Whenever I went to Chuck E. Cheese’s as a kid, my mission was to play as many arcade games as possible. The pizza was nice too, but one thing I was not fond of, was the show. That fuzzy animatronic band at the Pizza Time Theater just freaked me out, and all i wanted to do was head right back to the arcade. Well for some, those singing robots were more than just a sideshow, they were a reason to live. You can meet these people and the story behind their animatronic heroes in the new doc “The Rock-afire Explosion”.

This movie focuses on one particular band, the rock-afire explosion, original to the Showbiz Pizza franchise. Unlike those foam bots a Chuck E. Cheese’s, these machines mimicked playing real instruments and had very intricate facial expressions. There reign on arena kid rock lasted throughout the eighties and inspired many collectors and afficionados long after Showbiz Pizza had disappeared. These people are the heart of “The Rock-afire Explosion” which comes out in the Fall of 2008 and seems perfect for any kid of the eighties regardless of whether they were freaked out or were enthralled by this sideshow.

Tags: Chuck E. Cheese's, Showbiz Pizza, The Rock-afire Explosion

Many people have been waiting in bated anticipation for the release of the 90’s throwback film “The Wackness”. We talked about it here on this blog not too long ago, and it has created quite a hype prior to its release. This schedule, which I found over at Firstshowing.net, shows a fairly substantial release. So find your city and go out and see Jonathon Levine’s “The Wackness” starring Ben Kingsley, Famke Janssen, and Josh Peck.

July 3rd:
New York
Los Angeles

July 11th:
San Francisco
Washington DC
Philadelphia
Boston
San Diego
Chicago
Seattle

July 18th:
Dallas
Minneapolis
Phoenix
Portland

July 25th:
Houston
Austin
Denver
Atlanta
Providence
Raleigh / Durham / Chapel Hill
Charlotte
Cleveland
San Antonio
Albuquerque
Santa Fe
Detroit
Ann Arbor
Miami / Ft. Lauderdale / West Palm
Kansas City
Honolulu
Mau
Milwaukee
Madison
Salt Lake City
Sacramento
Fresno
Monterey
Reno
Eugene
Salem
Tacoma
Olympia
Bellingham
Anchorage
St. Louis
Baltimore
Annapolis
Richmond

Tags: Ben Kingsley, Famke Janssen, Josh Peck, The Wackness

The idea of a movie based on a “Magic The Gathering” like card game which deals with alien shaped creatures in a post apocalyptic world, may not sound like your cup of tea. But surely the up-coming indie sci-fi “The Mutant Chronicles” is worth a look, and here is why.

First of all, this pic stars Ron Pearlman, who not only is having a fantastic movie career at the moment (see Hellboy and about 20 other movies soon to be released/ in production) but has also starred in the French masterpiece “City of Lost Children”, a film very similar in style, tone, and color. And who did first time director Simon Hunter cast to collide with Pearlman’s character, none other than the indie legend John Malkovich.

If anything, the trailer below is proof as to what can come of some indie filmmakers, quality seasoned actors, and a blue screen. The film appears to take place in a very anachronistic world as if World War II and H.G. Wells were to collide, and also features Thomas Jane and Devon Aoki. Check out the trailer and if you feel so inclined to embrace your inner nerd/find out more about the story, go to the film’s website.

Tags: Devon Aoki, H.G. Wells, Hellboy, John Malkcovich, Ron Pearlman, Simon Hunter, The Mutant Chronicles, Thomas Jane

Many video/music formats have come and gone, laserdiscs, minidiscs, floppy discs. And while you may not be able to buy a new VHS or cassette tape of the newest film or hottest song, I don’t think we have seen the last out of these plastic wonders. You see, for as long as they sell 1978 Oldsmobiles and compact tv/VHS combos, there will be cassette and VHS aficionados.

For me there is no better way to watch an 80’s movie, like say “Cocktail” or “Die Hard”, than on a weathered VHS. The colors, sound, and visual fuzz remain true to the era. Who can forget the joy of pause, rewind, fast forward, and the instant gratification that comes from using the tracking function. And while we may be in a time period when new movies are transmitted digitally to theaters around the country, a time when we neglect to purchase DVD’s in lieu of their internet counterpart, we can always take a trip to the used record store or local Goodwill and snag as many fifty cent VHS tapes as we can, tattered cardboard cases and all. So feel free to embrace the best and brightest in movie technology, but know that there are others like me out there, including Adam Lee Davies and his celebration of the VHS in Time Out New York.

Tags: Adam Lee Davies, Cocktail, Die Hard, Goodwill, Time Out New York, VHS

I just can’t get enough of free film lately, i.e. Internet musicals and ESPN sports documentaries. It used to be that small art house films premiered at indie festivals and then played their limited engagement out in New York or LA, never to be heard from again. Well it doesn’t get any smaller that Slamdance, a low budget Sundance taking place in Utah at the same time, where “Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father” first played. I first heard about it from this glowing review from Cinematical who said

“Play this film. And here’s a note to anyone looking to purchase a doc to distribute and whatnot: Buy this film. I don’t work for a studio, thus I’m not keen on all the politics involved, but I guarantee if this doc was picked up by, say, HBO, it would change lives immediately.”

While the review was more than convincing, I never thought that I or any other non festival attendee would ever get the chance to see this doc about director Kurt Kuenne paying a video homage to his murdered friend Andrew Bagby. Without a film crew, Kuenne interviews friends and family of the deceased in order to immortalize him for his infant son, all while details of his mysterious death are revealed. That all I can give away, as further details reveal shocking truths that apparently, and Im going off of reviews here, make this film the emotional roller coaster that it is. If you want to know more, you will have to watch MSNBC this fall, as the cable news channel has just purchased the film. In the meantime, check out the film’s website here, which features a trailer and more information on the story.

Tags: Andrew Bagby, Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father, ESPN, Kurt Kuenne, MSNBC

There are two reasons I am excited about the internet-mini-series-musical “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog”. One, there is nothing more independent film than a free internet musical, second, I thought I would never again get the chance to see Neil Patrick Harris, Mr. Doogie Howser, in a MD role. I give you Dr. Horrible:

During the WGA strike Joss Whedon started writing a three part musical series for the internet. Each of the three episodes will be approximately ten minutes each.
Co-writers for the internet feature are Joss’ brothers Zack and Jed and Jed’s Fiancé Maurissa Tancharoen . The writing and shooting have been completed and the series is now in post-production.
“It’s the story of a low-rent super-villain, the hero who keeps beating him up, and the cute girl from the laundromat he’s too shy to talk to.” says Whedon.
“Doctor Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog” will star Neil Patrick Harris as Dr. Horrible, Nathan Fillion as Captain Hammer, Felicia Day as Penny and a cast of dozens.”

Teaser from Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog on Vimeo.

Tags: Dougie Howser, Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, jed whedon, Joss Whedon, Maurissa Tancharoen, Neil Patrick Harris, zack whedon

It is always sad when someone dies. However, the load is always lighter when the deceased happened to be a comedian. Instead of slow moving video montages, state funerals, or memorial golf tournaments, we get stand up! Comedians have always laughed in the face of tragedy, and thankfully, we now get to remember George Carlin through constant airings of his performances, movie roles, and general profane language. Carlin videos and remembrances have have been seen everywhere in the last couple of days from the Daily Show to Larry King Live, and the fun is just getting started.

Starting today, June 25 and tomorrow, June 26, HBO will be airing Carlin specials starting at 8pm and running through the night until 1am. Then on Saturday, SNL will air the its first ever episode, which features Carlin as the special guest. And be sure to be on the lookout for airings of Carlin’s film roles such as “Dogma”, “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back”, “Cars”, “Jersey Girl”, and The “Bill and Ted” series amongst others.

Also, if you are interested in how the fellow comics have reacted to Carlin’s passing, be sure to check out what
Jerry Seinfeld had to say in the NYT, what Kevin Smith wrote in Newsweek,
or what a host of other comedians thought over at The USA Today

Tags: Bill and Ted, Cars, Dogma, George Carlin, HBO, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Jerry Seinfeld, Jersey Girl, Kevin Smith, New York Times, Newsweek, NYT, Saturday Night Live, SNL

I recently watched and episode of “My Name is Earl” where Earl joins forces with a guest starring John Heder to win a grocery bagging championship. The competition was intense and ended with a slow motion alley oop move where apples were expertly placed inside a paper bag just before time ran out. It was an unbelievable, ridiculous, and stupid premise perfect for prime time Fox. I felt this way up until I saw the trailer for “Paper or Plastic?” and realized that not only is competitive grocery bagging a very real and vibrant activity, it is also much crazier than its fictionalized recreation.

“Speed, Structure, and Weight” are the three tenets of the comps in “Paper or Plastic?” a film that made its debut last Friday at the Los Angeles Film Festival. Be sure to read the synopsis and check out the film’s trailer below.

“About excelling in life at whatever you do, the feature length documentary follows contestants and their dedicated supporters from around the U.S. as they get ready for the National Grocery Bagging competition in Las Vegas. Speed, accuracy and heart will determine who is best qualified to ask you, “Paper or plastic?”"

Tags: grocery bagging championships, John Heder, Los Angeles Film Festival, My Name is Earl, Paper or Plastic

Every other Friday, big films premiere at cinemas around the world. You can now include YouTube in that list thanks to The YouTube Screeing Room. Four films will appear on the site every other week in a high quality format, many which have graced the festival circuit, others which have won awards. Featured this week is “Our Time is Up”, “The Danish Poet”, “Are You The Favorite Person of Anybody?”, and “Love and War”.

Tags: are you the favorite person of anybody, love and war, our time is up, the danish poet, the youtube screening room, youtube

News has broken that a follow up is in the works to the 2004 French action movie “District B13″ or “Banlieue 13″. The origianl film was a vehicle to bring the French born technique of movement called Parkour to the big screen. Parkour is a recent sport that concentrates on maneuvering through environments in the quickest and most efficient way possible. The original film follows David Belle, the founder of Parkour, as he attempts to fight the gangsters who have overrun the housing projects in which he resides. He leaps, crawls, swings, runs, and ducks in a truly magnificent acrobatic way throughout the film.

The sequel, “District B14″ will start filming next month, and really marks a movement in film to capitalize on this very real stunt form. Parkour has been featured in chase sequences in “Casino Royale”, “Live Free or Die Hard”, and the “Incredible Hulk”. But this is not a brand new trend. Aruguably the first proponent of Parkour, before the word was ever minted, has to be Jackie Chan, who as performing all of his own Parkour stunts, without harnesses or special effects, for decades. In anticipation of “District B14″ and many more parkour sequences to come, I thought it would be interesting to contrast a scene from “District B13″ and a small compilation of Jackie’s many parkour themed moves.

“District B13″

Jackie Chan:

Tags: Banlieue 13, David Belle, District B13, District B14, Incredible Hulk, Live Free or Die Hard, parkour