Archive for August 2015
The Second Mother reflects the social issues of unspoken class
By GTVW Staff
Photos Agency
The Second Mother, a film by Brazilian director Anna Muylaert, starring the great Regina Casé, one of the South American country’s finest actors. The Second Mother centers around Val (played by Casé), a hard-working live-in housekeeper in modern day Sao Paulo. Val is perfectly content to take care of every one of her wealthy employers’ needs, from cooking and cleaning to being a surrogate mother to their teenage son, who she has raised since he was a toddler. But when Val’s estranged daughter Jessica (Camila Márdila) suddenly shows up the unspoken but intrinsic class barriers that exist within the home are thrown into disarray. Jessica is smart, confident, and ambitious, and refuses to accept the upstairs/downstairs dynamic, testing relationships and loyalties and forcing everyone to reconsider what family really means.
A film full of sensibility, humiliation of the unspoken hard working class barriers that exist mainly when the live-in housekeeper’s daughter suddenly appears and realizes of her mother real world. A pure division among social class between Val and Barbara, her employer. Definitely, this is very well structured in its plot and performances in which the main topic is about upper-class stereotypes and Jéssica gets increasingly fed up with her mother’s willingness to be patronized and humiliated by her employers.
New Evil Rises at Knott’s Scary Farm this Halloween Season 2015
By GTVW Staff
Photos from Knott’s Scary Farm
Tons of actors with great makeup/costumes walking around and really scary mazes will surprise visitors this 2015. The 43rd annual world renowned event, Knott’s Scary Farm, returns for 24 horrifying nights September 24 – October 31 and conjures up never before seen experiences and show-stopping entertainment including three new bloodcurdling mazes, Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, in an all-new stage show and the return of the groundbreaking Special Ops: Infected – Patient Zero.
Three new terrifying attractions will debut this year, with more astounding special effects and richer back stories than ever, including:
Paranormal, Inc. – Case #1 – The Haunting of Hayden Hill (New for 2015): Featuring high flying aerial stunts and scares, in the groundbreaking new maze, guests investigate a haunted hospital where the patients were tortured for decades by deranged doctors and nurses. Demonic spirits of the murdered victims have been detected throughout the mysterious halls, while evil medical staff hunt for new patients to torture.
My Bloody Clementine (New for 2015): There is no tale more vicious and vengeful than that of My Bloody Clementine. Take a grim ride through the Calico Mine where Clementine and her father were brutally murdered centuries ago. Their wretched spirits roam the tunnels in search of those who killed them. This year the ride through maze will feature live monsters out for revenge at the train track’s every turn.
The Dead of Winter (New for 2015): Escape the icy grasp of the chilling Snow Queen in the all new maze. Backed by with a ravenous beastly army of resurrected Viking warriors, she is hell bent on avenging her beloved family’s murder, and preys upon any unsuspecting visitors who enter the borders of her icy domain. Guests with a Skeleton Key will have the opportunity to unlock a bone chilling surprise.
(New for 2015) Prowling the darkest corners of Knott’s midways and scare zones, the Green Witch and her Deadly 7 is a sadistic crew guilty of more terror than meets the eye. Each of the monsters represents one of the seven deadly sins and make terrifying surprise appearances throughout the park each night.
Returning Favorites
The zombie apocalypse in an all-out war against the undead in the interactive experience, Special Ops: Infected – Patient Zero. In 2014, the ambitious new attraction was the first of its kind in North America and in 2015 continues to be the largest infestation of zombies nationwide. In 2015, the highly sought-after attraction will include more blood thirsty zombies, new missions, brand new high-tech laser guns, and more.
Special Ops: Infected – Patient Zero seamlessly integrates interactive gaming technology with an immersive mountainous landscape, delivering a breakthrough interactive haunted experience that is as terrifying as it is challenging. Missions lead by brave Squad Leaders will take guests through a variety of wilderness terrains, including the unpredictable barrel bridges across the rushing river, through the dark caverns, and through mysterious backwoods. Groups must work together to fend off zombies and complete various missions before time runs out. Six acres of the theme park is now home to mutinous, scream-inducing zombies, and the time has come for a harrowing Special Ops survival mission (limited spaces available).
Elvira, the legendary Mistress of the Dark, returns to Knott’s Scary Farm in a spectacular all new show, Elvira’s Asylum, featuring insane dance and comedy performances.
During Knott’s Scary Farm will get a chance to meet Elvira between performances of Elvira’s Asylum and collect her signature on one of the purchased items.
Black Magic: Houdini’s vengeful spirt continues to wreak havoc on the Faux Theater, where the veil between the living and the dead is severed. Houdini’s ghost comes alive and ushers a host of demonic illusions to play tricks on anyone who intrudes, only to finally meet Houdini in a show-stopping finale. Back for its third year, Black Magic is one of the most popular mazes at Scary Farm.
Forevermore: Follow the destruction of the “Forevermore Killer,” one haunting tale after another, as the slayer makes his way through one of the longest mazes ever created in Knott’s Scary Farm’s history. With a Skeleton Key, guests can witness the work of the Forevermore Killer firsthand.
The Gunslinger’s Grave: A Blood Moon Rises: Deadly howls and a full blood moon mark your impending doom as werewolves overrun the crime stricken old west town. Walk in the bloody footsteps of a betrayed and left for dead gunslinger on his path of retribution against the Skinwalkers.
Pinocchio Unstrung: Years have passed since the blue fairy denied him his final wish, but Pinocchio has returned with an army of murderous marionettes intent on killing his former masters. Meander your way through the carnage-riddled village and an all new sinful Pleasure Island and Skeleton Key Room. Revenge comes with no strings attached.
The Tooth Fairy: This twisted tooth fairy steals more than just baby teeth as he drags his victims out their bedroom window and into a world of deranged dentistry. Unbelievable special effects include a blackout room through which guests must feel their way out, a disorienting x-ray strobe light room, and new this year, an all-new Skeleton Key room.
Trick-or-Treat: Take a brave step forward and ring the witch’s doorbell…trick or treat, which will it be? After surviving her grisly welcome, wander into the Green Witch’s never before seen potion room and bewitched attic. But don’t leave too soon; you’re the special guest at the Green Witch’s deadly dinner party where she and her menacing Tricksters await your arrival.
Voodoo – Order of the Serpent: The haunting legend of Papa Legba continues as guests follow him on his foreboding journey to conjure the serpent demon goddess in the outskirts of New Orleans. Trudge cautiously through the cursed swamps of the Deep South, where creatures search the murky bogs for their next bloody sacrifice and demons curse the innocent with Voodoo hexes. Guests who are brave enough to venture through the Skeleton Key room may fall prey to a defiled ritual.
The Hanging®: A live stage show in Calico Square irreverently looks back at the year’s pop culture with killer comedy. Notorious for its special effects, pyrotechnics and high-flying stunts, The Hanging is a no-holds-barred assault on pop culture’s most infamous moments of the past year. A must see parody!
160 Acres of Scare Zones
Knott’s Scary Farm is far more than a collection of haunted attractions. Every night monsters spill out onto the streets and turn theme park midways into murderous scare zones. From the world famous Ghost Town Streets to the Boardwalk area filled with evil clowns, there’s nowhere to hide in Knott’s Scary Farm.
Ghost Town Streets is the original and largest, most terrifying scare zone that started it all. Bands of half-human, half-animal monsters prowl the streets and inhabit the fog, and beware the notoriously startling sliders, who lunge from in every fog-filled corner of the land. Fiesta De Los Muertos fuses dance music, colorful costumes, and larger than life stilt walkers in a dance party scare zone. It’s the ultimate late night celebration of Dia de los Muertos. On the Boardwalk clowns crave your undying attention in the CarnEVIL scare zone.
If you’re a huge Zombie/The Walking Dead fan, then I definitely recommend checking this place out! For more information on Knott’s Berry Farm, including admission, park hours and events, visit knottsscaryfarm.com
One of her Wildest Dream became true for Taylor Swift in LA
By Jenny Alvarez
Photos Agency
A successful concert was made in the last day of many performances when singer, songwriter Taylor Swift returned to STAPLES Center with her 1989 World Tour for the first of five sold-out Los Angeles performances (August 21, 22, 24, 25 & 26). Miss. Swift said that the last concert has been one of her best nights; full of surprises and emotionally. She put on a heck of a show. Definitely was a great night for this incredible “show-woman” & knows how to write a catchy tune; the songs were danceable & there were great visual effects. She also put a dozen dancers center stage while hiding the actual musicians in a corner background, making in one of the biggest pop productions with quality. There no were imperfect performances and few guys/gals were playing & singing their hearts out, with great talent, ability, & passion be all that’s needed to remain entirely compelling.
This event was full of surprises and Selena Gomez was one of the celebrities guests who had a special appearance to congratulate her on the unprecedented achievement of her success and sang “Bad Blood” together. Justin Timberlake was another great surprise of the night that dropped in to sing his hit “Mirrors.”
After she devised her album “1989” songs such “Style” and “Out of the Woods,”“Love Story”, “The Breakfast Club”, “Wildest Dreams,” in this song Taylor played the song on piano (and mashed it together with a bit of “Enchanted”), “Wildest Dreams.”
She wore different kinds of dresses and sometimes some mini-skirts that show off her great legs, with elegance and great style. People loved her performance and some of them sang the lyrics of her songs out loud. This show was very familiar, anything vulgar or offensive to the youth. This is the highest compliment I can give an artist for her talent and great show.
The story of the aftermath of a zombie apocalypse in The Walking Dead: The Complete Fifth Season
By GTVW Staff
Photos Agency
Based on the comic book series written by Robert Kirkman “The Walking Dead: The Complete Fifth Season” is a story that weaves the true motives of the people of Terminus with the hopeful prospect of a cure in Washington, D.C., the fate of the group’s lost comrades, as well as new locales, new conflicts, and new obstacles in keeping the group together and staying alive. Five years ago, a man awoke from a coma in a hospital. For sheriff’s deputy Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln), what should have been a cause of celebration became the flash point for five years of unceasing horror, unrelenting personal sacrifice.
On August 25th, Anchor Bay Entertainment gives home entertainment fans their annual Walker fix with “The Walking Dead: The Complete Fifth Season” Blu-ray™ + Digital HD and DVD releases in format of anamorphic Widescreen (1.78:1) with great audio in English Dolby Digital 5.1 and French Dolby Surround 2.0 with English subtitles and Spanish too.
During 710 minutes of insightful and provocative bonus features that give viewers yet another inside glimpse into creating the fallen world of the Walkers and the souls brave – and crazy – enough to attempt survival. Based on the comic book series written by Robert Kirkman and published by Image Comics, AMC’s “The Walking Dead” continues to grow in global popularity and audience viewership. The fifth season also saw the introduction of such notable characters from the graphic novel as Father Gabriel Stokes (Seth Gilliam) and the cannibalistic Hunters. There are some deleted scenes such, “Inside “The Walking Dead”,”The Making of “The Walking Dead”,”The Making of Alexandria”,”Beth’s Journey”,”Bob’s Journey”,”Noah’s Journey”,”Tyreese’s Journey’,”A Day in the Life of Michael Cudlitz’,”A Day in the Life of Josh McDermitt”,”Rotters in the Flesh.”
The fifth season features 17 series regulars: 10 of the actors are featured in the opening credits; the other seven are credited as “also starring”. Michael Cudlitz, who portrays Sgt. Abraham Ford, is added in the opening sequence after being listed as recurring in the previous season and Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes, Carl and Judith’s father, is the series’ primary protagonist. However, this season also includes an experienced cast as Norman Reedus, Steven Yeun, Lauren Cohan, Danai Gurira, Chandler Riggs, Melissa McBride, Chad L. Coleman, Sonequa Martin-Green, Lawrence Gilliard, Jr., Michael Cudlitz, Emily Kinney, Alanna Masterson, Christian Serratos, Josh McDermitt and Andrew J. West.
Definitely, one of the best parts of this is more interactive because consumers are going to have to fill up the tanks themselves with one of the most popular and outstanding TV shows ever broadcast.
Shootouts and chases in Hitman: Agent 47
By GTVW Staff
Photos Agency
From director Aleksander Bach and producers Charles Gordon, Adrian Askarieh, Alex Young, Skip Woods. Hitman: Agent 47 is a great film, with enjoyable visual effects and will make you have tons of pleasure. Mostly because of Rupert Friend. All begins with an elite assassin who was genetically engineered from conception to be the perfect killing machine, and is known only by the last two digits on the barcode tattooed on the back of his neck. He is the culmination of decades of research – and forty-six earlier Agent clones endowing him with unprecedented strength, speed, stamina and intelligence. His latest target is a mega-corporation that plans to unlock the secret of Agent 47’s past to create an army of killers whose powers surpass even his own. Teaming up with a young woman who may hold the secret to overcoming their powerful and clandestine enemies, 47 confronts stunning revelations about his own origins and squares off in an epic battle with his deadliest foe. With a great and experienced cast as Rupert Friend, Hannah Ware, Zachary Quinto, Ciarán Hinds and Thomas Kretschmann, 47 is the clone’s number that makes the plot interesting related to the agent.
Even Hitman: Contracts, is one of the top ten famous video games the plot of Hitman, seems to be what they’re adapting all the action elements that combines a cringe-inducing story and the pleasure comes from the excitement of interaction. This film will be a bomb full of adrenaline and full of original action sequences into visual jigsaws.
You will love a modern “Grandma”
By GTVW Staff
Photos Agency
From the creative mind Paul Weitz, this film includes the best of the cast Lily Tomlin, Julia Garner, Marcia Gay Harden, Judy Greer, Laverne Cox, Sam Elliott, Nat Wolff, and John Cho. Elle Reid has just gotten through breaking up with her girlfriend when her granddaughter Sage unexpectedly shows up needing 600 dollars before sundown. Temporarily broke, Grandma Elle and Sage spend the day trying to get their hands on the cash as their unannounced visits to old friends and flames end up rattling skeletons and digging up secrets.
Despite the low-budget of this great film, the family bonds are important especially with a Grandma” with strong personality and ill-tempered Elle wreaking. This is a film in which gradually will see sensitive subjects such as abortion, lesbianism, light comedy with fresh humor, satire, and many feminist politics. A simple story that reflects a deep social issues , lack of education for our youth of this times.
A dark journey to the countryside in “Tom At The Farm”
By GTVW Staff
Photos Agency
From the creative mind of Xavier Dolan (Mommy, Heartbeats) comes the psychological thriller Tom at the Farm. After the sudden death of his lover, Guillaume (Caleb Landry Jones of Heaven Knows What), Tom (Dolan), travels from his home in the city to a remote country farm for the funeral. Upon arriving, he’s shocked to find that Guillaume’s family knows nothing about him and was expecting a woman in his place. Torn between his own grief and that of the family, Tom keeps his identity a secret but soon finds himself increasingly drawn into a twisted, sexually-charged game by Guillaume’s aggressive brother (Pierre-Yves Cardinal of Through the Mist), who suspects the truth. Stockholm syndrome, deception, grief, and savagery pervade this stirring tale from Dolan.
Definitely this a film full of secrets, abusive relationships, homophobia and dead that involve each character. Sometimes confrontation is not the best solution and limits of certain love could be dangerous in the sense of timing revitalizes otherwise familiar moments. During 102 minutes you will experiment the best of the talent from Quebec, Canada.
FICG is the best appreciation, promotion and distribution of Mexican and Ibero-American films
By GTVW Staff
Photos By: Alfonso De Elias
The Guadalajara International Film Festival is a week-long film festival held in Los Angeles at Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood for its fifth year and runs from Thursday, August 27 to Sunday, August 30.The festival is considered the most prestigious film festival in Latin America and among the most important Spanish language film festivals in the world. The festival is the premier showcase for new work from Mexican and international independent filmmakers.
FICG in LA will offer the premiere of other titles that have emerged in the world of cinema throughout the year to great critical acclaim with the best of contemporary Mexican and Latin American cinema. Eugenio Derbez will receive the Tree of Life award in representation of the Derbez dynasty. Oscar winner Eugenio Caballero (Best Art Direction, Pan Labyrinth), Ofelia Medina (Mexican actress), Josep Parera (Entertainment Editor La Opinion) and LPB (Latino Public Broadcasting) will also receive the festival’s Tree of Life Award for their contributions to Mexican, Latino and Ibero-American culture.
13 Feature and documentary films and 12 short films will be showcased in this year’s festival.
Opening Night Gala – August 28, 2015
MESSI, Dir. Álex de la Iglesia (Spain, 2014, L.A. Premiere)
Closing Night Gala – August 30, 2015
Ciudad Delirio, Dir. Chus Gutiérrez (Colombia, 2014, 100 min., L.A. Premiere)
Special Events:
• KIDS GALA: EL JEREMÍAS (JEREMY) Dir. Anwar Safa (Mexico, 2015, US Premiere)
• MAGUEY (LGBT) GALA: MADE IN BANGKOK Dir. Flavio Florencio (México – Alemania, 2015, US Premiere)
• ART, HEALTH & HEALING SPECIAL SCREENING: JUANICAS
Dir. Karina García Casanova (Mexico – Canada, 2015, US Premiere)
and La Teta de Botero, Dir. Humberto Busto, Mexico (short film)
• HUMAN RIGHTS SPECIAL SCREENING: LA PRENDA (The Pawn)
Dir. Jean-Cosme Delaloye (Guatemala – Suiza, 2014, Sneak Preview) in Association with the Mill Valley Film Festival.
• FREE SCREENING: LA ONCE (Tea Time) –Dir. Maite Alberti (Chile, 2014)
Other Feature Films
El PATRÓN, RADIOGRAFÍA DE UN CRIMEN (THE BOSS, ANATOMY OF A CRIME)
Dir. Sebastián Schindel (Argentina, 2014, L.A. Premiere)
HBO Latino presents – HEROES COTIDIANOS – “El cometa”
Dir. Alejandra Sánchez (Mexico, 2014, Sneak Preview)
IXCANUL Dir. Jayro Bustamante (Guatemala – France, 2015, Sneak Preview)
LOREAK (FLOWERS) Dir. Jon Garaño, José Mari Goenaga (Spain, 2014, L.A. Premiere)
POCHA (Manifest Destiny) Dir. Michael Dwyer (USA – Mexico, 2015)
QUE VIVA LA MUSICA (LIVEFOREVER)
Dir. Carlos Moreno (Colombia -Mexico, 2015, L.A Premiere)
Short Films
MEXICAN ANIMATED SHORTS SHOWCASE & PANEL (in chronological order)
Como preparar un sandwich (How to Prepare a Sandwich) Dir. Rigo Mora
Hasta Los Huesos (Down to the Bones) Dir. René Castillo
Jacinta Dir. Karla Castañeda
Jaulas (Cages) Dir. Juan José Medina
Prita Noire (Black Doll) Dir. Sofía Carrillo
La Casa Triste (The Sad House) Dir. Sofia Carrillo
La Noria (The Waterwheel) Dir. Karla Castaneda
Lluvia en los Ojos (Rain in the Eyes) Dir. Rita Basulto
Zimbo (Zimbo) Dir. Rita Basulto & Juan Jose Medina
Shorts Before Features
ELLA (Her) Dir. Ximena Urrutia (Mexico, 2014, 23 min)
MESTIZO, Dir. Talon Gonzalez (USA, 2014, 10 min.)
LA TETA DE BOTERO, Dir. Humberto Busto (Mexico, 2015, 18 min., US Premiere)
The screening of the selected work-in-progress films will be for industry accredited to the festival. These screenings are not open to the general public or member of the press.
Guadalajara Construye in Los Angeles 2
• Angelica, Dir. Marisol Gómez-Mouakad, Puerto Rico/USA
• Dementia (Demencia), Dir. Jose Luís Valenzuela, Mexico/USA
• Lupe under the Sun (Lupe bajo el sol), Dir. Rodrigo Reyes, Mexico/USA
• No Dresscode Required (Etiqueta no rigurosa), Dir. Cristina Herrera Borquez, Mexico/USA
• Looking at the Stars (Olhando pras estrelas), Dir. Alexandre Peralta, Nicaragua/Brazil/USA
• Omar & Gloria (Omar y Gloria), Dir. Jimmy Cohen, Mexico/Canada
A hurt childhood in “The boy”
By GTVW Staff
Photos Agency
Directed by Craig William Macneill and written by Craig William Macneill and Clay McLeod Chapman, this film based on the novel Miss Corpus by Clay McLeod Chapman begins with a nine-year-old Ted Henley (Jared Breeze) and his father John (David Morse) are the proprietors of The Mtn. Vista Motel, a crumbling resort buried in the mountains of the American West. This boy is a chilling, intimate portrait of a 9-year-old sociopath’s growing fascination with death.
During 105 min you will have suspense, drama, strong performances. Morse as alcoholic makes the father’s emotional desolation and someone who doesn’t care his child. Definitely the mystery in each scene will surprise you when this boy is incapable of understanding how to form real bonds with new acquaintances and reflects certain violence close to death in which boy’s imagination is the best part of the film.
