News

I love made-for-tv horror movies. They are sort of a relic of a bygone era and I find that comforting. I have covered numerous televised features during my tenure at Dread Central. I previously penned a listicle spotlighting TV films that are better than they ought to be. I have additionally championed several via my column, The Overlooked Motel. On that note, a TV horror movie I have nothing but love for is now free to stream and that’s all the more encouragement I need to proclaim my appreciation and sing its praises loudly. I’m talking about Frank De Felitta’s Dark Night of the Scarecrow.

I once spoke about the many merits of this moving made-for-tv horror picture via a roundup of standout made-for-television terror flicks. Below is an excerpt from my past coverage.

“This tense and suspenseful tale of a malevolent scarecrow frightened audiences upon its...

Many of Hollywood's most famous and admired actors cut their teeth on cheesy horror movies before ever becoming household names. One especially under-the-radar example is Viggo Mortensen's early role in Prison (1987). More than a decade before earning international stardom as Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, the future Oscar nominee portrayed an unassuming but heroic convict who discovers that his prison is being haunted by a vengeful spirit. Despite its 40% Rotten Tomatoes score, this film deserves a second chance, as it features some truly heart-pounding scares, a foreboding atmosphere, and even some disturbingly relevant social commentary.

Before He Was Aragorn, Viggo Mortensen Was in 'Prison'

The film centers on the doomed re-opening of the Wyoming State Penitentiary after having been closed for over two decades. Shortly after the first inmates arrive, the angry spirit of an executed prisoner from years past begins gruesomely murdering several prisoners and guards.

The Wire and Jack Ryan star Wendell Pierce will play the Dcu's Perry White in Superman. While he has been spotted from afar in set photos, the actor just hyped up today's trailer with a new look at his cigar-chomping Daily Planet Editor-in-Chief.

We don't know what to expect from this version of Perry but on the page, he's a key supporting character in Clark Kent's world.

Pierce hasn't said much about his Superman role but, earlier this year, expressed his excitement about joining the franchise. "I did not know how big it was. I really did not know...the announcement was bigger than the story. That was a pleasant surprise," he admitted. "It's humbling, and I'm looking forward to it."

Many actors have played Perry White on screen, starting with Pierre Watkin in Columbia Pictures' popular Superman serials in the 1940s. John Hamilton, Lane Smith, Michael McKean, Jackie Cooper,...

When you purchase through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Superman & Lois is a superhero action-adventure drama series created by Greg Berlanti and Todd Helbing. Based on the DC Comics characters of the same name by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, The CW series follows Clark Kent and Lois Lane as they try to raise their two boys on Kent’s family farm in Smallville. We see Superman going against many villains in the series, but the heart of the story lies in the relationships between him and Lois, as well as his children. Superman & Lois stars Tyler Hoechlin, Elizabeth Tulloch, Jordan Elsass, Alex Garfin, Erik Valdez, and Emmanuelle Chriqui. So, if you loved the hopeful superhero story, grand action sequences, and compelling characters in Superman & Lois, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Smallville (Hulu & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – The...

When you purchase through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Trouble is a Swedish action crime comedy film directed by Jon Holmberg who also co-wrote the screenplay with Tapio Leopold. The Netflix film follows the story of a clumsy divorced electronic salesman who is wrongfully convicted of murder and sent to prison. To prove his innocence he escapes from prison with other convicts. Trouble stars Filip Berg, Amy Deasismont, Eva Melander, Måns Nathanaelson, Dejan Čukić, Joakim Sällquist, and Sissela Benn. So, if you loved the blend of crime and comedy, compelling characters, and a thrilling story in Netflix’s Trouble here are some similar movies you should check out next.

The Lovebirds (Netflix & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – Netflix

The Lovebirds is a romantic crime comedy film directed by Michael Showalter from a screenplay co-written by Aaron Abrams and Brendan Gall. The 2020 film revolves around a young couple...

One of the original Mighty Ducks stars has returned to suit up again in new nostalgic photos. The Mighty Ducks is a 1992 comedy about an underdog hockey team that is coached by a lawyer who is forced to do community service. The Mighty Ducks was directed by Stephen Herek and featured a leading cast including Emilio Estevez, Joss Ackland, Lane Smith, Heidi King, Josef Sommer, Joshua Jackson, Elden Henson, and Shaun Weiss. The film had two follow-up sequels, with D2: The Mighty Ducks in 1994 and D3: The Mighty Ducks in 1996.

Now, a post from Weiss gives a nostalgic look at The Mighty Ducks. In the images, Weiss wears his hockey jersey and helmet, and in the last shot, he is in the rink again. He gives a shocked expression to the camera in the selfie image. In his nostalgic caption, Weiss wrote "Last time I skated was the final day...

When people think of the 1992 movie My Cousin Vinny, there are two things that usually come to mind: Joe Pesci saying the two yutes (meaning youths) and Marisa Tomeis stand-out character Mona Lisa. But theres a lot more to this classic comedy with a star-studded cast, fun story, and unique twist on the traditional courtroom approach.

For those who havent watched the movie in a while and want to watch it again, or for a new generation who has never seen it and wants to watch it for the first time, My Cousin Vinny is finally available to stream for free through Tubi. But theres no telling how long it will be on the free ad-supported streaming television (Fast) service, so its the perfect movie to watch now before its gone.

My Cousin Vinny R Release Date March 13, 1992Director Jonathan LynnCast Joe Pesci, Ralph Macchio, Marisa Tomei, Mitchell Whitfield, Fred Gwynne,...

Killer Collectibles highlights five of the most exciting new horror products announced each and every week, from toys and apparel to artwork, records, and much more.

Here are the coolest horror collectibles unveiled this week!

Godzilla 4K Uhd from Criterion

Godzilla will celebrate its 70th anniversary in style, as The Criterion Collection is bringing Toho’s 1954 Japanese kaiju classic to 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray on November 5.

The film has been newly restored in 4K with uncompressed monaural sound. A high-definition restoration of Terry Morse’s 1956 American reworking of the film, Godzilla, King of the Monsters, is also included.

Ishirō Honda directs from a script he co-wrote with Takeo Murata. Eiji Tsuburaya (Ultraman) helmed the special effects. Akira Takarada, Momoko Kōchi, Akihiko Hirata, and Takashi Shimura star with Haruo Nakajima and Katsumi Tezuka as Godzilla.

Special features include: commentary by film historian David Kalat; interviews with Takarada, Nakajima, special effects technicians Yoshio Irie and Eizo Kaimai,...

Space Cadet is a romantic comedy film written and directed by Liz W. Garcia. The Prime Video film follows the story of Tiffany “Rex” Simpson, a Florida party girl who has always dreamed of going to space and gets admitted into the NASA space program because of a fluke with much more capable candidates. She must prove herself to the NASA bosses using her heart, street smarts, and moxie. Space Cadet stars Emma Roberts in the lead role, with Tom Hopper, Poppy Liu, Sebastián Yatra, Kuhoo Verma, Desi Lydic, Gabrielle Union, Andrew Call, Sam Robards, and Dave Foley starring in supporting roles. If you like the comedic, romantic, and heartfelt moments of Space Cadet, here are some similar films you could watch next.

Legally Blonde (Max & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – MGM

Legally Blonde is a romantic comedy film directed by Robert Luketic from a screenplay by Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith.

One of the downsides of streaming’s cord-cutting era has been how hard it is to stumble on a great movie midway through. You know the joy of which we speak. After a long day at work or school, a moment to unwind turns into discovering one of your favorite flicks, that one you’ve probably seen a hundred times, is playing right now on cable. And wouldn’t you know it, you’ve come across it right at your favorite bit.

Before you know it, you spend the next 90 minutes catching up on a film you already have half committed to memory. It’s a perhaps uniquely dated phenomenon, but a great one for those of us who have entire personal libraries of movies that we may never have seen from beginning to end. I spent years, for example, convinced Con Air started with Nic Cage enunciating, “I said...

Scare Flair Records, in partnership with Klaatu Records, has just announced this week that they’ll be releasing the Glenn Paxton soundtrack for the 1981 made for television classic Dark Night of the Scarecrow on vinyl for the first time.

Scare Flair notes, “Dark Night of the Scarecrow is a 1981 horror film directed by Frank De Felitta and starring Larry Drake, Charles Durning, and Lane Smith. The film was originally meant to be an independent feature but was purchased by CBS – turning it into a made for television film. The film was released on Saturday October 24, 1981 – as part of their Halloween line-up – and was very well received by critics and audiences. Dark Night of the Scarecrow is credited to have started the horror subgenre of the killer scarecrow.

“Despite being a made for television film, it got a VHS release through Key Video in the mid 80s, as well as a...

When My Cousin Vinny arrived in theaters on March 13, 1992, nobody had any idea we’d still be talking about it 30 years later. A midmarket, fish-out-water comedy about a streetwise Brooklyn attorney (Joe Pesci) who travels to Alabama with his plucky girlfriend (Marisa Tomei) to help his innocent nephew (Ralph Macchio) beat a bum murder rap, the film didn’t get much promotion out of the gate. Instead, the studio that produced it, 20th Century Fox, invested heavily in higher-profile offerings like Alien 3 and White Men Can’t Jump. Wayne’s World...

Sidney Lumet’s harrowing film is a true-life account of a NY narcotics detective- turned government informant; its length and intensity can be emotionally overpowering. Treat Williams is the idealistic cop who blows up his whole life and ends up betraying all the people he hoped to protect. He doesn’t seem to understand the ruthless, opportunistic nature of ‘systemic reform’ as he goes from good guy to the object of hate for both crooks and cops, and a target for the very same system that welcomed his help. The Wac made an excellent choice with this one — it’s one of the most deserving, underappreciated films of the early 1980s.

Prince of the City

Blu-ray

Warner Archive Collection

1981 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 167 min. / Available at Amazon.com / Street Date August 24, 2021 / 21.99

Starring: Treat Williams, Jerry Orbach, Richard Foronjy, Don Billett, Kenny Marino, Carmine Caridi, Tony Page, Norman Parker, Paul Roebling, Bob Balaban,...

That sound you hear is every millennial quacking. Twenty-nine years after “The Mighty Ducks” skated into our hearts, introduced the Flying V and the Triple Deke, and launched not just two sequels, 1994’s “D2: The Mighty Ducks” and 1996’s “D3: The Mighty Ducks,” but an actual NHL team, the Mighty Ducks are flying again in Disney+’s new series “The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers,” premiering Friday, March 26. Except this flock has a new name altogether.

Developed by Steve Brill, the original creator of the trilogy, Josh Goldsmith and Cathy Yuspa, the 10-episode sequel series picks up in present-day Minneapolis and flips the script, a la “Cobra Kai,” as the Mighty Ducks are now the dominant force in youth hockey. After Coach T (Dylan Playfair) cuts her 12-year-old son, Evan Morrow (Brady Noon), from the Ducks, Alex (Lauren Graham) forms a new team of underdogs. Their name? The Don’t Bothers,...

The great actor Robert Picardo, a frequent Joe Dante collaborator and long time Star Trek hologram, joins Josh and Joe to discuss movies that compel him to sit and watch all the way through any time they just happen to be on.

Also… Josh and Bob discuss the best cheesesteak joints in Philly.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

The Howling (1981)

A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984)

A Hard Day’s Night (1964)

The Running Jumping and Standing Still Film (1959)

Swing Time (1936)

The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949)

Cabaret (1972)

A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)

On The Waterfront (1954)

Some Like It Hot (1959)

Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990)

Innerspace (1987)

Ordinary People (1980)

Hollywood Boulevard (1976)

Rock ‘N’ Roll High School (1978)

The Godfather (1972)

The Godfather Part II (1974)

Jaws (1975)

The Wiz (1978)

The Godfather Part III (1990)

Alien (1979)

Star Wars (1977)

Death Becomes Her (1992)

Dog Day Afternoon (1975)

I Knew It Was You (2009)

Touch Of Evil (1958)

Citizen Kane (1941)

The Day The Earth Stood Still...

Heads up, 90s Disney fans as The Mighty Ducks is finally streaming on Disney+. When the streaming service launched in November of last year, it seemed like there was a reasonably robust offering from the studio's back catalog. But there were some notable omissions and the Disney library was far from complete. Now, one of the most enduring live-action hits the Mouse House produced in the 90s is finally available to offer a little blast from the past. Nostalgia has proven to be a powerful thing, as the movie was one of the top trending topics on Twitter.

As part of the new batch of arrivals on Disney+ for July, The Mighty Ducks is now streaming as of this writing. The movie had been streaming on HBO Max as of late, but it has now shifted to its logical home for the foreseeable future. Unfortunately, completists will need to wait...

Silver films star Jeff Goldblum, Jerry Stiller, Mark Ruffalo.

Cohen Media Group has added five titles to its Cannes virtual market slate including the market world premiere of documentary Breaking Bread.

Beth Elise Hawk directed the profile of Dr. Nof Atamna-Ismaeel, the first Muslim Arab to win Israel’s Master Chef who uses the platform to build cultural bridges and invites Arab and Jewish chefs to a cooking event in Haifa, Israel.

Cohen Media Group acquired Us rights to the film before the market and plans a theatrical release this year. On Monday it emerged that Cohen and wholly-owned Curzon...

Emilio Estevez is back on the ice!

On Thursday, Disney+ announced the 57-year-old actor will be reprising his role of coach Gordon Bombay — which he played in The Mighty Ducks film franchise — in the upcoming TV series based on the sports trilogy.

Along with the exciting news, Disney+ shared several production shots of Estevez hitting the hockey rink once more as the beloved coach.

“No. Chill,” social media posts from the streaming service read. “#EmilioEstevez is Back as Gordon Bombay! Check out this photo from production on The Mighty Ducks, an Original Series coming soon to #DisneyPlus.”

Centered around a ragtag hockey team,...

The Ducks are making a comeback!

Disney+ has officially announced a TV series based on the 1990s film trilogy The Mighty Ducks, with Gilmore Girls and Parenthood alumna Lauren Graham in the lead role as Alex, while Brady Noon (Broadwalk Empire) will portray her son Evan.

The 10-episode original series begins production this month in Vancouver and will premiere later this year.

The show’s logline reads, “In present day Minnesota, the Mighty Ducks have evolved from scrappy underdogs to an ultra-competitive, powerhouse youth hockey team. After 12-year-old Evan (Noon) is unceremoniously cut from the Ducks, he and his mom...

Game on: “The Mighty Ducks” reboot at Disney+ is a go, with Lauren Graham set to star as the new coach of the youth hockey team.

The series is set in present-day Minnesota, where the Mighty Ducks have evolved from scrappy underdogs to an ultra-competitive, powerhouse youth hockey team. After 12-year-old Evan (Brady Noon) is unceremoniously cut from the Ducks, he and his mom Alex (Graham) set out to build their own ragtag team of misfits to challenge the cutthroat, win-at-all-costs culture of competitive youth sports.

The 10-episode series will begin production this month and debut later this year on the streaming service.

Also Read: Rick Moranis to Return to 'Honey, I Shrunk the Kids' Franchise With New Disney Film

Steve Brill, who wrote all three of the original “Mighty Ducks” films in the 1990s, will return as co-creator and executive producer, with Josh Goldsmith and Cathy Yuspa serving as showrunners.

An all-female cast will hit Broadway in David Mamet’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play Glengarry Glen Ross next year under the direction of Chicago P.D. actress Amy Morton.

The new production will begin performances in May 2019, with cast, design team, a venue and exact dates to be announced. The producing team is headed by Jeffrey Richards, Will Trice, Rebecca Gold and Steve Traxler.

Morton, Tony-nominated as an actress for her Broadway performances in August: Osage County and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, will make her Broadway directing debut with Glengarry. An ensemble member of Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre Company, she directed Guards at the Taj for off-Broadway’s Atlantic Theater Company in 2015, and has a lengthy roster of directing credits for Steppenwolf including a 2001 production of Glengarry that featured a traditional male cast.

Morton’s acting credits, in addition to Chicago P.D., include Boss, Chicago Fire, Blue Bloods,...

Author: Zehra Phelan

90’s Disney box office success, The Mighty Ducks, could be set for a revival with a new TV series on the franchise being in the works at ABC signature studios.

With a script yet to be written for the TV show, there are no cast members attached. Whether Estevez will be returning to reprise his role is still to be discussed.

Original trilogy screenwriter Steven Brill has been appointed to pen the script in-house at ABC Signature. Brillstein Entertainment’s George Heller and Brad Petrigala will, like Brill, be credited as executive producers.

Directed by Stephen Herek and starring Emilio Estevez, the original film followed the reckless young lawyer Gordon Bombay (Estevez) after he gets arrested for drunk driving, he must coach a kids hockey team for his community service. Gordon has experience on the ice but isn’t eager to return to hockey. A point hit...

Carley Tauchert Mar 15, 2017

Lois & Clark: The New Adventures Of Superman was silly, joyful fun. We take a fond look back at the 1990s series...

A flash of red cape, the S sitting proudly on the chest, the warrior of Truth, Justice and the American Way, Superman has always been the most recognisable and iconic of all the superheroes. After many changes on-screen over the years from the All-American hero in the 1978 movie to the recent darker and moodier version, you'd be hard pressed to go anywhere on the planet and find somebody who had never heard of the Man of Steel.

See related Prime Suspect 1973 episode 2 review Prime Suspect 1973 episode 1 review Prime Suspect prequel on its way

The character has had many faces and been in many decades and settings, but one of the best that deserves a bit more love and a lot more praise is that of...

“Watch this,” Joe Pesci’s Vinny Gambini says about his surprise witness fiancee during the climax of “My Cousin Vinny” — which marks its 25th anniversary on Monday. What comes next is a priceless cinematic moment courtesy of Marisa Tomei — though her unforgettable Oscar-winning moment almost didn’t happen at all. In the scene, Tomei’s Mona Lisa Vito has just taken the stand in a courtroom where Vinny is the legal representation for two young men who are on trial for murder. She shoots an apathetic eye roll at the prosecution’s Mr. Trotter (Lane Smith) before dismantling his “bullsh– question.

TV is usually the first portal for horror when you’re a kid. At least it was for me; pre internet horror was found either: a) at the movies, b) in comic books, or c) the idiot box. And before we were allowed to see big screen horror, TV scratched that itch. Saturday mornings had Scooby Doo, The Hilarious House of Frightenstein, and various other shows, animated or not, to quench our growing curiosity for the weird, creepy, and unusual. But if we were lucky enough to be able to watch after 9 pm, things got much more interesting.

Terrifying stories of miniature monsters, witchcraft, Satanism, and creepy cults awaited our bloodshot eyes. TV was absolutely inundated with horror, channels dripping with malicious behavior in the form of weekly shows or made for TV movies. Of course, the networks (the big – and only – three: ABC, NBC, and CBS) back then had...

“I got the habit of drinking Lysol in Gainesville in ’49. You ever been to Florida? I never saw the beach.” Cresus (Lincoln Kilpatrick) tells this to Burke (Viggo Mortensen) in a rather sad confession of a lifer. The two are recently assigned cellmates at a newly reopened penitentiary, which looks like a set from an Aip film starring Vincent Price in the 1960’s.

The American directing debut of Renny Harlin tells the story of a prison haunted by the ghost of an executed inmate. This ghost however is as much of the psychological as it is the external; the men in this prison are haunted by their own past, present, and the horrors of the future.

Produced by Charles Band for Empire Pictures in the late 1980’s, Prison is one of the studio’s smartest films. C. Courtney Joyner contributes a surprisingly deep screenplay for a supernatural horror film. The large ensemble cast,...

Home Invasion is a weekly post every Tuesday which shows you what is being released on Blu-Ray & DVD today! We scoured through Amazon to bring you everything you might be interested in. Our Picks of the Week are releases that we are looking forward to checking out, have reviewed and/or were are Picks of the Week on the Dtb Podcast. All descriptions are courtesy of Amazon.com.

Price:

Click Here to buy the Blu-RayClick Here to buy the DVD

Based on real events the dramatic thriller “Argo” chronicles the life-or-death covert operation to rescue six Americans which unfolded behind the scenes of the Iran hostage crisis focusing on the little-known role that the CIA and Hollywood played-information that was not declassified until many years after the event. On November 4 1979 as the Iranian revolution reaches its boiling point militants storm the U.S. Embassy in Tehran taking 52 Americans hostage. But...

While many horror fans know Finnish filmmaker Renny Harlin best for his efforts on A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master, that wasn't the director's first foray into the genre world.

Shortly before signing on with New Line for Noes 4, Harlin first helmed the supernatural thriller Prison for producers Charles Band and Irwin Yablans.

A cult classic that never even made it to DVD, Prison will be celebrating its Blu-ray release on February 19th courtesy of Shout! Factory, and to mark the occasion, Dread Central recently had the opportunity to chat exclusively with Harlin about the release and his experiences making both Prison and Dream Master and caught up on what's ahead for the man behind such classic actioners as Cliffhanger, Die Hard 2, The Long Kiss Goodnight and one of this writer's personal favorites- Deep Blue Sea (my hat is like a shark's fin, yo!).

Check out...

In a very short period of time, Scream Factory has become the number one company to watch for cult horror releases. They have new titles planned every month and, in February, we’ll see the release of TerrorVision, The Video Dead, and Prison. We covered the initial announcement and we’re back with details on the presentation, bonus features, and cover artwork:

“Scream Factory™ invites loyal fans and collectors to embark on a journey filled with thrills, chills and 80s high-camp spills when Prison (starring Viggo Mortensen in an early career role) and a double feature presentation of Terrorvision and The Video Dead debut on home entertainment shelves everywhere on February 19, 2013. Prison Collector’s Edition and Terrorvision/ The Video Dead Double Feature are presented in Two Blu-ray + DVD combo packs. Each boasts original theatrical key art, anamorphic widescreen movie presentation and exciting bonus content.

Available for the first time on Blu-ray and DVD,...

Over the last couple of days The Scream Factory's Facebook page has been revealing the artwork for their upcoming Blu-rays of The Nest and Deadly Blessing. In addition, today being Friday, they also announced another new release for us to look forward to: 1988's Prison.

Prison was directed by Renny Harlin and stars Viggo Mortensen, Chelsea Field, Lane Smith, Kane Hodder, Tommy "Tiny" Lister, and Tom Everett. Look for it sometime in 2013.

Prison Synopsis:

After Charles Forsythe (was sent to the electric chair for a crime he didn't commit, he forever haunts the prison where he was executed. Flash forward several years when the prison is reopened, under the control of its new warden Eaton Sharpe, a former security guard who framed Charlie. When prisoners are ordered to break down the wall to the execution room, they unknowingly release the angry spirit of Charles Forsyth, a powerful being distributing his murderous rage to all,...

Talk about a miracle of Made-For-tv goodness. Dark Night of the Scarecrow was released in 1981 to the CBS audience at large. It was released on October 24th no less, my birthday. I would have been one year old. I definitely did not catch this on the evening movie; I was probably keeping my parents from sleeping. While its really no more than a simple revenge film, the method and scope of the revenge is brutal, haunting… its damn near terrifying. Let’s not forget that this classic was virtually lost for nearly thirty years even with a small VHS run in the 80′s. It was released again in 2010 on DVD and horror history has thus been preserved. It Came From 1980 X needs you to consider picking this up on DVD and enjoying what is no longer a forgotten classic. It is remembered with love and terror.

Synopsis (straight out of the Amazon…...

The Anchor Bay Entertainment re-release of director Michael Ritchie's 1994 comedy feature "The Scout", starring Brendan Fraser and Albert Brooks, is now available on Blu-ray and DVD :

"..'Al Percolo' (Brooks), is a talent scout for the New York Yankees whose latest recruit (Michael Rapaport) has just vomited on the field and fled. Sent to Mexico as punishment by his boss (Lane Smith), Percolo finds phenomenal young pitcher 'Steve Nebraska' (Brendan Fraser). Before he can get back to the Big Apple, however, Percolo gets pink-slipped by the Yankees, so he offers Nebraska as a free agent. After a stellar tryout, Nebraska is signed for millions. Soon after, he starts to exhibit odd behaviors that may be linked to psychological problems. A psychiatrist (Dianne Wiest) hired by the ball club wants Nebraska in daily therapy, so Percolo ends up babysitting a mentally unstable pitcher..."

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak...

The Mighty Ducks

Directed by Stephen Herek

Written by Steven Brill

imdb, USA, 1992

-

To mark my guest appearance on Josh Speigel‘s Mousterpiece Cinema podcast to talk about The Mighty Ducks, I decided to jot down my own thoughts about the film, much as Josh did.

*****

I would never describe The Mighty Ducks as a great film, but it is an incredibly fun film and amazingly rewatchable. On initial viewing, it’s the comedy slapstick of the young hockey players that draws your attention, while it’s the relationship between arrogant lawyer turned hockey coach Gordon Bombay (Emilio Estevez) and hockey team captain Charlie Conway (Joshua Jackson) that keeps you watching. Follow-up viewing reveals how accurate and specific the film is in its hockey references and how important the class struggle is between the Ducks aka the working-class District Five hockey team and their arch-rivals the Hawks, the “cake-eaters...

The Walt Disney Company places value in some of the strangest things, or so it seems sometimes. For example, they lavish attention on anything princess-related, but have had a long and checkered history of not catering to the young male audience in the same way. If you travel to a Disney theme park, there’s princess-related junk galore. If you go to a Disney Store, there’s princess toys and dresses up the wazoo. And it’s hard to avoid the various DVDs and Blu-rays that are aimed at little girls who want to be princesses or, in the case of the presumably successful Tinker Bell series of movies, fairies. But there’s not as much for boys.

Last summer, I discussed The Rocketeer for Mousterpiece Cinema and was pleased to see that my fond memories of the film as a child hadn’t waned. Unlike most movies with ardent fans fueled by nostalgia,...

I had always been interested in checking out Renny Harlin’s early work, however I just had the most difficult time tracking stuff down (Elm St 4 aside). But as luck would have it, during my rummaging for films, I came across Prison (1988) and I picked it up immediately. The only thing I knew about the film, aside from its director, was that it was also an early film for one Viggo Mortensen.

The story is as you might imagine is set in a prison. This prison housed a prisoner Charles Forsyth, who was executed for a crime he did not commit. The prison gets reopened, with a new Warden Eaton Sharpe (Lane Smith), who was a former guard at the prison, and seems to suffer nightmares over the execution. Once reopened, the angry spirit of Charles is released, and bodies start showing up.

Prison (1988) was an entertaining flick, it had an interesting storyline,...

Zack Snyder'S Superman reboot has recruited its Daily Planet editor-in-chief.

Laurence Fishburne is to play Perry White in Man of Steel, according to Entertainment Weekly.

And he'll be the first black portrayal of the character in all of Superman's iterations in comics, radio, TV and film. Perry is known for his expression "Great Caesar's ghost!", an exclamation that originated in John Hamilton's performance in the 50s TV and radio series.

White was portrayed by Jackie Cooper in the four Christopher Reeve movies, by Lane Smith in 80s TV show Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, by Frank Langella in Superman Returns and by Michael McKean in Smallville.

Fishburne - who had left his role in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation in June - joins a Man of Steel cast which includes Henry Cavill as Superman/Clark Kent, Amy Adams as Lois Lane, Michael Shannon as General Zod,...

Superman fans, we have a new Perry White: Laurence Fishburne will play the Daily Planet chief in Zack Snyder's "Man of Steel," as reported earlier today. He's the first African-American actor to step into the veteran newsman's shoes, but he's far from the first person to play the role.

Click the photo below to see our gallery of the men who've played Perry White in the past, and read on for a bit of information on each of them.

John Hamilton

Tip your hats to actor John Hamilton, who pioneered Perry White's first on-screen appearance in "The Adventures of Superman." As the earliest live-action Perry, the man kicked off a character that saw several other notable actors fill out his shoes over the years.

Jackie Cooper

Perhaps the most popular actor to play the role, Jackie Cooper was Clark Kent's boss at the Daily Planet over the course of...

Laurence Fishburne has joined the cast of Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel as Daily Planet editor-in-chief Perry White. Jackie Cooper played White opposite Christopher Reeve’s in Superman (1978) and Frank Langella played the role in Bryan Singer’s Superman Returns (2006). This continues the trend of strong casting for the revamp/reboot/re-imagination of Superman.

Man of Steel is being produced by Christopher Nolan. It stars Henry Cavill as Clark/Superman, Amy Adams as Lois, Michael Shannon as General Zod, Kevin Costner as Jonathan Kent, and Diane Lane as Martha Kent. Filming begins this fall, and is said to be set for release June 14, 2013.

My opinion? No one can beat Lane Smith from Lois & Clark [see]. Laurence Fishburne recently left CSI after j two seasons. Ted Danson will take Fishburne’s place on the show this fall.

Laurence Fishburne is set to play Perry White, the no-nonsense and sometimes cantankerous editor of the Daily Planet, in "Man of Steel" for Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures says the trades.

The studio has no comment about Fishburne's casting in the Superman reboot at this time. The role has previously been played by John Hamilton in the original 50's TV series, Jackie Cooper in the Christopher Reeve films, Lane Smith in the 90's series "Lois and Clark", George Dzundza in the animated 90's "Superman" series, Frank Langella in "Superman Returns", and most recently Michael McKean in "Smallville".

Fishburne joins a cast that includes Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Russell Crowe, Christopher Meloni, Kevin Costner, Diane Lane and Harry Lennix. The project is Fishburne's first high-profile role since leaving "C.S.I." this past June.

In what we would guess is the last notable casting news for Zack Snyder’s currently prepping Superman reboot Man of Steel, EW reports that The Matrix actor Laurence Fishburne has joined the cast as Perry White, the editor-in-chief of the Daily Planet. The character’s absence from the cast sheet always did look peculiar when we knew Amy Adams would be portraying Lois Lane, reporter for the Metropolis newspaper… and now we can presume the Daily Planet building will make an appearance in the movie.

Fisburne is the first black actor to play the iconic Superman character who is slightly less meaner but no less demanding than his Spider-Man counterpart J. Jonah Jameson and he is stepping into the shoes of;

the late Jackie Cooper who gave the best portrayal of the character in the Donner movies,

Lane Smith in the 90′s Lois & Clark series, whose portrayal suited the...

Continuing in the honor of the upcoming Texas Frightmare Weekend, Tmp takes a look at some of the most notorious "curses" that have seemingly plagued Hollywood over the years.  Chronicling odd circumstances and strange occurrences, some of these instances are just plain creepy.

Curses and misfortune have persisted in the realm of artistic creation since the premiere of Shakespeare's Macbeth, quite possibly before that.  But the stories behind the curses that terrorize some productions would seek to prove that the supernatural can affect more than just the imagination.  The following stories are just a few of the more intriguing ones we've discovered haunting the hallowed history of Hollywood.

Calories Or Curses?

A Confederacy of Dunces

Widely regarded as one of the most cursed projects in Hollywood, A Confederacy of Dunces, based on the absolutely hilarious and bestselling book by John Kennedy Toole, has yet to even get off the ground.

For those who might read this title and say, "I thought Lincoln and Douglas were rivals who debated each other. I didn't know they were friends", let me alleviate your confusion. This is not about the Abraham Lincoln/Stephen Douglas debates. This is about Lincoln's relationship with Frederick Douglass, the former slave who escaped his bondage and became a famous abolitionist writer and orator.

Lincoln & Douglass: An American Friendship, brought to us by those helpful people at Scholastic Storybook Treasures,  focuses on a possibly fictitious conversation that Lincoln has with Douglass during Lincoln's second inaugural ball. There are three other stories on this DVD, all of which tell a historical tale in a kid-friendly way.  Each one is based on a children's book.

The first story posits a scenario where Abraham Lincoln is at his inaugural gala but distracted because his buddy Frederick Douglass hasn't shown up yet. Eventually, Douglass does arrive.

*Full disclosure: a DVD screener of this film was provided by Vci Entertainment.

Director: Frank De Felitta.

Writer: J. D. Feigelson.

Cast: Charles Durning, Tonya Crowe, Larry Drake, and Lane Smith.

Dark Night of the Scarecrow was originally released on television in 1981. Recently, Vci Entertainment released this title in a DVD format September 29th, 2010. This film has been repackaged with a commentary from director Frank De Felitta (The Entity) and writer J. D. Feigelson (Red Water). This reviewer remembers becoming paranoid of grain silos after watching this film and there is a reason that this title is considered a classic. Dark Night of the Scarecrow is rewatchable for creating some of the cliches of modern film. This title is also a reminder not to play around wood chippers!

If you are unfamiliar with this film, a mentally challenged adult (Larry Drake) is accused of killing a young girl (Tonya Crowe), in a small town.

The most wonderful time of the year is once again upon us. The Christmas season is here and with that comes Christmas TV episodes!

For the 25 days leading up til Christmas Day this month, we’ll be spotlighting some of the best Christmas-themed episodes from some of Geek culture’s greatest shows. Each day we’ll cover different shows and episodes and encourage you to watch along with us. So come one, come all, to the 25 Days of Geek TV Christmas!

Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010 - Day 22: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman

Season 2, Episode 9: "Season's Greedings"

Directed by: Randall Zisk

Written by: Dean Cain

Starring: Dean Cain, Teri Hatcher, Lane Smith, Justin Whalin, Eddie Jones, K Callan, Sherman Hemsley, Dom Irrera, Doug Llewelyn, Jon Menick, Denise Richards, Isabel Sanford, Sharon Thomas, Sandee Van Dyke, and Dick Van Patten

Original Air Date: December 4, 1994

You can also purchase a...

If you recently missed an episode of your favorite show, don't sweat it. TV Daily has you covered. Every day, we will be updating you with the funniest, most exciting series out there. Finally, you can catch all of these water cooler conversation starters in one convenient place. Today, we have brand new episodes of Glee, Parenthood, V, Modern Family, Castle, Mercy, Minute to Win It, and Happy Town.

To get started, click on one of the boxes below:

Glee: Episode 1.18: "Laryngitis"

When a sore throat affects Rachel's singing voice, she goes into panic mode. Meanwhile, Kurt tries to change his persona to impress his father, and Puck makes a strategic move to elevate his social status.

Parenthood: Episode 1.11: "Solace"

Julia enlists an old flame to help get Zeek out of debt; Crosby contemplates settling down with Jasmine and Jabbar; and Camille turns to her art in lieu of her husband.

There's Lots of horror coming to the Lone Star state this April, and we've got the early word on what movies you can expect to see playing during the Texas Frightmare Film Festival.

From the Press Release

"Texas Frightmare Weekend announced it has extended the dates for its companion Texas Frightmare Film Festival this year (April 28–May 1). Highlights from the lineup include the Us premiere of Tim Sullivan’s 2001 Maniacs: Field Of Screams, George Romero’s Survival Of The Dead, and Adam Green’s Sundance hit Frozen.

Green’s Frozen stars Shawn Ashmore, Emma Bell, and Kevin Zegers and follows the life or death choices a trio of skiers and snowboarders must make when they find themselves abandoned on a ski resort chairlift. The film, which was a surprise hit at the Sundance Film Festival in January, will screen at the Studio Movie Grill in Lewisville on Wednesday, April 28, at 7:00Pm.

DVD Playhouse—February 2010

By

Allen Gardner

Hunger (Criterion) Harrowing true story of imprisoned Ira member Bobby Sands (Michael Fassbender) and his 1981 hunger strike protesting the British government’s refusal to recognize him, and other Ira members as political prisoners. Director Steve McQueen delivers the story with true filmmaking panache, mixing startling imagery that blends both stunning beauty and stomach-churning horror. Fassbender is absolutely brilliant in the lead. Not for the faint-of-heart, but not to be missed or, particularly, ignored. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Interviews with McQueen and Fassbender; Short documentary; 1981 episode of BBC series “Panorama” that covers the Ira hunger strike; Trailer. Widescreen. DTS-hd audio on Blu-ray.

Adam (20th Century Fox) Quirky romantic comedy about an eccentric, borderline Asperger’s Syndrome, astronomy buff (Hugh Dancy) who is drawn out of his self-imposed shell by a beautiful and sympathetic neighbor (Rose Byrne). Charming film with engaging performances by the two leads,...

There’s a real message inherit in Whip It that’s exclusive to any woman who’s had her mother try to mold her in her maternal image. While this might seem to make the film “girls only”, Drew Barrymore’s directorial debut does feature enough charm to appeal to the other gender as well. But alas, this is a true girl power movie, and Barrymore makes no qualms about championing that. For her first picture, Barrymore emulates the derby girls in her film: a couple of bumps and bruises but an overall entertaining effort.

One of the best compliments Barrymore can receive lies with her ability to tell a story. Granted, the script itself isn’t the most complicated story to adapt, yet Barrymore keeps things focused on the characters and their relationships. The plot itself might be exaggerated, but the people are believable, especially Marcia Gay Harden’s overbearing mother Brooke.

Another classic television series, V, is set to come to us re-envisioned and hopefully will be another nice dark hit like some other re-imagined series we all know and that I’m trying to resist mentioning.

Another Remake On The Horizon:

Do you remember V? No, not V for Vendetta. V the television series.

Well, in case you thought your fuzzy distant memories were nothing but that, think again gang. Back in October of ‘08 ABC gave the green light to a remake (yes, yet one more remake) of the old show. What? You don’t remember V? That’s fine. Nothing to be ashamed of.

V was about rodent-eating lizard aliens that showed up on Earth and though they said one thing, they had their eyes set on our planet’s water. It starred Marc Singer, Faye Grant, Jane Balder, Michael Ironside, Robert Englund & Lane Smith, to name a few.

While I’ve been asked to withhold any proper reviews of films appearing in the Anima’t or Orient Express sections of this years Sitges Festival so as to avoid any potential conflicts with my role on the jury for those sections, I am planning to highlight a number of the animated shorts that I’ve been seeing. There are a solid fistful of this that I’m trying to round up materials on - fingers crossed for some truly spectacular stuff - and the one that turned up right away was fantastic French animated short Monsieur Cok.

This one manages the difficult task of playing a strong political satire card while also being light, comedic and very entertaining and it succeeds brilliantly on all levels thanks to the unique character designs and unusual blend of 2D and 3D animation espoused by director Franck Dion. It kind of ends up...