Sketch Of The Dead
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Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
New Promo Image for Ormsby's Cinema Insane
Until Next Time,
Stay Insane.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Ormsby's Christmas Adventure (2009)
With Santa out of commission (don't ask) Ormsby takes it upon himself to bring presents to the last house on the list. Everything is fine until he's interrupted by a little girl...
Merry Christmas Everyone!
Until Next Time, Stay Insane!
Merry Christmas Everyone!
Until Next Time, Stay Insane!
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Friday The 13th (2009)-Yeah, Another Remake
Okay, if you've read this blog you may know that I don't really like remakes all that much. Don't get me started on the 1998 Psycho or Rob Zombie's 2007 Halloween (dear Lord, what were you thinking Robert?), I'll chew your ear off for hours. I refuse to spend my money going to the theater to see a remake, but if it's on cable I'll give it a try. Friday The 13th was on tonight so I decided to give it a try.
The problem with doing a Friday The 13th remake is Jason isn't the killer in that movie, his mother is. The studio knew they needed to have a Jason-centric film so they found a clever (as clever as I can give them credit for) way of getting around that. The film starts with a new version of the ending of the first Friday The 13th (1980) with Nana Visitor (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) as Mama Voorhees set in 1980. In three minutes Mama meets the wrong end of a big machete and little Jason finds her. Quick cut to present day and we're off and running.
The movie takes plot points from many of the original Friday films. Really it's a remake of the best parts of the first ten films, with enough twists to keep fans of the originals on our toes. I will say it was a little fun playing the "Which Friday film is this scene a homage to?" game. They didn't try to do anything new with the movie, keeping with the Jason killing campers, d-bag rich kids and girls who can't seem to keep their clothes on (God bless them).
The writers tried to give Jason motivation in why he kills, which seems to be he doesn't like people coming onto his turf and trying to steal his marijuana plants. That makes him the angriest pot farmer ever in my book.
Where this film works, and where Rob Zombie's Halloween failed big time with Michael Myers, is they didn't dwell on Jason's childhood to try and make him sympathetic. Zombie demystified Myers and ruined the character. I'm sure the writers saw Zombie's mistakes and tried not to repeat them.
So how is the movie? It's actually a pretty good Friday The 13th film, and as much as I hate remakes I found myself liking this one. It's not perfect and it has flaws, but it's not as bad as some of the trash Hollywood forces down our throats. Plus I give it kudos for the best use of a wood chipper that isn't cliche (that sounds like it should be an award). So this one time I'll eat my words about remakes.
Until Next Time, Stay Insane!
The problem with doing a Friday The 13th remake is Jason isn't the killer in that movie, his mother is. The studio knew they needed to have a Jason-centric film so they found a clever (as clever as I can give them credit for) way of getting around that. The film starts with a new version of the ending of the first Friday The 13th (1980) with Nana Visitor (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) as Mama Voorhees set in 1980. In three minutes Mama meets the wrong end of a big machete and little Jason finds her. Quick cut to present day and we're off and running.
The movie takes plot points from many of the original Friday films. Really it's a remake of the best parts of the first ten films, with enough twists to keep fans of the originals on our toes. I will say it was a little fun playing the "Which Friday film is this scene a homage to?" game. They didn't try to do anything new with the movie, keeping with the Jason killing campers, d-bag rich kids and girls who can't seem to keep their clothes on (God bless them).
The writers tried to give Jason motivation in why he kills, which seems to be he doesn't like people coming onto his turf and trying to steal his marijuana plants. That makes him the angriest pot farmer ever in my book.
Where this film works, and where Rob Zombie's Halloween failed big time with Michael Myers, is they didn't dwell on Jason's childhood to try and make him sympathetic. Zombie demystified Myers and ruined the character. I'm sure the writers saw Zombie's mistakes and tried not to repeat them.
So how is the movie? It's actually a pretty good Friday The 13th film, and as much as I hate remakes I found myself liking this one. It's not perfect and it has flaws, but it's not as bad as some of the trash Hollywood forces down our throats. Plus I give it kudos for the best use of a wood chipper that isn't cliche (that sounds like it should be an award). So this one time I'll eat my words about remakes.
Until Next Time, Stay Insane!
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Creature From The Black Lagoon Remake Has New Director
Aint It Cool News reports that The Creature From The Black Lagoon remake has found a new director now that Breck Esiner (Sahara) has dropped out. Now Universal is looking to Carl Rinsch to finally get this off the ground and into the water. Never heard of him? Me neither.
This project has been in development hell for a long time. How long? The first time I heard that Universal was going to remake this was issue #183 of Famous Monsters of Filmland (the one with Swamp Thing on the cover) in their Futurescope section (page 7). That was May of 1982.
I don't know anything about Carl Rinsch, except he's directing a Keanu Reeves in 47 Ronin. Personally, until I hear that cameras are actually rolling film I'm not going to get too excited.
Until Next Time, Stay Insane!
This project has been in development hell for a long time. How long? The first time I heard that Universal was going to remake this was issue #183 of Famous Monsters of Filmland (the one with Swamp Thing on the cover) in their Futurescope section (page 7). That was May of 1982.
I don't know anything about Carl Rinsch, except he's directing a Keanu Reeves in 47 Ronin. Personally, until I hear that cameras are actually rolling film I'm not going to get too excited.
Until Next Time, Stay Insane!
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Why I Think Clive Barker Is The Coolest Guy Ever
Why do I think Clive Barker is the coolest guy ever? Besides his bloody books and bizarre paintings and fantastic films (all of which I like) there is one more reason. Let me tell you the tale of the second time I met Clive Barker.
To tell the tale, I have to tell you the first time I met Clive Barker. When 'Nightbreed' came out on video he did a signing tour and one stop was a video store here on Long Island. I went there and actually wound up talking to him after he signed our stuff. The staff tried to shoo me away, but he asked that I stay. I don't know why, maybe because I could talk about books (I told him I was reading Dan Simmons' 'Song of Kali') and I didn't act like the other "O MY GOD I DREAM OF BEING A CENOBITE!" metal heads that yelled at him. We didn't talk long, maybe twenty minutes, but even talking to your hero for one minute is like gold to a fan. I would always remember that even if he didn't, because let's face it he meets thousands of people at these signings. That was cool, but the coolest was yet to come.
Five years later he was at Suffolk Community College giving a talk, and since I was taking classes there I decided to go listen to him. After the talk he hung out in the lobby and talked to everyone. Around him had gathered this group of goth kids, dressed in black and acting depressed as he chatted with them. I walked up and shook his hand and said, "I don't know if you remember me..."
I didn't finish the sentence.
"I remember you, (my real name) right? Did you finish 'Song of Kali?'"
Five years later and Clive Barker remembered my name! Five years later and Clive Barker remembered my name and what book I was reading! That is why Clive Barker is the coolest guy ever, at least to me.
Until Next Time, Stay Insane!
To tell the tale, I have to tell you the first time I met Clive Barker. When 'Nightbreed' came out on video he did a signing tour and one stop was a video store here on Long Island. I went there and actually wound up talking to him after he signed our stuff. The staff tried to shoo me away, but he asked that I stay. I don't know why, maybe because I could talk about books (I told him I was reading Dan Simmons' 'Song of Kali') and I didn't act like the other "O MY GOD I DREAM OF BEING A CENOBITE!" metal heads that yelled at him. We didn't talk long, maybe twenty minutes, but even talking to your hero for one minute is like gold to a fan. I would always remember that even if he didn't, because let's face it he meets thousands of people at these signings. That was cool, but the coolest was yet to come.
Five years later he was at Suffolk Community College giving a talk, and since I was taking classes there I decided to go listen to him. After the talk he hung out in the lobby and talked to everyone. Around him had gathered this group of goth kids, dressed in black and acting depressed as he chatted with them. I walked up and shook his hand and said, "I don't know if you remember me..."
I didn't finish the sentence.
"I remember you, (my real name) right? Did you finish 'Song of Kali?'"
Five years later and Clive Barker remembered my name! Five years later and Clive Barker remembered my name and what book I was reading! That is why Clive Barker is the coolest guy ever, at least to me.
Until Next Time, Stay Insane!
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Famous Monsters of Filmland Magazine to Return!!!
I'm wasn't surprised that Phil Kim brought back Famous Monsters of Filmland as a website. Let's face it magazines are a dying format and the few of us that remember growing up with FM in our lives couldn't expect him to start a print edition.
But that's what he's done!
Monday on the Famous Monsters of Filmland web site (Click HERE to read it) it was announced that FM was coming back as a quarterly this coming summer of 2010. They've teamed with IDW Publishing (currently publishing Star Trek, Doctor Who, G.I. Joe) to help bring the print edition out and Michael Heisler will be the new editor.
This brings a smile to my face. I hope they can make Uncle Forry proud.
Until Next Time, Stay Insane!
But that's what he's done!
Monday on the Famous Monsters of Filmland web site (Click HERE to read it) it was announced that FM was coming back as a quarterly this coming summer of 2010. They've teamed with IDW Publishing (currently publishing Star Trek, Doctor Who, G.I. Joe) to help bring the print edition out and Michael Heisler will be the new editor.
This brings a smile to my face. I hope they can make Uncle Forry proud.
Until Next Time, Stay Insane!
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Universal Monster Legacy Web Site
I don't have to tell you, sinister readers, of my love for the old Universal Monster Movies. Now, as they get ready to unleash the new Wolf Man film next year, Universal has launched the Universal Monster Legacy web site. It has image galleries, video clips and story synopsis of the prime Universal Monster Movies in a beautifully laid out web site.
It warms the area where my heart should be that they have given a web presence to the monsters. Sometimes I feel like Universal doesn't do enough to promote their unique monsters, and when they do it's always just short term efforts. Hopefully the Wolf Man is a success, and will keep the monsters in the forefront for now on.
One minor thing that caught my eye, and I'll write to them to fix, is a fact note in the Son Of Dracula synopsis is wrong. They wrote "Evelyn Ankers, who played Kay in this film, starred opposite Chaney in James Whale's The Wolf Man in 1941." James Whales didn't direct The Wolf Man, but George Waggner did. I'll have to go through each entry, but I can understand the small mistake here and there.
(I saw the story about this on Famous Monsters of Filmland's, see their story HERE, and stop by and enjoy the new site.)
Until Next Time, Stay Insane!
It warms the area where my heart should be that they have given a web presence to the monsters. Sometimes I feel like Universal doesn't do enough to promote their unique monsters, and when they do it's always just short term efforts. Hopefully the Wolf Man is a success, and will keep the monsters in the forefront for now on.
One minor thing that caught my eye, and I'll write to them to fix, is a fact note in the Son Of Dracula synopsis is wrong. They wrote "Evelyn Ankers, who played Kay in this film, starred opposite Chaney in James Whale's The Wolf Man in 1941." James Whales didn't direct The Wolf Man, but George Waggner did. I'll have to go through each entry, but I can understand the small mistake here and there.
(I saw the story about this on Famous Monsters of Filmland's, see their story HERE, and stop by and enjoy the new site.)
Until Next Time, Stay Insane!
Friday, December 4, 2009
Slingers- The show SyFy should be doing.
(Forgive me while I take a detour and talk about something that's not totally monster related)
Let's face it, SyFy (formerly the SciFi Channel, but don't get me started on that) airs a lot of crap. Now with the 're-branding' to a new name they seem to be breaking even further away from science fiction and fantasy. Personally I don't know anyone who want to see a cooking show on SyFy, which is one purposed idea they've been playing with.
Now the embedded three minute and two second video below is a presentation reel for a pilot some guys I've never heard of want to shoot. It is incredible. This is the type of show I want to see on SyFy every Friday. No more Stargates, no more wrestling and no more bad direct-to-video disaster films staring Luke Perry.
Just three minutes long and this presentation reel is better than any hour long show on SyFY right now. Why isn't SyFy talking to these guys?
I wish everyone involved with this the best of luck and I hope it actually gets made.
(I saw this originally on Topless Robot please check them out)
Let's face it, SyFy (formerly the SciFi Channel, but don't get me started on that) airs a lot of crap. Now with the 're-branding' to a new name they seem to be breaking even further away from science fiction and fantasy. Personally I don't know anyone who want to see a cooking show on SyFy, which is one purposed idea they've been playing with.
Now the embedded three minute and two second video below is a presentation reel for a pilot some guys I've never heard of want to shoot. It is incredible. This is the type of show I want to see on SyFy every Friday. No more Stargates, no more wrestling and no more bad direct-to-video disaster films staring Luke Perry.
Just three minutes long and this presentation reel is better than any hour long show on SyFY right now. Why isn't SyFy talking to these guys?
I wish everyone involved with this the best of luck and I hope it actually gets made.
(I saw this originally on Topless Robot please check them out)
SLINGERS from Mike Sizemore on Vimeo.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
State Dinner
This nice couple were standing outside the State Dinner I attended on Nov. 24th in Washington. They looked all sad because they couldn't get in, so I propped opened the back door to the event so they could sneak in. Hopefully no one found out.Until Next Time, Stay Insane!
Ormsby
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