CFQ Laserblast Podcast 2:19.2: I Am Number Four, Solaris, L'Age d'Or & More

Death and Resurrection in SOLARIS (1972).
Death and Resurrection in SOLARIS (1972).

In this edition of Cinefantastique’s weekly round-up of horror, fantasy, and science fiction films on home video, Lawrence French, Dan Persons, and Steve Biodrowski gag and guffaw over new releases I AM NUMBER FOUR, GNOMEO & JULIET, and DEATH HUNTER: WEREWOLVES VS. VAMPIRES. If the new titles leave something to be desired, your trio of CFQ correspondents find solace in some older films making comebacks on DVD and/or Blu-ray: SOLARIS, Tarkovsky’s 197s masterpiece of science fiction; L’AGE D’OR, the surreal collaboration between Luis Bunuel and Salvador Dali; and TWIN DRAGONS, a martial arts comedy starring Jackie Chan as identical twins, separated and birth but linked by a psychic connection. Also out on home video this week:  FERTILE GROUND, IMPOSTER, and more.

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Gnomeo, Vanishing & We Are What We Are: CFQ Round Table 2:7

GNOMEO AND JULIET

This week offers a wide-ranging edition of the Cinefantastique Round Table Podcast, including capsule reviews by Dan Persons of three films currently in release: GNOMEO & JULIET, Disney’s animated adaptation of Shakespeare; VANISHING ON 7TH STREET, an independent film with a TWILIGHT ZONE vibe making its way around the country with art house engagements; and WE ARE WHAT WE ARE, a cannibal horror story from IFC Films, currently playing exclusively in New York. Also up for discussion: the news that Michelle Pfeiffer is being courted to play Elizabeth Collins in DARK SHADOWS, the big-screen adaptation of the Gothic soap opera, set to be directed by Tim Burton with Johnny Depp as reluctant vampire Barnabas Collins.  And Steve Biodrowski celebrates Christopher Lee’s recent BAFTA Fellowship Award with a double-bill screening of SCREAM OF FEAR and THE GORGON. All this, plus the usual round-up of news, theatrical events, and home video releases.

Gnomeo & Juliet: February 11

Disney opens its latest computer-animated comedy nationwide, including 3D engagements. As you have probably guessed from the title, this is a skewed adaptation of Shakespeare’s play ROMEO AND JULIET, with gnomes. Pretty high concept, huh? Kelly Asbury directed from a screenplay co-written with eight other writers (not counting the Immortal Bard). The voice cast includes James McAvoy and Emily BLunt as the title characters, Jason Statham as Tybalt, Michael Caine as Lord Redbrick, Maggie Smith as Lady Blueberry, Patrick Stewart as Bill Shakespeare, Julie Walters as Miss Montague, Dolly Parton as Dolly, Hulk Hogan as the Terrafirmenator, and Ozzy Osbourne as Fawn.
gnomeo poster 2011_gnomeo_and_juliet_001 gnomeo_and_juliet GNOMEO AND JULIET Gnomeo-And-Juliet Gnomeo-and-Juliet-3-006