Monthly Archives: May 2011

Confessions of a Movie Snob – Ethan on ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides’

  By terrestrialboy | May 27, 2011 - 4:43 pm | ,
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Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

Ethan had a chance to see ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides’ this week, and he has a few confessions to give on it.

About ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides’

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is a 2011 American adventure fantasy film and the fourth installment in the Pirates of the Caribbean series. In the film, Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) is joined by Angelica (Penélope Cruz) in his search for the Fountain of Youth, confronting the infamous pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane). The plot draws inspiration from the novel On Stranger Tides by Tim Powers, which also inspired the LucasArts game The Secret of Monkey Island. It is directed by Rob Marshall, written by Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio, and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer.

The movie was distributed by Walt Disney Pictures and was released in the United Kingdom and Italy on May 18, 2011, in Australia on May 19, 2011, and in the United States and Canada on May 20, 2011. The release was presented in Disney Digital 3-D and IMAX 3D, as well as in traditional two-dimensional and IMAX formats. The film was first announced in 2008 and principal photography started in June 2010. The release was the first in the series to be directed by Rob Marshall and not Gore Verbinski. It was also the first movie in the series which featured fictional versions of historical characters such as Blackbeard, George II of Great Britain, Henry Pelham, John Carteret and Ferdinand VI of Spain. It was the first Pirates of the Caribbean film to be released in 3D and Jerry Bruckheimer‘s second 3D film, following the 2009 movie G-Force. It was also the fifth Disney film to use Dolby 7.1 surround sound. While previous films in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise have been filmed in the Caribbean Sea, On Stranger Tides was filmed mainly in Hawaii.

Confessions of a Movie Snob - Ethan on 'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides' [ 9:24 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

RedPhoneZone #53

  By Aaron Hoover | May 26, 2011 - 12:13 pm |
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Adventure

Join us in our ongoing movie genre discussion This time around we are joined by Sean Preston who chose the Adventure film genre!

About Adventure films

Adventure Films are exciting stories, with new experiences or exotic locales. Adventure films are very similar to the action film genre, in that they are designed to provide an action-filled, energetic experience for the film viewer. Rather than the predominant emphasis on violence and fighting that is found in action films, however, the viewer of adventure films can live vicariously through the travels, conquests, explorations, creation of empires, struggles and situations that confront the main characters, actual historical figures or protagonists.

About Sean Preston

Sean Preston is the president of Reality Blurs, a game design studio he started in Memphis back in 2004. He is a publisher, writer, and an avid lover of games and movies. As such, his work is often influenced by film and he approaches his work with a cinematic flair. Not easily pigeon-holed, he’s written works ranging from oriental action, classic fantasy, supernatural super-agents, dark steampunk fantasy, and Lovecraftian horror in such works as Agents of Oblivion, Realms of Cthulhu, RunePunk, and Iron Dynasty. In the rare moments he’s not writing, he enjoys a good (or even a bad) movie. He’s active on the internet and you can follow him on Twitter and Facebook—just look for Reality Blurs and check out his company website at www.realityblurs.com.



Adventure Films [ 1:09:20 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

RedPhoneZone #52

  By Aaron Hoover | May 18, 2011 - 8:00 pm |
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Science Fiction

scifi genreJoin us as we discuss the Sci-Fi Movie Genre….Again! We wrap up our very own epic Sci-fi trilogy by looking at the genre as a whole with no restrictions!

We are joined by Jon”The Other John” Hook!

About Jon Hook

Jon is part of the Star Wars Generation; he grew up playing Dungeons & Dragons, Call of Cthulhu, and Star Fleet Battles; and has been a life-long comic book collector. Jon’s recently returned to gaming with a passion. He’s been published in several contest monographs hosted by Chaosium Games, and he’s active with the local Kansas City gaming conventions. Jon is running four games at KantCon, July 8th-10th.



Science Fiction [ 1:31:07 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Confessions of a Movie Snob – Ethan on ‘Priest’

  By terrestrialboy | May 16, 2011 - 5:52 pm | ,
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Priest

Ethan went to a Monday matinee of the new Paul Bettany film, ‘Priest,’ and he has a few confessions to give about it.

About ‘Priest’

Priest is a 2011 American supernatural action film starring Paul Bettany as the title character. The film, directed by Scott Stewart, is based on the Korean comic of the same name. In an alternate world, humanity and vampires have warred for centuries. After the last Vampire War, the veteran Warrior Priest (Bettany) lives in obscurity with other humans inside one of the Church’s walled cities. When the Priest’s niece (Lily Collins) is kidnapped by vampires, the Priest breaks his vows to hunt them down. He is accompanied by the niece’s boyfriend (Cam Gigandet), who is a wasteland sheriff, and a former Warrior Priestess (Maggie Q).

The film first entered development in 2005, when Screen Gems bought the spec script by Cory Goodman. In 2006 Andrew Douglas was attached to direct and Gerard Butler was attached to star. They were eventually replaced by Stewart and Bettany in 2009 and filming started in Los Angeles, California, later in the year. The film changed release dates numerous times throughout 2010 and 2011. It was especially pushed back from 2010 to 2011 to convert the film from 2D to 3D. It was released in the United States and Canada on May 13, 2011.

Confessions of a Movie Snob - Ethan on 'Priest' [ 11:14 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Post-Star Wars Science Fiction

  By Aaron Hoover | May 11, 2011 - 8:00 pm | ,
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Science Fiction

Back in issue 48, we sat down to discuss Pre-Star Wars Sci-Fi with Christopher McGlothlin. Now, we come full circle when we sit down with a different Chris, Chris Perrin, to talk about Post-Star Wars Sci-Fi.

About Sci-Fi

AFI described science fiction as “a genre that marries a scientific or technological premise with imaginative speculation. Whether it’s a flying saucer whirling through space or a gleaming city on a distant planet, at the core of all science fiction is the provocative question, “What if…?” Science fiction presents stories and situations that tap our brightest hopes and darkest fears about what might, one day, turn out to be true.”

About Chris Perrin

Chris Perrin (born April 6, 1978 in Independence, MO) is a professional food writer and podcaster who lives and writes in Overland Park, KS (a suburb of Kansas City). He attended the University of Kansas where he received a degree in English. He also wrote the Mecha Role Playing Game Role Playing Game, published by Heroic Journey Publishing.

Chris says that his passion for food began when he cooked in the kitchen with his father, whom Chris still considers a wonderful cook. Chris uses the kitchen as classroom, therapy, science lab, and a way to connect with his wife and son. He shares his experiences on his blog at BlogWellDone.com, and through his articles. His work can be found in Biao Magazine, Women’s Edition Johnson County and The Dabbling Mum.

Post-Star Wars Science Fiction [ 1:19:03 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Confessions of a Movie Snob – Ethan on ‘Thor’

  By terrestrialboy | May 10, 2011 - 3:33 pm | , ,
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Thor
Thor

Thor

Ethan had the chance to see ‘Thor’ on IMAX this last weekend, and he has some confessions about it …

About Thor

Thor is a 2011 American superhero film based on comic book character of the same name published by Marvel Comics and is the fourth film released in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The film was released on April 21, 2011 in Australia and on May 6, 2011 in the United States. Thor was also released in 3D and IMAX 3D. The film stars Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Hopkins, and Stellan Skarsgård with Kenneth Branagh directing a script by Ashley Edward Miller, Zack Stentz, and Don Payne.

The project of a film adaptation of Thor was in “development hell” for several years before Marvel Studios signed Protosevich to write its script in 2006. Matthew Vaughn was to direct the film in late 2008 for a release in 2010. Branagh replaced Vaughn in late 2008, and the film’s release was rescheduled into 2011. The main characters were cast in 2009, and principal photography took place from January to May 2010.

Confessions of a Movie Snob - Ethan on 'Thor' [ 7:30 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

RedPhoneZone #50

  By Aaron Hoover | May 5, 2011 - 12:02 am | ,
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John

It’s that time again when we announce the newest addition to the Zone of Ruthaz! John, long time friend of the show, joins us as we unveil the winner!

About John Wetherwax

John ,the third and laziest member of the Bagged & Bored Cast, lives in New York where he is a full time student and podcaster. John chose to move to New York to be closer to his nemesis Paul before he moved into an apartment with his co-podcaster Chris.  Prior to that he was living in Central Park before he was told by city officials in that cardboard box and wet blanket does not constitute a filafel stand.

John Likes to drink table salt and collects hub caps that he finds on the side of the road. Those closest to him say that his obsession with Bette Midler bobble heads is unhealthy and that he should seek professional help.

Facilitators of the Indomitable Order of the Zone of Ruthaz Induction [ 1:00:31 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Confessions of a Movie Snob – Ethan on ‘Scream 4′

  By terrestrialboy | May 3, 2011 - 12:00 pm | , ,
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Scream 4
Scream 4

Scream 4

Ethan had the chance to go to a double feature at the local drive in this last weekend, and the second film he saw that evening was ‘Scream 4,’ and he has a few confessions about it.

About Scream 4

Scream 4 (stylized as SCRE4M) is a 2011 American slasher film and the fourth installment in the Scream series. It was directed by Wes Craven and written by Kevin Williamson, writer of Scream and Scream 2. It stars an ensemble cast of David Arquette, Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, Emma Roberts and Hayden Panettiere. The plot involves Sidney Prescott returning to Woodsboro after ten years as part of her book tour. As soon as she arrives, Ghostface once again begins killing students from Woodsboro High, including her younger cousin’s friends. Prescott, Gale Weathers Riley, and Dewey Riley once again team up to stop the murders, but not before having to learn from a new generation the “new rules” of surviving horror films.

Originally, the series was intended to be a trilogy, but after ten years, Bob Weinstein thought it was the right time for another film. Depending on the box office, Scream 4 is intended to be the first of a new trilogy. Williamson had to leave production early due to contractual obligations and Ehren Kruger (Scream 3) was brought in for re-writes. Campbell, Arquette and Cox are the only returning cast members from the previous films and were the first to sign on to the film in September 2009. Panettiere and Rory Culkin were the first of the new cast to sign on in May 2010. Ashley Greene was originally offered the role of the lead character, Jill, but the role eventually went to Roberts. Filming took place in and around Ann Arbor, Michigan in June 2010 to September 2010, with re-shoots in early 2011.

Scream 4 was released on April 15, 2011 to mixed reviews. It took in $19.3 million its opening weekend in the United States and Canada, making it the second-lowest opening since the first film.

Confessions of a Movie Snob - Ethan on 'Scream 4' [ 5:56 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Confessions of a Movie Snob – Ethan on ‘Dylan Dog: Dead of Night’

  By terrestrialboy | May 1, 2011 - 8:59 pm | , ,
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Dylan Dog: Dead of Night

Ethan had the chance to see a double feature at the local drive-in this last weekend, and he has some confessions on Dylan Dog: Dead of Night …

About Dylan Dog: Dead of Night

Dylan Dog: Dead of Night is an American action comedy horror film based on the Italian comic book Dylan Dog, starring Brandon Routh as the eponymous detective. The film was released on March 16, 2011 in Italy and on April 29 in the United States.

Dylan Dog is an Italian horror comics series featuring an eponymous character (a paranormal investigator) created by Tiziano Sclavi for the publishing house Sergio Bonelli Editore. Though published in Italy, the series is mainly set in London, where the protagonist lives, though he occasionally travels elsewhere.

Sclavi’s progressive disinvolvement has left other authors the task of carrying forward character continuity.

Dark Horse Comics has published the English version of Dylan Dog. It is also published in Croatia by Ludens, Serbia by Veseli Četvrtak and Expik Publications, Denmark by Shadow Zone Media, The Netherlands by Silvester, Poland by Egmont Polska, Spain by Aleta Ediciones, and in Turkey by Rodeo and Hoz Comics.

Confessions of a Movie Snob - Ethan on 'Dylan Dog: Dead of Night' [ 7:37 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download