformed into a banana-loving minion in the hilarious and heartwarming Despicable Me Minion Mayhem ride and help Shrek save Princess Fiona in Shrek 4-D.

Universal Orlando Resort is an NBCUniversal company.

Universal Studios Hollywood SM, The Entertainment Capital of L.A.SM, includes a full-day, movie-based theme park and Studio Tour; the CityWalk entertainment, shopping and dining complex, the Universal CityWalk Cinemas, the “5 Towers” state-of-the-art outdoor concert venue, and the Gibson Amphitheatre concert and special event arena.  World-class rides and attractions include the intense, award-winning ride, “King Kong 360 3-D” on the famed behind-the-scenes Studio Tour, “The Simpsons RideTM,” “Revenge of the MummySM —The Ride” indoor roller coaster and “Jurassic Park® —The Ride,” as well as the critically acclaimed mega-attraction, “Transformers™:  The Ride—3D.”

About AMC

AMC reigns as the only cable network in history to ever win the Emmy® Award for Outstanding Drama Series four years in a row, as well as the Golden Globe® Award for Best Television Series – Drama for three consecutive years.  Whether commemorating favorite films from every genre and decade or creating acclaimed original programming, the AMC experience is an uncompromising celebration of great stories.  AMC’s original stories include “Mad Men,” “Breaking Bad,” “The Walking Dead,” “The Killing” and “Hell on Wheels.”  AMC further demonstrates its commitment to the art of storytelling with its slate of unscripted original series, as well as curated movie franchises like AMC’s Can’t Get Enough and AMC’s Crazy About. AMC is owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc. and its sister networks include IFC, Sundance Channel and WE tv.  AMC is available across all platforms, including on-air, online, on demand and mobile.  AMC: Story Matters HereSM.

 

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Filed Under: Featured, TV Interviews Tagged With: dead, featured, studios, universal, walking

Andy Griffith, television icon, dead at 86

Andy Griffith, whose down-home and folksy persona earned him fans from all generations, died today at the age of 86. No cause of death has been given.

North Carolina born, Griffith earned a degree in music from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and soon found himself appearing of the Ed Sullivan and Steve Allen television programs. Those appearances led to him being cast in the Broadway show ‘No Time For Sergeants,” which earned him a Tony award nomination for supporting actor. He would earn a second nomination in 1960 as Best Actor in a Musical for “Destry Rides Again.” That same year he also took on one of his two most memorable roles, that of small town sheriff Andy Taylor in “The Andy Griffith Show.” The show ran 8 seasons on CBS, then became “Mayberry R.F.D” when Griffith elected to leave the show. He did appear in six episodes of the new show as a way to show continuity. He spent the next decade appearing on film and the occasional episodic television shows.

in 1981, he earned an Emmy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Mini Series for his work in “Murder in Texas.” Incredibly, this was the only Emmy nomination he would receive in his career.

He made his film debut in the Elia Kazan movie “A Face In The Crowd.” His performance as “Lonesome” Rhodes is memorable. His work, as a backwoods hobo who rises to the rank of kingmaker as his popularity grows is one of the greatest film debuts in history.

In 1986 Griffith returned to television full time with the legal series, “Matlock.” In later years Griffith called the role his all time favorite.

But it is as Sheriff Andy Taylor that I will remember him. Still a television re-run staple, “The Andy Griffith Show” is a look back to a simpler time, when you knew your neighbors and your neighbors knew you! With Griffith’s passing only Ron Howard and actress Betty Lynn, who played Thelma Lou on the show, are the only surviving regulars left from the cast.

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Filed Under: Film Headlines Tagged With: 86, andy, dead, griffith, icon, television, ...

Bruce Campbell chats about “Evil Dead” Remake and “Burn Notice”

Bruce Campbell is one of my favorite actors of all-time. His films like “The Evil Dead” series have such a cult following behind them. Bruce is also a series regular on the hit show “Burn Notice”, entering its six season this summer. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Bruce again about the upcoming “Evil Dead” remake to “Burn Notice” to hanging out on Twitter.

Mike Gencarelli: We are all anxious for a sequel to “My Name is Bruce”, what is the current status of “Bruce Vs. Frankenstein”?
Bruce Campbell: On hold. Not sure if I want to make another “meta” movie. I think fans want real action, not “fake” action.

MG: You mentioned it would be the “It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World of horror”, can you let us know who are looking to get in the film?
BC: If we make it, I would try and get as many old/new horror icons as possible.

MG: Season 6 of “Burn Notice” is expected to begin Summer 2012, what can we expect from Sam Axe?
BC: More of the same bad ass action. I don’t know the upcoming plots, but the basic stuff I have been told is really cool.

MG: Anymore spin-off movies planned after “The Fall of Sam Axe”?
BC: Not sure. None planned now, but the ratings were great, so…

MG: Tell us about your experience working on “Cars 2” voicing Rod ‘Torque’ Redline?
BC: It was very enjoyable working directly with John Lasseter, but very short. I just did one session since, technically I get killed off early.

MG: We all know that “Ash” isn’t going to be in the “Evil Dead” remake, why did you decide to assist in producing the film?
BC: I’m a producer on all the Evil Dead films, so it’s only natural. This way, we can stay involved and make sure the fans dig the end result.

MG: Will you having a cameo the film in any sense?
BC: Can’t say.

MG: Since joining twitter as @GroovyBruce, what do you enjoy most about using the social network?
BC: It’s a great way to see who’s out there, what they like, what they want to know – and it’s also a way to let them know what’s coming up.

MG: Tell about your involvement with Oregon Cultural Trust?
BC: I’m just a big fan of Oregon and a big fan of culture, so it seemed like a good fit.

MG: Can we expect you to make a cameo in Sam Raimi’s latest film “Oz: The Great and Powerful”?
BC: Heck yeah – filmed it last fall. Stay tuned on that!

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Filed Under: Film Interviews, Interviews, TV Interviews Tagged With: bruce, burn, campbell, chats, dead, evil, ...
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