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SLAMDANCE: ART OF THE PRANK (review)

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Review by Joshua Gravel
Produced by Andrea Marini, Judy Drosd
Directed by Andrea Marini
Featuring Joey Skaggs, Robert Forster,
Peter Maloney, Sarah Kit Farrell, Jeff Cohen,
Mark Borkowski, Richard Johnson, Sara Jones,
 Jennifer “Jen” Miller, Buck Wolf, Charlie Todd,
Larry Croft, Kate McCamy, Richard Wilde


Joey Skaggs may not be a household name but he has been a notable figure in the field of pranks as performance art for decades now.

After the mass media either misunderstood or intentionally mis-reported an anti Vietnam war protest piece he created as some strange “love in” during which people were arrested for littering Skaggs decided that the target of his future performance pieces would be the media themselves.

Since the mid seventies Skaggs has been concocting strange products, situations, and characters which he has tricked numerous legitimate news services into reporting as fact and then usually exposes the situation as a hoax shortly after to embarrass them.

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Dynamite Unites Tarzan and Sheena in LORDS OF THE JUNGLE!

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Edgar Rice Burroughs' original jungle hero Tarzan joins the comic industry's first leading lady, Sheena, for the first time ever! Dynamite Entertainment, known for bold, modern interpretations of classic pulp characters, bring together wilderness royalty in Lords of the Jungle, a thrilling miniseries slated to debut on March 16, 2016. Written by Corinna Bechko (Aliens/VampirellaStar Wars: LegacyPlanet of the Apes) with interior art by Roberto Castro, Lords of the Jungle features two covers for its first issue, by series artist Castro and industry legend Alex Ross respectively.

Tarzan has long been the protector of his jungle stronghold, but this time the fight has to be taken to his enemy's territory, deep in the heart of London. Half a world away and nearly a century later, Sheena is battling foes of her own when she is mysteriously swept through time and space to 1930's Africa, leaving her own land unprotected. Will these two Lords of the Jungle find enough common ground to join forces? Or will the resulting culture clash lead to mutual destruction?

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FOG! Chats With Cece Bell About COMICS SQUAD: LUNCH!

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Interview conducted by Stefan Blitz

Her name might be unknown to your average comic book store customer, but cartoonist Cece Bell has the kind of fanbase that most people in the industry would kill for and has accomplished what major comic publisher's can't seem to achieve; introduce comics to kids.

Strong visuals and charming text have defined her work since her first book, Sock Monkey Goes To Hollywood: A Star Is Bathed, was released in 2003.  Her first graphic novel (after incorporating comics within her storybooks), El Deafo, was released in 2014 for which she was awarded The Newbery Medal Honor.

She's a contributing cartoonist to the new comic anthology, Comics Squad: Lunch, which is available tomorrow.  Cece took some time to discuss her work, geek interests and upcoming projects.


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Win MAN UP Starring Simon Pegg and Lake Bell on DVD!

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When Nancy (Lake Bell) is mistaken for Jack’s (Simon Pegg) blind date, she decides to take fate into her own hands and just go with it.  What could possibly go wrong?  From the producer of Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz comes a screwball romantic comedy about one night, two people, and a first date like no other...


And we're giving away three copies!

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"This is Who We Are" - A FLASHBACK To Chris Carter's MILLENNIUM

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With the upcoming hullabaloo around the return of one of the greatest television shows ever – The X-Files– I decided to take a look at another show brought to us by creator Chris Carter, Millennium.
 
Millennium, like The X-Files, was a supernatural “monster of the week” show (although, in this case, they were serial killers… well, serial killers the first season then the villains got progressively more supernatural as the show went on…

But I digress.

Millennium came out at the height of the X-Files success, so naturally I was filled with glee when it came out in 1996. Plus, it starred Lance Henriksen – Bishop from Aliens!


The show is centered around Frank Black (Henriksen): an ex-FBI profiler now consultant for the feds working for the mysterious Millennium Group.

However, Frank has a very special power – he can see through the eyes of the killers he tracks.

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Kickstart THE GHOST GUARD!

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Calling all ghosts! Calling all ghosts! The Ghost Guard is looking for new recruits to walk the beats at your local haunts. Each Paranormal Investigator (P. I.) will receive a glow-in-the-dark embroidered patch, a glow-in-the-dark hard enamel lapel pin and a glow-in-the-dark screen-printed "ghost card".

Our friend George Coghill has created another must-have paranormal merchandise reward that deserves a look.  After tackling Bigfoots, Yetis, Sasquatches and Cryptid Command sets, he's tackling the ectoplasmic excitement of the spectral plane, ghosts!

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Hail To The King, Baby! ARMY OF DARKNESS: FURIOUS ROAD Debuts in March!

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Hot on the heels of Ashley "Ash" Williams' return to pop culture prominence on the small screen, Dynamite Entertainment releases the next chapter of its flagship title in Army of Darkness: Furious Road.

Nancy A. Collins casts the square-jawed hero of Army of Darkness twenty years into the future, where The Deadites and their Army of Darkness have succeeded in bringing down Western civilization. An unexpected upshot of the demons taking over? Supernatural species such as vampires, witches, and werewolves forming an uneasy alliance with humanity in order to survive.


The only hope for both mankind and monsters alike is a ritual that will send the Deadites back to the hell that birthed them. But first, a rag-tag crew that includes the Frankenstein Monster and Eva, the Daughter of Dracula, have to track down the fabled spell book known as the Necronomicon Ex-Mortis and deal with its guardian, a certain Ashley "Ash" Williams.


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BANSHEE: THE COMPLETE THIRD SEASON Comes To Blu-ray & DVD

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Available April 5, 2016 on Blu-ray & DVD, Loaded with Exclusive Bonus Content

Created by Jonathan Tropper and David Schickler, the Cinemax action-drama Banshee charts the continuing twists and turns that follow Lucas Hood (Antony Starr), an ex-convict who improbably assumes the identity of sheriff of the rural, Amish-area town of Banshee, Pa., where his former lover and partner-in-crime has been living under her own alias, Carrie Hopewell (Ivana Milicevic). This action-packed series has developed a devoted fan base of “Fanshees” who are hooked on the high-octane storytelling and compelling characters.

Timed to its fourth and final season this winter, Banshee: The Complete Third Season debuts on Blu-ray ($34.98; includes free Digital HD copy) and DVD ($26.95) on April 5, 2016. The release is loaded with extensive bonus content taking “Fanshees” behind the scenes of the show.

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The Genesis and Evolution of MMORPGs

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Back before the internet was a thing, people used to play games offline, sitting at a table with friends. Obviously this is still common and, as shows such as The Big Bang Theory demonstrate, popular culture still loves these kinds of games which involve characters that are set quests and challenges across the game; each roll of the dice can bring something different to the table (literally).

As the internet started to become available to more homes and at faster speeds, it became possible to bring these games online. At the beginning, these games lacked graphic detail as this kind of design was in its infancy, but instead relied on those playing to inject imagination into the text that was displayed on the screen in order to get the game moving. The kinds of directions each character could move in were limited to just basic functions such as moving north or south and ordering a character to start attacking. These early forms were labeled as multi-user dungeons, or MUDs.

It wasn’t just about the game and what that offered; it was more about the social aspect. Bringing people together online and interacting brought the game to life in a way that just a story line could not.

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FEAR THE WALKING DEAD: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON SPECIAL EDITION Arrives on Blu-ray and DVD

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 CONTAINS INCREDIBLE NEW BONUS FEATURES PLUS
ALL SIX CHILLING AND EXHILARATING EPISODES

Following an initial release this past December, Anchor Bay Entertainment has announced the latest inventive and heart-racing AMC original series “Fear the Walking Dead: The Complete First Season” arrives on SPECIAL EDITION on March 22, 2016. Created by Robert Kirkman (“The Walking Dead”) and Dave Erickson (“Sons of Anarchy”), “Fear the Walking Dead”, premiered in August as the #1 show in cable history. These 2-disc sets with collectible lenticular packaging include hours of bonus content including 5 deleted scenes, 7 newly produced featurettes and audio commentaries on every episode.

Living in the same universe as “The Walking Dead”, “Fear the Walking Dead” is a gritty drama that explores the onset of the undead apocalypse through the lens of a fractured family. Set in Los Angeles, a city where people come to escape, shield secrets, and bury their pasts, a mysterious outbreak threatens to disrupt what little stability high school guidance counselor Madison Clark (Kim Dickens, Gone Girl) and English teacher Travis Manawa (Cliff Curtis, “Missing”) have managed to assemble. The everyday pressure of blending two families while dealing with resentful, escapist, and strung out children takes a back seat when society begins to break down. A forced evolution, a necessary survival of the fittest takes hold, and the dysfunctional family must either reinvent themselves or embrace their darker histories.

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SEVEN OF THE MOST SUPERB SCARY SNOWY MOVIES

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Snowmageddon 2016, or whatever you’d like the call it, has inspired this gal to compile a list that evokes all the whimsy of the season. I feel winter is a straight up snowy, magical wonder wrapped tightly in a snuggly blankie burrito. Until you have to drive in it. So, don’t!



I’ve put together compilation of some of my go to non-holiday wintery horror movies from newest to oldest which will be sure to keep you off the road and chill you to the bone!

So, grab your thermos and long johns, let’s get spooked already!


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Boston Cinegeeks! Win Passes To HOW TO BE SINGLE!

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There’s a right way to be single, a wrong way to be single, and then…there’s Alice. And Robin. Lucy. Meg. Tom. David. New York City is full of lonely hearts seeking the right match, be it a love connection, a hook-up, or something in the middle. And somewhere between the teasing texts and one-night stands, what these unmarrieds all have in common is the need to learn how to be single in a world filled with ever-evolving definitions of love. Sleeping around in the city that never sleeps was never so much fun.

“How to Be Single” stars Dakota Johnson, Rebel Wilson, Damon Wayans, Jr., Anders Holm, Alison Brie, Nicholas Braun, Jake Lacy, with Jason Mantzoukas and Leslie Mann.



For the chance to attend the advance screening of HOW TO BE SINGLE on Monday, February 8th at AMC Boston Common at 7:00PM please visit: http://www.wbtickets.com/DiWpA64009


For more details, visit howtobesinglemovie.com

 

BLACK CANARY (Vol 1: Kicking and Screaming and Issue #7) reviews

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Review by Lily Fierro
Written by Brenden Fletcher
Art by Annie Wu, Pia Guerra
Colors by Lee Loughridge
Covers by Annie Wu
Published by DC Comics
Black Canary V.1: Kicking and Screaming available 3/2/16
Price: $14.99 

Black Canary #7 available 1/27/15
Price: $2.99


With the rise of new, alternative spins on plenty of superheroes, I tread carefully any time I pick up a revamp of an existing character in the DC or Marvel universe.

I have enjoyed the reboot of Ms. Marvel and Hawkeye but I have bypassed the new Thor and Wolverine.

More minor characters have risen up to the surface, and we’ve seen established characters become women or different races; comicbooks are trying to modernize to our more politically aware world, but there are plenty of blunders along the way, especially when the change in the character’s gender or race does not provide a story that actually captures the experience of the character’s identity.

Consequently, when Black Canary came up as one of the renovations to review, I had to consider whether or not I would dig into the series, but Annie Wu’s art and Lee Loughridge’s coloring talent convinced me to take a look, but I was surprised by what I found.

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BAND OF ROBBERS (review)

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Review by Elizabeth Weist
Produced by John Will, Rick Rosenthal,
Matt Ratner, Arun Kumar
Written by Aaron Nee and Adam Nee
Based upon the novels by Mark Twain 
Directed by Aaron Nee and Adam Nee
Starring Kyle Gallner, Adam Nee, Hannibal Buress
Matthew Gray Gubler, Melissa Benoist, Stephen Lang
Daniel Edward Mora, Eric Christian Olsen, Beth Grant


From the description of Band of Robbers (A modern-day retelling of Mark Twain's iconic “Adventures of” books” that reimagines Huck Finn and Tom Saywer as rebels looking to score a local treasure) you’d think that for fans of Twain, this would be a good idea: great characters, solid stories, the cultural history of America, but sadly, it isn’t.

 More to the point, Robbers is more of a love letter to the films of Wes Anderson and the Coen Brothers than to the biting social commentary and witticisms that Twain is known and beloved for.

Which would be fine if it weren’t for the fact that Huck (Kyle Gallner) and Tom (Adam Nee), two of the most well-known American Literature characters, are relegated to playing parody ghosts of themselves who just so happen to be in an homage to filmmakers who have nothing to do with the film itself.

And I get it.

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Finding Diversity Within The 2016 Oscar Nominees

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Written by Sharon Knolle

Oscars 2016 is, of course the much-discussed, much-debated year of #OscarsStillSoWhite, since no people of color were recognized in the acting categories for the second year in a row.

Regardless of where you stand on that hot-button issue, there is some diversity in the films that were nominated, at least (as is usually the case) in the Best Foreign Film and Best Documentary categories.


The Revenant


While the Oscar frontrunner (up for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor) is primarily about one white guy's struggle to survive, the film (from Mexican director Alejandro González Iñárritu) is arguably as much about the genocide of Native Americans. Hugh Glass (DiCaprio) is left for dead, but battles the elements to get revenge on the man (Tom Hardy) who abandoned him and who killed his half-native son.


The Look of Silence (Best Documentary)


This unbelievably powerful film about the 1965 Indonesian genocide is the companion piece to the also Oscar-nominated The Act of Killing.  Director Joshua Oppenheimer follows optician Adi, who makes it his mission to confront the men who viciously killed his older brother 50 years ago. Unlike most of his fellow Indonesians, who still believe the mass extermination of up to a million "communists" was necessary and even heroic, Adi was raised with the knowledge of his brother's horrific death and his mother's deep sorrow.

It is not a comfortable film by any means, and the screening I was at had several walkouts as two killers gleefully recounted their grisly exploits. Watching the expression on the face of one woman – whose father is a feared and respected member of the murder squad -- change from pride to horror is the heart of the film is revelatory.


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CREED Arrives on Blu-ray Combo Pack or DVD on 3/1; Own It Early on Digital HD on 2/16

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Sylvester Stallone nominated for an Academy Award and wins
a Golden Globe and a Critics’ Choice Award for his portrayal of Rocky Balboa

See why your legacy is more than a name when “Creed” arrives onto Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and Digital HD. From Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema comes award-winning filmmaker Ryan Coogler’s “Creed.” The film reunites Coogler with his “Fruitvale Station” star Michael B. Jordan as Adonis Johnson, the son of Apollo Creed, and explores a new chapter in the “Rocky” story, starring Academy Award nominee Sylvester Stallone in his iconic role.

Adonis Johnson (Jordan) never knew his famous father, world heavyweight champion Apollo Creed, who died before he was born. Still, there’s no denying that boxing is in his blood, so Adonis heads to Philadelphia, the site of Apollo Creed’s legendary match with a tough upstart named Rocky Balboa. Once in the City of Brotherly Love, Adonis tracks Rocky (Stallone) down and asks him to be his trainer. Despite his insistence that he is out of the fight game for good, Rocky sees in Adonis the strength and determination he had known in Apollo—the fierce rival who became his closest friend. Agreeing to take him on, Rocky trains the young fighter, even as the former champ is battling an opponent more deadly than any he faced in the ring.

With Rocky in his corner, it isn’t long before Adonis gets his own shot at the title…but can he develop not only the drive but also the heart of a true fighter, in time to get into the ring?


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What The Academy Has To Do If It Really Cares About Diversity In Movies

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The Academy Awards are not simply about recognizing excellence in filmmaking.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences mission is to promote the idea that film has the power to “inspire imagination and connect the world through the medium of motion pictures.” Or to simply put it (and to be a bit cynical): movies aren’t just about making money; movies have the ability to change the world.

The purpose of the Academy Awards is to advance this idea by recognizing movies that are about historic and contemporary social justice and humanitarian issues.

That’s why every year the Oscar telecast pimps out clips from the same handful of movies: Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, Philadelphia, Schindler’s List, Gandhi, Glory, etc.


There’s even a “humanitarian” award for an “individual in the motion picture industry whose humanitarian efforts have brought credit to the industry.”

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There's Panic in the Sky as SONIC THE HEDGEHOG's Summer Event Kicks Off this June!

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AN EPIC THREE YEARS IN THE MAKING! 
THE LONGEST RUNNING VIDEO GAME COMIC SERIES OF ALL TIME CONTINUES!


The SHATTERED WORLD SAGA comes to a close as the fate of the world hangs in the balance! PANIC IN THE SKY begins this summer as Sonic the Hedgehog and friends have finally collected all the necessary tools to restore their broken planet which was shattered at the hands of the evil Dr. Eggman! But Eggman's not about to let Sonic fix his planet without a fight, as he unleashes a devastating and epic assault on the Freedom Fighters! The past three years of SONIC THE HEDGEHOG comics have all been building to this moment!

Don't miss the epic finale to one of the biggest events in Sonic comics history, coming your way this summer from writer Ian Flynn and artists Diana Skelly, Terry Austin, John Workman, and Gabriel Cassata.

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Amazing Heroes and Captain Action Trading Card Kickstarter Launched!

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Amazing Heroes, Fresh Monkey Fiction’s Kickstarter-funded action figure line, is now up to become a trading card set. Accompanying the heroes new and old of Amazing Heroes is Captain Action--who gets his own exclusive pack of cards.

“I wanted to expand the Amazing Heroes story beyond the action figures,” The Drawn Word’s Christopher Irving says. “It was great to work with Fresh Monkey Fiction’s Bill Murphy on developing the mythology through the toyline, but I wanted to put together some extra fun before the Wave 2 Kickstarter campaign launches.”


Right after the successful funding and publication of The Drawn Word’s Madman Comin’ Atcha 3D trading card set, Irving has launched the Amazing Heroes Series 1 trading card Kickstarter to take a deeper look at the toy line’s world and mythos.

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INDIEPIX UNLIMITED: New, Streaming Subscription Service Features the Best International Independent Cinema

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For $5.99 Per Month, Cinema Aficionados Will Be Able to 
Watch More Than 400+ FilmsAnywhere, Anytime from IndiePixUnlimited.com and with the IndiePix Unlimited App Available on iTunes App Store and Google Play

Visionary. Universal. Daring. Since 2004, IndiePix Films has been bringing movie lovers the very best of independent cinema from around the world. And, beginning January 26, passionate cinephiles will have access to a highly-curated catalog of cinematic classics with IndiePix Unlimited. The digital streaming subscription service, priced at $5.99 per month and available across all devices and platforms, opens up a dazzling world of 400+ award-winning films from both international auteurs and visionary new voices alike - and most are not available anywhere else online.

From Ondi Timoner's Sundance Grand Jury-winning documentary, WE LIVE IN PUBLIC and 2009 Cannes Camera D'Or winner, SAMSON & DELILAH to Iranian artist Shirin Neshat's feature-length debut, the Golden Lion-nominated WOMEN WITHOUT MEN and Paola Mendoza's triumphant ENTRE NOS, IndiePix distributes some of the most acclaimed independent films of the past decade. And IndiePix Unlimited offers film lovers the opportunity to watch these films -- the latest award-winners from Cannes, Tribeca, Venice, Sundance, SXSW and Rotterdam and popular indie classics, foreign films, shorts, docs and more -- anywhere and anytime through any platform. Whether tethered to a desktop or out and about, tablet and smartphone in hand, IndiePix Unlimited offers myriad ways to discover fresh and exciting cinematic experiences, including free apps supporting both iOS and Android devices.


"We've long made it our mission to push provocative, independent films into the US marketplace and introduce fans of world cinema to new, emerging voices and IndiePix Unlimited gives us a platform to do that in a meaningful way", says CEO Barnet Liberman.

IndiePix will continue to add to its signature digital subscription service each month with fresh, new indie films, such as the recently released post-apocalyptic sci-fi fable CRUMBS, winner of the Special Jury Prize at the 2015 Los Angeles Film Festival, and the highly acclaimed, Ryan Gosling-produced WHITE SHADOW. Upcoming films, which will enjoy an exclusive release window on IndiePix Unlimited, include MOUTON, a Locarno Film Festival Opera Prima Award-winner, THE WINTER, a magical realist fantasy from Greece and ON THE ROAD, a sensationalist summertime adventure from the Dominican Republic.


About IndiePix Films
Since 2004, New York-based IndiePix Films has delivered a highly-curated collection of the best independent films from around the world. Offering a singular catalog of nearly 2,000 films across genres, the IndiePix team selects singular titles from the international festival circuit. Avenues for distribution include their newly-launched streaming service, IndiePix Unlimited, their dedicated commerce site, IndiePixFilms.com, which offers download-to-own, streaming rental and physical media direct to consumers, and via national retail channels and select theatrical exhibition. IndiePix also owns Festival Genius, the premier platform for connecting film festivals to audiences through online ticketing, calendars, iphone apps, and more.




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