NEWS AND NEAT STUFF - January 3, 2015

GOOD-BYE TO TWO WE LOVE

First, to honor the fallen. Character actor Edward Herrmann lost his battle with brain cancer on New Years Eve. Herrmann was known to genre fans for his portrayal of Max, the kindly video shop owner who just also happens to be a vampire king in the classic 80's film THE LOST BOYS. he also gets a lot of love around these parts for his roles in movies like Disney's live action romp THE NORTH AVENUE IRREGULARS, the wonderful period films THE GREAT WALDO PEPPER, and THE PURPLE ROSE OF CAIRO, and even HERE COME THE MUNSTERS in which he took over the Fred Gwynne role of Herman Munster. Also a brilliant stage actor, and voice over artist, Mr. Herrmann was a true thespian, and brought a charm and professionalism to every role he took on. He will be missed.

We also lost the beautiful, talented, and altruistic Donna Dixon. Many of us latch key kids and tv/movie hounds grew up watching her as Elly May Clampett on the classic THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES. Appearing in numerous television shows prior, highlights include the amazing "Eye Of The Beholder" on THE TWILIGHT ZONE, and the THRILLER episode "The Hungry Glass" which also featured William Shatner and Boris Karloff! Douglas is also the female lead in one of my personal favorites in the Elvis movie cannon, FRANKIE AND JOHNNY. Somehow, surprisingly, it didn't spark a features career, even though Douglas is incredibly charismatic in the title role of Frankie. Miss Douglas went on record saying "Elvis broke my heart", during the filming of the 1966 musical. She later enjoyed success as an author of books such as Donna's Critters & Kids: Children's Stories with a Bible Touch, and Miss Donna's Mulberry Acres Farm, both for children. her love of animals was also a huge part of her life, and she remained an active advocate for humane treatment for her entire life. A true beauty, inside and out, Donna Douglas will forever remain in the hearts of kids like me.
So here is to you Edward and Donna. Thanks so much for all the good times at the movies, and on television!

THAT LITTLE OLE' ANT HAS A LITTLE OLE' TEASER

I love blockbuster trailers as much as the next teaser-starved nerd. getting glimpses (without spoilers mind you!) of tentpole flicks can indeed get me excited for the next wham-bam flick hitting the multiplexes. But one thing that's always kind of irked me is a trailer selling the feature it plays before. Let the full length stand on its own, and don't use a two-minute long ploy to get my ass into a seat for a film I may not want to see in the first place. Another thing that "bugs" me (pun fully intended!) is a trailer for a trailer. Seriously? That said, here is a fine example of that condition...and yes, I'm running this in our NEWS AND NEAT STUFF, simply to illustrate a point...no, really! To not be a curmudgeon for a moment though, I am indeed looking forward to seeing Paul Rudd enter into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Now here is the teaser for the trailer for the up-coming ANT-MAN. Ploy aside, kudos to marvel Films for expanding the scope and tone of their movie output.






WILL IRON MAN 4 GO YOUNG ADULT?

Speaking of Marvel flicks, there's rumor hitting the web that Ty Simpkins, aka "Harley keener" the little kid from IRON MAN 3 could be taking over the role of the armored Avenger in the 4th film. Is there any creed to this? Heck no. But that said, while some other sites are balking at the idea, saying Marvel would probably never go for that, and that it's all smoke and conjecture, I counter by saying "It may be a shrewd move". The character was very well received by fans, by this time next year Ty will have had more exposure in JURASSIC WORLD and the actor would be around 17 or 18 by the time it (might) come to pass. Factor in the huge, and I mean huuuuuge box office that Young Adult adaptations bring in these days, which is a phenom I don't see ending anytime soon, and it doesn't sound so far fetched. Sadly I can believe this more than I can the idea of handing over the reigns to Don Cheadle and them going into a full on War Machine arc (which is something I'd love to see). Time shall reveal all.

LET'S ALL GO TO THE MOVIES...OR NOT

Are  home theaters, and downloading destroying movie attendance here in the USA? Or is it inflated ticket prices, and noisy theater patrons on their fucking cellphones (regardless of pre-movie PSA's). All of the above in a perfect storm? Who knows.
A recent report stated "roughly 1.26 billion consumers purchased cinema tickets between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31. That's the lowest number since 1.21 billion in 1995 and not that far ahead of 1994 (1.24 billion). The last time admissions fell below the 1.3 billion mark was in 2011, when only 1.28 billion people when to the movies", adding that "overall revenue for the North American box office in 2014 is expected to finish at roughly $10.36 billion, down 5 percent over 2013 and marking the biggest year-over-year decline in nine years."
This is odd, and a bit discouraging, since in this critics eyes 2014 was one of the strongest years for domestic releases and American made product. The breadth of style available on screens, even with the flood of superhero and fart-humor movies that tended to play like extended R-rated TV episodes, was far greater than in recent memory.
The fact that Spain and China have seen great upswings in theater attendance is also odd, especially given the fact that it's not just hinging on the romance of the big American tentpole flicks. those audiences are also flocking to see native-made product.
I had the pleasure of visiting China or Spain as a film-going tourist, but I wonder if it also has something to do with our (USA) culture of head-down-staring-at-device behavior. Hell, I see families or friends out to dinner, or in a bar, and while they are hanging out, they aren't talking to each other, they're Twittering or Facebooking. Maybe our foreign cousins can teach us a thing or three about living in the moment, eh?

MIDNIGHT APPROACHES FOR CINDERELLA

Ok, I admit it. It's very simple. I'm a big softie, I love fairy tales, and Disney movies. Yes, I watch ONCE UPON A TIME (though I have some serious catching up to do), and liked MALEFICENT a lot (I said it!), so it is with great anticipation that I look forward to Disney's live action imagining of CINDERELLA. Seeing the 2D animated designs rendered in the "reel world" if you will is something that is exciting me. Life isn't lived on EXORCIST bluray viewings alone. Sometimes it's nice to just give in to a happy ending. Bring on the pretty colors, pure escapist fantasy, and childhood memories!
     


NINJAS - A TRULY DISTURBING SHORT FILM FROM A TRULY BRILLIANT FILMMAKER

Now, to counter the diabetes inducing sweetness of the trailer above, it's time for a dose of NEAT STUFF as the title of this column suggests. It's nihilistic, strong, dark medicine we bring you NINJAS (pronounced neen-yus).
Made by Dennison Romalho (Coffin Joe's EMBODIMENT OF EVIL, ABC'S OF DEATH 2) back in 2010, this is one of the strongest and most disturbing pieces of horror ever done in the short film format. Incredible production values enhance this profoundly disturbing, unbearably intense tale of police corruption and black magic. This is not for the faint of heart, trust us here. So turn down the lights, and steel yourself for one Hell of a 25 minute ride. Don't say we didn't warn you! Click if you dare!
              

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~Sean Smithson