Alt-UK

Music, Film, and Gaming

Archives for March 2009

Sherlock Holmes Teaser Poster

by Leave a Comment

A teaser poster has now been released for Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes movie, a film that is due for release on December 25th 2009. Ritchie’s last film was RocknRolla in 2008, and filming actually began for Sherlock Holmes back in October 2008.

The film’s release may be a long way off yet, the premise is certainly an interesting one though, and the film will star some top names in the form of Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law. Rachel McAdams (The Notebook, Mean Girls) will also be appearing in the film as femme fatale Irene Adler, and Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes has the potential to be absolutely brilliant.

Here is the Sherlock Holmes teaser poster:

Sherlock Holmes Teaser Poster

Zombie Virus On Mulberry Street is Coming to DVD in May

by Leave a Comment

Zombie Virus On Mulberry Street CoverZombie Virus On Mulberry Street is heading to DVD this May, and it’s to be released by Momentum Pictures. It’s a zombie film with a difference, and has already received some absolutely brilliant reviews.

Set in the sweltering heat of a New York City summer, the residents of 51 Mulberry Street are going about their daily business in the knowledge that they are soon to be evicted from the building. Clutch is amongst them, a retired boxer awaiting the return of his daughter Casey from the war in Iraq.

In another part of the city there’s a rat-borne virus which is quickly spreading, so quickly in fact that it’s a struggle to contain it. All Manhattan bridges and tunnels are later sealed off as the victims of the virus become flesh-eating zombies.

At Mulberry Street the news has now broken, and they begin to bolt the doors and bar the windows in order to keep all else out of the building; infected or otherwise. What they don’t yet know though is that Casey is now back in New York, and trying to make her way back to the building.

Zombie Virus On Mulberry Street Still ImageZombie Virus On Mulberry Street Still

Jim Mickle’s Zombie Virus On Mulberry Street is most definitely a horror film that’s not to be missed, and when it comes to DVD in May it sounds as though it’s one that’ll be well worth watching. You just can’t beat watching a good zombie film from time to time, and Zombie Virus On Mulberry Street certainly sounds very promising.

I’ve got a feeling that I’m going to like this one, and if you’re a fan of zombie horror then there’s a pretty decent chance that you will too.

Here’s what some of the critics have had to say about it so far:

“A ‘zombie’ film that breaks the mould, showing more substance, thought, effort and depth than most prior productions put together” – Bloody Disgusting

“One of the best independent horror features in recent years” – Fangoria

“A cut above most zero-budget horrors” – Variety

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs Trailer

by Leave a Comment

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs PosterA second trailer has now been released for Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs. It’s the third film in the Ice Age series, and is currently set to be released on July 1st. It’ll once more feature the voices of such actors as Ray Romano, Queen Latifah, and Sean William Scott, and has been directed by Carlos Saldanha.

If you’ve enjoyed the previous films in the Ice Age series then there’s a good chance that you’ll like this one also. It’s directed by the same man as the first two films, and from the look of the two trailers that have been released so far; it really does look to be incredibly impressive.

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs will be a brilliant film to watch for those that love their CGI, so if you think you’ll like this one then make sure that July 1st is a date that you note down in your diary.

The film has been produced by Blue Sky Studios and is being distributed by 20th Century Fox. An Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs video game is to be released also, and the video game will hit the shelves on June 30th, one day before the release of the film.

Here is the second Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs trailer:

New Terminator Salvation Poster

by 6 Comments

As the release of Terminator Salvation draws ever closer; yet another new poster has now been released. This new poster may not be particularly original, I do feel that it works well though, and has certainly enhanced my own personal excitement about seeing Terminator Salvation as soon as it’s released here in the UK.

Terminator Salvation is directed by Joseph McGinty Nichol (McG), stars Christian Bale as John Connor, and as can be seen from the poster, it’s currently all set to be released on May 21st. It’s a post-apocalyptic war film set in the year 2018, and all signs presently suggest that it’s going to be a lot better than Terminator 3: Rise of the Manchines. I didn’t mind the third Terminator film, it certainly wasn’t in the same league as the first two though, and with Terminator Salvation the series will hopefully get back to its very best.

All eyes will be on McG this summer, and everyone will be watching to see what he can come up with for the fourth film in the Terminator series. Terminator Salvation is one of the most eagerly anticipated films of 2009, and here’s to hoping that it doesn’t disappoint.

Here’s the new Terminator Salvation poster:

Terminator Salvation Poster

Green Street 2: Stand Your Ground is Out Tomorrow

by Leave a Comment

Green Street 2After the success of Green Street; Lionsgate has tried to cash in on the popularity of the first film by once more teaming up with director Lexi Alexander for a direct-to-DVD sequel, Green Street 2: Stand Your Ground.

Featuring only Ross McCall of the original cast, the story here is that a number of Green Street Elite members have been arrested for the fight which took place at the end of the first film. Life in prison for these men is looked at, and the film’s main event finale is a football match between West Ham and Millwall.

The first film was far from perfect, but despite some terrible accents, hobbit hooligans, and mistakes such as showing highlights from the wrong game; it was still an enjoyable film to watch, and did provide for an entertaining viewing experience. I can’t see the sequel being anywhere near as entertaining though, and although $8 million has been spent on it; I just don’t envisage it being a success.

Green Street worked well as a stand-alone football hooligan film, it didn’t require a sequel, and I never expected that a sequel would be released. Sadly a sequel has been made though, and it’s being released tomorrow. I may watch this one at some point out of curiosity more than anything; I shan’t be expecting too much from it though, and I very much doubt that it’ll be making back much of that $8 million.

Anime Releases in the UK

by Leave a Comment

Bleach Series 3 Part 1The following anime DVDs are to be released this coming Monday (23rd March) in the UK:

– Bleach: Series 3 Part 1
– Get Backers: Complete Collection – Part 2

Bleach is a Manga Entertainment release with an RRP of £24.99, Get Backers however will have an RRP of £39.99 and will provide for a fine 10 hours of entertainment.

Many more anime DVDs will be released next week, and there’s to be a busy April also. This week may be a quiet one for anime, but there are most certainly exciting times ahead.

This week we’ll be looking to add new reviews to the website of Naruto Series Four, and Naruto Series Six Part One also. Keep a lookout for these two reviews emerging, and expect them to be added soon.

Nick Harrison – Oi Rude Boy

by Leave a Comment

Nick Harrison - Oi Rude BoyHeavily influenced by the sound of ska, Nick Harrison is a solo artist from Folkestone, and ‘Oi Rude Boy’ his debut single. A very chilled out, relaxing track to listen to; ‘Oi Rude Boy’ sounds incredibly refreshing, and it’s hard to listen to Nick Harrison’s fine sound without resisting the urge to dance.

There’s an indie edge about the vocals here, but both lyrically and instrumentally the ska sound is let loose, providing for a very entertaining piece of music that is incredibly enjoyable to listen to.

Nick Harrison is a mighty talented solo artist, and as ‘Oi Rude Boy’ is available for free download; I thoroughly suggest that you see about obtaining this one as soon as possible.

Download ‘Oi Rude Boy’ right now, and prepare to be impressed.

Label: A&M Records
Release Date: August 25th 2008

Rating:
Review StarReview StarReview StarReview Star

Babylon (1980) Review

by Leave a Comment

Directed by Franco Rosso, ‘Babylon’ is a British film from 1980 which looks into the lives of a group of working class black youths living in London. Reggae music is a massive part of these people’s lives, and the film does in fact star Brinsley Forde, vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the reggae band Aswad.

‘Babylon’ centres around the strong social bond that these young people have, the importance of music, and also looks into the subject of racism; not just from members of the general public, but also from authority.

Blue (Brinsley Forde) is central to much of the film’s plot, and it’s his progression through life here which is focused on most heavily. The film follows his journey well, and we watch as his own personal life events make him increasingly angrier with the society in which he lives in. Racism takes its toll, and as he becomes the subject of much racial abuse on many occasions, he finds it all too much to handle.

The acting is all very natural here, and all those involved in the film play their parts well. The film has a very realistic feel, and the way that the characters interact with one another is all very believable.

Reggae music is utilised to excellent effect, and the musical score really does add to the film’s appeal. This is a young group of people trapped in poverty, working in jobs that they hate; music is a fine form of escapism for them though, and it’s through the music that they connect with one another, and can celebrate their identities as young black males.

A highly regarded film at the time of its release in 1980; ‘Babylon’ still hits hard nearly 30 years later, and the issues which it tackles are still important ones today. ‘Babylon’ stands out strongly as a supreme social commentary, highlighting the horribly racist and incredibly ignorant society of the time.

Co-written by Franco Rosso and Martin Stellman (Quadrophenia); ‘Babylon’ is an excellent film that is most definitely not to be missed.

Rating:

Weezer – Troublemaker

by Leave a Comment

Weezer - TroublemakerThe second single released from Weezer’s Red Album, ‘Troublemaker’ is perhaps one of the most repetitive pieces of music you’re ever likely to come across. Both vocally and instrumentally also there is very little variation here, and the track therefore becomes quite tiresome incredibly quickly.

Weezer has written some fantastic tracks throughout the years, ‘Troublemaker’ is certainly not one of them though, and this is by no means a shining example of Weezer’s finest work.

The guitar riff is fun at first, it soon grows old though, and the chorus just isn’t strong enough for me. In places the track has potential, it never quite bursts out of the blocks though, and ‘Troublemaker’ instead just plods along without ever really doing too much to please.

I’ve always had quite a fondness for simplistic songwriting skill of quirky Rivers Cuomo, what’s displayed here with ‘Troublemaker’ just doesn’t impress me though, and Weezer can quite frankly just do so much better than this.

Label: Geffen
Release Date: November 24th 2008

Rating:
Review StarReview Star

The All-American Rejects – Gives You Hell

by Leave a Comment

The All-American Rejects - Gives You HellWith Oklahoma’s All-American Rejects, you always know that bouncy pop rock is going to be guaranteed. The All-American Rejects has to date released three studio albums, and ever since the band burst onto the scene with ‘Swing, Swing’ back in 2003, always the music has had a lot to offer.

The All-American Rejects is most certainly a band that knows how to write a catchy pop song, and for pure singability, ‘Gives You Hell’ definitely doesn’t disappoint. The lyrics are a little dark, the track is sung out as sweetly as ever by the band’s lead vocalist Tyson Ritter though, and the fun nature of the music is just absolutely fantastic to find.

‘Gives You Hell’ is a strongly structured pop song, and whilst the band probably won’t win any awards for originality, as a piece of pop rock music the track works well, and the infectious nature of the music provides for a very entertaining overall listening experience.

If you’re a bit of a music snob then you probably won’t like ‘Gives You Hell’, if however you like light-hearted music that makes you smile, then there’s a strong probability that you’ll like what The All-American Rejects has to offer here.

‘Gives You Hell’ is a high quality piece of pop, and once again The All-American Rejects has pulled it off in putting to record a cheery sounding pop rock song which is fun to sing and dance along to.

Label: Polydor
Release Date: February 2nd 2009

Rating:
Review StarReview StarReview StarReview Star