What’s Worth Watching?
Though the 2008-’09 television season is already a few months old, I can’t say that I’m all too enamored with many of the new series that have debuted so far on network TV. In some seasons past, I’d find myself watching hours of new comedies and dramas nightly. But this year not so much.
Here’s a quick rundown on what I’ve been watching this fall.
By Bert Ehrmann
11/29/2008
A Halloween Double Feature! Zombies, Zombies, Zombies!
Over the last several Halloweens I’ve profiled some of my favorite horror movies. This year I’ve decided to profile two of my favorite, and quite different, zombie movies. The first of our double feature is the film Night of the Comet (1984).
Continue reading this column on the movies Night of the Comet and 28 Days Later.
By Bert Ehrmann
10/18/2008
Iron Man, Sports Night and Indiana Jones, an Unlikely Combination
A lot of people really were critical of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (Indy 4) when it was released in theaters last May, not liking its sci fi elements or the addition of Shia LaBeouf as Indy side kick “Mutt” Williams. But, to be honest, I actually kind’a dug Indy 4.
Let’s put it this way, if you can accept in Raiders of the Lost Ark that Indy can hold onto a German sub as it sails hundreds of miles in the open sea from Africa to some Nazi stronghold island or in Temple of Doom that he, Short Round and Willie can jump out of a crashing airplane with only an inflatable raft between them and the ground – and can somehow survive the fall – then you’ll probably also be able to accept the events of Indy 4 as well.
Continue reading this column on upcoming DVD releases.
By Bert Ehrmann
10/3/2008
Coming Soon to consoles & PC's everywhere!
Dead Space
Out October 14th. Another Space Action Horror Game, pretty much a cross between "Alien", "Event Horizon", and "The Thing". Throw in a little "uh oh, we don't have Gravity on this ship.." and you got yourself a challenging game. Looks to be one of the better "hits" from EA.
Fallout 3
Fallout 3 is an action role-playing game currently under development by Bethesda Game Studios. It will be the third major game in the Fallout series, which has also spawned the spin-offs Fallout Tactics and Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel. The setting of Fallout 3 will take place in the year 2277, 36 years after the setting of Fallout 2 and 200 years after the nuclear war that devastated the game's world. The game will be released in North America on October 28, 2008.
And of course, last but not least:
Command and Conquer: Red Alert 3
EA is once again opening up the RTS genre and bringing out a star studded cast for its latest addition to the Command and Conquer series. This time, the Soviet Union is on the brink of disaster, and must attempt to stop the Allies from succeeding in their plans by travelling back in time . As a result, However, the Soviets unknowingly cause a new advesary to rise to power: The Empire of the Rising Sun!
By Mo Alexander
10/3/2008
Addicted to Xbox anyone?
As much as I was a X box 360 "hater", (and love my Playstation 3), for some damned reason Halo 3 kept calling my name. So I submitted to the whim, got the 20 GB model, and picked up the Halo 3 Legendary Pack. (I am still trying to fit the helmet on one of my cats..)
After firing it up for the first time, and it locking up on one of the "accessory videos" that was installed on the hard drive (I seriously would have laughed had I gotten a Blue Screen of Death), I rebooted and fired up the game.
Bungie did a great job with this game, with HD visuals, digital sound, and a great soundtrack to boot. Although some of the gameplay seems a little repetitious at times. Run here, do this, blow up the enemy, run back to the start, blow up more of the enemy, then run back to the end again. Whew!
Although I haven't sampled the Multiplayer option with Halo3 yet, I hear it is all the rage. As a matter of fact, it seems everyone speaks volumes about the Multiplayer aspect, and very little about the Solo campaign. I guess sometime I will give it a whirl, but I am too wrapped up playing Burnout Paradise and GTA 4!!
At any rate, Microsoft did a little bit better on this console versus its predecesor. The Xbox arcade offers a variety of games that you can purchase (or even demo) ranging from "Everyone" rated games, up to "Mature".
This is where the real fun came in. We finally that all the family can play, and even play at the same time. (No, I am not talking about UNO!). I am talking about CASTLE CRASHERS!!! Not since the days of playing "Golden Axe" in my youth have I found a hack-n-slash game worthy of its mantle. This game has it all. A little gore, a lot of button mashing, and some great comedic character development. Trying this game out for free will probably cost you a few hours of your life. Buying it will make it even more enjoyable.
All in all, I gotta admit that the Xbox is a good gaming system. My only fear now is when the Red Rings of Death will come to visit my machine.. (THEY BETTER NOT!!)
Micro$oft X box
By Mo Alexander
10/3/2008
Wow has it been a while..
Since April to be exact. Guess I have some catching up to do.
The new Iron Man Blu Ray Disc shall be mine this weekend. I am looking forward to checking it out in all its HD Glory.
Bert got it right when he said this was one of the better movies of 2008. I certainly enjoyed it.
By Mo Alexander
10/3/2008
The Stand
The second issue of the comic book adaptation of The Stand is due out next Wednesday. From Marvel:
By Bert Ehrmann
10/1/2008
What Ever Happened To? : The Horror Movie
For quiet a time right now Horror movies have taken a sort of turn for the worse. Wether it be a high budget film that simply tanks due to horrible acting and a lame script or the fact that everyone seems to want to restart a franchise that should not be restarted. There is also the good foreign horror films being "Americanized" but I'm not even going to go there. What ever happened to the Classic Horror Movie? By that I mean a blood splattering, bone breaking, mutant breeding, dysfunctional family, scantily clothed women, vomit spewing, serial killing, more blood splattering,zombie brain eating, monster slashing, b-acting movie.
My main concern is the "Friday the 13th" remake that is scheduled to be released next year. Sure I love Jason to death and he is probably one of the most iconic killers in the genre but I gave up on that franchise when they released Jason-X. (Its a great film to watch at 3:00 am but thats about it) Then I also find out not only are they restarting this series but also are in the works for a new "Nightmare on Elmstreet" movie...... without Robert Englund! I agree that the newer versions of "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and Rob Zombie's rendition of "Halloween" were pretty well done but they do not hold a candle to the originals. Next thing you'll know they will be cranking out new Puppermaster movies or something like that. (In my eyes that would be awesome with CG as good as it is now.) 
My next issue is all of the crap that Hollywood releases as being a horror movie. I watched "Prom Night" against my will the other day and I must say that this had to be one of the worse movies I have ever watched. Three minutes in you knew who the killer was and I thought to myself " You have got to be kidding me right? Isn't that the guy from That Thing You Do ?" What a waste of time that was. The same thing happened when I watched the ruins the other night. I was expecting some crazy alien popping out and killing everyone but no we all get killed by plants. Yes, I said plants.
Now don't get me wrong there have been a few films these last few years that have impressed me (High Tension, The Descent, House of 1000 Corpses/Devil's Rejects) but seriously I believe the genre is on the decline. So knock it off Hollywood ! Come up with something original and leave things as they should.
By Matt Alexander
9/27/2008
Iron Man DVD
Iron Man is due out on DVD, Blue-ray and digital download next Tuesday (9/30). The two-disc special edition DVD retails for $30.
By Bert Ehrmann
9/26/2008
Valkyrie
I'm not sure what to think about the upcoming Valkyrie movie. The concept is interesting, a plot to assassinate Hitler and end WWII a year early, and the last time the writer and director of Valkyrie got together they came up with a little film called The Usual Suspects.
But the release date for Valkyrie has changed at least three times (which is never a good sign) and there hasn't been much publicity (so far) for a movie due out in just a few months.
Still, I can't remember the last time a non-German WWII movie focused on the Germans.
By Bert Ehrmann
9/25/2008