Soda Pictures/Jinga Films to Re-release Julian Richards Summer Scars

Soda Pictures has announced the UK DVD re-release of Julian Richards' BAFTA winning hostage horror SUMMER SCARS with a street day of May 6th 2013.

SUMMER SCARS tells the story of a gang of delinquents who ditch school to hang out in the woods where some hot rodding on a stolen moped changes the fate of their day. They crash into Peter, an ex-army loner, who is delighted to have some company. First he gains their trust by joining in their games, but then his behaviour begins to change. Peter uses what he has learned about the kids against them, bullying the aplha boys, belittling the weaker ones and saving his worst for the only girl of the group. As events spiral out of control the youths resort to extreme measures in order to survive the ordeal.

SUMMER SCARS re-unites Richards with lead actor Kevin Howarth, the dynamic director/actor team behind cult sensation THE LAST HORROR MOVIE. Richards has since directed the forthcoming Hollywood thriller SHIVER starring Danielle Harris, John Jarratt and Casper Van Dien, whilst Howarth has starred alongside Wesley Snipes in GALLOWWALKER and Sean Pertwee in THE SEASONING HOUSE.



Pre-Order/ Buy:Summer Scars On DVD

Terracotta Film Club To Present Special Screening of Samurai masterpiece Lady Snowblood

Terracotta Film Club will present a Japanese classic from legendary director Toshiya Fujita for its 4th edition.

This blood-splattered Samurai masterpiece from the golden age of Japanese cult cinema is credited as the main inspiration for Quentin Tarantino’s KILL BILL series.

LADY SNOWBLOOD is a 1973 Japanese film based on a manga and set in 17th century Japan. The film follows Yuki (Meiko Kaji) on her quest for vengeance against those who killed her father, brother and raped her mother, all before she was even born.

'Terracotta Film Club' organisers are delighted to continue showing Asian films regularly on the big screen and this opportunity to show LADY SNOWBLOOD fits perfectly among the other influential classic and contemporary Asian films showcased in the previous months.

Terracotta Film Club will take place every last Wednesday of the month at the Prince Charles Cinema, London



Terracotta Film Club will take place every last Wednesday of the month at the Prince Charles Cinema, London.Lady Snowblood will be screened on Wednesday 24 April at 8.45pm doors open / 9pm film starts. Ticket price: £ 6.50 (Prince Charles cinema members £ 4.00)book your tickets now from here

Synopsis

Meiko Kaji (Female Prisoner Scorpion / Blind Woman’s Curse) is Yuki, a women raised from birth for one terrible, blood splattered purpose...To murder those who raped her mother and left her to rot in a stinking women’s prison, where she died in childbirth. Trained in deadly fighting arts and fatal sword play, Lady Snowblood is cursed to wander the lands in pursuit of her single purpose. She is a demon of vengeance, only sated by the crimson blood of those who stole her mother from her.
Lady Snowblood is a 1973 Japanese film based on a manga called Shurayukihime by Kazuo Koike (Lone Wolf and Cub) and Kazuo Kamimura. Lady Snowblood’s theme song, Shura No Hana, sung by Meiko Kaji (translated by Tarantino as The Flower of Carnage) is also used in Kill Bill, Vol. 1.

The Echo DVD Review

The Echo (2008) is one of those films which sounds good on paper, but unfortunately fails to deliver on its promises. Promoted as a tense and creepy thriller, this mystery / horror by Yam Laranas and starring Jesse Bradford and Amelia Warner, is heavy on pseudo shocks but light on pretty much everything else.

Bobby (Bradford), just released after serving a prison sentence, is determined to go straight. Moving into his late mother's old apartment in a period block in downtown Manhattan, he gets a job at a local garage run by the well meaning Hector, and tracks down his old girlfriend Alyssa (Warner) who reluctantly begins seeing him again. However after a series of strange incidents in his apartment, Bobby and Alyssa realise that something malevolent and evil is living in the block and isn't about to leave without a fight.

This film had all the potential of being a good little chiller. Set in a suitably creepy, run down Manhattan period apartment block, peopled with equally odd residents à la Rosemary's Baby (1968). Two sexy young kids as the main protagonists, who in theory could have made a seriously hot couple. And amongst the producers, Roy Lee, who has been responsible for producing a host of hits including the infinitely superior The Woman in Black (2012).

However one can't help feel when the final credits roll that the film you've just watched wasn't really the one the filmmakers intended. The setting appears to have been shot in a series of mottled and half lit tones of off brown, whilst the interiors of the apartments look depressingly old fashioned throughout. Though their dodgy plumbing and crumbling walls make for one of the main plot points, a few leaky cisterns do not make for particularly convincing paranormal phenomena. As for the young couple, Bradford seems to believe that horror acting consists of looking moody and put upon whilst Warner, though injecting slightly more life into her performance, is wasted in a role which amounts to little more than window dressing. Which leaves you with the producers. Alarm bells should always ring when you see that a film requires twelve producers - what can twelve produces do on one film? After seeing this limp excuse you could be forgiven for asking whether they were actually doing anything at all.

The film's one saving grace is the Cuban actor Carlos Leon who plays Bobby's boss Hector. An accomplished actor both on film and the Broadway stage, Leon's other great claim to fame is being the father of Madonna's daughter Lourdes - but hey, we won't hold that against him. Here he actually makes his character believable and, dare I say it, nice - but we all know what happens to the nice guys in horror movies!!

Despite its best efforts The Echo leaves you with little more of a brief frisson of excitement, rather than a lingering echo of disquiet. As such it will likely be forgotten almost as soon as the DVD player is switched off.

Cleaver Patterson

★★☆☆☆

Rating: 15
DVD Release Date: 8th April 2013 (UK)
Director: Yam Laranas
Cast: Jesse Bradford, Amelia Warner, Carlos Leon, Kevin Durand
Buy: The Echo On DVD

Video Game Martial Arts Shernnigans in U.S Trailer For Tai Chi Hero

When you have your own movie website it can be extremely frustrating when you post trailers for films your unlikely to see especially been based in UK. Stepehen Fung's Tai Chi O is one of those films I'm intrigued to see before I even get a glimpse at that film, the follow up film Tai Chi Hero has a new trailer out in time for it's American release. If you have been fortunate to see Tai Chi O you'll know its a madcap film combining steampunk with martial arts, funny, entertaining plenty of action whilst at the same time been 100% respectful to the ancients arts. Tai Chi Hero even has the one and only Peter Storamore playing the film's villain Duke flemming the Dutch East India Company, an actor whose become of cinematic expert at playing the baddie with a fun precision.

Tai Chi Hero will get a limited release in USA on 26th April and stars Yuan Xiaochao, Qi Shu, Tony Leung Ka Fai



Synopsis
Lu Chan (Jayden Yuan) is still trying to find his place in Chen Village, the legendary town where everyone is a martial arts master...and Chen-style Tai Chi is forbidden to outsiders. But since he helped save the town from a frightening steam-powered machine, Yuniang (Angelababy), beautiful daughter of Grandmaster Chen (Tony Leung Ka-Fai), agrees to marry Lu Chan and bring him into the family. It's only a formality, though - she is the teacher, and he is the student - and that suits Lu Chan just fine, as the mutant horn on his head gives him incredible kung-fu power, but leaves him dumber each time, and closer to death.

Chen Village still stands in the shadow of danger. A prodigal brother returns, Lu Chan's presence invokes a curse on the town, and Yuniang's scorned fiancée has an appetite for revenge, as well as some new partners in crime.

The second in a trilogy from the creators of IP MAN and DETECTIVE DEE, and featuring action directed by the legendary Sammo Hung, TAI CHI HERO is a full-on, steampunk-infused, video game-influenced kung fu throwdown that will knock you out of your seat.

source:Twitch

Thursday Till Sunday (De jueves a domingo) Review

Adding her young yet considerable talent to the burgeoning world of Chilean cinema is Dominga Sotomayor. Her incredibly assured debut feature Thursday Till Sunday (De Jueves a Domingo) takes the template of a road movie to explore themes of innocence amid the breakdown of a family. Confining the tale of a family’s trip to the beaches of northern Chile largely to within a car, hers is a stylish and original take on a well worn genre.

Aware of the fractious nature these car-locked journeys can take on, TTS poses the question – what if the arguments had already occurred and fallout decided. This is the position we are in, mother Ana (Paola Giannini) and father Papa (Francisco Perez-Bannen) have already agreed to separate following this, their final family trip where Papa can check out some inherited land on their way to the coast. Never stated outright, the split is the frission of tension underlining every exchange in the front seats, not that we get to hear. We are in the back with the kids, young Manuel and pre-teen daughter Lucia – our eyes for the journey and occasional witness to her parents’ possible arguments.

Separating the car into two vastly different worlds is something of a masterstroke by Sotomayor. She succeeds effortlessly in plunging us into childhood, regressing us to a time when adult concerns are of little interest and their serious conversations rarely more than glimpsed.

Time passes slowly in the back where games are played, songs are sung and requests come in the form of shouted demands, “I want to go to the beach” shouts Manuel. We become enveloped by memories of those family holidays, endlessly driving for the promise of a beach.

Occasional stops offer a chance to stretch the legs for the family and some time out of the car for the audience. Used by the children as a chance to explore and play at ferocious pace, we are treated to hints at previous quarrels – young hitch-hikers and friends from the past are met with delight and quiet disdain by either adult. The focus here, however, lies away from the action. Lucia’s ever increasing awareness of the situation is based on sightings and moods rather than anything explicit and is excellently handled by Sotomayer.

The impressive camera work and collaboration with cinematographer Barbara Alvarez breathes life into what could otherwise be a claustrophobic affair. The vast Chilean landscape out the window belies the trapped nature of the journey and quickly becomes a character of it’s own - the lunar-like planes bringing a sense of isolation as well as familiarity.

The limited dialogue and near lack of narrative are considered and bold moves for a first time director but there’s a looseness here that ensures it seldom feels restrictive. It is away from the technical aspects that Thursday Till Sunday shines brightest however. This 26 year-old director succeeds in bringing a tone and atmosphere recognisable to all who see it. The childhood traits on show, from inventing secret languages and carefully measuring out drinks to the restless frustration of those long journeys, all ring true and are incredibly well observed. So too are the actions of the parents as tears are slyly wiped away and ‘brave faces’ put on in believable performances from Perez-Bannen and Giannini.

Those fond of a faster paced journey may wish to look elsewhere but Sotomayer has announced herself with an accomplished and elegiac debut.

Matthew Walsh

★★★★☆

Rating: 12A
Release Date: 5th April 2013 (UK)
Director: Dominga Sotomayor Castillo
Cast: Santi Ahumada, Emiliano Freifeld, Paola Giannini

James Franco: A Career In Pictures (Spring Breakers)

James Franco is best known for being a jack of all trades. The California native is an award-winning actor and filmmaker, a college professor as well as an avid student, a prolific academic and mathematician, a serious painter and Huffington Post blogger, a published author and poet; the list goes on and on.

Franco dropped out of college to pursue his acting career, eventually landing one of the lead roles in the short-lived television series Freaks and Geeks, starring alongside future stars Jason Segel and Seth Rogen. Since then, Franco has grown into an accomplished professional. His intense dedication and seemingly unstoppable drive has pushed him further and further with every new project he undertakes. In honour of the UK release of his latest movie, Harmony Korine’s Spring Breakers, here is a look back of some of the most memorable roles of his film career yet.

James Dean (2001) – James Dean

Playing the title character in this biopic about the legendary actor, James Franco immersed himself completely into the complex role, going from being a non-smoker to smoking two packs a day. He also learned how to ride a motorcycle and play the guitar and bongos. He received a Golden Globe for his performance as well as nominations for an Emmy and an SAG Award.

Spider-Man (2002) – Harry Osborne

Franco received worldwide fame and recognition with his role as Harry Osborne, the son of villain Green Goblin and best friend to Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man. The film was a commercial and critical success that would later lead him to reprise his role in the second and third instalments of the superhero franchise in 2004 and 2007, respectively.

Pineapple Express (2008) – Saul Silver

Co-starring alongside former Freaks and Geeks alum Seth Rogen, Franco plays lazy pot dealer Saul Silver who winds up on the run from hitmen after being implicated with a dropped bag of weed at the scene of a crime. His performance earned him another Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy, praised for his ability to transform a simple role into a three-dimensional character.

Milk (2008) – Scott Smith

Franco starred opposite Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, and Emile Hirsch in this powerful drama about Harvey Milk’s life and career. Playing Scott Smith, the boyfriend of Penn’s Milk, Franco further proved his versatile skill as an actor who could take on virtually any role. He won the Independent Spirit Award in the category of Best Supporting Actor for his performance.

127 Hours (2010) – Aron Ralston

Under the direction of Academy-Award winning director Danny Boyle, Franco gives a chilling performance as he portrays real life mountain-climber Aron Ralston as he tries to free his hand after it becomes trapped under a boulder in a ravine. His most well-received movie, Franco earned a Golden Globe, SAG Award, and Academy Award nomination for Best Actor as well as winning an Independent Spirit Award.

Oz the Great and Powerful (2013) – Oz

Franco takes the lead again in the latest delve into L. Baum’s world of Oz. Playing a small-time magician with dubious ethics who gets swept away into a fantasy land by a familiar tornado, he stars alongside the three witches portrayed by Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz, and Michelle Williams. Bringing a fresh take to a classic story, Franco gives his character just the right combination of arrogance and charisma that provides an interesting background to the original character.

Spring Breakers (2013) – Alien

Starring alongside Selena Gomez, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Benson, and Rachel Korine, Franco takes on the role of Alien in Harmony Korine’s latest film Spring Breakers. Completely embracing the ganster-with-a-heart-of-gold persona, Franco shines in the role as he takes the four college girls under his wing of drugs and guns, promising them a spring break none of them will ever forget.



Spring Breakers hits UK cinemas Today, Friday 5th April.

Wanna Fight? Watch First Red Band Trailer For Only God Forgives

When you ask anyone what film they are really looking forward too, you'd expect to say one of expensive blockbusters? No! Only God Forgives the follow up film to the cult hit Drive from Nicholas Winding Refn and Ryan Gosling, watch the first red band trailer if not Ryan wants a fight!

Only God Forgives tells the tale of Julian (Gosling) a man living in exile in Thailand, running a Thai boxing club as cover for his family's drugs operation. When his mother is killed he seeks revenge and his trailer guides him to the one man ho knows everything, ex-cop better known as the Angel of Vengeance an act the will cost Julian very dearly.

Only God Forgives is a reunion cinephiles especially fans of their previous effort have been waiting for. The trailer shows this film does possess the visual style of Drive even the brutality, sexual tension too and with Gosling saying very few words apart for 'Want A Fight' delivers a cold atmosphere to the affray too and our answer is Yes Ryan. What more can you ask for in a film?

Only God Forgives doesn't have a confirmed UK&Irish release date, with the film to make its world premier at Cannes Film Festival , so hopefully then we can expect a release date. The film also co-stars Kristin Scott-Thomas,Tom Burke, Rathar Phongam and Vithaya Pansringarm

Synopsis

Julian (Gosling) lives in exile in Bangkok where he runs a Thai boxing club as a front for the family’s drugs smuggling operation. When Julian’s brother Billy is killed their mother, Jenna (Kristen Scott Thomas), arrives in the city. She wants revenge and forces Julian to find the killer. Julian’s contacts in the criminal underworld lead him directly to The Angel of Vengeance, a retired police officer who knows everything and who is both Judge and Punisher. Jenna demands that Julian kill The Angel of Vengeance, an act that will cost him dearly.

source:  Yahoo

Get Crazy! Night Of The Trailers Heads To Prince Charles London For Night of 35mm Nostalgia

Night Of The Trailers 35MM Edition bring madness, mayhem and cinematic nostalgia back to the big screen at London’s home of cult films: The Prince Charles Cinema.

Presented by Alex Kidd, this 40-minute compilation of 35MM vintage trailers and rarely-seen adverts from the 70s and 80s includes GET CRAZY (1983), a chaotic music comedy, unlike anything else you’ve ever seen before.

Alex Kidd said today: “As Night Of the Trailers, I’ve been bringing London the best in obscure film trailers over the last few years, including providing trailer mayhem at Film4 FrightFest, and my own trailer events at venues throughout London. But nothing can prepare you for this event!”.



Tickets £6.50 / Members £4 - available from The Prince Charles Cinema box office and via www.princecharlescinema.com

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Watch The Greetings From Tim Buckley Trailer

If there's any stories of musicians  you can talk admirably and tragedy in the same sentence it has to be Tim & Jeff Buckley. Tim Buckley  highly respected throughout the 1970's folk movement  dying of a drug overdose in 1977, his son Jeff  making his name in 1990's tragically drowning 1994 aged 30. Both talented men in their own right both dying young and now they both  have a biopic,Greetings From Tim Buckley which is now ready for its cinematic run after a decent festival run that's included Toronto, London, Glasgow watch official trailer.

Greetings From Tim Buckley actually follows the build up to Jeff's first public appearance in a tribute concert to his father Tim (Ben Rosenfield), its here he meets Allie (Imogen Poots) a young woman involved in the concerts organisation he becomes attracted too. The film follows Jeff (Penn Badgley) attempting to come to terms with his father's loss leading up to his own tragic death.

When Buckley family are very reluctant to support any type of film be it in a supportive way it can be near impossible to be as honest as you can. But as Amy Berg's Mystery White Boy Movie gather's dust Greetings From Tim Buckley  has moved forward with what looks an honest account of 2 talented tragic musicians with a solid performance from Badgley an young actor whose roles previously may not bring confidence to the viewer though this may give the actor a push to bigger and better things.

No word on the film's UK release just yet however American fans can catch the film on VOD later this month and on limited cinema release from 3rd May.

Scanners Blu Ray Review

The horror classic Scanners is out on blu ray, and who couldn't resist seeing a head explode in high definition?

David Cronenberg's classic science fiction horror film has never looked better. It wasn't the film that launched his career but it certainly was his break into the mainstream, and includes his usual nasty touches of body horror. It's a film which has, for the most part, aged quite well. This is mostly due to some interesting editing choices that prevent it from feeling too much like a B-movie, and the absolutely fantastic special effects.

The scanners of the title are special people who can control other people's minds, and, much like the X-Men, there are those who use their power for good and those who definitly don't. The protagonist of the film, played by Stephen Lack, starts as a lost homeless man who is unable to control his “gift”. He is picked up by a doctor (Patrick McGoohan) who teaches him to control his powers and asks him to try and infiltrate a gang of evil scanners led by the dangerous Revok (Michael Ironside); but things do not go so smoothly.

The film could have easily belonged in a dvd bargain basement if it weren't for some classy choices by Cronenberg and the five star gore on display. What doesn't help the film are a few lacklustre performances. Stephen Lack gives a one note performance throughout and never seems remotely concerned by his predicament, making it astonishingly hard to care about, or be swept up in, his story. It doesn't help that his love interest looks equally as tired and uninterested as he does. Jennifer O’Neil as the female scanner who helps Lack is another black hole in the film.

Making up for these two though is Michael Ironside as the antagonist. He is simply wonderful as the dangerous, psychopathic scanner. From the start to finish, he is frightening, thrilling and a real treat to watch. Patrick McGoohan also helps the film by adding a little gravitas to the proceedings. A little theatrical, yes, but the splash of energy he adds to his scenes is very welcome.

The effects here are the real star, though. It is further proof of just how effective make up and practical effects are. They've aged fantastically well – and they look remarkable in high definition. Scanners is famous for showing a man's head explode. It's what the film was sold on; it is a fantastic effect and is still as revolting as it was thirty two years ago.

Aside from looking great, the film also sounds it. Cronenberg uses fleshy noises to add to the grotesqueness of the effects; and also through electronic sounds and slowing down actors' voices, he prevents sequences from feeling tacky or dated, where others might just simply have poor actors hold their heads shouting “Ahhhh! My mind!”.

Scanners is a great horror film, slightly let down by a few performances. It is Cronenberg at his best and I pray they never remake it. An exloding CGI head just won't do. But if they are to make it, I hope Cronenberg directs and Viggo Mortensen stars.

Harry Davenport

★★★★☆

Rating: 18
BD Release Date: 8th April 2013 (UK)
Director: David Cronenberg

Cast: Jennifer O'Neill , Stephen Lack,Patrick McGoohan,Michael Ironside

Buy: Scanners (Limited Edition Steelbook) On Blu-ray