Movie Posters of the Day!

I’m glad this film is getting good reviews, and hope it is good. However I personally have not loved the trailer. And Todd Phillips helming this film, with a history of only comedies behind him, is a question mark for me. Since I am not a fan or audience for his previous films. Still I hope this is great, but don’t have a big interest in it. The TAXI DRIVER and FALLING DOWN or MAN BITES DOG films, are not my cup of tea, and that seems to be the ground this is aiming for. But I’ll wait to see if the reviews pile up one way or another after opening day. But likely if they are not glowing I’ll wait till it hits streaming.

Nice poster. No interest in the movie.

 

Another nice poster. No interest in the movie.

 

The talk of the look of this film and the technology, getting the 120 frames per second thing working correctly, and early positive reviews, has me interested to see this in the theaters. Ang Lee is not a director whose films I typically gravitate to, but  I look forward to being pleasantly surprised by this one. And Will Smith is a star for a reason.

Whatever else the film offers, he always comes into it giving a 100%. He’s a star for a reason. And this film where he gets to act against himself, gets to clash the actor he was, against the actor he is… a riveting concept. And it is cool, how much young Will Smith, looks like his son, Jaden.

TV & Movie Posters of the Day!

 

 

I am not really a fan of slasher films or tv shows. And with the exception of the 2nd season of AMERICAN HORROR STORY i have not been a fan of that show; however the above poster on its own… is striking.

 

I loved the first season of Amazon’s JACK RYAN and the trailer has me very excited to see season 2. Between this, THE BOYS and THE EXPANSE Amazon is producing some of the best shows on TV.

 

And here are some international posters that grabbed my attention:

 

CLASSIC GOLDEN AGE Horror Comic Book Cover of the Day!

There are no skulls, or drooling monsters, or scantily clad females in peril on this cover (not that there is anything wrong with those covers, the lurid has its place) and yet, this is the cover that made me fall in love with collecting Golden Age Comic Books. The sophistication of John Severin’s artwork, the masterful use of color, its ability to encapsulate mood and storytelling and foreboding in a single pregnant image. 

First time I saw this image, I knew I had to have this book. That i was looking at the work of an artist, Capital A.

This is my book of the day. And it is currently VERY undervalued and very affordable. And is my recommendation for affordable golden age comic book to add or start, your collection with.

Hope you found this post useful, if so give a like and a subscribe. Till next time… be well!

GAME CHANGING Android Phone or Tablet Tip of the Day!

Okay guys this Android tip is pretty simple, but it is one that is not typically advertised, so most people do not know, and I find incredibly useful.

It is the two finger swipe down, if you are familiar with it you are probably shaking your head, remembering the first time you upgraded from a 1 finger to 2 finger swiper, and saying to yourself ‘yeah, that’s a good one.’. 🙂 .

For those of you unfamiliar with the very simple but very useful two finder shortcut… here it is…

Swipe down, from the top of your phone or tablet display//menu area, with two fingers at same time and this will display more info than what you were seeing, swiping down with just one finger.

One finger will show you time, date, power level, and that your wifi is on, and a list of any notifications.

Using two fingers (at same time) will display additionally a menu that shows you the specific name of the wifi you are connected to (very useful), and the ability to adjust brightness, turn blue-tooth on and off, airplane mode, auto rotate, and location controls. Wow. That is a handy feature to have all that info with just a swipe down.

I personally love this tip. Try for yourself. If new to this tip, you’ll be wondering why you didn’t know about this, or figure this out by yourself sooner. It is that simple, and that useful of a shortcut.

If you liked this tip, and would like for me to continue providing more tips then please give a like, and if you have time subscribe to this blog and/or leave a nice comment.

 

Finally give some love to my sponsor below.

Thanks all, and have a great day!

https://www.bonanza.com/booths/aseller99b

Movie Posters of the Day!

 

 

The poster grabbed me, but what really made me excited about this film was seeing it was being directed by Kasi Lemmons of EVE’S BAYOU fame. One of my favorite films, just such a magical, yet somehow easily beautiful little film, that defies easy genre labels. If she can bring that deft touch to this ‘fact is stranger than fiction’ tale of HARRIET TUBMAN, we could have something very special here.

Intriguing poster and trailer, but the jury is out on this.

THE TERMINATOR franchise has largely been a case of diminishing returns since the second one. And while I have no great interest in a new one, with Tim Miller at the helm, I’m intrigued to see what he can do.

THE EXPANSE is one of the best scifi shows(full blown space opera) to arrive on the scene since FARSCAPE. Not sure if we are getting a new season but the existing three seasons are a brilliant self contained novel, ala BABYLON 5 and DEEP SPACE NINE. If you have not watched it, watch it. You’ll find it time well spent.​

 

Currently Watching : I STILL SEE YOU by Scott Speer

Sometimes what you get out of a movie, is about what you bring into that movie. I mean the movie has to be well constructed, to elicit a favorable emotional response. But beyond that, to elicit a formative response from you, a significant response from you, the movie can only delve so deep. When you respond to it on a deep level, it is often because it has touched something in you, that you are dealing with, in a particular moment or time.

You may catch that movie at a different time, or a less attentive time, and those triggers do not reach you. You remain… untouched.

This movie caught me at the right time.

I STILL SEE YOU by Director Scott Speer, and capably led by young actress Bella Thorne, is a very good coming of age Horror film in the vein of IT FOLLOWS, I AM NOT A SERIAL KILLER, A GIRL WALKS HOME ALONE AT MIDNIGHT, and LET THE RIGHT ONE IN. While not in the league of those films (it meanders a little in the middle, and is not as cinematically stylized), stick with it as the premise is strong, the performances felt, and the ending…worthy and emotive.

That said, I could have done without the final shot, I think it weakens the message of the end of the film, and seems more than a bit formulaic and pandering; but that aside, a strong film, that I am glad to have seen.

Grade: B

 

Best Youtube Channel of the Day courtesy of Roku/Amazon Fire!

If you are not watching CEREAL AT MIDNIGHT you are missing out on one of the essential resources for movies on DVD and Bluray, especially of the classic B movie and cult status variety. CEREAL AT MIDNIGHT celebrates those works of yesteryear that are worth picking up, even in this age of streaming.

His latest episode, and he sold me on purchasing the UNIVERSAL HORROR COLLECTION VOL 1 on Bluray.

Mostly because I am a huge fan of THE BLACK CAT. What is the BLACK CAT you ask? Well beyond being the name of the famous Edgar Allen Poe Short Story, it was also the impetus for many films of that name.

This 1934 Edgar G. Ulmer directed BLACK CAT (which only uses Poe’s story as a aesthetic, to  go places even Poe dared not) is the best of the half dozen or so feature films to use that title.

Powered by a lurid, and haunting, and maniacal story by Edgar G. Ulmer and Peter Ruric, the film grabs and does not let go. Ruric would never write anything as memorable or deranged or sublime again. Which leads me to believe even though the script is credited to Ruric, that it was Ulmer’s hand you see in it. 

 

Ulmer, an unfortunately little remembered director, was one of the best directors of the strange and the avant-garde (experimental, forward looking), and the disturbed. This film fits perfectly in his mold. And with the best combination of big time studio, large budget, iconic stars, talented craftsmen, that he would ever get, he produced his best movie.

BLACK CAT beyond being Ulmer’s best movie, is without argument the best of the Karloff and Lugosi collaborations, and is arguably the best UNIVERSAL movie, right up there with masterpieces such as BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN and THE INVISIBLE MAN.

 

Ulmer’s BLACK CAT is so stylized, and so paired to the bone, that like the short story it derives its impetus for, it is entirely possessive of your attention and your awe. And even though I consider BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN a masterpiece, there is something even more heightened and hypnotic in Ulmer’s BLACK CAT.

The only real cinematic comparative to it, would be the feel you get from watching Erle C. Kenton’s ISLAND OF LOST SOULS, which predates BLACK CAT by two years. ISLAND OF LOST SOULS, like BLACK CAT, was both acclaimed and vilified for its horror and its sexuality.

 

Both are films I consider seminal films, masterpieces of mood, and must own films. And i have owned both films for years in DVD, as generally speaking I do not see the need to upgrade to Blu-ray with these earlier 4:3 Black and White films. However with this new Blu ray also sporting multiple new commentaries, it is worth the double dipping for me.

If you are still deciding check out the video below, and subscribe to the CEREAL AT MIDNIGHT youtube channel… and tell them HT sent ya!