Metropia’s Gorgeous CG Cast Remind Me To Get Back Into The Sun But Avoid The Zombie Samurais

Tarik Saleh’s absolutely stunning futuristic Swedish film, Metropia, creates such believable characters that you’ll start to question just how real it is. Plus, Zombie Samurai fills the necessary blood quota for the week.

Metropia’s collection of beautiful yet sickly characters made me do a double- and triple- take. Set in a not-so-distant future, the world is running out of oil and, in response, the government creates a massive subway system that spans across Europe. The main character, Stockholm suburbanite Roger, discovers that his life is being controlled in every detail and tries to break free with the help of the lovely Nina (seen in a lacy number below).

Vincent Gallo and Juliette Lewis have signed on as the lead voice actors for the English-language version, which is like throwing gasoline on an already amazing independent film fire. I cannot wait for this movie to come out Stateside; it’s unlike anything I’ve seen before. A short promo has been released on the internet where the filmmaker breaks down how they created this film shot for shot. It’s pretty fun - enjoy, and thanks to Quiet Earth for pointing this out. Read more …

Top 10 Best And Worst Christmas TV Specials!

I’m sure most people have their favorite Christmas specials, but did you know that most of the five best were made in the 1960s, and all of the worst of the lot weren’t? Did you also know that three of the top five were based on songs, the fourth on a book and the fifth on one of the greatest comic strips of all time? In other words, the best ones were adapted from cultural icons. Most of the worst were adapted from flavors of the month.

Please note that this list covers only TV specials, not movies. Also, this is highly subjective; so, if your favorite isn’t here, submit your own list or just add it to the comments!

The Best Christmas TV Specials:

10. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town 1970

A special built around a beloved Christmas song (written by J. Fed Coots and Haven Gillespie and first performed on the Eddie Cantor show), this stop-motion show starred Fred Astaire as the narrator and Mickey Rooney as Kris Kringle/Santa Claus.

It’s been a favorite for three decades.

9. Frosty the Snowman 1969

Ah, Frosty. What a hokey special designed around a silly-but-great Christmas song. Yet, this lovable special actually works and has become a perennial favorite.

At the very least, kids of future generations will be introduced to the great Jimmy “the schnoz” Durante thanks to this special.

8. Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer 1964

Bumbles bounce! Did you know that? I didn’t—At least not until I first saw this terrific special, which has aired every year (several times, in fact) since 1964, making it the longest-running Christmas special. It’s based on the 1939 song written by Johnny Marks (Gene Autry turned it into a monster hit). Best parts: Burl Ives singing “Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas,” and the Bumble attacks our heroes at the edge of the ocean. (Hey, when I was 7, that was scary stuff!)

7. How The Grinch Stole Christmas 1966

I almost made this number one. The great horror icon Boris “Frankenstein” Karloff provided fitting narrative and the voice of the Grinch. Quite possibly the most memorable song from any animated special—or series or film—is the great ditty “You’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch.” Best line: “The three words that describe you best are as follows and I quote: Stink. Stank. Stunk!”

6. Charlie Brown Christmas 1965

It’s the granddaddy of all Christmas specials. You have to read the Wikipedia article to get a full understanding of the quirks and low production values that make this special so great. Selections from Vince Guaraldi’s brilliant soundtrack are features of Christmas music every year. And yes, the pinnacle is Linus reciting Luke chapter 2 as being the real meaning of Christmas.

The Worst Christmas TV Specials:

5. I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown 2004

Merry Chri$$$tmas, Charlie Brown. This excuse for a Peanuts special is quite a long way from its magnificent predecessor.

Its crass commercialism contrasts sharply—and drearily—with the original’s quest for the true meaning of Christmas.

4. Christmas Comes to Pac-Land between 1982 and 1984

Ah…um…yeah. Pac-Man and Christmas. This schlock-fest show was part of the annoying Hollywood trend of “it’s a successful video game/movie/song/catchphrase; so, let’s make a whole series around it!”

Some worked (see the Best of list) but most didn’t—and still don’t.

3. Pee-Wee’s Playhouse Christmas Special 1988

Never mind the sordid off-camera antics of Paul “Pee-Wee” Rubens; this special has enough problems.

Amid the guest-star turns of Whoopi Goldberg, The Oprah, Joan Rivers, Zsa-Zsa Gabor and Charo, Pee-Wee has to contend with the problem of his “mounting fruitcake collection” and Santa demanding that he shorten his wish list! Oh, how terrible.

2. He-Man and She-Ra: A Christmas Special 1985

You have got to be kidding. The king and queen of 1980s’ 30-minute toy commercials, He-Man and She-Ra saved Christmas from the evil forces of Skeletor and Hordak. (Man, I can’t even write that without losing IQ points.) Says Prince Adam at the end: “Though we celebrate it and get presents, Christmas is about caring, sharing and goodwill and its spirit is within all of us.” Translation: this hour-long special was designed to make you feel good about asking your parents to buy you more Masters of the Universe toys!

1. The Star Wars Holiday Special 1978

Jefferson Starship! Diahann Carroll! Art Carney! Harvey Korman! Bea Arthur! Don’t those names just scream “Star Wars”?? No? You’re right. Darth Lucas HATES this thing so much he never wants it released. But it is an absolute must-see—and not just for the first introduction of Boba Fett (nerd alert) but to see a what looks like an inebriated Carrie Fisher singing one of the most gag-inducing pieces of schlock ever made.

SciFi Makes You A Better Person - Well Possibly

Does having science fiction in your life turn you into someone who’s more handsome, charming and a better lover? Maybe not - but there may be some evidence to demonstrate that it opens your mind.

Matthew C. Nisbet, a professor in the School of Communication at American University, uses a recent study from the American Journal of Bioethics as a jumping-off point for his theory. The AJB study showed the effect that television medical dramas had on medical students, which turned out to be more than you may be comfortable with, if you’ve seen an episode of Grey’s Anatomy. Nisbet’s point, however, is that this isn’t an isolated incident; the same type of thing happens to those who watch science fiction shows:

What we find among the general public is that fictional TV portrayals of science are not currently turning the public off to controversial biomedical research, at least among regular consumers of these programs. To the contrary, science fiction may in fact be preparing viewers for some of the real-life ethical and moral policy debates that are likely to arise in coming years, preparing audiences to think through the implications of startling new discoveries or research initiatives rather than react in an immediate “yuk factor” response. Read more …

8 Science Fiction Marathons To Get You Through The Holidays!

Holiday breaks can be tough on TV — there are only so many times you can watch A Christmas Story. So we piled up all the best marathons to help you though this season.

Monday:

ABC has the gruesome green ogre lined up with all his buddies for Shrek the Halls on ABC at 8 PM. Fiona and Shrek take the kids to celebrate the holidays but Donkey, Puss-in-Boots and other friends keep getting in the way. It’s amazing that Donkey hasn’t been turned into glue yet, given how many ways he finds to annoy Shrek. The original cast returns for this special. Read more …

The Mutant Chronicles (2008) Poster, Synopsis, Summary, Trailer, Photos, Raw Review!

FULL SYNOPSIS (Warning! This synopsis contains spoilers)

It’s the year 2707. Earth’s natural resources have been exhausted by mankind. Battle rages between the soldiers of four leading Corporations: the Capitol, Bauhaus, Mishima and Imperial.

Mitch Hunter and Nathan Rooker, battle hardened Capitol soldiers, fight a desperate battle against a Bauhaus advance. When an errant shell destroys an ancient stone seal, they find themselves facing a new enemy: hideous necromutants, with boneblades that grow from their arms. Mitch barely manages to escape. Nathan does not.

The mutants multiply by millions and they destroy all before them. The Corporations’ leader, Constantine, is about to abandon the planet and leave countless innocents to their desperate fate, when he is approached by Brother Samuel, leader of the Brotherhood, an ancient monastic order.

Samuel is the keeper of the Chronicles, a book that prophesies both the rise of the Mutants, and of the ‘Deliverer’ that will destroy them. Samuel believes he is that Deliverer destined to journey deep into the earth and destroy the source of the mutant scourge.He manages to recruit Mitch, along with a handful of like-minded soldiers: Steiner, honor bound Bauhaus officer; sword wielding Severian; street fighter El Jesus; fearless beauty Duval; and stoic warrior Juba. Read more …

Night At The Museum 2 Trailer Has Adorable Amy Adams And Terrible Stiller-isms

The first Night At The Museum was a whimsical little fantasy flick for all ages — except for Ben Stiller’s obnoxious delivery. Can new additions Amy Adams and Bill Hader rescue the sequel?

Call me picky, but the “bob, bop blah, blah bip bip” stuttering, talking-over someone humor that Ben Stiller cranks out in every movie irritates the crap out of me. He’s a wonderful straight man kind of actor and even better as a Tom Cruise stand in. But once he starts ripping his patented chripy bips and boops, I’m lost. There is a beyond perfect example of this in the Night Of The Museum 2 trailer, when the Lincoln Memorial comes to life and bip bops through a pretty spot on one-liner. It’s sort of funny, but nails on the chalk board for me. Read more …