Elijay Wood to Appear at Salt Lake Comic Con 2017

Elijah Wood Makes Rare Appearance At Salt Lake Comic Con 2017

- Even the smallest person can change the course of the future -

SALT LAKE CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Salt Lake Comic Con (http://saltlakecomiccon.com/) announced today that the world’s most famous hobbit, Elijah Wood, will attend the 5th Annual Salt Lake Comic Con that takes place September 21-23, 2017 at the Salt Palace Convention Center for a panel, photo ops and autograph signing with his Salt Lake Comic Con fans.

Wood is an actor, voice actor, producer and DJ. He’s best known for his starring role as Frodo Baggins in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. The Lord of the Rings series won a total of 17 Academy Awards and grossed almost $3 billion at the global box office. In addition to Lord of the Rings, Wood appeared in Back to the Future Part II, Deep Impact, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Sin City and Green Street.

Wood is also the voice of Mumble in the award-winning animated musical films Happy Feet and Happy Feet Two, Tim Burton’s 9 and the animated series Tron: Uprising. In 2005 he started his own record label, Simian Records.

“The Lord of the Rings trilogy was an epic series and Elijah’s role as Frodo made him a fan favorite around the world and certainly for our Utah fans,” said Dan Farr, Salt Lake Comic Con Founder and Show Producer. “We’re thrilled that Elijah can join us in September. This is one of our strongest celebrity lineups yet and we know that our fans will be excited to meet the hero responsible for ensuring the destruction of the Sauron, the Dark Lord.”

In addition to Wood, Salt Lake Comic Con will feature one of its strongest lineups yet from fandoms such as The Arrow, Walking Dead, Star Trek, Back to the Future and Guardians of the Galaxy. Individual celebrity attendees include: Val Kilmer, Dick Van Dyke, John Cusack, Jon Bernthal, Christopher Lloyd, Wil Weaton, Michael Rooker, Rob Schneider, Catherine Tate, John Barrowman, Willa Holland, Joan Cusack, Elodie Yung, Sean Gunn, Michael Biehn, Eliza Dushku and Richard Dean Anderson. There are still more guests to announce before the show in September.

“Lord of the Rings is hugely popular with our fans and Elijah has been one of the top guest requests from our fans,” said Bryan Brandenburg, Salt Lake Comic Con Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer. “Elijah Wood hasn’t been available for this kind of appearance for several years so we are so excited that the stars aligned for his very rare appearance at our comic con. Our star studded lineup is incredibly strong and the addition of Elijah and the remaining announcements will seal this year’s event as being truly our best ever.”

Salt Lake Comic Con is September 21-23, 2017 at the Salt Palace Convention Center. For more information or to buy your ticket(s) now visit, http://www.saltlakecomiccon.com/. Shipping Deadline ended Monday, August 14, 2017.


ABOUT SALT LAKE COMIC CON:
Salt Lake Comic Con is organized by Dan Farr Productions (DFP), in partnership with ABC4/CW30 of the Nexstar Broadcasting Group, and was co-founded by Dan Farr and Bryan Brandenburg. DFP is an event and marketing group devoted to organizing events, launching and acquiring new shows, and partnering with premium celebrities and brands in the pop culture arena, including Salt Lake Gaming Con and Pop Life Asia. DFP is dedicated to producing spectacular celebrations of popular culture that lead the market in providing exceptional and rewarding experiences for our consumers, fans, celebrity guests, vendors and partners. Find out more at: www.SaltLakeComicCon.com, www.abc4.com/.

Salt Lake Comic Con
http://www.saltlakecomiccon.com

Salt Lake Comic Con Tickets
http://saltlakecomiccon.com/tickets/

Salt Lake Comic Con Guests
http://www.saltlakecomiccon.com/guests/

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Carrie Fisher, Gillian Anderson Headline Wizard World Comic Con Chicago 2016

Star Wars’ Carrie Fisher, the Cast of Back to the Future, Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, and Lea Thompson and the X-Files’ Gillian Anderson to Attend Wizard World Comic Con Chicago August 20th-21st, 2016

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Wizard World, Inc., (WIZD) the preeminent producer of Wizard World Comic Cons across North America, is proud to announce that Star Wars’ Carrie Fisher will make her first Wizard World appearance ever in Chicago, where she will join the Back to the Future trio of Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, and Lea Thompson. Also, The X-Files’ Gillian Anderson will join the previously announced David Duchovny, Mitch Pileggi & William B. Davis for a cast reunion, August 20-21, 2016.

    @carrieffisher, @realmikefox, @GillianA among @wizardworld Chicago guest August 20-21

"Great Scott! Looking forward to meeting everyone at Wizard World in Chicago,” exclaimed Christopher Lloyd.

“We are thrilled with these amazing new guest additions,” says John Maatta, Wizard World Chairman & CEO. “The fans have come to expect the very best TV & Film stars in Chicago, and we are delivering. Stay tuned for more exciting guest announcements over the coming weeks!”

The beloved Back to the Future stars will take part in a Wizard World Q&A panel, hosted by Michael Klastorin, the production publicist on the second and third films in the series, and author of “Back to the Future: The Ultimate Visual History.” The panel will discuss entertaining behind the scenes stories of the making of the films, and reflect upon the impact the film has had on movie-going fans of all ages for more than three decades.

Located at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL, they will join previously announced guests including Norman Reedus (The Walking Dead), Sebastian Stan (Captain America: The Winter Soldier), Bruce Campbell (Evil Dead), the cast of Netflix’s “Marvel’s Daredevil” including Charlie Cox (Matt Murdock/Daredevil), Deborah Ann Woll (Karen Page), Elden Henson (Foggy Nelson), Jon Bernthal (Frank Castle/The Punisher), Elodie Yung (Elektra Natchios), and Rosario Dawson (Claire Temple), and more.

To purchase Admissions and VIP Admissions for the event, set for August 18-21, and to view the schedule, location, show hours, hotel & travel info, please visit: http://wizardworld.com/comiccon/chicago


About Wizard World, Inc. (OTCBB:WIZD)
Wizard World, Inc. produces comic, gaming and pop culture conventions across North America that celebrate the best in pop-fi, pop culture, movies, television, cosplay, comics, graphic novels, toys, video gaming, sci-fi, gaming, original art, collectibles, contests and more. A first-class lineup of topical programming takes place at each event, with celebrity Q&A's, comics-themed sessions, costume contests, movie screenings, evening parties and more. Wizard World has also launched the Wizard World Store, CONtv, a digital media channel in partnership with leading independent content distributor Cinedigm™ (NASDAQ: CIDM), and ComicConBox™, a premium subscription-based monthly box service. Fans can interact with Wizard World on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and other social media services.

Wizard World 2016 schedule available at: www.wizardworld.com/wizcon.html.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve certain risks and uncertainties. The actual results or outcomes of Wizard World, Inc. may differ materially from those anticipated. Although Wizard World, Inc. believes that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements contained herein are reasonable, any such assumptions could prove to be inaccurate. Therefore, Wizard World, Inc. can provide no assurance that any of the forward-looking statements contained in this letter will prove to be accurate.

In light of the significant uncertainties and risks inherent in the forward-looking statements included in this letter, such information should not be regarded as a representation by Wizard World, Inc. that its objectives or plans will be achieved. Included in these uncertainties and risks are, among other things, fluctuations in operating results, general economic conditions, uncertainty regarding the results of certain legal proceedings and competition. Forward-looking statements consist of statements other than a recitation of historical fact and can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "intend," "expect," "will," "anticipate," "estimate" or "continue" or the negatives thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology. Because they are forward-looking, such statements should be evaluated in light of important risk factors and uncertainties. These risk factors and uncertainties are more fully described in Wizard World, Inc.'s most recent Annual and Quarterly Reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including under the heading entitled "Risk Factors." Wizard World, Inc. does not undertake an obligation to update publicly any of its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

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Production Begins on Zach Braff's Remake of "Going in Style"

Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine and Alan Arkin to Headline Director Zach Braff’s Comedy “Going in Style”

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Production is now underway on location in New York City on the New Line Cinema comedy “Going in Style,” directed by Zach Braff (“Garden State”) and starring Oscar winners Morgan Freeman (“Million Dollar Baby”), Michael Caine (“The Cider House Rules,” “Hannah and Her Sisters”) and Alan Arkin (“Little Miss Sunshine”).

Freeman, Caine and Arkin team up as lifelong buddies Willie, Joe and Al, who decide to buck retirement and step off the straight-and-narrow for the first time in their lives when their pension fund becomes a corporate casualty. Desperate to pay the bills and come through for their loved ones, the three risk it all by embarking on a daring bid to knock off the very bank that absconded with their money.

The film also stars two-time Oscar nominee Ann-Margret (“Tommy,” “Carnal Knowledge”) as Annie, a grocery cashier who’s been checking Al out in more ways than one; Peter Serafinowicz (“Guardians of the Galaxy”) as Joe’s former son-in-law, Murphy, whose pot clinic connections may finally prove useful; John Ortiz (“Silver Linings Playbook”) as Jesus, a man of unspecified credentials who agrees to show them the ropes; Joey King (“Wish I Was Here”) as Joe’s whip-smart granddaughter, Brooklyn; Christopher Lloyd (“Back to the Future” trilogy) as the guys’ lodge buddy, Milton; and Oscar nominee Matt Dillon (“Crash”) as FBI Agent Hamer.

Braff will direct from a screenplay by Theodore Melfi (“St. Vincent”), based on the film by Martin Brest.

“Going in Style” is being produced by Donald De Line (“The Italian Job”). The executive producers are Tony Bill, who was a producer on the 1979 film “Going in Style,” Jonathan McCoy, and Andrew Haas.

The creative filmmaking team includes Emmy-nominated director of photography Rodney Charters (“24”), production designer Anne Ross (“Lost in Translation”) and costume designer Gary Jones (“New Year’s Eve”).

Scheduled for release on May 6, 2016, the film is a New Line Cinema presentation of a De Line Pictures Production. It will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

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Review: Being Remastered Made "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock" Better

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 38 (of 2014) by Leroy Douresseaux

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984)
Running time:  105 minutes (1 hour, 45 minutes)
MPAA – PG
DIRECTOR:   Leonard Nimoy
WRITER:  Harve Bennett (based upon the TV series “Star Trek” created by Gene Roddenberry)
PRODUCER:  Harve Bennett
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Charles Correll
EDITOR:  Robert F. Shugrue
COMPOSER:  James Horner

SCI-FI/ACTION/ADVENTURE

Starring:  William Shatner, DeForest Kelley, James Doohan, George Takei, Walter Koenig, Nichelle Nichols, Mark Leonard, Robin Curtis, Merritt Butrick, Christopher Lloyd, and Leonard Nimoy and Robert Hooks, Phil Morris, Phillip Richard Allen, Miguel Ferrer, and Carl Steven

The subject of this movie review is Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, a 1984 science fiction action-adventure film.  It is the third movie in the Star Trek film franchise, which is based on “Star Trek,” the science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry and originally broadcast on NBC from September 1966 to June 1969.  In The Search for Spock, the crew of USS Enterprise goes on a mission to recover the body of friend and crew mate, Spock, and finds more danger than they expected.

The Search for Spock follows the events depicted in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn.  Admiral James T. Kirk (William Shatner) won the battle against his ghost-from-the-past, Khan Noonien Singh, but it was a hollow victory.  The USS Enterprise limps back to Earth.  Doctor Leonard McCoy (DeForest Kelley) is going insane.  And Captain Spock (Leonard Nimoy) is dead… or is he?

Spock’s father, Sarek (Mark Leonard), confronts Kirk about leaving Spock’s body in a casket on the “Genesis planet” which was created by the “Genesis device.”  Sarek tells Kirk that there might be hope for Spock.  Kirk and his bridge crew:  Montgomery Scott (James Doohan), Hikaru Sulu (George Takei), Pavel Chekov (Walter Koenig), and Uhura (Nichelle Nichols), risk their careers by stealing the decommissioned Enterprise to return to the now-restricted Genesis planet to recover Spock’s body.

Meanwhile, Kirk’s son, David (Merritt Butrick), one of the creators of Genesis, returns to the Genesis planet with the Vulcan, Lieutenant Saavik (Robin Curtis), to investigate strange sensor readings emanating from the planet.  Neither realizes that an ambitious and murderous Klingon commander named Kruge (Christopher Lloyd) is also interested in the Genesis device.  Kruge is leading his Klingon ship, the Bird of Prey, to the Genesis planet, determined to obtain the secrets of Genesis.

2014 is the 30th anniversary (specifically June 1, 1984) of the original theatrical release of Star Trek III:  The Search for Spock.  It was the first Star Trek film that I saw in a movie theatre.  Before I saw it, all I knew of the film’s plot was that it involved Spock, who was dead, and that the Enterprise was destroyed in the film.  From news media reports and through word-of-mouth, I heard that some Star Trek fans (“Trekkies” or “Trekkers”) were furious about the destruction of the ship.

When I finally saw the movie, I did not find myself particularly upset about the Enterprise’s destruction.  It was done.  What could I do about it?  What did upset me was (Spoiler!) the brutal stabbing death of Kirk’s son, David, at the hands of a Klingon.  For years, I thought Kruge had actually done the stabbing, but he only gave the order to kill a prisoner.  For years, also, I avoided The Search for Spock because I found David’s death upsetting and troubling in a way I could not explain then and cannot explain now.

This recent viewing of The Search for Spock is the first time that I have seen the film in its entirety since watching it a second time on VHS in either 1984 or 1985.  I don’t remember how much I liked the film then, but I now find myself quite fond of it.

I won’t lie and say that The Search for Spock is great; it is not.  Some of scenes have blatantly bad acting.  The last ten minutes of the film is somewhat marred by tedious mysticism.  Still, Christopher Lloyd’s turn as Kruge is both brilliant and unique.  His is one of the best and most memorable performances of a villain in a Star Trek film.

Besides Lloyd, two other things about The Search for Spock grabbed me.  First, the race to recover Spock against the ticking clock of the doomed Genesis planet coupled with the Klingon threat is a captivating hook.  Secondly, the theme of camaraderie, as exemplified by the crew of the Enterprise and measured against the blood-thirsty Kruge, makes me forget this film’s blemishes.  I know my feelings about Star Trek III: The Search for Spock are about me being nostalgic for “Star Trek classic,” but I would choose it over many other films, including many Oscar-winners, any old time of day.

7 of 10
B+

Saturday, July 26, 2014


The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.

Review: "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" Retains its Magic (Happy Anniversary)

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 67 (of 2005) by Leroy Douresseaux

Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
Running time: 104 minutes (1 hour, 44 minutes)
MPAA – PG
DIRECTOR: Robert Zemeckis with Richard Williams
WRITERS: Jeffrey Price and Peter S. Seaman (based upon the novel Who Censored Roger Rabbit? by Gary K. Wolf)
PRODUCERS: Robert Watts and Frank Marshall
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Dean Cundey (D.o.P.)
EDITOR: Arthur Schmidt
COMPOSER: Alan Silvestri
Academy Award winner

ANIMATION/COMEDY/MYSTERY/FANTASY/ACTION

Starring: Bob Hoskins, Christopher Lloyd, Joanna Cassidy, (voice) Charles Fleischer, Stubby Kaye, Alan Tilvern, Richard Le Parmentier, (voice) Lou Hirsch, Joel Silver, Paul Springer, Richard Ridings, Edwin Craig, and Lindsay Holiday with the voices of Mel Blanc, Mae Questel and Tony Anselmo, with Kathleen Turner

The subject of this movie review is Who Framed Roger Rabbit, a 1988 fantasy and crime comedy from directors Robert Zemeckis and Richard Williams. The film is a mixture of live action (directed by Robert Zemeckis) and animation (directed by Richard Williams). The film is based on the 1981 mystery novel, Who Censored Roger Rabbit?, by author Gary K. Wolf. The film’s initial release renewed interest in the “Golden Age of American animation” (late 1920s to the early 1960s). It also led the modern era of American animation, in particularly the “Disney Renaissance” (which began with Little Mermaid in 1989).

Who Framed Roger Rabbit focuses on a detective who hates “toons” (animated cartoon characters), but who ends up being a cartoon rabbit's only hope to prove his innocence when the rabbit is accused of murder. I have seen Who Framed Roger Rabbit countless times, and it remains one of my all-time favorite films. I also still think that it is a great film, and is arguably the best film of 1988.

Seventeen years ago, Who Framed Roger Rabbit was considered a revolutionary film with its landmark mixture of live-action film and animated characters. Who FramedRoger Rabbit wasn’t the first time that human actors and cartoon characters had mingled, but Who Framed Roger Rabbit was, at the time, the best achievement in live-action/animated film. However, by the time Jurassic Park, which featured the seamless blend of live-action sets and real characters with computer-generated images (or computer rendered characters), appeared, Who Framed Roger Rabbit seemed like an afterthought. After seeing this film for the first time in about 15 years, I’m still impressed by how well this movie’s conceit, that famous animated cartoon characters like Bugs Bunny, Mickey Mouse, Droopy, and others, are real and live side-by-side with us in the real world, still rings true.

The story: ‘Toons (what cartoon characters are called in this film) are real, and their job is to make animated cartoon films for human entertainment. ‘Toon star Roger Rabbit (voice of Charles Fleischer) is worried that his wife, Jessica Rabbit (voice Kathleen Turner), is cheating on him, and it’s affecting his work on the set of his films with his co-star Baby Herman (voice of Lou Hirsch). R.K. Maroon (Alan Tilvern) hires detective Eddie Valiant (Bob Hoskins) to learn the identity of Jessica’s sugar daddy, who turns out to me Marvin Acme (Stubby Kaye), the owner of ‘Toontown, the Los Angeles cartoon suburb where ‘Toons live.

Things get complicated when Acme is found dead, and Roger Rabbit is suspect number one. Roger goes to Valiant for help to clear his name and save him from a date with annihilation at the hands of the menacing Judge Doom (Christopher Lloyd), the dispenser of justice in ‘Toontown, but Valiant is reluctant. He actually took the job snooping on Jessica for money, but he’s hated taking ‘Toon cases since a mysterious ‘Toon killed his brother. However, Roger’s plight strikes a cord of sympathy with Valiant, and he takes Roger’s case. The more Valiant learns, the more intrigued he becomes, especially he learns of a larger and darker conspiracy that threatens not only Roger Rabbit’s life, but the very existence of ‘Toontown.

Beyond featuring the groundbreaking interaction of live and animated characters, Who Framed Roger Rabbit is simply a fine film and both a great technical and artistic achievement; it simply works. The script bears more than a passing resemblance to the municipal conspiracy in Chinatown, and the screenplay’s central mystery plotline develops in a way that keeps the viewer interested in whodunit.

The acting is excellent; from top to bottom the casts sells the idea that they’re interacting with animated characters. This is an especially impressive achievement because the live action was filmed before the animated characters and backgrounds were added. Talk about make-believe, pretend, and plain old acting talent. Christopher Lloyd is a treat to watch as the dark heavy, Judge Dredd-like justice giver – proof positive that he’s a great character actor, especially playing offbeat and wacky characters. Bob Hoskins, who more than anyone in the film, acted with non-existent co-stars, did yeoman’s work, and his performance is an underrated achievement among great comic performances.

The most credit goes to the films directors, and yes, there are two, although Who Framed Roger Rabbit may be listed as “A Robert Zemeckis Film.” True, Zemeckis does an incredible job filming sequences when many of his main actors and some of his sets would have to be added later by the animators. Still, he manages to get the most out of his actors and make the film’s comedy funny and mystery captivating – the best directorial effort of 1988. However, Richard Williams directed the animated sequences, and there aren’t many directors in the history of animated film who outdid his work here. Together Zemeckis and Williams made a classic of live-action and animation that is entertaining, technically brilliant, and a beautiful movie.

10 of 10

NOTES:
1989 Academy Awards, USA: 4 wins: “Best Effects, Sound Effects Editing” (Charles L. Campbell and Louis L. Edemann), “Best Effects, Visual Effects” (Ken Ralston, Richard Williams, Ed Jones, and George Gibbs), “Best Film Editing” (Arthur Schmidt), and “Special Achievement Award” (Richard Williams “for animation direction and creation of the cartoon characters”); 3 nominations: “Best Art Direction-Set Decoration” (Elliot Scott and Peter Howitt), “Best Cinematography” (Dean Cundey), “Best Sound” (Robert Knudson, John Boyd, Don Digirolamo, and Tony Dawe)

1989 BAFTA Awards: 1 win: “Best Special Effects” (George Gibbs, Richard Williams, Ken Ralston, and Ed Jones); 4 nominations: “Best Cinematography” (Dean Cundey), “Best Editing” (Arthur Schmidt), “Best Production Design” (Elliot Scott), and “Best Screenplay – Adapted” (Jeffrey Price and Peter S. Seaman)

1989 Golden Globes, USA: 2 nominations: “Best Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical” and “Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical” (Bob Hoskins)

Updated: Saturday, June 22, 2013

Review: Fun "Piranha" Paints the Town Red

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 7 (of 2011) by Leroy Douresseaux

Piranha (2010)
Running time: 88 minutes (1 hour, 28 minutes)
MPAA – R for sequences of strong bloody horror violence and gore, graphic nudity, sexual content, language and some drug use
DIRECTOR: Alexandre Aja
WRITERS: Peter Goldfinger and Josh Stolberg
PRODUCERS: Alexandre Aja, Mark Canton, Grégory Levasseur, and Marc Toberoff
CINEMATOGRAPHER: John R. Leonetti
EDITOR: Baxter

HORROR/COMEDY/THRILLER

Starring: Elisabeth Shue, Ving Rhames, Steven R. McQueen, Jessica Szohr, Adam Scott, Jerry O’Connell, Kelly Brook, Riley Steele, Christopher Lloyd, Eli Roth, Brooklynn Proulx, Sage Ryan, and Richard Dreyfuss

It was called “Piranha 3D” when it was released last summer, but Piranha, the latest film from horror movie director, Alexandre Aja, is a remake. In 1978, director Joe Dante unleashed a campy horror flick entitled Piranha that was a spoof of Steve Spielberg’s Jaws. I didn’t see the new film in 3D, but I doubt I would have liked it more if I had seen it in 3D instead of the way I did – regular D on DVD.

It’s Spring Break on Lake Victoria in Arizona. Scantily clad girls are shaking their melon-like ta-ta’s, swinging their curvy hips, and bouncing their ample asses. Strangely, as healthy as the girls look, the guys are scrawny, but they will still provide good meat for the waterborne death soon to come.

Sheriff Julie Forester (Elisabeth Shue) has her hands full trying to maintain order with an influx of rowdy college students. What she doesn’t know is that a small earthquake has split open the floor of Lake Victoria. From that chasm, a school of piranha has emerged from a subterranean lake. Sheriff Forester’s son, Jake (Steven R. McQueen), envies the fun everyone has while he has to baby sit his younger sister, Laura (Brooklyn Proulx), and younger brother, Zane (Sage Ryan). Fate has other plans for Jake, his family, his friends, and the visitors to Lake Victoria. The piranha are about to turn the lake into a bloody, killing field.

After the first 20 minutes or so of Piranha, I wanted everybody to die (even the two Forester children) because the movie seemed like it was going to be a disaster. By the time the piranhas really begin their killing spree, I was cheering this movie on and fretting over the fact that, at 88 minutes long, the movie would be over fairly quickly. As far as filmmaking merit goes, Piranha is trash, but as a horror movie willing to deliver bloody mayhem, it is pretty successful.

As a comic horror movie, Piranha is also winning, which isn’t all that common among films that mix comedy and horror. Director Alexandre Aja and his writers take the Spring Break movie set on the water and the wall-to-wall gore of a George Romero zombie movie and mix them into a death-by-trauma spectacular. There is so much blood in this movie that it often looks as if someone set off a cherry jello dirty bomb. The underwater shots of piranha pulling eyeballs out of sockets and stripping off flesh like pulled pork thrilled me – with my gleeful laughing as my own personal soundtrack.

Some viewers will consider Piranha a guilty pleasure. Others will wish more horror comedies could deliver the bloody goods the way Piranha does.

5 of 10
B-

Friday, January 21, 2011

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