SLAM!

👀

The Disney/Pixar factor alone will have some folks (who are cautious or less knowledgeable) predicting its nomination for pretty much the rest of awards season. As we get closer to awards season though, I think stronger films will ascend through the critics circles and Lightyear will eventually get crowded out.

@CayomMagazine Klonoa: Door to Phantomile has been postponed indefinitely, Groundswell now confirms. “Narrative similarities between Aurora and Klonoa have emerged,” says a spokesperson, “and we want each of our films to come across as unique as possible.” Meanwhile, Jorge R. Gutierrez and Groundswell have come to a mutual agreement that Milk Ninja doesn’t have enough of a story to it, so that project is being shelved indefinitely. Groundswell is going back to the development board to brainstorm more original animated film concepts.

@CayomMagazine Get ready for some JESUS JUICE a refreshing cranberry experience sure to make your taste buds say, "hallelujah!" Kids love Jesus Juice, and adults do too! So go to Wal-Mart or Target and buy a case of Jesus Juice right now! And remember, it's really just cranberry juice... right? Get ready to REACH OUT AND DRINK FAITH when Jesus Juice hits theaters on NOVEMBER 20TH, Y10

@CayomMagazine Studio Groundswell is proud to announce an exciting partnership with the following animation company: Groundswell will provide Cayom audiences with a different kind of superhero by launching the groundbreaking Tatsunoko Cinematic Universe. Through this partnership, Groundswell will be creating fun, vibrant, and offbeat films in the superhero film genre. Each film will feature predominantly Asian-ethnic ensemble casts. Groundswell has decided to set the franchise's tone by making Yatterman, a January Y10 release, the franchise's first film. Yatterman is about two kid geniuses named Gan and Ai, who race to thwart a group of thieves trying to steal scattered fragments of the Skull Stone (which leads to a gold deposit if combined). Attached to star are: [teenage Japanese-American actor] as Gan/Yatterman-1 Miya Chen as Ai/Yatterman-2 Rinko Kikuchi as Doronjo (slick, sultry leader of the Dorombo gang of thieves) Harry Shum Jr. as Boyacky (thief) Don Lee as Tonzura (thief) Daisuke Tsuji as Gan's Dad Ally Maki as Gan's Mom Brian Tee as Ai's Dad Keiko Agena as Ai's Mom and Ken Watanabe as Dokurobei (the elusive Dorombo gang boss)

@CayomMagazine Studio Groundswell will release an independent horror film during May Y10. A film by X’s Ti West, The Shell is a hard-R southern gothic zombie horror film where grotesque-looking zombies attack about twenty-five-ish people at a country river-house during an oyster roast. On the poster, it’s a picture of an unshucked oyster sitting isolated on a white folding table, and there’s some blood splattered on it. The film will feature chaotic zombie pandemonium and tell a story about the corruptibility of human nature, as well as the preciousness and fragility of human life.

@CayomMagazine [The following films have been conceived as semi-fillers at this time, so their announcements have been paired together.] *** Studio Groundswell will adapts Capcom's classic Onimusha video game franchise, starting with Y10's Onimusha which adapts film one in the franchise, Onimusha: Warlords. The film is an English-language Hollywood-produced movie with Japanese-American actors; the film is set in 1500s Japan and follows a warrior and a ninja who must save a princess when Inabayama Castle is overrun by demons. The film stars: Ryan Potter as Samanosuke Akechi Lyrica Okano as Kaede Miki Ishikawa as Princess Yuki Onimusha comes to theaters this March. *** Studio Groundswell is proud to announce an animated adaptation of Klonoa: Door to Phantomile, which will be directed by Lightyear filmmaker Angus MacLane. Groundswell is eyeing an April 17th release date. No casting announcements at this time.

@CayomMagazine Studio Groundswell is proud to announce its next fairy tale reimagining following Tongue Tied. Aurora, directed by Countdown City’s Mimi Leder, retells the story of Sleeping Beauty and follows Princess Aurora as she’s tricked into pricking her finger—but in a twist, Aurora wakes up in a dream, and she must navigate the dream world to find a way back to consciousness. Therefore, Aurora, an alleged cross between Sleeping Beauty and Lucid, reimagines the titular “Sleeping Beauty” as a far more active character than some narratives have suggested in the past. The part of Princess Aurora will be played by Thomasin McKenzie. The film is eyeing a Christmas Day Y10 release.

@CayomMagazine Studio Groundswell is proud to announce a collaboration with influential animator Jorge R. Gutierrez to create a 3D-animated action/comedy film tentatively titled Milk Ninja. The story follows an anthropomorphic brown cow in a Zootopia-ish city who either becomes a ninja or begins the story as part of a secret ninja clan. "We're not quite sure exactly where we're going with our story," said a spokesperson, "but there's a lot of ways we can take this." Rosarios Dawson will star in the leading role, and the voice ensemble will be comprised predominantly of Hispanic voice performers. Groundswell has selected the specific date of September 18th, Y10 as a nod to Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15th—Oct. 15th).

@CayomMagazine Studio Groundswell is officially committing to releasing their fantasy action western, The Needles of Haystack County, in Y10! The film, directed by Ant-Man and The Mandalorian filmmaker Peyton Reed, will still star Dacre Montgomery and LaKeith Stanfield as Wesley Baker and Brian Baker, known colloquially as The Baker Brothers, who share the goal of reversing a mysterious curse that turned all the men of their sleepy village town into humanoid cactus people. Needles of Haystack County is film one of a series; in this film, Wes and Brian get a band together and follow a lead to a cure supposedly acquired by Lady Luck (Sandra Oh) and her ragtag posse of Chinese railroad workers gone rogue. "The Needles of Haystack County is both an alternate-universe western and a revisionist western," said a spokesperson, "in the sense that it reimagines the western setting as a diverse place where folks of all types are heroes and villains. We won't shy away from shining a spotlight on the injustices of the time period and hope that the story of Wes and Brian, stepbrothers who form a lifelong bond stronger than skin and blood, motivates audiences to come together and be less afraid or exclusive regarding the people around them."

@CayomMagazine Studio Groundswell is proud to announce that an adaptation of the crime manga/anime series Banana Fish will finally be coming to theaters in June of Y10. The film will be directed by Contraband, 2 Guns, and Beast filmmaker Baltasar Kormákur. "We took a top-down view of the whole of the franchise and saw that if a few of its minor characters were cut, it would be more than possible to whittle the story down into an exciting two-hour film," said a spokesperson. Groundswell is proud to announce that Oscar nominee Nick Robinson (Learning to Care) will play the role of young New York gang leader Ash Lynx. Opposite him, Mackenyu (Pacific Rim: Uprising, Netflix's One Piece) will star as Japanese photography apprentice Eiji Okumura. Other cast members include Joel Kinnaman, Tadanobu Asian, Eddie Liu, Remy Hii, Ludi Lin, Winston Duke, Alicia Silverstone, Evan Alex, Alfie Allen, and Bobby Cannavale. Interestingly, Cannavale has replaced John Malkovich for the role of mafia boss Dino Golzine, with a spokesperson citing that the Groundswell executives believe Malkovich has aged out of the role.

*Charles Remington puts cards on the table.* Thanks, Mr. Remington! Time for another event! PICK A CARD, ANY CARD @4815162342 @MCKillswitch123 @YM! Because you three had films in my Top 5, I want you to pick one of the cards below. The card you pick determines which of my Y10 films I make magazine announcements about first. Also, the three cards picked represent the only three films I can pick from when choosing which film to write an Oscar Trailer for! This is a suspenseful situation, so choose your card wisely! CARD 1: TATSUNOKO CINEMATIC UNIVERSE FILM ONE CARD 2: CRIME THRILLER CARD 3: FANTASTICAL ACTION WESTERN CARD 4: ORIGINAL ANIMATED FILM CARD 5: SATIRICAL COMEDY CARD 6: FAIRY TALE REIMAGINING

@Alpha @Blankments @cookie @El Squibbonator @Ethan Hunt @Ezen Baklattan @4815162342 @lamamama @MCKillswitch123 @Reddroast @Rorschach @Xillix @YM! So normally I'd be offering pre-read films immediately after posting my completed Top 25 list; but recent events have caused me to contemplate whether or not I want to do that. The question that arose was, what happens when something happens and the player who picks a film to pre-read... Doesn't pre-read it? Whether due to not having time or something else? It happened with one film this game year, and it probably caused emotional strife on both ends; that's emotional strife that I want to avoid in the future! Plus, I was also thinking of the ethics of pre-read options... Like, I'm telling Top 5 placers, "hey, guess what, your prize is the opportunity to work for me!" Yeah, I don't think so. Something's iffy about that. And the last thing I want to do is take advantage of other players. Collaborate? Yes. Take advantage? No. So here's the new thing I'm doing: Slam! opens the treasure chest...

Slam's Full Top 25 List 1 || The Queen Who Never Was 2 || American Spy 3 || Matilda and the Night Children 4 || Tongue Tied 5 || Runaway Train 6 || Heremias 7 || Kirby and the King's Caper 8 || Revenge Ex 9 || Invader Zim 10 || The Mirage 11 || Inspector Gadget and Penny 12 || Land of the Crescent 13 || Alakazam! 14 || The Boy Who Hated Books 15 || Second Dimension: Last Hope 16 || Mechamen 17 || Dancing in the Doghouse 18 || Acne 19 || The Crummy Shindig 20 || Warmth 21 || Raven Island 22 || Someone's Grace 23 || The Next Good Day 24 || HOOOOOPs 25 || Ultraman: Dark Future

And last but not least... #2 #1

#3

#4

Posting #5, then #4, then #3, and the #2 and #1 together, starting with #5... #5

#10 #9 #8 #7 #6

#15 #14 #13 #12 #11

#20 #19 #18 #17 #16

#25 #24 #23 #22 #21

SLAM! MOVIE REVIEWS TOP 25 OF Y9 Hello! Tonight I'll be posting my top 25 films for Y9. No funny business, no games, I'll just be posting the films five at a time! Here are my honorable mentions: Honorable Mention #1 Honorable Mention #2 Honorable Mention #3 Honorable Mention #4 Honorable Mention #5 Honorable Mention #6

SLAM! MOVIE REVIEW'S Y9'S TEN MOVERS AND SHAKERS

SLAM! MOVIE REVIEWS December Issue Spotlight December Review Scores