Nick’s Picks 02/08/12

FEATURE FILM REVIEW

KILL LIST

Kill List is a mind-blowing genre concoction being called the “#1 Horror Film of the Year” (Bloody-Disgusting). A brilliant blend of family drama, hit man action-thriller and terrifying psychological horror film, Kill List tells the story of an ex-soldier turned contract killer who is plunged into the heart of human darkness. Eight months after a disastrous hit job in Kiev left him physically and mentally scarred, Jay (Neil Maskell) is pressured by his partner Gal (Michael Smiley), into taking a new assignment. As they descend into the bizarre, disturbing world of the contract, Jay’s world begins to unravel until fear and paranoia sending him reeling towards a horrifying point of no return.

Kill List

Starring: Neil Maskell & Michael Smiley
Director: Ben Wheatley
Company: IFC Films
Now Showing: In Local Area Theatres
MPAA Rating: NR
Grade: B

MOVIE HAPPENINGS

Lucky Chucky Productions is proud to announce an exciting addition to the cast of its feature comedy-horror film The Haunted Trailer, Ron Jeremy, The Adult Video News’ (AVN) 2011 “Crossover Star of the Year”, will come on board to play the Demon, rounding out the film’s hilarious cast.

Ron Jeremy, who has appeared in over 1,250 films, mostly… of the adult variety, has crossed over to mainstream roles in the Hollywood features Crank High Voltage, Waiting, Detroit Rock City, Orgazmo, Ronin, 54, Reindeer Games, Dead Bang, 52 Pick-Up, and Disney’s – Bone Chillers among others.

His Television resume includes appearances on Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, Tosh.0, The Surreal Life: Fame Games, Chappelle’s Show, The Surreal Life, Family Guy, Just Shoot Me!, Nash Bridges and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.

Mr. Jeremy has also appeared in many indie film productions including The Boondock Saints, The Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger Part IV, Terror Firmer, The Witch’s Sabbath, Being Ron Jeremy, National Lampoon’s Stoned Age, and Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead.

The Haunted Trailer is written by Chuck Norfolk, Steven Scott Norfolk & Tim Norfolk and directed by Chuck Norfolk. Producers Chuck Norfolk and Courtney Sandifer are thrilled to have Mr. Jeremy on board and feel his great sense of humor will fit right in on the The Haunted Trailer’s crazy set.

Mr. Jeremy joins an already awesome cast including Joe Grisaffi as “Momma”, Jacob Byrd as “Elvis”, Jeremy James Douglas Norton as “Aaron”, Lauren Leal as “Prissy”, and Steve Joseph as “Reverend Wiggems” with Roxy Vandiver as “Faye” and Nick Nicholson as “Officer Billy”.

The Haunted Trailer will be well into post-production by the end of February 2012. The production team, which includes Director of Photography Ron Greene, is pushing for a fall 2012 release of the film.

You can contact the filmmakers directly at hauntedtrailer@gmail.com.

DVD REVIEWS

FREE DVD GIVEAWAY

We are doing a Free DVD Giveaway! If you are interested in a chance at winning a free copy of Father Dowling Mysteries: Season One, Elmo’s World: Favorite Things, A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas, Cookie Jar: 80′s Cartoon Collection, Digital Media: New Learners of the 21st Century, Mannix: Season Six, Inuyasha Series Grab Bag, Spongebob: Frozen Face Off or Five Star Day, it is really easy! All you have to do is send me an email at HoustonMovieGuy@gmail.com. The subject line of the email should read DVD GIVEAWAY. In the body of the email, be sure to put your name, full mailing address and which DVD or Blu-ray you would like. Winners will be selected by random drawing. Best of luck!

A VERY HAROLD & KUMAR CHRISTMAS – Warner

Following years of growing apart, Harold Lee (Cho) and Kumar Patel (Penn) have replaced each other with new friends and are preparing for their respective Yuletide celebrations. But when a mysterious package mistakenly arrive at Kumar’s door on Christmas Eve, his attempts to redirect it to Harold’s house ends with the “high grade” contents – and Harold’s father-in-law’s prize Christmas tree – going up in smoke. With his in-laws out of the house for the day, Harold decides to cover his tracks, rather than come clean. Reluctantly embarking on another ill-advised journey with Kumar, through New York City, their search for the perfect replacement tree takes them through party heaven – and almost blows Christmas Eve sky high.

COOKIE JAR: 80′s Cartoon Collection – Mill Creek

This is the story of a family of stunt racers who run the Pole Position Stunt Show. After a tragic accident leaves three children parentless, a secret is revealed that the kid’s parents were actually part of an undercover crime-fighting government agency. The kids, along with two computerized cars, vow to carry on their parents work as they become the New Pole Position Force! The members of C.O.P.S. are all extraordinary crime fighters — each one a master of a special skill, each one dedicated to the cause of justice. Though the concept may be simple, the job isn’t easy: The Big Boss and his gang are the roughest and most persistent bunch of criminals to challenge law and order in Empire City. Thundering across the stars to save the universe from the Monster Minds, Jayce searches for his father to unite the Magic Root and lead his Lightning League to victory over the changing form of Saw Boss. Wheeled Warriors explode into battle…Lightning Strikes!

MANNIX: Season Six – CBS Paramount

Mannix, the action-packed detective drama about a tough and cynical private investigator stars Golden Globe winner Mike Connors stars as the title character. Mannix is a hard-boiled and gritty detective who constantly defies rules and regulations and is able to take a flurry of fist fights, high-speed car chases and bullet wounds in stride.

5 Star Day – Breaking Glass Pictures

Jake Gibson’s (Cam Gigandet) horoscope forecasts a perfect five star day the morning of his birthday. Little does he realize, his entire world is about to be turned upside down as everything that could go wrong does. Now, with his career and personal life on hold, Jake embarks on a journey to find the three people born the same time and place as himself: a single mom haunted by her past (Jena Malone), an overworked nurse (Brooklyn Sudano) and an undiscovered jazz singer (Max Hartman). Though his goal is to disprove the theory of astrology, Jake ends up learning deeper lessons about life, love and destiny that will change his life forever.

SPONGEBOB: Frozen Face Off – Nickelodeon

It’s a race to the South Pole! With the whole town occupied, will Plankton finally get his hands on the formula and end the Krusty Krab’s fast-food supremacy for good? Includes on-air tent pole episode, “Frozen Face-Off” and six more episodes from the current eighth season! Also features four bonus episodes from Nick’s popular shows “T.U.F.F. Puppy” and “Fanboy and Chum Chum”.

NEW TRICKS: Season Six – Acorn

Recruited out of various stages of retirement are the deeply gifted English character actors James Bolam (playing recent widower Jack Halford), Alun Armstrong (terrific as the obsessive-compulsive Brian Lane, who left the force after a nervous breakdown), and Dennis Waterman (a former sergeant and hothead who likes his liquor and isn’t at all sure about having a lady boss). New Tricks is part police procedural–with a deliciously long running time of 90 minutes per episode–as well as a humorous work dramedy. When Pullman pulls a pile of photos of retired cops from whom to begin to build her team, her first teammate, Halford, grabs the pile to help speed along the process. “Dead, dead, dead, dead, good as, dead…” he says as he winnows down the stack. Yet the “old fart” jokes are few and far between, as it soon becomes clear that the old dogs really can learn, and employ, New Tricks and make dramatic, if sometimes politically dangerous, headway into high profile cases assumed to be long closed. Or are they? Fans of any crime procedural will love New Tricks, as will fans of the far more realistic British TV series that dare to show stars with imperfect teeth or well-worn shoe soles. And yet that realism is part of the utter believability, and totally-grow-on-you charm of New Tricks.

WHAT MY HUSBAND DOESN’T KNOW – Image

Lena Summer has the perfect life…or so it seems. But with her husband’s demanding career, the other side of her bed is too cold too often. When a handsome young foreman is hired to work on their home, the spark she’s been missing quickly rages into a wildfire that could cost her everything.

FRED 2: Night of the Living Fred – Lionsgate

Fred Figglehorn (Lucas Cruikshank) is back in an all-new movie adventure, and his life has gone from kooky to spooky. Fred’s beloved music teacher, Mrs. Felson, has mysteriously disappeared, and Fred is convinced that her replacement, Mr. Devlin, has a secret life – as a vampire! And to make matters worse, Mr. Devlin is dating Fred’s mom! With the help of his awesome dad (John Cena) and his friends Bertha (Daniella Monet) and Talia (Ariel Winter), Fred begins a weird and wildly comic quest to expose Mr. Devlin’s true identity – before he turns Fred’s cul-de-sac into a community of bloodsuckers!

LOVE STORY – Paramount

Love means never having to say you’re sorry… Love Story. Everyone loves Love Story! One of the most romantic movies ever made also remains one of the most endearingly popular. This heartfelt 1970 tale of the love of a lifetime-the most successful Paramount movie up to that time-received seven Academy Award nominations (including Best Picture) and won one for Francis Lai’s magnificent score. As filming was underway on Love Story, the filmmakers knew they had something special-so special that Erich Segal was simultaneously shaping his best-selling novel from his own screenplay. Stars Ryan O’Neal and Ali MacGraw each received Academy Award. nominations and became overnight movie sensations for their poignant portrayals of a young couple who cross social barriers, marry and ultimately face the greatest crisis of all.

ANCIENT ALIENS: Season Three – A&E

Over the course of 75 million years, planet Earth has collected clues to the history of Aliens that have visited our planet. Whether the dinosaurs or the 21st century, researchers have studied everything from cave drawings to mass sightings of the unexplained and the paranormal. Let the speculation and controversies begin with A&E’s, Ancient Aliens.

THE VALENTINE’S COLLECTION – Scholastic

In the Vanentine’s Collection, Scholastic has amassed five episodes that are sure to tickle your funny bone as well as teach the little ones lessons by example. In One Zillion Valentines, two enterprising friends prove that valentines are indeed for everyone. A Letter to Amy focuses upon the wind and how it spoils young Peter’s attempt to mail an invitation to his friend. In Goggles, Peter and Archie call upon a faithful dog to outsmart a group of bullies. The fourth episode is a gentle and moving story about caring and sharing and coming to terms with the past. In the final episode, Jim worries that he won’t make any friends on the first day of school. The stories on The Valentine’s Collection…Featuring One Zillion Valentines teach children about friendship, sharing and new experiences.

FIREFLIES IN THE GARDEN – Sony

To an outsider, the Taylors are the very picture of the successful American family: Charles (Willem Dafoe) is a tenured professor on track to become university president, son Michael (Ryan Reynolds) is a prolific and well-known romance novelist, daughter Ryne (Shannon Lucio) is poised to enter a prestigious law school, and on the day we are introduced to them, matriarch Lisa (Julia Roberts) will graduate from college—decades after leaving to raise her children. But when a serious accident interrupts the celebration, the far more nuanced reality of this Midwestern family’s history and relationships come to light.

DIGITAL MEDIA: New Learners of the 21st Century – PBS

From classroom to library to museum to mall, students are claiming digital media as a means of connecting, communicating, creating, and learning. Digital Media: New Learners of the 21st Century explores this burgeoning phenomenon, interpreting its importance and offering parents, teachers, and everyone who cares about kids a window into 21st century education. The documentary dives into cutting-edge educational and cognitive research to explore how increasingly powerful forms of digital media impact today’s learner. Viewers meet some of the country’s most noted educational experts and thought leaders in the digital education realm.

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Posted by FortBendStar on Feb 9 2012. Filed under Nick's Picks. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.