Frank Darabont's Director's Cut of THE MIST in Black & White!

One of the best and most overlooked genre films of 2007 was the exceptional Stephen King adaptation of THE MIST from acclaimed director Frank Darabont, who also director the King adaptations of THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION and THE GREEN MILE. The film broke even upon its original box office release but it is on video where the film really shines as for the first time the film is available the way that Darabont envisioned it which is in black & white as an homage to the way in which King originally wrote the novella. Darabont, who has collaborated with King on four of his stories so far (including the 1983 adaptation of “The Woman in the Room”) is a master at bringing King’s work to the screen and this is no exception.

Although the film is highly enjoyable in its original color version, it is the black & white version (available only on the 2-disk special edition version of the DVD) that the film comes to glorious 1960s monster horror film life. The feeling of the film is just like that of a ‘60s horror film and for anyone who can appreciate that era of cinema then you know what I mean. The film’s closest influence is 1968s NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD as the film is just as pessimistic and grim. Both films when viewed in black and white are not only a testament to superior genre filmmaking but are also highly enjoyable films that grab you and scare you to death.

There are many parallels that can be drawn between the two films from David Drayton (Thomas Jane) being a foil for Ben, David’s protection of his son Billy to that of Ben’s protection over Barbra, Mrs. Carmody (Marcia Gay Harden in an award winning performance if I do say so myself) as foil for Harry Cooper, and even Jim (William Sadler) as foil for Tom, the character that switches allegiances through the film, to name a few. There are many other similarities to the two films (which would be for another article) prompting one to realize that both King and Darabont are crafting their own homage to the films in which they grew up with.

In Darabont’s intro to THE MIST in black and white he discusses this version as the “Director’s Cut” claiming it is the version to best enjoy King’s story the way he meant it to be. Having not only read the original novella and listened to the audio book prior to seeing the film I can only agree with Darabont as when viewing the color version some scenes come across as being too real which can take a viewer out of the film. For anyone who truly enjoyed THE MIST, I suggest watching the version in which the director meant it to be watched and for which best represents the spirit of the story and that of its original creator Stephen King.

SPEED RACER on the IMAX!

Anyone who enjoys movies as much as I do knows that seeing a film on the big screen in a multiplex is a completely different experience then watching it at home where you can be interrupted by a multitude of different distractions forcing you to press the pause button or heaven forbid jump back a scene or two that you might have missed. So let me be the first to tell you that viewing the new film SPEED RACER on the gigantic IMAX is an experience unlike anything else I’ve seen on the big screen format (with the exception of U2 3D).

Unlike when I saw SPIDER-MAN 3 on the IMAX, SPEED RACER’s action scenes seemed catered to the format. When I saw SPIDER-MAN 3 many of the big action scenes seemed blurred and you ended up missing details of the scenes causing the film to look more cartoonish then it probably should have been (although I have yet to view it a second time on DVD). With SPEED RACER, which is a film meant for speed, not only the racing scenes were clean but the fight sequences and above all the cinematography that makes the whole film look like something that jumped out of a Terry Gilliam and Tim Burton film was clean and concise and above all entertaining.

The enjoyment of the film lies in brothers Andy and Larry Wachowski’s drop dead perfect adaptation of the beloved anime series. It takes the main theme of the original animation and expands upon it creating a film that doesn’t seem like there are just a bunch on scenes tacked on to expand the running time. With this screenplay and their previous one for V FOR VENDETTA, the Wachowski’s have returned my faith in them that has been missing since the days of BOUND and the first THE MATRIX.

Although the ambiance and world in which the Wachowski’s have created may be a little too much for some viewers I urge everyone to have as much faith in this film as you did with the Wachowski’s THE MATRIX because it is completely worth it. There are strong actors all around from Emile Hirsh as the title character to Christina Ricca, John Goodman, Susan Sarandon, Kick Gurry, Paulie Litt, Roger Allam, and the exceptional Matthew Fox, who I hate to say did a great job bringing the one character I thought they would mess up – Racer X, to the screen. Although there were some changes made to the character he remained in the spirit of the original animation and it added immensely to the overall film.

I suggest that if you’re able to see it on the IMAX then do because it’s an experience you won’t soon forget.

Music Video Madness!

So, principal photography on the Chris DeMarco music video “I’m Calling You” is complete. Other than a few cut-away and establishing shots the video is done but now we get into the hard part of filmmaking which is post-production and boy am I glad that most of it will be handled by someone else.

Although I started off being primarily the technical producer and director of photography it soon became clear that I would also be the cinematographer as well being that my original cameraman Mui was unable to be at any of the shoots other than the first one. I ended up filming everything on all the other days (other than a few shots on the second day in which Sammander took over so that I could do some special light cues for the video.

I’m not even getting paid on this production yet I’ve put more work into this production then I have any of my own productions. We filmed at Gwinnett Convention Center and at Theatre in the Square, both made possible by me on a production I don’t believe in nevertheless I will not sacrifice the quality of the production.

I’m not a music video person, in fact, I don’t think there’s been a good music video since MC Hammer and Michael Jackson were both popular and the top of their game. Now, music videos are bland and uninteresting. And therefore Sammander was in charge of all the important details in regards to the client and other “music video” items.
It’s all over now and that is music to my ears. Now I have to give up creative control to McLellen as the editor and Sammander as the producer/director while I try to continue on everything SHIVER as we try to go into production on that this summer.

Teach Me How To Say "I Love You"

Anyone who knows me knows that I've never had a serious relationship with any woman before. I've dated a lot and had a lot of fun but I've never been with someone whom I've ever thought I could ever call "The One." And lately I've been questioning whether or not there is truly a woman I can call "The One."

These thoughts of insecurity come at a time when I am in a relationship with a woman (who didn't dump me after the six month mark and to whom I didn't walk out on) whom I've been seeing for over six months now. For most of those six months it's been mostly off but lately it's been mostly on so my mind has been pondering things that it's never had the opportunity to until now.

These thoughts and feeling are brought to the surface at a time in which me and her are closer then we have ever been before which is saying a lot considering - and here comes the background and exposition - that we have known each other for over ten years and ten years ago we were dating. Ten years ago when we first dated it was more of an "affair" that burned bright when it started but fizzled out before we knew it (either of us since neither of us seem to have a clear grasp of why we ever broke up back then).

It's ten years later and her three kids are practically grown and she has become one of the most mature women I've ever known. This is a lot coming from some one whom ten years ago I didn't give as much credit but in hindsight (which tends to make asses of us all) I was more of an asshole and immature fiend myself. Ten years ago I didn't think she was good enough for me and now ten years later I don't think I'm good enough for her.

I think upon these issues now since it's just a little over six months since we started seeing each other again and I don't know where I would rather be then with her.

Words come so easy for me when I write them down yet when I speak them out loud I get flustered and still make an ass of myself. I guess some things never seem to change. Whereas, words slip from her mouth as easily as Bach crafting on concerto I wish sometimes my lips would just spill it out rather then choke on them.

I'm working on it and I hope that she can hang in there just a little longer. I know she's been waiting for ten years but I'm an idiot and to me she still looks ten years younger every time I look upon her.

I'm not the romantic type but hopefully I'm getting there.

Horror Films 2008 Style

I'm a little disappointed at the current state of horror films being released as of the new year. I've seen all the majors released theatrically with the exception of SHUTTER and PROM NIGHT and the only minor or limited release films that I happened to miss were TEETH and THE SIGNAL (both of which I really wanted to see on the big screen), but other then that I've managed to see everything else and I'm thus far not really impressed.

My favorite films this year have been CLOVERFIELD, DIARY OF THE DEAD, and to some extent THE RUINS. This isn't because the films this year have been so bad, but rather there have been so few genre films released this year. The other ones include ONE MISSED CALL, THE EYE, DOOMSDAY, FUNNY GAMES, and PATHOLOGY, with inclusion of 2007 hold overs I AM LEGEND and P2 (I'm still confused on why they released this film during the crowded Christmas season).

Let's take a look at all the horror films of 2008 by first taking a look at the REMAKES. This group can be separated into two smaller groups - America (PROM NIGHT, APRIL FOOL'S DAY, SISTERS, and DAY OF THE DEAD) and Foreign (ONE MISSED CALL, THE EYE, FUNNY GAMES, and SHUTTER). All three of the American remakes are from films in the '80s when horror films were at their most popular. Both PROM NIGHT and APRIL FOOL'S DAY (which went straight to DVD but should've been theatrical) were brainless slasher films that when viewed today really don't hold up to much so there is no surprise that they were up for the remake machine. Both are for the 13-18 teenage crowd in that there are lots of "boo" scares but no blood and the comedy is always on hand. The DAY OF THE DEAD remake (which also went straight to DVD) was the opposite as it retained the blood-drenched atmosphere of the original but appealed to modern day audiences that like their zombies fast and furious. The action is high and the kills are even higher. SISTERS is a grown up remake of the classic Brian DePalma film that was completely ignored by just about everyone but could have faired the best at the box office had it been given the chance. The America remakes are to hopefully bring old school horror to new school audiences who have never seen the originals nor ever plan on doing so.

In terms of Foreign remakes Asian cultures at at the forefront this year with the remakes of ONE MISSED CALL, THE EYE, and SHUTTER opening approximately a month inbetween each other. All are very similar ghost stories that when put in front of audiences delivered nothing of the originality of dread and mood of their counterparts. None of them ignited the box office. The controversial FUNNY GAMES didn't fare any better only being released on limited screens in a hand full of cities. Not even the star power of Naomi Watts and Tim Roth could overcome the pitfalls of marketing this controversial subject matter to mainstream audiences.

Remakes may have been the craze two years ago but this year no one seems interested anymore.

The big genre films of 2008 (or in terms of budget verses marketing) have been CLOVERFIELD, THE RUINS, and DOOMSDAY. The studio behind CLOVERFIELD got it right by producing a film with a small budget, no stars, and a novel creature in a film with a simple premise. The film was hyped over a year before its release and has one of the most interting marketing campaigns since THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT took the world by storm. With the exception of 2007 hold-over I AM LEGEND this is 2008's highest grossing genre film. The opposite can be said of the dismal performance of the post-apocalyptic DOOMSDAY, which in my opinion was way too much like 28 WEEKS LATER, ESCAPE FROM L.A., and George A. Romero's KNIGHTRIDERS to ever find an identity of its own. It also had an anti-climatic ending that just didn't work for me. These are just some of the reasons why this film never found its audience although I'm sure it will do so when it hits DVD. THE RUINS should've been the scariest film of the year. Based upon one of the best selling genre titles in recent years this film could have easily become as popular as THE EXORCIST; instead it's a film that starts off with a bang but ends on a whimper and never recovers.

The true gems of the year can be seen on the small screen/limited release of George A. Romero's DIARY OF THE DEAD, TEETH, THE SIGNAL, and PATHOLOGY. If there is one thing that all of these films have it is a strong script with both new and old directors at the helm. DIARY OF THE DEAD is Romero's fifth film in his ever expanding Dead films yet this film goes back to where the zombie plague started and updates it for modern audiences who are more savy with technology. This can also be said of the electronic nightmare of THE SIGNAL, another film with a strong direction by a group of relative unknowns. The comedy horror film of the year goes to TEETH which is just disturbing to all us men and bites us where it really hurts. PATHOLOGY works as a pychological horror film which a lot of grown ups tend to venture out for like last year's THE MIST. All in all some of the most interesting films of 2008 have been in limited release.

Now as anyone can tell you, for every one genre film released theatrically there are fifty (50) more being dumped on the DVD shelf (such as the before mentioned SISTERS, DAY OF THE DEAD, and APRIL FOOL'S DAY, so, finding one to watch can sometimes be a little difficult.

There are still many not mentioned here such as THE ORPHANAGE, INSIDE, THEM (ILS) - finally on our shores, NIGHTMARE DETECTIVE. Genre films have there ups and downs and many times the best ones are not of the big screen but on the small one and sometimes you just have to jump into the blood and see what's really inside.

"Weddings & Parties & Other Fun Things"

Last Saturday night I spent at 97 Estoria cellebrating one of my good friends' engagement. Colleen (although I don't know what her new last name will be) is a theatre stage manager who went to Chicago for work (since sometimes we find ourselves going where our jobs take us) in her field but then fell in love and moved to Philadelphia with her new beaux. If you haven't already guessed, she's young, beautiful, and one of the most lively people you'll ever meet so when her best friend in the whole world - Mary, informed me that she was getting married I was estatic for her because she deserves it.

Colleen is a young and hard working person who aspires to get her Masters degree and teach (an altruistic goal if I must say so myself). I on the other hand never ever plan on going to school again and teaching...well, I'm not one to want to spread my knowledge with a bunch of ungrateful little...well, you get the point.

97 Estoria, which is a bar with food (or is that a restaurant with booze?), is lamentable for its great atmosphere and exterior facade that made the evening out fun. There were many people at the gathering cellebrating the numpuals and we went through at least five bottles of wine and three rounds of shots (while I was there since I showed up two hours after everything began).

I've been to many engagement parties, some good and some...well, they were all pretty good because they were parties and who doesn't like a good party? Weddings are a whole other story.

I say that weddings are a whole other story because I've either been in or been to too many of them. Having watched both my older siblings go through their own weddings and eventual divorces and watching my parents go through it (which was all for the good) I don't have fond memory of weddings. I also spent several years as a wedding photographer which didn't improve my outlook any since I detest the brides incistance on certain things when it comes to wedding pictures (usually the groom is no problem but the bride - whole different story). Needless to say, my career in terms of wedding photography was short lived.

Not a big fan of he wedding, but damn if the parties aren't some of the best around.

Like I said, I'm happy that Colleen has all but grown up and is taking a big...no gigantic step in her life (one I haven't entertained the idea yet) and I both comend and envy her and in some respects she's more of an adult then myself.

When I looked into her eyes at the party I saw nothing but pure joy and content. You may think that that's something to be expected but point of fact is that we live in a world in which the idea of marriage doesn't hold the same stature as the reality in which many people get married for the wrong reasons and a divorce can be as easy as agreeing to sign a piece of paper. The institution of marriage holds no weight anymore so when I looked into the joy of what Colleen was...IS feeling I see something pure and simple and innocent and joyful.

Sometimes you forget what pure joy is. You get older and you realize that reality has a way of taking away our dreams and making our nightmares and frustrations a reality. Now I know that Colleen has her own problems as do we all but for that one night on Saturday, May 3rd it is good to know that she may be the happiest person in the world. And I'm just glad that a little of that joy can rub off on me.

Because I really need some.