The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers (2002) - Aaron Neuwirth

The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers

2002

Director: Peter Jackson

Starring: Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellen, Orlando Bloom, Miranda Otto, Brad Dourif, Christopher Lee, Sean Astin, Karl Urban, Liv Tyler, Cate Blanchett, Dominic Monaghan, Billy Boyd, John Rhys-Davies, David Wenham, Hugo Weaving

Rated:  PG-13

I want to hear more about Sam.

           ~Frodo Baggins

Aaron Neuwirth is back...which is no surprise.  However, he's not the world's biggest LOTR fan either, which may surprise...it may not.  I think the retrospective benefits greatly from having someone of his perspective that isn't a hater, he's just not the rabid fan.  And this piece is pretty terrific.  Check it out...also check out OUT NOW WITH AARON & ABE every week on the HHWLOD Podcast Network and drop by THE CODE IS ZEEK for his reviews and bloggings as well as Why So Blu.

Halloween: A Rob Zombie Film (2007)

Halloween
2007
Director: Rob Zombie
Starring: Malcolm McDowell, Sheri Moon, Tyler Mane, Scout-Taylor Compton, Brad Dourif, Danielle Harris, Danny Trejo, William Forsythe
Rated: R

Seriously though, on a scale from one to ten...seven-five?

How about...zero!

More like...zero plus 11.

     ~Bob and Linda

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.

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.