History Channel’s “Serial Killer Earth”: More Mindless Nonsense

Thanks to the History Channel, we now know that hurricanes do, in fact, cause damage to houses.

Ah, the latest from our friends at the History Channel and family! While I can happily report that this new show has nothing to do with aliens, bigfoot, Mayans, or doomsday destruction, it also most certainly has nothing to do with history. Shocker there! Titled Serial Killer Earth, this installment does not give us insight into some of the most infamous serial killers to walk the earth, such as Jack the Ripper or Son of Sam (the list is endless), providing endless fascinating shows on the psychological aspects of murder, instead it chooses to focus on how the earth is actually a serial killer in itself, with different natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods killing thousands of people year after year. I fully admit, I was extremely disappointed when I watched the commercial after reading the title somewhere else and was expecting something interesting, but alas, I should know better…shouldn’t I?

Upcoming Interview: Actor Josh Cruddas

With the New York Rangers now eliminated from the NHL Playoffs, we will now be resuming our full-throttle coverage of Copperhead. As promised, we will hopefully be bringing you some interviews of cast and crew members, and our first one will be with actor Josh Cruddas, who will be playing the role of “Jimmie”. We just spoke by email a few hours ago, and I have sent him the questions. I do not know how long it will take, given the shooting schedule, but I am looking forward to hearing what he has to say!

The Rise and Fall of the 2011/12 New York Rangers Part I: Greg’s Thoughts

One goalie leaving, the other in his prime. Could this be a passing of the torch?

This is going to be a two-part series, the second of which will feature some guest writers and their take on the surprising rise and disappointing fall of the New York Rangers in this 2011/2012 season.

The NHL playoffs can be described as one word: relentless. The pace is non-stop, the play is aggressive, and there is never a moment’s peace where one can step back and take a deep breath. On that basis alone, one could argue that the New York Rangers have been in the playoffs for the entire season, starting before the season actually started. Playoffs are full of endless trials and tribulations, elated moments of victory and agonizing moments of defeat. It does not matter how it ends, and people rarely think about how it even begins. For the Rangers, it started with a 10,000 mile trek across Europe for some pre-season match-ups with local teams, culminating with two season-opening games in Stockholm, Sweden against the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks. When they returned to North America, they then had to go on an elongated break and even more road games, as Madison Square Garden’s phase one transformation had not yet been completed. It took a while for the Rangers to get going, but once they did, there was never a break. Even with some bumps in the road along the way, the Rangers managed to lose three regulation games in a row only twice in the regular season, and then once in the playoffs. They did all of this while being watched by HBO’s cameras 24 hours a day, seven days a week for the month of December, and then had to prepare for a mini-Stanley Cup game, as I refer to the Winter Classic, against the Philadelphia Flyers in Citizens Bank Ballpark, in front of 50,000 fans, a game which they won with a late comeback and some stellar goaltending.

“Around the NHL”: NBC vs. the Hockey World, Marty Chants, Three-Goal Leads

Well, ladies and gentlemen, it’s game day at last, with the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils slated for a big Game Six matchup in just under ten hours. This series has been very exciting, regardless of who you root for, but a lot has also been happening off the ice as well; some crazy, some stupid, some funny. (Okay, it’s the NHL so of course it’s mostly stupid.) It’s time we take a look at that, and go Around the NHL…

• When NHL games were being played on Versus, and before that, the ridiculous Outdoor Life Network, there was never a limit to the amount of what we hockey pundits could make fun of, because those networks were just…well…stupid. Remember when hockey games were being sandwiched between deer hunting, bass fishing, and extreme cage fighting? Remember when the network changed, and they launched a campaign for fans to show them your “V” (which stood for Versus…I hope; whatever that meant). Bottom line is, the networks were so bad that no one ever really made fun of the actual broadcast, because it looked like Emmy-worthy material when combined with everything else. Now that the NHL is on the highly esteemed NBC Sports Network (if I rolled my eyes any harder at that, they would get stuck facing the inside of my head), broadcasts are losing some of their luster. Aside from Mike Emrick, whose announcing has been flawless, does anyone see a point to having Pierre McGuire and Eddie Olcyk even being a part of the team? They add absolutely nothing; no enlightening comments, no inside knowledge, no nothing. All Pierre does is loft obvious questions with obvious answers toward Eddie, who, nine times out of ten, completely ignores it before saying something else. “I’d say that was a good save, wouldn’t you, Eddie?” No, you idiot, it was horrible. Tie game in the third period, why would that be a good save?

New York Rangers Playoff Musings: Team Depth, Struggles, and Wade Redden

With the New York Rangers only one loss away from being eliminated from the Eastern Conference Finals, the farthest point in their playoff lives since 1997, all the what-if questions will now start to rear their ugly heads. While in a few weeks, regardless of the now ominous outcome that seems likely to unfold, we will all sit back and say this season was a success, and an immense one at that, but for now, positivity must be shelved to address the current problem: why are the Rangers having such a difficult time in these playoffs? While I was angry the last time I wrote about this team, something I do not do much anymore on this blog, I just want to make it clear that no matter what happens, no one can question this team’s heart and character, but unfortunately, heart and character do not win hockey games on their own, they act as a compliment with skill and help drive teams toward winning.

“Copperhead” Photo Update #2: Beautiful Background Shots of Kings Landing

Some more beautiful shots of the Copperhead set at Kings Landing, taken from the film’s Facebook Page:

The New York Rangers are Digging Their Own Grave

Yes, give credit to the New Jersey Devils for coming out guns blazin’ in each of these first four Eastern Conference Finals games against the New York Rangers. You must give credit where credit is due, however, if the Rangers lose this series, a result I am now unfortunately leaning towards, even with it tied, they can only blame themselves. They never have or ever will make things easy on themselves or the fans that ardently watch them and spend exorbitant amounts of money to see them play live, because that is the curse that hovers over this team, ever since television announcer Sam Rosen bestowed on them, “This one will last a lifetime!” moments after winning the Stanley Cup in 1994. Even that team could not get it done easily, loaded with all-stars and future hall-of-famers. Comparisons have been drawn between this current team and that legendary one, and all I can do is laugh at that, because that team at least had the killer instinct. Make no mistake, I do not want this to seem like a full-throttle damning of a team that finished first in the Eastern Conference, and yes, always performs well with their backs against the wall, but that is exactly the problem. They cannot seem to focus unless they absolutely have to, such as when facing elimination or coming off an extremely poor performance.

“Copperhead” Press Release: Actor Josh Cruddas in a Supporting Role

Here is the latest press release, regarding Canadian actor Josh Cruddas, who has landed a very important role in Copperhead:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Canadian Actor Josh Cruddas Lands Supporting Role in American film, Copperhead, Starring Jason Patric and Angus MacFadyen.

Halifax actor Josh Cruddas has landed a supporting role in Ron Maxwell’s Civil War film, Copperhead, currently filming in King’s Landing, New Brunswick.

A story of the violent passions and burning feuds that set ablaze the homefront during the Civil War, Copperhead is an examination of the price of dissent, the place of the individual amidst the hysteria of wartime, and the awful cost of war—a cost measured not in dollars but in fractured families, broken loves, and men dead before their time.

For those who have read the book by Harold Frederic which the film is based upon, you will be interested to know that Cruddas plays Jimmy, who is the book’s narrator – we see the story through his eyes and embark on Copperhead’s journey with him.

Cruddas, also an award-winning film score composer and singer, has worked as an actor with Atlantic Canadian regional theatres such as Neptune Theatre (Oliver, The Sound of Music), and Halifax Theatre for Young People (The Gravesavers). He has also played principal roles on television productions including HBO Canada’s Call Me Fitz and Discovery Channel’s Titanic: The Aftermath. A resident of Halifax, Nova Scotia, he trained at Dalhousie University’s Acting Programme.

Copperhead, directed by the man behind Gettysburg and Gods And Generals, is expected to be released in 2013.

You can visit his IMDB page by clicking here.

And of course, please visit the special page we have dedicated on the blog for this film, and always remember to check it out for the latest Copperhead information!

Three Exclusive Photos from the “Copperhead” Set

Well, ladies and gentlemen, you asked for some behind-the-scenes photos, and here they are! Just received these from the production a few minutes ago, fresh from the set of Copperhead. There will be more to come.

Cinematographer Kees Van Oostrum (left) with director Ron Maxwell on the set of “Copperhead”.

Ron directing a scene.

Actor Agustus Prew, playing the role of Ni, getting ready for a scene.

And of course, please visit the special page we have dedicated on the blog for this film, and always remember to check it out for the latest Copperhead information!

“Copperhead” Fan Poll #1: Whose Performance Are You Most Excited For?

It’s time for a poll to take the pulse of Copperhead Nation, so I shall ask you all a very simple question: which actor or actress appearing in the film are you most looking forward to seeing? Though I am a fan of Jason Patric, having seen him in The Lost Boys, The Beast, and The Alamo, I can actually picture him in his role as a stubborn and righteous farmer caught up in the turmoil of the Civil War. I do not know why, but it just fits him well—though I do not know the intricacies of the plot, I can see him quite clearly performing as he is expected. Therefore, it is actually Angus Macfadyen, and not the New York-born Patric, who I really am eager to catch a glimpse of, whether it be a behind-the-scenes picture, or a little bit down the road, in the trailer and eventual film. Macfadyen is probably the most recognized actor in the cast, because, quite frankly, who hasn’t seen Braveheart? “Every man dies, but not every man really lives,” and you surely have not lived until you have seen that film, which includes his exquisite performance as Robert the Bruce. I shall save my full characterization of both he and Patric for a later time, but for now, I just have to say that I cannot get his depiction of the Scottish Noble out of my mind, perhaps because it is the only film I have seen him in. The highly talented actor of Scottish descent has to work through a lot on his plate to become an 1860′s Upstate New Yorker, but I think he can get the job done…don’t you? So there, long story short, that is my reason.