Major Shuffle At The Movies

At The MoviesAccording to ABC News one of the film critic world’s most vocal fans of Splinter, Ben Mankiewicz and his co-host Ben Lyons are being replaced on their show At The Movies formerly hosted by Siskel & Ebert, Ebert & Roeper, etc. 

The two Bens had some really nice things to say about Splinter during its run at the boxoffic, and again when it hit DVD. Once with a message to Hollywood imploring “…more movies like Splinter, fewer movies like Friday the 13th…” You can watch all three mentions HERE, HERE, and HERE. 

Who will replace them? Michael Phillips of The Chicago Tribune who has not reviewed Splinter, and The New York Times’ A.O. Scott who had this to say about the film back in October 2008: 

“Working from an efficient, bare-bones script by Ian Shorr and Kai Barry, the director, Toby Wilkins, honors the conventions of the genre with skill and enough wit to keep the scares sharp.”

I wish the two Bens the best, and welcome the new gang to the world of TV. Maybe ABC will go back to naming the show after its hosts since Scott & Phillips rolls off the tongue a little better than Lyons & Mankiewicz?

At The Movies Again!

Fast establishing himself as one of the critic world’s biggest fans of Splinter, At The Movies’ Ben Mankiewicz gives the film a third rave review, and we deeply appreciate it.

Watch it right here, right after “The Reader” review from Ben Lyons:

Click to watch Ben’s FIRST and SECOND mentions.

“A really realistic sense of terror and fright.” - At The Movies

Back in October Ben Lyons and Ben Mankiewicz of At The Movies gave Splinter a rave review, though the two hosts aren’t generally fans of the genre they had nothing but good things to say about Splinter returning to the roots of horror. Thanks guys. 

The clip used to be hosted on their web site, but recently disappeared. So I have made it available here. Please don’t copy it or whatever, and please don’t sue me for trying to spread the word.

Yesterday on At The Movies, the two Bens (Lyons and Mankiewicz) praised Splinter as “taking the genre in a new direction while still delivering the basic horror elements that fans want”. See the clip above for the complete story. 

I played this clip for some of the cast and crew who were at my house tonight celebrating (more about that later) and we all gave a cheer. Thanks to the A.T.M. guys for the mad props, and thanks to Jason for bringing it to my attention.