Alt-UK

Music, Film, and Gaming

Archives for June 2009

Ron Howard to Direct Stretch Armstrong?

by 1 Comment

Stretch Armstrong
Rumours are currently spreading around the web that Ron Howard is to direct Stretch Armstrong, a film due for release in April 2011. Business Week got people talking by saying that Howard is to direct the film, is it really plausible though that such a high quality director genuinely is directing Stretch Armstrong, or is this just a mistake?

Ron Howard’s Angels & Demons recently hit cinemas around the world, and Howard has an impressive back catalogue which includes such films as Cocoon, A Beautiful Mind, and Apollo 13. He’s won Oscar’s for his work, what needs to be remembered here though is that one of Howard’s Oscar’s was for 2000s How The Grinch Stole Christmas.

It is possible that Ron Howard could direct Stretch Armstrong, and if he does then he’ll surely do an excellent job; is it likely that he will direct the film though? I’m not really sure.

Brian Grazer is producing Stretch Armstrong, and this may have been the reason for the confusion (if indeed there is any confusion), as Grazer is co-chairman of Imagine Entertainment along with Ron Howard. Brian Grazer and Ron Howard have worked together for a number of films throughout the years, and it may have been assumed by Business Week that this was again the case here. At the same time they might know something that we don’t though, and maybe Ron Howard really will be directing Stretch Armstrong.

Right now there’s no official word about who will be directing Stretch Armstrong; if Ron Howard does direct it then I’d like to see what he can do with it though, and am currently feeling quite excited at the prospect of a Ron Howard directed Stretch Armstrong film.

Neil Marshall in Talks to Direct Robert Rodriguez’ Predators

by 1 Comment

PredatorBloody Disgusting has been tipped off by a “100% reliable source” that Neil Marshall is in talks to direct Robert Rodriguez’ Predators. The English director’s last film was Doomsday in 2008, and did of course famously direct The Descent in 2005, a film that went on to gross more than $57 million.

Neil Marshall first impressed us with his talents back in 2002 with Dog Soldiers, and since then the popular English horror director has gone from strength to strength. Marshall has built quite a name for himself with the horror films that he’s directed thus far, and if he does indeed direct Predators then it’ll be interesting to see what he can do with the film.

Marshall is yet to be confirmed as the Predators director, he’s the current favourite to get the job though, although there are still several names in the running.

Laid To Rest Review

by 2 Comments

Written and directed by Robert Hall, ‘Laid To Rest’ is a slasher horror about a serial killer called Chrome Skull. He stalks and kills his prey whilst wearing a metal mask, making recordings of the murders on his video camera which he later sends to the police. We learn that he’s done this in several states throughout America, and that he’s a 30/40 something Caucasian male; that’s roughly it though, that’s about all the background that we have.

The film starts with our main lady (Bobbi Sue Luther) trapped inside a coffin, and almost from the very second she escapes from the coffin she witnesses Chrome Skull in killing action. She makes her way to the road, and a man named Tucker (Kevin Gage) picks her up, taking her back to his home where he and his wife Cindy (Lena Headey) offer her shelter for the night. She doesn’t know who she is or where she’s from, all she knows is that there’s a killer on the loose in the area, and she therefore wants to get to the police to tell them about it. The station’s some way away, and they all intend to make the trip down there in the morning after some breakfast; things don’t quite go as planned though, and before long it’s time to take off and run again as Chrome Skull has tracked them down.

Whilst watching ‘Laid To Rest’, I wasn’t really too sure what to make of the film at times. The death scenes are pretty gory and gruesome, there’s no real substance to the film though, and even when the killer claims another victim there’s no real emotional attachment there. The acting quality is okay on the whole, no one puts in a show stopping performance however, and Bobbi Sue Luther is quite weak as the film’s leading lady.

Director Robert Hall obviously has a passion for horror, and this is something that comes through here, the ‘Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles’ makeup artist should perhaps stick to his day job though, as I’m not too sure that directing is really his forte.

If you like your gore then you should be fairly impressed with the death scenes in ‘Laid To Rest’, the film doesn’t build particularly well though, and whilst it may be gory; none of it is hugely memorable. ‘Laid To Rest’ is lacking in substance, and whilst it’s clear that Robert Hall is pretty clued up on his slasher horror films from the past; this is by no means a slasher classic.

If you’re a fan of slasher horror then it’s probably worth renting ‘Laid To Rest’ for a one-time viewing, after you’ve seen it once the chances are that you won’t want to be watching it again though, so it’s probably best not to invest in this one. I’ve seen worse at the cinema than the direct-to-DVD slasher that is ‘Laid To Rest’, and didn’t feel that it was a complete waste of 90 minutes; whilst it could be worse it’s still no classic though, and not a film that I’m ever likely to be viewing again in the future.

Rating:

The Final Destination Trailer

by Leave a Comment

The Final Destination is coming to our screens in August, directed by the same man that brought us the second (and in my opinion, best) Final Destination film; David R. Ellis. Final Destination 2 was an incredibly powerful film, and from the looks of the The Final Destination trailer; we can expect more of the same from this film also.

James Wong may well choose to make a fifth film and completely ignore The Final Destination whilst telling the story; that remains to be seen, I am very excited about August arriving though, and can’t wait to see The Final Destination in the cinema.

The film will be released in 3-D, do we really care about that though? I’m just excited to see another Final Destination film, and 3-D or not, this is a film that I for one am most definitely not going to miss.

Here is The Final Destination trailer:

First Look at Mickey Rourke as Whiplash in Iron Man 2

by Leave a Comment

Courtesy of USA Today and Screen Rant, the internet world has now been provided a first look at Mickey Rourke as Whiplash in Iron Man 2.

The film isn’t even due out until 2010, we’ve already been treated to a look at Mickey Rourke’s character though, and have been provided with a taste of what we can expect to see from him in Iron Man 2.

Rourke will play Ivan Vanko in the film, the alter-ego of Whiplash. Iron Man 2 director Jon Favreau is refusing to confirm specifics at this stage, and it’s not yet known as to whether or not Whiplash is a weapons designer working for Justin Hammer within the film, as is the case with the comic books.

It’s certainly an interesting look that Whiplash has been given, and one that will no doubt be discussed by many in the coming weeks and months.

Click on the image below to see Mickey Rourke in his full Whiplash glory:

Mickey Rourke as Whiplash in Iron Man 2

Deadgirl Review

by Leave a Comment

Directed by Marcel Sarmiento and Gadi Harel, ‘Deadgirl’ is an impressive horror film which presents some very interesting ideas. The film shows two best friends, both of whom react very differently to an incredibly unexpected situation. A lifetime friendship is broken by the way that the two teenage friends respond to the situation they find themselves in, and the film presents a very clear battle of wills. The two friends appear to respond very differently to the situation, just how different are they though when it ultimately comes down to it?

‘Deadgirl’ tells the story of Rickie and JT, and how skipping school one day changes their lives forever. Heading to the old abandoned mental asylum, Rickie and JT wreak havoc as they drink, smoke, and just generally trash the place. Deciding to explore, the two friends come across a dog deep down in the asylum, and as they get away they end up running into something that they’d never, ever expected. There’s a naked woman, chained up to a table and covered in plastic, deep in the depths of the asylum, and both friends have very different ideas about what they should do. Rickie’s immediate reaction is to inform the authorities of what they’ve found, JT meanwhile isn’t so certain that’s the best option, and whilst Rickie decides to leave; JT remains alone in the asylum with the deadgirl.

What happens beyond this point is what makes ‘Deadgirl’ so interesting, and never is the film in the least bit predictable.

‘Deadgirl’ will at times make you cringe, and at certain points you just won’t be able to stop yourself from looking away. It shocks, it scares, and it’s just a very interesting look at a strange situation, and people’s different responses to it. A seriously disturbing film to watch, ‘Deadgirl’ has some very impressive qualities as a horror, with the only real weaknesses of the film perhaps in the factor of the unrealistic nature of the situation, the freeness with which certain people adapt to it, and what some of the characters resort to here. It’s certainly a strong film, but what many of the very greatest horror films tend to have in common is the fact that they really could happen.

Some of the acting quality is supremely strong here, with Shiloh Fernandez (Rickie) and Noah Segan (JT) in particular putting in some hugely believable performances. They play their parts well, with their characters developing powerfully throughout the film. Wheeler, played by Eric Podnar, is the stereotypical teen stoner character, and the jocks also are fairly generic horror favourites; the performances of Shiloh Fernandez and Noah Segan are both brilliant though, and theirs are the characters that we spend the most time with.

Marcel Sarmiento and Gadi Harel are both relatively new to the world of directing, watching ‘Deadgirl’ you can tell that both have a clear passion for film though, with the film always packed full of energy and excitement. You really do feel that the directors believe in their work here, and full credit must also go to Trent Haaga for being the film’s writer.

‘Deadgirl’ is a film that plays out well on screen, and although it takes it’s time to really get going; once the action gets started, never does the film let up for a second. The beginning of the film serves to show us Rickie and JT’s status as the high school outcasts, and we’re then treated to some fine horror display as the true action of the film unfolds. It’s a quality effort from the directorial duo of Marcel Sarmiento and Gadi Harel, and although not perfect; ‘Deadgirl’ is a film that is definitely well worth watching for fans of horror. It’s not your typical throwaway teen horror, but instead is a film that will no doubt stay with you for a long time to come.

Special Features:-

– Commentary With Cast and Crew

– Behind The Scenes

– Make-Up Effects Gallery

Rating:

In Memory Of David Carradine

by Leave a Comment

David Carradine
1936-2009

The world has sadly lost a very fine actor in the form of David Carradine. Carradine was found dead in the wardrobe of his Thailand hotel room on June 4th 2009. David Carradine was staying at the Nai Lert Park hotel in Bangkok whilst recording his latest movie, Stretch.

Carradine’s death is not being treated as suspicious, and it’s thought at this stage that the actor, famous in recent times for playing the part of Bill in Tarantino’s Kill Bill films, committed suicide, dying either in the late hours of June 3rd, or early hours of June 4th.

It wasn’t until the morning of June 4th that Carradine’s body was discovered, and sadly the world has now lost the talented 72 year-old actor that was David Carradine.

Photo by Jano Rohleder. Taken in Munster, Germany. April 2005