The Flickcast

TV RECAP: ‘Flash Forward: Scary Monsters and Super Creeps’

Posted on November 2, 2009

Dominic-in-Flash-Forward-1 This week we meet Dominic Monaghan’s character of Simon, but we do not get anything more than a tease on how he and Simco killed 20 million people in their experiment with the blackout. So that mystery is extended, but at least we know who is responsible and how they got it. Also, Mark (Joseph Fiennes) meets the man who will replace him in the bed of his wife (Sonya Walger), and she finds out that Mark was drinking in his flash forward. All this and more in another innocuous episode of Flash Forward.

We open on a train ride coming from somewhere and going to Los Angeles. Here we have Monaghan’s character seducing a woman by explaining quantum physics, achieving something in three minutes the Big Bang Theory has been trying to do for however long that show has been on.

Following the last episode, Agent Janis Hawk survives her gun fight, but in having been wounded in her pelvis will never be allowed to bear children. So, this raises the question of how she will be pregnant come April 29, 2010.

The over coming thread throughout this episode is now that we know the future: will it actually happen? It seems like this episode seems to suggest no, not exactly. With Janis now not being able to give birth, and Simco’s super weird kid trailing the Benford’s super weird kid to their house, causing Simco and Olivia to finally realize their flash forwards was kind of ridiculous but creepy-cool. Creepy cool in a way that The Shining is creepy cool and those two kids are straight up creepy, with their chant over that doll of the Benford’s kid.

‘American Dad’ Gets Sixth Season

Posted on November 2, 2009

When you have shows like The Simpsons well into twenty years on television, a sixth season renewal for any show doesn’t seem so grand. However, I’m excited about American Dad coming back because it’s easily my favorite animated show on TV right now. You read that right, American Dad is the best in my opinion.

Fortunately, I’m not alone. American Dad “rates among the season’s top 10 shows with men 18-49 and adults 18-34” and was recently nominated for outstanding animated program. Well deserved I might add. This season six renewal, along with the second season pickup of The Cleveland Show, means creator Seth MacFarlane maintains his lock on Fox‘s Sunday night “animation domination” lineup. Not bad for a guy who had his original series, Family Guy, canceled only to return after record-breaking DVD sales.

As to the reason why I prefer American Dad, it’s quite simple. The Simpsons has completely lost it’s edge in my opinion. For anyone who watched the last Halloween special you’ll know what I mean (boring!). Family Guy is still funny but like The Simpsons all too often builds off absurd circumstances which drives the characters and can get old really fast. Same goes for The Cleveland Show.

American Dad, on the other hand, affords the characters themselves the opportunity to get into, and out of, trouble on their own accord. In particular, Stan Smith’s unabated self-assurance and political ideology is spectacular to watch when it seems the world is out to prove him wrong. American Dad stands out because it lets the characters lead the story instead of the story leading them. Not a lot of animated shows do that these days which makes American Dad so enjoyable.

Check out American Dad Sunday’s on Fox along with The Simpsons, Family Guy and The Cleveland Show.

Charlize Theron and Tom Hardy Hit the ‘Fury Road’

Posted on November 2, 2009

theron-hardy-1

These days it’s hard to go a week without hearing about some remake/reboot coming out of Hollywood. Few of these films can claim they’ve been in the rumor mill for as long as Mad Max: Fury Road. After two decades, however, actual development is occurring on the next installment of the Mad Max franchise.

Variety is reporting that Charlize Theron (The Italian Job, Hancock) and Tom Hardy (Black Hawk Down, Star Trek: Nemesis, Bronson) have both been cast in Fury Road. Now, as interesting as that casting is everyone is still anxiously waiting to find out if Mel Gibson will reprise his role as Mad Max. When Director George Miller was asked about this he was vague to say the least, “It could be Mel, it could be anyone.”

Whether Gibson is involved or not I’m left wondering if this particular film needs a sequel (as this seems to be) or an outright reboot. I mean this property has been dormant for over twenty years so the majority of current movie goers have no idea what the world of Mad Max is all about.

For those who may remember, they probably have memories of Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome. Perhaps more specifically, images of Tina Turner and awkward cage match duels. If that’s the case, it may not be the best memory for people to have. Don’t get me wrong, Thunderdome was fun, but not the best jumping off point if you’re looking to woo a new generation of Mad Max fans. Especially when you factor in the serious tone films of this nature have these days, far from the campy 80’s fair Thunderdome brought us.

Nevertheless, I’m curious to see where Fury Road leads. Theron and Hardy are great additions to be sure. Coincidentally, it seems Theron is gravitating to post-apocalyptic roles these days as she’ll soon be seen in The Road. Or, she just has a thing for films with “road” in the title. No release date has been set for Mad Max: Fury Road but we’ll keep you posted.

Horror Review: ‘House Of The Devil’

Posted on October 31, 2009

House of the Devil is now playing in limited release. You can also access it on demand through many cable providers, and it is available to rent on Amazon.com. So, just in time for Halloween, I give you this review.

If you are a fan of 80’s horror movies, you’ll probably be delighted by this movie. I fear that today’s fickle horror fan, who is accustomed to frenetic stylings à la the Saw franchise, will be bored to tears by this very deliberately paced thriller. College student Samantha (perfectly cast Jocelin Donahue) is desperate to get an apartment in order to get away from her slutty dorm roommate who feels free to have sex in their room all the time. She finds an apartment, and a kindly landlady (scream queen Dee Wallace) who requires a modest deposit.

Samantha answers a dubious ad for a babysitter in order to make some cash. When her best friend Megan drives her out to the isolated mansion, Megan is immediately creeped out, and begs Sam to reconsider. Reluctantly, Megan leaves Sam and promises to return later to give her a ride home.

‘Endless Racing’ iPhone Game Video

Posted on October 30, 2009

endless-racing

Have you been wondering what to do with all your extra iPhone’s? You know, those twenty or thirty extra ones you have sitting in drawers, on shelves in your office or tucked under the sofa. Well, wonder no more because if you’re like the guys who created this video, you can use your iPhones to play a nearly endless session of your favorite racing game.

Its a bit hard to imagine the work and, more to the point, the timing, it took to put this video together. Instead, just sit back and appreciate it for what it is: a really cool video made by some guys with a lot of time on their hands and also, obviously, a heck of a lot of spare iPhones.

If you want to pick up a copy of the game and plan your own video, its available for free at iTunes. It works on the iPhone and iPod Touch (2nd Generation) and requires iPhone OS. 3.0 or later.

Enjoy the video after the jump.

Motorola ‘DROID’ Coming November 6th

Posted on October 30, 2009

verizon-droid-4 Verizon Wireless is finally getting a smartphone equipped with Google’s Android software, in the form of the Motorola “DROID.”

The phone has 3.7″ WVGA capacitive display, sliding QWERTY keypad, 5 megapixel camera with autofocus and dual-LED flash, 720×480 video capture at 24 fps, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Exchange support, 6.4 hours of talk time and a pre-installed 16GB memory card. The phone also the first device to feature Google Maps Navigation which provides free turn-by-turn voice navigation.

The “DROID” looks a lot like T-Mobile’s Android, but because it’s on Verizon and with an amazing new screen, this phone looks like a worthy addition to the smartphone game.

You can get your hands on the Motorola “DROID” on November 6th, for $199.99 with a two-year contract.

‘Smallville’ To Get Tenth Season?

Posted on October 30, 2009

smallville-tom-welling-erica-durance If you love Smallville and can’t bear the thought of the show ending after this current season, you may not have to face the loss of the show just yet. According to EW, even though the show isn’t even at the mid point of its current season, number nine for those keeping score at home, there’s already talk of a season ten — and not just from fans.

“We are really, really pushing for season 10,” executive producer Kelly Souders told EW. “We really hope it happens.” Even with the show moving to the dreaded Friday Night timeslot, ratings haven’t dropped off as much as some had predicted, which is a good indicator of the show’s enduring popularity.

“I think the word still isn’t out there that we’re on Friday nights. So if people keep tuning in and telling their friends about it, I think [a 10th season] is quite likely.” Sounders added. So, knowing this and with a season ten still not a certainty, are the producers currently planning a season, or a series, finale for the end of season nine?

“It’s something that we faced last year, too,” said Sounders in the article. “To try and break two different endings for a season kind of puts you at cross-purposes a little bit. For one, you’ll rev things up, and for another, you’re trying to bring everything to the finish line. But we’re really planning on breaking a season finale and not a series finale.”

The Flickcast Presents: What To Watch on Halloween

Posted on October 30, 2009

Not in the mood to throw on a costume and run around from bar to party to candy-giving front door this year? Why not sit at home with a stack of haunting flicks to get your Halloween jollies off, or better yet, hit the theaters IN COSTUME!

Over the past month, we’ve put together quite a compilation of horror reviews for you to pick and choose what to watch during your Halloweekend, and why not start tonight, on All Hallow’s Eve?

Take a look at our list of Horror Reviews below, from things like Zombieland, which you can currently see in the theaters, to movies like Dance of the Dead, which you could run out and grab at any DVD outlet. Put together your favorite scary movie queue from these titles for a guaranteed haunting Halloween marathon!

In Theaters:

• Paranormal Activity

• Zombieland

• The Stepfather

• Saw VI

• House of the Devil

On DVD:

• The Hills Run Red

• Trick R’ Treat

• Dance of The Dead

• Dark Floors

• Evil Dead 2