Whatever the flaws the first IT movie made, it is amplified again by director Andy Muscutti inability to improve Stephen king’s second half of the novel. The main characters are grownup in the form of James McAvoy, Jessica Chastain, and Bill Hader. All the adults return after twenty-seven years to again confront the evil Pennywise, reawaken once more to terrorize kids in Derry. The actors are serviceable in their roles with Bader being the stand out as a comedian who hides a bitter secret from his childhood.

The storyline is no different than the first, only bigger, louder and annoyingly longer in its running time. Muscutti must have thought he was doing his own horror version of Endgame. Whereas at least with that behemoth there were some poignant moments that were earned after so many years. Here the past and present are piled on top of each other, flip-flopping between the entire cast having nightmarish visions, with that much abundance it drags toward the three-hour mark as if this warrants a clunky showdown that was done slightly better in chapter 1.

Bill Skargards as the antagonist Pennywise keeps the film on track as well as Hader whenever they’re on screen but their absences call attention to the structure that sinks it whenever their not. Mention should be made of the very noticeable CGI in making the kids young as they were in the original, The overused jump scares scattered about or the odd scene in the restaurant where the adult characters are smashing chairs over tables fending off Phantasmal images, with barely a reaction from the hostess/ patrons on the vandalizing carnage.

The beginning of the film starts promisingly enough, a horrendous hate attack shows the indifferent decline of empathy in Derry as Pennywise’s evil expands emotionally beyond and just not simply gobbling little children. Had the film dealt a bit more with the town, it would have given a little much-needed gravitas to the situation instead of cheap scares.

Admittedly the first IT wasn’t that impressive, but the kids dealing with their adolescent problems and Pennywise at least afforded some emotional connections. Here IT 2 is just a pretend horror epic with no substance.

I give it a quick domestic beer with very little taste.

Possibly the most misunderstood  horror flick, dismissed by mainstream critics as being cold and uninteresting is quite the opposite, this picture is retro throwback to the Universal and Hammer films of old. Visually beautiful in every shot, it can actually be framed it into a picturesque novel. A management firm sends a very unscrupulous analyst to a wellness spa in the Swiss alps to retrieve a CEO representative responsible for the mishandling of company funds. What he finds there are rich residents dyhydrating despite drinking tons water, a young waif seemingly out of place, staff behaving strangely, aquatic eels showing up where they shouldn’t and a doctor straight out of a mad scientist handbook.  Planet fitness this isn’t.

SCARY FUN

Lake Mungo (2008)

A faux documentary of a young girl’s suicide and the haunting that may be affecting a family, but there are some twists that prove something more mudane and even that is questionable. Layered in  puzzles, the film is a slow burn that has a scene at one pivotal point had the hairs on my head stand on end. Take note found footage fans, this is how you really do it right.

DOWNRIGHT DISTURBING

The leopard Man (1943)

Like fine wine, this vintage movie just gets better and better. A leopard escapes from a dance act and wreaks havoc on a small town. But certain evidence might say otherwise. Horror aficionados take note of all the tropes that to this day is still used.

OLD SCHOOL CLASSIC

A train to Busan (2016)

Tired of zombies yet?

Don’t give up yet, this gives new life  from the walking dead boredom from that cable show. Estranged father and daughter are traveling on a non stop train filled with infected passengers at one end. Terrific Set up that honestly play no games with heartfelt moments and kinectic thrills.

SCARY FUN

Annihilation (2018)

It’s debatable, it leans more to Sci-fi than horror, but there are elements of Cronenbergian influence in parts coupled with a horrid mutated monster that chills  just based on the concept of it. An expedition of military and scientific women take a journey into a isolated spot called the shimmer, an area that transform all organic matter into something else as it slowly expands outward across the land.  A laid back film with a sense of maturity to the subject of what is life

CHILLER SUSPENSE

Incident at ghostland (2018)

I told you that Martyrs was disturbing as fuck, well the director is back to do it again,  so expect a little misogyny and sadistic violence in the process. Brutal rampage is visited on a mother and two daughters that survives a horrific home attack. One of the daughters years later returns to the same house to assist her mother in taking care of a still traumatized sister. But is the emotional scars really dealt with or is there’s a sinister reality ready to emerge that may be even worse. A decent psychological thriller.

CHILLER SUSPENSE

The Green Room (2o15)

The first mistake of a punk rock band to do is play anti nazi songs for a racist skin head crowd, the second is to witness a murder, which could lead to not getting paid but also not getting another gig …….permanently. Patrick Stewart almost steals the scene as a grandfatherly nazi, what more could you ask.

SCARY FUN

Don’t Breath (2016)

Three young niave thieves break into one particular house too many. A grizzled blind war vet has a few surprises for them as well as a horrid secret kept in the basement. Villainous Stephen lang lookin’ buff and definitely taking no names, is kicking ass as a would be victim turn vicious predator.

CHILLER SUSPENSE

The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016)

One of the few titles that lives up to its name. Witchery is afoot as a Father and son mortician duo tries tries to peel back (literally) the body of Jane doe, trying to find clues to who she is and the phantasmal events closing in around them. Straight up horror the way you like it.

SCARY FUN

Hereditary (2018)

Few horror films very rarely deal with grief and loss with any real convictions. Toni Collette pulls a Academy award performance as a mother dealing with the unraveling of a family as tragic circumstances leads her down to even darker roads. A slow burner with a nasty nihilistic streak through it.

Beware the clucking sound.

CHILLER SUSPENSE

SCARY FUN

DOWNRIGHT DISTURBING

CHILLER SUSPENSE

OLD SCHOOL CLASSIC

So let’s get that popcorn a burning and the diet coke flowing and get into the  chill factor.

The Children: 2008

Parenticide murders aplenty by tiny tots in this bad seed send off.

Chiller suspense

Dog soldiers: 2002

A lone  military  patrol squad try to evade being eaten by lycanthropized canines. Let the ass kickin’ begin.

Scary  fun

Videodrome: 1983

Hard to describe,  a kind of a philosophical  ideology  about media and television and its effect on a changing society. Whatever; it’s a gorefest with great FX, brought to you by body horror master himself David Cronenberg.

Old school classic

A Siberian film: 2010

Necrophilia, pedophilia, mix murder with sadism and a quick dose of nihilism and you have story about a former male porn star cursed  with an insatiable  bloodlust, screw the explanation of this film being some sort of political metaphor, this isn’t  Salo on that level but it will test your tolerance.

Downright disturbing

The Cell: 2000

An arty version of the Nightmare Elm street kind, Jennifer ( on the block) Lopez, uses high tech science to peer into the mind of comatose  serial killer Vincent D’ onofrio. Bizarre and gruesome images unlock clues to a missing victim in danger as time runs out.  It looks better than it sounds.

Chiller suspense

Orphan: 2009

Unsuspecting parents seemingly adopts a prim  and proper little girl….. that has a sweet tooth for murder, stay for the ending it’s a head-tripper.

Scary fun

Megan is missing: 2011

A precautionary tale  done in found footage style about the dangers of online meetings and the tragic consequences of that result. Yeah you need a drink after this.

Downright disturbing

Unfriended: 2015

Exposes the destructive nature  of teens in social media, only to have it come back to bite them in the proverbial ass. It is somewhat  found footage but it works better in the media device in which you watch it, best to view this Skype like thriller on a PC than your television, it’ll  for a few seconds give off an illusionary  feel that your part of it.

Chiller suspense

The Haunting 1961:

Forget Jan Debont’s bullshit remake and take this atmospheric black and white version, about paranormal investigators doing what they do best, Investigate.  Director Robert Wise gives an eerie and moody ambiance that creeps in the back of your mind.

Old school classic

If you don’t see the usual suspects like the Exorcist or the Shining, it was left off mainly because their already “go to” favorites everywhere else online, going to try some curve balls here and there. So get ready with your Netflix or illegally favorite torrent site, get that burnt popcorn going  and see what nightmares are really made of.

Diabolique (1955)

Forget the remake with Sharon Stone, watch the french version instead. An abused wife and neglected mistress murders husband, only to find the body missing later and peculiar occurrences plaguing both women.{ Chiller Suspense}

Phantasm (1979)

Mausoleums, flying finger monsters, the tall man,  spheres that drill into your head and  killer dwarfs  from another dimensions, What does it all mean, I haven’t a clue but this is the most original horror fantasy at that time and even now. { Scary fun}

Fiend without a face (1958)

The  usual mishaps of science experiments  gone way wrong.One of the few Sci-fi with a creepy feel to it. The appearances of the creatures once invisible is especially high on the eek meter.{old school classic} 

Martyrs (2008)

Child abuse escalating  into  violent vengeance, which leads to something even worse. One of the few horror films that actually perturbed me. This is not for the squeamish.{ Downright Disturbing }

Carnival of Souls (1962)

Forget its low budget minimalist leanings, it actually works in its favor. Woman survives a  drag racing accident that kills her friends, but the trauma has left her feeling disconnected to things and seeing strange figures that are not there. The atmosphere of unease permeates from scene to scene. { old school classic .}

The Descent (2005)

How dangerous could cave expedition be, our women explorers are about to find out, Oh yeah there is something down there alright. { Scary fun}

Noroi: The Curse (2005)

A found footage that actually has a story to it, this Japanese import deals with a paranormal documentarian investigating a case which in terms leads to his disappearance. The events are put together by the film evidence left behind.  After  awhile the unraveling tale creates a thick sense of dread to it. {Chiller Suspense }

From Beyond (1986)

Based  0n H.P. lovecraft ‘s short story.   A machine called a Resonator is made to stimulate the human pineal gland, giving the person to perceive and enter another dimension where all sorts of big and small critters lurk. When the apparatus goes out of control…. well you can see for yourself. { Scary fun}

Happy Halloween folks!!

Some snippets of NYCC

Animal planet: Finding Bigfoot

A reality show that really has nothing to do with reality, but certainly has a hard core following, at least with audience I was with. The panel talked a bit with the fans after the presentation.  Ranae Holland with a manly handshake is the resident skeptic, although she seems to be pseudo critical, as if it’s just a performance act for the masses. On the other hand Cliff Barack man seem generally enthusiastic about the subject even has a calling card he gave out. I asked about  about the onslaught of bigfoot videos on Youtube, and if it hampers any serious research about it,  Barack hasn’t an issue with it, the plus side that it keeps the subject going in the public eye.

Breaking into Comics right now:

For those that dream about it, the title alone said it all.  Some quick notes, research company, eight page write up with drawings. Avatar comic might be something to look into. Web comics are another option. All in all, just hook up with some like minded individual,  pull talents together. One novice artist was looking for a writing partner and more than a few (including myself) volunteered. who said networking doesn’t work.

NYCC Thursday night kick off:

Everyone was on their game except Janeane Garofalo, she seems to wander in without an act.

Meanwhile at the fortress of Solitude……….

Star wars rebels: the might of the empire:

Full house on this panel, but what did you expect when it comes to this particular series, a quick design glimpse for ravenous fans.

CBLDF: The Secret origins of Comic Censorship!

A little history taught by scholar Carol Tilley…….

True blood with Kristin Bakers and Lauren Bowles:

Still wonder why the show was on this long, although the actresses were engaging.

Your opinion sucks! Rotten Tomatoes Critics Vs Fan:

Possibly the biggest disappointment, less of a in depth discussion about the value on film criticisms and its relevance today. Instead  the panel dialed it down to what sucks or didn’t suck. Did speak with Owen Gleibman  of Entertainment Weekly about the saturation of Internet critics on line, he felt it wasn’t a problem to his position,  and counted himself lucky to make a successful career of it.

Get set for NYCC 2014, seeya there.

“Vampirella; a Playboy magazine!” said sarcastically by one of the older kids on the block, as I tried shielding the cover from judgmental g eyes. There were other published anthologies such as “Creepy” and “Eerie”, both had a fair share of nudity and violence, mashed with horror genre, but the Vampirella issues at least in the early ones  seem to have a more emphasis on women be it as victims or perpetrators in the stories.

With cover like that how could I resist

She was the brain child of the great Forry Ackerman, creator of the magazine Famous Monsters of Filmland. The basic origin was that Vampi was the sole survivor of a planet of vampires, where rivers once flowing with blood was slowly drying up.  She escapes on a manned rocket-ship back to earth where she befriends a drunken washed up magician named Pendragon. Taking a serum that curves her blood-lust and pursued and later befriended by a new generation of Van Helsings, each story would deal with her battles with a cult called Chaos and other dark forces.

The legendary Archie Goodwin would take on the writing chores later and perfected the twist ending to her twelve page adventures. Arguably these were the quintessential version, short as they were, it had a breezy quickness that hit the points it wanted to make. No heavy handed plot to detract its concise narrative.  Of course the stories wouldn’t have half the impact if not for Jose “Pepe” Gonzalez great artistic rendition of the the title character. Coming in at issue # 12, the makeover created a stunning siren,  seductive,  sexually chaste without the nymph prancing nature of her  more active  half sister of the sci-fi film Barbarella,  of which Forry  semi-christened our  gal  her name.

In the years to come, Vampi would be reinterpreted by other publications, whether manga styled or superhero horror,   concepts  that will continually evolve for every generations.

Before Ripley,  Xena, or Buffy,  she was the first female  ass kicker of fantasy horror genre.

By the way ignore the Roger Corman film Vampirella, the campy approach and low (low) budget is an injustice to the idea of the original, in other words it sucks.

A dedicated but scrawny and sickly Steve Rogers (Chris Evans rebooted from the Fantastic Four) agrees to go through an experimental serum that would transform him into the Iconic, flag waving Captain America. Another in the never ending stable of superhero adaptation for the geek squad

Cap is the counterpoint to the evil Red Skull, played in cackling 101 Nazi-ness by Hugo Weaving.

The film jets back and forth between Captain being used as a prop to sell war bonds, all the while the Skull develops weapons of mass destruction, and trying to tap into the power of  a rubic shaped cosmic cube, imbued with the powers of the Gods (Don’t ask).

The military and especially Colonel Chester Phillip (Tommy Lee Jones phoning this one in from his sleep) have doubts and trepidation about losing their lab rat Captain to the front lines, But help by boring love interest Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) and a suave Millionaire inventor Howard Stark ( father of Tony Stark’s Iron man), fly Rogers into enemy territory where he rescues  friend Bucky Barnes ( Sebastian Stan) as well as hundreds of other military prisoners, proving he’s more than a road show commercial. This pushes the evitable confrontation to come between Captain America and the Red Skull.

Sounds good on paper, but on film, not much to cheer about.

Director Joe Johnston seems clueless in how to make a memorable battle, Action scenes are stitched together with no rhythm, and its all run, punch, leap, surrounded by a background of things exploding. The hero’s trademark speeches of American values while kicking ass, is muted for political correctness for the international film market. He’s just a guy in blue tights that just wants to help out.

Hugo Weaving doesn’t fair much better as the Red Skull, with old school villainy and no dynamic personality to really make him interesting, the trick relies on selling the trademark disfigurement as a makeup gimmick to keep you from not being bored and even that carries no weight, unlike the horrid visage of Nolan’s Two- face from The Dark night. It’s simply a marketing mask for this year’s Halloween.

Probably the biggest issue is Chris Evans as the titled character, he’s plain as un-buttered toast, the Captain is so bland, as to being nonexistent, and in some ways the film is simply a prelude to the video game, although from what I heard, it wasn’t much better.

1. DC Comics places ALL its hopes on Scott Snyder to restore Superman to prominence:

Canceling DC Nation to 2013, Putting American Vampire on hiatus after the next few issues…it’s clear DC is putting ALL hands on deck to put their A-list property back on track. I wonder if that’s even possible? We’re such a cynical society, we can never believe someone with absolute power can be for us. Maybe it’s not the writers who can’t get Superman but the comic book fans?

2. Doesn’t matter if something is good, so long as it makes you happy:

Some of the stupidest systems for signings (Thurs you were supposed to get wrist bands at Marvel or DC that were not guaranteed on unless you had VIP tickets for $700) that allowed for scalpers to get signings and then SELL their bands afterwards…it was so bad, Robert Kirkman HAD to apologize for the lines at the Image panel and would seek a BETTER system at Image table next year. That did not deter a 17 year old girl who was a fan of Brian K. Vaughn from suffering in a line for 1hr 45 min to get ONE book signed.

There’s a LOT of devout love for comic books at NYCC. Proven by the lack of movie star power from last year’s Con. The numbers INCREASED without hype of Iron Man 3, Thor 2, Cap 2, or Guardians of the Galaxy. This town LOVES comics.

3. Movies didn’t save comics, Comics will SAVE movies

Don’t take my word for it, take the word of Del Toro who will publish the Pacific Rim comic book as a means of fleshing out this world before his movie debuts. Legendary Pictures is wise to sign Grant Morrison, Matt Wagner, etc to their comics studio because it is inexpensive when you consider they can patent NEW franchises without having to pay royalties to DC as they did to produce: the Dark Knight trilogy, 300, Watchmen, and Man of Steel.

4. Video Game Industry will make the eyes of the world turn towards NYCC

You NEED a hook to bring people to the dance. Video games are so much more how interactivity of media influences youth that I am glad video games are a part of NYCC. It’s their funding that is continuing to make this con more successful and bigger every year. If only the crowd control and spacing of the Con was as much up to par.

5. Next Year’s Hopes and Dreams for NYCC

Can Peter Jackson bring some love to NYCC since his movie debuts in December? December is the new May for big films and I am shocked Hollywood would give the stink eye to NYC. Wait, this IS LA I can imagine it but how much of a stupid loss is it to ignore one of the hugest meccas for media on the planet? Something has gotta give, it’s WAY too open for someone to step in.

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Can Sony turn the tables sooner than later?

Remember what Louis CK was saying about Cinnebon? Not even Steve Rogers could resist feeling bad…

Merchandise! Capitalism! Smell the commerce in the air!

Brian Azzarello giving me a look after I asked, “So you wrote that the Amazons legalized date rape and 86-ed birth control?” Works for me because Wonder Woman is the second best title DC comics has going for itself since the relaunch…

More to come…

Did someone say comics? Beware the new rules with signings are a bitch as they require you to ask for a band first…and the earlier the better for you to get them. Good luck.

The Image table has a sexy hardcover of Thief of Thieves but horribly over priced for $30 (and one third thickness of Invincible GN for the same price). Unless you really love crime books I wouldn’t get it.

 

This is about heroism….

Del Toro is going after another comic based on his movie ideas…and he’s dead serious about Pacific Rim…

Real American Hero: Sly and the AARP All-stars once again, answer the bell in the Expendables 2, an upgrade from the original but like a bad 80s porn gets bogged down in frivolous side stories.

Barney Ross and his Howling whiny middle aged Commandos wage war when psychopath mercenary stole a device that can track the plutonium in a lost former Soviet mine to make Iran or any rival to the USA into a nuclear power. The Expendables 2 was a major upgrade over the original Sunday nap, offering a lot of the showmanship and testosterone that long time fans of 80s Gun porn craved. What fans didn’t want, the 80s back story that never added to the ride but really drew it to a creeping halt. Nan Yu as Maggie amplified the sausage fest and reminded us that Stallone’s “Oh woe is me” gimmick has now evolved into a creepy Woody Allen with guns robbing a cradle. There should have been a line about the number of divorces Stallone went through that ultimately forced him to come out of retirement.

The savior of this film was Jean-Claude Van Damme as Jean Vill’ain, which was still a better name than Jar Jar Binks. Jean-Claude still had it. The swing kick/knife stunt was classic. His moves were poetry in motion. Van Damme’s panache and theatricality was a steroid injection that this retirement party sequel desperately needed. He was a credible threat amongst the red shirt villains. His cocaine fueled lines were the most enjoyable, “5 kilos of plutonium can change the world, imagine 5 tons…” If that didn’t reek of a deviated septum I don’t know what would be more transparent.

Inside jokes to every actor’s life and lifestyle didn’t stop with Jean-Claude’s lust to sniff Plutonium, Dolph Lundgren’s chemical engineering back ground and his fondness for mixed drinks, and Randy Couture’s cauliflower ear set up some catchy lines and comedic timing. On the other hand, Arnold Schwarzenegger was working off the rust with “I’m Back.”

Perhaps this movie suffered from Stallone’s blind love for that 80s action formula. The first 10 minutes of the Expendables 2 delivered action, explosions, gun porn, exploding heads and right camerawork. The movie should have stuck with one long battle, fighting their way out of the jungle. It would have better complimented the drop in guest star spots by Chuck Norris, Bruce Willis, and former governor Schwarzenegger. Instead Stallone tried to plug in the inability to form attachments as the consequence of the lifestyle of a buff lone gun man. Emotional de-tachment was an excellent element if not for the fact there’s no weight pulled as these killers are exchanging catch phrases, cracking jokes at each other’s expense, and having a good ol’ time boozing it up at their watering hole. It’s that glaring flaw that convinced me that some things should remain in the past.

Guiltless gun porn and flaky personal problems have me convinced Expendables 2 is a PBR for nostalgia but nothing you don’t need to make a habit of.

Cheers,
Ron