Digital Camcorder Redux

Old School Friday: Teen Witch

One of my favorite films from back in the day was Teen Witch. Robyn Lively was the titular teen witch, Lousie. Dan Gauthier was her ‘oh so dreamy’ object of desire Brad. And Zelda Rubenstein (Poltergeist) played her cooky but lovable mentor, Madame Serena.

Teen Witch (1989) vhs cover

The movie doesn’t really make much sense and borders dangerously close to becoming a musical. But it’s fantastic, I tell you! It’s better if you really don’t know much. If you need a primer, check out the “Top That” scene that Sasha Frere Jones posted on his blog. It totally reminded me of why I love Teen Witch.

Check it:

Dear god, I hope that Teen Witch with Ashley Tisdale remake dies in development hell. I feel like the 1989 version was able to work because the climate of late eighties accepted its over the top spirit. In today’s film market, I fear it would come off as one of those INSERT GENRE movie movies like Not Another Teen Movie. I’d probably make a more entertaining homage to the original film with my friends simply reenacting the dance scenes. All you really need is someone with an inch more of charisma than that High School Reunion girl, some eighties costumes and a decent Panasonic digital camcorder.

If you liked that digital taste of Teen Witch from above, you should buy it on dvd today. It’s so cheap what could it hurt? I guarantee it’ll bring a smile to your face.

August 22, 2008   No Comments

Death Race 2008

The new Death Race definitely has an asinine premise much like the original Death Race 2000 with Sylvester Stallone. Nevertheless, I’ll watch it because I’ll pay money to see Jason Statham “act”, run, kick, and jump in just about anything.

Jason Statham in Death Race

It looks like a cross between The Running Man (the run for your freedom or die trying bit), Escape from Alcatraz (the prison bit), and 2 Fast 2 Furious (The Tyrese and car racing bit)!

Trailer Check:

Besides having Jason on point, the filmmakers throw in a little evil Joan Allen, Tyrese, non-descript hot girl, and Ian McShane (HBO’s “Deadwood”). I predict that by the end of the film, Joan Allen’s character will have her plans foiled when the wrongfully imprisoned Jason Statham character wins the “race”. The rest of Death Race will be filled with nonsensical action sequences and bad one-liners. Hopefully, it’ll at least be as entertaining as Transporter 2. I’m not really asking for much.

August 13, 2008   No Comments

The Day the Earth Stood Still

The Day the Earth Stood Still, a science fiction classic, is being remade with Keanu Reeves as the alien messenger Klatu.

Trailer Check:

There’s still some robot Gort action, but the melodramatic seriousness of the trailer really turns me off. It conjures up memories of The Day After Tomorrow, a disaster movie overwrought with bad dialogue and special effects. I do think Jaden Smith (The Pursuit of Happyness) is adorable and using using his childlike POV of the situation may be an improvement over the original. And Jennifer Connolly is a talented actress, so here’s hoping her emoting skills aren’t squandered in this flick. I just hope they don’t muck it up with a stupid twist ending or bad pacing.

Find a comic-con breakdown of The Day the Earth Stood Still preview clips at /Film.

July 29, 2008   No Comments

Live Action Cowboy Bebop? Please No.

“Cowboy Bebop” was one of my first Adult Swim cartoon addictions. I’ve seen every episode and love watching them when AS shows them every now and again. Seeing how it’s one of my favorites, I’m not exactly thrilled that Fox may be developing a live action remake.

Cowboy Bebop: The Movie

I understand that other anime remakes are in production and Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (cartoon version that is) did well, so I suppose it sounds like a viable proposition. But maybe we should wait to see if Leonardo DiCaprio’s Akira goes over well first? Though even then, I still rather them just put out another anime movie.

Source: Firstshowing.net

July 24, 2008   No Comments

Punisher: War Zone

Lexi Alexander (director of Green Street Hooligans) is finally back on the scene with Punisher: War Zone. Maybe the director will bring an interesting feminine edge to all those violent action scenes.

Trailer Check:

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July 2, 2008   1 Comment