Crawl: Simply Intense
By Brad Munson (The Dark Multiverse of Stephen King)
For all its splashing, thrashing, and–quietly literally–gnashing, Crawl is something of a relief. Make no mistake, this latest entry in the Animal as Monster horror/action subgenre that slithers all the way back to Jaws and beyond is intense. But it’s simple, too, in the best possible way: you’ve got a couple of characters you care about fighting to survive a big, relentless hungry animal with time running out. Will they live or die? Hang on to find out.
It’s straightforward, it’s linear, is easy to follow. You’ve got a tough college girl, a swimmer at UF Gainesville, who goes to fetch her estranged father before a big-ass hurricane hits, and ends up in a crumbling, flooding house with a wounded Dad and an alligator. Check that, a whole bunch of alligators. And really, that’s all you need to know. It’s the Florida Swamp. In a hurricane. It’s alligators, man. Enjoy.
Directed by Alexandre Aja, who gave us one of The Hills Have Eyes movies and the exemplary (?) Piranha 3D almost ten years ago, this is a well-made action flick without a wasted breath or missed jump-scare. And Michael and Shawn Rasmussen, who gave us John Carpenter’s The Ward a few years back and wrote and directed The Inhabitants, know what they’re doing when it comes to high-tension action. But English actress Kaya Scodelario, who you may remember for the Maze Runner movies or one of the Pirates of the Caribbean flicks, is the one who really holds this movie together. She’s in virtually every scene, and brings a tough, smart, never-give-up credibility that transcends your basic Final Girl trope. (And if she isn’t an Olympics-level swimmer in real life, she sure looks like it.) She is tough, and the next time you get caught in a flooding house full of alligators, you’ll want her to be with you. The only other actor worth remembering is Barry Pepper, who’s one of Those Guys; he’s a stand-up pro whose face you’ll recognize from a million things, and who delivers the flawed-but-brave Dad role right when he needs to. There are other people in Crawl, too, but almost none of them are named and almost none of them have more than a few lines before…well, you know, chomp. Don’t get too attached.
Almodóvar’s Pain and Glory Opening in LA and NY October 4
In Almodóvar’s Pain and Glory tells of a series of reencounters experienced by Salvador Mallo, a film director in his physical decline. Some of them in the flesh, others remembered: his childhood in the 60s, when he emigrated with his parents to a village in Valencia in search of prosperity, the first desire, his first adult love in the Madrid of the 80s, the pain of the breakup of that love while it was still alive and intense, writing as the only therapy to forget the unforgettable, the early discovery of cinema, and the void, the infinite void that creates the incapacity to keep on making films. Pain and Glory talks about creation, about the difficulty of separating it from one’s own life and about the passions that give it meaning and hope. In recovering his past, Salvador finds the urgent need to recount it, and in that need he also finds his salvation.
Starring: Antonio Banderas, Penélope Cruz, and Asier Etxeandia. the film is written and directed by Pedro Almodóvar.
IT Chapter Two: A Challenging Achievement in Horror and Adaptation
Brad Munson got a chance to see IT: Chapter Two, arguably the most highly anticipated horror movie of the summer, in an early screening. As a long-time Stephen King fan (and a horror writer himself), as well as the co-host of a weekly podcast called The Dark Multiverse of Stephen King, he seemed like the ideal person to talk about the movie, how it measures up to Chapter One, and how King fans, horror fans, and movie fans in general might react to Andy Muschietti’s massive three-hour conclusion of the IT saga.
Taking a widely beloved book like It (or The Shining or The Stand or Salem’s Lot before it) is risky business, to say the least. Adaptations of King’s books have often been lackluster or just plain bad; you can count the (generally agreed-upon) successful film or TV versions on the fingers of one hand: Shawshank Redemption, Stand By Me, The Green Mile, maybe The Mist and the first version of Carrie…and then there’s everything else. And there’s plenty “else.”
How does the new version of IT, both Chapters One and Two measure up? They are certainly as beautifully made as the best of the King adaptations, and some of the performances, especially Bill Skarsgård as the evil clown-creature Pennywise, as absolutely amazing. But the two films–taken together and separately–are rich and complicated and long; they move very quickly and demand a lot more from the audience than a normal ‘horror’ movie…in part because the horror is often not the center of the story: the center is the relationship between the six children (and later the five adults) that form The Loser’s Club, and how they come to understand that they will perish as individuals, but can make miracles if they work together.
The young actors who brought the characters of Bill Denbrough, Beverly Marsh, Richie Tozier and the rest to life in Chapter One are still very much present in Chapter Two, even though their adult versions, played with grace and power by folks like James McAvoy, Jessica Chastain, and Bill Hader, are center stage. Together they have a hell of a job: to confront the re-emergent evil of Pennywise twenty-seven years after ITs first appearance, to rediscover the friendships of youth that they had almost completely forgotten, and to both uncover the origin and finally destroy a creature that is literally millions of years old.
Giveaway! John Wick Chapter 3: Parabellum!
*Contest Closed. Thank you for participating, stay tuned for our next GIVEAWAY!
We have THREE Copies of John Wick Chapter 3: Parabellum for THREE lucky winners.
Would you like to win a copy? Then just click here to send us an email with your name and address (no P.O. Box).
We’ll draw the winners at 6P (PT), Wednesday, September 11! Please follow and share our social media pages: Twitter, Facebook, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
In John Wick Chapter 3: Parabellum, the Super-Assassin is Back on Digital now and on 4K Ultra HD™ Combo Pack, Blu-ray™ Combo Pack, and DVD on September 10 from Lionsgate ®.
**Disclaimer: U.S. Residents ONLY/NO P.O. Box. Only one entry per household. Entries on behalf of another person will not be accepted and joint submissions are not allowed. We will not accept entries of contestants who have claimed a prize in the last 6 months.
*Blu-ray or DVD based on availability.
GIVEAWAY! Advance Screening Passes for Hustlers
*Contest Closed. Thank you for participating, stay tuned for our next GIVEAWAY!
Giveaway! In the Los Angeles area, we have 50 pairs of an advance screening of Hustlers.
The plot: Hustlers follows a crew of savvy former strip club employees who band together to turn the tables on their Wall Street clients.
*Download a FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVED screening pass by clicking the Poster. Screening will take place on Wednesday, September 11 @ 7:30P (Have your pass ready to show at the door).
Follow the instructions in your pass and share your excitement using #HustlersMovie and #SeFijaOnline. ENJOY!
(*Each Pass is good for 2 seats)
Los Angeles (50 Pairs)
http://stxtickets.com/HUSTLERSSEFIJA
• Click the poster to download your passes.
Interview with Aladdin’s Choreographer Jamal Sims
Jamal Sims and Angela Ortíz
In celebration of the upcoming release of Aladdin on Digital and Blu-ray, we got a chance to dance with and interview legendary choreographer, Jamal Sims (Step Up, Descendants 3, So You Think You Can Dance). We experience firsthand some of Aladdin and Genie’s dance moves. I tell you, it was a workout.
Now check out the full interview below. Photos: ©2019 Angela María Ortíz S.
Interview with Tod@s Caen Martha Higareda, Miri Higareda and Claudia Álvarez
We got to talk to the female leads of Pantelion’s Tod@s Caen, Martha Higareda, Miri Higareda and Claudia Álvarez. In Spanglish.
In an all-out battle of the sexes, Martha Higareda (Queen of the South, Altered Carbon) tells us how she came up with the film premise. Watch and listen to her funny story in the video interview below.
Higareda not only co-wrote the film with Cory Brusseau; she is one of the producers, along with her sister Miriam Higareda (El Chema), .
L-r Miri Higareda, Angela Ortíz, Martha Higareda and Claudia Álvarez
Synopsis: Following up their success on the record-breaking No Manches Frida 2, Omar Chaparro and Martha Higareda pair up again for the big screen with the hilarious romantic comedy TOD@S CAEN. Adán (Chaparro) is a charming seducer who believes he knows how to make any woman swoon. He prepares to teach his friends the art of conquering women, using his array of bullet-proof rules of seduction. Mia (Higareda) is an ambitious producer that dreams of having her own TV show on women empowerment called “Todos Caen,” a strategic guide to dating that teaches you just how to hook a man—and have him eating from the palm of your hand in no time.
Todos Caen also stars Consuelo Duval, Anabel Ferreira, Edgar Vivar, Mauricio Barrientos, and Santiago Michel. In theaters August 30. — A.O.
El Norte Returns to Movie Theaters for One Day Only!
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with the Oscar-nominated El Norte, in select theaters Sunday September 15 at 2pm and get a free 1 month trial from Pantaya.
El Norte, the epic, widely acclaimed masterpiece about the dreams of immigrants and the promise of America, will return to movie theaters in select markets this September in a special one-day-only 35th anniversary presentation from Fathom Events and Lionsgate.
ANGELA MARÍA ORTÍZ S. PHOTOGRAPHY
Blu-ray and DVD Releases
Laugh Out Loud with The Wayans Bros.: The complete series coming to DVD on February 4.
Premiering in 1995, The Wayans Bros. quickly became a fan favorite with its hilarious mix of family dynamics, quirky characters, and memorable one-liners. Following the misadventures of two distinctly different brothers sharing an apartment in New York City, the series was a cultural touchstone for ’90s television blending physical humor, clever wit, and heartfelt moments.
The Wayans Bros. was created by Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Leslie Ray, and David Steven Simon.
° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° °
Regular Show: The Complete Series is coming to DVD. Enjoy the hit series on February 4.
About the series: Regular Show follows the lives of best friends Mordecai and Rigby, whose lazy afternoon adventures always seem to be interrupted by zombies and misadventures with their gang of friends Benson, Pops, Muscle Man, Hi-Five Ghost, Skips, Thomas, Margaret and Eileen or sometimes even dealing with Death himself.
Created by JG Quintel and produced by Cartoon Network Studios, the series originally premiered in September 2010 and remains to be a massive hit with new and old fans alike.
Regular Show: The Complete Series, includes all 245 episodes created over the years, including specials, and a movie.
° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° °
The Last of Us: The Complete First Season available for the first time ever in a 4K Ultra HD Steelbook limited-edition collectable on March 18.
In anticipation of the Season 2 premiere of The Last of Us on HBO, catch up on all nine episodes of the critically-acclaimed first season, along with nearly 3 hours of special features!
Synopsis: The Last of Us takes place 20 years after modern civilization has been destroyed. Joel (Pedro Pascal), a hardened survivor, is hired to smuggle Ellie (Bella Ramsey), a 14-year-old girl, out of an oppressive quarantine zone. What starts as a small job soon becomes a brutal and heartbreaking journey as they both must traverse the U.S. and depend on each other for survival.
° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° °
Moana 2 is now available at Digital retailers, and will be released on 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD March 18.
Synopsis: Moana 2 reunites Moana (Auli’i Cravalho and Maui (Dwayne Johnson) three years later for an expansive new voyage alongside a crew of unlikely seafarers. After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she’s ever faced. Directed by David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller.
Kakamora Chronicles–Ever wanted to know more about the Kakamora? Gather
’round while Moni, everyone’s favorite Motunui historian, tells the tales from real
Solomon Island folklore surrounding the mysterious and unforgettable beings known as
the Kakamora.
Fun in the Booth–Step inside the recording booth with the brilliant and talented actors of Moana 2 for some creative fun as they bring their characters to life.
Deleted Scenes–Overall introduction to deleted scenes by directors.
° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° °
Shameless The complete series. All 134 episodes from theEmmy® Award Winning series will be available to purchase on DVD March 18.
Synopsis: Meet Frank Gallagher (William H. Macy): proud, working-class patriarch to a motley brood of six smart, spirited and independent kids who, without him, would be…better off. In Frank’s booze-addled view, parenting just eats into his hard-earned bar-crawling time around Chicago–so he leaves it to eldest daughter Fionna (Emmy Rossum) to hold down the fort. Bearing the de facto parent badge/burden, she’s donned the proverbial apron and makes sure her younger siblings do their chores, keep a clean-ish home, and everyone (no matter how small) works to keep the house lights on, as well as food on the table. Brothers Lip (Jeremy Allen White), Ian (Cameron Monaghan), and Carl (Ethan Cutkosky) use their intellect to break every rule in the book to survive and make the bank, while younger sister Debbie (Emma Kenney) would sooner steal her share, Toddle Liam (Christian Isaiah), the youngest, is just happy to be along for the ride. The Gallaghers are irreverent, endearing, resilient–and they’re absolutely, wildly and unapologetically Shameless.
Favorite Shot of the Day
Podcast
You can also listen to any episode of all of the podcast at thebradmunson.com
Piece by Piece by MoonBear
