Month: May 2017

There’s No Need for a Hellboy Reboot

HellboyBy Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

Studios desiring a higher profit margin is most likely behind the reason Hellboy is being rebooted. I can not and will not accept anyone other than Ron Perlman to play the title role. When news broke Monday night about this Columbia Pictures distributed film getting a second life, please pardon my french, “F*** No!” Since the business heads could not come eye-to-eye with Guillermo del Toro‘s pitch and the production costs involved (yes, he’s famously known to go over budget), don’t stab this director in the back by saying we’ll simply reboot it with Neil Marshall helming the second incarnation like this series can be changed around like Doctor Who.

Marshall has modest hits like Descent and Dog Soldiers to show he has the chops, but I do not think he has the comic book cred to pull off an R-rated version. Whether that means more blood or scarier content, that remains to be seen as no proper word is given if he will also be part of the script-writing team.

Continue reading “There’s No Need for a Hellboy Reboot”

“Victoria’s Most Haunted” Gets A New Book by Ian Gibbs!

51nsewsef1l-_sx322_bo1204203200_By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

Presentation at Bolen Books 
1644 Hillside Ave #111
on May 9, 7pm

Many long-time residents of Victoria, British Columbia will not dispute the fact that this garden city is haunted. More ghosts are said to spook specific streets here, and most of the downtown core and neighbouring districts are covered in Ian Gibb’s debut book, “Victoria’s Most Haunted.”

From bars to homes to restaurants and schools, this variety of sites is welcome. A few places are missed—some of which I had the fortune to check out during my time with PARAVI, a local paranormal investigative society (understandably not mentioned in the book because it’s no longer in operation)—but to get every story crammed in means obtaining permission not only from the group but also from the current business operators to talk about them.

Continue reading ““Victoria’s Most Haunted” Gets A New Book by Ian Gibbs!”

R.I.P. The Mummy (1999-2008) Retrospective

the_mummyBy Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

Before Stephen Sommers version of The Mummy gets fully buried in the wake of the upcoming 2017 film next month, I have to fondly recall the elements that I enjoyed from this past iteration. The 1999 film was heavily inspired by the pulps. Although its star, Rick O’Connell (played by Brendan Fraser) would gladly let his son Alex keep the world at peace, I do not think a consortium existed to help develop the continuity needed for the spin-off material.

If that was the case, I imagine the character of Anubis would play an important role throughout the entire saga instead of being a background character for the first two movies. He is the god of death, and before Osiris landed in the Underworld and succeeded to the role, was in control of many a person’s fate should anyone die within his domain, the land of Egypt.

Continue reading “R.I.P. The Mummy (1999-2008) Retrospective”

Lady Bloodfight Spars Into Theaters May 5th!

Lady Bloodfight Poster

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

Lady Bloodfight is finally getting an American release and fans of Bloodsport, its spiritual predecessor, can finally see what the fuss is about. This film is due out in select outlets in North America beginning May 5th and the R rating is earned for the bloodshed found in this movie moreso than the obligatory locker room scowls and hisses. They easily could have been left out without disrupting the film, but this detail is expected when you have men producing the film. While the fights do not hit the same tones as Van Damme’s voraciousness on the mat, the narrative tone is similar to what World Wrestling Entertainment pumps out on a weekly basis. There’s plenty of secondary plots, backstabbing and bets going on.

Fans of martial arts fighting video games will find a bit of familiarity in the screenplay by writers Bey Logan and Judd Bloch. This movie has the feel of DOA: Dead or Alive than Street Fighter — including the obligatory Russian — and although the locales are never exotic, the rooftop battles and fights by the seaside suggests that if only this movie had a bigger budget, the producers would love to go all out and travel part of Polynesia.

Continue reading “Lady Bloodfight Spars Into Theaters May 5th!”

There’s Sid-Nerdary by the Sea Starting This Month!

HellboyBy Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

During the month of May to June, the township of Sidney, BC will be the destination for many a superhero and fans hoping for a sighting. From fun activities to exhibits to guest lectures, no stone is going to be left unturned, and most of the work is being done without the assistance from the Incredible Hulk. Both Marvel and DC heroes are represented in a look at close to 80 years of comic book history. The Sidney Museum is leading the charge with an exhibit that will span the two months. Most of the township is involved, and the following calendar shows where events will take place.

Up, Up and Away!
Comic Books & Our Culture
Sidney Museum
2423 Beacon Ave
May 3 – June 27
10pm-4pm

This exhibit promises to show a history of the medium with displays of classic works and show the evolution of many of today’s favourite heroes. The big three from DC will certainly be there, but will there be more? Batman, Wonder Woman and Superman are the trailblazers from this company, but for Marvel Comics, is it just Spider-Man? Or has Wolverine finally been put out to pasture because of this year’s movie, Logan? Hard to say, but maybe this exhibit might offer clues as to who the next generation of heroes will be.

Continue reading “There’s Sid-Nerdary by the Sea Starting This Month!”