Okay, so here are some thoughts on things I have seen or read recently...
I watched SPLINTER on SciFi Channel earlier this week. I thought it was good, definitely better than I was expecting and DEFINITELY better than most of the "original" movies SciFi Channel usually airs. It had it's creepy/scary moments and held my interest throughout, so good enough! Maybe SciFi should try and get more of these films and air less of the crud movies they produce themselves.
On the other hand, I also watched BACKWOODS, or rather watched it from DVR, since it was on late one night and I didn't want to stay up. And good thing I didn't. What a piece o'crap! Haylie Duff as one of the leads SHOULD have been my heads up, but I ventured in anyway. I don't suggest you do the same.
In theaters, I saw CORALINE with my 13-year-old daughter this week. Actually was a very good movie, imaginiative and creepy. Not recommended for kids who are scared easily as the villain character can give them major willies, I think. My daughter liked it, too, but she likes Tim Burton-esque stuff, so that might have helped. The 3D was good, especially the tunnel and the "other world", but I actually think the live 3D in MY BLOODY VALENTINE 3D was better. I am sure many others will disagree!
I FINALLY finished reading DON'T OPEN THIS BOOK! - which was good, but long. It is a collection of scary stories selected by Marvin Kaye. Some of the stories weren't too scary, but I made it through. All in all, a good read, but for someone who is more easily spooked.
Also read FRIDAY THE 13TH Part II: A Novel, which is basically what the title says, a novelization of the 2nd movie, from the 80s. Has some expanded passages, but mostly sticks right to the story. A quick read.
Thanks to Scab's Friday The 13th & Horror blog, I caught Halloween at Crystal Lake, a foreign (Swedish?) fan-made short film, dealing with Michael Myers venturing into Jason Voorhees' territory. It was okay, I guess. The accents threw me too much.
And for a chuckle, check out Star-ving: Starring David Faustino, who used to be Bud Bundy back on Married with Children. Hilarious, the guy certainly doesn't take himself too seriously. His buddy is Corin Nemec, best known as Parker Lewis on the too-short-lived Parker Lewis Can't Lose. Funny stuff.
What I read, write, watch, listen to or do between hot cups of the good stuff.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Friday, February 13, 2009
Friday the 13th - Jason is back!
So... I watched all the previous films over the past week, from the original all the way to "Freddy vs. Jason". I watched both discs of the "His Name Was Jason" documentary. And today, with my wife, my brother and my sister-in-law, I saw the newest film.
I liked it. I didn't LOVE it, but I didn't HATE it, either. It had a very cool opening, with a bunch of kills before the title even hit the screen. And the rest was good, Jason-killing slasher fun.
All the "Jason film" elements are present: teenagers; the woods; the lake; sex; nudity; weapons and Jason. Each film is just a different way of putting it all together, I suppose. To differing results.
Little things here and there bugged me, but other things I thought were cool. Evens out, I suppose. No movie can be perfect for every fan everywhere. Just not possible. Some kills I thought were cool and different, others run-of-the-mill.
The way he gets the hockey mask was a bit "blah" to me. Thought they could have made it's introduction a little "cooler". But that is nothing major.
The ending-leading-up-to-the-ending (you will understand when you see it) was a little "what the?", really. I mean... WHY would they do that??? But, it is what it is.
So fans will LOVE it, some will HATE it. I like it, which is all that matters. I will watch it again. And again. Hey, I am just happy to have Jason back on the big screen. And in the end, that is what matters.
Next time I have a movie marathon, I will have 12 movies to watch! Wow... And, that makes Jason's next foray to the screen his 13th appearance. Not sure when that will be, but I am sure it will happen. And how cool is that? I remember when I was a kid, all the other kids saying that the "Jason movies" were going to go to 13 parts. Now, really no one ever said such a thing, they were always a film-to-film proposition. But here we are on the cusp of there actually being 13 films. Now THAT will be a marathon, some day!
Welcome back, Jason!
I liked it. I didn't LOVE it, but I didn't HATE it, either. It had a very cool opening, with a bunch of kills before the title even hit the screen. And the rest was good, Jason-killing slasher fun.
All the "Jason film" elements are present: teenagers; the woods; the lake; sex; nudity; weapons and Jason. Each film is just a different way of putting it all together, I suppose. To differing results.
Little things here and there bugged me, but other things I thought were cool. Evens out, I suppose. No movie can be perfect for every fan everywhere. Just not possible. Some kills I thought were cool and different, others run-of-the-mill.
The way he gets the hockey mask was a bit "blah" to me. Thought they could have made it's introduction a little "cooler". But that is nothing major.
The ending-leading-up-to-the-ending (you will understand when you see it) was a little "what the?", really. I mean... WHY would they do that??? But, it is what it is.
So fans will LOVE it, some will HATE it. I like it, which is all that matters. I will watch it again. And again. Hey, I am just happy to have Jason back on the big screen. And in the end, that is what matters.
Next time I have a movie marathon, I will have 12 movies to watch! Wow... And, that makes Jason's next foray to the screen his 13th appearance. Not sure when that will be, but I am sure it will happen. And how cool is that? I remember when I was a kid, all the other kids saying that the "Jason movies" were going to go to 13 parts. Now, really no one ever said such a thing, they were always a film-to-film proposition. But here we are on the cusp of there actually being 13 films. Now THAT will be a marathon, some day!
Welcome back, Jason!
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Friday the 13th ALL MONTH!
Okay, so Friday the 13th isn't technically for three more days, but it has been a great week so far for fans of both the movie series and the show.
Last Tuesday, new editions of the first three films were released, with Part One in an UNCUT version and Part 3 in a 3D version, with 2 pairs of 3D glasses! Parts One and Two also had a bunch of extras, including some great interviews with past cast and crew, and even two new little "lost Jason" scenes. Great fun! And I have to give a big "thanks" to a fellow F13:TS fan and friend who was so kind as to offer me the copies he had obtained of the movies, free of charge. What a guy!
Also last week, the documentary "His Name Was Jason" was released. This is a 2 Disc edition with tons of interviews from many who were involved with the series over the years, from actors to directors and more. I haven't watched my copy yet, since I have been having my own marathon of the films (up to Part VIII, watching it as I type this), but it looks awesome - a great bonus for diehard fans of Jason's exploits. Can't wait to watch it, and if you have the Encore Action channel, the documentary itself is airing on Friday the 13th at 9:00 PM and then at 1:30 AM.
Today, the Second Season of "Friday the 13th: The Series" was released for the first time on DVD. This is the show that shared a name with the movies and not much else, save for some behind the scenes people. But it can be loved for what it is and I do love it. Wish it had gone on longer than three seasons, but what can you do. And I hope Season Three's release isn't too far off! And, my good friend Curious George has done something cool, an article he wrote on the show at Seattle Post-Intelligencer online - sweet!
Tomorrow, the SciFi Channel actually has a marathon of this show, from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, of Season Two episodes. Tune in for some 80s horror fun!
Of course, the "big deal" this week is the release of the remake "Friday the 13th" in theaters. While I am very glad Jason will be back on the big screen once more, I am also worried about how this flick will turn out. I thought the "Halloween" remake was okay, even though it was a totally different (and less scary) film than the awesome original. But, time will tell. Hope it does well, cause that will, as always, determine how quickly we get to see the next sequel hit theaters.
So, all in all, it's an awesome month to be a Jason or Friday fan!
Two more things before I go:
1) Thank you so much to my lovely Mrs. for the awesome gift. You are too kind to me. :)
2) The Friendly Atheist pointed out this evolution poll at Parade Magazine's website - Go and VOTE!)
Last Tuesday, new editions of the first three films were released, with Part One in an UNCUT version and Part 3 in a 3D version, with 2 pairs of 3D glasses! Parts One and Two also had a bunch of extras, including some great interviews with past cast and crew, and even two new little "lost Jason" scenes. Great fun! And I have to give a big "thanks" to a fellow F13:TS fan and friend who was so kind as to offer me the copies he had obtained of the movies, free of charge. What a guy!
Also last week, the documentary "His Name Was Jason" was released. This is a 2 Disc edition with tons of interviews from many who were involved with the series over the years, from actors to directors and more. I haven't watched my copy yet, since I have been having my own marathon of the films (up to Part VIII, watching it as I type this), but it looks awesome - a great bonus for diehard fans of Jason's exploits. Can't wait to watch it, and if you have the Encore Action channel, the documentary itself is airing on Friday the 13th at 9:00 PM and then at 1:30 AM.
Today, the Second Season of "Friday the 13th: The Series" was released for the first time on DVD. This is the show that shared a name with the movies and not much else, save for some behind the scenes people. But it can be loved for what it is and I do love it. Wish it had gone on longer than three seasons, but what can you do. And I hope Season Three's release isn't too far off! And, my good friend Curious George has done something cool, an article he wrote on the show at Seattle Post-Intelligencer online - sweet!
Tomorrow, the SciFi Channel actually has a marathon of this show, from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, of Season Two episodes. Tune in for some 80s horror fun!
Of course, the "big deal" this week is the release of the remake "Friday the 13th" in theaters. While I am very glad Jason will be back on the big screen once more, I am also worried about how this flick will turn out. I thought the "Halloween" remake was okay, even though it was a totally different (and less scary) film than the awesome original. But, time will tell. Hope it does well, cause that will, as always, determine how quickly we get to see the next sequel hit theaters.
So, all in all, it's an awesome month to be a Jason or Friday fan!
Two more things before I go:
1) Thank you so much to my lovely Mrs. for the awesome gift. You are too kind to me. :)
2) The Friendly Atheist pointed out this evolution poll at Parade Magazine's website - Go and VOTE!)
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