Monthly Archives: April 2013

Apr 19 2013

‘Identity Thief’ Arrives on DVD in June

Hit the Road with Melissa McCarthy and Jason Bateman in the #1 Comedy of the Year From the Producer of Ted  & the Director of Horrible Bosses, Identity Thief

“Smart, Funny and Surprisingly Touching” – Rafer Guzman, Newsday

Take Home the Hilarious Unrated Edition on Blu-Ray™ Combo Pack Including UltraViolet™, DVD & Digital Copy with Alternate Takes, a Gag Reel & More on June 4.

Universal City, California – A mild-mannered businessman and the spend-happy con woman who stole his identity embark on an uproarious, cross-country road trip in the number one comedy blockbuster Identity Thief, available on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack, DVD, Digital Download and On Demand June 4, 2013, from Universal Studios Home Entertainment.  Identity Thief’s fearlessly funny stars – Jason Bateman (Horrible Bosses) and Emmy® winner Melissa McCarthy (Bridesmaids) – charmed critics and audiences alike with their off-the-wall outrageous banter.  Directed by Seth Gordon (Horrible Bosses), Identity Thief  also features an all-star ensemble cast including Jon Favreau (Iron Man series), Amanda Peet (2012), Tip ‘T.I.’ Harris (American Gangster), Genesis Rodriguez (What to Expect When You’re Expecting), John Cho (Harold & Kumar series), Robert Patrick (Safe House) and Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family).

Both the Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and DVD include an unrated, extended version of the film featuring exclusive footage not shown in theaters, as well as a gag reel and making of the featurette with interviews with the film’s creators and cast.  Exclusive to the Blu-ray™ Combo Pack are bonus features including alternate takes, a behind-the-scenes featurette highlighting the stars’ unique comedic contributions and an insider tour with one of the movie’s most memorable characters.

The Blu-ray™ Combo Pack allows consumers to view Identity Thief anytime, anywhere on the platform of their choice.  It includes a Blu-ray™ disc, a DVD, a Digital Copy and UltraViolet™ for the ultimate, complete viewing experience.

  • Blu-ray™ disc unleashes the power of your HDTV and is the best way to watch movies at home, featuring perfect hi-def picture and hi-def sound.
  • DVD offers the flexibility and convenience of playing movies in more places, both at home and away.
  • Digital Copy provides consumers with a choice of to watch on devices such as iPhone®, Android™, computers and more.
  • UltraViolet™ is a revolutionary new way for consumers to collect their movies and TV shows in the cloud. UltraViolet™ lets consumers instantly stream and download to tablets, smartphones, computers and TVs. Now available in both the United States and Canada.

Bonus Features Exclusive to the Blu-rayTM:

  • Scene Stealing: Capturing the Humor of Identity Thief:  Inspired by comedy classics Planes, Trains and Automobiles and Midnight Run, Identity Thief brings comedy geniuses Jason Bateman and Melissa McCarthy together for an unforgettable cross-country journey.
  • The Skiptracer’s Van:  Robert Patrick, in character as The Skiptracer, details what is important to him, especially his van, which subs as his office, home and perpetrator container.  He gives a tour of the exterior, the “deep” interior and the cabin, replete with all of the supplies that he may or may not need.
  • Alternate Takes

Blu-rayTM and DVD Bonus Features:

  • Gag Reel
  • The Making of Identity Thief: Featuring on-set footage and interviews with the filmmakers and the first-class comedic cast, this featurette brings audiences inside the making of the year’s funniest film. 
  • Unrated and Theatrical Versions of the Film

SYNOPSIS

Jason Bateman (Horrible Bosses) and Melissa McCarthy (Bridesmaids) lead an all-star cast in this hilarious blockbuster hit. Unlimited funds have allowed Diana (McCarthy) to live it up on the outskirts of Orlando.  There’s only one glitch: she’s financing her shopping sprees with an ID stolen from Sandy Patterson (Bateman), an accounts rep who lives halfway across the U.S. With only one week to hunt down the con artist before his world implodes, the real Sandy Patterson is forced to extreme measures to clear his name.  From the director of Horrible Bosses and the producer of Ted, critics are calling Identity Thief  “smart, funny and surprisingly touching” – Rafer Guzman, Newsday

www.identitythiefmovie.com

https://www.facebook.com/identitythief

FILMMAKERS

Cast: Jason Bateman, Melissa McCarthy, Jon Favreau, Amanda Peet, Tip ‘T.I.’ Harris, Genesis Rodriguez, Morris Chestnut, John Cho, Robert Patrick, Eric Stonestreet, Jonathan Banks

Directed By: Seth Gordon

Screenplay By: Craig Mazin

Story By: Jerry Eeten, Craig Mazin

Produced By: Scott Stuber, Jason Bateman, Pamela Abdy

Executive Producers:  Dan Kolsrud, Peter Morgan

Director of Photography: Javier Aguirresarobe, ASC

Production Designer: Shepherd Frankel

Edited By: Peter Teschner

Costume Designer: Carol Ramsey

Music By: Christopher Lennertz

Apr 17 2013

The Walking Dead’s Andrea Coming to Boston Comic Con

According to a press release, Boston Comic Con is happy to announce that the convention will go on this weekend as scheduled. They hope to stand as an example of the resilience of Bostonians in the wake of this horrific tragedy that happened at the Boston marathon this past Monday. The many statements of solidarity they have received from fans and guests alike have been very encouraging. They will be donating a portion of the art auction proceeds to the Red Cross for the Boston Marathon victims relief effort.

In light of the heightened security in the city we ask cosplayers to not bring prop weapons this weekend.

It was announced today that Laurie Holden who portrayed Andrea on hit show, The Walking Dead, will be attending Boston Comic Con this weekend.

She will be signing autographs on a first come first serve basis.  There are no advanced on line tickets for her signings.
Other guests include Mark Bagley, Nick Bradshaw, Lauren Cohan, Amanda Conner, Tony Daniel, Colleen Doran, Ming Doyle, Jason David Frank, Ed McGuinness, Mike Mignola, Steve Niles, Carlos Pacheco, Jimmy Palmiotti, Shelli Paroline, George Perez, Amy Reeder, Don Rosa, Craig Rousseau, Tim Sale, William Stout, Bill Willingham, and many, many more!
Admission tickets to The Boston Comic Con are on sale on-line at Boston Comic Con and at the door.
Apr 17 2013

Advance Screening of ‘The Lords of Salem’ Tonight

What:    Free advance screening of The Lords of Salem open to Salem residents
When:   *TONIGHT*  Wednesday, April 17th at 9 p.m.
Where:   Cinema Salem, Museum Place Mall, One East India Square * Salem, MA 01970

This screening is open to the public as a special thank you to the town of Salem. Seating is first-come first-serve. Seats can be reserved by picking up passes at the theater box office in advance.

Apr 16 2013

Boston Comic Con Happening as Planned

Boston Comic Con Happening as Planned

by Jason Harris

After the Boston Marathon bombings yesterday that left three people died and more than 170 people injured, the organizers of Boston Comic Con have said the convention is still going on this coming weekend, which is being held at the Hynes Convention Center, located at 900 Boylston St. The convention center isn’t that far from where the bombs went off.

Since a previous entry on April 3 about the convention, there have been some updates about guests. Jon Bernthal (“Shane Walsh”) from the hit television series The Walking Dead, has cancelled due to his filming schedule.

This morning it was announced that rock n’ roll icon Marky Ramone of The Ramones will be attending the convention.

Apr 14 2013

Pictures from this Weekend’s Author Events

Pictures from this Weekend’s Author Events

by Jason Harris

On Saturday, Annie’s Book Stop in Worcester hosted A Dark Carnival of Authors, an event to remember Rick Hautala, who passed away in March. The authors who read were Eric Dimbleby, Jennifer Pelland, K.A. Laity, Jessie Olson, Errick Nunnally, Rose Mambert, Frank Raymond Michaels, Morven Westfield, Inanna Arthen, John McIlveen, TJ May, and Kristi Petersen Schoonover.

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The event's reading room.

The event’s reading room.

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Author Eric Dimbleby (taken with flash-on).

Author Eric D

Author Eric Dimbleby (picture without flash). The author liked this one because of the way it captures the atmosphere of a reading of dark fiction.

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Author Frank Raymond Michaels.

Author Frank Raymond Michaels.

Author Erin Thorne read at The Book Shop in Somerville, Massachusetts on Saturday.

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Apr 12 2013

Paranormal Researcher Coming to a Connecticut bookstore

John Brightman, founder of New England Paranormal Research, will be appearing at Books & Boos bookstore on Tuesday, April 16 from 6 – 8 PM.

Brightman has been investigating haunted places and unexplained events for nearly a decade. His outstanding research and state-of-the-art precision to gather evidence has lead him to being featured on the Travel Channel and Bio Channel, and international shows in over a dozen countries world-wide.

Additionally, he has taken part in several paranormal documentary productions, as well as his own historically haunted film project.Brightman recently wrote a book, Dark Gift, based on haunted Bridgewater Triangle in Massachusetts. He and his co-author, T.L. Jones, a member of East Texas Paranormal, will discuss the case on which the book is based, and participate in a Q & A session with the audience about their experiences.This event is free to the public.

Books & Boos is open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 AM – 6 PM. The store, located at 514 Westchester Road in Colchester (across from Valero’s gas station) is staying open late for this special event.

Apr 11 2013

Author Events this Weekend

Author Erin Thorne will be in Woodstock, Connecticut, on Friday at Treasures and Trash Consignment Shoppe from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The consignment shop is located at 1115 Rt. 169.

On Saturday, Thorne will be at The Book Shop in Somerville, Massachusetts, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. reading from her latest book, Behind The Wheel: And Other Stories.

A Dark Carnival of Authors/Remembering Rick Hautala

Another event involving authors takes place at Annie’s Book Stop in Worcester on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The authors involved in this day-long event of horror and dark fantasy are Eric Dimbleby, Morven Westfield, Frank Raymond Michaels, K.A. Laity, Errick Nunnally, Inanna Arthen, Kristi Petersen Schoonover, TJ May, Rose Mambert, and Jessie Olson. They will be there at different times throughout the day. They are sharing their own work and honoring award-winning horror author Rick Hautala, who passed away this past March.

Stop in to hear some amazing and chilling writing, chat with authors, and remember the kind and talented Rick Hautala.

Apr 7 2013

Vader, Darth and Light

Vader, Darth and Light

by Stacey Longo

This week, Jason and I watched Star Wars, Episodes I through VI. Watching all of these movies back to back made me realize two things: one, Jason and I have too much time on our hands. And two, these movies are really all about the life and times of one tragic hero: Darth Vader.

I’m not really sure why Anakin Skywalker gets such a bad rap. It’s not like he asked Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi to land on Tatooine and rescue him from slavery. I didn’t hear him begging to leave his mother and train to be a Jedi. No, all he cared about was fixing his pod racer and building himself a protocol droid, two perfectly normal activities for a well-adjusted, content boy. It was those rotten Jedis who insisted on ripping Anakin from his home and family to train him in a career that perhaps he was a tad emotionally immature to embark on. Can’t blame Vader for that – he was just a kid!

As soon as Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan get this forlorn boy on their ship, that’s when that sleazy seductress, Padme, starts to work her cougar magic. Before this stupid kid can stop himself, she’s entranced him with her wily seductive powers, which is a little gross, quite frankly. Really, how old is he? Eight? Padme was like a cat in heat, chasing after that child! She should be in jail instead of ruling over Naboo like some sort of pillar of society.
Well, the Nabooan tramp got her way, because by Episode III, she was pregnant with little Anakin’s twins. Poor Vader now had to figure out how to support a wife and family, and as we all know, Jedi Knight is one of the lowest-paying professions in the galaxy. When the Emperor offered him a higher paying job (and really, Dark Sith Lord is right up there with lawyers and doctors on the pay scale) what other choice did he have but to accept the position? Obi-Wan didn’t take Darth Vader’s resignation very well at all, trying to burn him to death for his efforts. Remember, folks: employees don’t quit their jobs, just their bosses — and we can certainly see why Darth wanted to quit that toxic tyrant!

Padme the pedophile dies, and Vader’s twins are hidden away, which is just a crappy thing to do to a new (and recently widowed) father. Luke and Leia grow up not knowing their dad, until Vader puts it together that this kid named Skywalker who looks just like him (maybe that’s a stretch) is his son. So what does Vader do? He asks — nay, begs! — his son to join him on the dark side. Great pay, good benefits, and sure, you have to be the Emperor’s lap dog, taking orders all day, but you get to live on a really cool Death Star. All he wanted to do was see his son follow in his footsteps. But Luke, little ingrate that he is, refuses to listen to his father. Darth Vader is killed for his efforts to try and connect with his boy, and those insensitive Ewoks actually hold a big party now that Darth Vader is dead. Quite frankly, Luke and Leia didn’t deserve to have a father like Darth. Hard working, sharp dresser, eager to work with his son and rule the galaxy…what more could a kid ask for? Apparently, if you’re Luke “I killed Yoda” Skywalker and Leia “I’ll kiss a wookie if the price is right … just like my mother” Organa, all of that wasn’t enough. They were clearly ashamed of their father, maybe because of his chronic asthma.

Darth Vader: tragic hero and misunderstood dad. I’m really not so sad that he killed Obi-Wan after all.SW Take Child to Work

This entry comes from Stacey Longo, the New England Horror Writers organization’s  chairperson, website.

Apr 4 2013

Visiting ‘Jurassic Park’ in 3D

Visiting Jurassic Park in 3D

by Jason Harris

Jurassic ParkIt has been 20 years since Steven Spielberg brought Jurassic Park to audiences. It’s a film that holds up well, which isn’t surprising since a lot of Spielberg’s movies do. E.T. and Jaws are two movies that come to mind.

This Friday a new Jurassic Park is arriving in theaters. This one is in 3D though. It’s perfect timing for Universal Studios since they are working on a fourth one, which should come out in 2014.

If you haven’t seen this movie, which is based on the Michael Crichton novel of the same name, here’s a brief synopsis. John Hammond (Richard Attenborough), the CEO of InGen, created a park populated by dinosaurs. There’s an accident at his Jurassic Park, which causes his investors to insist on an inspection by experts Dr. Alan Grant (Sam Neill) and Dr. Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern), who are joined by “rock star” Dr. Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum). All hell breaks loose because of corporate espionage and everyone is trying to survive when the dinosaurs get loose throughout the park.

I have never been a fan of 3D movies since my eyesight is bad and the 3D effect never seems to work for me. It also could have been the 3D glasses too. When I saw the movie at an IMAX theater during a screening the other night, they had glasses that were flush against my face. These worked quite well. A few times during the movie, I actually thought there was something in front of me. One time it was only a tree branch in the movie. The 3D effect also brings out things in the movie’s background, which may have been over looked in previous viewings. It also makes you feel like what’s happening is only a few feet in front of you.

It’s great seeing this movie on the silver screen. And it’s even better seeing it in 3D.

Apr 3 2013

Stars of ‘The Walking Dead’ to Invade Boston Comic Con

Boston Comic Con celebrates its sixth year with its biggest show ever. The convention runs from April 20 through 21 at the Hynes Convention Center.
Lauren Cohan (“Maggie Greene”) and Jon Bernthal (“Shane Walsh”) from the hit television series The Walking Dead will be in attendance both days.
The guest list features some of the most illustrious comic creators in the world including George Perez (Superman), Carlos Pacheco (X-Men), Mike Mignola (Hellboy), Amanda Conner (Silk Spectre), Mark Bagley (Fantastic Four), Bill Willingham (Fables) plus many, many more!
Convention events will include Q&A panels, stand up comedians, a zombie movie marathon, gaming, and much more. You definitely will not want to miss the annual cosplay contest which features hundreds of fans dressing as their favorite characters from comics, video games, and cartoons! This year we are happy to announce famous cosplayer Yaya Han as our guest judge.
For this year’s show specials the convention will have a limited edition t-shirt featuring Captain America artwork by world-renowned comic artist Tim Sale and an exclusive My Little Pony variant cover drawn by Agnes Garbowska! Both of these are sure to sell out and become collector’s items! Get them while you can!
Tickets are $25 per day or $40 for the weekend and available at the door or through the Boston Comic Con website: www.bostoncomiccon.com.
The Boston Comic Con is a 100% independently run comic book show committed to bringing the biggest and best comic creators to New England. Run by fans for fans, Boston Comic Con is not affiliated with any other convention tour or corporate interests. Hosting over 40,000 square feet of vendors selling comic books, toys, posters, trading cards, and other pop culture memorabilia, this is a destination event for geeks of any stripe. Next year’s convention will be held Saturday April 20th and Sunday April 21st opening at 10:00 am each day at the Hynes Convention Center, 900 Boylston Street, Boston, MA.
For more information please go to our website at www.bostoncomiccon.com and follow us on Twitter (@BostonComicCon) and Facebook!