ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 19, 2004 By Steve Newton Monster fans have been waiting a long time to see the bloodthirsty creatures from the Alien and Predator movies go at it; rumours of a cinematic matchup have been rampant for years. The big question was, Would the tone of the new film echo the spooky, claustrophobic style of Ridley … Continue reading Alien vs. Predator’s big-budget clash of the extraterrestrial nasties is absolutely ridiculous
Tag: 2004
Horror review: The Village
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, AUG. 5, 2004 That M. Night Shyamalan guy sure loves secrets; heck, he won't even tell us his first name. The director's latest film, The Village, is built on a foundation of secrets, but despite a cast that includes Oscar winners Adrien Brody and William Hurt, and Oscar nominees Joaquin Phoenix and … Continue reading Horror review: The Village
Horror review: The Chronicles of Riddick
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, JUNE 17, 2004 Though hardly more than a mediocre Aliens knockoff, director David Twohy's 2000 sci-fi horror flick, Pitch Black, managed to develop something of a cult following when it was released on video. It was about a musclebound convict named Riddick (Vin Diesel) who crash-lands with his captors on a desolate planet where … Continue reading Horror review: The Chronicles of Riddick
Horror review: Van Helsing
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, MAY 13, 2004 The media kit for Van Helsing includes an insert in which potential reviewers are asked to refrain from revealing plot developments involving the main characters of Gabriel Van Helsing (Hugh Jackman) and Anna Valerious (Kate Beckinsale) in the final 30 minutes of the film. That's fine with me, 'cause I … Continue reading Horror review: Van Helsing
Horror review: Godsend
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, APRIL 29, 2004 Some bad horror flicks take a while to reveal their ineptitude, but not so Godsend; it's identified as a chunk o' junk during the opening credits! That's when sucky high-school biology teacher Paul Duncan (Greg Kinnear), rushing home for his son's eighth birthday, takes a shortcut through a big-city … Continue reading Horror review: Godsend
Horror review: The Eye
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, MARCH 11, 2004 Considering the critical and commercial success of The Ring, Gore Verbinski's worthy remake of the Japanese haunted-video flick Ringu, it's no wonder Hollywood has set its sights on adapting more scary Asian fare. Now Tom Cruise's production company has bought the remake rights to The Eye, a horror film helmed by … Continue reading Horror review: The Eye
Horror review: Club Dread
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, FEB. 26, 2004 Boy, the movie industry has sure been getting paranoid about the pirating of its product lately. Last week I went to a media screening of Club Dread at Capitol 6 that was attended by a small gaggle of reviewers, and the guy at the door still used a metal detector … Continue reading Horror review: Club Dread
Talking to a monster: my interview with Lostprophets’ Ian Watkins, the most despised man on earth
By Steve Newton It's a weird feeling, realizing that you've spent several minutes of your life casually chatting with a young man who, as it turns out, is one of the most vile human beings alive. You may have already heard the news about Ian Watkins, the former frontman of '90s rockers Lostprophets, who admitted … Continue reading Talking to a monster: my interview with Lostprophets’ Ian Watkins, the most despised man on earth
Buddy Guy dedicated his Blues Singer album to John Lee Hooker
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON FEB. 19, 2004 By Steve Newton Chicago blues great Buddy Guy has played the Commodore Ballroom many times during his 45-year career, but the next time he visits the historic venue he won't be sporting his trademark black Strat with the big white polka dots. For the first time here, the guitar … Continue reading Buddy Guy dedicated his Blues Singer album to John Lee Hooker
Dr. John says that he has 180 songs in the band book
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MARCH 4, 2004 By Steve Newton You learn pretty quickly as a music writer not to put too much faith in recording artists' bios. Once in a while, though, the proclamations heard in those promotional sheets actually turn out to be true. Take the opening line of the current PR blurb for … Continue reading Dr. John says that he has 180 songs in the band book
Paul Kelly’s Ways & Means reveals two sides of an Aussie giant
When I reach Paul Kelly by phone at a New York hotel room, he's just hours away from playing Manhattan's famed Knitting Factory.
James Hetfield on addiction, rehab, and channelling the anger with Metallica
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MARCH 25, 2004 By Steve Newton Reno, Nevada, isn't the ideal place for a man battling addictions to be, but Metallica main man James Hetfield seems up to the challenge. When he calls from a tour stop in the renowned party town, the newly rehabilitated rocker makes it clear that he wasn't … Continue reading James Hetfield on addiction, rehab, and channelling the anger with Metallica
The Trews do not believe that Vancouver music scribe Adrian Mack is an idiot
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON APRIL 8, 2004 By Steve Newton Niagara Falls based guitar-rockers the Trews have a memorable bio making the rounds in the music press. Sure, the quartet's Sony Music promo sheet is typical in that it comes off as a rave about the band, but the way it's done is unique. For example, … Continue reading The Trews do not believe that Vancouver music scribe Adrian Mack is an idiot