What’s up with all the movie remakes, seriously?

On May 10, 2016May 10, 2016 By czablockisIn All, Discussions, Movies & ShowsLeave a comment

I just watched the remake of Poltergeist, not by choice. I was pinned down by a sick 4 year old and couldn’t change the channel.

I have four words to say about it.

What a Let Down.

I saw the original movie during a pre screening when I was 12. They didn’t advertised the movie. I had no clue what it was about, but someone gave me a free pass in the mall and I had nothing better to do.

I have to say, I loved it. I brought my family back to the theater to watch it as well as my friends. So did all the others who got to see it for free. After that the movie went viral. Which meant a lot back in the pre-internet and twitter days. Just from the word of mouth, the movie became an instant success over night.

Then they disgraced the movie by making a terrible remake of it. I swear in some scenes you can tell the actors were awestruck they were in the remake of such a legendary movie or just having fun instead of acting serious.

Which brings me to the point of this post, what’s up with remaking great movies and badly I like to add?

Poltergeist is just one in many remakes in the past couple of years. I have to admit, I try not to watch them, because I already know they won’t ever live up to the original just from the commercial and track record. I can’t recall a single one doing good in the book office. (Correct me if I’m wrong.)

Are they resorting to remakes because original movie ideas have dried up? I think not. My friend a screen writer mentions daily, there are tons of movie scripts from budding artist they can pick from.

Are they trying to appeal to the adults who were kids when the original movie came out hoping they rush to watch it. Possibly. It is well known movie studios aren’t willing to take chances with no name movie ideas. They want something with a built-in audience such as popular book series, comic book heroes or TV shows (Star trek). However, if that is the case, why do they keep making rotten tomato remakes that bomb in the box offices and never recoup production costs. (Maybe a tax write off?)

Personally I think the studios are the ones without ideas. Everything is changing with personal surround sounds, 4K, HD, video on demand, Netflix, Amazon, etc… People don’t need to go to a theater to watch movies. They can do it at home.

But the movie studios are stuck in the 80’s old way of thinking. Lets make a block buster so we can entice people to pay the high price movie ticket and earn larger profits. However, if they were smart about it, which they aren’t, they can use streaming videos to their advantage. How about watching Star Wars on demand the day it comes out. I’d pay 10 maybe even 20 dollars to see that instead of dealing with finding a babysitter and annoying people talking during the movie.

Yeah, yeah I know. What about piracy? Its psychology 101. People are inevitably lazy. They aren’t going to want to spend hours downloading a badly recorded pirated version when they can easily watch the original for a reasonable price.

Okay, but what about the movie theaters? This will kill them. Not necessarily. There are still the people who like to see movies on the big screen. If they make it a better experience than at home, then they can actually increase sales, such as offer daycare. booth style stadium seating (think Las Vegas), maybe offer dinners they can eat before watching the movie. I go to a movie like that, even to see an old movie. The ultimate casual date night.

What do you think?

About The Author

C. Zablockis is an Indie author of paranormal, dark fantasy and horror novels. She published Lexi Greene’s Dangerous Lesson, Lexi Greene’s Grim Awakening , Monster (The Zeuorian Series) and My Watcher (The Zeuorian Series) YA Dark Fantasy Thriller.

Fifty Shades Movie Review

On May 13, 2015April 1, 2016 By czablockisIn All, Movies & ShowsLeave a comment

Fifty Shades of Grey Movie Review

by E.L. James

Overview

The worldwide phenomenon comes to life in the Fifty Shades of Grey unrated version, starring Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan as the iconic Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey.

My Review

I read the book series out of curiosity, but I ended up liking the main characters, especially when they bantered back and forth. Personally the sex and bondage thing could’ve been completely removed from the book for all I cared. I skimmed over it. It’s just not my things.

I watched the movie hoping it would be just as good as the book, but sadly it wasn’t. Talk about a waste of six dollars.

The movie skimmed over most of the book, highlighting only certain parts, in some cases skipping important parts. For instance the banter between the two characters. The part that drew me in. They did show a few emails between them, but it wasn’t the same. You didn’t get the whole palm twitching mad joke.

One of the biggest disappointment I felt toward the movie was the character development. In the book you’re able to hear Anastasia’s thoughts so you understand her inner conflict regarding Christian. I.e. He is the first man she ever found interesting, but to be with him she must accept his terms—being whipped and bound. You also are able to see Christian as a person. In the movie all you could see was his cold, distant and perverted side. If I hadn’t read the book, I would’ve wondered if Ana was completely insane to want to be with this extremely cold-hearted guy.

The only good thing the movie did right, they reduced the sex scenes so they were classy and bearable for people like myself, who aren’t into porn. For those of you who are into porn or bondage, sorry. The movie just gives you a glimpse of the red room of pain and Ana getting hit. It sort of reminded me of the old 40’s movies. Where you see a hand clench or the girl gasp, but you don’t see the actual act taking place. You only know it’s happening.

Review Rating: 2 Stars out of 5

About The Author

Interstellar Movie Review

On April 20, 2015April 1, 2016 By czablockisIn All, Movies & Shows3 Comments

Interstellar Movie Poster

Interstellar Movie Review

Okay so I’m a little behind the game. I don’t go to movies, because of my son who is about to turn three. I’ll have to wait until he’s a little older and can handle sitting for longer than twenty minutes.

Anyway for other non-movie goers. If you’re trying to decide whether to opt to pay the $5.00 to watch Interstellar or wait until it’s on HBO or STARZ, I recommend paying to see it now. It’s well worth the money and the three hours, which felt more like an hour to me.

I’m a big fan of science fiction. I should be, my father was addicted to them. When I was born, my father sat in the lobby watching a rerun of Forbidden Planet with Robby the Robot and he wanted to call me the lead female characters name. Thank God my mom talked him out of it. But from that point forward I watched every 50’s, 60’s and on sci-fi movie or show while I lived at home or when they come to visit.

For a sci-fi buff like me, Interstellar was definitely a great story. The effects were great. No tiny model ships floating on a wire. The story line kept you captivated while it stayed close to current theories of singularities (black holes), relativity, time travel and gravity. The only truly questionable part, of course, what happens if you enter a black hole (not going to elaborate and ruin the movie for anyone–sorry). I even found myself at one point in the movie sitting forward, gripping the edge of the couch and worrying if the hero will survive.

Movie Rating: 5 stars out of 5

About The Author

What happened to originality in movies?

On September 22, 2012April 1, 2016 By czablockisIn All, Movies & ShowsLeave a comment

Yet another 80’s remake is hitting the big screen and it hasn’t nothing to do with improving the movie. It’s all about the money.

The movie industry is optioning for remakes, popular books and superhero comics instead of original, possible sleeper hits hoping to capture the built-in audience, ensuring instant success and cash flow.

They’ve almost given up on original ideas that don’t have an instant following.

But what about the sleeper hits like Poltergeist. I remember when it came out in the theaters. I was a kid and a new movie hit a theater practically every week. My mother was an extreme movie buff and took me to the theaters on Wednesdays. We saw the name Poltergeist on the marque and thought, what the hell and paid the three-fifty and watched the show. Only a handful of people sat beside us, but by the following Wednesday there was a line wrapped around the building waiting to see it.

Steven Spielberg wasn’t a household name when Poltergeist came out. They didn’t even publicize it. The movie went viral by word-of-mouth alone. For the time, it was nothing we ever saw. That’s why everyone loved it.

Now I’m wondering how many potential great movies like Poltergeist are we missing because of movie industry chasing instant success?

Here is a list of some remakes (not inclusive at all)

Dredd

Attached: Karl Urban, Olivia Thirlby
Release Date/Year: September 21, 2012

Red Dawn

Attached: Chris Hemsworth, Josh Peck, Josh Hutcherson, Jeffrey Dean Morgan
Release Date/Year: November 21, 2012

Carrie

Attached: Chloe Grace Moretz, Julianne Moore
Release Date/Year: March 15, 2013

Evil Dead

Attached: Jane Levy
Release Date/Year: April 12, 2013

Mad Max: Fury Road

Attached: Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult, Zoë Kravitz
Release Date/Year: 2013

Robocop

Attached: Joel Kinnaman, Samuel L. Jackson, Gary Oldman
Release Date/Year: August 9, 2013

Other’s without trailers

Pet Sematary
Point Break
The Crow
An American Werewolf in London (Seriously!!!)
Child’s Play
Starship Troopers
WarGames (Why?)
Time Bandits
American Psycho
The Birds starring Namoi Watts (No! You’ll ruin it)
Commando
Creature From the Black Lagoon
Death Wish starring Robert Downey Jr.
Escape From New York
Heavy Metal
Highlander starring Ryan Reynolds
Lethal Weapon
The Warriors starring Brenna Roth (Oh, Come on, really)
Westworld starring Russell Crowe (Now this is just ridiculous)
Short Circuit
Romancing the Stone starring Katherine Heigl, Gerard Butler
Overboard starring Jennifer Lopez, Julian Scott Urena (Seriously J’ Lo thinks she could do a better job than Goldie Hawn)
Porky’s
Little Shop of Horrors
Scarface

About The Author

Underworld: Awakening in3D Blu-ray review

On September 18, 2012April 1, 2016 By czablockisIn All, Movies & ShowsLeave a comment

I just watched Underworld: Awakening in3D on Blu-ray. It was the fourth film part of the epic battle between vampires and lycan’s (werewolves for those who don’t know what lycan means). However, this go around, humans discovered their existence and go on a rampage exterminating both their kinds. Surprisingly, but not really, both species managed to survive extinction by hiding, getting inside help or in Selene case, used as a guinea pig.

Last movie she drank Corvinus blood, father of all vampires and lycans. She is now more powerful and able to walk in daylight as well as have a kid with Michael, the hybrid vampire-lycan, who is missing in this movie. She escaped the medical facility with the help of her daughter, after being placed in cryo-freeze for twelve years. Then same old same old happens. The lycan’s come after them. They want her hybrid daughter to help them control transforming into a wolf form. Selene kicks ass and saves the day, leaving the ending open for a sequel where she go searching for Michael who was still alive.

Overall

The movie was better than I expected, but not as good as the first movie. Although, my view on movies is a slight tainted. I have been known to like ones rated never see even if given to you for free, which I did in this case.

About The Author

Who’s afraid of the big bad wolf, now a days?

On August 25, 2012April 1, 2016 By czablockisIn All, Movies & ShowsLeave a comment

American Werewolf in London

Werewolves have always been considered an evil creature in fiction and movies, such as my all-time favorite American Werewolf in London.

They are humans who were unfortunately bitten by another werewolf and inflicted with a curse to transform into a werewolf during a fool moon. The transformation process is long and painful. Once they become the werewolf their human side cease to exist. They act and reason like a wolf with no conscious or remorse and determined to feed on human flesh.

However, there is a growing trend in movies and books were werewolves are being portrayed more human than beast. For instance Jacob in New Moon, he can transform at will into a werewolf without a moon in sight and think just like a human with no animalistic urges to hunt and kill. He is able to reason and defend Bella, the girl he loves.

Even the horror action movie UnderWorld, the werewolves are ferocious, but they still are able to reason like humans and attack only their mortal enemies, Vampires.

But will this trend continue or will the werewolf eventually go back to the traditional horror persona. I can only speculate it will continue for at least a little while longer before shifting back into a horror monster same as Vampires.

UnderWorld the movie

What do you think?

About The Author

Killing animals in movies, necessary to the storyline or not?

On August 10, 2012April 1, 2016 By czablockisIn All, Movies & Shows4 Comments

I’ve noticed the past decade more movies are including scenes where animals are being slaughtered by crazed killers. Movies like The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo where the adopted cat was left disemboweled on their door step as a warning. But are these scenes necessary to the plot line?

It depends.

Movies like Cujo by Stephan King, I vote killing the dog necessary since it was the only way to keep it from tearing the woman and child apart.

Halloween, I vote it’s a toss-up. If the director used something other than the dog to attempt to keep Michael from entering the house like a realtor or kid, it would’ve been just as effective. However, it also would’ve jumped right into the senseless killing and cut the suspense building up to the first kill.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, I vote not necessary. The entire scene could’ve been cut and it wouldn’t have taken away from the storyline that the person they were after was a heartless psychopathic killer.

What’s your opinion I like to know.

About The Author

A tribute to one of the greatest horror actors

On July 20, 2012April 1, 2016 By czablockisIn All, Movies & Shows2 Comments

When I was a little, I had the special privilege to listen to a reading by Vincent Price. He read “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe. The way he read the story made it 100 x’s scarier than I ever could imagine. Here’s to you Mr. Price.

The Raven

Edgar Allan Poe

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,

Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,

While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,

As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.

“‘Tis some visitor,” I muttered, “tapping at my chamber door

Only this, and nothing more.”

–

Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December,

And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.

Eagerly I wished the morrow; vainly I had sought to borrow

From my books surcease of sorrow – sorrow for the lost Lenore

For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore

Nameless here for evermore.

–

And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain

Thrilled me – filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;

So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating,

“‘Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door

Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door;

This it is, and nothing more.”

–

Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,

“Sir,” said I, “or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;

But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,

And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,

That I scarce was sure I heard you” – here I opened wide the door;

Darkness there, and nothing more.

–

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,

Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortals ever dared to dream before;

But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token,

And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, “Lenore!”

This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, “Lenore!”

Merely this, and nothing more.

–

Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,

Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.

“Surely,” said I, “surely that is something at my window lattice:

Let me see, then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore

Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore;

‘Tis the wind and nothing more.”

–

Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,

In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore;

Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;

But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door

Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door

Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

–

Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,

By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore.

“Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,” I said, “art sure no craven,

Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the Nightly shore

Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night’s Plutonian shore!”

Quoth the Raven, “Nevermore.”

–

Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,

Though its answer little meaning – little relevancy bore;

For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being

Ever yet was blest with seeing bird above his chamber door

Bird or beast upon the sculptured bust above his chamber door,

With such name as “Nevermore.”

–

But the raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only

That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.

Nothing further then he uttered – not a feather then he fluttered

Till I scarcely more than muttered, “other friends have flown before

On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before.”

Then the bird said, “Nevermore.”

–

Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,

“Doubtless,” said I, “what it utters is its only stock and store,

Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful Disaster

Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore

Till the dirges of his Hope that melancholy burden bore

Of ‘Never – nevermore’.”

–

But the Raven still beguiling all my fancy into smiling,

Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird, and bust and door;

Then upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking

Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore

What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt and ominous bird of yore

Meant in croaking “Nevermore.”

–

This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing

To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom’s core;

This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining

On the cushion’s velvet lining that the lamplight gloated o’er,

But whose velvet violet lining with the lamplight gloating o’er,

She shall press, ah, nevermore!

–

Then methought the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer

Swung by Seraphim whose footfalls tinkled on the tufted floor.

“Wretch,” I cried, “thy God hath lent thee – by these angels he hath sent thee

Respite – respite and nepenthe, from thy memories of Lenore!

Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore!”

Quoth the Raven, “Nevermore.”

–

“Prophet!” said I, “thing of evil! prophet still, if bird or devil!

Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,

Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted

On this home by horror haunted – tell me truly, I implore

Is there – is there balm in Gilead? – tell me – tell me, I implore!”

Quoth the Raven, “Nevermore.”

–

“Prophet!” said I, “thing of evil – prophet still, if bird or devil!

By that Heaven that bends above us – by that God we both adore

Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn,

It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore

Clasp a rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore.”

Quoth the Raven, “Nevermore.”

–

“Be that word our sign in parting, bird or fiend,” I shrieked, upstarting

“Get thee back into the tempest and the Night’s Plutonian shore!

Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!

Leave my loneliness unbroken! quit the bust above my door!

Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!”

Quoth the Raven, “Nevermore.”

–

And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting

On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;

And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon’s that is dreaming,

And the lamplight o’er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;

And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor

Shall be lifted – nevermore!

About The Author

What ever happen to horror movies that actually scared you?

On July 20, 2012April 1, 2016 By czablockisIn All, Movies & Shows3 Comments

I recently watched the latest version of Final Destination, not sure what number, I lost count. Within fifteen minutes I was bored. Nothing in the movie actually scared me or even had me on the edge of my seat. I haven’t felt that heart racing, eyes open wide as I wonder what will happen next for a long time while watching a movie.

So I end up pulling out an old classic horror movie DVD with a great actor like Vincent Price where they didn’t need to slice and dice everyone on the screen to scare me. The acting and the concept alone kept me up at night. The 1970’s Exorcist movie forever hunts my dreams. I mean who wouldn’t be scared of the thought some evil entity could take over your body and possess you.

What about When a Stranger Calls where the girl is baby sitting and someone keeps calling asking, “Have you checked the children”.

Or the Shining, another one of my favorites. ““Heeeeeeere’s Johnny!” or “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” As a writer, I somewhat can relate to his last quote.

I can’t forget the first Halloween with Jamie Lee Curtis. I had nightmares of the boogie man coming after me for months after watching that movie.

I have to throw in an alien abduction movie too, Fire in the Sky based on a true story about a man abducted by aliens while in Oregon, one of my favorite summer hang outs. Hiking in the woods was never the same. I kept staring at the sky, hoping no alien thought I was an interesting specimen.

Oh and Poltergeist. “They’re heeeeeere.”

Last, but not least, Jaws. “You’re gonna need a bigger boat.” That movie alone screwed up my favorite past time as a kid, hangin’ at the beach in Southern California. I wouldn’t go in the water for a whole year, afraid a shark was going to eat me.

So what was your all time favorite horror movies?