Posted in: Brain Blasters, News and Opinions by David Annandale on May 25th, 2007
On May 21, Bruno Mattei died. He was the director of uncounted low-end Italian exploitation films, occupying a niche of horror and sex (frequently both) not unlike that owned by Joe D’Amato. It would be stretching the truth rather too far to say that he left us some good films, but he did leave us some entertaining ones. Viewers wanting a taste of his work should steer clear of Hell of the Living Dead, a zombie film that unfortunately is as dull as it is ludicrous. But Rats: Night of Terror (1983...
Posted in: Dare to Play the Game, News and Opinions by Michael Durr on May 23rd, 2007
Metroid Prime 3 to the Wii, Xevious to the XBLA & GTA IV takes me to the poorhouse - Welcome to the column that is available now for only $.99 (plus a small fee) known as Dare to Play the Game.
Welcome to another edition of Dare to Play the Game. A rather brisk week for me, a lot of organization on my part. I took the liberty of cleaning up the house a bit since the assumption process was approved last week. My house could really be worth something in a few years but I'm...
Posted in: Highly Defined, News and Opinions by Archive Authors on May 21st, 2007
Hopefully the next generation format’s week to put in Thunderdome can bear some real fruit.
Well for the sake of relevance, Tuesday is THE week to be a supporter of the next generation formats. On the HD-DVD side, the Matrix films see their debut from Warner, with the extras from the Ultimate Matrix Collection for those who want them, and IMEs on each of the films. Meanwhile, Blu-ray buyers get to see both Pirates of the Caribbean films on two-disc editions, with Blu-ray exclusive content, and...
Posted in: Brain Blasters, News and Opinions by David Annandale on May 18th, 2007
It has been a commonplace for quite some time now to take for granted that the B-movie, as we used to know it, has died. The types of stories we used to get in those films, from, for the sake of argument, the 30s to the late 70s, have been taken over by the blockbusters. So we get the same narratives, but with budgets in excess of 100 million dollars. So not only has the B-pic lost its turf, but it has also lost its natural habitat. The drive-in is almost extinct, and anyway, it is almost impossible for such films to...
Posted in: Dare to Play the Game, News and Opinions by Michael Durr on May 16th, 2007
Catering to the Casual, Free XBLA & Marvel UA goes Golden - Welcome to the column that always provides entertainment for the lowest common denominator known as Dare to Play the Game.
Welcome to another edition of Dare to Play the Game. As of May 14th, 2007 @ 10:00am, I am officially single. So to all of the women that have been waiting for that once in a lifetime opportunity, please step forward. I'm waiting *tap tap*. Story of my life eh? I did happen to see Spiderman...
Posted in: Highly Defined, News and Opinions by Archive Authors on May 14th, 2007
This space here for rent for a small fee.
Not to harp on one particular subject, but it appears that any real substantiated news of the week focuses more on the hardware that the software. Onkyo is starting to roll out their new receivers, the ones that support HDMI 1.3. And late last week, Pioneer said that their Elite Models for this year will carry it as well, so to finally get a taste of things to come will be a welcome one. The other news turned out to be nothing more than an unsubstantiated rumor, as ...
Posted in: Brain Blasters, News and Opinions by David Annandale on May 11th, 2007
I’m going to run the horrible risk of coming across as the worst sort of “in my day” fuddy duddy this week. Oh well, he said, with a philosophical shrug of the shoulders.
So we’re a mere matter of weeks away from the release of Hostel: Part II, and no doubt another round of handwringing and analysis in the mainstream media about the popularity of the torture film (if the movie does well) or a celebration and analysis of its demise (if the flick bombs). Now, let’s be clear, I had a hoot at the first f...
Posted in: Dare to Play the Game, News and Opinions by Michael Durr on May 9th, 2007
I See Wii People, Double Dragon on Live, & Taito Legends 2 conspiracy - Welcome to the column that has died many times over and still kicking it known as Dare to Play the Game.
Welcome to another edition of Dare to Play the Game. This week has been particularly rough on me. Why may you ask? Well some of you know, some of you don't..and I'm usually a pretty open guy. So...*waits for dramatic effect*. I'm getting a divorce; actually it's been going on for quite sometime....
Posted in: Highly Defined, News and Opinions by Archive Authors on May 7th, 2007
And the number of Canadian teams left in the playoffs for Canada’s title is down to one.
Well what can I say, things are in their summer quietness, with very little to discuss. As this particular writer will be joining everyone else on vacation in several weeks, I can tell you it’ll be nice to go to Hawaii and tear myself away from the TV and high def players. General news doesn’t offer too much, other than Universal finally responding to their issues with Children of Men and The Good Shepherd...
Posted in: Brain Blasters, News and Opinions by David Annandale on May 4th, 2007
Personal confession time, though I doubt I am entirely alone in experiencing the following. One of the odd side-effects of the fact that, sooner or later, EVERYTHING is making its way to DVD, is that some of that some of the more deliciously sordid mysteries of one’s youth are fading in the harsh light of day. Nowhere is this more the case than in the realm of the exploitation film.
As I’ve mentioned in the past, I’m of an age that places me between two stools. I’m old enough to remember the grindhouses her...
