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Posted by Ed in Latest News, Movies on April 28th, 2010
The recent trend of scaling up small screen projects to the movie screen continues with M. Night Shyamalan’s version of The Last Airbender. Originally titled Avatar: The Last Airbender, the producers changed the title fearing that a much smaller, independent arthouse movie that you’ve probably never heard of might confuse moviegoers as to which Avatar they were actually going to see.
The debate surges over whether this can by Shyamalan’s return-to-form after many critics and moviegoers gave a cold reception to his last film The Happening. He’s an excellent filmmaker with serious storytelling chops. With this project he’s mining a world of stories that are beloved to many, well-developed, and sequel friendly. In his hands this could be something spectacular. Our first big peek is just below. Here’s to hoping for a knockout from one of Hollywood’s finest auteur’s.
Posted by Ed in Books, Comics, Events, Home Page Top Story, Latest News on April 21st, 2010
The day is finally here! Famous Monsters of Filmland #251 is now on the FM Store for pre-sale. There you’ll have the option of buying individual issues or an annual subscription. Now, I know the question that is on many of your minds (partially because many of you have already asked): How do I get all four of the variant covers?
I am more than happy to oblige with an answer:
1. Primary Cover: Richard Corben – This will be available in all outlets that place orders through Diamond Comic Distributors — comics shops, book stores, etc. This is not currently available through our Online Store.
2. Incentive Cover: William Stout (pictured above) – This will be available at comics shops serviced by Diamond as an incentive cover, in a ratio of one copy to every 10 Primary Covers ordered. This is not currently available through our Online Store.
3. FM Online Exclusive Cover: Basil Gogos (below)- This cover is available only through the FM Online Store. It will not be sold through Diamond.
4. Famous Monsters Convention Cover – This will be sold only at the FM Con in Indianapolis.
If you purchase an annual subscription through the FM Online Store, it will consist of the FM Online Exclusive Covers, not the Primary Covers.
And to satisfy all the rest of your FM needs, please stop by the store and take a look around. As more specific details become available on retailers and other sales info we’ll be posting them here.
Posted by Ed in Latest News on April 7th, 2010
The boss does a cool 45 minutes with Nick Digilio on Chicago’s WGN AM 720. The topics range from the birth and future of FM to the FM Convention an even some Forry stories from callers.
A very special thanks to Nick and all the WGN crew for the opportunity. Check them out here and then listen to the full interview below.
Posted by Ed in Games, Latest News, Reviews on March 22nd, 2010
“The measure of a man is what he does with power”
Plato’s timeless words open Sony’s latest epic, God of War 3, setting the tone for a blood-filled, rage-fueled morality tale with everyone’s favorite Spartan (apologies to Leonidas). We pick up from the very instant where the second game left off — Kratos scaling Mount Olympus, Titans in tow, preparing to do battle with the gods of Olympus and see vengeance delivered upon Zeus.
The first thing we notice is that Kratos’ first trip to the PS3 has received the deluxe graphics treatment. Everything is silky smooth and each model has been rendered to maximize every pixel and polygon available. Even more impressive are the environments. And they must be called environments, because “backgrounds” they are not. Each environment is massive and very, very alive. Often times you’ll be fighting alongside a Titan as you scale and slash your way up the mountain’s side. The very first stage sees Kratos fighting on Gaia herself as he fights to keep Poseidon and his watery demons from ripping the mother of the Titans from the mountain as she ascends. Kratos, barely a speck, makes his way through the forests on Gaia, using his Blades of Chaos to swing from arm to back to head. All the while, Gaia is scaling Olympus and fighting off Poseidon. My 60GB PS3 fan sounded like a 747 getting ready for takeoff, but it ran incredibly smoothly despite the amazing amount of action on-screen (with no slow-down).
The gameplay will be familiar to all those veterans of the series. Combos are generally the same and the abilities are mapped in similar fahsion to the previous installments. The added weapons are some of the best the series has seen. The Nemean Cestus (pictured above) was my personal favorite, giving Kratos a 1-2 combination that would make any professional boxer or MMA fighter jealous. Puzzles tend to be simple but do have the potential to stump if not looked at properly. The game can tend to be a little too helpful at times, though, taking some mystery out of how to get through certain obstacles or puzzles. The path is linear, but the levels are designed so well that even when retracing one’s steps it’s never dull, new challenges and perspectives always being supplied. And it is bloody. Kratos leaves a bloody path of destruction in his wake the likes of which have not been seen before. The brutal kills are so violent and the PS3’s power allow for even the most minute details of decapitations and disembowelment’s to be created. Arteries and veins swing from the underside of severed heads, intestines gush forth as Kratos slits bellies open. All the while the blood just flows…and flows, and flows, and flows…
The story is fairly straightforward but retains all of the twists and turns we’ve come to expect from the God of War series: surprise appearances, double-crosses, odd family reunions. But while fairly simple, it is never dull. Weaving a narrative that puts all the primaries of the pantheon of Olympus in your path is no simple feat. The initial premise of Kratos simply scaling a mountain to get to the top may seem fairly dull in comparison to the previous two games. Fear not. The writers have found many ways to maximize the locale of Olympus and make sure Kratos has plenty to do and explore.
One concern I had before throwing the game in for its maiden voyage was how the developers would work-in getting new weapons while ridding Kratos of the ones from the previous game. The second game did a wonderful job of taking Kratos from well-armed god of war to mere mortal. But I was concerned that this time it would just be a cheap knock-off attempt. I was wrong. Fortunately, you don’t lose everything. The creators had the foresight to build uses for some of our favorite abilities from the second game into the third game. It is well done and fits in to the flow of the narrative seamlessly.
One place where every game in the series has stood out has been production value. The third installment is no exception. The orchestral score is as epic as it ever was. The surround sound creates an ambiance that truly enhances the experience. Probably the greatest strength in the production is the voice cast. Sporting a who’s who of voice talent and Hollywood star power, the dialogue flows effortlessly and rarely, if ever, veers into the cheesy or melodramatic. Rip Torn, Malcolm McDowell, and Kevin Sorbo (hmmm, I wonder who he might play in a game about Greek gods) round out the Hollywood talent on display in Kratos’ final(?) journey.
Unfortunately, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention some of the few, if not persistant, problems with the game. What pains me most about the hiccups in this game is that they were things that the previous two games did excellently. The first is the camera. While the series has never employed a camera that was controlled by the player, the placement was usually spot-on and intuitive, never leaving one to wonder about a jump or having to fight enemies blind. In this game I found the camera to be a hindrance numerous times. In the middle of battle a pillar would be positioned so that fighting blind and hoping the combos landed was the only choice available. Other times the camera would be in a position where ledges came into view so quickly that Kratos simply walked off into the nothingness.
The controls also suffered a hit. All those who take great pride in their ability to wield Kratos effectively do so with ample use of the right analog stick. Previously, all one had to do was flick the right stick and Kratos would immediately roll out of danger. For whatever reason, Kratos now insists on finishing certain combos before he’ll initiate his evasive maneuvers. This means that if you start your combo and someone decides to take a swing at you, Kratos eats it. While it does take some of the button mashing and combo spamming out of the equation it also gives a loose feeling to the normally tight control system.
Additionally, what happened to the double jump? There are so many times where if the double jump isn’t input in a very, very precise way, Kratos commits suicide — over and over and over. The double jump to reach a new ledge or platform sometimes lacks an intuitive feel and finds Kratos either just falling into a pit or double jumping into the invisible walls and then falling into a pit. Also, given the absolute gargantuan nature of the levels it is often hard to judge depth. This means that Kratos will often appear to be hovering directly over his intended landing spot, only to fall directly into the void well short of the intended target. Take care to watch his shadow when attempting the long-distance hovers.
The last, and most frustrating, of the issues is that of the R1 trigger. Used to open chests, interact with levers and mechanisms, and save the game, it is a glitch that just brings the game to a dead halt at times. Typically, when confronted with an object that Kratos can interact with, the ‘R1′ prompt appears on the screen. Here, the prompt will sometimes flicker quickly. You’ll often spend a few moments walking around the object waiting for the prompt to reappear. Frequently it won’t show up onscreen until Kratos is standing in a unnatural position off to the side or behind. Twice I stood directly in the save “light circle” and found no prompt. I had to exit the circle and move to a position a short distance away on one particular side to bring up the prompt. While it is not something that affects gameplay directly, it definitely slows down a game that tends to move at a blistering pace throughout.
While these shortcomings do annoy and lead to unnecessary deaths the copious amount of save points and checkpoints will never start you too far back from where the offense was committed. They also do not detract from the overall experience, which is truly one of the absolute best to be had on any of the current consoles.
Before I close I must note the two topics that are setting the message boards ablaze when it comes to GoW3. The first is the play time. You’ll find this one clocks in around the 8-10 hour range. Sony Santa Monica has included so many bonuses that are only usable in additional play-throughs it makes going back in all the more fun. I don’t recall the first two games being much longer than this one, leaving me to wonder what all the fuss is over. Secondly: the ending. The ending has confused some, enraged others, and given hope to the remaining. Without spoiling anything all I can say is this: the journey is worth it. The game is so good that the ending was of very little consequence to me (and be sure to stick around until after the credits for the final coda).
One last bit of advice, for those that have a fairly good handle on the series, skip right up to the hardest available difficulty right out of the box. For the sake of comparison I tried the game on normal and cut through enemies and bosses like they weren’t even there. Most of my deaths were from falling off of things and double jumping insanity. On “normal,” bosses that seem like they should be much harder just never put up much of a fight. I never fought a boss more than twice during my “normal” campaign.
Overall, the experience was an incredible one. The game makes the first two look tiny by comparison. Even with the control and camera issues it is still the god-sized, epic finale served up as only the “Ghost of Sparta” who wears the ashes of his dead family as skin is able to deliver.
Posted by Ed in Latest News, Movies on March 8th, 2010
From award-winning film/TV/video game composer Tree Adams (Californication, MAG), comes the score for the post-apocalyptic, indie sensation Downstream, written and produced by Famous Monsters own Philip Kim. The excellent piece of work is now available on iTunes-just $.9.99 USD for all 36 tracks.
Click here to get it.
Posted by Ed in Latest News on January 17th, 2010
Famous Monsters owner, Phil Kim, is rolling out his latest post-apocalyptic thriller, Downstream, in the next few weeks. Here is the lastest piece of press coverage from northern California’s “Press Democrat” newspaper with extended coverage and interview.
Interview
For more on Downstream click here.
A very special thanks to Dan Taylor of the Press Democrat.
Posted by Ed in Latest News, Movies on January 8th, 2010
Above monsters and aliens and SFX, Forry was driven by one thing: Imagination. It was the central theme behind everything that FM was founded on. Every once in a while something comes along that may not seem to fit the typical FM mold, but it is so unique and such a beautiful example of imagination that we feel it’s our duty to bring it to your attention. The truth is that FM is more than just monsters; it is that which is creative or “outside the box” or just off the beaten path, located just a hair under the radar. And that is where you’ll find ‘Fish Story’ (Fisshu Sutori, if you want the proper westernized spelling).
Based on a novel of the same name and set across almost 4 decades, ‘Fish Story’ tells a unique and touching story in the best traditions of Japanese filmmaking. Here’s the breakdown: In 1975 a little-known punk band releases a song called “Fish Story” to very little fanfare. Fast forward to the year 2012. A comet is heading for earth and the end of the world just may be nigh. While most of the citizens have fled Japan, 3 men remain. These three believe that this song, “Fish Story”, is the key to saving the world.
The film jumps around from time period to time period and focuses on small, seemingly insignificant ties between characters and events that, in the end, prove largely substantial. It also has an interesting mix of genre’s. It’s got some action and some romance and some sci-fi, but never enough to be categorized as strictly one or the other. As of right now the only DVD’s available are the original R2 in Japanese and the R3 with Korean subtitles and Japanese audio track. But keep your eyes open. It’s worth keeping on your radar (plus your film “expert” friends will be impressed if you can work this one into casual conversation). This one is proof that original storytelling and imagination are still alive and well.
Posted by Ed in Latest News on January 7th, 2010
Christopher Nolan may just be the best filmmaker working today. Since his debut with ‘Memento’ he’s dazzled audiences with his mastery of story and character. He’s hit blockbuster paydirt with ‘Batman Begins’ and ‘Dark Knight’ while simultaneously delivering smaller, character-driven pieces like ‘The Prestige’. While details on his new film are quite scarce, ‘Inception’ has been described as ‘Dark City’ meets ‘The Matrix’. How accurate that is still remains to be seen. But if the casting is any indication, the film should be quite the spectacle, featuring such stars as Leonardo DiCaprio, Ken Watanabe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Ellen Page, Cillian Murphy, and Tom Hardy. Here’s a look at the latest trailer. Enjoy. . .
Posted by Ed in Latest News, Movies on January 7th, 2010
Once again showing that they want their re-make to stand on its own, the producers of the new ‘Clash of the Titans’ have asked British rock band Muse to provide the soundtrack for the film. According to the music site nme.com the band has been interested in doing film work for quite some time and are just looking for the right project. Lead singer Matt Bellamy says, “It’s something we’re up for doing – it’s just a case of timing because we’re always on tour,” he said. “Clash Of The Titans is the first interesting offer we’ve had for film work. We’re definitely interested in writing for films at some point when we get a break from being on the road.” The film is scheduled to release on Mar. 26th, not leaving much time for contemplation.
It’s an interesting approach to have a rock band supply the music for the film. The trend of more rock-inspired, contemporary scores seems to be on the rise as of late. While the first notable attempt at this approach would be Heath Ledger’s ‘A Knight’s Tale’, combining medieval jousting tournaments and Queen’s anthemic ‘We Will Rock You’, subsequent attempts have been less polarizing, like Tyler Bates’s guitar-heavy score for the sword and sandals epic ‘300′. The choice is consistent with the marketing for the film thus far. The trailers have featured an instrumental version of the alternative rock band “The Used” song ‘The Bird and The Worm”, as opposed to a more traditional, orchestral score.
‘Clash of the Titans’ trailer 2
Muse ‘Uprising’
Posted by Ed in Latest News on December 25th, 2009
From all of us at FM, we want to wish each of you a very happy and safe holiday and a prosperous new year. Thank you for the support you’ve shown us. The plans for 2010 are far larger and more ambitious than 2009. Stay tuned, Monster Kids-you’ll not want to miss a minute of it. And keep the comments coming. Let us know what makes FM important to you and what you’d like to see. Now I must be going as I hear footsteps on the roof. So either Santa is here or the neighbor is drunk again. Either way. . .I’m getting the shotgun. See you in 2010.
Posted by Ed in Comics, Latest News on December 7th, 2009
Those were the immortal words of Dr. Frankenstein (pronounced Frahn-kun-shteen!) portrayed by Gene Wilder in Young Frankenstein. The line embodied the passion and sheer exuberance of a man who had just taken a famous monster, once thought to be gone forever, and returned it to life (and given it the ability to do some sweet musical numbers). Today, we share those sentiments as we announce the return of Famous Monsters of Filmland, the print magazine.
While we’re well into development on the first issues, we’re going to be keeping mum on a lot of the details. Here are a few pieces that we can share with you right now:
- In order to make sure that FM gets as wide a release as possible, we’ve teamed with IDW Publishing. Not only are they one of the largest comic publishers in the country, recipient of Diamond Distributor’s “Publisher of the Year” award 4 times, publisher of such hit comics as 30 Days of Night, Joss Whedon’s Angel, Locke and Key, and Transformers; they also happen to be huge monster kids.
“Famous Monsters is partially responsible for my lifelong love of horror, so to be involved in helping the magazine relaunch itself into the dreams—or nightmares—of new generations of fans is amazingly gratifying to me,” said Chris Ryall, IDW’s Publisher/Editor-in-Chief. “Phil’s plans for the magazine are respectful to the brand’s history and very forward-thinking at the same time, and I’m happy to be a part of it.”
More on IDW here. 
- Our editor-in-chief will be Michael Heisler, a 20-year veteran of the industry who brings a wealth of experience, along with his enthusiasm, to the relaunch.
“FM was far and away my favorite magazine when I was a kid, and there has been nothing quite like it since,” said Heisler. “Our goal is to update that magic for a modern audience, with coverage of current horror in all its forms, while continuing to pay tribute to the classic films that started it all. Personally, I’m thrilled to be taking this step down the road that Forry Ackerman and ‘Chilly Billy’ Cardille put me on so many years ago.”
-The magazine will begin its run in the summer of 2010 and be released quarterly. We haven’t set an exact date for release yet but we hear there’s some kind of big event in the summer where over 150,000 people dress up in costumes and head to San Diego. Just a rumor, probably.
Over the coming months we’ll be bringing you plenty of updates. From details on the covers to content and contributors, you’ll see it all here first. Make sure to check back and sign-up at our social networking sites (those icons in the upper right on the front page) as we’ll be releasing different info on all of them from time-to-time.
Last but not least, we’re counting on you to leave us comments and tell us your thoughts on what you’d like to see in the new FM. This is the time to make your voice heard and help forge the path that the magazine will take. Don’t be shy; all are welcome.
“I’ve always loved Famous Monsters, and when I discovered an opportunity to reinvent the brand for modern times, I jumped at it,” said Phil Kim, FM’s Senior Manager. “Knowing the legacy and the great expectations that came with this iconic trademark, I looked long and hard for a suitable company with an impeccable reputation for quality and respect. After a two-year search, I am proud to announce our partnership with IDW.”
Posted by Ed in Latest News, Movies on December 2nd, 2009
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls- step right up to the Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus. 2 fortunate souls (accompanied each by 1 guest) have a chance to win tickets to the sneak preview of one of this season’s most anticipated films. The last film to star the late Heath Ledger (Dark Knight, Brokeback Mountain), and directed by visionary filmmaker Terry Gilliam (The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, Monty Python, 12 Monkeys), Imaginarium is about a traveling theater company that has made a pact with the devil and is thus able to give the audience adventures into their imaginations they’ve never dreamed of. It promises to be one of the most original and stylistic cinematic experiences of the year.
If you’re in the LA area or are planning to be in the LA area this Sunday, Dec. 6th, enter the contest for a chance to win these exclusive tickets to the sold-out event at the Egyptian Theatre in the heart of Hollywood.
How to win:
Leave a comment for this post (they don’t show up immediately because of the spam filter-plus, if we post them you won’t have to find the answer. But once you comment we see them on our end) with the name of one of the other actors who plays the same role as Ledger (Tony) in this movie. You can enter once each day until the close of the contest- 2pm PDT on Friday, Dec. 4th. Names will be drawn at that time and winners will be notified. Entering more than once each calendar day will result in disqualification.
A very special thanks to our friends at the American Cinematheque for sponsoring this contest and hosting this event. More info on them can be found here.
The recent trend of scaling up small screen projects to the movie screen continues with M. Night Shyamalan’s version of The Last Airbender. Originally titled Avatar: The Last Airbender, the producers changed the title fearing that a much smaller, independent arthouse movie that you’ve probably never heard of might confuse moviegoers as to which Avatar they were actually going to see.
