Posts Tagged ‘Movies’

Can Scream succeed where almost all other franchises have failed, blazing a new path through the wilderness of constant reboots, to find everlasting glory? What the hell did I just write?? In this mini-episode, I discuss why Scream has some natural advantages most horror franchises don’t, and why Scream 5 sets up the future perfectly for the next generation. Be sure to email us your thoughts or call/text us on our voice-mail at 708-LANTERN!

Download the episode HERE!

Chad and Mark return to discuss the movies they can’t wait to see in 2022, if there really are any, along with the ones they could give three pounds of monkey crap about (as well as everything in between)!  It’s almost two hours of dreams and wishful thinking, with some steaming piles thrown in! Be sure to email us your thoughts or call/text our voice-mail at 708-LANTERN!

Download the episode HERE!

COVID be damned, Chad and Mark return to discuss the movies they can’t wait to see in 2021, along with the ones they could give three pounds of monkey crap about (as well as everything in between)!  Prepare for some holdovers from last year, along with several new contenders!  Be sure to email us your thoughts or call/text our voice-mail at 708-LANTERN!

Download the episode HERE!

In this change of pace episode, Chad and Mark discuss Cullen Bunn’s plans for the end of “Lost Army” and beyond before a lengthy breakdown/review of the original 2008 draft of the “Green Lantern” movie script!  There’s even time for some other surprises along the way, so take a listen! Be sure to email us your thoughts or chime in on our voice-mail at 708-LANTERN!

Download the Script draft HERE!

Download the episode HERE

That time has come again: Movie Preview time, of course!  Chad and Mark compare what they are looking forward to seeing in 2018, along with the infamous Monkey Crap list of films they hope to avoid! What movies do you want to see in 2018?  Which ones do you hope to never encounter, much like bad shrimp? Be sure to email us your lists or leave them on our voice-mail at 708-LANTERN!

Download the episode HERE!

The thing that strikes you from the very first scene of “Jigsaw” is how different the movie seems from the previous “Saw” films.  It looks and feels different.  Simply put, tonally, something is rotten in the state of Sawville.  While this was clearly done by design, at first, it bothered me.  Having a few days though to think about it, it makes perfect sense based on the story that we’re being given.

The basic plot is pretty simple, as more Jigsaw-like killings begin occurring 10 years after the death of John Kramer.  While no one really believes Kramer is the actual killer, certain evidence begins to mount that makes everyone involved in investigating the crimes have some doubt.  On this level, the movie reminds me of “Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning.”  Not just because the movie exists to create a new heir to the previously established killer, but because breadcrumbs are laid out purposely to make you doubt what logic tells you can’t be true. 

Following the great “Saw” tradition, we get a few twists along the way even before the grand reveal of how and why everything happened.  There are some hints regarding the actual timeline of the game we’re watching play out and that question, along with many others, get answered when John Kramer does finally take center stage.  I think the original title of this movie, which was “Saw:Legacy”, was more appropriate for this film, though “Becoming Jigsaw” also would have worked for several reasons.  One of those reasons being while we knew why John Kramer became Jigsaw, HOW exactly he became Jigsaw wasn’t really delved into before.  This movie begins to answer that question, and of course, by doing so, raises new ones.

The one thing that somewhat disappointed me was that the marketing for the movie played up the concept of the so-called “Cult of Jigsaw” being important to the plot, and other than one Jigsaw groupie, that marketing tactic or ploy didn’t really have much to do with the final product.

I would give “Jigsaw” 3.5/5 stars.

Mark J. Marble

The link to my original audio review is available here.

This is the big one as Chad and Mark record their 100th official episode! They came in with a list and celebrate with one, as they discuss their must see movies of 2017, along with the movies they are lukewarm about, and of course, the 5 pounds of monkey crap list!  Throw in some overdue “Rogue One” talk and you’ll be entertained.  We guarandamntee it!  What films are you most excited about?  Let us know your must-see and must-avoid lists are at lanterncast@gmail.com or on our voice-mail at 708-LANTERN!

Download the episode HERE!

A little later than originally planned, but Chad and Mark finally do their first non-Green Lantern related movie commentary track as they tackle Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War!  This episode includes everything from Dr. Strange talk and Infinity War speculation, to even some random X-Men talk.  And we even manage to work in a brief moment of Green Lantern in here too! Be sure to email us your thoughts or call in on our voice-mail at 708-LANTERN!

Download the episode HERE!

Part of what made 1999’s “The Blair Witch Project” so effective was that despite not seeing much of anything during the film, you suspected or knew what was going on based on the intelligent way the mythology had been laid out.  Not seeing anything actually made it creepier or spookier.  

“Blair Witch” tries to walk that fine line between doing what the original did so well, along with giving modern audiences more concrete or visual things to scare them.  Unfortunately, that approach is not very effective.

This third entry in the Blair Witch franchise focuses on James, who is the little brother of Heather from the original film.  He essentially has been obsessed with trying to find any clues to what actually happened to his sister (despite the fact he was only four at the time she disappeared).

A new piece of footage convinces James that Heather might actually be alive, so before you know it, James and friends go into the woods looking for clues and the mysterious house where Heather was last seen.

The early time spent in the woods is actually pretty good, but as things go south, the film surprisingly becomes less interesting.  We are given more sights and sounds to ponder than we had in the original, but it doesn’t make it scarier.  And despite having watched Heather’s original footage countless times, James seems way too willing to make the same mistakes his sister, Mike and Josh did.

One thing that is done well in “Blair Witch” is the use of time, or specifically, how time does or does not pass once you are in the Black Hills.  This concept was hinted at both in the original and even in the sequel, “Book of Shadows,” but it is really a major player this time around.

Most of the mythology remains the same, although one new piece is added, mostly for self-serving reasons, as it allows director Adam Wingard to finally put a face (and body) of sorts on the Blair Witch herself.

As a huge fan of the first film and even a fan of the much-maligned second, I was very excited when I heard the franchise was being revisited.  Sadly, this was not the trip back to Burkittsville that I had hoped for.  

I would give “Blair Witch” 2/5 stars.

Mark J. Marble

UPDATED:  So, now, according to the writer, Simon Barrett, despite changing the mythology for the sole reason to make us think the creature we see at the end was the Blair Witch… it really wasn’t.  It was someone else.  And maybe Elly Kedward wasn’t really the true source of the evil to begin with.  This makes me want to make the review one star now. Just a horrible way to trick viewers and also to crap on the mythology that had come before.

Chad and Mark dust off their respective DVD/Blu-Ray collection and hit play on the ‘Green Lantern: Emerald Knights’ animated feature from 2011. So join us as we provide OUR commentary on the origins of the first Green Lantern, Kilowogs rookie days, Laria’s first mission, why Mogo doesn’t socialize, and Abin Sur meets ATROCITUS! All set against the…END OF THE UNIVERSE?! Be sure to email us or call in on our voice-mail at 708-LANTERN!

Download the episode HERE!