Over the past few days, I’ve been reading up on reports from various sources saying that Universal Studios’ Dark Universe property is in danger of collapsing. What is the Dark Universe? It’s supposed to be Universal’s cinematic universe that was to bring back all of Universal’s classic monsters into the modern era. It’s an interesting concept, but there’s a huge problem: It stumbled. Let me explain. About a year and a half back, it was announced that a new Mummy movie was in the works starring Tom Cruise. Okay, that’s….interesting. But it was also announced that The Mummy would be part of a larger universe called the Dark Universe. Right then and there, I knew this was going to be trouble. For one: You don’t announce a cinematic universe until you are absolutely certain that the first film in the franchise is a success. That was Marvel’s approach with Iron Man and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. By announcing a universe before the first film is even released undermines any expectations that the audiences may have regarding the direction of these movies. That was the first nail in the proverbial coffin. The second nail was the first movie in the Dark Universe: The Mummy. This was not the movie they should have started with. The addition of Tom Cruise to the film was the least of its problems. This movie was created with the direct intent of kick-starting the Dark Universe. It featured some interesting “cameos” from all the other monster movies including Creature from the Black Lagoon. The addition of Jekyll and Hyde also worked against the film. There’s also the fact that the film brought nothing new to the genre and was overly serious. I didn’t hate the film. I think it got some things right, especially with the villain, but there was nothing here that hasn’t been done before and done better.
The next film in the franchise would have been Bride of Frankenstein, but that seems to have stalled as Angelina Jolie opted to go for a second Maleficent film instead. That’s another road bump. Most recently, we’ve learned that the two top producers of the Dark Universe have jumped ship: Alex Kurtzman and Chris Morgan. The offices that were set up specifically for this particular franchise are empty, by all accounts. Things are not looking good for the Dark Universe. This whole thing was sabotaged from the beginning with really stupid decision-making. Again, it’s not a terrible concept by bringing the old monsters into the modern film era, but it has to be done in such a way that respects the source material. So far, that hasn’t happened. The Invisible Man is supposed to be the next film to be released next year. Is there a possibility for the Dark Universe to be salvaged at this point? It’s possible, but The Invisible Man would have to be absolutely amazing in order for that to happen. Another possibility is to release smaller movies under the same logo but not connected to each other. That was The Mummy’s biggest failing: Wanting to bring all the other monsters into the same universe. However, and this is speculation on my part, if The Invisible Man flops at the box-office, the Dark Universe will die with it. I don’t want to see the Dark Universe fail, but the decisions that were made early on, kind of made it nearly a foregone conclusion. Can they turn it around? I hope so.
Cast:
Chris Hemsworth: Thor
Tom Hiddleston: Loki
Cate Blanchett: Hela
Idris Elba: Heimdall
Jeff Goldblum: The Grandmaster
Tessa Thompson: Valkyrie
Karl Urban: Skurge
Mark Ruffalo: Bruce Banner/Hulk
Anthony Hopkins: Odin
Benedict Cumberbatch: Doctor Strange
Over the past few years, Marvel’s movies have been fairly hit-or-miss with audiences. When Age of Ultron hit theaters, a lot of people, myself included, were less than impressed with what Joss Whedon had put on screen. It was bizarre, the first Avengers film was amazing, so what happened? Creative differences between Marvel and Joss Whedon, that’s what happened. Age of Ultron suffered from the “way-too-much” approach that tends to sink films like that. But for the most part, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been entertaining, even at its worst. You have all these movies that interconnect with each other and it can get confusing at times. But the MCU is really at its best when it’s just being silly. Guardians of the Galaxy, Doctor Strange, and Thor were movies that I really loved, because Marvel decided to say, “Fuck it, we’re going to have fun.” The movies in the MCU that go absolutely bonkers are the best ones. Thor: Ragnarok is probably the best example of this approach thus far.
Ragnarok begins as Thor, the God of Thunder, has been captured by the mysterious and gigantic Surtur. An ancient Asgardian prophecy says that Surtur will unleash the apocalypse known as Ragnarok, in which all of Asgard is completely destroyed. Thor doesn’t like this, so he defeats Surtur and steals his crown. Afterwards, Thor is contacted by Doctor Strange, telling him where Odin is. Taking Loki with him, Thor goes to speak with his father and then his long-lost sister, Hela appears, destroying his Hammer. Fleeing the evil goddess, Thor and Loki try to return to Asgard only to end up on a distant planet. With Hela consolidating her power and continuing her quest for universal domination, Thor has to find a way to defeat her and save his people in the process. I will fully admit that I really loved the first two films. Did they have their problems? Sure, but they were a lot of fun. Thor: Ragnarok takes Earth and throws it out the window in favor of a more fantastic and intergalactic adventure much like Guardians of the Galaxy. This approach not only allows for an incredibly visual and compelling story, but it also allows for some real humor, and this is one of the funniest movies I’ve seen all year. Yet, for all its humor, there is a number of scenes which are appropriately dramatic and it comes across as genuine. This is not a movie that’s trying to pretend to be anything more than it is. It takes the fact that it’s a bit of a goofball journey and just runs with it. That’s why it works so well.
The foundation for any good story is its characters. The MCU has had some of the most memorable characters in cinema. You have Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Black Widow, and the Hulk. The weakest aspects of the MCU as far as characters go has always been its villains. DC Comics and Warner Bros. have the best villains in their repertoire, but the MCU really didn’t have villains that actually stood out, with the exception of Red Skull and Loki. Enter Hela, the Goddess of Death. Aside from Loki, Hela is probably the coolest villain that the MCU has ever produced. As the older sister of Thor, Hela is Odin’s first-born. Her backstory, in MCU terms, is quite interesting. It’s a definite change from actual Norse mythology, but it works here. She is the film’s primary villain and she is a serious threat to Thor as she gets her powers from Asgard itself. She destroys Thor’s hammer. That’s how powerful she is. The other villain is Grandmaster, who runs an intergalactic Colosseum-style tournament. He’s surprisingly hilarious and vile at the same time. While the villains are fantastic, everybody else is just as good. Loki is as mischievous as ever, even though he has a more heroic angle this time around. Thor is…well…Thor. One of the biggest surprises of the film is The Hulk. The filmmakers gave the Hulk his own voice aside from Banner. It certainly provides some very interesting moments. None of these characters would work as well as they do, if the actors weren’t up for it.
The acting is phenomenal here. Chris Hemsworth has clearly gotten very comfortable with the character, so there’s a greater allowance of humor. Chris has natural comedic timing and it really shows. Tom Hiddleston as Loki? What else can I say? He was born to play the God of Mischief. Idris Elba is still excellent as the stoic Heimdall, with Karl Urban making for an awesome mercenary in Skurge. Jeff Goldblum as Grandmaster is an absolute revelation. Goldblum is one of the most underrated actors of his generation. He infuses the character with his own mannerisms and bizarre personality making for an incredibly memorable villain. It’s really hilarious when he refers to Thor as the Lord of Thunder, clearly a reference to the KISS song of the same name. Cate Blanchett is absolutely incredible as Hela. She chews the scenery like it’s nobody’s business. It certainly doesn’t hurt that she’s gorgeous. Because of that, the character of Hela is as beautiful and alluring as she is vicious. Too often we see villains that refuse to do their own dirty work. Hela swims in it. She takes out an entire roomful of Asgard soldiers with her bare hands and she relishes every single minute of it. Even the side characters are given their moments to shine. We have a new female character, Valkyrie, with a tragic backstory. Everybody here steals the show. It’s that well-written.
The film clearly has elements taken from the Planet Hulk story-line and they wove perfectly within Thor: Ragnarok. As a result, we have visually spectacular film. You look at all the space elements as well as Asgard itself and we have one of the most beautiful movies ever made. The cinematography is something else. Everything from the costumes to the set designs is sublime. I love the way the characters look. Hela’s outfit is fantastic, not only complimenting her form but also functioning as battle armor. The action sequences are simply fantastic up to and including the climactic battle between Hela and Thor. It’s absolutely bonkers at how the filmmakers managed to not only make a movie that is not only compelling and funny, but exciting as well. It really shakes up the MCU formula quite a bit. This is a movie that has everything in it, and it just flows almost perfectly.
With the amount of big budget movies that flopped during the summer this year, I was truly hoping that November would start delivering really good big budget movies again. Yeah, we had Logan, Wonder Woman, and Guardians 2, but the other movies were a massive disappointment, and they flopped at the box-office. It is really awesome to see a movie like this come out with guns blazing and just having a blast. This is the reason why we go to the movies: To have a great time, and Thor: Ragnarok is nothing short of a great time. In the pantheon of MCU movies, Ragnarok is easily one of the best. I would even go so far as to put it above the first Avengers film. It’s that damned good. When movies like this leave allegories of real-world politics out of the picture, is when they are at their best. Is Thor: Ragnarok the best comic-book movie of the year? I would put it up with Logan and Wonder Woman, yes. The movie isn’t without its flaws, but those flaws are so minor and nit-picky at best, they’re not even worth mentioning. Ultimately, I have to say this: Thor: Ragnarok is awesome. I really like the direction they took with this film, and throwing in 80s-style music doesn’t hurt at all. A little bit of Led Zeppelin here and there makes for an interesting experience. If you enjoyed the previous Thor films, or any of the other MCU movies like Doctor Strange, you owe it to yourself to go see this one. It is worth it.
My Final Recommendation: Don’t try to out-Jeff Goldblum Jeff Goldblum. 9.5/10
Cast:
Michael Douglas: Remington
Val Kilmer: Col. John Henry Patterson
Tom Wilkinson: Robert Beaumont
John Kani: Samuel
Bernard Hill: Dr. David Hawthorne
Brian McCardie: Angus Starling
The term “based on a true story” is often been misused as a marketing gimmick to get people to come to theaters. It generally works, until people actually start doing research into the stories that these films are based on, only to find out that the marketing people are full of shit. Movies like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre used the marketing term to get people to pay attention, even though, the film was loosely based on an American serial killer, and actually had no basis in fact. There’s a difference between “based on” and “inspired by.” “Inspired by” generally admits that while the story in the film is fiction, there are elements that were based on actual events. This is a far more honest form of marketing in my opinion. Every so often, though, you do get a film that is directly inspired by a particular story. One of the best examples of this was Apollo 13, which dramatized certain elements of the film, but managed to remain faithful to the actual events. The other one is The Ghost and The Darkness.
The story behind The Ghost and the Darkness is so strange and bizarre, that you wouldn’t think it was true. Yet, for those exact same reasons, it is. The story involves an Irish engineer, Col. John Patterson as he was commissioned to build a bridge crossing the river of Tsavo in Africa, however, things go to hell in a hand-basket when two lions start killing the workers. It is up to Patterson and big-game hunter Remington to put an end to the slaughter. When you hear the term, “truth is stranger than fiction,” most people tend to not believe it. Yet, in 1898, people were being massacred by these two lions, dubbed by the locals: the Ghost and the Darkness. What makes the story in this film so extraordinary is not just that it’s based on true events, but the fact that is nearly completely faithful to the story that Patterson had told about the Tsavo lions. These particular man-eaters were extraordinary because they didn’t kill just to feed, but for the sheer enjoyment of the slaughter. No other lions in recorded history had done anything like this, and nothing like this has happened since. The locals had claimed that these lions were not lions at all, but demons. You read about the behavior of these creatures, and it is NOT typical lion behavior. It really isn’t. Man-eaters operate alone, not in pairs, and they certainly don’t attack worker camps in broad daylight. These lions were very different, and nobody is certain as to why they started doing this, although, history points to the slave trade as being somewhat responsible. The story is captivating, engaging and thrilling all at once.
One of the first things that you will notice about The Ghost and The Darkness is the stunning cinematography. We get some absolutely incredible shots of the African landscape and wildlife, making for one of the most epic film experiences that you will ever see. It is a gorgeous film to look at. I like the fact that the camera allows us to see what’s going on. The wide-shots of the camps and the bridge being built are some of the most spectacular visuals you will ever see. And these are done without the use of CGI. The cinematography also allows for some really intense and spine-tingling moments. Not only that, the music provided by Jerry Goldsmith is unlike anything that he had ever done before. It has a very distinctive and epic African feel about it. It complements everything you see on the screen. It also helps give you that sense of emotion and adventure.
The pacing of the film is damn near perfect. The moment the lions strike, the film really takes off. You have no idea when the lions attack and when they do, it is incredibly brutal. The film is rated R for a reason. It’s gory and violent. Unlike most other movies where animals attack people, this comes across more as a monster movie than anything else. However, the monsters were actual animals, and that makes the film all the more intense and scary. One of the coolest things about the film, is that they used actual lions. While there were a couple of instances where a puppet was used, the majority of shots with the lions, were with actual lions, which really adds to the authenticity of the film. Although, if you do some research, the actual Tsavo lions had no manes, but that’s really a minor detail that can easily be forgiven.
The acting in the film isn’t particularly awful, but it’s not Oscar-worthy either. Val Kilmer plays Col John Patterson. I have to say, that Kilmer’s Irish accent isn’t particularly convincing, but Val gives the role his all and it’s still one of his better films. Michael Douglas plays the fictional character of Remington. Historically speaking, it was Patterson who killed both lions. But that’s not to say that Remington was an awful character. He’s not, and he’s given a decent enough background that we can root for him. Michael Douglas is clearly having a hell of a time with the character, and is one of the most memorable aspects of the film. Tom Wilkinson plays the scummy industrialist Robert Beaumont. John Kani plays Samuel. He’s easily one of the best parts of the film. He’s got a sense of humor and is really likable. Overall, the acting, while not the best, is more than passable.
There have been folks who have doubted Patterson’s account of what happened at Tsavo. Mostly in the numbers of the people killed. The confirmed number of people eaten was closer to 35, but that doesn’t account for the number of people who were killed just for kicks. Tsavo lions were notoriously aggressive, so that may have lent some credence as to why these particular lions did what they did. The lions were stuffed and put on permanent display in the Field Museum in Chicago, Illinois. Their skulls are also on display. The story is absolutely incredible and the intensity of the film is astounding. The Ghost and The Darkness is one of the best and most underrated historical films of all time. It works on multiple levels: As an adventure, a thriller and a horror movie all rolled into one. This is an absolute must-see.
My Final Recommendation: This is no time to be lion around. 9.5/10. See it and believe it.
Once again, it is Halloween. It is a time for dressing up as ghosts and/or goblins; a time to eat boatloads of candy….unless you’re a diabetic, then that’s a really bad idea….just saying. It is a time for spooky pumpkins. It’s also a time for one of my favorite film genres of all time: HORROR! For this Halloween Edition of The Best, I will be going over my favorite horror movies of all time. Some of these films are going to be R-rated, some are going to be PG. Some are going to be sequels and others are going to be remakes. Some are going to be old and some are going to be brand new. I’m mixing it up a bit. So…let’s get right into it, shall we?
Hellraiser
Clive Barker is one of the most prolific horror writers today, but his real first stab at directing a horror film is one for the ages. Hellraiser came out at time when horror movies were starting to lose their luster, so to speak. It re-energized an entire genre and gave us one of the most memorable on-screen villains of all time: Pinhead. It’s a very gruesome and gory film featuring some major standout performances, specifically Doug Bradley as Pinhead. Featuring a small puzzle box that when opened, demons from another dimension come through and take their victims back to Hell. From a visual standpoint, this film is one-of-a-kind. Sadly, the sequels starting with Hellraiser III would end up getting worse and worse. Stick with the first two movies.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vs3981DoINw
My last post was about my favorite decade in horror movies, and I said that it was the 1970s. There’s a reason for that. I loved the way horror films looked back then. They had a very gritty and almost documentary style about them that hasn’t been seen since. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is by far one of the most iconic horror movies, because it goes insane. It’s not the goriest film in the world, but it didn’t need to be in order to shock and terrify people. Having a main villain with a person’s face as a mask wielding a chainsaw coming after you is really all you need. Leatherface is one of the scariest villains ever put on screen.
Saw
This little indie film jump-started an entire new horror film franchise. It’s ironic, really, when you consider that the original film is more of a mystery thriller than it is a full-blown horror flick. Still, there are elements here that make it qualify as such. The performances are awesome, and I really love the fact that the majority of the film is shot in one small room. Granted is for budgetary reasons, but it was very effective. It is a bloody film, but the gore is mostly implied than shown. It’s not until the sequels that the gore becomes a mainstay in the series. The twist at the end of the film is one that most people never saw coming, and it was a huge “WTF?!” moment. I love the other movies, but haven’t seen the new one, yet, but the original is still the best.
Army of Darkness
While most Evil Dead fans will point to Evil Dead II as the best in the series, Army of Darkness is my personal favorite of the bunch. Don’t get wrong, Evil Dead 2 was a great film and IS the best in the series, but honestly, I had more fun with the third film than any of the others. Why? Because it truly embraces its silliness. There certainly are creepy and atmospheric moments throughout, but most of the movie is just played for laughs. Thanks to the incredible duo of Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell, Army of Darkness is one of the most quotable and entertaining films of the early 90s. It was also one of the last films to really utilize stop-motion animation. It’s hilarious, exciting, and just an absolute joy to watch.
A Nightmare on Elm Street
Is it really a surprise to anybody that this film made it on this list? While Wes Craven took the world by storm with his shocking films The Last House on the Left and The Hills Have Eyes, A Nightmare on Elm Street would be his signature film. There’s a reason for that. This is one of the best slasher films of the 80s. Casting Robert Englund in the role of the demonic Freddy Krueger was a stroke of genius. Not only would the character become one of the most celebrated villains in cinema, Robert Englund would become a household name. While a good chunk of the sequels were inferior and some were really good, but none of them can top the original film. This was also the film debut of Johnny Depp. This was a career maker for a lot of people.
The Witch
Now, this one was a huge surprise. A horror film set in the time of the Puritans? The entire film is such an extraordinary experience. It’s a slow-burner of a film that really gets under your skin. The environments and the setting really establish a sense of isolation and desolation. When the infant goes missing, the family begins to suspect one of the daughters of colluding with Satan. When you factor in the religious paranoia of the puritans with supernatural elements and isolation, you have a very interesting and powerful film that takes a huge jab at religious fundamentalism. This is not an effects-heavy film, so it has to rely on the actors and the environments to get the idea across that there is something seriously wrong. This is absolutely one of the best indie horror films that have ever been released.
Alien
Hey, what’s a science fiction film doing in a list about horror movies?! Hold your horses, let me explain. Yes, Alien on the surface is a science fiction film, but at its core is a tight, claustrophobic psychological thriller. It’s often been said that it’s not what you see that scares you, it’s what you don’t see. Alien is the best sci-fi/horror hybrid movie ever made. With the tight corridors of the Nostromo, the crew is locked in a battle of survival against one of the greatest movie monsters in cinema history: The Xenomorph. This is an absolutely nightmarish creature. H.R. Giger’s design is one of the finest I’ve ever seen, and Alien goes down in history as one of the most terrifying movies of all time.
The Last House on the Left(1972)
One of the reasons why Wes Craven’s first film appears on this list is the sheer raw power of the film. This was made at a time when people were dealing with the issues from Vietnam. The footage from the war really turned people away from that stuff. Wes Craven decided that the best way to deal with violence was to bring it out into the open. The Last House on the Left broke boundaries and pushed the envelope to the breaking point. Nobody had ever seen a film like this before. Especially not one with very grisly and realistic imagery. The film gave us the most memorable role of David Hess as Krug. These criminals were definitely vile and evil. Even today, The Last House on the Left is one of the most shocking and powerful horror movies that have ever been released.
Don’t Breathe
Now, THIS is a really solid thriller. You have a group of good-for-nothings target an old blind man to rob, only to find out that he’s not entirely helpless. This is an extraordinary film. At first, you’re kind of rooting for the old man, only to find out that he has secrets of his own. Making the old man blind was brilliant. It adds a level of tension to the film that is almost unbearable. His blindness allows him to use his other senses to get around and to figure out what’s going on. The performances here are outstanding. Stephen Lang as the old man is a revelation. At first he comes across as sympathetic, but later you figure out that he is NOT a good guy. This one is definitely worth checking out. It’s not gory, but it is intense.
Jaws
This one is a classic in every sense of the word. It is also one of the most perfect horror films ever. Jaws follows the residents of an island as they’re terrorized by a Great White shark. What makes this movie so damned good, is because for most of the film, you don’t see the shark. You hear the infamous score by John Williams and you know what’s going to happen. What makes this film so terrifying, is because it’s realistic. Shark attacks DO happen and most people never see it coming. Combine that with great characters and a pacing that’s almost breakneck speed, and you have one of the best movies out there. This was the film that really launched Steven Spielberg’s career as a director.
The Exorcist
The Exorcist is considered by many to be the greatest horror film of all time, and I can definitely see where they are coming from. It’s intense, brutal, and has some of the most shocking imagery that was ever seen during the 70s. Truth be told, there’s really not much more that I can say that hasn’t been said about the film. The acting is phenomenal with standout performances from Linda Blair, Ellen Burstyn, and Max von Sydow. Along with some pretty graphic visual effects, The Exorcist has terrified audiences world-wide for over 40 years.
Dracula(1931)
Let’s be honest, here. You can’t have a list about the best horror movies without mentioning the best horror movie ever made: Dracula. Released in 1931, Dracula starred Bela Lugosi in the title role and captivated audiences the world over. Adapted from Bram Stoker’s novel, Dracula follows the main character as tries to find a place in England from which he can rule the night. This was the film that really kick-started the horror film craze. It is a beloved classic in every sense of the word and features a truly captivating performance by Bela Lugosi. I can’t find anything negative to say about this film. It’s that good. This is not just a must-see, it’s a must-own.
Well, there is my list for The Best Horror Movies. What do you guys think, is there something I left off, or is there something else that you would like to add. Please comment below and share this post. This has been so much fun to write I would love to hear from people and what they think about it.
