We will be at the Garage in Denton tonight giving out stuff for the new movie Vantage Point. Come hang out with us after 10PM. You know you want to.

Once upon a time, in a land not unlike this one, a group of people got together and made low budget black and white film about zombies attacking various people in Pennsylvania, called Night of the Living Dead. Little was expected from this film upon its original release. However, Forty years later, Night of the Living Dead is arguably the definitive zombie movie, and one of the most famous and influential horror films of all time. Now, Director George A. Romero returns to the genre whose legacy he helped create, with another independent zombie film, Diary of the Dead.

Diary of the Dead is a movie within a movie. While shooting a school project, several Pittsburgh film students hear about the zombie attacks. One of the students, named Jayson Creed, decides to keep shooting to document the possible apocalypse. Jay titles his hybrid of a documentary and horror film, Death of the Death. Which according to the female narrator and possible survivor Debra, is the film we are watching. Debra explains that she has edited the film and added music to complete Jayson’s vision and to scare us as a “warning”.

With bad to mediocre acting, some deliberate clunky editing, and very a heavy-handed theme, Diary of the Dead defiantly does give off the impression of a student film. As a result of these film school standards, the beginning of the film is arduous to watch. However, once the initial set up is over and the characters hit the road the film becomes much more enjoyable.

Romero delivers the bloody goods, clearly having a great time dispensing of the many walking dead at his disposal. The audience is treated to many entertaining and gory zombie scenes, with possibly the most memorable instance taking place at a hospital and involving a defibrillator. Diary of the Dead also has a refreshing sense humor, giving the audience a few good laughs between the scares and the blood. The scenes involving the students and an amish mute will for sure generate a few chuckles from the audience. With Diary of the Dead, Romero reaches deep into his big bag of tricks and often comes up with a gem.

While there is fun to be had with the zombies themselves, Romero often uses the character’s frantic nature and the waiting between the attacks to generate the film’s suspense. At one point the students run into a group mostly African American survivors who are foraging supplies. Romero uses this contact to make a statement about racism in America, a major competent of Night of the Living Dead. Romero also uses this run in to stage some very tension filled moments, when it is learned that one of the group’s member was dead but is now missing somewhere in the warehouse. The impending attack does not coincide immediately with the announcement, instead we must wait in nervous anticipation as the survivors fearfully look for the walking dead. The zombie attacks are often set up with precision and restraint, allowing the impending attacks to build in the audience’s mind. This build up gives the film a genuine sense of tension and dread.

Diary of the Dead’s glaring flaws comes from just how accurately it depicts a student film. It is well known that Romeo’s uses his zombie films for social commentary. In Diary, Romero is concerned with how the constant appearance and acceptance of violence and war makes murder and death inane to society, removing humanitie's compassion. However, Romeo makes his point with about the subtly of a brick to head, like many student films. Along with the Debra’s occasional voice over, the message becomes so blatant in the film’s final moments that it becomes annoying, losing impact or resonance.

Diary of the Dead marks a marginally successful return to the independent zombie realm for Director George A. Romeo. After forty years, Romero is still having fun and creating many great zombie induced moments. Unfortunately, the film’s pretentious nature hinders Diary of the Dead from become anything greater than just a satisfactory horror film.

There some things in life you must approach with necessary skepticism in order to ensure that you don’t get jibbed out of your hard earned cash, including used car salesmen and movie trailers. Unfortunately, even a lackluster movie can contain enough excitement to sustain a three-minute preview, giving moviegoers false hope. This is a problem that often occurs this time of year, when the studios release many of their more flawed films. Sadly, Jumper is just another classic example of solid trailer, disappointing film.

Jumper is about people with the ability to teleport anywhere they want. These “jumpers” need to only visual their destination in their mind, and then they magically arrive at their desired target. The film’s protagonist David Rice (Christensen) is living a lush life, made possible by his ability to travel through walls, especially bank walls. However, David’s life becomes endangered when he begins to be hunted by a religious group known as the Paledins. The organization led by Roland (Samuel L. Jackson), has the sole mission to rid the world of all jumpers.
The film opens with David explaining how he came to discover his special talent. Hayden Christensen makes every word sound like a genuine struggle to get out, as if he is reading another language. This dull reading of the film’s opening monologue serves as a premonition of the uninspired acting that is soon to follow by Mr. Christensen. The opening is pretty basic, never really grabing the audience. However, the film picks up once we meet a present day David, and observe him as he teleports to fascinating locations. However, after the novelty of watching David teleport wears off, there is not a lot for the audience to do other than look at their watch. The film just resorts to movie clichés such as an “at long last” love story and silly back-story involving David’s mother who disappeared when he was five to achieve the neccessary running time.

The action scenes are mildly entertaining, but ultimately become boringly repetitive. Plus, you’ve already seen them before, as parts of all of these sequences are packed into the film’s trailer. The less than stellar action sequences are made even more disappointing by the fact that the film is directed by Doug Liman; the man behind several solid action films, such as The Bourne Identity and Mr. and Mrs. Smith. The usually reliable Samuel Jackson turns in a surprisingly below average performance, even by sci-fi standards. I guess he figured since Christensen was getting paid for such a poor performance, he shouldn’t have to put forth much effort either. At least Jamie Bell, who plays a fellow jumper named Griffin, makes an effort to create more than just another wooden character. Jamie’s offbeat and comical Griffin always breathes life into the film whenever he is on screen, unfortunately he is the third male lead.

Jumper desperately tries to have give off a hip feel. As evident by the film’s standard teen targeted soundtrack compromised largely of radio rock hits and Mr. Jackson’s unnecessary bleach blonde hairstyle. Also, The film’s protagonist and his love interest (Rachel Blison) were likely cast not because of their acting ability, but rather as a result of their connection to youth culture. However, these calculated attempts to make the film cool fail, as cool can never feel contrived.

Ultimately, Jumper proves to be just another disappointing February film. The only thing that comes to fruition from the film’s trailer is that Hayden Christensen does in fact turn in another uninspired performance. When will the studios declare the Hayden Christensen experiment a failure? Yes, the guy has the movie start look, but none of the talent. Give it up Hollywood, and please don’t make audiences suffer through Hayden’s third rate acting any longer.

Hasbro has released photos for it's Cloverfield monster action figure. It's for ages 4 & up, but don't worry parents, if you haven't already terrified them with this lovely gift, you can teach them that the parasites that come with this toy are in part with the "WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD" label. Isn't that sweet?

Specs as follows:

70 points of articulation and incredible life-like detail
Authentic sound
14” tall
10 parasites
Two interchangeable heads
Statue of Liberty head accessory
Special Cloverfield collector’s edition packaging

The Cloverfield monster is available exclusively through HasbroToyShop.com. Reserve your Cloverfield monster today to have the opportunity to receive it when it ships later this year. Limited quantities are available.

Includes 3 “AAA” Batteries.

The Spiderwick Chronicles
Directed by
Mark Waters

Written by
Karey Kirkpatrick (screenplay)
David Berenbaum (screenplay)
John Sayles (screenplay)
Tony DiTerlizzi (books)
Holly Black (books)

Starring
Freddie Highmore
Mary-Louise Parker

Synopsis
From the beloved best-selling series of books comes "The Spiderwick Chronicles," a fantasy adventure for the child in all of us.
Peculiar things start to happen the moment the Grace family (Jared, his twin brother Simon, sister Mallory and their mom) leave New York and move into the secluded old house owned by their great, great uncle Arthur Spiderwick. Unable to explain the strange disappearances and accidents that seem to be happening on a daily basis, the family blames Jared. When he, Simon and Mallory investigate what's really going on, they uncover the fantastic truth of the Spiderwick estate and of the creatures that inhabit it.

(more...)

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull official trailer has finally been released today. It starts off pretty lame with the whole "he once did this, and he wants did that" but finally picks up with the incredible stunts. I must say that I'm pretty impressed with this, and I'm looking forward to the experience. I've never seen an Indian Jones film on the big screen.

Click HERE for the Yahoo! high definition trailer. Crystal Skull opens May 22, 2008.

Tomorrow is Ferris Bueller's day off and he will be at the Movie Tavern in Denton. (We love our puns at GATW)

Come out at 10PM tomorrow for a movie you will probably never be able to see in theaters again and for FREE movie stuff that you would have never gotten.

Official info stuff:
College Movie Night
"Ferris Bueller's Day Off"
February 14, 10PM
Movie Tavern in Denton

Diff'rent Strokes star/Governor of California candidate Gary Coleman, 40, married Shannon Price, 22. They met just five months ago on a movie set. Little guy Gary said in an interview, "I don't have issues with age, I have issues with intelligence and she's more intelligent than I am, and that's what matters to me." with Shannon telling People Magazine, "He lets his anger conquer him sometimes. He throws things around, and sometimes he throws it in my direction. I don't like the violence."

Let's take a poll on how long this will lasttttttttt!

Source IMDb

Wes Craven was on point when it came to horror and gore in the early 70's and 80's. Since then he has gone off the radar, with the exception of the Scream franchise WHICH WAS RUINED WHEN THEY KILLED OFF RANDY MEEKS.

Today Wes announced to Variety that he will be writing and directing a new film entitled 25/8 which will consist of a new and original slasher/killer/maniac/etc. The concept of the film focuses on this slasher/killer/maniac/etc. thought to be dead returns after fifteens years to hunt down and slaughter seven teenagers who's birthdays fall on August 25th. A bit too far-fetched? This film's script better be golden.