The ‘Bones Brigade’ are here to tell their own story with their ‘Autobiography’
Better known as a filmmaker nowadays, with acclaimed films like Dogtown and Z-Boys and Riding Giants under his belt, former Z-Boy and Skateboarding Hall of Fame inductee Stacey Peralta brings us his latest project based on his historic mentorship of some of skateboarding’s greatest innovators, Bones Brigade: An Autobiography. A decade after the now seminal Dogtown, and after being pestered by the Brigade members for a Bones Brigade film for almost the same amount of time, Peralta has finally delivered a follow up showing the 1980`s segment of his skateboarding career that saw him move behind the scenes and put young stars in the spotlight.
Bones Brigade: An Autobiography
Starring: Tony Hawk, Steve Caballero, Rodney Mullen, Lance Mountain, Mike McGill, Tommy Guerrero, Tony Alva, George Powell, Christian Hosoi and Stacey Peralta.
Directed by Stacey Peralta
Shortly after retiring from competition, Peralta teamed with business partner George Powell to form Powell-Peralta (more…)
ParaNorman DVD Review
ParaNorman DVD
Starring the voices of Cody Smit-McPhee, Tucker Albrizzi, Anna Kendrick, Casey Affleck, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Leslie Mann, Jeff Garlin and John Goodman
Written by Chris Butler
Directed by Chris Butler and Sam Fell
New this week on DVD and Blu-Ray from Alliance Films is the stop motion animated wonder, from the same studio that brought us Henry Selick’s Coraline, which scared up some decent box office this summer, ParaNorman. Directors Chris Butler and Sam Fell bring us the story of a boy with the gift to talk to the deceased and a mission to fulfill. So what does the DVD have in store for us?
Norman Babcock (Smit-McPhee) is an awkward child with an extraordinary (more…)
“Hitchcock” focuses on “Psycho” and the woman behind the man……..
Hitchcock (2012)
Starring Anthony Hopkins, Helen Mirren, Scarlett Johansson, Danny Huston, Toni Collette, James D’Arcy, Jessica Biel and Michael Wincott
Written by John J. McLaughlin based on the book “Alfred Hitchcock and the making of Psycho” by Stephen Rebello
Directed by Sacha Gervasi
New this week in theaters, opening exclusively at the Varsity in Toronto and expanding nation-wide in the weeks to come, from Fox Searchlight comes Hitchcock. The biopic about the master of suspense himself Alfred Hitchcock, despite the inference of title, is not a story of the man and his life, but the shooting of his seminal film Psycho and his relationship with his wife and most trusted collaborator Alma Reville.
Hitchcock starts at the premiere for Alfred Hitchcock’s (Hopkins) (more…)
What discoveries will “The Fruit Hunters” have for you…..
The Fruit Hunters (2012)
Written by Yung Chang and Mark Slutsky – based on the book by Adam Gollner
Directed by Yung Chang
After a highly successful Toronto debut screening as part of last week’s Toronto Reel Asian Film Festival Richmond Hill program, Yung Chang’s The Fruit Hunters starts an exclusive engagement this weekend at the Hot Docs Bloor Cinema. The film about people obsessed with seeking out and growing exotic fruits from around the world spans the globe in search of these hidden treats and director Chang introduces us to people of all nationalities. From the South American trying to save the banana business from extinction to the Hollywood celebrity trying to launch a community orchard in the Hollywood Hills, we are invited into all of these stories through Chang’s lens.
The Fruit Hunters is indeed a globetrotting tour of places with the (more…)
Dreamworks unveils the “Rise of the Guardians”
Rise of the Guardians (2012)
Starring the voices of Chris Pine, Alec Baldwin, Jude Law, Isla Fisher and Hugh Jackman
Written by David Lindsay-Abaire based on the books written by William Joyce
Directed by Peter Ramsey
New in theaters in time for US Thanksgiving weekend, and ready to fight for box office domination against stiff competition, Dreamworks and Paramount Pictures bring us the new animated film Rise of the Guardians. Classic iconic characters such as Santa, the Easter Bunny, Sandman, Tooth Fairy and Jack Frost are all in this rousing tale of camaraderie and teamwork. But how does Rise of the Guardians fare against other options out there this weekend?
Rise of the Guardians starts by introducing us to Jack Frost, (more…)
Reel Asian 2012: Cold Steel Review
Starring Peter Ho, Tony Leung Ka-fai, Jia Song, Mickey Ho, Ringo Yu and Wilson Chu
Written by David Wu, Li Xiao-Min
Directed by David Wu
Making a welcome return to Chinese action filmmaking after a long absence working in North American television, frequent John Woo collaborator David Wu brings us Cold Steel. After a very successful showing at Fantasia in Montreal this year, the war-time epic has finally made its Toronto debut thanks to Reel Asian and co-presenter Toronto After Dark. So how does Mr Wu’s Cold Steel stack up to the classic films of Woo’s that he worked on?
In 1938, during the second Sino-Japanese War, Mu Lianfeng (Ho), (more…)
ParaNorman will save your homes soon (Theatrical Review)
ParaNorman (2012) (Theatrical Review Repost)
Starring the voices of Cody Smit-McPhee, Tucker Albrizzi, Anna Kendrick, Casey Affleck, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Leslie Mann, Jeff Garlin and John Goodman
Written by Chris Butler
Directed by Chris Butler and Sam Fell
From the same studio that brought us Henry Selick’s Coraline we get a new stop-motion animated film also dealing with the slightly macabre, ParaNorman. From directors Chris Butler, storyboard artist on Coraline, and Sam Fell, director of Tale of Despereaux and Flushed Away, comes the story of a boy with the gift to talk to the deceased and a mission to fulfill. But can these two directors live up to the brilliance that was Coraline?
Norman Babcock (Smit-McPhee) is an awkward child with an extraordinary gift, (more…)
‘The Watch’ comes home to protect your neighborhood (Blu-Ray Review)
The Watch Blu-Ray
Starring Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, Jonah Hill, Richard Ayoade, Will Forte and Billy Crudup
Written by Jared Stern, Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen
Directed by Akiva Schaffer
Hitting Blu-Ray and DVD this week from Fox Home Entertainment is the action comedy that disappointed at the box office this summer, The Watch. Hurt due to a truncated advertising campaign and name change to avoid all possible ties with the real life Trayvon Martin incident, The Watch finally gets its chance to be seen on home video. But can the combined comedic chops of Stiller, Vaughn, Hill, Ayoade (director of last year’s brilliant Submarine) and Forte along with director, and one-third of the comedy troop of The Lonely Island, Akiva Schaffer, deliver the comedy of the year?
Evan (Stiller) seems to have it all together. He has a lovely wife (more…)
Reel Asian 2012: Cha Cha for Twins Review
Starring Huang Peijia, Paul Chiang, Lun Ou Yang
Written by Yi-Chien Yang
Directed by Jim Wang, Yi-Chien Yang
Kicking of Saturday’s lineup at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts is the award winner from this year’s Taipei Film Festival, Cha Cha for Twins. This coming of age story centers on the tale of twin sisters who, now that they have turned 17, are discovering just how different, and alike, they truly are as they both strive to emerge as individuals apart from each other. But growing pains aren’t called ‘pains’ without reason.
Poni and Mini (Peijia in a dual role) have always done everything together. (more…)
Reel Asian 2012: Wolf Children Review
Reel Asian Film Festival 2012
Wolf Children (2012)
Starring the voices of Aoi Miyazaki, Takao Osawa, Haru Kuroki, Momoko Oono, Yukito Nishii and Amon Kabe
Written by Satoko Okudera, Mamoru Hosoda
Directed by Mamoru Hosoda
Considered by many in Japan as the heir apparent to the anime crown currently adorning the master animator Hayao Miyazaki, director Hosoda delivers a fairy tale/fable with a very sophisticated and adult message, Wolf Children. An anime master in his own right, Hosoda shows off classic hand drawn characters on sophisticated backgrounds in a coming of age story with a very worthwhile message at its core. But how will Wolf Children measure up to the classic Miyazaki fare like Princess Mononoke, Ponyo and Spirited Away?
Vampires get ‘Clueless’ as Amy Heckerling & Alicia Silverstone bring us ‘Vamps’
Amy Heckerling teams up with her Cluelessstar Alicia Silverstone for the first time since Clueless to give us the horror comedy Vamps. Bringing along a stellar supporting cast and co-starring Krysten Ritter (Don`t Trust the B—– in Apartment 23), Heckerling and Silverstone are trying once again to bring us the charm and fun that permeated their previous now classic comedy, but does Vamps have enough bite to deliver? Now thanks to Anchor Bay Entertainment we can find out the answer on Blu-Ray.
Vamps – Blu-Ray Review
Starring: Alicia Silverstone, Krysten Ritter, Sigourney Weaver and Wallace Shawn.
Kiefer tries to prove he still has the ‘Touch’ for TV (DVD Review)
Touch Season 1 DVD
Starring Kiefer Sutherland, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, David Mazouz, Roxanna Brusso and Danny Glover
Created by Tim Kring
New on DVD from Fox Home Entertainment is the first season of the new series from Heroes creator Tim Kring, Touch. The mid-season replacement from earlier this year is another high concept production from Kring, this time focusing between the relationship of a father and his son. But of course with Kring things are never quite that easy.
Martin Bohm (Sutherland), a former reporter who now works at the airport (more…)
Reel Asian 2012: Graceland Review
Starring Arnold Reyes, Menggie Cobarrubias, Dido De Le Paz and Ella Guevara
Written and Directed by Ron Morales
One of the grittiest films to play Reel Asian this year is the crime thriller Graceland from the Philippines. Not to be confused with the lavish estate of Elvis in Memphis, Graceland in this case refers to the seedy underground that inhabits and seeps out of every pore of the city of Manila. A place where everything has a price and nothing appears to be as it seems.
Marlon Villar (Reyes) is a pious family man who minds his own business (more…)
A Tale of 2 Steve`s: Austin and Seagal show `Maximum Conviction` (Blu-Ray Review)
Are two Steve`s really better than one? This week we get one answer to this question in the form of the newest release from Anchor Bay Entertainment on DVD and Blu-Ray,Maximum Conviction starring Steve Austin andSteven Seagal. The direct to video actioner set in a maximum security prison was produced by both Steve’s, but does the film benefit or fail from the Steve’s working together?
Maximum Convicton
Starring Steve Austin, Steven Seagal, Bren Foster and Michael Pare.
Written by Richard Beattie
Directed by Keoni Waxman
When former black ops operative Tom Steele (Steven Seagal) and his partner Manning (Steve Austin) are assigned to decommission an old prison, Steele decides to oversee the (more…)
Wrong Turn 5 plods along in familiar territory (Blu-Ray Review)
Wrong Turn 5 Blu-Ray
Starring Doug Bradley, Camilla Arfwedson and Simon Ginty
Written and Directed by Declan O’Brien
New on Blu-Ray from our friends at Fox Home Entertainment is the newest entry in the mostly direct-to-video series Wrong Turn, Wrong Turn 5: Bloodlines. The original Wrong Turn was a passable genre romp that has somehow managed to spawn four sequels, the last three being directed by O’Brien. But should the series have ended before it started?
In Wrong Turn 5 we begin in a small West Virginia town that is hosting the legendary Mountain Man Festival on Halloween. The concert is where throngs of costumed party (more…)
Excision Blu-Ray Review
Excision Blu-Ray
Starring AnnaLynne McCord, Traci Lords, Ariel Winter, Roger Bart, Jeremy Sumpter, Malcolm McDowell, John Waters, Marlee Matlin and Matthew Gray Gubler and Ray Wise
Written and Directed by Richard Bates Jr.
SPOILERS
New on Blu-ray and DVD from Anchor Bay Entertainment comes the bizarre medical based thriller, Excision. On the surface the film shares a lot of similarities with the body modification horror film from the Soska Sisters, ‘American Mary’, but upon closer examination the two are very different. The Soska’s Mary is an overachieving and talented student while McCord’s Pauline is the ultimate slacker. So how does Excision stack up?
Pauline (McCord) is an 18 year old failing student with aspirations of a career in (more…)
Top 5 Reasons To Check Out Reel Asian Film Fest 2012
Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival
November 6-11 Toronto
November 16-17th Richmond Hill, Ontario
Toronto’s largest and oldest all Asian film festival, Reel Asian, will play out on screens across Toronto and Richmond Hill over the next week and a half. One of Toronto’s bigger and most recognizable festivals, the 16th edition of Reel Asian brings us over 60 films, feature length and short form, from over 13 countries. Without delving too extensively into the myriad of options available, we will simply highlight the five most intriguing reasons to attend based on what we have seen on the schedule.
Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter Blu-Ray Review
Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter Blu-Ray
Starring Benjamin Walker, Dominic Cooper, Anthony Mackie, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Rufus Sewell and Jimmi Simpson
Written by Seth Grahame-Smith
Directed by Timur Bekmambetov
Now out on Blu-Ray and DVD from Fox Home Entertainment, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter is the teaming up of writer Seth Grahame-Smith, Producer/Director Bekmambetov and Producer Tim Burton, to bring the first of Grahame-Smith’s books to home screens. With its over-the-top visuals and absurdist premise, will Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter be among this year’s most fun purchases for your home theater or will it be this year’s Jonah Hex?
We first meet Abraham as a child as he interferes with the beating of a local black child, (more…)
TAD 2012: Wrong Review
Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2012
Wrong (2012)
Starring Jack Plotnick, Eric Judor, Alexis Dziena, William Fichtner, Steve Little and Regan Burns
Written and Directed by Quentin Dupieux
The infamous Quentin Dupieux, aka musician Mr Oizo, the director of the movie about a car tire on a killing spree ‘Rubber’, is back with his newest absurdist comedy ‘Wrong’. With Rubber being an extremely divisive film, and Dupieux’s penchant for the bizarre, I knew this would not just be simply a story of a man trying to find his lost dog. I also knew that this was likely to be the most loved and most hated film of this year’s Toronto After Dark lineup.
Dolph Springer (Plotnick) wakes up one morning to realize he has lost the love of his life, (more…)
PUBCast 2!! The Sequel: Dead Air Bonus Episode!!
PUBCast 2!!!!!! Yes, Yes. Because you guys loved and responded so well to our first PUBCast, Jeff Konopka and I sat down and recorded a second one, live at the Closing Night Party of Toronto After Dark 2012!! This is from the insanely busy Pauper’s Pub where this time we were relegated to a tiny corner in the back due to spacing issues. We have another sit down with Director Juan Martinez Moreno after the wildly successful screening of his Game of Werewolves, the Director/Curators of both the Fright Nights: Blood in the Snow Canadian Film Fest and Dark Bridges Film Fest as well as friends and other fine folk from the media and such. Plus the ending is KILLER with the entire TAD CREW! Make sure to listen to the very end!!
TAD 2012: Game of Werewolves Review
Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2012
Starring Gorka Otxoa, Carlos Areces, Secun de la Rose and Luis Zahera
Written and Directed by Juan Martinez Moreno
The closing night film from this year’s Toronto After Dark Film Festival was the Spanish horror comedy ‘Lobos de Arga’. The translation literally meaning Wolves of Arga (pronounced r-e-ah) but retitled Game of Werewolves for the international market. Game is throwback film. Wearing its influences like a badge on its chest, Game is clearly inspired by the Universal Monster films of old and more modern masterpieces like An American Werewolf in London and The Howling. The only question remaining is does it belong in the company of these classic films? (more…)
MOVIE JUNKIE TO'S Entertainment Fix 