MMA: Josh Barnett Warns UFC Heavyweights

It’s confirmed! Former UFC heavyweight champion Josh Barnett, also known as “The Warmaster”, is officially back in the UFC.

The announcement came in yesterday night from USA Today, and now the man that took the strap from Randy Couture at UFC 136 in 2002 went to twitter moments ago to warn UFC heavyweights that the enemy has returned, and the division isn’t a safe place.

The enemy has returned. I’ve signed w/the @ufc & no heavyweight is safe. They’re all due a lesson in violence from the Warmaster. #ufc #mma

— Josh Barnett (@JoshLBarnett) May 22, 2013

Barnett won his last fight in STRIKEFORCE via submission over Nandor Guelmino, and his current pro mma record is 32–6. The first opponent for Barnett hasn’t been announced by the UFC yet. However, he is expected to make an impact in the division that is already stacked with high-profile talent.

The Human Centipede 3 Starts Shooting This Friday

I think I smell Tom Six‘s anus around the corner because reports are saying that his third and final installment in The Human Centipede franchise will begin shooting this Friday in the Monterey Park area. The Human Centipede 3 (Final Sequence) was originally scheduled to go into production last year, but due to legal issues between Six and actor Dieter Laser from the first Human Centipede, filming was put on hold.

Now that Laser settled his differences with the director, he will be joined by Laurence R. Harvey in part III as “a villainous duo with a storyline no one will expect”, according to EW.

Additionally, Six previsouly mentioned that the film will feature a “a big American celebrity”, and that his goal to put together a 500+ person human centipede is still on.

I’m sensing the set of The Human Centipede 3 will be over flooded with shit by the time filming ends, and in a weird way I’m looking forward to it all in the film once the final version is complete.

ScreampiX

Are you a horror fan? If you’re reading Yell! Magazine, you just might be. Well, there’s good news for you today; ScreampiX, the first horror-based YouTube subscription channel, launched today.

So what you say? YouTube has tons of free movies available. Sure, you’re right, but the flicks on ScreampiX are full-lenghth, unedited, and without commercials. With over 200 hours and more than 100 movies to choose from, ScreampiX also offers trailers, interviews, and more.

Founder, Daniel March, stated:

“ScreampiX is more than a movie channel; We are creating a vertical video portal to satiate horror fans by taking subscribers deeper into the genre, offering advanced levels of curation, encouraging interaction around the movies, and ultimately creating a very active and lively community.”

ScreampiX offers subscribers a ton of categories to choose from, and there’s a user-suggested shelf.

ScreampiX is available in the U.S. and Canada right now for $2.99 per month. Additional launches in the UK, France, and Brazil is anticipated later in the year.

Rock Hard \m/

Hannibal (Season 1) – “Fromage”

One thing I am beginning to notice about Hannibal, is that each week is some sort of lesson combined with the whole killer of the week formula. Even though Hannibal didn’t take any massive leaps forward in terms of the overall story during this episode, it was still one of the most interesting episodes of the season so far.

This week’s lesson is in friendship. What does it mean to have friends? Why are people attracted to certain people, and why do some people just seem to isolate? These are just some of the questions raised this week.

Tobias, from a few episodes back, is revealed to be a talented musician and teacher. Tobias, in case you don’t remember, is friends with Hannibal’s obsessive patient, Franklin. We know something is off about Tobias fairly quick. He just feels off and it doesn’t seem like the episode wants to keep his secret all that secret. Tobias is a serial killer, and he has taken an interest in Hannibal.

Hannibal Lecter has been having a lot more screen time in recent episodes. Last episode was pretty focused on Lecter, and revealed a bit about his past. We have also been getting a good dose of the killer side of Lecter, the montage last week was pretty awesome, but this week has an ending that just might top it.

Graham didn’t seem to have much to do this week. He did his normal routine with the murder recreations. Though this time around it seems as though his fantasies may be crossing over into his reality. He is beginning to hear things. He also had a slight slip up that I think some of his comrades picked up on. With Crawford already so cautious with Graham, this may come back to play a bigger role at some point.

Again this was mainly Hannibal’s episode as we are slowly gaining more insight into both his killer side and his somewhat “sensitive” side. Some of the best scenes of the past couple episodes have been Hannibal seeing his own psychoanalyst, Dr. Bedelia Du Maurier (Gillian Anderson). These have really been the best insights into how complex Hannibal really is.

I can’t tell if Maurier suspects something or not. She clearly understands that Hannibal isn’t all he says he is. She makes comments of the constant walls and masks he throws up to disguise himself. I don’t think her suspicions are sinister as of yet, but I think this relationship is one that can and should be expanded upon in future episodes.

It is at this time I would like to point out that there has still been no official word on whether or not Hannibal will be renewed. It is just about the only show left still in limbo, and while we know it will get to finish out its first season, we are still left in the dark. One thing to note is that the show has international producing partners. This is certainly making things a bit more complicated and they really seem to be taking time deciding.

In a way this makes me optimistic because most on-the-fence shows would have been cut by now. My suspicion is that all the praise from the Internet is playing a part in the decision. We will let you know the fate of Hannibal as soon as we know!

During the presentation by EA Sports, interview clips from UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones and rising MMA star Anthony Pettis were shown to gamers, along with athletes from other sports. Additionally, EA teased the new Ignite engine that will enhance games with human intelligence, true player motion, and living worlds.

You can take a quick peak at what new sport games will look like in the trailer above, which also features the famous Showtime Kick by Anthony Pettis on Benson Henderson.

Check it out!

Hannibal (Season 1) – “Sorbet”

Finally, we get our first Hannibal-centric episode. At least more so than other episodes. The episode has a beautiful opening of an opera singer at an art gallery. Hannibal is in the audience and when the performance is over, he appears overcome by emotion and is the first to stand while clapping. This is really the first great look at what makes Hannibal so dangerous compared to the other serial killers Graham is used to catching. Hannibal is not some textbook psychopath.

This week’s episode of Hannibal had Graham continue to chase the Chesapeake Ripper. A man is found with organs harvested and Graham needs to determine whether it is the work of the Ripper or not. This was a fun episode because we get to see Hannibal go to work. Aside from seeing him kill in a flashback, this is the first time we know Hannibal is murdering people. The montage of him making dinner and choosing his victims is done expertly.

I haven’t done this a whole lot, but I want to take a moment to compare this show to Bates Motel. Both shows are interesting in their own ways, but Hannibal is easily the superior series. Despite the often times standard “killer of the week” set up, Hannibal has some of the most interesting character development I have seen in what is basically a cop drama.

In many ways, Hannibal is actually the more Hitchcockian of the two shows. I think this is because it truly utilizes the “bomb under the table” theory. We all know that Graham is chasing the Chesapeake Ripper, and we all know who the ripper actually is. We do know what Norman Bates will become, but it is not used in the same way Hannibal is used.

One of the best touches to this suspense are the dinner parties that Hannibal throws. We all know what’s really in those meals, but the characters don’t and that’s what makes things so suspenseful. [Editor's note: In the last scene of this episode I was wondering if Hannibal's comment was an inside joke to the viewers or one to his dinner guests, because, as guests of his lavish party, they were all cannibals.]

When thinking about the show recently, I couldn’t help but want for a bit more comic relief. The show tends to be all dread and I found it refreshing that tonight’s episode had some very nice black comedy moments. Black comedy seems perfect for the show and hopefully it’s something they pursue in the future.

The one thing that is still sort of bothering me is what happened to Abigail Hobbs? Her story and growing relationship with Hannibal was becoming an interesting dynamic to the show. There was a brief moment when she appeared in a dream during this episode. One would think that indicates she is not forgotten. Here’s hoping they bring her back in at some point soon.

Speaking of Abigail, I have seen the unaired 4th episode of Hannibal and will be reviewing it soon.

Alyce Kills – directed by Jay Lee and starring Tamara Feldman (Hatchet), James Duval (Donnie Darko, Doom Generation), Eddie Rouse (Pandorum, Undertow), and Larry Cedar (The Crazies) – was released on VOD today (May 21st) and will hit select theaters this Friday (May 24th).

But before you watch, consider if you’d be plagued by guilt if you accidentally killed your best friend.

Rock Hard \m/

Matthew Riddle – Bellator

Former UFC welterweight Matthew Riddle is officially back in the game, but now he’s got his hands tied up with rising competitor Bellator after his Legacy FC contract had been bought out by the promotion. Although, he didn’t actually use the word “kickass” in his statement released on Monday, the dude sounds ready to show off his skills again in the cage, and possibly win Bellator’s Season 9 Welterweight Tournament this fall on Spike TV.

“I had so many options after I left the UFC, but knowing that I was able to compete in a tournament against guys like Paul Daley, Ben Saunders, and Douglas Lima, signing with Bellator was an easy decision,” Riddle said. “This division is just so stacked, and being able to fight in a tournament makes it even better. Bellator is doing a lot of great things right now, and I want to be a part of it.”

Riddle has had issues in the past with testing positive for marijuana in post-fight drug tests, yet Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney is convinced they made the right call in signing him up for the tourney.

“Matt’s got all the tools to be a force in our welterweight division,” Rebney said. “When I saw Matt get released from the UFC coming off 4 straight wins including his dominant win over Mills in February, we took notice. We both realize that Matt will have a target on his back for his past indiscretions. But having discussed it with him, I’m comfortable that he’s in the right place to enter the Bellator cage this fall in what will be the most loaded Bellator Welterweight Tournament in the promotions history.”

Additionally, Riddle also commented on his goals with Bellator, and to meet Snoop at the MTV Awards next year.

“No questions asked, I want to win the next Bellator Welterweight Tournament, get my shot at the title and take my beautiful wife to the MTV Awards and meet Snoop Dogg,” Riddle remarked. “I’ve seen all the pictures of Bellator guys walking red carpets and it’s something I want to earn and be able to do. What could be better than that?”

Nymphomaniac

For those of you who enjoyed the rawness of Lars von Trier‘s Antichrist, especially the opening sex scene between Charlotte Gainsbourg and Willem Dafoe in the shower, which gave the viewer a glimpse of real penetration performed by body doubles for a split second will be happy to hear that Trier’s upcoming film Nymphomaniac is going to be as explicit as this scene.

However, Trier is now pushing the envelope by digitally-imposing all the loving that happens below the waist of an actor with a body double. Hence all the real hardcore sex will appear like the actors are actually performing it.

“We shot the actors pretending to have sex and then had the body doubles, who really did have sex, and in post we will digital-impose the two,” says Vesth. The producer added that Von Trier is also “using double exposures and imposing words and symbols over the action as part of his storytelling.”

Sure, it may not be as ambitious as in how director Gaspar Noe would dream to shoot a sex scene in a film considering he said that he would prefer actors to perform real sex, but the technique Trier is aiming for will be as impressive, in my opinion.

Nymphomaniac stars Charlotte Gainsbourg, Stellan Skarsgard, Shia LaBeouf, Jamie Bell, Connie Nielsen, Christian Slater, Uma Thurman, Willem Dafoe, Jean-Marc Barr, and Udo Kier.

The film is set to release on May 30, 2013 in Denmark.

Amon Amarth recently revealed the trailer for their forthcoming mini documentary (above). Fittingly titled Forging Mjölnir, the short film will appear as a three-part series with each official segment slated to premiere via the band’s microsite (unfortunately, you have to join and register). The trailer shows band members as they talk about their earliest musical influences.

Check out Deceiver of the Gods’ opening title track:

Amon Amarth on tour

Following a run of European festival dates next month, Amon Amarth will be opening the main stage of this year’s edition of the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Fest set to commence June 29 in San Bernardino. See confirmed dates below.

Amon Amarth Summer 2013 European Festival Tour:

6/01/2013 Forta Rock Festival – Nijmegen, NL
6/06/2013 Sweden Rock Festival – Solvesborg, SE
6/07/2013 Rock Am Ring – Nurburgring, DE
6/08/2013 Sonisphere – Sonisphere, FR
6/09/2013 Rock Im Park – Nurenberg, DE
6/11/2013 MeetFactory – Prauge, CZ
6/12/2013 Eter Club – Wroclaw, PL
6/14/2013 Copenhell – Copenhagen, DK
6/15/2013 Noval Rock – Nickelsdorf, AT
6/16/2013 Download Festival – Donington, UK
6/21/2013 Nummirock – Nummijarvi, FI

Amon Amarth Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Fest 2013

6/29/2013 San Manuel Amphitheater – San Bernardino, CA
6/30/2013 Shoreline Amphitheatre – Mountain View, CA
7/02/2013 Idaho Center Amphitheatre – Nampa, ID
7/03/2013 White River Amphitheatre – Auburn, WA
7/05/2013 Desert Sky Pavilion – Phoenix, AZ
7/06/2013 Isleta Amphitheatre – Albuquerque, NM
7/07/2013 Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre – Englewood, CO
7/09/2013 The Intersection – Grand Rapids, MI w/ Children of Bodom, Job for a Cowboy, Battlecross, Huntress
7/10/2013 Molson Canadian Amphitheatre – Toronto, ON
7/12/2013 First Niagara Pavilion – Burgettstown, PA
7/13/2013 Toyota Pavilion – Scranton, PA
7/14/2013 Darien Lake Performing Arts Center – Darien Center, NY
7/16/2013 Comcast Center – Mansfield, MA
7/17/2013 Bangor Waterfront – Bangor, ME
7/19/2013 Susquehanna Bank Center – Camden, NJ
7/20/2013 Saratoga Performing Arts Center – Saratoga Springs, NY
7/21/2013 The Comcast Theatre – Hartford, CT
7/23/2013 PNC Bank Arts Center – Holmdel, NJ
7/24/2013 Jiffy Lube Live – Bristow, VA
7/26/2013 Klipsch Music Center – Noblesville, IN
7/27/2013 First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre – Tinley Park, IL
7/28/2013 DTE Energy Music Theatre – Clarkston, MI
7/29/2013 Expo Five – Louisville, KY w/ Children of Bodom, Behemoth, Emmure, Motionless In White, Born of Osiris, Job for a Cowboy, Battlecross, Huntress
7/30/2013 Lakewood Amphitheatre – Atlanta, GA
7/31/2013 Live Nation Amphitheatre – Tampa, FL
8/02/2013 Austin 360 Amphitheatre – Austin, TX
8/03/2013 Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion – The Woodlands, TX
8/04/2013 Gexa Energy Pavilion – Dallas, TX
8/05/2013 Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre – Kansas City, MO w/ Rob Zombie, Machine Head, Children Of Bodom
8/07/2013 Pop’s – Sauget, IL w/ Children of Bodom, Battlecross, Huntress
8/08/2013 Marathon Music Works – Nashville, TN w/ Children of Bodom, Battlecross, Huntress
8/09/2013 Peabody’s – Cleveland, OH w/ Children of Bodom, Battlecross, Huntress
8/11/2013 Heavy MTL Festival – Montreal, QC

Rock Hard \m/