Random Fun

Whenever the 31 Nights of Terror rolls around, I find myself trying to be a little creative or come up with something different. Now, at first glance, a few top five lists does not scream any sort of real creativity. However, these are not your conventional list five movies and have intellectual conversation where everybody just ends up disagreeing. Oh no, I guarantee you will smile, laugh or at least be encouraged to write my webmaster and demand that I go back to my old job of stalking Alyssa Milano at baseball games. Now that's really creepy. Let's go shall we?

(By the way, this is satire. If you are offended, there is always the 4E Awards tomorrow which are done with honor, dignity and respect. But what do I say to that? Neener, neener gooblie goo!)

Faithful readers might remember the name David Annandale. He's been a member of the Upcomingdisc family since it started. You may have also noticed he hasn't been reviewing much of late. That's because he's busy getting his novels published. That's right our man David is hitting the big time. We want you to check him out. So, here's an excerpt from his exceptional horror book: Gethsemane Hall.

In the dream, he was back at St. Rose’s Church, going through the funeral again. He knew he was dreaming because he felt the pain of repetition, sensed the sadism of a force that would make him experience ritualized loss once again. Knowing that he was dreaming didn’t diminish the pain. The anguish pressed him down, a granite weight, as he tried to stand for the hymn. The injustice of the re-enactment was colossal and could only be for the benefit of a cruel deity’s amusement. Something was laughing at him. He looked up. Standing above the altar was a large wooden crucifix, its Christ bigger than life. The Christ was laughing at him. Now he was looking at the face in close-up, was staring into its wide mouth, could see where the red paint of its throat had chipped, saw lips peeled back from tree-ringed teeth. He couldn’t see Christ’s eyes. He couldn’t see anything but the laugh, the maw of red disappearing to black. The laugh itself was looking at him, the mouth so contorted with mirth that the very expression had become sentient. He tried to yell back at it, to give back his hatred, but the laugh was too huge, too strong, visible even when he closed his eyes. The laugh grew from howl to tsunami roar. Its register climbed hysteria’s ladder, from exultation to frenzy, and finally it was the scream of the heart of the universe.

Master storytellers Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz (executive producers of Lost and writers of TRON: Legacy) invite audiences to experience an intriguing twist to the classic fairytales of Snow White, Pinocchio, Red Riding Hood and many more in their thrilling new fantasy series Once Upon A Time. Packed with enchanting icons from the world’s most beloved stories, the show stars a host of talented actors including Ginnifer Goodwin, Josh Dallas, Jennifer Morrison, Lana Parrilla and Robert Carlyle.

We chat to actress Jennifer Morrison – who plays Emma Swan in the show – to find out more…

With the first season of Once Upon A Time about to be released on Blu-ray and DVD, we catch up with acclaimed actress Ginnifer Goodwin to discover more about the fantasy show. What does Ginnifer think of the two characters she plays? Why does she think the series has become so popular? And what secrets can she uncover about the first season? Read on for the answers…

Congratulations on a hugely successful first season, Ginnifer. Why do you think Once Upon A Time has had such an impact on audiences around the world?

ABC’s popular thriller Revenge follows the story of Emily Thorne [played by Emily VanCamp], a new arrival in the Hamptons. By all appearances, Emily is a friendly and sophisticated ‘girl next door’, whose disarming charm and generosity allow her seamless access to the restricted circles of Hamptons’ high society. But the affluent, exclusive world she’s immersed herself in is tied to a dark family history, and Emily Thorne is anything but what she seems. When Emily was just nine years old, her father was framed for a horrific crime by neighbors he trusted, and was sentenced to life in prison. Emily never saw her father again and spent her childhood consumed by rage, loss and betrayal.

Now, 17 years later, she has returned under an assumed identity with one endgame: REVENGE. Emily’s goal is unwavering, and her sharp mind is always five steps ahead. However, when her past begins to catch up, her true heart may get caught in the crossfire as she prepares to battle with Victoria and Conrad Grayson [played by Madeleine Stowe and Henry Czerny]; the high-brow Hamptons couple that hide many of the secrets about the events that destroyed Emily’s life.

As promised, here's more in our weekend coverage of Pixar's Brave. On Sunday we'll be posting a review. In the meantime check out this Witch's Brew.

Hitting the Nuts is an independent poker film about an annual small-town poker tournament and the players that play in it.  Similar to the movie The Grand, this film was done in a "mockumentary"-style format but with a cast of unknown actors.  The movie centers around several larger-than-life characters.  There is Ezekiel Yoder, played by director Joe Boyd, an Amish farmer who has lost everything and is playing in this tournament in order to save his farm. Carol Marshal is a redhead waitress in her mid 40's who is the eternal flirt but is also crafty at the poker table.  Dean Livy is a two-time champion of the event who is a mix of Phil Hellmuth and the 40-year-old virgin.

Other characters include a pastor whose wife is the real leader of the family, a common-law couple who run the local funeral home and the tournament, a father and son team where the father constantly embarrasses the son, and the local mayor who isn't as daft as players think he is.

When you think of Steven Spielberg you often think of Aliens and Dinosaurs. War Horse has been a labor of love for the director. The film follows the story of an incredible horse through World War I and a young man's will to be reunited. It's one of those perfect family movies for the holidays. I strongly recommend you check it out. We're going to run a series of non-exclusive interviews this week. Keep checking for more coverage of War Horse. This interview is with Bobby Lovgren, who trained the horses for the film.

BOBBY LOVGREN (Horse Trainer) was born in South Africa into an equestrian family. He grew up surrounded by horses and developed the confidence and skills necessary to become both an accomplished rider and trainer.

With Thanksgiving Day upon us we've decided that what we're thankful for this year is all of our faithful readers and supporters.

Happy Thanksgiving Day!

HOLLYWOOD, CA (November 15, 2011) – Paramount Home Entertainment (PHE) invites fans across the country to enter into the world of mystery and adventure created by director J.J. Abrams in his sensational coming-of-age story SUPER 8with a unique Twitter promotion.  In celebration of the film’s home entertainment debut on November 22, PHE will hide Blu-ray/DVD Combo Packs signed by J.J. Abrams in 20 cities across the U.S. and Canada and begin offering clues to the locations today via the film’s @Super8Movie Twitter account and Super8Tweet.com.  Each day, the clues will get more specific until all of the prizes are found.

Consumers who find the Blu-ray/DVD Combo Packs will not only receive a copy of the film autographed by the director, but will have a chance to win additional prizes, including tickets to the premiere of Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol, a collection of Abrams’ films on Blu-ray, additional signed merchandise and more.