Horror, Fantasy & Science Fiction Films
The voice of Cinefantastique Online. Updates about what is happening on the website, along with opinion and analysis of the state of the horor, fantasy, and science fiction genres.
Dimension Films is so happy about the reaction to PIRANHA 3D that they have put out a press release announcing that a sequel is already in the works. The announcement is rather premature, reading more like a marketing ploy to boost the box office fortunes of PIRANHA 3D’s current theatrical release than like a legitimate announcement …
There seems to be something inherent in human nature – and I’m no exception – that makes us more eager to complain than to praise. I guess it makes sense: if every thing’s going along fine, you just take it for granted and go about your business; but if something offends, you raise hell in …
Read More “Sense of Wonder: Somebody likes me – or at least my review of Despicable Me”
Should horror, fantasy and science fiction fans with large DVD collections upgrade to Blu-ray? Read on for the experience of one DVD hold-out who finally made the change.
In this post about SAW 3-D, being touted as the finale installment in the Jigsaw saga, Lionsgate president Jason Constantine makes the following statement about the longevity of the SAW franchise: “You can count on one hand the franchises that lasted seven years — and every year, no less,” says Jason Constantine, Lionsgate’s president of …
Read More “Sense of Wonder: Counting Horror, Fantasy & Sci-Fi Franchises on One Hand?”
Over at the Kansas City Star, in a review of THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE titled ‘The magic is lost to all but young viewers, Jason Heck asks the rhetorical question: “Ever wonder what the “Harry Potter” films would be like without an ounce of wit, grace or subtlety?”
To which I reply: We don’t need THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE to tell us that!
M. Night Shyamalan owes audiences an apology. Paramount pictures owes viewers a refund. Not for the overall defectivness of THE LAST AIRBENDER (although there is that). Rather, they owe us for the abominable 3-D presentation, which costs consumers an extra $4 per ticket – money that could be far more entertainingly used by bending it …
Read More “Sense of Wonder: The Last Airbender is no Avatar, and it's time to boycott bad 3-D”
Barbara Steele in BLACK SUNDAY, one of the great horror films of 1960.
PSYCHO recently celebrated its 50th anniversary, but it is not the only classic horror, fantasy, or science fiction film released 50 years ago. 1960 also gave us BRIDES OF DRACULA, CITY OF THE DEAD, EYES WITHOUT A FACE, JOGOKU, and many others worth remembering.
This Tuesday, wearing my other hat – as proprietor of Hollywood Gothique, the website of Fantasy Films, Mystery Movies, Halloween Horror and Sci-Fi Cinema Events in Los Angeles – I attended the press preview of the new “King Kong 360 3-D” attraction, which opens today at Universal Studios Hollywood. For those who don’t recall, Universal’s …
Read More “Sense of Wonder: King Kong stomps onto Universal Studios”
A couple days ago, R. Patrick Alberty weighed in on the subject of whether JAWS (1975) ruined the modern Hollywood blockbuster. The inspiration for Alberty’s piece was this editorial by Ross Douthat, defending JAWS and STAR WARS against charges made by John Podhoretz and David Edelstein. I wanted to weigh in on the subject, not …
Read More “Sense of Wonder: Was Hollywood ruined by Star Wars and Jaws?”
It seems the latest incarnation of DOCTOR WHO, played by Matt Smith, is engendering some controversy across the Atlantic, due to the short skirts worn by current travelling companionAmy Pond (Karen Gillan), which are considered “too sexy” by certain Brit viewers. Ms. Gillan is not the only one accused of exposing too much skin: There …