Once again, I’m digging into the past to drum up movie that every geek should see sometime in their live time. This time I’m talking about Fanboys. Now, I know there some controversies around the film during its development and screenings. So I just had to see it for myself.
This movie should be some sort of geek rite of passage. It’s freakin’ Star Wars, man. I think it’s a pretty fun movie. Like most of the movies I like, it’s not high brow or intellectually engaging. And the list cameos by various stars just makes this little movie a bit more endearing. It’s just a fun geeky movie. Sit back with some beer and popcorn and enjoy it.
I might take a little flak for giving this movie a Buy It recommendation. But there’s a good reason for this. While the plot and jokes aren’t complicated, the movie has great potential as a part of geek-fest movie marathon. Gather some friends. Forage for munchies. And start plugging in DVD’s. Shout at the screen. Just go all crazy MST3K and Rocky Horror on it. And I mean that in a good way.

Recommendation: Buy It.

Recommendation: Rent it. Sorry the ending is so silly.
There’s some really good movies that have come out of Russia. If haven’t see Nightwatch yet, do so now. But that’s not what this review is about. This is about Wolfhound, a fairly decent fantasy tale from the East.
Yeah, I said fairly decent. The set up is pretty standard. Bad guys murder an entire village except for one child who gets sent to mines. Said child grows fights for his freedom and becomes our stoic hero. But don’t hold that against it. The action sequences are gritty. The characters are interesting and actually break away from some of the stereotypes that us Americans are used to and I’m sure there were some cultural references that I totally missed. The story is pretty good tale of unjust kings, curses, arranged marriages and revenge. I really like the production design of the movie as well. There weren’t any polished marble halls. Everybody was pretty much in rags walking through the mud. Our Hero, Wolfhound, does have the habit of picking up a ragtag band of sidekicks who he then allows to go off on their own quest but of course they are reunited at the end. And special nods should go out to one of the coolest animal companions, Ragged Wing the Fruit Bat.
I really enjoyed the first three quarters of the movie. But the end. Errr. Kind of silly. I’ll try to avoid spoilers but you have been warned. The bat turns into a helpful sidekick ala Beastmaster. And our hero ends up with biggest freaking light saber in the entire universe. Really, that thing is like 100 feet long. No I am not kidding. And there’s more silliness at the end but I don’t want to spoil it for you. Just kind of ignore the end and enjoy the rest of the movie.

When I take the time to just chill I like to dig to the depths of my Netflix and watch those things that I thought would be interesting at the time. One of those was obviously The Haunted World of El Superbeasto.

This little animated feature is based off a comic by Rob Zombie. And just what is it? Think a cross between Ren & Stimpy, Hellboy, Buffy and Scooby Doo without the hindrance of any sort of network censorship. I want to make this perfectly clear. This is NOT a kiddie cartoon in way, shape or form. In some parts, we’re talkin’ cartoon pr0n. So put the little tikes to bed if you’re thinking about watching this. Got it. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. There’s a pretty good cast of voice actors for this too. Loraine Newman (from the golden years of SNL), Clint Howard, Brian Posehn, Danny Trejo, Paul Giamatti, Rosario Dawson and you can’t have any sort of horror spoof with Cassandra Peterson (for those of lacking horror-geek cred, that’s Elvira).
The plot of is pretty simple. Dr. Satan is out to marry a woman with the mark of the beast on her ass. If he does this he gains the sudsy powers of Hell. He kidnaps stipper Velvet von Black (the “lady” with the devilish birthmark). El Superbeasto gets involved only because he wants to bang said stripper. His sister, Suzy X, gets involved because that’s the sort of thing she does. Let the action and animated boobies begin.
With all that a side, I thought it was pretty fun in mind numbing sort of way. This isn’t any sort of high brow humor but there’s plenty of the off beat bathroom type gags for a few laughs. One of the best things I thought about the movie were the songs. Why’d you have to rip-off Carrie? A parody of all those bubble gum pop numbers from the old Scooby Doo but this time about Nazi Zombies. And of course there’s even one about cartoon porn.
Another sneak peak and spoilers ahead but I don’t think those don’t matter much in this case.

Recommendation: Buy it used or from the discount bin

I’m really trying to like this but so far it just hasn’t grabbed me. I mean the trailer is just dead creepy cool but actually watching the show is a snooze fest.
Here’s the basic premise. A bunch of people get kidnapped and dropped into this mostly deserted town. They can’t get out. They don’t know or really trust each other. Each has some secret or something. Let the fun begin. It’s sort of like a cross between Lost and the Prisoner but without all the things that made both of those shows memorable and interesting. I’m pretty sure the TV suits were screaming for a Lost clone and just threw this together.
There just seemed to be a lot of potential but it just didn’t come together. TV and movies are collaborative media. If one piece is out of whack the project just doesn’t come together right. In this case, there’s really something missing. The best word I can think of to describe this show is hollow and lifeless.
Now we’re only three episodes into the 13 part series and the network has already moved it on the schedule and the ratings have been nothing to brag about. Magic 8 Ball says,”Future is not promising.”
To put it bluntly, I don’t care if all the questions will be answered, I just want it to be over.

Let’s just say this could have been better. OK, it was lame. Hey, this is two bad reviews in two weeks.
So here’s the basic premise. An evil energy company (more evil than Satan himself) has super-drill that can drill all the way though the Earth. This has the powers of Hell a bit angry since the drill would go right through the place. I know every tale about the Devil and the Powers of Hell wanting out and onto the face of the Earth. Seems to me like having a big hole drilled into Hell would make a perfect escape route but that’s just me.
I have theory on how this pitch meeting went.
TV Exec: Hey. We need one of thse edgy raunchy animated shows that are grabbing ratings on other networks.
Pitch Guy: OK, How about this a show about a bunch of demons that come to Earth.
TV Exec: Great but they can’t be evil demons. They need to against something more evil. And they need to be sort a quirky cross between the Simpsons and the Addams Family. But keep it edgy and raunchy but not too demonic. We don’t want to offend any Bible thumpers.
Pitch Guy: I think we can handle. Non-evil likable demons that aren’t too demonic.
TV Exec: Yeah and make the dad another stupid fat guy. You know, the lovable oaf. Viewers seem to like that.
Pitch Guy: Fine. Fat stupid demonic-but-not-too-demonic guy out to save Hell.
TV Exec: You got it. Remember, Edgy, politically incorrect. And make sure they talk about the importance of family.
Pitch Guy: OK, um.
TV Exec: And while your at it, have one the neighbors fuck their dog.
Yeah that was a long rant but it boils down to this. This show just seems really disjointed. The basic premise starts off OK. Demon family sent to Earth. Hilarity ensues. But after that it just isn’t funny. Sorry, TBS nice try but you guys los tit on this one.