Halloween II? New Rob Zombie album?

Alright, if someone asked you which you would rather have a new CD or a new movie, which one would you pick. That's basically the dilemma I have with Rob Zombie's current situation. Luckily, with some patience, we can have both.

Rob has clearly been working his ass off for the past year, releasing Zombie Live (his first solo live album) and Let Sleeping Corpses Lie (the end all collection of White Zombie material). ON top of that, Zombie has reportedly finished recording his new album and it is ready to go. There is just one problem: Halloween II.

As most horror fans know, Zombie was recruited to work on the new revamping of the Halloween franchise. In my opinion, I enjoy Zombie's original work (Devils' Rejects, House of 1000 Corpses) much better. Although the movie was a remake, it lived up to my expectations. It was not bad at all and was actually very enjoyable. Zombie's decision to take a closer look into the early life of Michael Meyers was a genius move, clearly the idea of a horror veteran. Zombie clearly knows his genre well and should take Halloween II, a notoriously grizzlier movie than the first, and out his own special touch on it. As always, I look for a familiar cast that Zombie uses with Sid Haig and Bill Mosley. Although his real life wife Sheri Moon's character, Michael's mother, killed herself in the first Halloween, I could see a potential place for Mrs. Meyers in the second.

Sadly, Zombie's new album, which was scheduled for release, has been pushed back. As an avid White and Rob Zombie fan, I am incredibly disappointed that we will not see the album until filming on Halloween II is finished. According to Zombie, "The record’s done and sitting on the shelf waiting to come out, but I don’t want to put it out while I’m shooting Halloween II because I can’t deal with it too much."

Although the album has been pushed back, the movie is slated to be released in August of 2009. So, filming for the movie should not take too long. I would like to see the album in late spring or early summer of this year. Imagine the months when we have a new Zombie record, a new Zombie movie, and possibly a summer Zombie tour? The Halloween II Tour? Ha ha I would personally love to see that.

I'm sure every horror fan, as well as Rob Zombie fan is looking forward to what Rob Zombie will do with Halloween II, as well as Zombie's upcoming new CD...and hopefully a tour.

Thoughts on The Oscars

I watched basically all of the Oscars last night. I was really focused on two categories. Best Supporting Actor and Best Actor. I also kept an eye on Best Picture, as that is the most important category of the night.

First, I, as well as most people who saw The Dark Knight, thought Heath Ledger deserved an Oscar for his amazing performance as the joker. Since the minute I stepped out of the studio back in July I was waiting for the moment that his family could step on the stage and accept the award for their sons' amazing work. Ledger completely revamped the character and in my opinion has left a mark on the character that will be remembered for all time. He is now the standard that future Jokers, Batman villains, and supervillains will have to live up to in the rest of the history of cinema. I'm extremely glad that the Academy decided to make the right move here and give the actor his last respects, so to speak.

Also, I was pulling for Mickey Rourke and his performance as Randy the Ram in The Wrestler. I thought his "comeback" performance was definitely deserving of an Oscar. The Oscar went to Sean Penn for his portrayal of gay politician, Harvey Milk. I thought that Penn's performance was amazing, but I thought Rourke did a better job on his character. Also, I would have liked to see Frank Langella win, if not Rourke, for his portrayal of Richard Nixon in Frost/Nixon.

I would have liked to see a win for Frost/Nixon in the best picture category, but as the night went on, it was quite obvious that Slumdog Millionaire was the big winner. I haven't seen it yet, but it seems to be great as it won best picture, best original song, and best director. It is definitely worth a watching.

Friday the 13th..again?

Hello World,

Do you enjoy movies that make your girlfriend cling to your arm in terror? Do you also enjoy nudity, sex, violence, drinking, and recreational drug use? If you answered yes to both of these questions, then congratulations, you are most likely the average horror movie fan. If so, you should probably check out the remake of the classic series Friday the 13th.

The movie was actually quite entertaining. Of course, like any other Friday the 13th, this movie was basically kids being murdered near good ol' Camp Crystal Lake. Unlike the original Friday the 13th, Jason's Mother is not the killer in this movie. Its a welcome change, due to the fact that the name Friday the 13th is synonymous with the big guy in the hockey mask, not an old woman with a knife. Although not the primary killer, Mrs. Vorhees does make an appearance in the beginning of the movie, in a flashback like scene. Jason is then seen witnessing his mother's decapitation by a lucky teenage girl who escaped the wrath of Jason's mother. Mrs. Vorhees' voice is heard urging her son to get revenge on all teenagers who venture onto the grounds of Camp Crystal Lake, and let the killing begin.

Getting right down to it, the movie's strong points lie exactly where I thought they would, with Jason. Sure the good looking actors/actresses having sex and partying, clearly straight out of a cliche horror flick did the film justice, but when you see a Friday the 13th film, you go to see Jason. Derek Mears, a horror movie veteran, did a great job portraying the classic teen killer. Mears' Jason was a revamped psychopath, who easily disposed of the supporting cast in ways that would have made past Jason's jealous. The most entertaining of which would be Jason shooting a unsuspecting teen driving a speedboat, through the head with a bow and arrow. Also note new Jason's ability to run after his victims, unlike previous Jason's, as well as other psychopaths (Michael Myers) who walk slowly like zombies. This Jason is not very agile, but he can move when he needs to, adding to the terror factor and doing away with the old, "he doesn't need to run because he will get you anyway" theory. A murderer running at me is much more realistic and terrifying than some lumbering sloth just walking.

Overall i would give the movie an 8 out of 10. Defiantly the best horror remake I have ever seen. It is really worth checking out if you gave the Halloween remake a chance, as this movie blows that one away. With A Nightmare On Elm Street soon to be remade also, I have my hopes up.