“Aliens are dicks” in crappy ‘Dark Skies’ movie

By Robbie Graham Silver Screen Saucers

"Yawn!" Alien abduction horror Dark Skies is "boring", not scary, say movie critics.

 

Now showing in US cinemas, the alien abduction horror Dark Skies is taking a kicking from movie critics who are describing it as “bland,” “banal,” and “boring.” 

Writing for io9.com, reviewer Rob Bricken’s only take-home message from the film is that “Aliens are dicks.”

Bricken notes that “Dark Skies contains more snores than scares... and definitely nothing you haven't already seen in pretty much any other alien horror flick.”

What was marketed as a powerful family drama with supernatural / sci-fi overtones “just slowly deflates into a by-the-numbers horror flick you'd be better off skipping in theaters and on home video.”

Bricken concludes: “As a viewer, I left the theater bored and somewhat annoyed. If I were an alien, though, I'd have been downright offended.”

Dark Skies– which stole (yes stole) its title from the completely unrelated and far superior UFO-themed ‘90s TV series of the same name – is currently scoring just 36% on RottenTomatoes.com.

Peter Sobczynski of the Chicago Sun-Times calls Dark Skies “a bore that even the most forgiving genre buffs will find difficult to defend or endure.”

Writing for the New York Daily News, Elizabeth Weitzman was similarly uninspired by the film: “It's not that Dark Skies is so awful you need to be warned away from it. It's just that it's so bland you might as well find something better to do.”

Entertainment Weekly’s Clark Collis, meanwhile, writes: “Sci-fi and horror fans know to keep watching the skies – but they won't be missing too much if they decide to skip this.”

For those who are insistent on forking out their hard-earned cash this month on sci-fi drama by the name of Dark Skies, give the cinema a miss... Your money will be far better spent here.

UFO movie news round-up (22 Feb. 2013)

By Robbie Graham Silver Screen Saucers

‘Escape from Planet Earth' reviews and box-office

Released in cinemas last week, Escape from Planet Earthhas received generally negative reviews from critics, scoring a measly 27% on RottenTomatoes.comat the time of writing. The children’s film -- which sees aliens escape from Area 51 -- has so far grossedapproximately $23 million against its $40 million budget.

In one of its more positive write-ups, The Hollywood Reporter’s Stephen Farber describes Escape from Planet Earth as “Passable animated entertainment” that is “stronger on humor than adventure.”

The Wrap’s Alonso Duralde was less kind, noting that “The kids in the theater with me never mustered a single laugh or gasp of excitement” and calling the film “a black hole of entertainment.”

Laramey Legel of Film.comis even more to the point with his observation that the film “Has it all for people looking for nothing.” Ouch. 

Megan Fox to star in ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’

Michael Bay has announced via his websitethat he will reunite with Megan Fox for his upcoming alien-flavored Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie. There's no word yet on who Fox will play, but it seems almost certain she’ll take the role of reporter April O'Neil.

The good news is that Bay will not be directing TMNT, only producing it. The bad news is that the director is to be Jonathan Liebesman, who delivered the filmic abortions Battle Los Angeles and Wrath of the Titans. In case readers still care, the film will begin shooting in April and is currently scheduled for release on May 16, 2014.

‘Ben 10’ movie gets a writer

 

It was announced in 2011 that producer Joel Silver was working to bring Cartoon Network’s Ben 10 to the big screen. The project has been developing ever since, and now The Hollywood Reporter has it that Ryan Engle has been hired to rewrite the screenplay (which was previously drafted by Albert Torres).

 

The kids’ TV series is about a boy, Ben Tennyson, who discovers a strange wrist watch that allows him to transforms into 10 different aliens with super powers.

Engle is best known for his work on the forthcoming video game adaptation Rampage.

Expect a 2014 release.

‘The Host’: new trailer

The latest trailer for the up-coming body-snatching alien teen flick The Host...

 

 

 

J.J. Abrams to make ‘Half-Life’ and ‘Portal’ movies?

 

Big screen versions of the Half-Life and Portalvideo games may be on the horizon. Polygonreports that Gabe Newell – managing director of game company Valve – joined director J.J. Abrams on stage at the recent DICE Summit where the pair dropped hints that they are to team up creatively.

"There's an idea we have for a game that we'd like to work with Valve on," said Abrams, who recently signed-upto helm the new Star Wars movie for Disney and LucasFilm.

"We're super excited about that," Newell added, "and we also want to talk about making movies, either a 'Portal' movie or a 'Half-Life' movie... What we are actually doing here, we are recapitulating a series of conversations going on. We reached the point that we decided to do more than talk."

The first Half-Life game was released in 1998 and follows a theoretical physicist, Gordon Freeman, who opens a dimensional rift between a New Mexico research facility and a world of alien monsters called Xen.

Portal, meanwhile, is a spinoff of Half-Life released in 2007. In it, a test subject named Chell is forced to navigate a rival research company's laboratories armed with a device that can open portals through space.

For more discussion of the Half-Life franchise and other UFO-themed video games, check out this excellent article by Silver Screen Saucers’ pal Red Pill Junkie.

UFO movie news round-up (8 Feb. 2013)

By Robbie Graham Silver Screen Saucers

Illuminati to launch giant green monster into space

The Latino Review reports that the ending of Marvel's The Avengers 2will see Mark Ruffalo's Hulk lost in space and headed for his very own movie in which the temperamental superhero becomes a gladiatorial champion on an alien world. Planet Hulk will be based on Greg Pak’s 2006 storyline.

 

But just how does Hulk end up in space in the first place? According to The Latino Review, The Avengers 2 will offer its own take on the Illuminati – a “secret order” possibly comprised of Doctor Strange, Black Bolt, Charles Xavier, Reed Richards, Namor and Iron Man. It is this secret order that banishes The Hulk into space.

Planet Hulk was previously adapted into a direct-to-DVD feature in 2010.

 

Teen aliens on TV

The CW has commissioned a pilot for Oxygen, which, according to TVLine.comwill chronicle “an epic romance between a human girl and an alien boy when he and eight others of his kind (The Orion 9) are integrated into a suburban high school 10 years after they and hundreds of others landed on Earth and were immediately consigned to an internment camp where they’ve been imprisoned ever since.”

Life on Mars’ Josh Appelbaum, Andre Nemec and Scott Rosenberg are on board as Executive Producers.

‘Transformers 4’ will “freshen the franchise” 

 

With Transformers 4 due to shoot in May, director Michael Bay spoke with Forbes recently about what we can expect from his movie:

"We’re going to start off smaller," Bay toldForbes. "There’s a brand new cast. To freshen the franchise, we’ve redesigned everything from top to bottom. The history of the first three movies is still there. We start four years later and there’s a reason why we’re meeting a new cast."

Bay’s new cast includes Mark Wahlberg (who recently stated that Transformers 4 was the most important movie of his career!) and Jack Reynor.

Bay continues:

"I said that 3 was going to be my last one. Paramount was letting me do 'Pain & Gain' and the 'Transformers' ride was opening at Universal and it was bittersweet to think of passing it off. I wanted to set it up on a really sure footing and to bring someone else in on that, it would have been overwhelming."

Although Transformers 4 is offering a fresh start for the franchise, Bay stresses that this sequel will not be a reboot:

"We keep the 'Transformers' the way they were, it’s just four years later. There’s a reason the Transformers are redesigned. We’re trying to broaden the franchise and give it more places to go."

Transformers 4is scheduled for release June 27, 2014.

‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ finds its leading man

 

James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy has found its leading man. Deadlinereports that Zero Dark Thirtystar Chris Pratt will play Peter Quill (aka Star-Lord) in Marvel’s upcoming alien-themed movie.

Raised on Earth, the Quill character learns that his father was from outer space and is drawn into an intergalactic conflict that eventually leads to him becoming the leader of the team. This team protects the solar system from “an evil alien race”.

Guardians of the Galaxy is expected to be Marvel’s most ‘offbeat’ movie to date. It is scheduled for release August 1, 2014.

Military link to Disney's secret science-fiction movie 'Tomorrowland'?

By Robbie Graham Silver Screen Saucers

Last month, Silver Screen Saucers took a peek inside Disney’s oh-so-mysterious ‘1952’ box, which supposedly holds clues to what we might expect from Brad Bird’s upcoming, oh-so-mysterious sci-fi project Tomorrowland(working title: 1952). We pointed out that a magazine buried inside the box is an August 1928 issue of Amazing Stories, the cover story for which – The Skylark of Space – deals with the discovery and implications of free energy; interstellar travel; and – contrary to denials by the film’s screenwriter Damon Lindelof – aliens.

Well, now we have a smidgen more info thanks to D23: the Official Disney Fan Club, which recently asked the Walt Disney Archives Director Becky Cline to help solve the other mysteries presented in Brad Bird’s photograph. Cline has numbered the items in the ‘1952’ photograph (above) and shared the following with D23 (note, in particular, the description of photo #4, which suggests a possible military link to this Disney project): 

1. "From the age, type, and conditions of the items I can see, I feel that the materials in the box were gathered together for a project from the past. Perhaps as research for a science-fiction-themed film, television, or park attraction, or even a futurism project like Walt’s vision of EPCOT."
2. "It looks like someone reused an old banker’s box from another Disney production. We don’t use this style of boxes anymore at the studio. There is another sticker on the cover of the box, but the text on the picture is obscured."
3. "Someone put tape over the original production label and hand wrote      "1952″ in pen—the brevity of the title and the fact that it’s handwritten sounds to me like it’s probably a working title. Both the studio and WED often used working titles before they came up with a final title of the project. “The Concert Feature” was what they called Fantasia before they decided upon a final name for example."
4. "On the top there are some old photos. The three that I can see are of Walt with visitors, probably taken here at the studio. The one on top is in our photo collection and I was able to identify the man with him as Major Woodlief of the U.S. Army Reserve General Fund. It was taken in September 1943. The Disney Studio worked closely with the United States government and military soon after the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force elements were stationed at the Lot for the duration of the war. I can’t identify the people in the other photos, but we have the negatives for the photos in our collection. They were taken in 1950."
5. "There is a large manila envelope sealed with a loose sticker. It appears to have material in it, but we can only guess its contents. From the size and shape of the envelope, I would guess it might contain maps, brochures, or some other kind of folded documents."
6. "The magazine that appears along with this curious collection of documents and objects provides more clues. It is a copy of the science fiction magazine Amazing Stories from August 1928. I got a closer look at the cover by looking it up online. It shows a man in flight wearing some sort of jet pack, powered by a hand-controlled device of some sort. After doing a little more research, I discovered that the cover story of that particular issue is the serialized novel The Skylark of Space, written by Elmer Edward "Doc" Smith and Lee Hawkins Garby. Walt was always interested in futurism and flight especially in the 1950s and early ’60s; in fact, for Disneyland’s Tencennial Celebration in 1965, he actually had a man fly down Main Street, U.S.A. with a jet pack. The man also did flight demonstrations in Tomorrowland in the Flight Circle."
7. "There are two slide boxes in the box, one features the Technicolor logo; the writing on the other white slide box is indecipherable."
8. "There is a 45 rpm record that appears to be a master disc. It is probably from the ’40s or early ’50s (these type of records pre-date magnetic tape recording). It’s definitely not the kind of record that is pressed and sold to the public. Unfortunately, its handwritten label is too blurry to decipher."
9. "There is a blue paperback book in the box. The title appears to be Moral Research. The spine has other writing that I can’t read—the author’s name could possibly be at the top, but I can’t make it out. There is another name that looks to me like "Roland"—probably the name of a fictive publisher."
10. "There is a small white box on the right side that looks like the boxes we use to store individual reels of 8mm film. There is no print that I can see for further ID."
11. "There is a U.S. mail letter on the right side. I can see two purple postage stamps, but the denomination is not clear enough to read."
12. "Under the photos, record, magazine, and the letter is what looks to me like one of the old peg-and-screw albums we used to use here at the Studio for scrapbooks. It appears to have more photos and perhaps art in it (artboard anyway). Under that are the old string accordion files that we used to use for clippings, documents, loose art, etc. And there are a couple of manila mailing envelopes, too."

Whatever it’s about, Tomorrowland is scheduled for release December 19, 2014.

The CIA, the Movie Mogul, and 'The Day the Earth Stood Still'

By Robbie Graham Silver Screen Saucers

First contact: The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)

Evidence mounts that iconic 1951 movie was CIA UFO acclimation project 

__________________________

 

• Darryl Zanuck – the movie mogul who oversaw the film’s production – was a CIA asset.

• Zanuck was considered a “friend” of the US government who could be “relied upon” to subtly “insert ideas” into his productions.

• Zanuck helped shape the script for The Day the Earth Stood Still and wanted audiences to “completely accept” that open ET contact could happen “in the not too distant future.”

 

ET Disclosure Event - Live Webstream February 7, 2013 - 7:00pm EST

PRG Press Release

ET Disclosure Event - Live Webstream

February 7, 2013 - 7:00pm EST

T O R O N T O

The Honourable Paul T. Hellyer, Former Canadian Minister of Defense will deliver the keynote address at a Toronto ET Disclosure media event on Thursday, February 7th, 2013 at 7 pm EST. This event is sponsored by a consortium of Toronto based UFO/ET disclosure advocates under the direction of Mr. Chris Russak. The aim of this special international media event is to preview and promote the upcoming Citizen Hearing on Disclosure due to take place in April 29-May 3, 2013 in Washington DC produced by Paradigm Research Group (PRG). 

This premier Toronto ET Disclosure event will be an advanced preview for the press and citizens of North America of what many are describing as powerful yet disquieting testimony by over 30 witnesses that will be assembled by Paradigm Research Group concerning the extraterrestrial presence engaging the human race. This testimony will be given at the prestigious Washington, DC National Press Club from April 29 to May 3.

·    The Toronto ET Disclosure event will bebroadcast live over the Internet for a small fee, with proceeds going to assist PRG in producing the April Citizen Hearing.

·    Those who register for the event stream can post questions for the guests on the Facebook site or email them: toetdisclosure2013@gmail.com

·    We intend to answer as many of them as possible on the evening of the event.

·    The webstream event registration can be accessed via a link found on the event Facebook page.

·    Toronto ET Disclosure Event Facebook Web siteat: http://www.facebook.com/ETDisclosureEvent

·    Please pre-register for the event as to avoid any delay on February 7th when the stream goes live.

Here is a direct link to the Toronto ET Disclosure Live Webstream Viewer and registration page: Toronto ET Disclosure Stream Page

Event Presentations:

Following Mr. Hellyer's keynote address, individual presentations will be given by PRG Executive Director Stephen Bassett and renowned Canadian UFO research analyst, Grant Cameron. Mr. Bassett's and Mr. Cameron's presentations will be delivered over Skype – from the US and Winnipeg respectively.

Each presentation will focus on the political implications and social impact of the disclosure of extraterrestrial related phenomena and the facts surrounding the associated 65 year UFO/ET cover-up of an extraterrestrial presence by the United States and Canadian governments and other G20 countries. These presentations will be followed by a question and answer period.

Mr. Bassett will also preview and discuss some of the testimony that will be given by over 30 witnesses at the Citizens' Hearing at the Washington DC National Press Club in April. Mr. Cameron will focus on his findings concerning documented involvement by US Presidents in the UFO/ET matter. Mr. Cameron will also provide the press with documentation surrounding Canada's efforts to seek information from American authorities about their top secret classification of the entire UFO subject.

The Toronto ET Disclosure Event Details:

Event name: Citizen Hearing on Disclosure
Date: Thursday Feb 7, 2013
Time: 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm
Location: Conspiracy Culture Book Store
1696 Queen Street West
Toronto, M6R 1B3

FACEBOOK REGISTRATION:

http://www.facebook.com/ETDisclosureEvent

Direct Webstream Link:

http://viewer.dacast.com/broadcaster/16393/c/18607

Contact Details
Chris Russak Event Co-ordinator - chrisrussak@gmail.com 647.992.9940
Victor Viggiani Media Liaison - zland@sympatico.ca 905-278-1238

Other Important Web sites:

Toronto Group Facebook Web site to register online to view and hear the Toronto event:
http://www.facebook.com/ETDisclosureEvent
Conspiracy Culture Book Store - Patrick Whyte - Owner and venue host:
http://www.conspiracyculture.com/
Third Eye Talks - Chris Russak:
http://www.meetup.com/ThirdEyeTalks/
Grant Cameron - Event Guest:
The Presidents UFO Website
Stephen Bassett - Event Guest:
Paradigm Research Group Portal
Victor Viggiani - Event Moderator:
Zland Communications
Hon. Paul Hellyer:
Paul's Main Website

 

Even More Chicks

It looks like about 3/4 of the albatross chicks have hatched so far.  That means there are only 100,000 or so to go.  We had no flight this week, so no new people or projects going on.  That doesn't mean I'm not keeping busy, especially since I'm leaving for a couple of weeks on Thursday.  I probably won't do a blog entry while I'm off island, but I'll be back in March.  

 We had a Super Bowl party today.  There weren't many 49er or Ravens fans here and I think there would have been more cheering if it were a Vikings/Patriots match-up.  At least it was a decent game.

 Every now and then the chicks fall out of the nests.  Sometimes the parents will move a few inches to cover them, but usually not.  They think that it's another bird's chick if it's not in the nest.  A few of the chicks haven't made it through the cool nights, so we put them back under the parents when we can.

 This Black-footed albatross chick has been left alone already.  It's a bit on the young side, but it can still be ok.

A Laysan albatross parent talks to its chick.

 Another new chick.

The dolphins followed (escorted may be a better word) us back from Eastern Island last week.

'Hangar 18', the CIA, and the Mormon Church

By Robbie Graham Silver Screen Saucers

Embedded below is a detailed write-up of my ongoing research into the historical corporate, political and religious connections of the film studio Sunn Classic Pictures -- the early output of which reflected a strong interest in Biblical figures and the idea of extraterrestrial visitation.

In the context of UFOs, the studio is perhaps best known for its 1980 conspiracy movie, Hangar 18...

This article was originally published at Earthfiles.com

 

Related:

Hangar 18 and Predictive Weirdness (by Mike Clelland)

A History of Government Management of UFO Perceptions through Film and Television

CIA Manipulation of Hollywood UFO Movies: New Details Emerge

By Robbie Graham Silver Screen Saucers

 

For the past few months I’ve been conducting fresh research into two Hollywood UFO movies that would appear to bear the fingerprints of the CIA: The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) and Hangar 18 (1980).

I recently discussed this research with Linda Moulton Howe and our conversation was aired last night on Coast to Coast AM with George Noory.

The full uninterrupted audio is also currently available for free at Linda’s Earthfiles.com, along with a complete transcription and accompanying images. The interview is split into two parts...

Part One deals with my research into the 1980 movie Hangar 18 and the corporate, political and religious connections of the studio that produced it – Sunn Classic Pictures.

Part Two deals with the iconic 1951 movie The Day the Earth Stood Still and the political and intelligence connections of the legendary movie mogul who oversaw its production – Darryl F. Zanuck. Particularly revealing is a memo Zanuck wrote to the movie’s screenwriter in 1950. Learn more at Earthfiles.com

PLEASE NOTE:

My discussion with Linda Moulton Howe, although detailed, really only skirts around the edges of my two case studies. For the full details of my research into both Hangar 18 and The Day the Earth Stood Still, please read the two articles (with full references) that will soon accompany the audio on Earthfiles.com. These same articles will also be posted in-full at Silverscreensaucers.com in the coming days.