Sense of Wonder
The voice of Cinefantastique Online. Updates about what is happening on the website, along with opinion and analysis of the state of the horor, fantasy, and science fiction genres.
Sense of Wonder: The Exorcist Today
Last night I attended one of the nationwide Fathom screenings of THE EXORCIST (1973), featuring the new documentary TO HELL AND BACK, which charts the making of the classic horror film. Never having attended a Fathom event before (it’s a bit like watching television in a theatre, with digital image projected in select theatres around [...]
Sense of Wonder: Hatchet II & Horror Movie-Going as Tribal Identifier
Back in a review of VAMPIRES SUCK, I noted that we are in the era of movie-going as tribal identifiers. Purchasing a ticket is less a matter less of seeking entertainment than of supporting the group with which you self-identify. The problem manifest in this approach is clear: bad STAR WARS prequels, indifferent HARRY POTTER [...]
Sense of Wonder: The Real Vampire Files on History Television
[ September 11, 2010; 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm. ] In November of last year, I was contacted by representatives of Canada’s History Channel to be interviewed for a documentary they were making about vampires. At long last, the project has come to fruition: THE REAL VAMPIRE FILES will air Tuesday, September 7 at 8:00pm. I haven’t seen it, and the last time I was [...]
Predators: The Summer’s Best Sci-Fi Action Horror Flick – A Sense of Wonder Appreciation
Debased franchise yields a startlingly brilliant gem
With all the artificial hype designed to sell PIRANHA 3D as the horror hit that delivered for audiences (despite a sixth place bow that barely topped $10-million), now is a good time to pay homage to the film that truly delivered for fans of cinefantastique: PREDATORS. Thought the film [...]
Sense of Wonder: The Exorcism of Emily Rose – Fact or Fiction?
This upcoming release of THE LAST EXORCISM on Friday has fans of cinefantastique thinking back, inevitably, to THE EXORCIST (1973), the Oscar-winning horror classic that really upped the ante in terms of mainstream movies willing to pull no punches when it came to shocking viewers. (THE LAST EXORCISM even contains a clever dialogue reference to [...]
Sense of Wonder: Piranha 3D Part 2?
Dimension Films is so happy about the reaction to PIRANHA 3D that they have put out a press release announcing that a sequel is already in the works. The announcement is rather premature, reading more like a marketing ploy to boost the box office fortunes of PIRANHA 3D’s current theatrical release than like a legitimate announcement [...]
Sense of Wonder: Somebody likes me – or at least my review of Despicable Me
There seems to be something inherent in human nature – and I’m no exception – that makes us more eager to complain than to praise. I guess it makes sense: if every thing’s going along fine, you just take it for granted and go about your business; but if something offends, you raise hell in [...]
Sense of Wonder: Evil of Frankenstein, Suspiria and the Blu-ray Experience
Should horror, fantasy and science fiction fans with large DVD collections upgrade to Blu-ray? Read on for the experience of one DVD hold-out who finally made the change.
Sense of Wonder: Counting Horror, Fantasy & Sci-Fi Franchises on One Hand?
In this post about SAW 3-D, being touted as the finale installment in the Jigsaw saga, Lionsgate president Jason Constantine makes the following statement about the longevity of the SAW franchise:
“You can count on one hand the franchises that lasted seven years — and every year, no less,” says Jason Constantine, Lionsgate’s president of acquisitions [...]
Sense of Wonder: Sorcerer’s Apprentice versus Harry Potter
Over at the Kansas City Star, in a review of THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE titled ‘The magic is lost to all but young viewers, Jason Heck asks the rhetorical question: “Ever wonder what the “Harry Potter” films would be like without an ounce of wit, grace or subtlety?”
To which I reply: We don’t need THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE to tell us that!
Sense of Wonder: The Last Airbender is no Avatar, and it’s time to boycott bad 3-D
M. Night Shyamalan owes audiences an apology. Paramount pictures owes viewers a refund. Not for the overall defectivness of THE LAST AIRBENDER (although there is that). Rather, they owe us for the abominable 3-D presentation, which costs consumers an extra $4 per ticket – money that could be far more entertainingly used by bending it [...]
Sense of Wonder: Celebrating 1960’s Horror, Fantasy & Science Fiction Films
Barbara Steele in BLACK SUNDAY, one of the great horror films of 1960.
PSYCHO recently celebrated its 50th anniversary, but it is not the only classic horror, fantasy, or science fiction film released 50 years ago. 1960 also gave us BRIDES OF DRACULA, CITY OF THE DEAD, EYES WITHOUT A FACE, JOGOKU, and many others worth remembering.
Sense of Wonder: King Kong stomps onto Universal Studios
This Tuesday, wearing my other hat – as proprietor of Hollywood Gothique, the website of Fantasy Films, Mystery Movies, Halloween Horror and Sci-Fi Cinema Events in Los Angeles – I attended the press preview of the new “King Kong 360 3-D” attraction, which opens today at Universal Studios Hollywood. For those who don’t recall, Universal’s [...]
