8
Oct
Though the new HBO Max series The Penguin is obviously a hyper-gritty take on DC’s Batman universe set in a world created by Matt Reeves, I can’t stop laughing at it.
Month: October 2024
8
Oct
Though the new HBO Max series The Penguin is obviously a hyper-gritty take on DC’s Batman universe set in a world created by Matt Reeves, I can’t stop laughing at it.
8
Oct
PLOT: Hellboy and a rookie B.P.R.D. agent in the 1950s are sent to the Appalachians, where they discover a remote community dominated by witches and led by the sinister local demon, the Crooked Man.
REVIEW: The Hellboy series has struggled ever since its inception. It was never financial dynamite for the studio, despite its clear fanbase. So now filmmakers are taking a different approach. Hellboy: The Crooked Man is much more in line with the graphic novels from Mike Mignola than anything we’ve seen before. He’s more of a paranormal detective with the scope being much more street-level. There are still fantastical creatures to fight, but it’s more location shooting and less crazy action set pieces. This is certainly not the Guillermo Del Toro movies, which went for a more large-scale, fantastical world. And it really worked for me!
Having low expectations can often help a movie out and I’m not sure my expectations could be lower after that first trailer. But the film itself really managed to appeal to the indie horror fan in me. Hellboy: The Crooked Man follows Hellboy and his team from the BRPD as they head to the Appalachians. It’s the 1950’s and they find a community of witches, with the mysterious Crooked Man at the forefront. I think most need to go into this with the proper expectations as this is a slow burn. Unlike the other which go further into the action, this leans heavily on folk horror. I watch a lot of indie horror, so I felt properly prepared for the structure at play. But those expecting large action beats and jokes will be disappointed.
Jack Kesy is pretty good as Hellboy. He has that trademark sardonic dry wit and annoyance with the world around him. Unlike the trailers that had a fanfilm look to them, he fits in well with the world here. The makeup grew on me, mostly because his performance just nails the Hellboy spirit. Most of the other characters are pretty bland, with no one really getting a chance to stand out. They are simply pawns in the story between Hellboy and the Crooked Man. A little more characterization would have gone a long way. I couldn’t tell you the name of anyone outside of our hero and villain. I definitely was missing Abe Sapien and Liz.
The Crooked Man takes advantage of the gothic horror aesthetic, complete with large spiders, decrepit buildings, and cemeteries. There are some really cool gags like a witch returning to her body and repopulating her skin, all in-camera. The CGI certainly isn’t Hollywood blockbuster level but it’s completely competent. There are some larger-than-life visuals and mostly shoots around its limitations. The filmmakers do a good job of setting up the Crooked Man as a force to be reckoned with. His presence is felt long before he appears on camera. He’s framed by other characters as evil incarnate and he’s properly creepy. Once we meet him, he falls into more generic territory.
When I think of writer/director Brian Taylor, I think of the high-octane action of the Crank franchise or the utter insanity of Mom and Dad. But he dials things back here, focusing on interesting shots that feel straight out of a comic panel. And despite the low budget, the sets never feel cheap. Everything feels very old and lived in. I was constantly impressed with the beautifully creepy visuals on display. The R Rating is pretty well utilized with some eye gouges, squished heads, and some swear words. But I definitely could have used more.
To be sure, The Crooked Man is going to have a steep hill to climb with general audiences. This is a very different style than the one fans of the Del Toro films will be used to. While it doesn’t entirely come together with some shoddy acting and some cringy dialogue, the gothic horror and atmosphere is fantastic. Despite the simple story, I really enjoyed my time with this. I think you have to go into it with the right mindset because this is very much an indie horror film and not an action blockbuster. Watching it overwhelmed me with the same sense of dread I had when reading the graphic novels. I really appreciated the low-budget approach and think they stretched the dollar well. While I doubt we’ll see more, I’m appreciative that we finally got this version of the character on the screen.
HELLBOY: THE CROOKED MAN IS AVAILABLE TO RENT/BUY DIGITALLY NOW.
The post Hellboy: The Crooked Man Review: Is It Actually Decent? appeared first on JoBlo.
8
Oct
Dragon Ball Sparking Zero officially comes out later this week, but thanks to an early access period, a slew of players have been jumping into the game ahead of time. From the sounds of it, the newest DBZ title, which returns to the long-dormant Budokai Tenkaichi sub-series of arena fighters, is a (ki-)blast. It turns…
8
Oct
Dragon Ball Sparking Zero officially comes out later this week, but thanks to an early access period, a slew of players have been jumping into the game ahead of time. From the sounds of it, the newest DBZ title, which returns to the long-dormant Budokai Tenkaichi sub-series of arena fighters, is a (ki-)blast. It turns…
8
Oct
One of Christopher Nolan’s most enigmatic films, Interstellar, celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, and Paramount Pictures is marking the momentous occasion with limited screenings in IMAX cinemas this December. The exclusive limited engagement of Interstellar blasts off on December 6, 2024, with tickets going on sale on November 7. In addition, a Collector’s Edition 4K Ultra HD set will arrive on December 10, 2024.
In Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar, a team of pioneers undertakes the most important mission in human history—to discover whether mankind has a future among the stars. Oscar-winner Matthew McConaughey stars as the ex-pilot turned farmer who is forced to leave his family and a foundering Earth behind to lead an expedition traveling beyond this galaxy.
Known as one of the headiest dramas in science-fiction cinema, Interstellar distorts time and space to deliver a heartfelt story about family, connections through time, and unbreakable familial bonds. Nolan’s cerebral epic earned $730 million worldwide and five Oscar nominations, with a win for Best Visual Effects. The film features an extraordinary cast, including Matthew McConaughey, Jessica Chastain, Anne Hathaway, Matt Damon, John Lithgow, Michael Caine, Timothée Chalamet, Ellen Burstyn, Bill Irwin, Wes Bentley, David Oyelowo, Casey Affleck, and more.
Paramount shared details about Interstellar’s 10th Anniversary Collector’s Edition on Tuesday, saying, “This must-own, limited-edition set includes the iconic film on both 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Disc, as well as a third Blu-ray with more than two hours of new and legacy bonus content that delves into the science of the film, its groundbreaking production, and a brand-new discussion of the film’s impact ten years later. The set also includes access to a Digital copy of the film, reproductions of five costume patches, five theatrical poster reproductions, and a never-before-seen storyboard sequence from the director’s archives.”
Bonus content is detailed below:
The Future Is Now: A Look Back at INTERSTELLAR – NEW!
Explore the impact of INTERSTELLAR 10 years later through new interviews with director/co-writer Christopher Nolan, producer Emma Thomas, executive producer Kip Thorne, and co-writer Jonathan Nolan. From the development of prophetic black hole visuals to revolutionary production design for IMAX, further context is provided by colleagues and fans including director Peter Jackson (The Lord of the Rings) and director Denis Villeneuve (Dune).
· The Science of Interstellar
· Inside Interstellar:
o Plotting an Interstellar Journey
o Life on Cooper’s Farm
o The Dust
o TARS and CASE
o The Cosmic Sounds of Interstellar
o The Space Suits
o The Endurance
o Shooting in Iceland: Miller’s Planet / Mann’s Planet
o The Ranger and the Lander
o Miniatures in Space
o The Simulation of Zero-G
o Celestial Landmarks
o Across All Dimensions and Time
o Final Thoughts
· Roundtables:
o Creating Interstellar
o Experiencing Interstellar
· Trailers
How do you plan to celebrate Interstellar‘s tenth anniversary? Let us know in the comments section below.
The post Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar to celebrate its 10th anniversary with a limited engagement in IMAX cinemas and a 4K Collector’s Edition appeared first on JoBlo.
8
Oct
A new report about a hacked “AI girlfriend” website claims that many users are trying (and possibly succeeding) at using the chatbot to simulate horrific sexual abuse of children.
8
Oct
A new report about a hacked “AI girlfriend” website claims that many users are trying (and possibly succeeding) at using the chatbot to simulate horrific sexual abuse of children.
8
Oct
Cooking is a vital part of Throne and Liberty, so you’ll want to be sure you’re keeping up to date on your culinary skills. This is because various foods you make can grant extremely beneficial buffs for a limited time, that will aid you in both PVE and PVP. This is especially as you reach endgame content, where every…
8
Oct
Cooking is a vital part of Throne and Liberty, so you’ll want to be sure you’re keeping up to date on your culinary skills. This is because various foods you make can grant extremely beneficial buffs for a limited time, that will aid you in both PVE and PVP. This is especially as you reach endgame content, where every…