retro-the-best....: Sep 21, 2011

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Quickflix News: Controversial film banned in Australia

We admire elderly Leo DiCaprio in J. EDGAR, consider the ape revolution in PROJECT NIM and revisit (reluctantly) high school in THE MYTH OF THE AMERICAN SLEEPOVER

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Hey Quickflixers!

Stop the presses! We've got a big announcement to make: the Quickflix site has evolved! Not only have we revamped the logo but the whole site has been given a makeover and a smart new look and feel. We've improved lots of features including an enhanced navigation bar that brings our TV library into the spotlight, new preview pages combining all the info, reviews and trailers for a title in one place and improved search results to make it easier to find what you want! We've listened to your feedback and we hope you'll love the new site. This is just the beginning too! There are plenty more changes still to come...

Leonardo DiCaprio is on the hunt (for an Oscar) as a legendary FBI man in Clint Eastwood's J. EDGAR. Check out the trailer (and the old age make-up)! Read article

Remember the crushing heartbreak of high school? Who could forget?! Revisit it in the wonderful gem THE MYTH OF THE AMERICAN SLEEPOVER. Read review

Ooh, Chimpanzee that! James Marsh' new documentary PROJECT NIM suggests a real-life RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES scenario (kinda). Read review

A Serbian Film banned in Australia

Play It Again: Roman Holiday

Bourne to run – Abduction review

Scarface reboot in the works

Elton John working on musical fantasy/biopic Rocketman

Win tickets to JOHNNY ENGLISH REBORN

Simply tell us in 25 words or less who your favourite Rowan Atkinson character is and why!

Enter Now

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No worries, try the Quickflix mobile site!

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[New post] Classic reviews: Fiend Without a Face

Classic reviews: Fiend Without a Face

dailypop | September 21, 2011 at 11:40 am | Tags: arthur crabtree, classic sci-fi, Fiend Without a Face | Categories: cult movies, Cult SciFi | URL: http://wp.me/p4kUt-33k

This 1958 classic was directed by Arthur Crabtree, a young filmmaker at the time whose association with MGM allowed him to reach a wider audience, though he had to make some concessions. The movie strangely features a monster that doesn't come from outer space but the inner depths of the human mind. Mysterious deaths in Manitoba Canada prompt locals to accuse the newly constructed nuclear power plant as the cause. Investigations turn up nothing but more questions until an Air Force Major hears of some unusual experiments in telekinesis. Visiting Professor Walgate, he discovers that the invisible enemy that is killing innocents may be inhuman, but it is from the human mind.

Fiend Without a Face is an incredible film that has retained a strong following for its strange special effects. The Fiends themselves are outstandingly presented in stop motion and steal the show as soon as they appear (though an early glimpse of the lovely Kim Parker in a towel comes close). Apparently the film makers promoted the movie by including an actual Fiend prop mounted in a glass cage outside the cinema that could be brought to life remotely. Passers by would come up close to get a good look and leap back when the creature sprang to life.

Trailer
watch?v=xQNflAwCm8A

Director Arthur Crabtree had planned to mount a remake of Fiend Without a Face for years, taking advantage of new special effects wizardry. However, he admitted on the DVD commentary that the possibility is less interesting now as a remake that was too far off from the original would miss the point and one that clung too close to the original would be pointless and possibly hokey. I share his disappointment in the current trend of style over substance as CGi gimmickry has removed some of the charm and tangibility of special effects. I also don't think that the world needs another Fiend Without a Face and hopefully we won't get one from some other director.

In a similar vein to Them! and the Blob, Fiend Without a Face is one of the essential classic science fiction monster movies of the 20th Century. If you are unfamiliar with it, give it a look. It's amazing.

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[New post] The Avengers video game still a possibility

The Avengers video game still a possibility

dailypop | September 21, 2011 at 10:51 am | Tags: avengers marvel, avengers video game, captain america thor hulk iron man hawkeye black widow | Categories: Avengers, video games | URL: http://wp.me/p4kUt-36f

The Avengers has to be one of the most attractive comic books out there. Early on it offered readers more bang for their buck (or 35 cents) be including several superheroes in one adventure. What was more, the enemies were fiercer and the explosions bigger than anywhere else. From the center of the Earth to the end of time the enemies rose up to take down the team, and came very close each time.

Next year the Avengers will be released in live action as a feature film, combining several characters from Marvel Entertainment's successful projects to date. It will be huge.

The Avengers by Paul Pope

As with any big budget movie, a video game tie-in was planned. Sega worked on a next-gen first-person game that placed the gamer in control of the Avengers against the Skrull empire. This prompted the early theory that the Skrulls would feature in the 2012 film as the main threat (which has since been all but confirmed). The game was scrapped but footage of the in-production work has surfaced and is very impressive. It's strange to see a game like this adapted to the first-person style, but even so it looks nice.

Pre-alpha gameplay footage
watch?v=Tac6V3ivUJo

Recently, however, news has come out that the game may indeed be released. Perhaps the buzz online was great enough that it proved there was an interest from gamers and fans alike.

Via SuperHeroHype:

There may be some good news for fans that were hoping for a game based on Marvel's The Avengers. A first-person game for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC was previously in development at THQ Studio Australia and Blue Tongue Entertainment before THQ closed both studios and the game was canceled.

Unauthorized footage from the game has been hitting YouTube in recent weeks, but now comes news from Gamespot that the rights to the game are now back at Marvel.

"The rights for a video game based on Marvel's Avengers IP have reverted back to Marvel," a Marvel spokesperson told them, adding, "The company is in early stages of exploring potential publishing and licensing opportunities."

Of course, I'll always have fond memories of Captain America and the Avengers. That was a kick ass game.