Breaking Sad: A Farewell To My Favorite Show

Tonight, if you didn't already know, AMC airs the final episode of what could possibly my pick for greatest (or "favorite" as I prefer to use) show of all time.  If the show ends like Lost did, that placeholder could change, that's why I say "possibly" right now.  But at this juncture, if the final episode ends in mediocrity, it can still take that title.  Although, it won't.  And I'm pretty confident in saying that.  There's a reason why its so easy to quickly place Breaking Bad on the highest of pedestals.

Not one episode of Breaking Bad has ever sunk to even being mediocre.

Doll Parts: Ranking The Chucky Movies

And now Chucky comes to a close.  Hopefully Curse does well and we may get to revisit everyone's favorite little maniacal doll.  Its not the greatest series, but it does sport more entertaining entries than it does non-entertaining entries.  Chucky, the killer doll definitely is in the pantheon of horror icons, but I think he's slid down some notches since the 90s.  Whereas at one time he may have brushed with the A-grade slashers, time has more rightfully set Chucky's place as a B or C level horror villain.  Not a bad thing, but a lot of his movies don't hold up and he's not in demand like a Jason or Michael.

Movie Review: CURSE OF CHUCKY

Curse Of Chucky
2013
Director: Don Mancini
Starring: Fiona Dourif, Fiona Dourif, Danielle Bisutti, A Martinez, Brennan Elliott, Chantal Quesnelle
Unrated

It's time to play.
   ~Chucky

I need to start with an apology.  In the last piece i said that Curse of Chucky would be taking Bride and Seed out of continuity.  My intel was old.  Its not doing such a thing.  This is definitely the sixth film in the continuity of the whole series.  Everything counts.  The Chucky series has not been remade, rebooted or retconned.  Its still going.  All this new entry has done is take it back to the basics.  And after the last one, its definitely the right move.

Be Sure And Check Out The IchaPod CraneCast!

So...Aaron Neuwirth, Maxwell Haddad and myself have embarked on a new podcast journey. We will be following the exploits of Fox's hit new series SLEEPY HOLLOW and recording a podcast each week with discussion and dissection of the current episode.  If you haven't checked out SLEEPY HOLLOW yet, you're missing out.  The tongue is firmly planted in cheek in this crazy show that dabbles awesomely in the ridiculous.  Its also got a fine dose of heavy mythology.  The show features a great cast (featuring John Cho & Clancy Brown) with a dynamite lead performance from Tom Mison.  Below are some links to where you can listen to our show, find more info on the show and also a link to our Twitter page that you need to FOLLOW!

Oh and importantly...tell a friend!

SLEEPY HOLLOW airs Monday nights on Fox at 9/8c!

Chucky Retrospective: SEED OF CHUCKY

Seed Of Chucky
2004
Director: Don Mancini
Starring: Brad Dourif, Jennifer Tilly, Redman, Billy Boyd, Hannah Spearitt, Steve Lawton, John Waters
Rated: R

It looks like the kid fell off the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down.
                                      ~Chucky


After 6 more years, Chucky randomly pops up again.  During the era when this film came out, its sort of surprising that it wasn't a remake or reboot this time around.  Granted, it was early in that cycle, but still, with another big gap in between productions, you'd think it might have been an option.  Plus, seeing the heights to which a rival icon, Leatherface, was brought back to relevance , a studio or writer/director might want to do the same for another.  In any instance, the man behind them all, Don Mancini, returns.  With this series, love them or hate them, you can really point to one person as to the blame if you so desire.  This time, he adds to his normal writing duties and sits in the director's chair as well.

Chucky Retrospective: BRIDE OF CHUCKY

Bride Of Chucky
1998
Director: Ronny Yu
Starring: Brad Dourif, Jennifer Tilly, Katherine Heigl, Nick Stabile, Alexis Arquette, John Ritter
Rated: R

Have I got a rubber? Tiff, look at me. I'm ALL rubber.
                ~Chucky


After 7 years, Chucky was revived.  And a breath of fresh life put into him.  I'll start off by saying this...Bride of Chucky is my favorite Katherine Heigl film.  Director Ronny Yu came in and "got it" with where to take everyone's favorite serial killer doll.  This film fully realizes what this series is and has become and its not gonna bullshit you into "trying to take it seriously" anymore.  After 3 films, that luster had worn off.  And by the last entry it was just kind of lame and boring.  Bride of Chucky tosses attempts at suspense out the window and full embraces campy, comedy and over the top kills.  And I'm fully willing to jump on board.

Chucky Retrospective: CHILD'S PLAY 3

 

Child's Play 3

1991
Director: Jack Bender
Starring: Justin Whalin, Brad Dourif, Perry Reeves, Andrew Robinson (making his 3rd retrospective appearance!), Jeremy Sylvers, Peter Haskell, Dakin Matthews, Travis Fine
Rated: R

Don't fuck with the Chuck. 
            ~Chucky


Andy Barclay's second bout with the possessed Good Guy doll was a decent hit, so why not let these two duke it out for round 3.   And while you're at it series' writer Don Mancini, could you hurry it the f**k up?  This movie was rushed into production before the 2nd film even hit theaters.  Universal was thinking FRANCHISE FRANCHISE FRANCHISE here with Chucky and didn't want to sit on him.  So, 9 months later, Child's Play 3 was released to theaters.  Rushed, with a creator out of ideas at the time, this is what we get.

Chucky Retrospective: CHILD'S PLAY 2

Child's Play 2
1990
Director: John Lafia
Starring:  Alex Vincent, Brad Dourif, Gerrit Graham, Jenny Agutter, Christine Elise
Rated: R

Okay, sport. We're gonna have a little game of Chucky Says. Chucky says move your ass.
                                   ~Chucky


Sorry it's taken a bit to get to this 2nd entry.  I've been a bit busy :)  But, I'm back!  So let's do this.

Chucky Retrospective - CHILD'S PLAY

Child's Play
1988
Director: Tom Holland
Starring: Catherine Hicks, Chris "there's an ATM in the lobby" Sarandon, Alex Vincent, Brad Dourif
Rated: R

Hi, I'm Chucky, and I'm your friend till the end. Hidey-ho!
                                   ~Chucky


In less than two weeks, we're getting the 6th Chucky film!  Why not do a retrospective really quick here?  I didn't think you'd mind. Chucky was one of the last entries into those iconic movie monsters from the 80s.  That same year we would also be introduced to Pumpkinhead (we'll go that route if you want to, i don't mind).  Chucky was incredibly memorable.  But was anyone ever frightened of him?  How did he get so many movies and we never got a My Bloody Valentine 2? In my elseworld that has a 3rd Timothy Dalton James Bond, it also has My Bloody Valentine 2: Rose Is Dead, Violet Is Too. Maybe we'll know the answer by the end of this.

RIDDICK Podcast!

Yup...I'm talking more Richard B.  Here's the latest episode of Out Now with Aaron & Abe.  And really Abe is there too.  I get to be the sole guest this time around.  So that makes the games...ONE ON ONE ON ONE!  We take Riddick to some weird places and talk about trailers for Divergent and Robocop.  After the jump I'll provide you with the listen link!  enjoy!

Ranking Riddick's Chronicles

And now Riddick meets the wonderful end of the road series ranking.  This is a series that I think is mainly just "ok".  Its not outright amazing or anything, but if you check out Pitch Black or Riddick, I think you'll enjoy the time you're spending.  It has one batshit crazy entry in Chronicles as well.  Will we get any more adventures?  Do we need them?  Well, I don't think we really do, but if they want to venture down the path of what works for the series, then I'm down. 

Movie Review: RIDDICK

Riddick
2013
Director: David Twohy
Starring: Vin Diesel, Katee Sackhoff, Dave Bautista, Matt Nable and Karl Urban
Rated: R

When the chains come off...you go...in the first 5 seconds.
                         ~Riddick

Riddick is a true sequel to Pitch Black.  We're back to simple, clear stakes storytelling surrounded by effects, action, suspense and monsters filling the runtime.  As a matter of fact, the only convoluted or complexity in the film comes when trying to tie it to the previous entry, funny enough.  However, that world looks a lot more appealing in its cheaper form, too.  Oh and we get a Karl Urban cameo, so it can be forgiven.  If Pitch Black was Alien, then Riddick is clearly Aliens.

Riddick Retrospective: THE CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK

The Chronicles Of Riddick
2004
Director: David Twohy
Starring: Vin Diesel, Karl Urban, Thandie Newton, Alexa Davalos, Keith David, Colm Feore, Judi Dench, Linus Roache
Rated: PG-13

You made three mistakes. First, you took the job. Second, you came light. A four man crew for me? Fucking insulting. But the worst mistake you made...empty gun rack.
                                     ~Riddick

Okay.

Where to begin...

After some success boosting Vin Diesel along the way to superstardom, there was leverage to revisit he and Twohy's Riddick character again.  This time in a proposed trilogy.  What they wound up with was ambition of colossal proportions and a film that almost could have been a trilogy itself.  The film is covers far too much ground and lays down an abundance of exposition.  A sequel to Pitch Black?  Far from.  In terms of considering this film as a sequel to that film, then its actually quite terrible as it loses all the simplicity and realism that made that one tick.  The is a jump off the deep end in comparison.

Pitch Black Commentary!

 

Last week, podcasting stalwart Aaron Neuwirth rounded up the legendary Jim Dietz and myself to do another one of the famous Out Now With Aaron  & Abe film commentaries.  This time, in timely fashion it was for Pitch Black.  You know the drill.  I also want to credit this podcast with willing the big casting news of Kurt Russell in Fast & Furious 7 to happen.  We put the vibe out into the universe early in the week and it was acted upon by week's end!  You don't have to be watching the film to listen.  These are just as fun without the visual.  After the jump is a link where you can find where to listen.  Grab your headphones, entertainment follows!