Paranormal State premieres December 10th at 10 PM ET/PT on A&E, and we’re giving away prize packs in anticipation.
Two winners will receive a prize pack containing an A&E American Apparel Track Jacket, Paranormal State t-shirt, flashlight, mug and sling bag. The contest ends December 13th, so make sure you enter soon (only one entry per person, open to U.S. and Canadian residents).
Paranormal State, from the producers of Laguna Beach, is a dramatic new A&E Real-Life series that chronicles the case files of the Paranormal Research Society (PRS), a renowned paranormal investigation team comprised of Penn State University college students. Paranormal State follows Ryan Buell (founder/director of PRS) and his college-age team of paranormal investigators as they set out on cases throughout the country. The PRS team, which Ryan started in 2001, has worked on cases involving demonic possession and exorcism, assisted law enforcement on missing person’s cases, and have brought peace to frightened families. Through the use of Electronic Voice Phenomenon (EVP) recordings, client interviews, video documentation, old-fashioned research and the help from outside experts such as renowned psychics, demonologists and Penn State University psychologists and counselors, the PRS team delve dangerously into other worlds to try and help people who have no one else to turn to.
Thanks to Black Book, 12 new images for the upcoming J.J. Abrams monster movie Cloverfield are now online. None of the images show pictures of the monsters, but there is definitely some kind of contagion aspect to the movie, as there are several pics of a woman vomiting, quarantine efforts and so on and so forth.
I’m not a classic movie kind of guy. It’s not that I don’t appreciate or like the classics; it’s just that I spend so much time watching modern day films that I rarely have a chance to sit down and watch the ageless ones. Such is the case with It’s a Wonderful Life, a movie that has been around for over 60 years, a movie I had never seen. It’s a travesty, I know.
Now out on a 2-Disc Collector’s Set, It’s a Wonderful Life includes both the original black and white version, the colored version, a making-of documentary and a “special tribute to Frank Capra, narrated by his son, Frank Capra Jr.” You never know with these classics if they’ll be able to stand the test of time – some greats fifty years ago just don’t hold up well these days. Thankfully, It’s a Wonderful Life stands up beautifully; it’s captivating, entertaining, funny and depressing all at once, and is a true masterpiece.
James Stewart stars as George Bailey, a man who has always dreamed of being someone and going somewhere. Though he has had his mild successes and is well respected within the community, every time he tries to go somewhere else, he finds himself drawn back in to his town for one reason or another, whether it is to help his dying father or his struggling neighbors. He lives a life of pure selflessness, but he wants to live for himself. It’s not until an angel shows him what life would be like had he never existed that he truly realizes just how important he is.
Stewart is terrific in the lead, delivering a heartwarming, down-to-earth character who can make us laugh and cry interchangeably. Of course, I didn’t actually cry, but Stewart’s performance, coupled with a terrific screenplay Capra’s direction, touches a chord that few films do these days. The movie can be somber and depressing without shoving it down our throats, and at times leaves you desperate waiting for the next scene in hopes that things get better. Just when things are looking up, something happens to bring us back down to earth, and the reality that all good things come to an end – but it doesn’t mean that more good things can’t follow.
There’s not much else to say. It’s a Wonderful Life is a great film the whole family can enjoy. Touching and enthralling, It’s a Wonderful Life is truly a timeless classic.
Okay, here’s what I have to say about marching bands: I don’t see the point. First off, I’ll note that I’m from the northwest, not exactly an area known for its marching bands or its interest in them. Apparently, in some parts of the United States, marching bands are big things, but up here, they aren’t anything spectacular. At football game halftimes, why would I want to listen to a barely audible band that walks around doing sluggish designs, et cetera, et cetera?
However, in this Cal vs. Washington State game, the marching band does something really, really awesome. In a homage to video games, they simulate – with their collective bodies – several classic video games. Which video games? Let us list them: Pong, Tetris, Mortal Kombat, Pokemon, Legend of Zelda, and various Mario stages. Don’t believe me? Watch the video below…
What have I done to be cursed? What has the rest of the world done to feel the wrath of God? Punish us with a flood, or the eight deadly plagues. Kill our first born children, or have locusts eat our crops and flesh. But please, God, please, why in Hell is McG directing Terminator 4, officially known as Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins???
There is a mystery in Hollywood, and the mystery is why do certain directors get hired when the studios know they’re going to develop a crappy movie? Take Paul W.S. Anderson, who struck a tiny bit of gold with Event Horizon (and maybe Resident Evil), but has pretty much given the world a bunch of pathetic poop, namely Alien vs. Predator and a few others. Of course there’s Uwe Boll, who defies all logic every time he gets a new project to work on. There’s no need to mention his projects. And why does McG, who lays claim to the entertaining but trashy Charlie’s Angels – and the subsequent God-awful (and I MEAN God-f**king-awful) sequel – get hired to do another project? Aren’t there enough directors in the world, whether they’re coming out of college or out of little film festivals or Sibera, to allow the studios to hire effective directors at an affordable price. Why would a studio hire McG, who 1) doesn’t have a real name, 2) only can direct music videos and 3) is guaranteed to destroy the Terminator franchise even beyond what Terminator 3 did?
I don’t get it. I just don’t get it. I now know that Terminator 4 is going to suck. There is no question. Thanks, McG. And thanks Warner Brothers.
The new Cloverfield trailer – which confirms the name of Cloverfield for a project that has had more rumors and buzz than any I can imagine in recent history – has found its way onto YouTube, albeit in a very low quality format. Still, it looks pretty exciting… Check it out below.
I’m excited for Atonement. Even though it is a period piece, it has good early reviews, hottie Kiera Knightley, rising star James McAvoy, and director Joe Wright, the man behind another Kiera Knightley period piece Pride and Prejudice (easily the best Jane Austen film I had ever seen – no, I haven’t seen the Colin Firth version).
The movie trailer is great, and now the studio has released three new character posters. It’s a bit surprising to have character posters for a movie like this, as it’s not one you would necessarily expect to appeal to the masses. More surprising is that the character posters are relatively edgy for a war drama… Click on the movie poster to the right to see the rest.
Yahoo! just posted the new movie trailer for Amusement, a horror movie about a bunch of young people who get killed by a serial killer clown. Clowns are creepy, there’s no denying it, and Amusement will hopefully use that creepiness to its full potential. Of course, it isn’t It (the Stephen King movie), and the killer just wears a clown mask, but if done right this movie could be entertaining.
In reality, it’s just going to be another slasher film, and the movie trailer isn’t that good. The clown really isn’t used to its full potential, although the audio track is where the real magic is. The killer’s giggling is fairly memorable.
Thanks to the 1,500+ who took my horror movie survey last month! I’ll publish the results soon (there are some obvious results and a few surprises), but I just wanted to say congratulations to Karen Mead of Wingdale, New York, as she is the winner of the six horror DVDs. Karen, I’ll be sending out the prize package this weekend.
Check back soon, as I’ll be launching a new survey with new DVD giveaways shortly. For other movie contests, including El Cantante, I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry and other DVD giveaways, please visit my movie contests page. I currently have 12 different giveaways running (and ending soon).
No Country for Old Men is now out in select theaters and expanding over the next month, and I must say that this movie looks to be one of the coolest this year. Watching Javier Bardem walk around killing people with a coin flip and an air compressor is like butter on toast: perfect. Honestly, this movie looks absolutely spectacular, my only concern being that I might be hyping it up just a bit too much.
But it’s about damn time the Coen Brothers did a truly dark crime caper a la the old days (read: Blood Simple), and judging from reviews, No Country for Old Men certainly delivers.
Even better, I’m giving away an autographed No Country for Old Men movie poster over at my Movie-Source.com website – the contest expires at the end of November, but please enter to win the poster. It’s autographed by both Joel and Ethan Coen! Enter now!
Paranormal State premieres December 10th at 10 PM ET/PT on A&E, and we’re giving away prize packs in anticipation.
