Beowulf

"I ... am ... Beowulf!"

Most people grow up with cartoons. Up until recently, once a person reached adulthood, they would grow out of those cartoons, save for the rare few. Looney Toons always pleased, and Disney would strike the right chords most times, but there was still something missing. That missing element was a level of adult action and drama that could only be found in books and in movies.

In the recent past, cartoons fans who had grown up to become animators and writers began spearheading a movement to make more adult cartoons. Batman: The Animated Series, Superman, and the Justice League were some excellent examples of those cartoons that werte produced for American television. Japan released scores of more adult cartoons, dubbed anime by most. Cowboy Beebop, Samurai Champloo, and the Big O were some powerful titles that worked on a level that was even more adult than the American superhero cartoons. However, these cartoons had not reached the maturity of some very simple movies. They could be shown on Cartoon Network, and they were Rated PG or PG-13, at best. Adult cartoon fans needed more; they needed some Rated-R cartoons.

Those fans got their wish in the form of Beowulf.

Horrorfest - 8 Films 2 Die 4

Horrorfest is back with its 2007 edition. Eight independent horror movies are being shown in limited release throughout the country between November 9th - 18th, 2007. If you want more detailed information, visit the official Horrorfest website at the following address ...

www.horrorfestonline.com

I cannot list all the theaters here, nor can I give any detailed previews of the eight movies that have been slated for release, but I can help out some local horror fans.

Massachusetts theatres showing Horrorfest 2007:
The Bellingham 14, Bellingham, MA
The Fresh Pond Cinema, Cambridge, MA
The AMC Liberty Tree 20, Danvers, MA
The Methuen 20, Methuen, MA, and
The Springfield Plaza, Springfield, MA

The movies on the schedule are as follows:

• Borderland - A road-trip to a Mexican bordertown runs afoul of cultists (starring Rider Strong from Cabin Fever)
• Crazy Eights - Secrets and hauntings beleague childhood friends reunited
• The Deaths of Ian Stone - A man who dies everyday, and wakes up as someone else
• Lake Dead - Dark family secrets surrounding a lake-side motel
• Mulberry Street - Apocalyptic struggle for survival in a New York apartment complex
• Nightmare Man - A woman's nightmares may be real
• Tooth and Nail - Another post-apocalyptic struggle for survival, this time starring Michael Madsen, Vinnie Jones, and Rider Strong
• Unearthed - Monster terrorizing a New Mexican town

Which films look the best? After checking out the previews on the Horrorfest website, I think that The Deaths of Ian Stone, Crazy Eights, and Mulberry Street look the best.

Which films look like garbage? Tooth and Nail and Lake Dead look very bad.

Currently, there are no show times for the movies in Massachusetts. If the festival is anything like last year, then there will be three movies shown on Friday, 11/16/07, three on Saturday, 11/17/07, and three on Sunday, 11/18/07.

That's nine movies, you say? Last year they slipped two bonus movies in as a surprise. (More money for DVD sales, too ...)

Halloween in Newburyport, MA

Halloween 2007

I consider myself the unofficial Prince of Halloween. It has always been my favorite day of the year, and the months leading up to it are just as magical for me. Oddly enough, my house is completely dark every October 31st. No candy, no kids, no nothing. Why? I'll tell you ...

I spend every Halloween up in Newburyport, Massachusetts, helping to put on a Halloween Trick-or-Treat spectacular for the neighborhood kids. We pull in people from all over the city, and sometimes farther away.


Each year, we have a theme. One year, we dressed as pirates, and the King and Queen of Halloween, the hosts for this event, erected a pirate ship in their driveway. One year, we reenacted the War of the Worlds, including aliens, terrified citizens, and riot police (all actors, of course). Last year, we turned Marlboro Street in Newburyport into the land of OZ (Judy Garland, not HBO). And this year? This year, we conjured up some magic with the world of Harry Potter. (Above: Folks enjoying the floating candles; note the flying car stuck in the tree.)



It really is something to see, but don't look at the props, or the costumes, or the candy, look at the faces of the kids as they marvel at their favorite characters, no matter what the genre. Look at the faces of the adults as they reflect on their own past Halloweens. And look at our faces, because we are happy just to be able to bring smiles to all those other faces.

A thank you needs to go out to the neighborhood of Marlboro Street, Newburyport. The residents have been patient and understanding as hordes of children have knocked on their doors, on the way to our door. (This year, we estimate that 800 trick-or-treaters, and maybe an equal number of parents, came to see the Harry Potter event). And those same neighbors have helped us as we have put the finishing touches on the show. And a thank you needs to go out to the King and Queen of Halloween. It is their selflessness that has made so many people happy.

Happy Halloween to one and all!


(Above: A young Draco Malfoy takes direction from a roof-bound Lord Voldemort.)

Poll #3: What is your favorite movie monster?

I hope everyone had a happy Halloween. Our movie fan poll shows that we seem to like classic movie monsters better. "Old school!"