Dredd : Justice wasn't fulfilled with this movie -

The Crime - Been a Damn Good Movie, The Sentence - No Sequel.

2012 was full of many movies, some that were box office smashes - The Avengers, The Dark Knight Rises, The Hobbit. Others were critically panned - Battleship, Resident Evil: Retribution, This Means War. Then there is films that were completely and unfairly overlooked - End of Watch, Seven Psychopaths, Dredd.

Whilst a lot of the underrated and overlooked films still made a decent amount of money, Dredd unfortunately bombed and bombed big time.

Bombs Away -

Upon it's initial release in the UK, Dredd 3D opened on a sunny September weekend to just £1 Million, yet it claimed 1st place on the box office charts so there was hope America would take to Dredd and rake the money in. Once released in USA, it bombed majorly only earning just over $6 Million. It was predicted to make at least $8 Million on opening weekend alone.  

Sentence: Death, by relation. 

Dredd didn't have a leg to stand on unfortunately. Whilst Dredd is based on a comic (quite a well known one at that) most people remember the god awful 1995 film that was "Judge Dredd" staring Sylvester Stallone. That film is not anything close to Judge Dredd's comic character and most fans will know this, due to Dredd having the 18/ R (Varied Countries rating) it means only adults could see the film, it also meant more than likely audiences who are old enough to see it are old enough to remember the original. Most of these people assumed it was a sequel to the original and didn't bother taking a second glance. 

Sentence: Death, by rating

Another one of Dredd's pitfalls was the rating, now personally i'm still glad the producers stuck by their guns and made it a hard 18 which is very much like the comics, but in cinema world that is a big barricade. The fact you are instantly stopping anyone under 18 from seeing the film means you're taking a huge percentage of the population away. Again it was the producers decision to stick by it and in all fairness Dredd in the UK was the first 18 rated film to top box office since Saw 3D in 2010 which is merit in it's own accord. 

Sentence: Death, by rubbish marketing

Now I'm going to have to blame Dredd's downfall majorly on Lionsgate now, Lionsgate normally are amazing with marketing and really push their films. Dredd from what I remember had 1 trailer released about a month before it's release, which only played on 15 rated films or higher (once again taking out a high percentage of the audience ). When the film was released I don't remember any banners on buses and no tv spots. The only thing Dredd got from Lionsgate marketing wise was a billboard, and I only remember seeing it on one billboard! Lets face it, some films get better reception and gather audiences from trailers and tv spots if you don't give any to Dredd how do people know it's even out? Even for Its DVD and Blu-Ray release instead of giving it a December release which would end up been a lot of people's christmas present, they released mid January which is after sales and after christmas, people are less likely to spend after these periods. Another lazy thing Lionsgate did is only release Dredd in 3D, they refused almost every cinema a 2D print, this will affect sales due to some people don't like 3D or aren't willing to pay almost double a 2D print. I went to see Dredd twice in 3D and it is one of the best 3D made films i've seen. 

Justice: The power of cult films

Dredd once released was backed by almost every website and review resource possible, whilst they weren't enough to bring a huge crowd it did make some people change their minds. Dredd since its release has already gained a following, especially now it is on DVD and Blu-Ray. I have read many forums stating they regret not seeing Dredd in theatres and as a consolation they brought the film on DVD or Blu-ray. Sales for Dredd on both platforms charted 1st upon release in UK which was great! Dredd still is trickling in sales and I suspect within a few years will become a huge cult film standing up there with films like Fight Club, Pulp Fiction and many others. 

Unknown Fate, Keeping Hope:

Whilst in recent interviews Adi Shankar the Executive Producer has stated that a sequel for now is highly unlikely due to Dredd not being able to surpass its budget, he is thankful that the fans who have saw it, loved it and he stated they are attempting to do some short films like The Punisher one- Dirty Laundry  Again it may take a few years but if enough people get behind Dredd, a sequel may come into action and if it does I really hope Karl Urban and Olivia Thrilby reprise their roles as Urban was a phenomenal Dredd.

What will it be? Sequel or Death?

So people, you going to keep Dredd alive for years to come, bringing it to Cult status? I hope so.

Follow me on Twitter - @AselmanFilmBlog

Friday The 13th Sequel: Why it Should Be Made -

Come on fanboys, fess up! This reboot was one of the better ones to be churned out in the last 10/15 years. Friday The 13th was a reboot that I actually watch every year or so and each time I do, I enjoy it a little more. I watched it about 6 months ago and thought "they should really do the sequel". 

I looked around the internet for any news or updates on part II and whilst there are a few things, there isn't anything 100%. Also whilst looking for updates, I noticed there are a lot of fans who still wish for a sequel which is more than I can say for Nightmare on Elm Streets reboot. 

The last real news items that gave anything, first was a year and half ago (roughly early 2012 maybe late 2011) where Platinum Dunes producer Brad Fuller said that a script for Part II has been completed and they just await the green light from New Line. That sounds good right? Well the fact that was over a year ago and the light isn't green still, makes me wonder if New Line want the sequel. The other news item was very recent, Corey Fieldman was talking to Ain't It Cool and discussed his hopes to create a sequel to his Friday movie - FT13th Part IV - The Final Chapter, styling it like Halloween: H20 he would like a much older Tommy Javis take Jason on again, this news was January 2013 so the fact there is talk again is hopeful. Unfortunately I doubt Fuller's script had Tommy involved which means that script now dies or Tommy wont return. Either way that means the sequel is still on hold. 

Anyway I am still hoping for this sequel, and i'll explain why this sequel can work and why it should be made...

NOTE: ***Mild spoilers for Evil Dead Reboot***

The Reboot gained a new crowd as well as bringing the old back -

Friday the 13th was released in 2009, which means it was over 6 years since the last Jason installment (Freddy Vs Jason). That means you will have the younger crowd (under 18) who watched FVJ now at an age where they may see Jason in cinema, there's one section of the crowd. You then get the Hardcore fans who grew up watching the Franchise and want to see what their beloved character will be like almost 30 years later. Then you get the new age, the people who may not of been familiar with any of the classic Friday films but are horror fans and will go to watch it. Now these crowds have all watched Friday's reboot they may all crave a sequel, that's a big fan base you could please...

The Sequel will also bring new fans -

Following from the previous statement, Friday's reboot brought a new crowd into Jason's world and for the ones who enjoyed it will tell other about it, if a sequel is released within the time frame of 2013-2014 i'm very sure with horror craze still running strong Friday's sequel will easily gain even more new fans, add that to the classic fans and reboot fans you have some cash coming your way New Line.

It's one of the better horror reboots -

Let's compare the competition - 

Nightmare on Elm Street (2010) - Rubbish back story, Freddy was dull and violent instead of brutal and scary and instead of taking it to new directions they had similar characters.

Halloween 1 (2007) - I actually like Halloween 1's reboot, but it's a very marmite film, the back story to Michael to me was clever and once they got to him grown up, I enjoyed the pace of the film. Others are the opposite and hated the back story.  

Halloween 2 (2009) - Halloween 2 on the other hand is god awful, the plot was ridiculous the nod to the original sequel (the hospital) was briefly skipped by and the whole Michael's face getting shown just takes the whole mystery of the killer away. Don't even get me started on the ending of that film either! 

Texas Chainsaw 3D (2013) -  I don't really have much to say expect, over the top violence, boring story and the fact it's a sequel to the 1970's one is stupid. Also the fact 3D is in the title.

Evil Dead (2013) - This again was one of the better reboots, taking the same sort of plot like the original but shifting it to different characters and having different reasons for being at the cabin was cool, plus I enjoyed the little nods to original. You can't beat a good chainsaw attack.

I could carry on with the lists of reboots but looking at the most recent and well known ones like above, the only ones that are in my head as good as Friday's reboot is Halloween 1 and Evil Dead. 

Friday's plot was an obvious nod to the franchise's first 3 films but yet took its own spin on the story (like Evil Dead) to make it their own film. The kills were brilliant in Friday compared to other films. Not only were Jason's kills not to over the top (compared to Texas Chainsaw) they were creative, my personal favourite two of FT13th reboot is the sleeping bag over the fire kill and crossbow on a boat. I also found the cast of Friday easier to watch compared to some, they clicked better as a group.

Reboots do get sequels -

Halloween got a sequel and Evil Dead has one in the works, it goes to show if a reboot gets enough attention and pays the box office you can get your sequel. Now Evil Dead done $26 Million on it's opening weekend. Evil Dead's budget was $17 Million so of course a sequel was going to happen when you surpass your budget in the first weekend. Halloween's budget was $15 Million by the end of its theatrical run Halloween made $80 Million therefore Halloween 2 wasn't far behind.

Now they are pretty decent figures for sequels to be green light, Friday the 13th had a $19 Million budget and made over $90 Million on its theatrical run! Why hasn't this got a sequel out this year is beyond me when it performed just as well as Halloween, to make matters worse Halloween 2 (after the stick and criticism) is still getting Halloween 3D. 

Horror Films are still huge in the film industry -

Whilst horror films don't do Avengers or Dark Knight box office performances of $1 Billion, horror films over the past 10 years have regained a following. If you look over the past few years you have had some big horror franchises breathe life into horror, Saw & Paranormal Activity, plus you got the newer films that are gaining a following; Insidious & Sinister and many more horror films have gained huge crowds of people and the horror genre is as big as it was back in the 1980s. Look at Texas Chainsaw, that sequel has been in development hell for a while, since Paranormal Activity and Saw arrived, studios decided they would give it ago. New Line should have faith and throw Friday The 13th Part II out to the world, the will easily make their budget back. 

The ideas for Part II were sounding awesome -

When the script was announced as complete, Fuller gave away a few teasers of what to expect in Part II. The best thing they said was, JASON IN SNOW! I mean come on imagine a bunch of teens getting attacked by Jason over Christmas, it sounds almost poetic ("Almost"). Another Idea thrown around was having a back story (Halloween Style) in which showing Jason at camp as a boy getting bullied seeing what caused him to snap. Mentioned briefly in the introduction was Corey Fieldman wanting to have Tommy return to take Jason on many many years on, that could be ok if the script can explain the events right (remember Tommy as a young adult already took Jason on again in Part VI- Jason Lives) but if they can get around that or act as part VI never happened it could be interesting. 

If released this year it will be the 13th Film of the franchise on the 13th on 2013 - 

If that isn't a tribute to the film and fans I don't know what is! The Friday 13th's are in October and December, that plenty of time to get things moving. 

Overall -

As far as reboot of the horror genre go, Friday the 13th is one of the more popular ones in slasher/ horror fans eyes. Look on forums or comment sections to FT13th related news people are asking for a sequel. I'm pretty sure they will eventually release one, look at the time it taken Jason X to get made after Jason Goes to Hell was released, it is inevitable whilst horrors are popular and whilst sequels create money. 

I Just wish it was sooner rather than later. 

Let me know what you think of horror reboots and do you want a Friday sequel.

Follow me on Twitter - @AselmanFilmBlog

My top 5 Best & Worst Blu Ray Covers (Superhero Edition)

Lets face it we love superhero films. From Batman Returns to The Avengers there has been many comic book based films released in the last 30 years and since the Blu Ray craze has increased we have seen many of these beloved (and not so beloved) films re-released onto Blu Ray format.

After looking through my vast Blu Ray collection I noticed some comic book based Blu Rays has some amazing covers, others though are awful. This got me thinking which comic book based blockbusters have memorable Blu Ray covers, be it because they are amazing or because they are completely tragic. Covers and posters for films can sometimes make a movie that is awesome (I’m looking at you Dark Knight Rises) look cheap and some very bad movies look great. Shall we start with the top 5 worst covers then.

  

5: Dark Knight Rises: Standard Edition

Lets face it Dark Knight Rises was a great film, It’s up their as one of my top Batman films, but this front cover is so boring and is exactly like the poster they released months before the cinematic release. The cover uses the original teaser poster and then shoves Batman on the front, such a lazy attempt. What is more appalling about this cover is all the marketing they put into DKR and the completely awesome 2^nd teaser poster from December 2011  (Bane walking away from the broken cowl) they give us this boring and unimaginative front cover, Tut, Tut.

   

 4: Fantastic Four & Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer:

No a fan favourite by a long shot anyway, so adding more fuel to the fanboy fire is the cover work for both films. The first films Blu Ray art work is so typical and actually looks like a 90’s early 2000’s film still, at least with the X-men films the cover art makes the films look remastered, Fantastic Four does not. Then with Rise of the Silver Surfer, we get an almost identical cover with the characters slightly moved around then adding the Silver Surfer on the top, sloppy work. In my humble opinion the Surfer was the best thing about FF: ROTSS (don’t get me started of cloud Galactus!) and I have the special edition DVD of this film which just has the Surfer on the front and I actually think it’s a better cover for this reason.

   

3: Green Lantern: Extended Cut

I think my problem with this cover is that our “Hero” is unmasked and I think that’s stupid, maybe it’s not a just enough reason for second place but then again it’s not exactly a imaginative cover either. You have Ryan Reynolds at a slanted angle with the lovely over the top CGI city in the background. I think we have seen that similar cover many times before. I think with GL cover art they are trying to sell Ryan Reynolds more than Green Lantern no offence to Mr Reynolds because I actually enjoy some of his films quite a bit, Green Lantern is the point of the film, then again most fans want to forget this film exists.

2: Ironman 2:

I remember seeing this artwork on Amazon before it’s official release date back in 2010 and I thought, “No way this is the cover, Its’ just a scene from the film.” Looks like I was wrong, this is one of the most boring covers out of all my films let alone comic book hero films. The first Ironman DVD and Blu Ray covers were awesome I loved the Blu Ray cover from IM1, this attempt is pure nonsense a blue back ground with the Mark V armour in action, nothing special at all. The could of at least ripped of Ironman 1’s DVD art like the did for their Theatrical poster.

  

1: Spiderman 1-3 (Re-release)

There was no way of me picking just one cover here. The original covers for these films were perfectly fine and looked cool, these new covers are almost as bad as Ironman 2, the blue back around with Spidey and the Villain of the film, not even decent action shots of the 2 facing off they are just posing. It’s a shame these films got awful cover arts because Spiderman 1 and 2 are classic films and Part 2 is still considered one of the best comic based films around.

  

BEST: 5: Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut.

To me this cover sums up my memory of Superman, the classic “costume under the shirt” this is a classic cover but is still fresh and looks amazing. The artwork is a simple yet effective and brings back some sense of nostalgia to older viewers with the classic scene. My favourite Superman film fittingly has my favourite cover out of the Superman collection.

  

4: Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance

I get that the Ghost Rider franchise isn’t a fan favourite and like I said before some posters or cover art make bad films look great. GR: SOR is a great example. Just a simple shot of our “Hero” well more like antihero, on a black background looks pretty badass, I’m sorry but Ghost Rider is cool, the films are not but the character itself is awesome and this cover grabs Ghost Rider’s essence in one simple picture, if I didn’t know how awful this film was I would of brought it purely from the cover. 

3: Avengers Assemble

One of 2012’s best films, let alone one of the best comic book movies around, and to go with that title is one of the best covers for Blu Ray, who imagined seeing Hulk, Thor, Captain America and Ironman all on one Blu Ray cover?! I didn’t until September last year. This is a truly awesome cover and a fanboy’s dream cover. I will note I did bash Green Lantern for having a unmasked hero, but everyone knows Tony Stark is Ironman so I’ll let it slide, plus this cover is too awesome to hate on.

  

2: Dark Knight 2008 Version/ Batman (1989)



I’m sorry folks, this was a split decision, I am an avid Batman fan and have since about 5, and both these cover arts are both amazing. So I’ll start with The Dark Knight cover. Let’s face it TDK was all about the Joker, and what a better way to show that by having The Joker as the only character on the Blu Ray cover. I think having this cover shows how strong a character Heath Ledger’s character is and for that reason alone is why it takes joint second, fantastic cover! Now moving onto Mr Tim Burtons dark and gritty take on Batman. This cover takes the second place mantel also because it’s just a newer version of the DVD art, the original 1990 DVD art was recognisable anywhere in UK, USA or any country the film was released. The Batman Symbol from that cover became iconic and stood the test of time, and became even more popular once the animated series came along (how great was that TV series?). Some of you may think Burton’s Batman cover is a cheat because you then have Returns, Forever and (unfortunately) Batman & Robin, but if you think about it, the original Batman logo is the mascot for the following 3 plus Batman Forever & Batman and Robin have the stupid add on like the question mark behind the logo and the Robin/ Nightwing symbol on B&R. This would of original been my number 1, until January 14^th came…

  

1: Dredd:

This is not just the best cover on a Blu Ray to me, it was my film of 2012. Dredd was a underdog to many fans and critiques due to the original Judge Dredd film which was god awful. This on the other hand wasn’t. The art for this Blu Ray reflects how the film is to me, and that my fellow readers is pure awesomeness. The cover shows Dredd with his badass pose with his badass gun standing near flaming building and it’s just brilliant, I actually want a canvas art for my wall of this cover because it is a great piece, maybe I’m being a little unfair because as I said Dredd was my film of 2012 and I want it to be recognised as the great film it is, I hope more people appreciate this film and bath in it amazing front cover.

How does my list sound? Tell me what you best & worst Blu Ray comic book film covers are.