Posts Tagged ‘iPhone’

Carrie – A Bloody Unnecessary Remake

Posted 04 Nov 2013 — by Ezra Stead
Category Film Reviews, Movies I Didn't Get

By Ezra Stead

Carrie, USA, 2013

Directed by Kimberly Peirce

Carrie is a reasonably entertaining but ultimately forgettable teen horror movie.To justify its own existence, a remake of a classic film doesn’t necessarily have to be better than the original, but it is crucial that it be different in some substantial way. For example, though I prefer the original French film Love Crime in many ways, Brian De Palma’s Passion more than justifies its existence by adding a third-act fever dream to the original source material, as well as being strikingly unique in several other ways. Martin Scorsese’s Cape Fear is another good example of a filmmaker taking a markedly different approach to an already great film, in this case by adding psychological and moral complexity to what was originally a very cut-and-dried good versus evil story. In the horror genre, John Carpenter’s The Thing and David Cronenberg’s The Fly update classic B-movies to horrifying effect, to my mind managing to surpass the original films in quality and memorability.

CarrieThough I would like to evaluate Kimberly Peirce’s new film version of Carrie on its own merits, without comparing it to De Palm’s 1976 adaptation, it is just too similar, and everything good the new Carrie does with the material, De Palma’s film already did better. This is evident from the very beginning, in the famous shower scene in which Carrie White (Chloe Grace Moretz) gets her first menstrual period and, not knowing what is happening and believing that she is bleeding to death, is mercilessly taunted and humiliated by her classmates. In De Palma’s film, the horror of this moment is forefronted, with the performances and shooting style heightened to a surreal, nightmarish pitch. The vulnerability of Sissy Spacek’s performance in particular sells the moment, and it is a truly disturbing scene to watch. Peirce, conversely, shoots the sequence in a relatively flat, ordinary way, and though the content is still rather shocking, it lacks the emotional power of the original.  Read More

VIZ Manga App Adds Six Digital Titles for the iPad, iPhone & iPod Touch

Posted 22 Jun 2011 — by contributor
Category Anime, Essay

By Rachel Menendez

Daisuke Igarashi’s riveting manga series CHILDREN OF THE SEA is an intriguing aquatic adventure that also delivers a strong message about preserving the world’s oceans. Viz is making it even easier for you to keep up with your manga reading with the latest apps for iPhone, iPad and iPod released throughout June.

VIZ Media, the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, will launch six new manga (graphic novel) series during June that will be offered for digital download within the Viz Manga App for the Apple iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch.

Scheduled to make their North American digital debuts in June are the shojo dramas of BACKSTAGE PRINCE and THE STORY OF SAIUNKOKU. More shojo fun follows on June 20th with the launch of DENGEKI DAISY and AI ORE!, along with the critically acclaimed CROSS GAME.

Finally, June 27th sees the debut of the lush and contemplative CHILDREN OF THE SEA. Updates to 22 other popular VIZ Media digital manga series are also scheduled. Read More

Download Takehiko Inoue Portraits for Japan Earthquake Recovery

Posted 21 May 2011 — by Nicole P
Category Anime, Essay

By Rachel Menendez Viz Media has just announced that Takehiko Inoue’s newest Smile series of illustrations is available for download on your iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad with all profits going towards the Japan Earthquake disaster relief.

Viz Media has just announced that Takehiko Inoue’s newest Smile series of illustrations is available for download on your iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad with all profits going towards the Japan Earthquake disaster relief.

The lifelike portraits were drawn by legendary manga creator in the days following the earthquake and tsunami are now available, with the cooperation of Viz Media, on iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad in the US.

All VIZ Media proceeds from these purchases will be donated directly to the Japanese Red Cross Society to aid victims in the areas ravaged by the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.

Fans of manga can enjoy these breathtaking and touching illustrations on the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. SMILE: PRAY FOR JAPAN Volume 1, contains Inoue’s illustrations numbered 34 through 100 and will be available for $9.99. Read More

Good Morning America Unveils New App for iPhone and Android

Posted 21 May 2011 — by Nicole P
Category Essay, Film Industry News

By Rachel Menendez “Good Morning America” has just announced a brand new way to become more than just a passive TV viewer – get involved with the action of the live morning news broadcast with the new i-Phone and Android app.

“Good Morning America” has just announced a brand new way to become more than just a passive TV viewer – get involved with the action of the live morning news broadcast with the new iPhone and Android app.

This brand new app, which has only just been announced, allows viewers to vote on popular stories live during broadcast and become a part of the program’s daily conversation.

The app can be used to vote live on the “buzziest” stories discussed during the program. As the votes are tallied, users are able to see real-time results during the broadcast and evaluate how their choices compare with others’. Read More

Hamtaro Game Now Available for iPhone, iPod and iPad

Posted 16 May 2011 — by Nicole P
Category Animation, Essay, Film Industry News

By Rachel Menendez Now kiddy and big kid favorite Hamtaro: Little Hamsters, Big Adventures is available on your iPhone, iPad and iPod through Viz Media.

Are you secretly a Hamtaro fan? You don’t have to be ashamed, plenty of us are. Now kiddy and big kid favorite Hamtaro: Little Hamsters, Big Adventures is available on your iPhone, iPad and iPod through Viz Media.

Through Viz Media you can get the Hamtaro game as an app for just $1.99 by visiting www.VIZ.com/apps.

The app features three colorful and original game environments and dozens of levels. The game is Facebook enabled and offers an interactive Game Center for posting personal and worldwide high scores. You can also unlock 9 exclusive Hamtaro wallpapers to further customize your iPhone. Read More