Last year, 1984 Publishing celebrated the 40th anniversary of the classic slasher Sleepaway Camp (watch it HERE) with the release of the “making of” book Sleepaway Camp: Making the Movie and Reigniting the Campfire, as well as a 4-song soundtrack EP. Now, 1984 Publishing has announced that they’ll be releasing an expanded paperback edition of the Sleepaway Camp book that has over 100 new pages of content and behind-the-scenes photos, all primarily focusing on the cult classic sequels Sleepaway Camp II: Unhappy Campers and Sleepaway Camp III: Teenage Wasteland. They’re also putting out a 5-track Sleepaway Camp II / III soundtrack EP won vinyl and CD. They note that “various vinyl color variants will be available, as well as special editions that include signed cast member photos, lyric sheets, and exclusive Sleepaway Camp III flexi audio postcards.”

Sleepaway Camp: Making the Movie and Reigniting the Campfire author Jeff Hayes provided the following statement: “After the release of the hardbound edition, fans worldwide contacted me who loved the info about the original film but were asking additional questions about the sequels. So, 1984 Publishing and I thought fans would appreciate a deep dive into the sequels as bonus content for the second edition. I started with screenwriter Michael Hitchcock (of Christopher Guest, Glee, and Bridesmaids fame), who created Angela’s path forward in parts 2 and 3. Michael and I completed a series of extensive interviews that included character motivations, deleted scenes, creative kills, budgetary adjustments, inside jokes, and more! I also interviewed (and included personal behind-the-scenes photos) from fan favorite Brian Patrick Clarke (‘T.C.’), Mark Oliver (‘Tony’), Daryl Wilcher (‘Riff’), Carol Chambers and Amy Fields (‘The Shit Sisters’), Kim Wall (‘Cindy’), Kendall Bean (‘Demi’), FX creator Bill ‘Splat’ Johnson, and more. It’s the most extensive look at the sequels to date.” The second edition of the book concludes with a new interview with designer and actor Loris Diran, who played Billy in the original Sleepaway Camp. “Diran, a member of the LGBT community, offers readers a unique take on the original iconic film, its aftermath, and its personal impact on him.“

As for the soundtrack EP, that contains music by John Altyn and includes the fan-favorite song “Outta Control” from Sleepaway Camp II (a song that was originally intended for A Nightmare on Elm Street 3), three mixes of the song “Sleepaway” (from Sleepaway Camp III), and the classic “Happy Camper Song” that was featured in both sequels. All vinyl editions additionally contain a bonus flexi postcard with an audio trailer for Sleepaway Camp III. The 12-inch gatefold vinyl edition will be available in the following variants: – “Blood Red” (limited to 300) – “Camp Rolling Hills” split-colored vinyl (dark blue & light blue – limited to 150) – “Shit Sisters’” pot haze-colored vinyl (includes a print autographed by Carol Chambers & Amy Fields – limited to 100) – “Riff’s Switchblade” silver-colored vinyl (includes a print autographed by Daryl Wilcher – limited to 100) – “Coke” white-colored vinyl (includes autographed “Sleepaway” sheet music by John Altyn – limited to 100)

The new, paperback edition of Sleepaway Camp: Making the Movie and Reigniting the Campfire and the soundtrack EP are available for pre-order on 1984Publishing.com.

Are you a fan of the Sleepaway Camp movies? Will you be buying a copy of the new edition of the book, and/or the soundtrack EP? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

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Say it with me: Sporkinfeesten. Have you got that? No? Don’t worry; eventually, it’ll roll right off your tongue. Bobby Farrelly, co-director of Dumb and Dumber, Kingpin, There’s Something About Mary, and the director of 2023’s feelgood sports comedy Champions, is packing his bags for Sporkinfeesten, a family vacation comedy at Amazon MGM. Sporkinfeesten, based on a spec script by Aaron and Will Eisenberg, is based on a true story about “finding your roots.”

Plot details remain a mystery, but it’s Farrelly’s next project after wrapping production on Dear Santa, starring Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key, Brianne Howrey, and Post Malone about a young boy who, in writing his yearly note to Santa, mixes up the letters and it to Stan instead.

Farrelly is behind some of Hollywood’s most outrageous comedies, including Me, Myself & Irene, Shallow Hal, Stuck on You, Fever Pitch, Dumb and Dumber To, and more. Meanwhile, the Eisenbergs are behind the horror comedy Cursed Friends and the Blumhouse anthology series Into the Dark. Cursed Friends, starring Jessica Lowe, Nicole Byer, Harvey Guillén, and Kathy Griffin, focuses on four friends who wake on Halloween and realize the predict-your-future game they played in 2002 is coming true in disturbing ways. They must band together to help each other escape the wild fates that have turned their lives upside down.

Bobby Farrelly’s Special Olympics sports comedy Champions is one of 2023’s most heartfelt films. The laugh-out-loud comedy starring Woody Harrelson, Kaitlin Olson, and Matt Cook centers on a former minor-league basketball coach (Harrelson) who is ordered by the court to manage a team of players with intellectual disabilities. He soon realizes that, despite his doubts, this team can go further than they ever imagined.

Farrelly’s name is synonymous with comedy, making Sporkinfeesten an intriguing project. First, what does Sporkinfeesten refer to? Is it the family’s last name? A town in the middle of nowhere? A delicious beer? It’s borderline criminal that we don’t have more information. I don’t know what to think of this one, but you can bet that I’m curious to learn more. What do you think Sporkinfeesten means? Let’s see your suggestions in the comments section below.

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Jean-Claude Van Damme fans are in for happy holidays this year, as Lionsgate has announced that they’ll be giving the Van Damme classic Kickboxer a 3-Disc SteelBook 4K UHD and Blu-ray release on December 3rd! The folks at City on Fire got an early look at the steelbook art, and you can check that out in the image at the bottom of this article.

Directed by David Worth from a screenplay written by Glenn A. Bruce (who was working from a story crafted by Van Damme and producer Mark di Salle), Kickboxer has the following synopsis: Eric Sloane is an American kickboxing pro, helped by his brother, Kurt, in his quest for glory. But when the two go to Thailand to take on legendary Tong Po, the opponent viciously beats Eric and leaves him paralyzed. Swearing vengeance, Kurt tracks down master Xian Chow and begins learning the sport himself while also getting caught up in criminal intrigue involving thuggish crime boss Freddy Li.

Van Damme is joined in the cast by Dennis Alexio, Dennis Chan, Michel Qissi, Ka Ting Lee, Rochelle Ashana, and Haskell Anderson.

The 3-Disc Steelbook 4K UHD and Blu-ray release of Kickboxer has the following features: – DISC 1: 4K Ultra HD (Movie/Features) – DISC 2: Blu-ray (Movie/Features) – DISC 3: Blu-ray (Bonus Disc) (Film – International Version) – Audio Commentary with producer Mark di Salle and action film historian Mike Leeder – Audio Commentary with director David Worth, actor Haskell Anderson, and film historian James Bennett – “Vengeance & Redemption” – an Interview with actor Jean-Claude Van Damme – “Bring Me Tong Po” – an Interview with actor Michel Qissi – “Kick The Tree”- an Interview with actor Dennis Chan” – “Focus, Film, Fight!”- an Interview with Director of Photography Jon Kranhouse – Theatrical Trailer – TV Spot – Still Gallery

Kickboxer was my introduction to Van Damme, and I still clearly remember the day the owner of the local video store recommended the movie, newly released on VHS, to me while pointing out the poster on the wall. It remains one of my favorite Van Damme movies to this day, so it’s great to see it getting such a cool 4K UHD and Blu-ray release.

Are you a Kickboxer fan, and will you be buying this steelbook set of the 4K UHD and Blu-ray? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

The post Kickboxer: Jean-Claude Van Damme classic gets a 3-Disc SteelBook 4K and Blu-ray release this December appeared first on JoBlo.

In February 2025, the Steam Deck will turn three years old. And while plenty of games still run like a dream on the portable PC, it’s clear that over time, more and more big new games are pushing this tiny computer to its breaking point. And it might be time for an upgrade.

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In February 2025, the Steam Deck will turn three years old. And while plenty of games still run like a dream on the portable PC, it’s clear that over time, more and more big new games are pushing this tiny computer to its breaking point. And it might be time for an upgrade.

Read more…

PLOT: When a preacher arrives at a British settlement in 1830s New Zealand his violent past is drawn into question and his faith put to the test as he finds himself caught in the middle of a bloody war between Māori tribes.

REVIEW: When many of us picture Maori culture, the first film that comes to mind is usually Once Were Warriors. Director Lee Tamahori’s contemporary 1994 drama looked at the modern legacy of the Maori people. After four decades of Hollywood fare, including Mulholland Falls, The Edge, XXX: State of the Union, and the James Bond film Die Another Day, Tamahori returns to the subject of his feature debut but through a very different lens. The Convert is an epic yet intimate look at Maori culture in the early 19th Century, just as the British Empire expanded its colonialization. Told through the experiences of a preacher welcomed into tribal society, The Convert is a beautiful and violent film that offers a unique look at the practices of the indigenous people of New Zealand.

The Convert opens in 1830 as Minister Thomas Munro (Guy Peare) arrives via ship in New Zealand during a massive storm. Hailing from England, Munro is immediately introduced to the Maori people via a violent battle between two tribes and steps in on behalf of a young woman, Rangimai (Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne). While the warriors of Akatarewa (Lawrence Makoare) spare her life, Rangimai’s father, Maianui (Antonio Te Maioha), requests that Munro serve as her tutor in English and the ways of the Christians. Munro accepts the honor even though the people of the British settlement of Epworth are not fond of having any natives in their encampment. At first, Munro orients himself to the isolated ways of the British colonialists but quickly realizes that he shares more in common with the native people.

Munro’s backstory as a soldier and the event that still haunts him is revealed as the film proceeds. Wanting never to repeat those actions, he tries to negotiate peace between the warring tribes. Alongside Charlotte (Jacqueline McKenzie), an Englishwoman from Epworth, Munro becomes a focal point in the escalating tensions. The Convert at first seems to be named after the potential confession of Rangimai to Christianity but transforms into Munro’s conversion to the Maori culture. It is a fascinating tale showcasing Maori life in a way few films have chronicled. While the dialogue is delivered in both English and Maori, the adherence to cultural accuracy is impressive and rivals similar films like The Last of the Mohicans and The Last Samurai. But, where both of those films were saddled with a “white savior” label, The Convert does not put Munro in a position to rescue the Maori from themselves.

Guy Pearce has made many period films in his career, including the acclaimed Australian film The Proposition, along with numerous roles as heroes, villains, and monsters, both human and non. Over the last few years, Pearce has had diverse roles, including the recent festival hit The Brutalist and David Cronenberg’s The Shrouds. In The Convert, Pearce offers one of his more subdued performances as Munro exists more as an avatar for the English-speaking world to enter the culture of the Maori people. Most of the English-speaking characters in this film are either privateers looking to make money off of the indigenous people, hateful and racist settlers, or oppressors from England who seek to subjugate those viewed as weaker. Pearce plays Munro as an open-minded man whose faith has waivered but finds an invigorating new perspective amongst the Maori. This is not an in-your-face performance, but it is nonetheless powerful.

Based on the novel Wulf by Hamish Clayton, The Convert was co-written by director Lee Tamahori who himself is half-Maori. Tamahori and co-writer Shane Danielsen imbue the screenplay with authenticity and a cast of Maori performers who utilize the cultural expertise of consultant Ngamaru Raerino in making this feel as realistic as a fictional tale could be. The Maori are brutal warriors but never in a monstrous way. As tribal sects at war, brutality is a way of life, but there is also beauty in the cultural beliefs and practices, which culminates in a battle sequence that differs from how such scenes would unfold in a Western film. That being said, The Convert does lag a bit in the middle after a strong opening. It eventually leads to a masterful final act, but the hour or so in the middle of the film loses momentum. Even with the cinematography of Gin Loane and a solid score by composer Matteo Zingales, The Convert starts fast and ends fast with a bit of a slow patch in between.

The Convert is a unique glimpse into the cultural history of the Maori people, too often overlooked in cinematic productions. Western audiences have seen epics like this for other cultures, but rarely with such a mix of reverence and honesty regarding the elegance of their ways and the violence of their struggles. Guy Pearce is the rare actor who is at once perfectly at home in a role like this and yet still under-used. Even though there are some slow parts in the middle of this movie, I recommend checking out The Convert to learn more about a side of history you don’t typically see on the big screen.

The Convert is available on digital beginning October 14th.

The Convert

GOOD

7

The post The Convert Review: Guy Pearce leads this rousing historical epic appeared first on JoBlo.

Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero is a lovingly crafted tribute to the iconic franchise, its myriad of characters, and exciting attacks whose names need to be shouted. It’s a tribute so accurate that seemingly every player has been quickly stumped by Great Ape Vegeta, the most threatening villain during the series’ Saiyan…

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Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero is a lovingly crafted tribute to the iconic franchise, its myriad of characters, and exciting attacks whose names need to be shouted. It’s a tribute so accurate that seemingly every player has been quickly stumped by Great Ape Vegeta, the most threatening villain during the series’ Saiyan…

Read more…

Yajirobe is a samurai who loves running away from fights and is generally useless except for when he’s giving Goku health-restoring Senzu beans or slicing off Vegeta’s tail. Now the “bean daddy” (not that guy) is destroying players in Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero and being accused of breaking the meta in ranked matches.

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Yajirobe is a samurai who loves running away from fights and is generally useless except for when he’s giving Goku health-restoring Senzu beans or slicing off Vegeta’s tail. Now the “bean daddy” (not that guy) is destroying players in Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero and being accused of breaking the meta in ranked matches.

Read more…