Maggie - Film Review

A few months ago I saw the trailer for a new movie starring Arnold Schwarzenegger that looked intriguing. It's called MAGGIE, and is a zombie movie. Well, I have always been a big Arnold fan, going all the way back to the 80s where I was obsessed with his films. And I'm a big zombie movie fan too. So I was looking forward to checking this one out.

I rented a copy from Redbox and watched it out last week. It was written by John Scott 3, and directed by Henry Hobson for Lionsgate.

The story concerns a zombie-virus ravaged society. A young girl named Maggie (Abigail Breslin) is trapped in a city under quarantine. She calls her father, Wade (Arnold Schwarzenegger) and urges him not to come looking for her. She is bitten by a zombie and taken to a local hospital where Wade, who disregarded her pleas, finds her. In true Romero fashion Maggie is now infected with the virus herself. In this film the virus has an incubation period of a couple of weeks before the infected person becomes a zombie.

Wade takes Maggie home, and struggles with how to deal with his slowly dying daughter. And that is pretty much the entire story. Maggie hangs out with some friends, the local sheriff warns Wade to deal with his daughter before she becomes a threat, and the film ends on a very predictable note.

This film was a chore to watch. It is incredibly slow paced and there is very little story to it. The colors are intentionally muted, drained of color, and filtered to a drab brownish hue that is just irritating. The biggest problem I had was with the directing/cinematography. In probably a good 80-90% of the shots the camera needs to BACK THE FUCK UP. The camera is just zoomed in too damn close on almost every shot.

The acting is good from everyone involved, and Arnold especially does a fine job here. All the problems with the film stem from poor artistic decisions and the lackluster script and pacing. This is one to avoid, sadly.

Cemetery Plots #1

 

Wanted to tell you guys about a new horror anthology comic book that just came out from EMPIRE LABS  called CEMETERY PLOTS #1.

It is an old-school EC-style horror anthology comic that features 32 pages of chills and thrills. You can't beat that with a severed limb!! Plus it even features a prose short story written by yours ghouly, a weird western called DEAD MAN'S WARNING.

It's available as a digital download for only .99 cents,
or in print format for a mere $3.00 (plus shipping and handling).
CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE CEMETERY.

Get your copy today! And tell em' Dr. Gangrene sent ya!

Heavy Metal Horror Movie Meltdown!

"I think we've gotta start with... what I call the Citizen Kane of heavy metal horror movies."

I got the opportunity to appear on the MOVIE MELTDOWN podcast recently, and let me tell you, it was a blast!

Host Bryan Meltdown got in touch with me prior to the show and asked if I would be interested in appearing on the podcast again. We had recorded an interview last year at the Wonderfest convention, in Louisville, and while chatting I had mentioned my love/obsession of Heavy Metal Horror films.

Bryan invited me back to pick a playlist of songs from various heavy metal horror films and talk about the films and music. His co-host Mysty joined us, and let me tell you, the end result was one epic journey through the metal films of the 80s and beyond!

You can check out the episode here:
http://moviemeltdown.libsyn.com/attack-of-the-heavy-metal-horror-movies

And THIS IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD LINK

To find out more about MOVIE MELTDOWN and find all their previous episodes, go to:
http://www.moviemeltdown.com/

Thanks again for having me on, Bryan and Mysty.
ROCK AND ROLL!!

Marvel/Sony Spider-Man Casting News

Seriously Marvel/Sony? Seriously?

When I first heard the news of the new crossover deal for the character I was elated. FINALLY the horrendous Webb/Garfield version was being put to a quick death. THAT was a train wreck. I hoped the new version would properly correct the course. But then you cast actor Tom Holland, a 19 year old kid who looks easily three to four years younger in the role.

OK, I'm willing to give him a chance. Maybe he'll be presented in a way that works. I'll give it a chance.

Then I learned the news that Peter will still be in High School. Seriously? He was only in High School for the first 28 issues out of the 700 or so issues of Amazing Spider-man.  He graduated High School in issue #28, published Sept. 1965. Yet for some reason the studios are hung up on making him a high school kid.

At this point serious red flags are going up all over. Now today, the final straw. They have announced casting of Aunt May, and they cast - Marisa Tomei. Please, someone, come to your senses.

Here is a picture of Aunt May and Uncle Ben, Pete's elderly aunt and uncle who raised him after his parents passed away.

This will be the third actress to play Aunt May on the big screen. The first actress, Rosemary Harris, absolutely was spot on, terrific casting.

Sally Field played the role the second time out. Definitely a departure from the source material, and it didn't work at all for me.

Now Marisa Tomei. I have NO idea what they are thinking. Hopefully it's a rumor, unconfirmed, or perhaps they're floating it out to see what feedback they get back.

Let me give you some of my own. I love Marisa Tomei. Fantastic actress. Totally wrong for this part. C'mon guys, you can do better than this! Hell, she'd be better for MARY JANE than Aunt May!

What this really smacks of is the discrimination against older actresses in Hollywood. Let's go younger, sexier!

I'm sure some of you will counter with "But she's younger in the Ultimates line." Well, let me tell you something - the Ultimates is shit. Pure and simple. I REALLY hope Marvel and Sony come to their senses.

Remember guys - With great power there must also come great responsibility. Don't screw this up again. Please.