Tag: Sam Raimi

Sam Raimi Night! DRAG ME TO HELL

April 27, 2018 by shempcat·1 Comment

This past Tuesday I went out to the movies, it’s been a while since I’ve been out to a movie on a week night! (Weird for me to say that right?!?!)

It was actually for a TERROR TUESDAY event, sponsored by the Alamo Drafthouse, yup! At the screening we heard that, the L.A. Alamo is coming; “Sometime in the near future.”

The movie of the night was DRAG ME TO HELL! Directed by Sam Raimi! Because it was a RAIMI night I wore my DARKMAN shoes!!! Yes, I have DARKMAN SHOES!

DARKMAN SHOES, a gift from someone who knows me well!

I saw DRAG ME TO HELL when it first came out in theaters, I loved it and had a blast. If I ever find it on TV, I watch it.

It’s about a girl, Christine, who crosses a gypsy, get cursed and has 3 days of torture that may lead to a trip to Hell!

Should she go to hell???

Watching it again I jumped, closed my eyes and got the creepy feels. It’s classic Raimi who assaults you with sound and makes inanimate objects horrific! A floating lacy handkerchief was never more sinister.

At the screening there was a slew of guests; actor Dileep Rao, Producer Grant Curtis, Composer Christopher Young, and fellas from the sound department; Jussi Tegalman, Marti D. Humphrey, and Chris Jacobson then lastly Christian Cordella who worked on storyboards and the titles. (I hope I got all the name right, I was scribbling fast!)

Q&A Time!

All the fellas gushed about working with Sam Raimi, and shared how they created the sounds of hell for the big screen.

On the way out of the theater I was able to thank Dileep for coming out! Woot! He stayed through the whole movie!

I really do miss going to the movies, and this movie energized me, taking me to my happy place, mostly because it was a Sam Raimi movie! Yup!

Now, don’t upset gypsies, and just be nice! YUP!!

COMIC-CON 2016 Adventures! Yup! Two Days Of Fun! Part 1 FRIDAY!

July 29, 2016 by shempcat·1 Comment

COMIC-CON!!!!!!!!! SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON!!!!! #SDCC2016 It has come and gone! Yup!

Yup, I was there for some of it and had a fun, fun, fun, fun, fun time. This year I only had a pass for two of the five days that San Diego becomes the Pop Culture mecca! Comic Books, Movies, Toys, Pop Culture goodness, baby! I’ve been going for many, many, many years, I’m in the double digits here folks. (Yes, I have to brag, it’s COMIC-CON!) And, yes I wish I could have been there for every single day BUT I had two awesome super duper filled day and My Guy Dave was with me too. My dad also was down there digging through back issue comic book bins and between us all we snagged some pretty neat things. Yup! And there’s more details to share! Because Sharing it Grrrrreat!

This is Me before we got in the car to Drive to San Diego I’m excited! YUP YUP YUP!

We drove on down on Thursday to get settled in San Diego and I had more than a few friends already down at the Con so I was following along from afar. Thursday gave me, my folks and Dave a chance to hang out in San Diego; we all ate and enjoyed a delicious CALIFORNIA BURRITO. Then the evening was spent looking for Pokémon and grabbing a drink at a dive bar! WOOT!

IN THE WILD! Catch ’em All!

FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My Comic-Con day had arrived! With my badge in hand (before I got my lanyard) we got to downtown San Diego (thanks again mom for dropping us off!) and found the right door to get upstairs and get that lanyard! Pretty Easy peasy and no hassle having to wave your badge to check in and out! I got the WB bag for SUPERNATURAL! I LOVE SUPERNATURAL so thanks to my dad and My Guy Dave I now have 3 SUPERNATURAL BAGS! (Anyone want to trade for a TEEN TITANS GO! bag? Anyone?! email me!)

BADGED and Ready for Comic-Con! Yup! My dad! Me and Dave!

So many people wandering around, waiting for doors to open to get to the fun that was in store for one and all. Excitement was in the air! I was happy! Yup!

I have passed on trying for HALL H panels. This year I was set on continuing my wandering ways through Comic-Con, looking at all there is to see and do some different stuff that I had not done before! I’ve also taken to enjoying the off site goodies that are around town. So much Comic-Con fun! YEA!!!!

On the escalator! Up and Away!

My dad was ready to hit the floor with his SUPERNATURAL bag in on his back and he went to the floor scouting out the comic book back issues. Dave wanted to check out the gaming room and since it was something I had not done at Comic-Con before I went too.Yup! NEW THINGS! Yea!

We checked out the Pathfinder room to play a D&D Adventures League campaign. We got to pick and name our characters and venture off for the “TREASURE OF THE BROKEN HOARD PART 1“. I was Miles a Human Fighter, Noble, he’s in it for the gold, glory and fame, kinda like BOOSTER GOLD (cheap pop! my hero!), while Dave was Dom also a Human Fighter, Folk Hero. Our DM, Vy, was super cool. She lead us and the rest of our party of a Wizard, Cleric, Rogue and I think Barbarian Dwarf into a cave in search of treasure. We fought Goblins, I tossed my Javelin and Dom almost died, yup he rolled for a Death Save! Oh there was a Giant! A shrunken Giant! And a hoard of shrunken goblins, 100’s of them!!

After the campaign we headed to the convention floor and immediately found HEX 11 booth. I discovered them at another con a while back and pick up their issues when I can. They had Issue #7 ready to go! It’s a fun indie comic I have to recommend! Yup!

With more wandering in mind, we went looking up and down the rows and soon were taking a stroll down artist’s alley! It’s really all about the wandering and browsing for me these days, as I love seeing what there is to see.Of course through the wandering we found cool cosplayers too! I adore seeing cosplayers showin’ off their duds! They are the characters, not just people in costumes! I try my best to keep my manners when asking for pictures and was able to jump in a few thanks to My Guy Dave!

GO TEAM VENTURE! Sorry Dr. Venture I was excited and you got covered!

GO TEAM VENTURE! Sorry Dr. Venture I was excited and you got blocked!

Princesses Kick Ass!

While we were off wandering we left the cool convention aisles and went out into the heat! (It was one hot hot weekend in San Diego!) Over the bridge and towards the parking lot by Petco Park we went because that’s where the ASH VS. EVIL DEAD cabin was set! STARZ is my hero for helping to give the world more Raimi, Tapert, Campbell, ASH, Lawless, Deadites, Blood, Guts and Gore! The line wasn’t so bad and so Dave and I jumped in it! Well, honestly, no matter how long the line was we were going to jump in and wait, wait wait, because well, DUH, EVIL DEAD, baby! The grooviest of the groovy!

ME IN LINE!!!!!

Where’s Ash and the Chainsaw?

Chainsaw Sweet Chainsaw!

The cabin, Ash’s rustic abode, was awesome and cool with little interactive jumps and groovy details. At the end you got a chance to get some goodies and a try for the autograph session. Though I didn’t get an autograph ticket! UGH! I did get a swell tote bag and bottle open and SHEMPS beer coozie! WOOT WOOT! Totally some of the best goodies at the con and though I might be biased, dude, it is all awesome. I LOVE ASH VS. EVIL DEAD! YUP YUP YUP!!!!

Look Ma! GHOSTBUSTERS! Love it! It’s all good!

With more wandering in the hot hot sun we took a break! So did some heroes!

Comic Con Chillin’!

Before we went back to the convention floor we wandered the streets of the Gaslamp district and found a 50 Years of Star Trek Art Show and took a gander!

Woah! 50!

Spock’s Fly Ride!

KHAN!

MIRROR MIRROR

GENERATIONS!

Then it was back to wander some more for the rest of the evening inside the convention hall! Yup!

Dave met William Gibson! Thanks for the cyberpunk stories!

My Favorite! DC fangirl forever!

SUPERMAN MEEPLES!

THE FLINTSTONES!

SUPER-LADIES! Yeah!

Though I didn’t catch all the panels I had on my agenda for my Friday I did get in a round of D&D, saw super cool stuff, snagged indie comics, got some books and met William Gibson, and got fake Facehugger tattoos, yup it was a freakin’ blast!

I have for the past many years seen the DC ANIMATED movies that have screened at the con and wanted to make sure I would see what was to play that night! So My Guy Dave and I headed upstairs to Ballroom 20 expecting a long line of waiting as we planned to arrive more than a few panels early, but lo and behold there was no line and into Ballroom 20 we went! WHEEEEE!!!!

PANEL TIME, inside BALLROOM 20!

The iZOMBIE panel was going on and so we listened in, yup. I have only watched an episode of the show and never kept up. Looks like a lot has happened since it started and it looks like it’s going to keep going.

iZombie Cast and Crew!

Then there was the panel for SCREAM QUEENS which is a panel we were most interested in, so it worked out just nice! Yup. My Guy Dave and I watched ever episode of SCREAM QUEENS, and what kept me watching was really JAMIE LEE CURTIS. This show is absolutely ridiculous but in the end entertained me so, yup.

SCREAM QUEENS turned out to be a fun funny panel; learning of the new cast additions and tidbits about where they are going next, leaving behind the college campus for a mental hospital. So the cast hit the stage along with the creator and it was moderated by a writer for EW; Tim Stack.

Abigail Breslin was first, followed by Billie Lord, Keke Palmer, Lea Michele, a new addition to the cast Taylor Lautner, then Emma Roberts, and another newbie Mr. John Stamos (gosh what a smile!) and then the awesome and amazing Jamie Lee Curtis and lastly creator Ian Brennan.

What? John Stamos on SCREAM QUEENS?!

JAMIE LEE CURTIS!!! JAMIE LEE CURTIS!!!!!!!!!!

Ian, creator, shared how the show was set to address Mean Girl culture and be horror filled. Jamie talked about recreating her mom’s Psycho scene in season one, saying that her mom would have been a fan of the show. She’s also ready for some steamy hook ups in Season 2!

Jamie was hilarious the whole panel, I love her. She shared that when something is funny she laughs; back in the day when she did A FISH CALLED WANDA she said Kevin Kline would be mad because she’d blow his takes because she’d laugh. These days she has to hold something sharp in her hands to poke herself so she doesn’t laugh out-loud at the wrong time.

As the panel went the laughs continued; the next season sounds wacky with a whole new round of CRAZY. It is promised to be bloodier, funnier, and more gruesome!

SCREAM QUEENS are a Scream! Yup!

The whole cast was fun to see live, Keke is one of my favorites and Abigail is so cute and grown up. They all seem to be in awe of John Stamos, as he has this glow and that charming smile. Billie talked about her earmuff’s and how her idea to braid over them was beautiful but painful idea. She was asked to get her mom on the show and Billie said to just ask her! Yup.

STAMOS shares his fun being on SCREAM QUEENS.

Now what else was interesting?…Chad will be back..cameos of celebs include Colton Haynes and Cecily Strong, the Q&A’s from the audience were good, and it was all ladies doing the asking!!!

So fans! We can all be excited for SCREAM QUEENS season 2 on September 20th! Yup.

Then we settled in and stayed in our seats at BALLROOM 20 because of the evening event, a movie screening from WB Animation and DC Comics!! Woot! (I go to these panels every year!!! WOOT!) Yup! THE KILLING JOKE exclusive premiere!!

Last year they announced this title was coming and now and here it was for all to see before it comes out on Video. But they also revealed that THE KILLING JOKE would have a two night screening event on Monday and Tuesday, July 25-26! Thanks Fathom Events!

So, the panel started at 9PM, but because THE KILLING JOKE is a rated R movie and they couldn’t screen it til almost 10PM. Based on the 1988 graphic novel, THE KILLING JOKE is one of the most popular stories in the BAT-Verse. Before the screening there was a Q&A and another would follow at the end of the movie (which I didn’t stick around for though I wish I had…).

The Rep from WB Home Video Gary Miereanu came on out to kick off the event! He gave shout outs to the DC peeps in the crowd and introduced all on the panel! Sam Liu (Director), Bruce Timm, Brian Azarello, Ray Wise, Tara Strong and Kevin Conroy! Oh and soon after we got a phone call from some “Joker” Mark Hamill. Mark said thanks for turning up, that THE KILLING JOKE was about to play in front of the “best movie audience the movie will ever have” and then the JOKER took over the phone for a bit and of course giggled. The crowd went crazy!!!! CRAZY!!!!! WOOOOOO!

TARA STRONG! BATGIRL! BARBRA GORDON! WOOT!

Kevin “Batman” Conroy! He is BATMAN!

THE KILLING JOKE Team!

During the panel, Bruce Timm talked about giving Barbra Gordon more backstory, calling it a little mini movie for her, which Brian Azarello wrote. Tara Strong who’s voiced Batgirl/Barbra Gordon since 1996 was super excited to have the role and see her evolve. The team expressed how they wanted to add to the story, keeping it true and fresh. This was a story that they all wanted to be apart of for quite some time and it was finally here!

So just about 10PM the movie began to play! Now, I really enjoy these Animated movies and enjoy watching them in this setting. You can feel the anticipation in the room.

The additions to the story really is Barbara and she’s been BATGIRL for a few years, teaming up with BATMAN and feeling she can really handle the Superhero route her life has taken. She still admires BATMAN, but wants to be seen as more of an equal, and yet still strives for his approval.

The crux of the story though really is about JOKER, where we get deets on his origin. A bad day, a really bad day, the most horrible, awful, no good day made him who he is now. The JOKER wants to prove that someone else can be turned to evil after a bad, awful day and so he shoots Barbra Gordon, so she’ll never walk again in front of Commissioner Gordon, then kidnaps Gordon. Joker taunts and torments Gordon, showing off what happened to Barbra expecting him to go all villainous and revenge seeking.

BATMAN is also dealing with his JOKER relationship and how they balance each other as hero and villain.

It’s been a LONG LONG LONG time since I’ve read the graphic novel. I’m admittedly a bit biased when it comes to DC animated movies. I overall enjoyed this film and am glad they are moving towards edging them up. I think it is sometimes still hard for many to accept animated movies as for adults only. It’s about the stories, and getting those story told, reaching a new audience. I say check it out when it’s out! Yup!

WHOOOO! FRIDAY! My Comic Con day came and went! (Ahhh over too fast!) But, there is more fun to share! And I’m going to share it! So here’s part one and stay tuned for part two which will include my Saturday journey and more and more pictures! Yeah! Comic-Con!!!!!!

MOVIE MARATHON – 24 Hours of Cinema

June 8, 2016 by shempcat·1 Comment

Last month I went back to School to join a High School film club at their 24 hour film festival. Yup, that’s right, 24 hours of movie watch, and it include 11 movies from 10 a.m. Saturday Morning to 10 a.m. Sunday morning!

The show is put on by two amazing teacher friends whom I met at BNAT (Butt-Numb-A-Thon); the ultimate 24 hour movie marathon. Yup.

These two fine fellows run the Film Club of their high school and they put together one hell of a line up for the students. This is actually their 5th Annual 24 hour movie marathon and I’m honored to have attended the last three! Yup. I am a lucky movie watcher!

Now these are films that MOST of these kids have NEVER ever seen. Yup. It’s 24 hours of film exposure as a way to introduce a new generation to movies beyond what’s hitting theaters each weekend. When you think about it, kids these days don’t watch movies they way we did as a young film watchers. Who stays up late watching cable television? There’s the internet, smartphones and tablets at their fingertips and YouTube!

I will just say that It’s awesome that there’s a High School with cool teachers teachers who have a place to bring movies of all sorts to young minds! Yup!!

The show started with a video, 3 minutes of film history, and trailers: THE DIRTY DOZEN and THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN.

THE HATEFUL 8, from Quentin Tarantino rolled on screen! This is the longest movie they’ve ever shown at one of the marathons! I was glad to give HATEFUL another view. The last time I saw it was at the New Bev and it was the Roadshow version. Now, it’s not my favorite Tarantino movie, but oh how I love Kurt Russell! It seemed like the young kids dug the movie, so QT has the power of appeal for all ages. 😉

Next up it was time for a Black and White movie dealing with social issues! But of course we got a preview first and it was for OH BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU?

The second movie screened was SULLIVAN’S TRAVELS (1942) directed by Preston Sturges and starring Joel McCrea and Veronica Lake. Here we have a big time director (played by Joel McCrea) who’s made some successful films and wants his next feature to be a commentary on life’s social issues but then realizes he knows nothing about what your average joe is dealing with day to day. So, the thing to do is dress like a hobo, ride the rails and experience the other side of life. Along the way he meets Veronica Lake, an aspiring actress who doesn’t want to leave his side. If you’ve never seen SULLIVAN’S TRAVELS, then you should! It holds up and you realize Hollywood politics haven’t changed, people want to make movies and there’s something to be said about movies that make people laugh and feel happy.

The thematic trailers before the next movie were MAJOR LEAGUE and A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN, so it was time to step up to the plate for more BASEBALL! BAD NEWS BEARS (1976). I like this movie. I remember just watching parts as a kid, never from beginning to end. When I did finally see it all I realized then just how offensive a little film it is, yup. But hey, it’s got heart! That makes it ok? Yes? Hmmm…

So much drinking from Walter Matthau who’s the underdog baseball coach Buttermaker. He’s got to pull a rag tag team of rejects together, between racist remarks, swear words and more alcohol, so there’s just a ton of SPIRIT. I love Tatum O’Neal as Amanda, the girl who can pitch and of course the bad boy Kelly who is Jackie Earle Haley! Man was he so gawky but tough. 😉 Only in the 70’s could you get away with no helmets for kids who road motorbikes. GO BEARS!

GO BEARS GO! Can I have a beer too?

Before the next film we had trailers for MOONRISE KINGDOM and MOULIN ROUGE!

UMBRELLAS OF CHERBOURG (1964) was next.The musical and foreign film portion of the show! UMBRELLAS is one of my favorite favorite movies which I’ve been fortunate to see on a big screen a few times. It’s beautiful, dreamy, colorful, heartbreaking and again just so beautiful. The film is all done with sung dialogue.

Geneviève, played by Catherine Deneuve, works at an umbrella shop. She’s in love with Guy (Nino Castelnuovo), a mechanic. Geneviève is so young, but she and Guy are so in love and have plans of marriage, children, a living a love filled life together. Guy is drafted and must go away! Once he is gone, Geneviève finds herself pregnant. This sort of drama-rama really got a rise out of the teenage crowd watching the screen. There were so many oooh’s and ahhh’s and cheers and claps between acts/songs. It was quite a movie going experience. I just couldn’t wait to see how the kids responded to the end of the film, especially knowing what was coming. I’d say the film was a hit. Maybe some teens were actually feeling emotional?!?

Now it was time for some Comedy and a dash of horror! The kids were about to get some insight to classic comedies! To set the tone, as we watched the DUDE/SWEET scenes from DUDE, WHERE’S MY CAR?

And the classic “Who’s on First?” by Abbott & Costello!

ABBOTT & COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN (1948) hit the screen. How can one not enjoy this movie? Abbott and Costello as Chick and Wilbur, respectively are a pair of baggage handlers who get mixed up in a delivery of Dracula (Bela Lugosi) and Frankenstein to a house of horrors. There’s also the Wolf-Man (Lon Chaney Jr.) who’s wolfing out over the many full moon nights. The mission, between gags and mishaps and laughs, is to try and stop Dracula from resurrecting Frankenstein with a new mindless mind a.k.a. Wilbur’s brain! I think this film does it what it does best, bringing the gags and laughs. Yup.

The next film was THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY (1998) (after a trailer for DUMB & DUMBER). I haven’t seen MARY from beginning to end the whole way through since I last saw it in theaters. That was in 1998! Geez, 1998 and I realize I can thank MARY for the “I’m just fucking with you” line (right?), and gross-out humor that these days has gone way beyond what MARY did. I will admit I get picky when it comes to comedies, but I had fun with MARY then and it made me laugh again now! There’s charm and heart deep down in this movie, and those bits shine through. The kids laughed along, got grossed out and so a good comedy is timeless.

What About Mary?

Now it was midnight! Time for a scary horror movie. We got a trailer to THE CONJURING 2 and watched a short called THE SMILING MAN.

EVIL DEAD 2 (1987) played! I couldn’t have been happier. Anyone reading this knows that EVIL DEAD 2 movie is among my absolute faves! Ash (Bruce Campbell) takes his girlfriend, Linda, to a cabin in the woods. After some flirting he finds and plays a tape that has some magic words from the Necronomicon and when spoken (played) aloud evil is let loose. His girlfriend is taken, the blood bath begins. Then you have more people coming to the cabin, for more blood and gore. What’s not to love!!?!?!? I could watch this movie again and again. Yea Raimi and Campbell! Pretty sure this movie kept the kids awake and scared some others. They cheered at “GROOVY”.

Then to lighten the mood the during the early morning hours we went back to comedy, and we got a trailer for JUNO.

SUPERBAD (2007) was next and it was likely a movie some of the kids had already seen.

I saw SUPERBAD in theaters when it first came out. Weird to think this movie is already 9 years old! Where does the time go?! So it’s a dude bro movie of two best buds who are about to leave high school and go off to college, going different places. On this night they’re finally getting the chance to attend a big party! They must venture out in search of some alcohol and just get into trouble. Oh so many mishaps and foul language! Oh, I can’t forget McLovin, what a scamp. It’s a funny movie, the kids laughed along. I like seeing GLENDALE in the movie. I say it is fun seeing places you grew up around in movies. But hey, that’s just me. I don’t really have much more to say on this one, just that it was funny then and funny now.

And then once again it was time for more horror! This time it was a movie I had never seen! Yea! A new movie for me! But first! Trailer time! LIGHTS OUT and DON’T BREATH.

The horror movie, currently on Netflix, HUSH (2016) hit the screen. I’d been hearing some about this one but hadn’t thought to watch it, so here was my chance. A deaf, mute woman, Maddie, is isolated in a cabin in the woods. She’s got a neighbor friend, and talks to friends on her computer with face time. She’s feeling a little broken hearted and she’s trying to write a new book, but then it’s just wrong place, wrong time. A masked man kills Maddie’s neighbor on her porch but being deaf she didn’t notice. The masked man begins to toy with Maddie and once she’s aware of him she’s not going to go down without a fight. It’s a suspenseful thriller.

After trailers for CANNONBALL RUN and HOOPER we hit the back roads and highway with SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT (1977). Burt Reynolds is Bandit! He’s taken on a big bet that he can transport some Coors Beer from Texas to Georgia, because that sort of thing was illegal in 1977! Can you hear the song EAST BOUND AND DOWN playing in your head?

Along the way Bandit is joined by runaway bride Sally Field and of course the sparks fly! They were a cute couple, I mean Sally Field is incredibly adorable! The spurned groom and his daddy, Sheriff Buford T. Justice is played by Jackie Gleason, are they are in hot pursuit of Bandit and Bride! Poor Sheriff Justice, he’s constantly duped and his car gets so damaged, but it’s all for the laughs! Yup!

And then as we were reaching the morning hours it was time for the last and 11th movie of the marathon! Whew! Good thing there were donuts!

What was the last movie going to be? My teacher pals, who did intros between all the movies (d’oh I forgot to mention that earlier) said how they’d each often make references to this next movie in their classes and couldn’t believe it hadn’t been seen. So indeed it was a good finale pick! The trailer before it was INCEPTION.

THE MATRIX (1999) began to play. I love THE MATRIX. To date myself, because WHATEVER, I was lucky to see an early screening of it while in College at San Francisco. All my friends and I knew about it was the teaser trailer that was out and the tagline of “WHAT IS THE MATRIX?” Having those kinds of moments in cinema have gotten more rare. What did we expect from the Wachowski’s? Well the movie was amazing!

THE MATRIX still stands up just as strong now! Neo is a hacker trying to find out what the Matrix is and of course once he does there’s no turning back. THE MATRIX is a great film and it was a great ending to an amazing marathon!

I did’t stick around much longer to get some feedback from the kids I had chatted with throughout the night. I was TIRED! It was time for bed! I was ready to close my eyes!

Yes, I survived! 11 movies! 24 Hours! I’m ready for next year! Yup Yup Yup!!!

11 Movies! 24 Hours! One Awesome Movie Marathon Adventure! Movies shared, old and new and it’s good to experience movies with new viewers, see how these films hold up, or maybe don’t! There’s so much movie history and I just gotta keep watching movies when and where I can! I’m glad I stayed awake for 24 hours, but thinking about it is making me tired again! 😉 Yup! Let’s Watch Movies! Yup!

Evil Dead Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow, Always!

November 13, 2015 by shempcat·0 Comments

October was my EVIL DEAD month! Well, it was Evil Dead month for many actually as we were given ASH VS EVIL DEAD the new television show which premiered on Halloween on Starz and the awesome part is EVIL DEAD times continue on in November. WOOT!

The EVIL DEAD series has had a big impact on my life, shaping who I am. Just recently my mom said to me that it “was EVIL DEAD that made me a little crazy.” She meant that in the nicest way and it’s true nonetheless.

I saw EVIL DEAD 2 for the first time at the age of 12. It began my obsession with all things Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell. I’ve devoted many a blog posts to them both and followed along with all they’ve done over the ages.

So here’s one more hopelessly devoted post, yup!

On Saturday October 3, 2015 the Egyptian Theater had the BEYOND FEST going on and I was in attendance for the EVIL DEAD Double feature including a Q&A with Bruce Campbell to be moderated by Edgar Wright. I had bought tickets for the screening the month before ensuring I’d be there. It was a sold out night!!!!!!!!! Yup. (I was wearing my snazzy DARKMAN Converse I was gifted at my wedding a year ago. I finally found the perfect outing for them and let them see the light of day!)

The night was awesome! With my guy Dave at my side we lined up nice and early. I got my name on the list for Evil Dead tattoos, but my names was the last and after some line up confusion I opted for good seats over permanent ink.

BEYOND FEST RULES!

Once inside, seated and feeling groovy the BEYOND FEST festivities began. They were showing promo stuff for SHUTTER the new watch horror movie site. I was anxious to see Bruce Campbell. There was a storm of ASH VS. EVIL DEAD chainsaws filling the theater and free donuts! They showed the ASH VS. EVIL DEAD trailer on 35mm!

DONUTS!!!!!!

EVIL DEAD screened and it was great! I love that little horror movie. It was fun to see people jump, in fact a guy in our row totally jumped twice. I love seeing young Bruce; I mean who doesn’t? Right?!

Then after the movie it was Q&A time. WOOT! Edgar Wright came on down and as it got started Dave jabs me in the side and points off to the left of the theater. There was SAM RAIMI waiting for his introduction. It was the big surprise of the night, SAM RAIMI joining the Q&A. (Pictures were not allowed, le sigh.)

I couldn’t be happier, I had my DARKMAN shoes on and there was SAM RAIMI! He joined Bruce Campbell down front and Edgar asked his questions.

Sam and Bruce talked of their first meeting, the shorts they did with the Three Stooges influence, and all the drive in movies they watched to figure out what kind of horror movie to make to break into the biz.

Being the fangirl I am I’ve heard these stories before but I’ll never, ever, never get enough of ’em and listen to ’em all 10 times over. Sam and Bruce together is the grooviest as they joke, tease and make jabs at each other. I think they’re great storytellers.

I took notes of all the chit chat and though I procrastinated in sharing, (better late than never, perhaps) I’ve got is saved in my memory forever. YEA!!!

It was fun to see these guys talk their talk with Dave at my side. Edgar Wright geeked out too. Again I get inspired by their stories and how they got started. Sam talked about Wes Craven and the nods in their films to each other. There was a nice moment of applause for Mr. Wes.

It was an absolutely amazing and most unexpected experience. After that EVIL DEAD 2 screened and the theater was still packed!

I’ve seen EVIL DEAD and EVIL DEAD 2 tons of times on a big screen, thanks to midnight screenings and the awesome revival cinemas in my town, but I’m way behind in my movie tally to give the latest total. D’oh!! This screening was of course one of the best!

ASH, Baby! Big and Bold in Hollywood!

Another EVIL DEAD 2 related highlight of the October month was trying to see if my young nieces would be interested in watching the film. I must admit they’re scaredy cats when it comes to horror. But I had shown them the EVIL DEAD 2 trailer on YouTube and they kinda liked it. When Dave and I took them to see BEETLEJUICE on the big screen of the New Bev they showed the EVIL DEAD 2 trailer beforehand. That was the real test for them. Effie called it creepy, which means scary and I noticed Celia not watching the scene where Henrietta turns into the deadite. Looks like I have to wait a while longer to share the films with them. Oh well…

Evil Dead 2 Trailer

On Halloween night I watched EVIL DEAD, EVIL DEAD 2 and ARMY OF DARKNESS in preparation for ASH VS. EVIL DEAD. My dad had DV-R-ed the movies that were shown on STARZ with Bruce Campbell introductions and factoids. Again never enough Bruce or EVIL DEAD for this Shempcat.

ASH VS. EVIL DEAD episode 1 truly delivered. Bruce Campbell back as ASH living in a trailer, lookin’ for some action, unleashing the Evil Dead deadites back into the world, spewing one-liners and picking up some sidekicks a.k.a. deadite killers in training. For a gal like me, what’s not to love, knowing Raimi is on board and directing the first episode, Ivan Raimi did writing too and there’s Lucy Lawless in the mix. Yes, I’m in heaven. I’m happy. I’m ready for more EVIL DEAD.

The second episode delivered even more! I mean Mimi Rogers becomes a Deadite! Dude!

Yes, I could rattle on all the details but I’m just here to beam about my happiness that this show. It is all I wanted and delivering on more than I could imagine. Since Comic Con and the panels I saw I couldn’t wait for HALLOWEEN to get here!

Hail to the King Baby, EVIL DEAD is here and all is well. Yup.

GROOVY!

DARKMAN DAY!

April 26, 2015 by shempcat·1 Comment

DARKMAN is my favorite movie. It is my favorite movie of all time, it is my most favorite movie EVER! From the first moment I watched DARKMAN in a movie theater back on August 27, 1990 in Grants Pass Oregon at The Movie Six, I was hooked. No other movie since has made me feel as I did then, and I’ve seen a lot movies, yup.

You might thing its nostalgia factor, but I say nope. DARKMAN is MY favorite movie.

I’ve seen DARKMAN many times; if it is on TV I watch it to the end. I’ll usually watch is once throughout a year. I’ve been lucky to see it on a big screen more than once thanks to revival theaters. The theatrical viewing count is up to 6 viewings now, and once on 16mm. 😉

When I was in northern California during my college days, I saw it at the Palo Alto Landmark in 1996, at a midnight screening. That viewing then only cemented my love of DARKMAN and fueled my fandom more.

So here’s some details. DARKMAN is a movie, directed by Sam Raimi, my favorite director. It’s a very comic book movie as everyone is so fond of pointing out. It’s an original character, created by Raimi, the story written by Sam and his brother Ivan. (Other writers get credit for the screenplay too but I’m giving my love and attention to Raimi here.)

DARKMAN is a dark superhero origin tale. A hero who’s going to cross the line, because he’s been pushed to the edge. It all starts with the bad guys, Durant (Larry Drake) and his minions, muscling in on some waterfront property, taking down Eddie Black. There’s a big shootout and some finger chopping with a cigar cutter that’s all a real scream.

Then we meet Peyton Westlake (Liam Neeson), a scientist working on an artificial skin. He’s got his work cut out for him with a trusty assistant, Yakitito, by his side. They are sooo close, but the skin only has a shelf life of 99 minutes.

Next we learn Peyton is a man in love. His girlfriend is lawyer Julie Hastings (Frances McDormand). Julie works for Louis Strack Jr. (Colin Friels), who’s got dreams of rebuilding the city where he lives for a brighter, bigger future. (Still with me?)

So we’ve got some key characters, and now the cause of Peyton’s future troubles is the Belisarius memorandum which Julie has found and incidentally left at Peyton’s place. (It’s ties Strack and Durante together, basically. Bad guys, bad deeds!)

Just when Peyton realizes his liquid skin is photo sensitive and can last past 99 minutes in the dark; (“What is it about the dark? What secret does it hold?”) Durant and his buddies show up looking for the memorandum. BINGO! Once they’ve got it, Peyton, who was roughed up, and burnt up, gets blown up. He is tossed sky high and into the water.

Peyton is found and taken to a hospital because he’s covered with burns. The awesome Burn Doctor (Jenny Agutter) explains the procedure she’s done on Peyton to end his pain. He no longer has “pain receptors” but is surging with adrenaline and can be prone to mood swings due to amplified emotions. (Poor Peyton!!!!!!!) Don’t call him a Freak, ok!

So to make a long story short, it’s time for revenge, research and hope of redemption.

Peyton is Darkman!

The super hero angle really stuck a chord with me back in 1990. I was already a comic book nerd and superhero fangirl. But a lot of it had to do with already having an appreciation/love for Sam Raimi due to Evil Dead and Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn. Those movies, and DARKMAN are family classics. I watched them with my dad and sister. And yes my mom is also onboard with DARKMAN, but she’s more on the roll your eyes side of the fence.

That first screening of DARKMAN was me, my dad and sister in the theater with only 3 other people. It’s like I had the place to myself and the movie was just for me. And of course the very end of the movie, the sighting of the FINAL SHEMP meant a super duper big deal to me then too. And sorry if this is a SPOILER but it is a BRUCE CAMPBELL sighting and being the Evil Dead fangirl I was and STILL AM, I lost my shit! I was all WOAH!!!!!!! OMG!!!!!!!!!!

The movie was made in Los Angeles a lot of it in Downtown and I was familiar with some of those places since my folks both worked there. My mom was actually working in one of the tall buildings during the helicopter scene in DARKMAN. And it turns out the ending was just a block from my dad’s office building too.

It’s all about the little things and whenever I’d get to go by a DARKMAN location in my journey’s around L.A. I’d get a little extra giddy thinking to myself, “DARKMAN WAS HERE!”

I’ve always wanted to visit more of the DARKMAN locations, make a day of it, my own little tour. It’s something my guy Dave and I always talked about doing since we’ve been together. (DARKMAN was one of the things that brought us together, yup!)

And so, when DARKMAN was recently programmed at the New Beverly Cinema we decided to make DARKMAN DAY a real thing!

Last Friday night, April 17th, Dave and I went to the 9:20PM screening of DARKMAN at the New Bev to start off our DARKMAN weekend.

The theater was packed, we sat in the back rows and I was super duper excited to see Liam Neeson as DARKMAN before my eyes.

Special thanks must be given to two sites that helped us the get exact address needed for our big adventure!

First: Movie Locations and More, posted by Robert:

http://movielocationsandmore.blogspot.com/2014/06/darkman-1990.html

AND

Filming Locations of Chicago and Los Angeles by Chas:

http://www.itsfilmedthere.com/2014/08/darkman.html

We hit the road Saturday morning, April 18th, bright and early! Here’s a map of our route!

“Oh, you’ve got to be shittin’ me!” (My favorite line from DARKMAN)

Next up are all the Fuji Instax photos Dave and I took on our adventure.

Camera and Film, let’s go!

I was the giddiest and happiest gal the entire day as we hit up each spot. I was most surprised by finding Peyton’s apartment which I’d driven by countless times and never realized what it was. I think I believed it really was blown up in the film, but hey, weren’t those model explosions so great?!?!! But I’m getting ahead of myself.

Here’s each picture from DARKMAN day!

Julie Hasting’s Apt Building

This is the spot after Peyton escapes the hospital and is trying to get Julie’s attention. It was raining night in that scene, but a nice, blue sky day for us.

Hi Julie!! It’s me! Cat!

Next up we made our way Downtown and stopped by to look at the Bonaventure Hotel, office of Strack Industries.

Hi Strack! Be nice to your city!

Then we zoomed back in the car, zig zagging around and quickly snapped a photo of one of the streets DARKMAN sung past while tied to the helicopter. (Oh which reminds me, a funny aside, one day while on a walk, my guy Dave and I were talking about DARKMAN. A woman working on a car overheard and said her Uncle knew the guy who did that stunt, and it was the best stunt he ever did. Totally true story!)

DARKMAN swung by here!

After a little breakfast break at GRAND CENTRAL MARKET we walked through the 3rd street tunnel to be where DARKMAN dragged DURANT to his “demise” with a big helicopter crash. I had never walked through the tunnel before and it was pretty cool. Cars zoomed by a plenty.

Dave and I in the tunnel!!

It’s a one way tunnel and of course DARKMAN flew in through the other way (movie magic they can change that stuff). Yup DARKMAN had the last laugh! “Burn in Hell Durant, Hahahahaha!!”

Watch Out For That Tunnel!

I LOVE DARKMAN! Hahahaha!

At Figueroa and 7th we found the ending spot of DARKMAN where Julie goes looking for Peyton and we see BRUCE CAMPBELL!

“Everywhere, nowhere.”

As we drove around Downtown L.A. we found a great parking spot around the corner from Hotel Rossyln. This is the place where Durant’s henchman Pauly gets tossed from a window.

Oh NO! Poor Pauly!

This is where the woman who saw Dead Pauly also saw Darkman Pauly!

Now my most favorite and giddy inspiring spot, Peyton’s apartment building! The spot where Peyton lived and had his lab and it’s where he began his trek into DARKMAN land.

Hi Peyton!

Peyton! It’s me Cat! “Marry Me.”

As we were driving around town, and already spending some cash on parking our next stop was a quick drive by photo shot. The steps of the Los Angeles courthouse. This is the spot where Durant comes charging down, after he’s been released on bail because DARKMAN had set him up for armed robbery. “My name is Robert G. Durant.”

Grab a taxi! Head to Chinatown!

The next logical step would have been Chinatown, but we went to a special spot, another area DARKMAN swung past while tied to the helicopter. It’s a spot you have to freeze frame, but it was found and we went there!

Look out for that guy on that helicopter!

Now we visit CHINATOWN! Durant meets Durant, or DARKMAN Durant meets Durant! Too bad this place no longer has it’s revolving door!

“There’s two of those sons of bitches!”

Ok, we’re almost done!!! But not just yet! We made our way to Hollywood to find the spot where henchman Rick (Ted Raimi) met his terrible demise. It’s that little sewer hole where Rick got mushed!

Poor Rick! Poor Rick!

And just around the corner from Rick’s resting spot was the Deli where Pauly and other Durant henchmen make their money drop! I had no idea this was the spot that it was! Jeez! But I know now!!!

Let’s have a chili dog, eat like Pauly!

Last and certainly not least was the cemetery where Peyton was buried. I had thought it was the Hollywood Forever Cemetery on Santa Monica, but nope, it was the Rosedale Cemetery! We actually found the very spot where Julie stumbles at the funeral and where Peyton later reappears to her when he’s come back, thanks to that liquid skin! OMG! We found it!

Peyton Westlake R.I.P. …NOT!

The day then ended with one more screening of DARKMAN, back at the New Beverly. It was screening with Raimi’s film ARMY OF DARKNESS and we caught the double feature. AOD was first and then DARKMAN. This time we got to sit near the front row! And the theater was pretty packed once again. That screening was my 6th big screen viewing, yup! I am one lucky girl! Yup Yup Yup!

Spazzing out for DARKMAN

“I’m everyone…and no one. Everywhere…nowhere. Call me…Darkman.”

Being the fangirl that I am for this movie, I’m often asked about the sequels. I remember vividly driving up La Brea Ave and seeing a DARKMAN II poster on the window of now gone ROCKET VIDEO. I was like “WHAT!?!?! DARKMAN II!?!?!??!!!!!!!” (True Story!) Yes, I rented them immediately on VHS. I find DARKMAN II: The Return of Durant ridiculous (sorry, Durant died in that helicopter crash!). But the movie did have Renée O’Connor who went on to another Raimi produced project Xena! I do give more props to DARKMAN III: DIE DARKMAN DIE, it’s a great title and Jeff Fahey was a good villain. But, NOTHING compares to DARKMAN, my one true movie love.

And that concludes my DARKMAN day adventure! It was the greatest day! I love Los Angeles and it’s my home! It’s the land where DARKMAN was made and I’m happy I finally made this tour and can share it with all who want to hear/read my tale. Everyone should enjoy and have a DARKMAN day too!

Thanks Meghan for this awesome pic!!

TOTAL DARKMAN COUNT (How many times I’ve typed DARKMAN!) = 55