The first episode of Star Trek aired on NBC on September 8th, 1966 – and who could have guessed at the time that the show would spawn a franchise that would in turn go on to be one of the world’s most popular science fiction universes!
I can still remember watching episodes of Star Trek and The Next Generation with my family when I was growing up. There were many nights when I was younger that we’d sit and watch an episode together after dinner. Honestly, there are so many things I love about Star Trek – the portrayal of what could be our own future society (I wish), the characters, the exploration, the endless possibilities that space travel could bring about – I could go on and on about my views of Star Trek from an anthropological perspective, too! Of all the Star Trek creations out there, First Contact and The Wrath of Khan are two of my all time favorite films (and the newest movie is right up there, too! It’s brilliant!).
https://youtu.be/Z8rOUVc2sCc
I honestly wish I had gotten to experience The Wrath of Khan in theaters like I did with First Contact!
https://youtu.be/MJZbCNexctc
In celebration of this occasion, the Science Channel is working with Gene Roddenberry’s only son, Rod Roddenberry, to produce the documentary, Trek Nation, set to air on Wednesday, November 30:
“The film shadows Gene Roddenberry’s son, Rod, as he explores his family legacy and the crusade his father’s passion and curiosity for exploration. Through interviews with his most devoted fans, including George Lucas and J.J. Abrams, Trek Nation follows a son searching for the wisdom of his father. Trek Nation demonstrates that Roddenberry’s work has not only inspired legions of fans across the globe, but also generated a movement which has influenced entertainment, politics, space travel, social morality and much more. Trek Nation profiles how the Star Trek franchise helped foster a timeless understanding of the human condition and captured man’s constant search for a better world.”
For more information about the documentary, you can visit the Science Channel’s Facebook page or Twitter: @ScienceChannel and @Iamtreknation
What’s your favorite part of the Star Trek universe?
How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Changes to Star Wars
From the very beginning of Star Wars, changes have been a way of life. Even before The Empire Strikes Back came out, things were added and changed in the original theatrical version of A New Hope. In fact, it wasn’t until then that the words “Episode IV” even appeared in the opening crawl. Audio was altered and things were changed slightly to make the filmmakers happier and to standardize the film with its coming sequel.
George Lucas jumped into hyperspace with the changes with the 1997 release of the Special Editions, adding scenes, altering special effects and sounds, and changing some fan favorite scenes that caused some modest outcry.
Sure, no one likes it that Greedo fires first and the Jedi Rocks sequence in Return of the Jedi is a little silly, but at the end of the day we all either embraced or ignored it and took to heart the mythology of Star Wars in whatever way it meant most to us. Other changes were arguably better in my opinion. I prefer the new ending of Return of the Jedi, Hayden Christensen’s ghost included. And the scene with Biggs added to A New Hope makes the Death Star trench run twice as heart wrenching and thrilling.
When more changes to the films were announced for the upcoming Blu-ray release, I was largely ambivalent. One change, however, saddened and disappointed me to no end. I wrote about it at length here, but long story short, unnecessary dialogue to one of the most emotionally impacting moments in the entire Star Wars saga. As Darth Vader watches his son pleading for his help, he now shouts “Noooooo!” as he tosses the Emperor into the reactor shaft. Maybe it seems minor, but the moment was flawless as it was and didn’t need the help.
I understand that it’s meant to tie back into the much-maligned (though liked by me) “Nooooo!” in Revenge of the Sith. I get it. There’s a reason behind it, though I still think it’s the wrong choice.
But it doesn’t matter.
I was at Dragon*Con over the weekend and attended a panel with Gary Kurtz (the original producer on Star Wars) and Timothy Zahn (perhaps the most well-known and beloved of the Star Wars expanded universe novelists) where they talked about the mythology of Star Wars. As they spoke about the myths and themes about Star Wars, a realization sunk into my brain.
It doesn’t matter whether or not Darth Vader shouts “Noooooo!” or if Greedo shoots first or if there’s a disco number in the middle of Jabba’s palace.
Do any of those things change the fact that Luke Skywalker is an orphaned farm boy who heeds his call to adventure? Does it change any of the classic themes of the film and its mythological undertones?
No. It doesn’t change any of that.
Does Han Solo still have a change of heart and become a reluctant hero? Is Ben Kenobi (and later Yoda) still the wizened master who imparts his knowledge on the hero of the story? Do good and evil still clash, bringing the hero to his lowest point before he’s able to beat the demons within himself, save his friends, and win the day?
The answer to all of those questions is yes.
Sure, about 7.5% of the changes made to the films I don’t like. The rest tie all six films into one neat and complete saga.
Do any of the changes alter the message of the film? No. Not at all.
Do the changes alter how much I loved Star Wars from the beginning? Does it alter how I felt about them as a kid and the lessons I learned watching them as I grew up? Does it diminish the value of the lessons that you can talk to your kids about by watching the films with them? No. Not at all. That might be the most important thing of all. And that’s important to keep in mind.
I still want the original releases on Blu-ray, sure, but that’s not going to stop me from getting this set or any other release of the films. Last time I asked for the original theatrical releases on the latest format, I got them. They came out on DVD in 2006. But you know what? I still watch the Special Editions every time.
More than anything, I’m getting this new release for the special features, deleted scenes and documentaries. Here’s a taste of one that Lucasfilm was kind enough to let us premiere here:
There are three Blu-ray discs chock full of this kind of stuff. And whatever you feel about the changes doesn’t change the fact that you still get giddy as a school boy learning about how they made the Star Wars movies in the first place.
As a bonus, it includes a documentary about the making of Empire that I’ve literally been searching high and low for for twenty years.
That alone is worth the price of admission for me.
What about you?
INTERVIEW: Director Adam Wingard Talks ‘A Horrible Way to Die’
A Horrible Way to Die is in about Sarah (Amy Seimetz), a recovering alcoholic, trying to rebuild her life in a new town unaware that her ex-boyfriend Garrick (The House of the Devil’s AJ Bowen), a convicted serial killer, has escaped prison and is slowly making his way back to her. Its plot might not seem that unusual for a horror film but its presentation is less traditional.
When talking about the inspirations that shaped his film director Adam Wingard references the mumblecore movement. Its influence is evident in his haphazard visual style, the actors’ use of improvisation, the low budget sheen and the heavy use of Christmas lights. The presence of Seimetz (Tiny Furniture, The Off Hours) and Joe Swanberg (LOL, Nights and Weekends, Uncle Kent) doesn’t hurt either.
While mumblecore and horror might seem like an odd marriage A Horrible Way to Die was never intended to be a traditional horror film. From its use of extended takes, a technique Wingard settled upon while watching Lars von Trier’s Breaking the Waves, to its amiable psychopath, A Horrible Way to Die was meant to be something different. But even longtime collaborator Simon Barrett, who has written the majority of Wingard’s films, wasn’t interested in writing a screenplay about a serial killer. It wasn’t until Wingard pointed out the particulars of Ted Bundy’s life, his charming persona and multiple escapes, that Barrett agreed and the script came quickly after.
Using Bundy as a loose model Barrett has created a killer that is atypical in that he is personable and intelligent. A killer that suffers for the things he is compelled to do but continues to give in to his compulsions nonetheless. Giving a sense of humanity to a monster is risky but ultimately it makes for a much more interesting character.
The film’s narrative is told out of sequence, but Wingard insists it was never intended to feel random. The rough cinematography, which was all shot handheld by Wingard, the choppy editing and the ordering of the scenes, although slightly changed during the editing process when a scene was cut, was decided upon prior to shooting. This doesn’t make the film feel like it is comprised of found footage; it makes the audience a witness and at times a participant.
Despite its lofty goals A Horrible Way to Die isn’t always effective. The mumblecore elements are done well but the horror aspect is never as menacing as it should be. The film’s ending, which features a considerable twist, doesn’t have the impact that it should. This is partly because I never felt an attachment to any of the characters. Still, mumblecore fans should find plenty to feast upon. Horror fanatics will want to approach A Horrible Way to Die with fewer expectations.
If you were able to catch Sundance, SXSW, or any of the major film festivals you would have been given an opportunity to see Tucker and Dale Vs. Evil. I hope you jumped on that opportunity to watch the zany battle of Rednecks vs. Preppy frat boys unfold. The original artists for “The Walking Dead” Tony Moore has created this comic styled movie poster for the film. The imagery accurately reflects the premise of the movie. Two dudes try to help a missing young girl, get blamed for her abduction and end up battling preppies. Yup, it’s as fun as it sounds. A better written description of the film can be found in the press release below, as well as ways you can still see the film. If you haven’t seen this WATCH THE TRAILER. The poster itself, is awesome.
Synopsis:
TUCKER & DALE VS. EVIL is a hilariously gory, good-spirited horror comedy, doing for killer rednecks what Shaun of the Dead did for zombies. Tucker and Dale are two best friends on vacation at their dilapidated mountain house, who are mistaken for murderous backwoods hillbillies by a group of obnoxious, preppy college kids. When one of the students gets separated from her friends, the boys try to lend a hand, but as the misunderstanding grows, so does the body count. TUCKER AND DALE VS EVIL has been a hit on the festival circuit, debuting at Sundance, and winning the Midnight Audience Award at SXSW, the Jury Prize for First Feature at Fantasia, the Best Director award at Fantaspoa, and the Best Motion Picture Award at Sitges.
TUCKER & DALE VS. EVIL is available on Magnolia On-Demand and in select theaters starting September 30th
Find out how to purchase TUCKER & DALE VS. EVIL: http://www.magpictures.com/ondemand/
For materials, please visit: http://www.magnetreleasing.com/tuckeranddalevsevil
Become a Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/tuckeranddalevsevil
For further information please contact: Brandon Nichols / brandon.nichols@ginsburglibby.com & Clay Dollarhide / clay.dollarhide@ginsberglibby.com
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I happened to stumble across the trailer for Bunraku today and watched it three times before I felt like I could start picking it apart because there is SO MUCH going on. Admittedly, the trailer has me really excited to see the film. I’m hoping it’s as good as I want it to be! The film is coming to theaters nation-wide on September 30th. (It was first shown at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival.)
In Japan, the term Bunraku is the name of a very traditional puppet theater art in which three kinds of performers weave the story together for audiences. The Ningyōtsukai or Ningyōzukai (puppeteers), the Tayū (chanters), and the shamisen (traditional Japanese instrument) players. It’s a fascinating art form that shares many themes with another (more famous) traditional form of Japanese theater – Kabuki. (The story of the Forty-Seven Ronin is told frequently in both Bunraku and Kabuki forms.) Unlike Bunraku, however, Kabuki features a lot of deviations from theme and “script.” Prior to a performance in Bunraku, the performer will promise to follow the story perfectly (word by word).
In this instance, the film Bunraku is a re-imagined version of a 400 year old Bunraku play. The main character is “The Drifter,” who happens to be based upon the “Man with No Name” archetype. This ensemble cast is made up of Josh Hartnett, Demi Moore, Woody Harrelson, Ron Perlman, Kevin McKidd and Japanese Visual Kei sensation Gackt Camui. The cast is pretty amazing…but most people are probably thinking, “Who the hell is Gackt?” I know Gackt from his music career, and that he has starred in a couple Japanese films; but I had no idea that director Guy Moshe apparently went to Japan to personally ask Gackt to join the project (after seeing him in an NHK production). Here’s a bit of Gackt’s music if you’re curious.
My first impression of Bunraku, based on the trailer alone, is that this movie could be really fun. Director Guy Moshe is noted to be a huge fan of westerns and martial arts films – so I’m sure there was no shortage of inspiration to pull from for this project. Bunraku is said to have mixed CGI and traditional sets to illustrate the highly stylized art form that is Bunraku storytelling – a concept I find fascinating and I hope really immerses viewers.
What do you think? Will you be seeing Bunraku in theaters?
This week:Trigun: Badlands Rumble clips, some fun news about Dragon Quest in Japan, and Spice and Wolf comes to DVD/Blu-ray.
First up: Trigun: Badlands Rumble is coming to the U.S. on Blu-ray Tuesday, September 27th (after a very limited theater release during the summer), and Funimation is gearing up by sharing some clips from their youtube page.
The most wanted man in the galaxy returns in glorious HD for the first and only Trigun full length feature film. Gasback plays dirty, but he puts his faith in one high holy roller.
Clip # 1:
Yep. Just in case you weren’t aware – Vash loves donuts. He also tries to avoid violence at all costs. Both are important to keep in mind when watching Trigun.
Clip # 2:
Alright… “Your leg’s got a bad habit of kicking.”…really? Oh English dubbing… Good thing there are some awesome English voice actors to make up for lines of poorly translated / regionalized dialogue like that! Usually I just opt for watching with the original Japanese audio, but this film’s English track features the amazing Johnny Yong Bosch, Luci Christian, Colleen Clinkenbeard, and a few other voice actors that I really like. I think my biggest problem is with lines like the one just mentioned which aren’t translated all that effectively. (Admittedly, it’s often no fault of the translator – there are just some Japanese jokes that don’t turn out all that well in English).
Clip 3:
Clip 4:
Overall the film seems like a fun ride for any fans of the Trigun series. I didn’t catch this one in theaters in Japan but I heard good things from friends that saw it on the big screen. It had an extremely limited screening of only a day or two in select cities around the U.S. so chances are you’ll have to pick up the Blu-ray on the 27th to give it a watch.
Next up:Anime News Network shared a neat announcement that Family Mart (a convenience store chain) in Japan will be selling pork buns (nikuman) that look like the Slimes from the Dragon Quest series. As the post mentions, Slimes are iconic enemies in the games and have been featured in every version since the first one premiered in 1986.
Something about food with eyes isn’t all that appetizing to me…but I bet these things will sell like crazy!
Finally this week: Spice and Wolf just came out on DVD/Blu-ray combo pack. You can pick it up for list price USD $64.98 or $59.99 on Amazon.
The journey through the wild countryside continues for the merchant Lawrence and the untamed harvest goddess, Holo. The companions reap the bounty of an ever-strengthening bond, depending on street smarts and animal instincts to carry them along the last miles of their trip to Holo’s northern home. While the villages along their route offer many opportunities for profit, the road is marked by heretics and shady dealers looking to separate the travelers from their savings — and from each other. With the end of the journey in sight, Lawrence and Holo revel in the riches of the relationship they’ve built — but what truly awaits the simple peddler and the forgotten deity at the end of their winding path?
Red Faction: Origins bridges the gap between THQ’s videogames Red Faction: Guerilla and Red Faction: Armageeddon. It centers on Red Faction soldier Jake Mason (Brian J. Smith), son of war hero Alec Mason (Robert Patrick) who helped give the Martian Colonies their independence from the EDF (Earth Defense Force), and his discovery that his kidnapped sister, who has been missing for 12 years, is still alive and has become a member of a group known only as the “white soldiers.” The same group that killed his mother and kidnapped his sister in the first place. In order to save her he’ll need the help of his drunken and disgraced father and the support of the Marauders, Red Faction’s sworn enemies.
Having not played eitherof the Red Faction videogames I can’t comment on how well Origins fits in the story arc but I can say that the film’s plot feels a bit generic but considering its videogame roots its nowhere as hollow as it could be. Andrew Kreisberg’s (“Warehouse 13”) script is actually coherent, fairly intelligent and features a nice amount of character development. The cast is uniformly good with only a few flat moments. The special effects aren’t exactly cutting edge. The flying sequences are particularly troublesome but that’s to be expected from a made-for-Syfy film.
Bonus features include a very fluffy making-of featurette and an commentary with some of the actors, director Michael Nankin and Universal Cable’s director of development Tom Lieber that discusses changes from the original script, differences from the game and some of the off-screen antics.
It’s rare that I’d recommend a film that is based on a videogame but sci-fi fans will want to give Red Faction: Origins a look.
In any event, it will be fascinating to see Eddie Murphy being potentially funny again. I watch the Oscars every year and I’m sad they haven’t asked Jon Stewart back, he’s been the best host in recent memory. But I guess this is no more unexpected than James Franco and Anne Hathaway.
From the AP report:
Academy Awards producers Brett Ratner and Don Mischer say the actor and comedian will host the 84th annual Oscar ceremony.
Ratner called the 50-year-old entertainer “a comedic genius; one of the greatest and most influential live performers ever.” Mischer called Murphy “a truly groundbreaking performer” whose “quick wit and charisma will serve him very well as Oscar host.”
My next questions is why in the hell is Brett Ratner producing the Oscars? Will they be muted, have a terrible script, and have too many explosions and plot holes?
Norwegian Ninja is a Cold War epic from the point of view of a conspiracy theorist on amphetamines. If it was made in America it would star Chuck Norris. That’s not a joke. That’s the truth.
In 1984 Norwegian Labour Party politician Arne Treholt was convicted of high treason and espionage for passing classified material to the KGB and Iraqi Intelligence Service. Norwegian Ninja is his story. Sort of. Okay, not really. Norwegian Ninja is about Treholt, a real person, but its plot is fiction. Or at least it is presented as fiction. For all I know Treholt really ran a secret ninja group that saved Norway from outside cultural influences during the Cold War. The truth, whatever that really is, doesn’t matter. In the world of Norwegian Ninja Treholt is a hero in a B-movie world filled with the sort of special effects, acting and dialogue (via subtitles) that 8-year-old filmmakers drool over. Is this a good thing? I suppose that depends on if your tax money helped to fund this monstrosity of modern cinema (I say that in the most loving of ways).
The film is director/writer Thomas Cappelen Malling’s first film and while I initially was tempted to say it will most likely be his last Malling has already signed on to direct a segment in the upcoming horror anthology The ABCs of Death. It’s not that he comes across as a bad director. It’s just that with Norwegian Ninja it is impossible to tell if he’s lampooning the worst B-movies from the ’70s or simply playing tribute to the underbelly of cinema in the same sort of way that Brian De Palma pays tribute to (some would say rips off) Alfred Hitchcock. Either way I do like Malling’s cynical take on the Cold War and its politics during the Reagan era, but its just a little too goofy for goofy’s sake for me. Frankly, I don’t know how this film was ever made but that doesn’t mean it won’t find a cult following that worships it for all its strangeness.
There are numerous bonus features including a variety of promotional spots, deleted scenes, extended sequences, behind-the-scenes featurettes and a rather odd interview with Malling and producer Eric Vogel from Norwegian television.
Dragon*Con in Atlanta, Georgia celebrated its 25th anniversary this past weekend, and what a con it was! Readers of the site may already know what a fan I am of Sean Patrick Flanery, and this year marked his first appearance at Dragon*Con.
In all of my years of attending this convention, Flanery is the one guest I always wanted to meet, and I had the opportunity to speak with him briefly in the Walk of Fame, where the stars sign autographs and interact with their fans. I found him to be very sweet, and the crush I’ve had on him since the days of Young Indiana Jones remains.
Naturally, I attended most of his panels, including The Boondock Saints panel with his co-star Norman Reedus. This panel was one of the most interesting and engaging I’ve ever attended at Dragon*Con. The actors were funny, considerate to their fans, and they were obviously having a wonderful time on stage. The fans were equally funny: one gal in the audience screamed out, “Can I have your baby?” I’m not sure if she asked Reedus or Flanery, but the audience had a good laugh over it.
Flanery also mentioned that due to his appearance at Dragon*Con, he would be skipping the premiere of his newly released movie Insight. When I read that this film would be released over Labor Day weekend, I feared his schedule would forbid him from attending the con, but no need to worry.
The question and answer part of the panel bounced from the humorous to the poignant. An emotional fan of the film approached the microphone to talk about a brutal murder in her family and how watching The Boondock Saints encouraged her to fight back and obtain a concealed weapons permit. She said the movie saved her, and the actors applauded her.
Since it was a The Boondock Saints panel, the question on everyone’s minds was whether or not there would be a third film in the series. The short answer is YES. According to Reedus, writer and director Troy Duffy is currently working on the script, and both actors are more than willing to participate.
Another fan asked if Flanery had actually watched the Saw films before participating in Saw 3D: The Final Chapter, but he joked that since he has made a career of acting in movies that usually don’t get released, the Saw franchise allowed him to be a movie that would appear on thousands of screens. While he joked about it, it’s true that very few of his films see a theatrical release. He tends to act in smaller films that debut on TV or get directly released to DVD and Blu-Ray, but I watch them all regardless.
They also said that they would like do another USO tour, having done one already and enjoying it. I think after seeing Flanery and Reedus at this panel, fans would love to have the opportunity to sit and have a drink with these guys. (I heard through the Twitter grapevine they were at the Marriott bar just last night, but my efforts to locate them for an interview were in vain).
They’re fun, funny, appreciative of their fans, and everyone had a great time. At the end of the panel, they fulfilled an earlier request to say the Saints’ courtroom prayer, and the audience recited along:
And shepherds we shall be, for thee my Lord for thee, power hath descended forth from thy hand, that our feet may swiftly carry out thy command. We shall flow a river forth to thee, and teeming with souls shall it ever be. In nomine Patri, et Fili, Spiritus Sancti.
