Saturday, October 5, 2024

Laika Returns Stop-Motion Animated Film, "CORALINE," to Theaters for Halloween

LAIKA Sets Coraline Limited-Time Return Engagement for Halloween Starting October 31st Through Fathom and Trafalgar Releasing

Award-winning studio’s debut film garnered over $53M in Global Box Office in Theatrical Return over the Summer

HILLSBORO, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--After a summertime return to theaters that grossed over $53M in global box office, LAIKA’s acclaimed 2009 stop-motion animated film, Coraline, returns to theaters for a special Halloween engagement starting on October 31st, 2024. In partnership with Fathom in the US and Trafalgar Releasing internationally, the film is offered in stunning, newly remastered 3D as well as 2D formats.

“Everyone at LAIKA is elated by the global success of the Coraline re-release and we’re delighted to offer one more chance to see it this year during Halloween festivities”

In addition to the U.S., the Halloween engagement of Coraline includes the UK, Ireland, Australia, Canada, Austria, and Ecuador with more territories to follow. France and Italy will also begin their Coraline 15th Anniversary engagements this November.

Fans attending Coraline will be treated to an early glimpse of LAIKA’s upcoming film, Wildwood.

The 15th Anniversary theatrical re-release of Coraline this past August was an astonishing success, surpassing all estimates.

Since its re-release on August 15th, 2024, Coraline has brought in over $53M* at the global box office:

Highest lifetime US gross box office of all time for a stop-motion animated feature, beating The Nightmare Before Christmas and Chicken Run.

Highest-grossing re-release in the US in the past decade.

Highest-grossing release (new and re-releases) in Fathom’s 20-year history.

Highest-grossing re-release in the past 25 years in the UK, beating the 25th anniversary of Titanic and the 20th anniversary of ET: The Extra-Terrestrial.

Highest-grossing re-release in Mexico’s history, surpassing the 25th Anniversary of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace and the 20th Anniversary of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

Film surpassed its original 2009 box office throughout Latin America, including Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Bolivia.

Tickets go on sale in the US starting Friday, October 4, 2024. For information and to buy tickets, please visit: www.coraline.com.

“Everyone at LAIKA is elated by the global success of the Coraline re-release and we’re delighted to offer one more chance to see it this year during Halloween festivities,” said David Burke, LAIKA’s Chief Marketing & Operations Officer. “In addition to becoming Fathom’s highest-grossing release in the US, Coraline set box office records in multiple international territories, including the UK and Mexico, through our partnership with Trafalgar Releasing. We are humbled by the millions of fans around the world who came out to experience Coraline in dazzling remastered 3D on the big screen this summer, making the 15th anniversary a cultural phenomenon.”

Coraline is a wondrous and thrilling, fun and suspenseful animated adventure. Coraline was written and directed by stop-motion auteur Henry Selick (The Nightmare Before Christmas, Wendell & Wild) and stars Dakota Fanning, Ian McShane, Teri Hatcher, Keith David, John Hodgman, and British comedy duo Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders. The film was nominated for the Oscar® and Golden Globe; won the Cristal Award at Annecy and was named one of the best films of the year by AFI. It won three Annie Awards for Best Music, Character Design and Production Design.

11-year-old Coraline Jones (Fanning) is feisty, curious, and intrepid beyond her years. She and her parents (Hatcher, Hodgman) have just relocated from Michigan to Oregon. Missing her friends and finding her parents to be distracted by their work, Coraline tries to find some excitement in her new environment but seriously doubts that her new home can provide anything truly intriguing to her. But when she walks through a secret door in her living room and ventures down an eerie passageway, she discovers an alternate version of her life and existence. On the surface, this parallel reality is similar to her real life – only much better. The adults, including the solicitous Other Mother (Hatcher), seem much more welcoming to her. Even the mysterious Cat (David) now regards her as the center of attention. She begins to think that this Other World might be where she belongs. But when her wondrously off-kilter, fantastical visit turns dangerous and Other Mother schemes to keep her there, Coraline musters all of her resourcefulness, determination, and bravery to get back home – and save her family.

*Comscore


About LAIKA:
LAIKA was founded in 2005 in Oregon by President & CEO Travis Knight. The studio’s five films Coraline (2009), ParaNorman (2012), The Boxtrolls (2014), Kubo and the Two Strings (2016) and Missing Link (2019) have all been nominated for the Academy Award® for Outstanding Animated Feature. Kubo and the Two Strings won the BAFTA® Award for Best Animated Film and received an additional Oscar® nomination for Visual Effects. Missing Link was awarded the Golden Globe® for Best Animated Film. LAIKA was awarded a Scientific and Technology Oscar® in 2016 for its innovation in 3D printing. LAIKA is currently in production on its next animated film Wildwood. The studio is developing the animated feature films The Night Gardener, from an original idea by Bill Dubuque, creator of the hit series Ozark, and Piranesi, based on the NYT bestselling novel by Susanna Clarke. LAIKA has launched a Live Action subsidiary with a range of projects in development including feature films based on the action thriller novel Seventeen by screenwriter John Brownlow and an original script Crumble, written and directed by Brian Duffield with Phil Lord and Chris Miller producing. Oscar®-nominated screenwriter Jon Spaihts (Dune) will write and make his directorial debut on another original live action film project. www.laika.com


About Fathom Events:
Fathom Events is a recognized leader in the entertainment industry as one of the top distributors of content to movie theaters in North America. Owned by AMC Entertainment Inc. (NYSE: AMC); Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CNK); and Regal, a subsidiary of the Cineworld Group (LSE: CINE.L), Fathom operates the largest cinema distribution network, delivering a wide variety of programming and experiences to cinema audiences in all the top U.S. markets and to more than 45 countries. For more information, visit FathomEvents.com.

About Trafalgar Releasing:
Trafalgar Releasing, the global leader in event cinema distribution, harnesses the power of cinema to bring fans together in more than 15,000 cinemas across 132 countries. A subsidiary of Trafalgar Entertainment, Trafalgar Releasing’s operations include production, acquisition, marketing, and distribution of live or pre-recorded content to cinemas worldwide led by an international team based in the UK, US and Germany. Featuring live concerts, music documentaries, world-class opera, award-winning theatre, and more from leading names in entertainment such as Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, BTS, Metallica, Oasis, Coldplay, Billie Eilish, the Royal Opera House and others, Trafalgar Releasing has repeatedly shattered event cinema box office records, most recently with international distribution for TAYLOR SWIFT | THE ERAS TOUR, the highest-grossing concert film of all time. Information about Trafalgar Releasing can be found at www.trafalgar-releasing.com.

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Comics Review: "NEMESIS: ROGUES' GALLERY #3" - Enter the Rogues

NEMESIS: ROGUES' GALLERY #3 (OF 5)
DARK HORSE COMICS

STORY: Mark Millar
ART: Valerio Giangiordano
COLORS: Lee Loughridge
LETTERS: Clem Robins
EDITOR: Daniel Chabon
EDITORIAL PRODUCTION: Sarah Unwin
COVER: Valerio Giangiordano with Lee Loughridge
32pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (October 2024)

Age range: 14+

Nemesis created by Mark Millar and Steve McNiven

Nemesis: Rogues' Gallery is a five-issue comic book miniseries from writer Mark Millar.  It is a sequel to the miniseries, Nemesis Reloaded (2023) and Big Game (2023).  Published by Dark Horse comics, the new series finds the super-killer, Nemesis, on a mission of revenge.  Rogues' Gallery is drawn by Valerio Giangiordano; colored by Lee Loughridge; and lettered by Clem Robins.

Nemesis: Rogues Gallery finds Nemesis on a mission to once again be the world's greatest super-villain. Now, out for revenge against everyone who wronged him, Nemesis must rebuild his empire and his fortune... this time with a sidekick, Pedro Hernandez, following him every step of the way.

Nemesis: Rogues Gallery #3 opens after Nemesis and Pedro enjoy a night of debauchery.  They steal weapons and tech in preparation for a big score at a charity auction being held by billionaire, Adrian Zigo.  However, Nemesis does not realize that the family of some of his victims have also come to possess super-tech technology.

THE LOWDOWN:  This is the second time that I have been on any kind of list that provides PDF copies of titles published by Dark Horse Comics.  I mark my return with Nemesis: Rogues' Gallery #3.

Mark Millar continues to deliver the ultimate modern super-villain comic book.  In this third issue, Millar offers lots of really dark, really black comedy.  He also throws a wrinkle into Nemesis pimp game with a new complication.

Artist Valerio Giangiordano has taken Nemesis: Rogues' Gallery down a different path, both visually and graphically in terms of story, from that of the franchise's earlier artists.  Valerio captures all the darkness, vileness, and evil in Nemesis and places him at the heart of some nasty, hard-hitting storytelling.  With this issue, he gives the narrative its deranged, edgy comedy vibe, proving this character is not one note.  Colorist Lee Loughridge, who knows how to deal with “the dark,” perfectly accentuates Valerio's storytelling with colors that suggest murder, both muted and glaring.  Letterer Clem Robins captures the deranged narcissism of the lead in this new series.

Nemesis: Rogues' Gallery promises to be a good time, which is has delivered, thus far.  It may also end up being the best evil Batman comic book in ages.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Mark Millar's comic books and of Valerio Giangiordano's art will desire Nemesis: Rogues' Gallery.

A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


https://www.mrmarkmillar.com/
https://twitter.com/mrmarkmillar
https://twitter.com/netflix
http://www.millarworld.tv/

https://www.darkhorse.com/
https://x.com/darkhorsecomics/
https://www.facebook.com/darkhorsecomics/
https://www.instagram.com/DarkHorseComics/


The text is copyright © 2024 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites from Oct 1st to 5th, 2024 - UPDATE #8

by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

Amazon wants me to inform/remind you that any affiliate links found on this page are PAID ADS, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on affiliate links like this, MOVIES PAGE, and BUY something(s).

ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE NEWS:

TREATS: From AnotherCookie?:  There is a new online cookie retailer, "AnotherCookie?" The cookies are delicious.

DISNEY - From Deadline: Yes, there will be a "Princess Diaries 3." Anna Hathaway is returning.

NETFLIX - From DeadlineNetflix cancels "That '90's Show" after the equivalent of two seasons.

CULTURE - From Variety:  Hollywood is trying to deal with "toxic fandom," according to this article. Apparently, ignoring them is too much like right.

MOVIES - From AVClub:  "Scream 7" has a release date, Feb. 27, 2026. Series star, Neve Campbell, will receive the payday she wanted, so she will return. Series creator, writer Kevin Williamson, will also return, this time as the film's director.

BUSINESS - From DeadlineDirecTV is acquiring its rival, Dish Network, in a merger that will form the largest U.S. pay-TV company.  Dish's Sling TV will be part of the deal.

OBITS:

From Deadline:  American film and television actor, John Amos, died at the age of 84, Wednesday, August 21, 2024.  Amos was best known for playing "adult Kunta Kinte"/"Toby" on the 1977 ABC miniseries, "Roots," and for the role of "James Evans" on the former CBS sitcom, "Good Times," from 1974-76.  He also made multiple appearances on such TV series as "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" (CBS), "The West Wing" (NBC), "All About the Andersons" (The WB), and "Men in Trees" (ABC), to name a few.  He had memorable roles in such films as "Coming to America" (1988), "Die Hard 2" (1990), and "Madea's Witness Protection" (2012), to name a few.  Amos was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for his role in "Roots."

From Deadline:  John Amos, a career in photos.
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From ESPN:  American professional baseball player, Pete Rose, has died at the age of 83, Monday, September 30, 2024.  Rose was the Major League Baseball (MLB) all-time hit king.  He was a member of three World Series championship teams:  the Cincinnati Reds (1975, 1976) and the Philadelphia Phillies (1980). Rose was also a member of the 1983 National League pennant winning Phillies, who lost the world series to the American League's Baltimore Orioles.  Rose was banned from Major League Baseball in 1989 due to gambling allegations and is currently ineligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame.


Wednesday, October 2, 2024

Comics Review: "NIGHT CLUB II #2" - Stupid Is as Stupid Does

NIGHT CLUB II #2 (OF 6)
DARK HORSE COMICS

STORY: Mark Millar
ART: Juanan Ramírez
COLORS: Fabiana Mascolo
LETTERS: Clem Robins
COVER: Juanan Ramírez with Fabiana Mascolo
EDITORIAL: Sarah Unwin
VARIANT COVER ARTIST: Juanan Ramirez
32pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (September 2024)

Rating: 18+

Night Club created by Mark Millar at Netflix

Night Club II is a new six-issue miniseries written and created by Mark Millar and drawn by Juanan Ramírez.  A Dark Horse Comics publication and a Netflix production, Night Club II is a sequel to the 2023 miniseries, Night Club.  Both series focus on a teen boy who is bitten by a vampire and decides to make the best of his new condition.  Colorist Fabiana Mascolo and letterer Clem Robins complete Night Club II's creative team.

Night Club II focuses on 17-year-old Danny Garcia.  After being turned into a vampire, he passed his new found powers unto his friends, DJ Sam Huxley and Amy Chen.  Now, they're the superheroes:  Starguard (Danny), Thundercloud (Sam), Yellowbird (Amy).  But jealousy has broken up this vampire-superhero trio...

Night Club II #2 opens as Sam turns down an offer for new employment.  Now, he is burying his bitterness about the relationship between Danny and Amy between the legs of his new “girlfriend,” Kendra McQuade.

Not long ago, Sam was the sweet, chubby best friend at school.  Then, he became a vampire- powered jock who hammered win after win on the basketball court.  The girls love him, but has all that crazy stupid love simply made Sam stupid enough to create trouble for himself?

THE LOWDOWN:  This is the second time that I have been on any kind of list that provides PDF copies of titles published by Dark Horse Comics.  The latest received is Night Club II #2.

After reading the first issue of Night Club II, I suddenly remembered how much I really liked the first series and how much I really missed it.  However, the first issue of the second series was just a reminder of of the first series' craziness and warm-up for the new craziness that writer Mark Millar would bring to Night Club II #2.  I still say that this franchise is a vampire-superhero hybrid that takes DC Comics' Teen Titans and gives them a supernatural teen dysfunction makeover.

Artist Juanan Ramírez has built this narrative on capturing the reckless nature of young people with too much power, regardless of whether this power is natural or supernatural and criminal or evil.  Colorist Fabiana Mascolo brings the funk to Ramirez widescreen antics in a way that makes this story pop on the page.  Clem Robins' lettering, as always, is a perfect accompaniment.

Night Club II does not disappoint, dear readers.  It's taking us where we never expected to go.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Mark Millar and of vampire comic books will want to be bitten by Night Club II.

A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


https://twitter.com/mrmarkmillar
https://twitter.com/netflix
https://www.mrmarkmillar.com/
http://www.millarworld.tv/

https://www.darkhorse.com/
https://x.com/darkhorsecomics/
https://www.facebook.com/darkhorsecomics/
https://www.instagram.com/DarkHorseComics/


The text is copyright © 2024 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

----------------------------

Amazon wants me to inform/remind you that any affiliate links found on this page are PAID ADS, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on affiliate links like these, BOOKS PAGE, GRAPHIC NOVELS, or MANGA PAGE and BUY something(s).


Tuesday, October 1, 2024

Review: "TOMIE" is Weird as Sh*t - Happy Halloween

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 153 (of 2004) by Leroy Douresseaux

Tomie (1998)
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:  Japan
Running time:  95 minutes
Not rated
DIRECTOR:  Ataru Oikawa
WRITER: Ataru Oikawa (based upon the manga by Junji Ito)
PRODUCERS:  Yasuhiko Azuma, Youichiro Onishi, and Shun Shimizu
CINEMATOGRAPHERS  Akira Sakoh and Kazuhiro Suzuki
EDITOR:  Ryûji Miyajima
COMPOSERS:  Hiroshi Futami and Toshihiro Kimura

HORROR/THRILLER

Starring:  Miho Kanno, Mami Nakamura, Yoriko Douguchi, Tomorowo Taguchi, Kouta Kusano, and Kenji Mizuhashi

Tomie is a 1998 Japanese horror film from director Ataru Oikawa.  It is the first entry in the Tomie film series, which totals eleven films as of 2011.  It is also based on the manga (Japanese comics), Tomie, which was published from 1987 to 2000 and was created by Junji Ito.  Tomie the movie focuses on a traumatized young woman who is haunted by the name, “Tomie.”

Tsukiko Izumisawa (Mami Nakamura) is seeing a psychiatrist, Dr. Hosono (Yoriko Douguchi), about her problem sleeping at night.  She also has repressed memories of some trauma in her past.  Detective Harada (Tomorowo Taguchi) believes it has something to do with the murder of her friend, Tomie (Miho).  Trouble is that going back a century’s worth of records, Harada finds Tomie as the name of several victims of horribly violent crimes.  Is this Tomie the same one involved with Tsukiko?  And what about that guy with a severed human head in a plastic grocery bag?

Tomie was the first in a series of popular Japanese horror movies starring the mysterious Tomie and her machinations, and the film is based upon the Junji Ito comic (manga) of the same title.  Tomie isn’t as intense as that most popular Japanese horror film, Ringu, but it’s fairly suspenseful in its own right.  Actually, Tomie is more a suspense film than a horror or a thriller.  Director/screenwriter Ataru Oikawa drenches his film in shadows and the atmosphere bleeds creepiness and weirdness.  It’s an atmosphere that can have the viewer always hanging on for what’s going to happen next.  What makes the film as effective as it ever gets is Oikawa’s use of a real world setting.  He shot the film as it if were just a pedestrian TV drama.  That banality coupled with the pulp madness that surrounds the Tomie character and the eventual revelation of what she is makes the film turn out to be something much better than it seemed a third of the way through its running time.

Tomie is not for every body, but Tomie is perfect for the horror flick fan on the prowl for something real different.  The film also has a frankly bizarre musical score.

6 of 10
B
★★★ out of 4 stars


The text is copyright © 2024 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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A Negromancer October 2024

Welcome to October 2024. Welcome to Negromancer 2.0.  This is the rebirth of the Negromancer, the former movie review site, as a movie review and entertainment and culture news blog.

All images and text appearing on this blog are © copyright and/or trademarks of their respective owners.

Of course, you want to try the cookies at "AnotherCookie?"


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Also, my first original graphic novel, THE WRATH OF KARAPACE: A BIG SPIRITS EPIC, which is published by Candle Light Press.  Co-created by Carter J. Allen, (Warning Comics), The Wrath of Karapace is now on sale at Amazon and Barnes and Noble online.

Other online shops that are selling "The Wrath of Karapace" include the following:

- AmazonUK;

Bookshop.org;

- ElmStreetBooks;

- the German book shop, OrrellFussli;

- Powells.com;

- Russell Books.com;

- SuperBookDeals.com;

Walmart online.

Of note, The Wrath of Karapace is also available on eBay from a few different sellers.

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"The Wrath of Karapace" also a "Google Books" listing.




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Amazon wants me to inform/remind you that any affiliate links found on this page are PAID ADS, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on affiliate links like these, BOOKS PAGE, GRAPHIC NOVELS, or MANGA PAGE and BUY something(s).


Monday, September 30, 2024

BOOM! Studios Shipping from Diamond Distributors for October 2, 2024

BOOM! STUDIOS

AUG240015 CREEPING BELOW #1 (OF 5) CVR A DEL REY (MR) $4.99
AUG240016 CREEPING BELOW #1 (OF 5) CVR B LLOVET (MR) $4.99
AUG240020 CREEPING BELOW #1 (OF 5) CVR F FOC REVEAL VAR (MR) $4.99
JUN240165 EXPANSE THE DRAGON TOOTH TP VOL 03 (C: 0-1-2) $17.99
JUL248264 MINOR ARCANA #1 2ND PTG LEMIRE $4.99
AUG240062 RANGER ACADEMY #11 CVR A MERCADO (C: 1-0-0) $3.99
AUG240063 RANGER ACADEMY #11 CVR B PINK MI-GYEONG (C: 1-0-0) $3.99

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