New Moon Mondays - Bring on the Eclipse Imagery!

Image source

Eclipse Gets Title Treatment
Although I love the warmness of New Moon, I am thrilled that with Eclipse it looks like we are going back to the flavour of the first film, Twilight in terms of look and feel. And ....blood. Sharp, shiny and deadly, it looks like we are in for one heck of a film. I've been trying to shy away from too much Eclipse pics until after New Moon comes out but being less than a month away it's getting harder and harder to resist!
Source: Twilight Twitter, Twilight Twitpic
P.S. - the image looks a lot better and larger over at the source

Twilight Halloween Costume Ideas Haven't decided what you want to be for Halloween? Looking to go as someone from Twilight? I know I am (pics next week if it turns out well....) If you are looking for help and inspiration you are in luck as there are boatloads of suggestions and guides out there. For the female characters Alice, Rosalie, Esme, Victoria and Jane check here at Twilight Poison. For the male characters check out general guide plus specific tips for Edward, Jasper, Emmett, Carlisle (regular & historical), James, Laurent and the Volturi. Also helpful are general makeup tips.
Once you've got that all together why not put it work and check out His Golden Eyes Costume Contest? Didn't find a Bella guide. Sniff'n'sigh.
Source: Twilight Poison, Twilight Lexicon, His Golden Eyes

Creatures on the Big and Small Screen As The Wolfman inches closer to it's Feb 12, 2010 release date we are treated to a second, and quite differently toned trailer released. Looks like they are going less historical-set feel and more ramped up (a la Sherlock Holmes) vibe. And, have to say that hooked me it makes it look ever more interested. On the small scene, good news for fans of the CW series, Vampire Diaries, the CW series got picked up for a full season.

I Want Some More: Vampathon
The Vampathon: Vampire Film Marathon continues with reviewing vampire films and the most recent selection is Shadow of the Vampire, a fictional re-creation of behind the scenes filming of the 1922 Nosferatu from the perspective of is actor Max Schrek was in fact, and vampire. Up this week is double bill Anne Rice style, where I'll tackle Interview with the Vampire and Queen of the Damned. Reviews will be up Wednesday October 28, 2009.

Orphan

Dir: Jaume Collet-Serra (House of Wax (2005), Goal II: Living the Dream).
Cast: Vera Farmiga, Peter Sarsgaard, Isabelle Fuhrman, Aryana Engineer, Jimmy Bennett
USA/Canada, 2009

Seen: August 11, 2009 at AMC

Reason to see: Horror movie with creepy kid? Of course I'm going to see it!

Evil kids. It's one of the funnest horror sub genres, and one that we keep going back for more. With Orphan, I was thrilled to go back for more. Not only is the film scary, freaky and builds great tension, but it does all this in what really feels like an everyday household. Although mixing the realistic with the horrific tends to be a formula, it's one because it can work so well as it did with Orphan.

I also will admit that bumped the enjoyment factor up a notch was that I didn't have it all figured out, even though I was convinced I knew it all from the trailer. So I waltzed in theatre thinking it would be some jump scares and creepy moments like most current horror films. Boy, was I wrong! First off, great acting by Isabelle Fuhrman as the orphan Esther who is totally creepy. I also really enjoyed Vera Farmiga performance, as well as the sheer fact that the two prominent characters were female characters. The family dynamics are completely believable, complex and well developed. I also loved how that one of the characters in the family is hard of hearing, and that it's treated so respectfully and incorporated naturally into the family and relationships.

I was surprized that they used quite a few jump scares and gore, but that really is the tip of the iceberg in comparison to tension and scare factors. What really makes this better than the average horror film is the psychological tension it brings, as well as creative ideas be they conceptual or actually shown. It's also refreshing to see characters are so interesting, diverse, and 3-dimensional.

It's also a film that it's better not to know too much about, so I'll leave it at that and encourage horror fans to see it if they haven't already!

Shannon's Overall View:
I enjoyed it
I'd buy it
I'd recommend it to horror and thriller fans

18 minutes of preshow including 4 commercials and 6 previews: The Boys: The Sherman Brothers' Story, Sorority Row, Jennifer's Body, Gamer, The Final Destination and Whiteout

Return to Film Reviews

© Shannon Ridler, 2009

Before the Dawn: A Twilight Podcast - Episode 24: The Vampire Diaries Revisited

A new episode of Before the Dawn: A Twilight Podcast is now available: Episode 24!

Back on Episode 19 we previewed The Vampire Diaries books and the (then) upcoming CW TV series. So, in this weeks episode Marina & I take another look at the series first five episodes and chat about our impressions, likes and concerns with the show. Are you a fan? Have a listen and have your say over at Before the Dawn!

Before the Dawn: A Twilight Podcast is a weekly 1/2 hour podcast meeting all your audio Twilight needs!

Reel Thoughts Interview: From Business to Broadway

Actor Tim Martin Gleason has gone from being a dashing, rich nobleman to being a hideous, catacomb-dwelling rageaholic with separation issues — and he’s happy about the change. Of course, only in the musical phenomenon The Phantom of the Opera can such progress be called a promotion.

Gleason is renowned for his portrayal of the show’s romantic hero Raoul, a role that he has played more often than any other actor in America. He originated the role for the Las Vegas production and played Raoul on Broadway when the show became the longest-running production in history.


Still, in Phantom, you’re never fully dressed without a half mask and crypt to call your own, so Gleason is thrilled to be playing the title role in the current US tour. From his reviews, it’s clear that the feeling is mutual. Ten years ago, Gleason was pursuing a business career when he made the leap of faith — he put business aside and followed his dream, which culminated in playing the Phantom, one of the most recognizable pop culture icons around.

Gleason is upbeat and jovial about playing the wounded hero. He said it’s “pretty spectacular” to be playing the show’s title character. “I was Raoul for seven years, which is kind of a dubious honor, actually,” Gleason said. “That whole time, I was the Phantom understudy, so I had played the Phantom a bunch of times, so by the time I took over the role, I had about 125 , 150 (performances) under my belt, so it wasn’t exactly brand new when I took over the role. The character of the Phantom’s just so much meatier – Raoul’s a leading man, so you’re kind of limited in what you can do with the role. They’re always very, very supportive and nurturing of you to make the role your own, but you can only do so much with Raoul. The Phantom’s a character, you can basically do whatever you want with him.”


Gleason said the producers never stunt cast or get lazy with the show, which is why the production has maintained its quality over the past 20 years. He loved working with original director Hal Prince when he came in to stage the Vegas production.

Asked what he’s doing to put his own mark on the role, Gleason said, “I’m just doing what feels honest, and I don’t really know how to define it, but a lot of people have told me that he comes off as a wounded child. You see the child in him a lot. I’ve seen 10 or 11 people play the role, and I’ve seen 10 or 11 interpretations. That’s what’s really great about it. It’s almost like there’s nothing you can do that’s wrong, as long as it’s honest.”

The Phantom of the Opera, a Broadway Across America production, will play at Gammage Auditorium in Tempe from October 28 to November 22. For more information on future dates and locations, visit the tour's official website.

Interview by Neil Cohen, resident film critic of Movie Dearest and Phoenix's Echo Magazine.

MD News Desk: Girls Just Want to Have Fun

Keep up to date with all the latest from the entertainment world with the MD News Desk:

Hands Off the Merchandise:
- Meet the Barbie "Ladies of the 80's": Debbie Harry, Cyndi Lauper and Joan Jett (available this December from EntertainmentEarth.com.)

And the List Goes On:
- The 50 Most Powerful People on Broadway includes such out theater vets as Nathan Lane, Cameron Mackintosh, Joe Mantello, Jack O'Brien, Thomas Schumacher and Stephen Sondheim.
- A Different View: A Straight Person's Top 10 Guide to Movies About the Gay People.


GLBT Entertainment:
- Watch the trailer and help pick the poster for Do Começo Ao Fim (a.k.a. From Beginning to End), the controversial Brazilian drama about two brothers in love ... with each other.
- Another trailer for you: Oy Vey! My Son is Gay! The new rom com stars Lainie Kazan (naturally), Jai Rodriguez, Bruce Vilanch and (in his film debut) Tony winning Jersey Boy John Lloyd Young.
- ABC's FlashForward has a lesbian FBI agent.

Awards Watch:
- Pixar's John Lasseter to receive the David O. Selznick Achievement Award from the Producers Guild of America.
- Here are the movies to watch in Oscar's expanded Best Picture race.
- Vote now for the People's Choice Awards.


Glee:
- Cover Story: Entertainment Weekly goes for the Glee.
- Is Kristin Chenoweth's April Rhodes returning to New Directions?
- Music Makes the People Come Together: Madonna lends her songs to an upcoming all-Madge episode! Glee's status as the new gayest show on television now officially confirmed.
- Interviews: Matthew Morrison (Will Schuester) and Mark Salling (Noah "Puck" Puckerman).

From Screen to Stage:
- It's Not Easy Being Green: Shrek the Musical to close on Broadway in January.
- Watch This: Rehearsal montage for Nine ... love Judi Dench's wig.
- Around the World: The Lion King in Singapore and Grey Gardens in Japan.
- Ragtime, featuring a Tony Award-winning book by Terrence McNally and Tony-winning score by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, is back on Broadway.
- Meanwhile, Mommie Dearest herself, Faye Dunaway, takes on another real life diva, Maria Callas, in the film adaptation of McNally’s Tony-winning 1995 play Master Class. The movie, which the Academy Award winning actress is also directing, is now filming in Detroit.
- London to see a new adaptation of Ingmar Bergman's Oscar-winning film Through a Glass Darkly.
- La Cage aux Folles star John Barrowman dishes on being a 'Big Old Queen' ... onstage and off.
- Ladies and gentlemen, the Mr. Broadway 2009 Beauty Pageant.

Women We Love:
- Stocking Stuffer: Kathy Griffin's new comedy CD Suckin' It for the Holidays, available November 3 (click hereto pre-order from Amazon.com).
- And now for the bad Madonna news of the week: she'll direct again.
- Laurie Metcalf returns to Broadway in Neil Simon's Brighton Beach Memoirs and Broadway Bound.
- Casting About: Angelina Jolie in the thriller The Tourist, Laura Dern in the Meet the Fockers sequel Little Fockers and Vanessa Redgrave in the political drama The Whistleblower.
- Kim Cattrall to take on Noël Coward's Private Lives in the West End.

RIP:
- Beloved comedian and TV host Soupy Sales passed away Thursday at the age of 83.
- Collin Wilcox Paxton, best known for her pivotal role in the classic To Kill a Mockingbird, died October 14. She was 74.

Coming Soon:
- Sex and the City 2 Watch: Miley Cyrus joins the long list of cameos.
- J.J. Abrams hints about his plans for Star Trek 2.
- Daniel Craig reveals that the next James Bond will start shooting late next year.
- Anne Hathaway and Neil Patrick Harris to lend their voices to the animated Rio, from the folks behind the Ice Age movies.

Ride the Movies:
- Princess Tiana and her Prince Naveen, stars of The Princess and the Frog, will have their own "Showboat Jubilee" at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom starting Monday.


Out in Film:
- Paul Reubens' Pee-wee Herman rides again.
- Jane Lynch returns to Party Down and joins the Off-Broadway hit Love, Loss and What I Wore.
- Wicked author Gregory Maguire examines the enduring magic of Maurice Sendak's Where The Wild Things Are.
- Mike White talks about Gentlemen Broncos and the possible School of Rock sequel.
- Lisa Kudrow and Dan Bucatinsky are developing a Showtime comedy based on Craig Chester's memoir Why the Long Face?: The Adventures of a Truly Independent Actor. Don Roos is on board to direct.
- Power Up names their "10 Amazing Gay Women" and "10 Amazing Gay Men in Show Biz".
- Queer as Folk's Peter Paige has signed on to direct the indie drama Sex Crime Panic.
- Alan Cumming joins Christina Aguilera, Cher and Cam Giganget in Burlesque. OK, OK will go see it!

Reverend's Reviews: Apocalypse Now Playing

The Bible and other religious texts identify several elements that will foreshadow the end of the world: earthquakes, wars and fires raging out of control, the dead rising to life, plagues and pestilence, and Woody Harrelson. Ok, I added that last one, but I find it oddly significant that the actor has roles in at least two new movies out of a growing number that deal with the apocalypse and/or its aftermath.

In the current Zombieland, Harrelson plays the leader of a small group of survivors struggling to make it in a world that has been overrun with the living dead. Roland Emmerich's 2012 (in theaters November 13) casts Harrelson as one among billions trying to outrun an impending global cataclysm some allege was predicted long ago by the Mayans. Did the Mayans similarly anticipate Harrelson's 21st century standing as would-be savior of humankind?


Between now and the year 2012, I foresee a raft of apocalypse-themed movies. 9 (the animated, post-human adventure, not the Rob Marshall-directed musical) is already playing (read my review here), and The Road, based on Cormac McCarthy's stunning novel, is due by year's end. Gloom-and-doom is increasingly the rage in our cultural zeitgeist, which in turn feeds the Hollywood moviemaking machine.

But will we soon experience the actual end of days? That's a question that, in my experience, quite a few people are asking themselves but are afraid or embarrassed to discuss openly. As tsunamis decimate coastal communities, as world economies decline, as the ice caps melt, as new viruses or new strains of existing viruses infect us, and as Iran and North Korea strive to arm themselves with nuclear weapons, some believe the initial signs of impending Armageddon are already upon us. Who can say with certainty that any of us will still be here a mere three years from now?


As a Christian, I have long tried to take Jesus' admonition in the New Testament to "Be prepared" for the end seriously. Whether "the end" will translate ultimately as the end of my own life or the end of all life as we know it is murky if not completely unknowable. Other world religions have their own messages and practices regarding the seemingly inevitable end of the world.

Keeping the end of life in mind doesn't translate for me into a fearful, depressed mindset. Rather, it helps me to appreciate each day — indeed, each moment — all the more. I regularly try to impress this on the patients I serve daily who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness and are under hospice care. No matter what their religious background, virtually all respond positively, even eagerly, to my encouragement to live in the now and make the most of it.


Please don't get the wrong impression; I'm not about to start pacing the streets, carrying a placard reading "Repent! The end is nigh!" However, even country-western singer Tim McGraw has proclaimed the mantra "Live Like You Were Dying" to great success, indicating that many people do understand the wisdom in such an approach. With it comes the invitation to apologize to those we have hurt, forgive those who have offended us, and accomplish to the best of our ability the goals that we consider most important.

I can't tell you whether the world is going to end in 2012 or not. I wish I could. Frankly, I hope it doesn't. There's likely little we can do about it one way or the other, so there's no point in worrying about it. Let's all live like we are dying and make the most of the precious time we do have. Besides, if the end is that close at hand, Woody Harrelson might still be around to save us.

By Rev. Chris Carpenter, resident film critic of Movie Dearest and the Orange County and Long Beach Blade.

People's Choice Awards 2010 Nominee Selections

Oh my goodness, is it awards season already? Let's start off light by having a look at the awards purely based on popularity! The People's Choice Awards now have their Nominee Selections for the 2010 Awards up and you can vote for who you want to be nominated making up to 5 selections per category. If your fave isn't included in the selections they have, you can add your own selection through the 'other' box. I had to do that a few times.

My favourite categories are the selections for Independent Movie and On Screen Team, but there seems a few odd things in the nominees. As much as I love Twilight, it's odd to see it here considering for favourite film it's a 2008 film. If memory serves they can be a bit looser than other awards, such as actors winning without having a film out that year. I'm also surprized to see Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Favourite Breakout Movie Actor, I could have imagined that the year of Brick but now? I mean people refer to him by acronym (JGL). You don't get an acronym unless people know you pretty well!

One last harp moment. Notice anything odd about Favourite Action Star and Favourite Comedic Star nominees. Looks like a boys only club there. What about Zoe Bell, Kate Beckinsale, Antje Traue, Emma Stone, Kristin Kreuk and Moon Bloodgood for Action Stars? And Kristen Wiig, Sandra Bullock, Zooey Deschanel, Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Amanda Seyfried, Ellen Page and Jessica Biel for Comedic Stars? There are kick butt and funny ladies out there, folks!

The awards cover movies, TV and music. To see all Nominee Selections go here, but here are the selections from the movie categories:

Favourite Action Star
Channing Tatum
Chris Pine
Christian Bale
Clive Owen
Gerard Butler
Hugh Jackman
Liam Neeson
Paul Walker
Sam Worthington
Shia LaBeouf
Vin Diesel
Zachary Quinto

Favourite Breakout Movie Actor
Anton Yelchin
Chris Pine
Christoph Waltz
Ed Helms
Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Sam Worthington
Sharlto Copley
Taylor Kitsch
Taylor Lautner
Zach Galifianakis
Zachary Quinto

Favourite Breakout Movie Actress
Abbie Cornish
Anna Kendrick
Carey Mulligan
Emily Osment
Gennifer Goodwin
Mélanie Laurent
Miley Cyrus
Moon Bloodgood
Naturi Naughton
Rashida Jones
Sofia Vassilieva
Zoe Saldana

Favourite Comedic Star
Adam Sandler
Ben Stiller
Bradley Cooper
Jason Segal
Jim Carrey
Kevin James
Paul Rudd
Ryan Reynolds
Sacha Baron Cohen
Vince Vaughn
Tyler Perry
Will Ferrell

Favourite Family Movie
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Coraline
G-Force
Hannah Montana: The Movie
Hotel for Dogs
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
Monsters vs. Aliens
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
Race to Witch Mountain
Up
Where the Wild Things Are

Favourite Franchise
Fast and Furious
Final Destination
Harry Potter
Ice Age
Night at the Museum
Saw
Star Trek
Terminator
Transformers
The Twilight Saga
Tyler Perry's Madea
X-Men

Favourite Independent Movie
17 Again
500 Days of Summer
Bright Star
District 9
He's Just Not That Into You
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Paranormal Activity
Sunshine Cleaning
Taken
The Time Traveller's Wife
Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail

Favourite Movie
Angels & Demons
Fast & Furious
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
The Hangover
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Inglourious Basterds
The Proposal
Star Trek
Terminator Salvation
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Twilight
X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Favourite Movie Actor
Brad Pitt
Bradley Cooper
Christina Bale
Denzel Washington
George Clooney
Hugh Jackman
Johnny Depp
Robert Pattinson
Ryan Reynolds
Shia LaBeouf
Tom Hanks
Zac Efron

Favourite Movie Actress
Amy Adams
Anne Hathaway
Drew Barrymore
Jennifer Aniston
Julia Roberts
Katherine Heigl
Kristen Stewart
Megan Fox
Rachel McAdams
Sandra Bullock
Taraji P. Henson

Favourite On Screen Team
Vin Diesel & Paul Walker: Fast & Furious
Bradley Cooper Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis & Justin Bartha: The Hangover
Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint & Emma Watson: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Paul Rudd & Jason Segel: I Love You, Man
Ben Stiller & Amy Adams: Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
Sandra Bullock & Ryan Reynolds: The Proposal
Chris Pine & Zachary Quinto: Star Trek
Christian Bale, Sam Worthington & Moon Bloodgood: Terminator Salvation
Shia LeBeouf & Megan Fox: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart & Taylor Lautner: The Twilight Saga
Drew Barrymore, Ellen Page, Eve & Kristen Wiig: Whip It
Hugh Jackman, Liev Shreiber & Ryan Reynolds: X-Men Origins: Wolverine

The People Choice Awards will be air live on January 6, 2010 on CBS.