Book Review: A SEPARATE CINEMA: FIFTY YEARS OF BLACK CAST POSTERS by John Kisch and Edward Mapp

 I know a little about African American cinema but I never had a clue about the amount of films that had been produced since the early days of cinema until I opened the pages of John Kisch and Edward Mapp’s book A Separate Cinema: Fifty Years of Black Cast Posters.  Being a poster book its aim is to showcase posters and artwork from long forgotten films (both shorts and features) from the ‘20s to present day (although mostly focusing on the early days of cinema) and well as present a glimpse into the evolution of African American cinema. 

The book is not only a document of history but also a look into the evolution of popular film with audiences.  The posters are broken up into sections based on these popular genres such as “Harlem Goes West,” “Comic, Coon, or Buffoon,” “Bronze Femmes Fatales,” “African Atrocity,” and “Pint-Sized Jesters,’ to name but a few.  The book also offers alternative posters from the more popular films as well as alternate posters from other countries.  It’s a treasure trove of artwork from different styles and different eras.

To add to the enjoyment of the book is a preface from Spike Lee – a hug advocate for African American cinema and its preservation.  Also Donald Bogle provides the introduction to the book which is a history lesson and background for African American cinema and its effect on a culture and the film industry as a whole.  Bogle’s introduction puts the whole book in perspective and adds to the enjoyment of the book.

With over a 150 pages of posters and artwork collecting all of this in one place was a massive undertaking and add to that that many of the early films have been lost and you have one of the best books of this kind.  This is not just a book for lovers of African American films and studies but for film historians and artist alike (as the posters represent some of the most interesting early African American artwork).

Web Series Review: THE ‘S’ STATE

I’m not sure what the ‘S’ state really is and neither will you from the first 5 episodes of the web series THE ‘S’ STATE.  The show is about a NYC native Ray (George H. Choat) who runs off to London to crash with his drug dealing cousin Vee (AC) but when he gets to his cousin’s flat he sees a woman tied up in the bed with her face covered.  Unbeknownst to him, Vee has been dealing in a stolen drug that when taken has strange side effects one of which is increased strength not to mention a cannibalistic-monster nature.  Vee has given the tied up woman in his flat – his girlfriend, a taste of this drug and now she has turned into a monster – literally with big eyes and cannibal tastes and a distorted look on her face.  Ray shows up in time to save Vee but he is too late to be of any other use as Vee has sold the drug to one of his neighbors Sylvia (Leila Al-Jeboury) who has given the drug to her elderly Nana Mary (Carrie Cohen) in the hopes of killing her but the drug has the opposite effect; Nana Mary is now healed and has increased strength and a voracious appetite.  Now Ray, Vee, and Sylvia must find a way to survive before their days are numbered.

Sounds like an interesting premise but the series is bogged down by a weak story, uneven pacing, and bland acting.  Only Cohen seems to be having any fun as the rest of the cast is bland in their roles and their characters are disposable.  The series tries to be funny but the direction is so uninspired that the setups fall flat.  There are a few moments where the cinematography is fine (especially when more obscure angles are used) but overall the series looks flat.  Since the web series takes place in only two locations (neighboring apartments on the same floor of a building complex) the art direction is also flat (which isn’t helped by the flat lighting).

Pacing is one of the best and worst things about the series.  The good thing is that the individual episodes are well laid out despite the lack of a true web series structure but each episode does end in a cliffhanger which is what a good web series of this nature should do.  The bad thing about the pacing is that the length of each episode is completely random.  One episode is 8 minutes while another 2 and a half minutes while a third is three minutes so the pacing in one episode may seem too long while in another it isn’t long enough.  I never got the impression that this was a web series but instead a feature length project that’s just been cut down for easy consumption.

The series is put together by someone named Blaise, who is producer/director/camera operator/editor and the toll of having one person handle all the main duties on a film production is never easy and the lack of a cohesive vision shows in the final product.  Despite the series’ many flaws Cohen chews up the scenery very well and the make-up effects for the monsters is quite good when taken into perspective of all the other flaws in the production.

To watch – THE ‘S’ STATE go to http://blip.tv/thesstate

A LOOK AT HORROR IN 2013

As a horror fan I watch a plethora of films both big and small whether a suspense thriller or a gore-love-fest, whether domestic or foreign, whether an Indie or big budget Hollywood.  Every horror film has its good merits but more often than not most people only see the bad; then of course there are some that are truly bad and those that are so bad they become “good” or the more appropriate “guilty pleasure.”  With the exception of CABIN IN THE WOODS (and maybe THE WOMAN IN BLACK) there were few breakout films of 2012 and fewer more that were indeed “good.”  The few Indie films to make a difference (i.e. V/H/S, THE BAY, THE AWAKENING) have only been seen by a small audience and there have been more mediocre films than expected (i.e. UNDERWORLD: AWAKENING, RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION, PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4, THE RAVEN, DARK SHADOWS, THE THEATRE BIZARRE, [REC] 3, CHERNOBYL DIARIES, THE POSSESSION, THE DEVIL INSIDE, MOTHER’S DAY, THE WICKER TREE, PROMETHEUS, ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER, THE DEVIL’S CARNIVAL, SILENT HILL; REVELATION, SINISTER, and many more).  2012 has been a lackluster year and there’s hope that next year will be much better.

Next year – sadly, brings very little to look forward to other than more remakes and more sequels but maybe there will be a few diamonds in the rough.

REMAKES
I’d like to first take a look at the remakes on the horizon starting with the most high profile of the bunch which is another version of Stephen King’s CARRIE.  You’d think that two remakes, a sequel, and two attempts at a musical were enough to keep anyone away but not Hollywood.  There looks to be a lot of money behind this film but the same could’ve been said for this year’s ill advised TOTAL RECALL and we know how that ended up.  The remakes for THE EVIL DEAD and MANIAC look to be more interesting.  The original THE EVIL DEAD has its admirers but truth be told more people enjoy the sequel than the original so a remake of the original film with a bigger budget and better SFX actually sounds good.  The same goes for the remake of MANIAC, which looks remarkable like one of the best remakes to look forward to from the trailer.  Another interesting remake on the horizon is that of the infamous SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT which is simply called SILENT NIGHT.  This is also a film whose trailer makes it look on par with the MY BLOODY VALENTINE 3D remake.  Other notable remakes on the horizon include OLD BOY (from director Spike Lee???) and ROBOCOP (whose early pix don’t put me on ease) and POLTERGEIST (yes, I said POLTERGEIST – WTF?).

     

SEQUELS

There are way too many sequels scheduled for release in 2013 to mention but I’ll try to pick on a few of the highlights.  The most predictable of which is PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 5.  Despite the lackluster response to the 4^th film a new film for release in October 2013 is already confirmed.  Also on the horizon and more surprising is THE LAST EXORCISIM 2 and THE WOMAN IN BLACK: ANGEL OF DEATH.  Not sure that either of these films needs a sequel since they were both so self contained but I’m at least curious as to where they decide to take their films.  In terms of franchise favorites first up is TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE 3D, which given that its suppose to be a sequel to the Tobe Hooper classic it might actually be an interesting film but the trailer lacks anything new that hasn’t already been done in other films in the franchise and being released in January, the dumping ground for studio films that the studio has little to no faith in.  Next up is the equally questionable CURSE OF CHUCKY and HATCHET III both of which have a huge fan base and whose fans like that the filmmakers have a little fun with the material.  Also in a surprise move is the TOOLBOX MURDERS 2 (now called COFFIN BABY) and a FRIGHT NIGHT 2.  The remake for THE TOOLBOX MURDERS was a highlight and there has been rumors of a sequel since the original was a moderate success.  I’m completely surprised by the news of a FRIGHT NIGHT 2 considering how poorly the first one did at the Box Office.  Those few fans of the originals don’t have much to rejoice in as this is meant to be a straight to DVD sequel with none of the original actors returning.  Another surprise is V/H/S/ 2, which will hit film festivals early next year and if it is anything like its predecessor it will be one to look out for.

   

This is just a sampling of the remakes and sequels on the horizon for release in 2013.  There will be many more added to the release schedule and those that are dropped and pushed back.  I’ve not even mentioned the sequels and remakes without release dates (i.e. THE AMITYVILLE HORROR: THE LOST TAPES, DRACULA 3D, HALLOWEEN 3D, or another GODZILLA) nor original (i.e. non-sequels and non-remakes) such as PACIFIC RIM, JOHN DIES AT THE END, HERE COMES THE DEVIL, and Rob Zombie’s LORDS OF SALEM.  I guess I’ll have to save all those titles for another time.

Book Review: THE RING COMPANION by Denis Meikle

There are good horror films and then there is phenomenon known as Ringu (or more commonly known as The Ring in the US).  What started as a trilogy of novels by Koji Suzuki (i.e. Ringu, Spiral, and Loop) became a Japanese television surprise hit and then the series of feature films (both based on the original first two novels and an extension of the original film) before becoming the Korean hit The Ring Virus and the American version The Ring (and its sequel The Ring Two).  Denis Meikle delves into all aspects of the Ring phenomenon in his book The Ring Companion.

Meikle’s book is not just a breakdown of all the films that are associated with the Ring phenomenon but his book also delves into its place in the larger spectrum of Japan’s history in horror cinema most importantly in the way in which Suzuki’s novel changed the face of the  wronged woman who returns to seek vengeance for her death (and birth of the long black haired ghost made famous in the first theatrical film).

For those who did not know there are two Ring television series (Ring: The Complete Edition, Ring: The Final Chapter), three Japanese theatrical films (Ringu, Ringu 2, Ringu 0: Birthday), the Korean remake – The Ring Virus, two American films – The Ring and The Ring Two, and the two films based on the sequel novel Spiral (Rasen and the television version of Rasen).  The films have grossed over $200 million worldwide and jump started the American remake of Asian films which continues to this day.

Meikle’s book is most effective when it draws parallels from past films and novels while delving into what made Suzuki write the book in the first place.  In fact, Meikle spends the majority of the first third of the book explaining the history of Japanese horror cinema (and its most influential films) in order to put the success of the Ring franchise in perspective for the reader.  For those who love the Ring films this book will be an eye opener as Meikle puts all the films into perspective as well as takes each of them apart both for the good and the bad.

Book Review: SPEED RACER: THE OFFICIAL 30TH ANNIVERSARY GUIDE by Elizabeth Moran

Originally known as Mach Go Go Go in its native Japan, the animation known as Speed Racer became a cultural phenomenon when it made its way to US television sets in 1967.  Despite only having 52 original episodes its stayed in the public consciousness for decades until being unearthed again in the ‘90s and becoming a cult phenomenon.  In her book Speed Racer: The Official 30^th Anniversary Guide, Elizabeth Moran delves into the history and the cultural significance of Speed Racer and how it would influence the anime explosion of the ‘90s.

Moran’s book is a treasure trove of information on the animated series.  It breaks down all 52 episodes of the series while also going to more technical aspects of the show (mostly from the American version perspective) such as interviews with the American voice actors and how they were picked for the show and the technical specs for Speed Racer’s Mach 5 vehicle as well, among other things.  The book is well researched and instrumental for fans of the series.

Even if you are not familiar with the original series itself Moran also delves into the ancillary markets that the character was used in such as the NOW! Comics ‘90s comic book series (and its spin-off series and reprints of the original Japanese manga) and the NASCAR commercials of ’96.  Moran also gives a little background on the animated film The Speed Racer Show (1993), which is three of the original episodes edited together but had a huge impact on resurrecting the character into the consciousness of audiences throughout the ‘90s.  The book ends by examining the Americanized The New Adventures of Speed Racer (1993).  Since the book was published in ’97 it does not touch upon the more recent animated series Speed Racer: The Next Generation nor the live action big screen film from the Wachowski Bros. (allow Moran does indicate that the live action film has been in development for a very long time).

Speed Racer has been instrumental to spreading anime to American audiences and for many it was the first animated series from Japan that they experienced.  Moran’s book is an excellent way to look back at the series or to learn about it for the very first time.  For more info on Speed Racer visit the Official Speed Racer website at www.speedracer.com