Tag: Comedy

[VFF’15] A Music Otaku’s Guide to Tennis Pro’s Big In Japan! Review & Interview

bij_POSTER9:45pm Feb 6
2:00pm Feb 8
Odeon Theatre

Little known Seattle-based rock band Tennis Pro is having problems with notoriety and in what they realize is that they are not getting the attention that they deserve. When Alex Vincent (AKA Alex Shumway) of Green River fame takes notice and offers them the chance to pursue recognition in the land of the rising sun, perhaps their fame will truly be “Big in Japan.”

This rockumentary blends actual concert moments with a fictionalized narrative to tell the story of what guitarist David Drewery, drummer Sean Lowery and bassist Philip Pearson faced while in this country. From total culture shock in not quite realizing where they are to figuring out how to survive on a budget, the humour just happens naturally.

Continue reading “[VFF’15] A Music Otaku’s Guide to Tennis Pro’s Big In Japan! Review & Interview”

Unwrapping The Boxtrolls, A Blu-ray/DVD Review

91geiQgmvFL._SL1500_
Available on AmazonThe Boxtrolls

Studio Laika’s The Boxtrolls is a very bourgeois film. Unless viewers know something about how European nations historically treated the lower class, some aspects of the tale will feel alien. Some explanation is offered in the home video release’s director’s commentary, but for the most part, the point of the bonus material is to show how much work was put into this adaptation of Alan Snow’s children’s novel, “Here Be Monsters!”

The story takes place in the fictional country of Norvenia rather than some real world. Anyone who has studied Western Civilization knows how some growing cities saw revolt when one social class chastised another. As a result, this film examines the problems facing the town of Cheesebridge. A baby is lost, and Archibald Snatcher (wonderfully voiced by Ben Kingsley) blames the trolls! Those who fear them stay safe in their domiciles, while the monsters and a human boy named Eggs (Isaac Hempstead Wright) skirt the city at night. These night crawlers scavenge for food and other sundries to make their life underground possible.

Continue reading “Unwrapping The Boxtrolls, A Blu-ray/DVD Review”

Bark, Don’t Howl at the Moon, Wolfcop! A Movie Review

tumblr_n2lv1j7h4b1qh8smzo1_1280

Wolfcop is certainly not barking up the wrong tree in its tongue in cheek look at lycanthropy. This Canadian made film by writer/director Lowell Dean has plenty of bite in all the right places with jokes to those in the know and a style straight out of Creepshow. When considering this creature is better known in European folklore, some folks may well be understanding as to why the EU got the video release first.

This UK release is certainly worth importing in when there’s no signs of where to find the wolf in North America. Hopefully more details will emerge as to whether this region one release has the same collection of bonus material as the region two. So far, there’s no indicatations from Image Entertainment if there are any at all. And currently, this movie can be found at select film festivals and it is available for pre-order on Amazon.comThe Boxtrolls with a scheduled street date of March 10 2015 in Canada and May 12th in the States, but can anyone wait that long? The hunt for it is strangely appropriate when people think about it.

Continue reading “Bark, Don’t Howl at the Moon, Wolfcop! A Movie Review”

[Victoria, BC] Rocky Horror Show Graduates to New Heights!

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

rocky-bigger-jpg

Showtimes:
Oct 24, 25, 29, 30,
and Nov 1 at 8pm
Oct 31 at 7 & 10pm

Metro Studio
1411 Quadra St.
Tickets: $30; $35 with prop kit

Reservations:
250-590-6291
ticketrocket.org

Griffen Lea, Sarah Anne Murphy, Candace Woodland, Kelly Hudson are back in the Rocky Horror Show and they are bad in Rebel Knock Out (RKO) Productions’ take of this seminal Richard O’Brien stage classic. They have taken the energy from how they played Dr. Frank-N-Furter, Janet, Columbia, and Riff-Raff from last year’s Kaleidoscope version and amped it up. The crowd (whether they’ve seen that performance or not) roared and the shadow dancers cooed at their antics. Perhaps what’s noticeable is the added energy from Woodland strutting her stuff in the tap dancing routine from “Time Warp” and R.J. Peters (Brad) really channeling his inner nerd. When it comes to special solos in a musically raunchy show, Peters certainly created some nostalgic and sombre tones in “Once in a While” to make his moment memorable.

Continue reading “[Victoria, BC] Rocky Horror Show Graduates to New Heights!”

On Bill Murray and St. Vincent, A Movie Review

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

StVincentMaybe there is a big reason as to why Bill Murray isn’t interested returning to the Ghostbusters universe. He looks ready to retire from the acting world for good after appearing in the movie St. Vincent. However, this film is not going to mark the end of his illustrious career as more films are in the pipeline featuring either him or his voice.

Although he’s the star of this comedic social drama about Vincent, an unlikable misanthrope, there’s a heart of gold that’s gently wanting to come out — hence this film’s title. He takes a liking to Oliver Bronstein (Jaeden Lieberher), a scrawny but very intelligent 12-year old. Lieberher provides some brilliant young Macaulay Culkin type moments and his talent should not go unnoticed, especially when his character is what ultimately wins many an audience’s heart. As Oliver, he’s tossed into a world he’s not ready for. The story mixes in elements of a coming of age tale along with awkward father-son style moments even though these two are not related. In the way they bond, they might as well be grandfather having fun with the grandson he never had much like how PIXAR’s Up, worked.

Continue reading “On Bill Murray and St. Vincent, A Movie Review”

[Victoria Fringe Festival ’14] The Rise of Basement Boy as a Hero? A Review

When two buddies are seen playing Dungeons and Dragons, a fantasy role-playing game, before even the show starts, some people may well wonder what will transpire in The Rise of Basement Boy?

The Rise of Basement Boy PosterPresented by ShaneBob Productions
Directed by Shane Campbell and Markus Spodzieja

In homage to many a geek or nerd who can relate, a free slice of a cheese pizza is going to be offered at every performance of The Rise of Basement Boy. When two buddies are seen playing Dungeons and Dragons, a fantasy role-playing game, before even the show starts, some people may well wonder what will transpire in this comedy musical? If they read the synopsis, Archibald Clarkson (Markus Spodzieja) has to brave leaving the basement in order to be with his first true love or face losing her forever. When he spends most of his time sheltered away from reality along with Clarence, his Grandpa, (Francis Melling), who also struggles with his own demons, the only person they share a camaraderie with is with Bart (Jenson Kerr), a buddy who comes over to play with them.

But when Archie answers the door in order to receive their daily influx of pizza that’ll make the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles hungry, just who he meets is not their regular delivery person. Instead of the guy who has been ripping them off for years, he meets Candy (Hayley McCurdy), who happens to be the girl of his dreams. To see Clarkson flabbergasted is not without some chuckles and to witness Bart act jealous gets the plot in motion.

Continue reading “[Victoria Fringe Festival ’14] The Rise of Basement Boy as a Hero? A Review”

WP Twitter Auto Publish Powered By : XYZScripts.com