Axe Giant

The Axe Giant the Wrath of Paul Bunyan: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is unleashed!!

Feel the earth shake and your heart pound as you come face to face with an angry American legend! This epic original score features thunderous orchestral themes blended with early American instrumentation. The soundtrack is now available at the Midnight Syndicate Store! While you are there you can also purchase the DVD and other NEW MERCHANDISE!

www.midnightsyndicate.com

"From a simple flourish of strings to behemoth bass horns on the rampage, the score is everything I hoped it would be and more. The perfect marriage of sight and sound, Ed's music carries our film into that cool, cool realm of which filmmakers only dream." - Gary Jones (Director, Producer of Axe Giant)

[Hallowzing here... I was also intrigued to read this at the bottom of Midnight Syndicate's press release...]


More Big Midnight Syndicate News Coming

Stay tuned for a major Midnight Syndicate announcement, coming this October!


Hmmmmmm....

Still Standing

Drive-In Theatre
Originally uploaded by Gulliver16

Best thing about this ancient ozoner in Ontario, Canada? It's still open for business!

Axe Grinder

Now that Destini Beard's interpretation of Midnight Syndicate's music has been released (A Time Forgotten), I decided to check out what the musical duo has coming up next. Lo and behold before I could grind my axe, I get an e-mail from Ed Douglas giving me just that! Here's what he had to say:

"We just finished the score to the grindhouse thriller, "Bunyan" (www.bunyanmovie.com). From the title you can probably figure that this is a classic "beer and pizza" movie and it is. It's a lot of fun. Creating the score was really cool as it required us to explore lot of sides that people have never heard come from Midnight Syndicate. We'll be releasing a soundtrack CD along with the movie. The producers plan to premiere it later this year, I'll keep you informed."

Sounds gravy. Can't wait to check this one out and give a spin to the accompanying soundtrack!

Starts Friday

Prometheus HISHE

Skyfall Spot

As a lifelong Bond fan, I'm excited for Daniel Craig to finally get his proper 007 movie with all the proper elements in place.

Bathroom Break

Remember the bathroom scene from that really crappy (pun intended) Stephen King adaptation DREAMCATCHER? Yeah, that's how I feel right now. Urggghhhh...

To cheer myself up, I read this spot-on review of the film over here:

mygeekblasphemy.com

Knight Rises

My immediate reaction upon seeing THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (and this is in no way intended to be a complete, thorough review): Bleak, violent, intense, over-long - I liked it - didn't love it. At least not in the way I did THE DARK KNIGHT a few years back. To be fair, THE DARK KNIGHT was just about as perfect of a superhero film as you could get, so it was a tall order for director Christopher Nolan to top it. Still, I was hoping for a film just as good, and this one didn't quite match up, and I had way more fun at THE AVENGERS (which pains this DC fan to say).

There were so many 'little things' that kept bothering me. Like: why did Selina Kyle wear the mask again? Everyone knew who she was, so there was no point, really, in disguising her identity. And why did Dr. Crane (aka The Scarecrow) NOT wear his mask? I would have loved to see him go looney tunes pulling on his mask as he passed down judgement on Gotham's finest. Not to mention the role of Dep. Comm. Foley (played by Mathew Modine), who seemed unnecessary and bogged down the plot. Plus the resolution of Bane's character seemed anti-climactic. For essentially BEING the movie, his coda seemed like a major let-down for this bat-fan.

When it was all said and done, this is what I kept thinking about the dark knight as we approached the explosive finale:

"Some days you just can't get rid of a bomb!"

Sure, my opinion will probably soften, particularly when I see it in Imax. I'm a lifelong, die-hard Batman fan - so I really want to love this entry in Nolan's trilogy - but it may take repeated viewings for me to truly 'get it.'

P.S. The trailer for next year's MAN OF STEEL put a genuine lump in my throat. Loved it!

Random Geekery

Okay - some random thoughts from a certified HALLOWEEN movie franchise geek. I love these movies (well, John Carpenter's original through HALLOWEEN 4 - with a soft spot for part 6), and often have completely random thoughts about the greatness of the early entries and how the later ones could have been improved upon. Here's one example of a random thought I had the other day:

This is actually a long running observation that I've had for many years now, related to the opening scene of the original 1981 version of HALLOWEEN II. You'll recall that film started with the oldie tune "Mr. Sandman" by The Chordettes (a song referenced again in HALLOWEEN H20.) Similarly, every time I hear the 1964 tune "A Summer Song" by Chad & Jeremy I always think now that's a song that should be used in a HALLOWEEN movie! Read the lyrics with Laurie Strode and Michael Myers in mind, giving the beautiful lyrics a slightly sinister undertone, and decide for yourself...

They say that all good things must end some day
Autumn leaves must fall
But don't you know that it hurts me so
To say goodbye to you
Wish you didn't have to go
No no no no

And when the rain
Beats against my window pane
I'll think of summer days again
And dream of you

They say that all good things must end some day
Autumn leaves must fall
But don't you know that it hurts me so
To say goodbye to you
Wish you didn't have to go
No no no no

And when the rain
Beats against my window pane
I'll think of summer days again
And dream of you
And dream of you


Rob Zombie made a habit of recycling oldie standards in his craptacular HALLOWEEN movies, alas, this one wasn't one of them - but I would have loved to hear this in HALLOWEEN H20 as it seems to fit the vibe of that film perfectly (but as we know, that film had its own recycled soundtrack).

To listen, click below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_D2XD341xHo

Frankenstein vs. Bride

SD Comic Con 2012: Rob Zombie on ‘The Lords of Salem’ and Manson

“I’m really excited about Lords of Salem. I was looking at it today, because we’re just finishing the sound design and the sound mix and all that stuff. It’s a really different movie. Because the last couple of movies I’ve made have been these very handheld, rough, and physically violent sort of films. This isn’t like that at all. It’s a very slow-paced, psychological, specifically composed sort of movie. It’s almost the exact opposite of what I’ve done before. So I’m really excited to get it out to see what people think. It’s not what they expect it to be.

“It starts in 1697 in Salem, Massachusetts. The basic idea is that back then, when the witch trials were going on, obviously there were innocent people being killed as witches. But there was a group of people who were not so innocent, but were murdered and put to death. They, before they died, put a curse on Salem, which is now coming true in modern times. Most of the movie takes place in modern-day Salem. I’m trying not to spoil things…

“That’s the problem with things like this – you always have to explain it. But I’m trying to keep something secret so when people see it they don’t go, ‘Oh yeah, I knew all that.’ Because when there are no surprises it kind of ruins it.”

As for his tour with Marilyn Manson, Zombie said, “It’s probably not unlike when I did the tour with Alice Cooper. What I like about these tours is that it’s a co-headlining tour, so both acts do the full show and their full set. Nobody has to sacrifice anything. Alice and I are good friends and it was one of the most fun tours I ever did. But of course there’s gonna be this fun rivalry, because nobody wants somebody else to upstage them. So that’s fun, and I assume it will be more of the same with that.”

If Alice Cooper’s collaboration with Zombie was a case of “Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man,” how would Zombie describe his tour with Manson?

“’Frankenstein versus the Bride of Frakenstein’?” he laughed. “Because Marilyn is a girl’s name…”

“No,” he added, “I can’t wait to do it. It seems like one of those tours that’s so obvious, like we would have done it before. But we haven’t… I’m kind of glad we haven’t, because there are still exciting things to do. It’s gonna be good, because we’re going to do it here and in Europe, and it will go for a while.”

“So I hope we get along,” he laughed again, “because there are a lot of shows!”

– Joseph McCabe, FearNet

http://www.fearnet.com/

Expendables 2

This looks like so much fun.

Superior 71

Drove past this beauty on the way home from South Dakota. We had actually taken a wrong turn and cruised by completely by accident. Just outside of Superior, IA, it was hours until showtime - and we had another three hours (on top of the six we just drove) ahead of us - so we couldn't hang around for a double-bill. Still, took the time to wander around a bit and check out the lay of the land.

A beautiful little drive-in - I'd love to go back some day! For those in the area, I encourage you to support this gem and spend generously at their concession stand!

http://www.superior71drivein.com/

Prometheus Bound

Going today. Review to follow.

http://www.prometheus-movie.com/

Dark Shadows!

Now playing (and review coming soon!)

Return of the Astro-Zombies!

Ted V. Mikels' Astro-Zombies To Rampage At World PremiereThrills Await Las Vegas Audiences

“This has to be one of Ted’s finest pieces of entertainment ever,” said first assistant director Gary Lester. “Audiences at our Sneak Peek screenings in Florida could not stop applauding as the credits were rolling.”

Alpha New Cinema will roll-out the DVD through Oldies.com the end of May. A special limited edition collectibles set can be ordered from TVM Studios and Ted V. Mikels’ official website.

The set includes a numbered and autographed DVD, along with an array of free gifts -- an autographed 8x10 color photo of Ted V. Mikels, a specially minted AZM 4 pin, a skull key-chain, and a raffle ticket to win one of ten mini-lasers. The raffle will occur prior to the May 20 screenings, with the ten winners receiving a laser in their free gifts package. Among the extra free gifts included in the 100 limited edition sets will be two highly collectible autographed promo cards from prior Ted V. Mikels movies.

Only 100 collector’s sets are being sold, which include the first 100 DVDs off the assembly line. The set retails for only $20, plus $5.95 shipping, and can be purchased (while supplies last) by contacting tvmstudios@aol.com or visiting www.tedvmikels.com. Anyone attending the Las Vegas premiere can purchase their collectibles set for $20, with no postage or shipping required.

Also available will be a limited number of beautiful laminated and autographed AZM 4 mini- posters. They are reasonably priced at $20, but can only be acquired at the world premiere in Las Vegas -- which will make them an extremely rare collectible immediately. Foreign distributors interested in acquiring a territory for international rights should request a screener from tvmstudios@aol.com.

Prior to the May 20 Astro-Zombie invasion, Theatre 7 appears to still be intact and standing at 1406 S. Third St. in Las Vegas.

Astro-Zombies M4: Invaders From Cyberspace is a TVM Global Entertainment production, in association with Blue Heron International Pictures. For further information, please e-mail tvmstudios@aol.com

Going Attractions

Here's a worthy cause that would be cool to see made. It's called GOING ATTRACTIONS:
The Definitive Story of the American Drive-in Movie Theatre.

Do you have an interest in drive-in movie theatres? Well, you can make a contribution to complete a documentary about them! The producers of GOING ATTRACTIONS are attempting to raise what they call 'finishing funds' to help complete the film using a crowd-funding service called Kickstarter.

For a $25 contribution you will receive a 'special thanks' credit in the film. For $50 you can also reserve an advance copy of the DVD. For $100 you'll get the DVD and a t-shirt. Proceeds will go towards completing the film, and they're already 10% of the way towards their total goal of $10,000!

Please help spread the word to people who might want to get involved!

Click here for the Kickstarter link to learn more:
Drive-in Fundraising Link - Kickstarter

One Sheet

THE RAVEN is a gritty psychological thriller in which famed author Edgar Allan Poe joins forces with a young Baltimore detective to hunt down a mad serial killer who’s using Poe's own works as the basis in a string of brutal murders.

Starring John Cusak, Alice Eve, Luke Evans, Brendan Gleeson, Dave Legeno, Oliver Jackson-Cohen and Pam Ferris. Coming to theaters on March 9, 2012.

Woman in Black

Lords Tweet

Anybody else catch that Tweet from Rob Zombie concerning his latest cinematic endeavor: LORDS OF SALEM? Not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing, considering the train wrecks that were his last two HALLOWEEN films, but at the very least it looks like Mr. Zombie is setting the bar a little higher on this one. Here's what the the man had to say, direct from his Twitter page:

"Watching LORDS OF SALEM SFX test footage. Holy f*** this is f****** sick s***. I hope everyone loves demented, perverted satanic movies."

Again - good or bad - you be the judge. I think as Zombie has demonstrated perfectly well in his past two live-action films, extreme ultra-violence and nauseatingly realistic gore do not equal a scary movie. Hopefully this is the film where he redeems himself. Filming has wrapped and post-production has commenced - so expect more updates soon from everyone's favorite band!

Trial By Fire

Found this posted on Pumpkinrot's blog and thought I'd share as the pics are so eerily cool. These are from the set of Rob Zombie's next cinematic outing: THE LORDS OF SALEM. For the record, I'm on my last thread of patience with Mr. Zombie as a director. Musically, the guy is on the money - theatrically, my patience is running thin. I have been disappointed with his last couple of films (HALLOWEEN and HALLOWEEN II) and didn't think his two before that lived up to the hype. Zombie needs to impress with SALEM, so let's hope he gets this one right. To see pics from the set, visit here:

http://www.caughtonset.com/photo-gallery/3537/6/set-lords-salem/