This Fox Really Is Fantastic!

This has been a banner year for animation, with Upand Coralineleading the way, and smaller fare like A Town Called Panic boldly carving their own unique niches.  Now, opening this past weekend in New York & L.A. and across the country on Thanksgiving Day comes an adaptation of a Roald Dahl story from quirkmeister Wes Anderson that continues the cinematic excellence, but approaches it from a somewhat different angle.  The Fantastic Mr Fox is definitely one of the more unique animated films ever released by major studio.  As anyone who's seen the trailers can attest, this is old school stop motion animation, but not the smooth Nightmare Before Christmas type of stop motion or even the wildly entertaining Wallace and Gromit claymation look.  No, this is something akin to the hand-movedRankin Bass Christmas specials, with the cuteness extracted and replaced with coolness, and a little bit of edginess.  It's actually very refreshing to see an animated film that isn't constantly trying to wow it's audience with spectacular visuals; animation is used here simply because it's the best medium for telling this story.  The focus, as with all great animation, lies in a compelling story and engaging characters.  ( I hope Mr. Zemeckis is taking notes.)  The original Dahl story focuses on a fox doing what comes natural and stealing from three local farmers.  The farmers become obsessive in capturing the fox and practically destroy their farms in the attempt.  It's a fairly simple story, as children's books often have, but also has a generous helping of wit, sarcasm and sly humor like Roald Dahl children's stories have.  Wes Anderson has chosen to add a prologue and big finale to the story and changed Mr Foxes' family around a bit, but the story arc and characterizations stay true to Dahl's original.  The voice work hits every note flawlessly with George Clooney as Mr Fox and Jason Schwartzman as his son Ash being the stand-outs, and a nice cameo by Willem Defoe as Rat.  The whole film is just too much fun not to enjoy.

The aforementioned prologue has Mr Fox deciding to settle down, giving up his life of stealing chickens and sneaking around when Mrs Fox informs him that she is pregnant as they are about to be caught.  We skip ahead several years to see a domesticated Mr Fox working as a writer, but obviously lusting for some of his old life.  He moves his family from the underground den where they've been living into a tree overlooking the farms of Bean, Boggis & Bunce.  His early teenage (or whatever the equivalent is in fox years) son, Ash subscribes to the "nobody gets me" malaise that many of Anderson's characters carry around combined with a strong desire to impress his father.  Then Kristofferson (Ash's cousin) comes to visit due to his father's illness and Kristofferson is every bit the athlete that Ash isn't.  The Ash and Kristofferson characters are Anderson's greatest addition to Dahl's story, spicing things up internally with a rivalry/admiration angle that I'm sure many tweens & early teens watching can easily relate to.  To top it off, this addition never gets in the way of the main story, instead enhancing it and taking it in places Dahl hadn't though of, providing a much wider emotional range than the source material.  It's truly amazing how effortlessly Anderson weaves the teen angst angle in with the main story and makes so many other "adult" observations (male mid-life wanderlust, etc) throughout without ever detracting from the fun of the whole wonderfully ridiculous plot.  I really don't want to go into the story in any more detail because this is a film to be experienced, and if you just want to know what happens, without experiencing how we get there, you won't enjoy this film anyway.  This is one of those rare films that only Pixar seems able to come up with lately that can appeal to the entire family on different levels, and not feel like a total unsatisfying mishmash: no 3-D, no photo-realistic CGI, no completely inappropriate chase scenes, no pop culture references and fart jokes, no characters obviously put in to sell toys, just damn good story telling... that happens to be animated.

ROD'S HALLOWEEN JAMBOREE

Hey Guys,

ROD here! The Fall is my favorite time of year, and Halloween is something I start celebrating in early September and keep it going until the wee hours of the morning on November 1st when post-Halloween depression sets in Linus style. I offer this edition of ROD'S HALLOWEEN JAMBOREE to let all you music luvin' goons out there know what's cool to play in your CD players and ipods this Halloween season.

I've scoured the globe for these selections from the dusty discount bins of indy record stores to the corporate supercenters to the darkest, spookiest corners of the Internet to bring you the coolest new sounds to haunt your spirit this year, and it all starts with a blast to our make-up metal past as some classic rock heroes return from Rock Valhalla to blow more shit up.

You wanted the best. You got the best, and so does WalMart (try saying that with a straight face). KISS releases their first new CD in 11 years as a WalMart exclusive this month and since they seem incapable of doing anything with subtlety, "Sonic Boom" arrives with an entire section of the store known as the KISS Korner where you can buy not only the new CD, but also KISS Mr. Potato Heads, $5 t-shirts, action figures, throw blankets, Halloween masks and specially made KISS M&Ms!


For your hard-earned $12 you get 11 new songs, a second disc of newly re-recorded classics and a live DVD of six songs filmed in Buenos Aires during the "Alive 35" tour. I've just finished listening to the new songs, and I'm prepared to break it all down for you, but keep in mind I've been eating KISS M&Ms all day, so that may have had some effect on my faculties.

Hands down, this is best KISS music released in decades. After the disappointing reunion release, "Psycho Circus," 11 years ago, I thought it was likely KISS would just coast through their golden years as a nostalgia act. I'm happy to have been proved wrong, as "Sonic Boom" mostly succeeds as a retro-70s stadium anthem record.

The first single, "Modern Day Delilah," immediately throws down a hook-filled, nasty guitar riff as Paul Stanley shouts out his modern day preacher call of "Yeah, yeah!" It's fun and catchy without any filler, and might give the boys one more chance at radio friendly rock. "Russian Roulette" is Gene Simmons first turn at lead vocals and even at 60 years old he hasn't stopped growling out double entendres for his infamous one night stands: "This is Russian Roulette-One pull of the trigger is all your gonna get!"

"Never Enough" is an early favorite for best track on "Sonic Boom" for classic KISS fans, as it delivers the fun, foot-stompin' vibe of songs of yore that were meant to be played live in front of screaming hordes. "Yes I Know (Nobody's Perfect)" is another Gene ego boost and "Stand" is the type of "we are all one" song to the united KISS Army that recalls more recent pop rock records "Psycho Circus" and "Crazy Crazy Nights." "Hot and Cold" is the worst track on the record and best forgotten.

"All for the Glory" lets drummer Eric Singer try his hand at lead vocals, sounding a bit like a restrained Steven Tyler of Aerosmith and the chorus drives home the hook. "Danger Us" would be embarrassing in the hands of anyone other than Paul Stanley, who doesn't know the meaning of the term, and only he could pull off the hook: "Danger me! Danger you! Danger us!" "I'm an Animal" gives Gene one more track to growl through with hints of the classic "God of Thunder."

"When Lightning Strikes" gives new lead guitar player, Tommy Thayer, both lead vocal chores and a chance to prove his Spaceman guitar licks the equal of the beloved Ace Frehley. He rises to the task. Finally, "Say Yeah," closes the record with a buzz that's still stuck in my head. It's a live anthem meant to get the audience chanting, "If you're ready for a wild ride, Let me hear you say Yeah!"

Overall, it's a good return to form for KISS fans. The re-recorded songs on the second CD are given added thrust thanks to the drumming of Eric Singer who could drum circles around (God Bless him) Peter Criss. The live DVD is short, and it would have been nice if they included the entire show, but it captures the live experience of seeing thousands of crazy, pogo thumping fans in Buenos Aires chanting in between songs.

If you found "Sonic Boom" lacking something--say, Ace Frehley, then you'll be glad to know the Spaceman has also returned from his 20 year long vacation. I suppose he has been out there surfing the cosmos all these years, pondering the meaning of all things and writing new material along the way.

Well, Ace is back withAnomaly, and he's as spaced-out as ever. If you've listened to Ace's solo material before there won't be a lot of surprises here. At least he's comfortingly consistent. Twelve strange and sometimes unintentionally side-splitingly funny tracks assault the senses led by the first single, "Outer Space," which rocks pretty hard. Other highlights include a cover of Sweet's "Fox on the Run" and the over six minute instrumental "Genhis Khan." The rest, unfortunately, serves as filler, and then there's "Pain in the Neck" which doesn't begin to describe the pain gleaned from listening to it. For Ace fans only.

Another make-up metal titan also returns this month for a special Trick-or-Treat. Alice Cooper, the Vincent Price of Rock n Roll, has released a Halloween novelty song as an exclusive to iTunes, "Keepin' Halloween Alive." This is just something that makes me smile. The only downside is that this 2 minute and 15 second song is better than anything on Alice's last album,Along Came A Spider. Alice testifies, "I keep it going! I keep it going! I keep Halloween alive three hundred sixty five!" Amen.


Legendary horrorpunk icons, the Misifts (sans lead crooner Glenn Danzig), have also returned from the grave this Halloween offering two new tracks based on George Romero's zombie universe, "Land of the Dead" and "Twilight of the Dead." This is the first new material from Jerry Only's punk trio since 2003's "Project 1950" covers album. The cover artwork is by Marvel Zombies' Arthur Suydam. Limited edition clear red and orange vinyl records will be offered to the Fiend Club, but both tracks will be available for download exclusively from iTumes for 99 cents each on October 27th.

If you're willing to track down a copy of it, my highest recommendation goes toThese Ghoulish Things: Horror Hits for Halloween. This amazing collection of novelty songs from the late 50s and early 60s captures the spirit of the Monster Boom sweeping the country following "The Monster Mash," and includes several radio plugs from Bobby "Borris" Pickett himself. Aside from "The Munsters' Theme" and "The Addams Family Theme," these are mostly songs you HAVEN'T heard. You get 25 tracks that include "The Screamin' Ball (at Dracula Hall"), "Drac's Back," "Rockin' in the Graveyard," Zacherley's "Coolest Little Monster" and Bo Diddley's "Bo Meets the Monster." Be scared or be square!

One of my greatest discoveries of this year or any other, Story & Song From the Haunted Mansionwas a Walt Disney promotional record originally released in 1969 to raise awareness of the opening of the original Haunted Mansion ride in Disneyland. A cherished childhood Halloween record of mine, right alongside "The Chilling, Thrilling Sounds of the Haunted House," I stumbled onto the fact that Disney finally released this on CD this month.

The first track tells the story behind the Haunted Mansion, including the voice of a very young Ron Howard as one of two kids who gets caught in a thunderstorm and must take shelter in the creepy old manse. The narrator is voice-over GOD, Thurl Ravenscroft, who takes you through the ride scenes one by one.

The second track is the official Disneyland version of "Grim Grinning Ghosts," by F. Xavier Atencio and Buddy Baker, the theme song of the attraction that permanently resides in the Halloween memories of all boys who experienced the ride in their youth. Also included is the entire art booklet by Collin Campbell that accompanied the original album and hi-res, digital images of the artwork that can be accessed via your computer.

If this gets you in the mood to also revisit the original "Chilling, Thrilling Sounds of the Haunted House," that 1964 classic which was available throughout the 1970s was remastered as an iTunes exclusive last Halloween and is still available to purchase there. The first track, "The Haunted House," is a two minute fifty-nine second masterpiece that simply represents the best Halloween sound experience ever recorded. Nuff said!

Lastly, I stumbled on this TARGET store exclusive, "Spooky Sounds from Count Chocula Castle" while browsing through the Halloween section. Immediately eye-catching to anyone who grew up eating Monster Cereals on Saturday mornings watching "Scooby Doo," this is a sound adventure staring Count Chocula, Franken Berry and Boo Berry that takes the listener from the Count's Lair in Castle Chocula to the Bribe of Franken Berry in the Laboratory through the Secret Chamber in the Labyrinth of Knowledge to the Thrill on Boo Berry Hill in the Graveyard.

All the voices of the monsters are well recreated, and the recording does a pretty good job of making you feel like you're in a cartoon castle. Sitting in a dark room, you'll be swept away to your own private Toon Town. The storyline even includes a reference to "The Monsters Go Disco," a cardboard 45rpm that you could cut from cereal boxes back in the 70s. The only thing I was missing was Fruit Brute and Yummy Mummy.

I hope you enjoyed this Halloween edition of ROD'S HALLOWEEN JAMBOREE. ROD signing off from nether regions beyond.

Vampire's Assistant Doesn't Suck

New in theaters this week is the elephantinically titled Cirque du Freak: the Vampire's Assistant, based on a rather lengthyseries of young adult books and featuring typical teenager Darren Shan and his bad boy friend Steve, who's heavily into horror comics.  Steve and Darren venture out one night to the Cirque du Freak, a traveling freak show hidden in a back alley hosted by Ken Watanabe with a really weird head and a featuring a midget, a werewolf, John C. Reilly as Mr. Crepsley, whose act features an oddly iridescent trained spider, Salma Hayek as a future-telling bearded lady and others.  After the show finishes, Steve goes backstage to confront Mr Crepsley of being a vampire (based on a picture in a book of vampire lore) and wants desperately to become one, but Crepsley says he has "bad blood."  Unbeknownst to both Steve & Crepsley, Darren, who is fascinated with spiders, has witnessed their confrontation while stealing Crepsley's spider.  I don't want to give away much more of the plot than that, other than the obvious, which is that Darren grudgingly becomes the Vampire's Assistant of the title.  It should be noted that vampires here do not kill people, but do need to feed on blood, while the related "vampaneze" are quite evil, and regularly feed on humans.  This is a film that knowingly harkens back to teen horror films of the 80's likeMonster Squad,My Best Friend is a Vampire, and evenFright Night while also owing a lot to the Potter series and Todd Browning'sFreaks.  It's nothing earth shattering, but it's fun and goofy, and has enough surprises to keep things from slowing down.  There are some life lessons presented of course, but they're not heavy-handed and integrate completely with the story without derailing the ride.

We mostly follow Darren as he gets used to being a vampire and living with the Cirque du Freak and have plot points fed to us by Reilly about the ominous Mr Dez Tiny.  Chris Massoglia is fairly bland as Darren, but that's really what the role calls for, playing straight man to the freaks around him.  His surrounding cast is spot on with great turns by Reilly and Josh Hutcherson as Steve and pleasant surprises from Patrick Fugit (unrecognizable as the snake boy) and Jessica Carlson as a seemingly normal girl with a little surprise.  Also keep an eye out for Willem Dafoe in a role that answers the question of who should play director John Waters when the inevitable biopic gets green-lit.  If I have one quibble, it's that the film plays a bit like a set up for a series, which it technically is, so it's a little hard to fault it that, and in the time of Harry Potter, it's practically assumed.  Other than that, this is not something the gore hounds orTwilight fans will probably want to get near, but for those with kids who've passed the Pixar/Disney (tween & early teen) stage, it could be a movie you can share and enjoy together, which honestly is quite a feat.

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