I’m optimistic about tomorrow, but nervous. Let’s not think about it. Here are some trailers.

First up: Wong Kar Wai’s THE GRANDMASTERS, the other movie about Ip Man. (Sorry, no English subtitles.)

(read the rest of this shit…)

I’m kinda hesitant to write about this on Halloween, but holy shit, that’s crazy news that George Lucas sold off all his shit to Disney for $4 billion plus and that they’re gonna make STAR WARS 7, 8 and 9 and (if people are reading this right) 1o and 11 and 12 and 13 and more every two to three years until the superstorms swallow us up.

My initial thoughts:

1. I can’t help but see this as the Nerd Empire celebrating the expression of an individual artist making the official switch to a Franchise, a Property, a Trademark. I think I read something on the internet a while back about how some people only like the earlier Star Warses, but still. It was clearly the vision of one particular guy, who took independent film far beyond what anybody else ever did. There is something about even those prequels that you hate so much that is clearly him. Nobody else could or would make movies like that, both the good parts and the bad parts. And that’s why Star Wars is special. Not because of the pajamas that you remember you had. Although I’m sure they were great. (read the rest of this shit…)

Just want to say I hope all our friends on the east coast are safe and well during this storm. I guess you probly got no power to check in with us, but we look forward to hearing from you again when it’s over.

Here’s the trailer that John Hyams cut, starring a quote from our own Franchise Fred. This is way better than the previous trailer not only because it’s classier but also because it really captures the mysterious and ominous tone of the movie. I can testify to that now because shortly after midnight I checked the on demand section on my cable and sure enough it is available. I sure hope it plays in 3D in Seattle though ’cause that’s how I want to see it.

Give me some time to write my review, but I’ll give you a preview: DAY OF RECKONING is as shockingly different from REGENERATION as REGENERATION was from the other UniSols. But unlike some of the reviews I’ve seen I think that’s a good thing. It’s a puzzle and full of mystery, but I don’t think it’s nearly as confusing as some have reported. If you’re one of the people who tried to clock the amount of screen time that Jean-Claude and Dolph had in the last one, don’t ever watch this, you will cry. But you’re missing out. I loved it and I hope you will too.

http://youtu.be/ceBXUyuv4Q0

I got mixed feelings on this one. On one hand, it makes me sad to think that some kids are gonna be dumb and not ever watch the real EVIL DEAD. Also, on that same hand, there is really no need to re-do THE EVIL DEAD, which is a completely timeless movie that can’t really be recaptured, matched or topped.

On the other hand, this does look well done and fun. And I like that it’s Raimi and friends overseeing the inevitable recycling of their material, trying to do it right. This is what Wes Craven has done also and I believe he succeeded in the cases of THE HILLS HAVE EYES and LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT (though not THE HILLS HAVE EYES 2, sadly).

What I really love about this though is that it’s not, in this trailer anyway, comedic. THE EVIL DEAD does have some grim humor to it, like the choice of music for the end credits. But it is not a comedy, not a joke, it is a serious balls to the wall grab you by the face and slam you into the mud and then punch you in the back of the head type of drive-in fun time experience, or as the end credits so eloquently put it, “THE ULTIMATE EXPERIENCE IN GRUELING HORROR.” (I would’ve liked to see that phrase on this trailer.)

Because Bruce Campbell made the Ash persona so funny in the sequels and then turned himself into a cottage industry, we’ve had a couple generations now of horror fans that mainly think of EVIL DEAD as Ash saying “Hail to the king, baby.” And I love those movies (part 2 is my favorite of the trilogy) but I think that whole Ash thing has run its course and then lapped around and done like four or five victory laps and a reunion tour. Even the college kids have moved on to SHAUN OF THE DEAD as the go-to beginner cult horror movie. (or maybe that’s passe now too.)

What I’m saying is this is a rare set of circumstances where “rebooting” might be interesting. And by the way, I don’t want to see some bullshit fake Ash, so thank you for not doing that, remakers. I think we could use some grueling horror if it’s in the EVIL DEAD vein. Laughs can come later.

But holy shit, are they really bringing back the tree rape? Didn’t expect that.

A better trailer. Looks like a totally different movie than REGENERATION. Devereaux really is the bad guy now? Should be interesting.

thanks to Stu for the heads up