With artwork Ibraim Robertson and written by Max Brooks, Recorded Attacks is a multi story jaunt through zombie attacks across known history. There’s the untold story about the French Foreign Legion attack in North Africa and the surprising end for its survivors. And includes some new details on that ‘other war’ that was fought in ancient Rome.

The artwork reminds me of an artist from 2000ad who I used to think of as a ’smooth’ artist. The texture of the penmanship is too clean for this kind of rendering. It has way too much white in the pages, and due to careful positioning of the characters, some body parts are not shown. If it’s going to be a comic based on zombies, it has to go all out to catch my attention.

Some of the panel cuts are impressive; one particular which is the most noticeable is where a stoneage man is being held by a zombie on the ground. The stoneage man has his head to the side and you see him looking into the ‘camera’. The next panel is ever so slightly pulled away and you see he’s looking at a large rock.

I also really liked the way the writer has kind of merged the fantasy with what sounds like probably fact, case in point: the Egyptian method of mummifying, which changed to include removing the person’s brain.

When will publishers learn, to view the artwork properly, you can’t have the comic book bound with a hard spine; it doesn’t allow you to open the pages fully flat to appreciate, uninterrupted, the double spread artwork without pressing flat and breaking the spine.

Oh yeah, and the maps which start each story off should be smaller, complete waste of space. I don’t read zombie comics for a geography lesson.

It was, on the whole, an enjoyable read, but which was over way too quickly, being only 146 pages. I read it in someone’s lunch break (not my lunch break, go figure), and came away thinking it was an interesting and somewhat different perspective on what we’ve seen of zombies so far.

Worth being a gift if you can get someone to shell out 12.99, other than that, borrow it.

Now watch the video trailer:

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Jess disappears and Nicole is left stranded.

Middle of nowhere? No phone signal? Teenagers alone? Deserted building? Sounds quite a common theme doesn’t it? The premise is somewhat cliched, although the effects are pretty gruesome. Strangely in this kind of film, the set pieces are way too slow, and very predictable. The suspense doesn’t build, it’s low during a set piece and then just ends on a semi-high.

The whole film is transformed into a comedic mess before it had even got half way. Saying this, the effects are suitably gruesome, making teeth and buttocks alike clench. Most are better, up a few notches. from Saw. The added aspect of the supernatural adds to the story early on.

Interestingly, when Nicole meets another abductee (Tracey Kress) in the Rest Stop’s bathroom, Tracey tells her she wanted to see the Rolling Stones play in Tucson. Later Nicole finds out that Tracey went missing in 1971. The Stones didn’t play in Tucson, Arizona until June 14th, 1972.

The real downer in the film is that the leads character just doesn’t have her head screwed on. She is just so thick. There’s a police man injured, the maniac is attacking them with his truck. She just kneels there watching as the truck rolls over his legs. Now, c’mon, but wouldn’t she have grabbed the police man’s gun and started shooting? Ok, the gun is used further on in the story, and you could say she was in shock, but when I was watching it with an audience, they were shouting, “The gun! Take the gun! Use the gun!”… And she has a few more opportunities to take and use it, before the police man actually says to her to take it, and she ends up using it.

Worth watching for the effects, but apart from that, steer clear as it’s a big disappointment.

The DVD viewed also contains special features.

Three horrific alternate endings.
Shocking crime Scene photos.
Scotty’s family album.
Rest Stop Trailer.

All in all, not a really bad film, it’s just that the pace of the film is too slow, and the dumbness of the main character is just infuriating.

In this overly ambitious spoof of Star Wars Empire Strikes Back, in which Luke Skywalker (Chris), Han Solo (Peter) and Princess Leia (Lois) join forces against Darth Vader (Stewie). Also included are Landon Carlissian (Mort Goldman), Yoda (Carl, Chris’ boss) and the Boba Fett (the Giant Chicken).

Stewie as Darth Vader is the best character by far (as he is in Family Guy), just his appearance and accent suit the spoofy arch villain completely.

The animation surpasses the Family Guy series, most noticeably with the spaceship scenes and some of the ground attack scenes with the AT-ATs.

Storywise, it stays failthful to the original print of Empire Strikes Back, rather than the remodelled one. There isn’t the girlie scream when Skywalker gets his hand chopped off by Darth for example. It’s interesting to know that it took longer for this to be signed off by George Lucas because of the content, primarily the swearing.

Unfortunately, the jokes, on the whole, don’t really work. A few sniggers are abound, but it’s not really laugh out loud material. Some of the more memorable jokes are when Han lets Leia know how she speaks, and that to hear it day in day out is such a drag, when Han goes into one of the Large Camels and sees a baby camel and remarks that she’s pregnant.

Most of the time I was just MMmming.

It’s really recommended only for people who will get Family Guy and Star Wars jokes. You really need to know how they both operate to see the funny side.

And now that we’re in a Family Guy Spoof mood, here’s some…

Ideas for Family Guy spoofs:
The Original Scooby Doo
The Saw series
Wedding Singer
Somthing, something, something
Debbie Does Dallas (only joking)

Do you have any other ideas for a Family Guy spoof? I’m sure there’s loads we’ve missed!

View the Family Guy Empire Strikes Back Trailer here.

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This is a neat idea which utilizes flash technology with a story to produce an online graphical novel. Each page has a next and previous so you can work forwards (and backwards through the story. What possibly differentiates this idea from normal online graphical novels is that it’s animated, and it mixes real photography (of people mainly), digital images and sound effects.

The story itself is an interesting (if not new) idea of alien technology, alien war and a love twist. Because it’s using flash, some of the shading and rendering seems to be too smooth, whereas the real life photography is spot on.

It is split into Books which mean you can sample the chapters in bite size chunks. The cliff hangers are not too bad, and would probably make you want to read the next chapter. It’s worth a look and won’t take too long to go through all the chapters.

Information

Photography: Ian Mather
3/D Design/Rendering: Geoff Holmes
Web Master: Michael Tubbe (www.urlcanada.com)

Cast:
Annie Tyler – Shaye Irvin
Fitz – Bruce Boland
Gorman – David Johnson
Sagan – Paul Lewis
Commander Jackson – Zeke Gmaz
Delta Bravo Echo 1 – John Dahl
Delta Bravo Echo 2 – Mark Denstedt
Delta Bravo Echo 3 – Geoffrey Holmes
Smitty – Jamie Delaney
Ashley Littleton – Robyn Douglas
Ashley’s Mom – Anna Douglas

Cast:
Annie Tyler – Shaye Irvin
Fitz – Bruce Boland
Gorman – David Johnson
Sagan – Paul Lewis
Commander Jackson – Zeke Gmaz
Delta Bravo Echo 1 – John Dahl
Delta Bravo Echo 2 – Mark Denstedt
Delta Bravo Echo 3 – Geoffrey Holmes
Smitty – Jamie Delaney
Ashley Littleton – Robyn Douglas
Ashley’s Mom – Anna Douglas

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You need to be enthusiastic, have something unique to say and be able to write a sentence to the best of your ability. It doesn’t have to be in English and no formal qualifications are necessary, just an eye for Scifi (..or horror or fantasy or just plain weird)

To apply fill in the form below:

Image thanks.

I’m not sure what the name of the episode is, but basically the scene was like this: Frank Rossitano (Judah Friedlander) explains to Tracy Morgan (Tracy Morgan) why there has never been, and never will be, a realistic computer generated images in a pornographic computer game.

Frank calls it the [not sure] factor. He produces a graph (from out of nowhere) and points to the low part of the graph on the left. He says, “See here, this is the bit we love, this is R2D2 and C3PO.” Tracy agrees. And this bit, pointing to the extreme right to a peak, “This is Han Solo, we love him!”. Tracy agrees intently studying the graph.

“But this bit, this is the CGI Stormtroopers… “, Frank points to a trough in the graph, way down, “..and we hate those. We think they’re weird, don’t look right, make us shudder.”

Tracy backs away, “Yes.. we hate… them!”

Now, ok, this is pretty paraphrased, and I can’t find the exact wording for it, but it was funny and basically it showed that if CGI gets to be ‘life like’ it just doesn’t look right.

Anyone got the exact wording or even a clip of it?

With the release of the remastered Star Trek media, we’ve a massive competition for you.

Just answer the following question:

In Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan, Admiral Kirk has a collection of antiques. Which Commodore computer is included in his collection?

Send your answers in through the competition page with the competition you’re entering (Star Trek Mega Competition), your answer, name, age and email address.

Don’t forget to check out the other competitions!

Star Trek: Original Motion Picture Collection

Star Trek - The Motion Picture: Admiral James T. Kirk (William Shatner) is called upon to collect his old crewmates in order to save humanity from a giant, hostile alien vessel steadily approaching Earth and destroying everything in its path.

The Wrath Of Khan: It is the 23rd century. The Federation Starship U.S.S. Enterprise is on routine training manoeuvres, and Admiral James T. Kirk seems resigned to the fact that this inspection may well be the last space mission of his career. But Khan is back…

The Search For Spock: Spock is dead and McCoy is inexplicably being driven insane: McCoy is harbouring Spock’s living essence. With one friend alive and one not, but both in pain, Kirk attempts to help his friends by stealing the USS Enterprise and defying Starfleet’s Genesis planet quarantine.

The Voyage Home: It’s the 23rd century and a mysterious alien power is threatening Earth by evaporating the oceans and destroying the atmosphere. In a frantic attempt to save mankind, Kirk and his crew must time travel back to 1986 San Francisco…

The Final Frontier: It’s Stardate 8454.130 and a vacationing Captain Kirk faces two challenges: Climbing Yosemite’s El Capitan and teaching campfire songs to Spock. But vacations are cut short when a renegade Vulcan hijacks the Enterprise, and pilots it on a journey to uncover the universe’s innermost secrets.

The Undiscovered Country: After years at war, the Federation and the Klingon empire prepare for a peace summit. When a Klingon ship is attacked and the Enterprise is held accountable, the dogs of war are unleashed again, as both worlds brace for what may be their final, deadly encounter…

Star Trek: The Original Series

Space. The final frontier. These are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise. Its’ five year mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilisations, to boldly go where no man has gone before!

Star Trek: Alternate Realities Collective

Available for the first time on DVD is a collection featuring the bizarre and strange of episodes of Star Trek! See your favorite characters behaving contrary to type in familiar but odd circumstances in Star Trek: Alternate Realities, a 4-disc collection that includes 20 episodes selected from all five Star Trek television series plus exclusive special features.

Star Trek Bottle Cooler

What better way to keep your favourite bottle of juice cool than with this funky Star Trek bottle cooler, fashioned after the Star Trek uniform (not sure which one, but I’m sure Trekky fans will know), it is both useful and would act as a great ornament.

Star Trek Bottle Opener

Along with keeping your bottle cool, you’ll also need an appliance to open it with. So make way for the Star Trek bottle opener, complete with Star Trek emblem, you could stick it in your top pocket and get away with going to a Trekky Convention!

Samsung BD-P1500 Blu Ray DVD Player
Experience the blu-ray difference with the Samsung BD-P1500. You’ll get incredibly detailed images with brilliant colour in full high definition 1080p resolution. Amazing picture quality isn’t the only benefit. This blu-ray disc player comes with Samsung’s Anynet+ technology which lets you control all your Samsung AV devices from just one remote. The BD-P1500 lets you have it all - watch your favourite DVDs and blu-ray discs or listen to CDs with the highest-quality audio.
* CD & DVD compatible
* Built-in Ethernet connection
* Dolby digital plus and dolby true HD
* 1080p resolution
* Easily connect your digital devices
* Control it all with one remote

Specifications
Playback Media : BD-ROM / DVD-ROM / DVD-R / DVD-RW / AVCHD / audio CD
Playback Formats : VC-1 / MPEG2 / H.264
Analog Audio Outputs : 2-Channel
HDMI Outputs(Version) : Yes (1.3)
Dimensions (Wx H) : 430 x 59 mm
Dimensions (L x W x H) : 42.9 x 27.4 x 8.3 cm
Weight : 3.9kg
Colour : Black

Seattle Genre Film Festival To Open This September

MIFFF, a three day international showcase of animation, fantasy, horror, and science fiction cinema, is pleased to announce its inaugural launch September 18-20th, 2009 at the SIFF Cinema at McCaw Hall in Seattle, Washington USA.

As a genre film festival in Seattle, MIFFF is a unique entity. The Seattle Metropolitan Area is home to one of the largest film attending populations in the country. MIFFF is a venue that gives a voice to genre film fans through a wide spectrum of films and related programming.

Festival Co-Founder and current President Gabe de los Angeles sees a great opportunity for MIFFF: “We are thrilled to give Seattle and the Pacific Northwest audience something special in the film festival community, a showcase of international genre cinema. It’s incredible that we’re going to be able to host on this event on the historic grounds of Seattle Center”.

The first annual MIFFF plans to screen a variety of animation, fantasy, horror, and science fiction films over three days. The festival will include feature length films, short films, and genre specific documentaries. In addition to the film screenings, MIFFF plans to have panel discussions, Q & A’s with filmmakers, and after parties.

Eric Morgret, Festival Director of Programming and Co-Founder, comments: “There are genre films produced every year that are not shown in mainstream movie theaters. Many international genre films remain unseen or get very limited exposure in this part of the country. For three nights MIFFF will bring a strong slate of these titles to audiences here in Seattle. MIFFF wants to present films of the imagination the best way they can be: on a large screen with fantastic sound, and in front of an audience full of energy.”

Isaac Alexander, Festival Director of Publicity and Co-Founder, comments: “Seattle has a great history of supporting genre films with Poltergeist, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi having had their World or American premieres in the city. Also Seattle has a diverse local genre fandom community, as well as it hosts the Science Fiction Museum & Hall of Fame. We will be able to promote this city and offer a venue to gather and celebrate this unique form of entertainment, and join film festivals of the fantastic across the globe in celebrating this form of cinema.”

Attendees, Press and Industry Members are encouraged to join their event on their social media websites.

Blogspot: http://maelstromfestival.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=584266240&ref=ts#/group.php?gid=18959875871&ref=ts
Film Community: http://www.filmcommunity.com/profile/MaelstromInternationalFantasticFIlmFestival
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/maelstromfestival
Twitter: http://twitter.com/mifff

For more information about the MIFFF, including organizers’ bios, film profiles, film submissions, and ticketing details, please visit the festival website at: www.mifff.org

About MIFFF
The First Annual Maelstrom International Fantastic Film Festival runs September 18 through 20th, 2009. The complete Festival schedule will be announced in August. Tickets will be made available online as well as in designated ticket venues. For more information on the Festival, including descriptions of films and events, please visit www.mifff.org. Members of the press can find and download more information, including press kits, photos, press releases, and full film descriptions in the press section of the website.

MIFFF produces the Maelstrom International Fantastic Film Festival, the premier Pacific Northwest weekend long event devoted towards independent and international genre film making. The event was created to offer exposure to films that traditionally are overlooked by the festival circuit from genres including animation, fantasy, horror, and science fiction. The festival will feature an amazing selection of fantastic cinema from around the globe – with the possibility of artists presenting the works themselves. U.S. and world premieres will play alongside global festival favorites and select retrospective titles.

MIFFF is registered as a Washington State non-profit. MIFFF’s mission is to create experiences that bring people together to discover extraordinary genre movies from across the globe.

The above is subject to change at any time.

In the 1979 film Time After Time, who does H.G. Wells follow into present day San-Francisco?:

A) Tina Fey

B) Jack The Ripper

C) Jensen Button

D) Angelina Jolie

E) The Spice Girls

Send you answers in through the competition page with the competition you’re entering (101 Sci-Fi Movies), your answer, name, age and email address.

Don’t forget to check out the other competitions!

Written By And Featuring Infamous Eurovision Winning Monster Hard Rock Band LORDI

Synopsis
Sarah is an autistic little girl whose father is worried about her health. Concerned for her, the father sees her removal from the hospital by force as the only option. An elevator breakdown prevents a smooth exit and leaves them trapped with a group of others.

Yet the incident is only the beginning of a descent into nightmare. As the doors open the hospital appears mysteriously deserted. When mutilated bodies are found, creatures from a dark world start a frightening attack. It soon becomes clear that the survival of the group may rest solely on the little girl.

In the same vein as The Ruins, The Devil’s Rejects and Resident Evil, Dark Floors is set to be the one of the most terrifyingly bloody monster horror films of our time.

Special Features

Behind The Scenes of Dark Floors

Cast & Crew Interviews

Dark Floors World Premiere featurette including:

Q&A with Lordi

Cast and Crew and live Lordi performance

DVD & Blu Ray Release date: 20th April 2009
Running time: 81 minutes
DVD RRP: £12.99
Cert: 18

Interviewed By: Johanna Juntunen

Q: With this being your first English language film you seem to redefine the laws of physics. It seems to happen a lot in this film?

TB: Yes. Physics is part of our imagination. The world is as it is because we think about it and then everything becomes possible, because if you can imagine things, it will happen.

Q: So do you spent a lot of time in pre-production, because it seems like you have these very imaginative shots and your visual style is very different from anybody else’s?

TB: Everybody’s style is different. Everybody is unique. That’s what I really believe. Sometimes we don’t remember this. Sometimes we’re trying to copy or to follow the rules, but if you will listen to yourself, then you will be unique. It takes time, years, but it is the most interesting part of the process. For me, what is interesting is dreaming. There are no obligations or responsibilities. Then it gets difficult, the five months of shooting, but it’s a great process and even greater when you are editing and finishing things. I like the beginning and the end.

Q: Is it like the script - that the most interesting part is the beginning and the end, and then you have to put something in the middle? That’s what I hear.

TB: Yeah.

Q: So were you very involved in the screenplay as well?

TB: Yes. I was involved from the beginning. I received the script and we started to change it and it became a long process. If you change one thing it unravels questions to which you have to find answers. It took about a year, the whole development process of the script.

Q: The cast is great.

TB: Yes. We had great actors.

Q: Was James McAvoy your first choice?

TB: Yeah, he was the first actor I picked. Everybody understood what kind of movie we were making when I picked James. The studio and Producer all understood what kind of movie this would be.

Q: What about Angelina?

TB: She was the last, we didn’t have a Fox three months before we began shooting. We were in pre-production and we still didn’t have a fox, it was difficult to cast. There was no other actress in the world that can play this role. It’s only her. Only Angelina could do it.

Q: Did the actors go through a tough training regime?

TB: Yes. James had two or three months, maybe. He was trained in London to become an assassin.

Q: What are your thoughts on CGI visual effects?

TB: CGI supports the action. It can create drama. A lot of CGI effects in this movie have nothing to do with the action. Instead they are used as visual attractions to enhance the storytelling.

Q: In this movie you had to use them, do you consider yourself a perfectionist?

TB: No. I just consider myself as an organic, I think everything has to be organic because to make it perfect, sometimes you can over work something and kill and destroy it. Perfection is organic when it grows itself.

Q: So what interested you most about the themes and the philosophy of the movie?

TB: The idea of the fraternity to kill one to save thousands, it’s a serious idea. It’s an important question and interesting to think about alongside the characters. When you are making a movie, you use your characters to find what interests you. Is it appropriate to kill if you know that you can save lives? Is it right to kill one person if you can save millions?

Q: What about when people start to abuse that power?

TB: I guess. How do you know that everything isn’t a lie?

Q: Do you think there is ever a justification for violence?

TB: No. No, no, no. I don’t think so. I think the case, this case, does not represent the whole idea. Maybe the next movie, if there is another movie there’ll be real assassins with real problems and we’ll need Wesley because he is the only one who’s right.

Q: But repressing your anger is definitely not good. That’s what we learn from this.

TB: Yes, exactly.