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Mark Morgan wrote:

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I know I'm really stepping in it here, but I kind of like The Asylum. I was young in my teens when Full Moon really hit its stride and I fell in love with their cheapo direct to video films. Around 95 or 96 Charles Band seemed to lose that spark of over-the-top cheese that made his work so enjoyable for me, but Asylum does have my attention.

Perhaps they don't quite have that Full Moon vibe. I've generally considered them to be a cross between Full Moon (which I do love (the pre 95/96 stuff anyway) and Troma (which I'm not a fan of). They're shameless exploitation films have found a place in my heart, and besides that, any company that makes a movie called "Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus" can't be all bad.

When I hear a title like "Mega Shark vs Giant Octopus" my first thought is, if that's the best title they can come up with the film must be all bad. But I know what you mean. I appreciate the energy and chutzpah that comes out of The Asylum and I commend their dedication to genre films. They are one busy "studio." I even enjoy the shameless hucksterism of piggybacking Snakes On a Train on Snakes On a Plane and so on. Not even William Castle had their kind of nerve. The Asylum started out as distributors of independnet films and then became producers / distributors of independent films. I could take that remark a step or two further, but I'd better not. I've watched a dozen of their DVD's recently, and I would criticize The Asylum for three major faults: digital capture (even Monogram shot on 35mm film) which undermines the suspension of disbelief, reliance on mediocre writing at best, and too many kids behind the camera. I know the audience is young and so should the casting be, but jeez, too many of their films turn out to be about inexperience.

Mark Morgan wrote:

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So now they're taking on Sherlock Holmes? I hate to say it, but from what little I've seen of this project (or perhaps because of it, who's to say?) I'm actually looking forward to it more than Robert Downey Jr.'s upcoming film, and I really, really WANT to like that one too, I just don't think I will.

I do realize that the Asylum's treatment will in all likelyhood fail to be the most respectful outlet for Holmes and his legacy but then ... what can I say? It looks fun! Perhaps this isn't the most eloquent defense of the film, but it's all my B-Movie addled mind can come up with just now.

You have a point here.
I'm more curious about The Asylum's attempt to do Holmes and Watson than with the big-budget star-driven major film.
I'm NOT looking forward to Guy Ritchie's unorthodox Holmes; we've seen too many let's-try-something-different-with-Holmes attempts before.
I concede it will probably be entertaining and successful, but it sure as hell won't be Holmes and Watson, and calling these new characters Holmes and Watson is essentially dishonest.

Wouldn't it be something if The Asylum upstaged the majors with a better quality film instead of just more nerve?

Richard