My Top 10 Favorite Horror Movies of All-Time Part 3

        Horror is a film genre seeking to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's primal fears. Inspired by literature from authors like Edgar Allan Poe, Bram Stoker, and Mary Shelley, horror films have, for more than a century, featured scenes that startle the viewer. With that being said I'm going to bring you more of my favorite horror films of all-time. You can see my first list here and my second list here. These movies are ranked 21-30 so when you see number 5 it is actually number 25. So without further ado...





10. (30) Paranormal Activity


        This is an absolutely brilliant film and one of the more original horror films in the modern era. A haunted house makes no secret of the fact it's not pleased with its new tenants in this independent tale of supernatural horror. Katie (played by Katie Featherson) and Micah (played by Micah Sloat) are a twentysomething couple who've just moved into a new home in San Diego, CA. Katie has an interest in the paranormal and believes that malevolent spirits have been following her since childhood, though Micah is not so easily convinced. However, after several nights of loud noises and strange happenings, Micah starts to agree with Katie that some sort of ghost may have followed them to the new home. After a paranormal researcher tells the couple he can't help them, Micah decides to take control of the situation and sets up a battery of video cameras so that if a spirit manifests itself, he can capture its behavior on tape. Once the surveillance cameras are in place, Katie and Micah bring in a Ouija board in an effort to talk to the spirits, a move that deeply offends the ghosts. Paranormal Activity has a rating of 83% on rottentomatoes.com.




9. (29) Pan's Labyrinth 


        This is a brilliant piece of filmmaking, some of the best creatures in a film and one of the most haunting films I have ever seen. Carmen (played by Ariadna Gil), recently remarried to sadistic army captain Vidal (played by Sergi Lpez) and soon to bear the cruel military man's child, shy young Ofelia (played by Ivana Baquero) is forced to entertain herself as her recently-formed family settles into their new home nestled deep in the Spanish countryside. As Ofelia's bed-ridden mother lies immobilized in anticipation of her forthcoming child and her high-ranking stepfather remains determined to fulfill the orders of General Francisco Franco to crush a nearby guerilla uprising, the young girl soon ventures into an elaborate stone labyrinth presided over by the mythical faun Pan (played by Doug Jones). Convinced by Pan that she is the lost princess of legend and that in order to return to her underground home she must complete a trio of life-threatening tasks, Ofelia sets out to reclaim her kingdom and return to her grieving father as Vidal's housekeeper Mercedes (played by Maribel Verd) and doctor (played by Alex Angulo) plot secretly on the surface to keep the revolution alive. Pan's Labyrinth was nominated for 6 Academy Awards including Best Art Direction, Best Original Score, Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Makeup and Best Foreign Language Film while winning 3 ( Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography and Best Makeup) and it has a rating of 95% on rottentomatoes.com.




8. (28) The Fly (1986)


        This is an absolutely terrifying film with spectacular makeup and performances from both Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davs. Seth Brundle (played by Jeff Goldblum), is a self-involved research scientist, and Veronica Quaife (played by Geena Davis), is a science-magazine reporter. Inviting Veronica to his lab, Seth prepares to demonstrate his "telepod," which can theoretically transfer matter through space. As they grow closer over the next few weeks, she inadvertently goads Seth into experimenting with human beings rather than inanimate objects. Seth himself enters the telepod, preparing to transmit himself through the ether -- but he doesn't know that he is sharing the telepod with a tiny housefly. The Fly was nominated for and won the Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling and it has a rating of 91% on rottentomatoes.com.




7. (27) Shaun of the Dead


        This is just an absolutely hilarious film and the best Simon Pegg/Edgar Wright film. It's often said that the true character of a man is only revealed in times of dire crisis, and for likable, lovelorn loser Shaun (played by Simon Pegg), that moment of reckoning came when the dead rose from their slumber to feast on the flesh of the living. A hapless electronics store employee who spends most of his spare time downing pints at the local pub with his roommate, Ed (played by Nick Frost), Shaun's life seems to fall apart when he is dumped by his girlfriend, Liz (played by Kate Ashfield), and his obnoxious stepfather, Philip (played by Bill Nighy), shows up to berate him for not being more attentive to his caring mother Barbara (played by Penelope Wilton) -- especially since he forgot to send flowers for her birthday. Things take a turn for the worse when the dead return to stake their claim on the Earth, and though the chaos that follows threatens to swallow up all of England, it's up to Shaun to keep his cool and prove himself once and for all by successfully rescuing Liz and his mother. With his trusty roommate by his side, nothing -- not even the living dead -- can stand between Shaun and the two most important women in his life. Shaun of the Dead has a rating of 92% on rottentomatoes.com.




6. (26) 28 Days Later


        This is one of the best filmed, directed and written horror film of all-time. After breaking into a primate research facility, a group of animal rights activists discover caged chimps chained up before banks of screens displaying horrifying, violent images. Ignoring the warnings of the terrified researcher who maintains that the chimps are infected, they begin to free the animals and are immediately subjected to a bloody attack from the enraged creatures. Twenty-eight days later, Cycle courier Jim (played by Cillian Murphy) awakes from a coma in the deserted intensive care unit of a London hospital. He wanders out into a church where he finds dead bodies piled in heaps on the chapel floor. A sudden explosion from a makeshift bomb heralds the arrival of fellow "survivors" Selina (played by Naomie Harris) and Mark (played by Noah Huntley). They take Jim to safety and explain to him that this infection is transmitted by blood and overwhelms the infected victim with a murderous rage within seconds. Britain has been overrun, and they have no way of knowing if it has spread worldwide. Their only hope of survival may lie in the hands of a Manchester group of soldiers, as they claim to have the "answer" to infection and invite any survivors to join them at their blockade. Faced with no practical alternative, the group sets out northwards, unaware that the worst is yet to come. 28 Days Later has a rating of 87% on rottentomatoes.com.




5. (25) The Babadook 


        The is a frightening film and one of the best horror films of of this century. Six years after the violent death of her husband, Amelia (played by Essie Davis) is at a loss. She struggles to discipline her 'out of control' 6 year-old, Samuel (played by Noah Wiseman), a son she finds impossible to love. Samuel's dreams are plagued by a monster he believes is coming to kill them both. When a disturbing storybook called 'The Babadook' turns up at their house, Samuel is convinced that the Babadook is the creature he's been dreaming about. His hallucinations spiral out of control, he becomes more unpredictable and violent. Amelia, genuinely frightened by her son's behaviour, is forced to medicate him. But when Amelia begins to see glimpses of a sinister presence all around her, it slowly dawns on her that the thing Samuel has been warning her about may be real. The Babadook has a rating of 98% on rottentomatoes.com.




4. (24) Scream 2


        This film does everything that a horror sequel should do and that's build upon what came before it and make the film stand-out and be different than the first film. Two years after the first series of murders, a new psychopath dons the Ghostface costume and a new string of killings begins. Scream 2 has a rating of 81% on rottentomatoes.com.




3. (23) A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)


        This is the film that took the horror genre to a whole other level and made the genre more mainstream. A group of teenagers are terrorized by "Freddy Krueger" (played by Robert Englund) , an evil being from another world who gets to his victims by entering their dreams and killing them with gloves that have knife blades attached to each finger. A Nightmare on Elm Street has a rating of 94% on rottentomatoes.com.




2. (22) It Follows


        This is a fascinating film and it is in the top 5 best horror films of the century. After a strange sexual encounter, a teenager (played by Maika Monroe) finds herself haunted by nightmarish visions and the inescapable sense that something is after her. It Follows has a rating of 96% on rottentomatoes.com.




1. (21) Saw II


        This like Scream 2 does a great job of making a great horror sequle, but it isn't quite as good as the first film. Eric Matthews (played by Donnie Wahlberg) is a police detective who, after discovering the aftermath of a particularly gruesome murder, is convinced that Jigsaw (played by Tobin Bell) is up to his ugly tricks again. Matthews' hunch turns out to be correct, but the master criminal proves to be disconcertingly easy to capture. As it happens, Jigsaw is eager to be put behind bars in order to throw the authorities off his trail as he once again punishes people who in his eyes have transgressed the boundaries of acceptable moral behavior. But instead of trapping two people in a filthy dungeon where they must engage in a terrible contest in order to win their freedom, eight people have been locked away by Jigsaw, and they must torture their bodies and minds to achieve the terrible justice Jigsaw seeks. Saw II has a rating of 36% on rottentomatoes.com.


        So ladies and gentlemen what do you think of my list and what are some of you favorite horror films? Let me know in the comments section below and let your voice be heard.

                                                                                                                           Jonah Sparks

My Review of Suffragette

        So I recently watched Suffragette and I'm here to bring you my review. So without further ado.....

        The stirring story centers on Maud (played by Carey Mulligan), a working wife and mother whose life is forever changed when she is secretly recruited to join the U.K.'s growing suffragette movement. Galvanized by the outlaw fugitive Emmeline Pankhurst (played by Meryl Streep), Maud becomes an activist for the cause alongside women from all walks of life. When increasingly aggressive police action forces Maud and her dedicated fellow suffragettes underground, they engage in a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse with the authorities, who are shocked as the women's civil disobedience escalates and sparks debate across the nation. 

        This is a really tremendous film. One of the big problems in today's society is the fact that a lot of women are treated the same way as men and in Hollywood the big problem is women not getting paid as much as men do whether it be directing, acting, writing etc. and this film hits the problem on the head. This is really a performance driven film and that's evident by the performances given by Carey Muliigan, Helena Bonham Carter and Meryl Streep (especially Streep). Both Mulligan and Streep give Oscar worthy performances and they have a good shot to get nominated and possibly win in a year with very few strong female performances. The film has a great message about how we as a society can improve in one aspect and there are a lot of powerful and emotional moments that bring every emotion out of you. Some parts do a get a little over-dramatic and it doesn't always present the message clear enough throughout the film and only relying one a few big moments to really drive home the point of the film. Overall this is a magnificent film with spectacular performances and it presents a wonderful message for the time we are living in, but it just doesn't drive the point home hard enough for you to get up and do something about the problem. I give Suffragette an 8.5 out of 10.

        So ladies and gentlemen what did you think of Suffragette, what would you rate it and what did you think of my review? Let me know in the comments section below and let your voice be heard.

                                                                                                                           Jonah Sparks

My Review of Rock the Kasbah

        So I recently watched Rock the Kasbah and I'm here to bring you my review. So without further ado...







        Richie Lanz (played by Bill Murray), dumped and stranded in war-torn Kabul by his last remaining client (played by Zooey Deschanel), discovers Salima Khan (played by Leem Lubany), a Pashtun teenager with a beautiful voice and the courageous dream of becoming the first woman to compete on national television in Afghanistan's version of "American Idol." Richie partners with a savvy hooker (played by Kate Hudson), a pair of hard-partying war profiteers (played by Danny McBride and Scott Caan) and a hair-trigger mercenary (Bruce Willis) and, braving dangerous cultural prejudices, manages his new protégée into becoming the "Afghan Star."

     

        This is an absolutely terrible film. Bill Murray is one of the greatest comedic actors of all-time and generally anything he is in is funny, but this film isn't. Murray himself is really funny, but the everyone around him isn't and just makes for a dull a boring movie. Its also one of those films where if you make a joke and laugh, but no else around you laughs. The plot of the film seems interesting, but it's just too simple and bland. A lot of the jokes in the film are just forced and unoriginal. There are a few moments that are well-rounded and there are some jokes that are gut-busting, but they are just too few and far between. Overall this is a film that tries way too hard to be funny and an embarrassing effort from everyone in the film. I give Rock the Kasbah a 1 out of 10

        So ladies and gentlemen what did you think of Rock the Kasbah, what would you rate it and what did you think of my review? Let me know in the comments section below and let your voice be heard.

                                                                                                                           Jonah Sparks

10-26-15/10-27-15 Movie News

        Hello ladies and gentlemen, Since I didn't get to bring you news from yesterday I figured that I would combine today's and yesterday's news (3 stories from each day). So here is some movie news with some of my thoughts and opinions (which will be in BOLD print). So without further ado...

(NOTE: All of these stories come from comingsoon.net)


(10/26/15)

        Ever since Disney bought Lucasfilm, the primary focus has been on Star Wars, and rightfully so, but there’s another fan-beloved franchise waiting in the wings for a turn at bat, Indiana Jones. Rumors have popped up online about the possibility of another actor picking up the fedora and whip, with a report earlier this year pointing at Chris Pratt as the potential successor to Harrison Ford, but nothing has ever been officially said out loud about the fate of the world’s favorite archaeologist. Now, speaking with Total Film (via Den of Geek), producer Frank Marshall says they’re not considering recasting the part at all for the fifth Indiana Jones movie. “There are a lot of rumours,” Marshall said. “We haven’t even sat down to talk about Indy yet… at some point we’ll sit down. But there’s a bunch of people who could probably take the baton… We’re not doing the Bond thing where we’re going to call somebody else Indiana Jones… we have to figure this out.” Ironically, James Bond was a primary influence on the creation of the Indiana Jones franchise from the start, which eventually lead to the casting of Sean Connery as Henry Jones, Sr. Steven Spielberg recently admitted himself that he will “probably” do a fifth Indiana Jones film, though no further details have been offered up about the planned adventure from the director. A fifth Indiana Jones movie has been talked about since the most recent big screen adventure, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, went on to gross more than $786 million worldwide when it was released in 2008. Following the sale of Lucasfilm to Walt Disney Pictures and Lucas’ own subsequent retirement, however, hints regarding plans for the future of the franchise have been few and far between. Ford, however, has suggested that he’s quite eager to reprise the role himself, despite turning 73 this year.

        I don't buy these comments for one second. Look I understand that you want to do another Indiana Jones film with Harrison Ford and I'm all for it, but you have to recast at some point. Harrison Ford isn't getting any younger and he won't be around long enough to continue the franchise for 40+ years. If a new Indiana Jones film comes out in 2020, Ford would be 78 and he can't do this for forever. I think whenever we get an announcement of an Indian Jones 5, then we will here that both Harrison Ford and the new Indiana Jones will be announced I think this film could happen by 2018. 



        Returning to the same stage where he brought his acerbic sense of humor to Hollywood, Ricky Gervais has been named host of the “73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards,” set for Jan. 10, 2016 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. The three-hour ceremony serves as the official kick-off to awards season and will be aired live coast to coast from 8-11 p.m. ET on NBC. “We’re excited to have Ricky Gervais back to host the most enjoyable awards show of the season in his own inimitable way,” said NBC Entertainment Chairman Robert Greenblatt. ”Disarming and surprising, Ricky is ready to honor — and send up — the best work of the year in film and television. Fasten your seats belts.” “Ricky Gervais left us with a lasting impression and we are thrilled to have him back in our show as we honor the best in film and television,” said Lorenzo Soria, President of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. “His off-the-cuff wit and quirky charm will surely have the room and audiences around the world at the edge of their seats.” “What will he say? What will he do? We can’t wait to find out, and we are so happy that he’s back!,” said Barry Adelman, EVP, Television for dick clark productions and executive producer of the “73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards.” Gervais hosted the Globes for three consecutive years (2010-12) when the network registered ratings gains from the previous two telecasts. Over that 2010-12 span, the Golden Globes averaged a 5.2 rating in the 18-49 demo and 17 million viewers overall, which was a 6% increase from the 2009 telecast in the demo and 14% or 2.1 million persons in total viewers (17.0 million vs. 14.9 million). A winner of seven BAFTA Awards, three Golden Globes and two Emmys, Gervais remains one of the most talented and respected comedian-actors working today.

        He created and currently stars in the Netflix series “Derek,” for which he has been Emmy nominated for two consecutive years. Gervais first introduced himself to global audiences with his 2001 British TV hit “The Office,” in which he starred as his tragic creation, David Brent. “The Office” would soon become a wildly successful global format, including an Emmy-winning nine-season run on NBC. Gervais is about to continue “The Office” saga by directing his fourth Hollywood movie, David Brent: Life on the Road. Following “The Office,” Gervais starred and created a string of HBO projects: “Extras,” “Life’s Too Short” and “The Ricky Gervais Show,” which was based on his record-breaking podcast that has been downloaded more than 500 million times. He has also guest-starred on many popular TV series, including “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Louie,” “Sesame Street,” “The Simpsons” and “Family Guy.” On the film side, Gervais has co-starred in several features, including the “Night at the Museum” franchise, Muppets Most Wanted,Ghost Town and The Invention of Lying, and is currently putting final touches to Special Correspondents, which he wrote and co-directed. As a stand-up comedian, Gervais has sold over 2 million tickets in arenas around the world. He is also the author of the popular children’s book series “Flanimals.” Nominations for the Golden Globes will be announced Thursday, Dec. 10. Winners in 25 categories — 14 in film and 11 in television — are voted on by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Produced by dick clark productions in association with the HFPA, the Golden Globe Awards are viewed in more than 210 countries worldwide and are one of the few awards ceremonies to include both motion picture and television achievements. Lorenzo Soria is President of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Allen Shapiro, CEO of dick clark productions, Mike Mahan, President of dick clark productions and Barry Adelman, Executive VP of Television at dick clark productions, will serve as executive producers.

        This is a fantastic idea. I'm a fan of Ricky Gervais and when he first hosted the awards show back in 2010 I thought he was a breath of fresh air and the next year he kind of went off the rails and was pretty offensive, but that's the humor you get when you bring him on. I think he's a great choice to replace the dynamic duo of Tina Fey and Amy Pohler (who I think will host the Oscars in 2017). Personally I hate the Golden Globe awards because they nominate a lot of stupid films alongside the great films of the year. They are ran by a bunch of people who only see films that come out internationally and they happen to live in LA. The only reason why I've watched the awards is because of who has hosted over the past 5 years and I'm excited to see how he does the third time around. 



        Common, who recently took home an Academy Award for his work as a musician on Ava DuVernay‘s Selma, has today joined the cast of the highly-anticipated John Wick 2. The Hollywood Reporter has the news, bringing word that Common will play the sequel’s main villain, the head of security for a female crime lord. “In the follow up to last year’s adrenaline-fueled revenge and redemption thriller,” reads the sequel’s temporarily minimal plot synopsis, “legendary hit man John Wick is back.” John Wick 2 filming begins this week with Keanu Reeves reprising the title and director Chad Stahelski returning to helm. Stahleski directed the first John Wick alongside David Leitch but, per the trade, Stahleski will helm John Wick 2 solo while Leitch prepares to direct the upcoming 1980s spy thriller, The Coldest City. John Wick screenwriter Derek Kolstad is also returning for the sequel, which will be released through Lionsgate’s Summit Entertainment and will be produced by Thunder Road’s Basil Iwanyk. Iwanyk also produced the first film. Produced on a modest $20 million budget, John Wick earned more than $78 million at the worldwide box office and also became a hit in the home video market. Jason Constantine and Eda Kowan at Lionsgate are overseeing John Wick 2 on behalf of Lionsgate.

        I think this is terrific casting. Common has really grown as an actor and I think him  playing a villain is an amazing idea. The first film was a complete surprise and I came very close to putting it in my top 10 films of 2014. Common is a huge step from the last films villain (Micheal Nyqvist) and I'm really curious to see him step into a role we've never seen him in before. I'm curious as to what the motivation for John Wick to come back will be, but I'm excited and I hope it's just as good as the first film. 

(10/27/15)

        It was made official not long after the tremendous box office debut of Universal Pictures‘ Pitch Perfect 2 earlier this year, that a third film is on the way to arrive in 2017. Today, Variety reports that Elizabeth Banks is now officially set to return as the Pitch Perfect 3 director. She made her feature film directorial debut with Pitch Perfect 2, taking the reins from the original Pitch Perfect‘s Jason Moore. Anna Kendrick, Britanny Snow and Rebel Wilson have already been confirmed to headline the returning cast of Pitch Perfect 3 with other talent expected to be confirmed in the near future. Pitch Perfect 2 also stars Hailee Steinfeld, Anna Camp, Alexis Knapp, Adam DeVine, Katey Sagal, Ester Dean, Kelley Jakle and Hana Mae Lee. Kay Cannon, who scripted the first two franchise entries, is working on the script for the third film. An Emmy-nominated writer and actress with a heavy improv background, Cannon is also known for her work on NBC’s “30 Rock” and Fox’s “New Girl.” Pitch Perfect 3 will be produced by series fixtures Paul Brooks of Gold Circle Entertainment and Max Handelman & Elizabeth Banks of Brownstone Productions. It will arrive in theaters July 21, 2017. The only other film currently set to open on that release date is Luc Besson’s science fiction adventure Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, starring Dane DeHaan and Cara Delevingne.

        I think this is a horrible decision. Look I'm a huge fan of Elisabeth Banks and she is a very funny and talented actress, but she can't direct worth a squat. My biggest problem with Pitch Perfect 2 was the fact that her style just seemed a bit off and it just wasn't as funny either. Now granted that was her directorial debut so I can give her a pass, but I think the reigns need to go to someone else and let Banks go on and do another project or two to help get her feet wet and then bring her back, but I just don't think she is the right fit for Pitch Perfect 3. 



        According to Deadline, StudioCanal and producer David Heyman (“Harry Potter”) have managed to lure Paul King (Bunny and the Bull), director of last year’s surprise hit Paddington, back to the director’s chair for Paddington 2! King will also co-write the script with Simon Farnaby (“Yonderland”), who had an acting role in the first film as well as Bunny and the Bull and episodes of “The Mighty Boosh” that King directed.  From the beloved novels by Michael Bond, the first Paddington told the story of the comic misadventures of a young Peruvian bear (voiced by Ben Whishaw) who travels to the city in search of a home. Finding himself lost and alone, he begins to realize that city life is not all he had imagined – until he meets the kindly Brown family who read the label around his neck that says “Please look after this bear. Thank you,” and offer him a temporary haven. It looked as though his luck had changed until this rarest of bears caught the eye of a museum taxidermist named Millicent Clyde (Nicole Kidman). Besides Kidman and Whishaw, 2014’s Paddington also featured an all-star British cast, including Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Madeleine Harris, Samuel Joslin, Julie Walters, Jim Broadben, Peter Capaldi, Imelda Staunton and Michael Gambon. It grossed an impressive $260 million at the worldwide box office on a relatively modest $50 million budget. The Weinstein Company distributed it domestically to the tune of $76 million. As a producer known for quality control, Heyman will be allowing King the time he needs to develop the project properly, with no target release date yet assigned.

        This is great news to hear. Going into Paddington, I was a little nervous because the film looked dreadful and boy was I surprised as it turned into a great and heartfelt comedy that is currently in my top 10 favorite films of the year. The last film kind wrapped up nicely so I don't think another film needs to be made, but it did make a huge profit, so it's easy to see why it is getting a sequel. I like the fact that King is returning because it will help with the cohesiveness on set and make everyone a little bit more comfortable while filming. Hopefully the sequel can continue the momentum built with first film and I'm excited to see the film.



        The first fruit of Netflix‘s game-changing, four-picture deal with Adam Sandler is finished and we have the first trailer and poster for The Ridiculous 6. Check out the Ridiculous 6 trailer below. The cast includes Sandler’s Grown Ups 2 co-star Taylor Lautner, three-time Oscar nominee Nick Nolte, “The Voice” judge Blake Shelton and comedienne Whitney Cummings, along with supporting turns from Luke Wilson, Steve Zahn, Danny Trejo, Chris Parnell and Lavell Crawford. A list of the usual Happy Madison suspects is also on deck: Steve Buscemi, Rob Schneider, Dan Aykroyd, Will Forte, Nick Swardson, Terry Crews, Jon Lovitz and Vanilla Ice. Sandler will play man who grew up as an orphan among an Indian tribe. Lautner, Schneider, Wilson and Crews are poised to play his half-brothers, while the final half-brother has yet to be cast. Nolte will play Sandler’s long-lost father; Parnell a bank manager; Lovitz a wealthy industrialist and Cummings his flirtatious wife. Forte and Trejo will play the leaders of rival gangs, while Buscemi will play a local jack-of-all-trades. Shelton is in line to play Wyatt Earp, while Vanilla Ice has been tipped to play Mark Twain. Written by Tim Herlihy and Adam Sandler, The Ridiculous 6 is directed by Sandler regular Frank Coraci (Blended, Click, The Waterboy, The Wedding Singer) and will be available on Netflix’s streaming service on December 11. The comedy is likely a parody of John Sturges’ iconic 1960 western The Magnificent Seven, which is currently getting a remake starring Denzel Washington and Chris Pratt. Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight, which is being released shortly after The Ridiculous 6, also takes its title from the Sturges film.



        This was a terrible trailer. As a few of you know, I've not been the biggest fan of Adam Sandler as of late and rightfully so as he has made some of the worst films of all-time in just the past 5 years and this looks like another one he add to his resume. There was nothing funny in the trailer other than seeing Taylor Lautner being a complete idiot and his big scene of jumping off the building made chuckle quite a bit, but nothing else did. I want Adam Sandler to be great again, but he isn't going to do it by making terrible films like this one.

        So there you have it ladies and gentlemen, which of these stories peaked your interest or was there another story that interested you? Let me know in the comments section below and let your voice be heard.

                                                                                                                                        Jonah Sparks

My Review of Jem and the Holograms

        So I recently watched Jem and the Holograms and I'm here to bring you my review. So without further ado...







        As a small-town girl named Jem (played by Aubrey Peeples) catapults from underground video sensation to global superstar, she and her three sisters begin a journey of discovering that some talents are too special to keep hidden.

       

        This is an absolutely dreadful pile of crap film. Now the target audience for the film is young girls and their mothers who grew up with the show (I am neither so I can't relate to either of those). This seemed like a really stupid idea from the start because I personally had never even heard of the show so I was going in not knowing anything. After doing some background checking and then watching this film, I can firmly say that this film is nothing like the show whatsoever. The filmmakers dumbed it down to the point where you can't follow the film. It also copies the entire plot of Josie and the Pussycats (released back in 2001) and that's just lazy filmmaking at its finest. The performances are just terrible and none of the characters are believable and the way they get to their fame it just so unrealistic that it's laughable. Easy to laugh in the film because it is so ridiculous and silly and when it tries to get emotional/dramatic it just falters. The film also feels like a music video and that's not surprising considering director Jon M. Chu used to direct music videos and he also directed two of the Justin Bieber concert movies and two of the Step-Up films so a bad result for this film should've been expected. Overall this is a pathetic attempt at a film and one that I was hoping would fail. I give Jem and the Holograms a 0 out of 10.

        So ladies and gentlemen what did you think of Jem and the Holograms, what would you rate it and what did you think of my review? Let me know in the comments section below and let your voice be heard.

                                                                                                                           Jonah Sparks

Weekend Box Office Review 10-23-15 to 10-25-15/ Weekend Preview

        Here are the weekend domestic box office results for the weekend of 10-23-15 to 10-25-15 as well as my 5 key takeaways, as well as my predictions for the top 5 films at the box office this weekend. So without further ado...

Box Office Totals courtesy of boxofficemojo.com

TW	LW	Film	Studio	Weekend	# of Theaters	Total Domestic Gross	Weeks
1	2	The Martian	20th Century Fox	$15,900,000	3,504	$166,355,148	4
2	1	Goosebumps	Sony Pictures	$15,500,000	3,501	$43,712,142	2
3	3	Bridge of Spies	Walt Disney Pictures	$11,365,000	2,811	$32,581,197	2
4	-	The Last Witch Hunter	Lionsgate	$10,825,000	3,082	$10,825,000	1
5	5	Hotel Transylvania 2	Sony Pictures	$9,000,000	3,154	$148,292,541	5
6	-	Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension	Paramount Pictures	$8,200,000	1,656	$8,200,000	1
7	11	Steve Jobs	Universal Pictures	$7,270,000	2,493	$9,982,808	3
8	4	Crimson Peak	Universal Pictures	$5,560,000	2,991	$22,450,775	2
9	7	The Intern	Warner Bros.	$3,855,000	2,061	$64,702,882	5
10	8	Sicario	Lionsgate	$2,950,000	1,448	$39,385,547	6

1. The Martian took back the number one spot despite being out for 4 weeks

2. The highest grossing new release was The Last Witch Hunter and it only came in 4th place

3. Rock the Kasbah and Jem and the Holograms were new releases and they didn't make the top 10.

4. The biggest loser of the weekend was Crimson Peak as it made 57,7% less than it did last week and the biggest winner of the weekend was Steve Jobs as it made 380.6% more than it did last weekend.

5. I went 0 for 5 on my predictions 

Predictions

1. Goosebumps $12 Million

2. The Martian $11 Million
3. Bridge of Spies $9 Million
4. Burnt $8 Million

5. Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension $5 Million

        So ladies and gentlemen what do you think of this weekend's box office totals and what are some of your takeaways? Let me know in the comments section below and let your voice be heard.

                                                                                                                           Jonah Sparks

Weekend Movie News 10-23-15 to 10-25-15

        Hello ladies and gentlemen, here is some movie news with some of my thoughts and opinions (which will be in BOLD print). So without further ado...


(NOTE: All of these stories come from comingsoon.net)


        Director Zack Snyder and Ben Affleck were quoted earlier this week about Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and now Snyder has talked more to 411Mania about the new Batman v Superman trailer and the Batmobile in the anticipated movie. Asked whether we’ll get a new Batman v Superman trailer soon, Snyder responded: “I think we got to have a trailer soon.” Even though they are not Warner Bros. releases, the most likely candidates to feature the trailer in theaters would have to be SPECTRE (Nov. 6), The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 (Nov. 20), or Star Wars: The Force Awakens. When do you think we’ll see the new Batman v Superman trailer? Snyder was asked what he’d like to have people take away from the film. “I want to — we’re working toward Justice League, and I really want to create the — part of the thing I really want to create is the possibility of a world where they could exist together,” he said. “I think up to this point, it’s been difficult to suggest a world where Batman and Superman and Wonder Woman and others could exist in the same universe. That was one of the things I really wanted to try and get at. Not to mention, the amazing opportunity to bring those characters and have those characters tell an important story, their own story, within the confines of a film.” Fearing the actions of a god-like Super Hero left unchecked, Gotham City’s own formidable, forceful vigilante takes on Metropolis’s most revered, modern-day savior, while the world wrestles with what sort of hero it really needs. And with Batman and Superman at war with one another, a new threat quickly arises, putting mankind in greater danger than it’s ever known before. Directed by Zack Snyder and written by Chris Terrio from a screenplay by David S. Goyer, Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice stars Henry Cavill in the role of Clark Kent/Superman and Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne/Batman. The film also stars Gal Gadot as Diana Prince/Wonder Woman, with Amy Adams, Laurence Fishburne and Diane Lane returning from Man of Steel, joined by Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor, Jeremy Irons as Alfred, and Holly Hunter in a role newly created for the film. Jason Momoa will also be making an appearance as Aquaman. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is set to open worldwide on March 25, 2016.

        I really like these comments. I believe Zack Snyder when he says that a new trailer is coming soon. If you look at the timeline of the trailers so far they have waited 4 months before releasing a new one (April and July) so November is the obvious choice to release the trailer and there are plenty of big movies that the trailer can be shown in front of. I'm anxious to see what they put in the trailer because if you ask me, we don't need another trailer, but I just hope the next one doesn't give too much away for the film. I've been dreaming for this film to happen for a long time and knowing that the film is coming in March just makes me even more excited. 



        A fourth Power Ranger has today joined the cast of Lionsgate‘s upcoming feature film. RJ Cyler — best known for playing the title role of Earl in director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon’s recent dramedy Me and Earl and the Dying Girl – will play the Blue Ranger. RJ Cyler joins a cast that also includes Naomi Scott (The Martian, “Terra Nova”) as the Pink Ranger, Dacre Montgomery as the Red Ranger and Ludi Lin as the Black Ranger. RJ Cyler’s casting was confirmed though the film’s official Instagram page. Screenwriters Zack Stentz and Ashley Miller (X-Men: First Class, Thor) wrote the screenplay for Power Rangers, which is described as a modern reinvention of the long-running franchise. In it, a group of ordinary high school kids find themselves infused with extraterrestrial powers and must harness those powers as a team to save the world. Original creator Haim Saban is acting as producer along with Brian Casentini and Allison Shearmur. Saban’s “Power Rangers” franchise is the brainchild of Haim Saban, creator and producer of the original “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” hit series that launched in 1993. Following its introduction, “Power Rangers” quickly became the most-watched children’s television program in the United States and remains one of the top-rated and longest running boys live-action series in television history. The series follows the adventures of a group of ordinary teens who “morph” into superheroes and save the world from evil. It is seen in more than 150 markets around the world, translated into numerous languages and is a mainstay in the most prominent international children’s programming blocks. 20th Century Fox previously released two feature films, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie in 1995 and Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie in 1997. Set to be directed by Project Almanac‘s Dean Israelite, Power Rangers will debut in theaters on January 13, 2017.

        This is outstanding casting. The studio continues to cast unknown talent and this time around they've cast a really talented actor, RJ Cyler was amazing in Me and Earl and the Dying Girl as Earl and this is another movie for him to spread his wings and show how good he is. With him being African-American is does go against who the Blue Ranger was in the series (David Yost is Caucasian and he played Billy in the original series), but as I said with the casting of Ludi Lin as Zack, as long as they don't change the core aspects of the character I am perfectly fine with changing the race of a character. So far this film is made up of some pretty great talent and I'm excited to see them step into the shoes of the Power Rangers.



        Following the Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios deal, there has been countless chatter about the influence of the new Spider-Man, from director Jon Watts talking about the John Hughes influence to rumors of potential villains for the solo film. Speaking with Hey U Guys, the webslinger himself, Tom Holland, was asked if the previous Spider-Man films for the wall crawler would have any influence on his performance, to which he said: “I think it’s impossible not to, they were so great and such real and rich performances and there’s obviously factors I love and I will continue to try and recreate, but I think the most important thing at the moment is making a film which is obviously of the same character but make it a new and exciting movie.” In the interview, Holland also talked about the injury he suffered while filming Captain America: Civil War: “It was my own mistake. I basically fell over and bashed my face in front of about two hundred crew members, so not my most heroic moment! It was luckily just before my last shot; they were like, ‘Roll cameras!’, I was getting into position, everything went wrong, and they still did the take anyway. It looks great and they’ll probably just CGI out all the blood, and yeah, I was very lucky.” Holland will be making his cinematic debut as Spider-Man in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War. He’ll be joined by Marisa Tomei as Aunt May. Set to be directed by Jon Watts, the solo Spider-Man movie will be written by Vacation writers and directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein. The film will swing into theaters on July 28, 2017.

        I really like these comments. While not all of the previous Spider-Man films have been great, there are still some redeemable qualities in each film and very easy for someone to take inspiration from. In my opinion Tobey Maguire is the better Peter Parker and Andrew Garfield is the better Spider-Man so if Tom Holland can take the best qualities of those two, then this will be the best Spider-Man we've ever seen. I'm anxious to see how Holland does in the role and we won't have to wait long since Captain America: Civil war comes out in 7 months.



        While excitement is still slightly muted for next year’s Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, which will be J.K. Rowling’s return to cinemas for the first time since the conclusion of the multi-billion dollar “Harry Potter” saga in 2011, one expects that people will get more excited about it once footage starts emerging. Directed by David Yates, who directed the last four “Harry Potter” movies, the spin-off prequel (of sorts) has been in production since August and still has a few more months of filming to go, but Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne is playing the film’s lead Newt Scamander, a “magizoologist” who travels to New York to look for magical creatures. Earlier today, ComingSoon.net spoke to Redmayne for his upcoming film The Danish Girl, in which he plays Danish painter Einar Wegener who became the first person to undergo gender confirmation surgery as the inspirational Lili Elbe, and he spoke to us briefly about coming Fantastic Beasts. Fantastic BeastsAs far as doing research, Redmayne was allowed an audience with Britain’s literary queen. “When I was prepping, I met J.K. Rowling and what’s so amazing is that her imagination is so full and thorough–it’s so encyclopedic of her world–we had an hour together and I sort of asked her about 800 questions so that was a lot of my wonderful research.” “He’s wonderful,” Redmayne said glowingly about director David Yates, who directed the second half of the “Harry Potter” films. “Even though there’s a scale to these films that could be intimidating, he has such a kindness but an absolutely brilliant that it feels very intimate, and he’s got such a wonderful, eclectic cast. Hopefully, it will be good.” Redmayne took a break from the movie to do the junket for The Danish Girl in London, but he’s back to Liverpool this week to presumably do some location shooting.

        I really like these comments. I love it when an actor has a passion for a role and they are a little nervous to take on a character. I thought Eddie Redmayne was the perfect choice for the character of Newt Scamander and it will only help build his career. As a fan of the Harry Potter of franchise I'm really curious to see this film becasue it's based on an author of book the students of Hogwarts use so it's an interesting concept for a film that I think will be really successful. 



        There’s some movement today in New Port City as The Hollywood Reporter brings word that DreamWorks Pictures has set Jonathan Herman to script the upcoming Ghost in the Shell movie. Announced earlier this year, the Ghost in the Shell movie is set to be directed by Snow White and the Huntsman‘s Rupert Sanders. The new Ghost in the Shell movie will offer a live-action adaptation of Masamune Shirow’s iconic cyberpunk manga series about the members of a covert ops unit that take on technology-related crime. Ghost in the Shell was famously adapted into an animated feature in 1995. Produced by Avi Arad, Ari Arad and Steven Paul, the Ghost in the Shell movie also has the backing of Steven Spielberg. The rights to Shirow’s original manga were picked up several years ago with plans to use the latest 3D technology to film it. In Japan, the huge success of the original Ghost in the Shell comics have led to a number of anime film adaptations, a TV series and a series of video games. To date, Straight Outta Compton is Jonathan Herman’s sole big-screen credit. He has been working on a number of major upcoming films, however, including a new take on Scarface and a remake of Alfred Hitchcock’s classic ornithophobic nightmare, The Birds. He’ll take over a Ghost in the Shell movie script previously drafted by Jamie Moss and William Wheeler. Look for the Ghost in the Shell movie to hit the big screen March 31, 2017.

        This is a great choice for a screenwriter. He wrote an excellent script for Straight Outta Compton and in any other year it would be in contention for a Best Original Screenplay Oscar and that was his first screenplay ever written. I think he can bring a really interesting twist to Ghost in the Shell and I'm anxious to see how it turns out. I'm looking forward to seeing a live-action adaptation of the anime and I'm excited to see Scarlett Johansson in the lead role.

        So there you have it ladies and gentlemen, which of these stories peaked your interest or was there another story that interested you? Let me know in the comments section below and let your voice be heard.

                                                                                                                                        Jonah Sparks