By Tommy Dennis:

This week saw the release of the much anticipated third Drake album...Unfortunately, anticipating and delivering are two different things.  This album is living (or dying) proof.  After giving us two gems for his freshman and sophomore releases...Drake went to the well...no scratch that...septic tank and dropped a turd this time around.  I don't think he needs to waste any time prepping a Grammy acceptance speech for this effort.

From top to bottom the album just feels "cheap" and repetitive.  Like Drake is just rehashing the same old material we have heard numerous times before.  The beats sound very generic with little effort in the bridges and hooks.  Drake's raps are so erratic without much substance.  At times I felt like even he didn't know what he was talking about.  The Toronto rapper stayed on the same 3 subjects throughout the record without deviating much (his wealth, his crew, his b**ches).  Drake also came off as probably the only rapper that can whine ad nausea about such topics (I think he is suppose to like those things).  Drake himself seemed disinterested throughout the album in what he rapped/sang about so I wondered why I should care as the listener. 

I am not going to break down this album track by track (I can't stomach to), but I will give my best and worst songs.  My best......wait for it.....I liked one song only, called "Hold on we're going home."  This is a straight-singing song with an old school feel and a catchy drum beat (reminiscent of "I better find your love" from the first album).  The worst songs are numerous so I will just name the one that was the most annoying.  The first single "Started from the bottom" takes the cake.  The song is just so uncreative with the same simple chorus over and over and it just feels obnoxious.  We get it you made it and now you let your posse sponge off you, geez.  

In closing, there is another song called "305 to my city" on which Drake constantly states "I get it, I get it."  Well I think any one who listens to this will get that the latest Drake album does not live up to its predecessors.  The lack of his trademark smooth, yet complex flows and collaborations just make this feel like a rushed effort or lack there of.  The beats and rhymes are just so disorganized and unimaginative that it feels like some sort of joke.  as much as I like Drake as an artist I have to call it straight and give this one 2 out of 10 mics.  One mic is to shout "DONT BUY THIS CRAPPY ALBUM" and the other to beat myself repeatedly in the head for ever listening to this poop.

When it comes to TV shows and movies, we have to walk around on eggshells. We've all been at the mercy of not being caught up with a certain show or film, trying desperately to avoid spoilers, yet trying to stay connected at the same time. And we've all been at the other end of that conundrum, having just watched an amazing episode or movie and wanting to talk about it with anyone and everyone that's seen it, too. This new article focuses on the latter. BELOW CONTAINS SPOILERS AND NOTHING BUT SPOILERS! So, if you haven't seen Curse of Chucky, and want to remain spoiler-free until then, run. RUN NOW! Otherwise, get ready for some awesome spoiler discussion!

It's been rumored since early on in Curse of Chucky's production that the film takes place AFTER Child's Play 3 but BEFORE Bride of Chucky. We can finally put these rumors to rest due to a scene involving Nica conducting an internet search for "Chucky Doll Evidence." Several articles all come up, but if you look closely, the articles reference the location of the previous films (Los Angeles for "Seed," Niagra Falls & Hackensack for "Bride," Kent Military for "3," etc.) This lets us know that "Bride" and "Seed" did indeed take place. Further confirmation that we're in the here and now with "Curse" is the Chucky monologue scene. Chucky mentions that he's been going after Nica's family for 25 years, which would place the film in 2013.

While some may be disappointed in this news, I enjoy that they didn't try to erase any history. That's far too often what happens these days, especially with horror franchises. It's hard to tell where to place most other films. "Curse" does a fantastic job of wrapping everything together, and the spoilers we'll touch upon in the next few sections show just that.

Tough to really call this one a spoiler, but if you've been keeping up with interviews about the film, it was said that Writer/Director Don Mancini would toy with the audience a bit more. This meant less "alive time" for Chucky. This is true, but only in a sense. It's not long before we see Chucky actually move, as he reaches out for Alice in a jump scare scene early in the film. However, we don't hear Brad Dourif's first line of dialogue until 45 minutes into the film, almost exactly halfway through the film's run time. From there, there's plenty of Brad Dourif, but don't get discouraged if you came to hear Chucky talk. He does plenty of that, just not early on.

So, what makes Nica's family special enough for Chucky to show up on their doorstep? We're kept in the dark about the reasoning for 80% of the film, but there are small references in the sunflower paintings Sarah makes, as well as the home movies Nica shows to Jill and Ian. Meeting their family at what looks like a picnic, Charles Lee Ray quickly grows fond of Sarah and her family. Charles offs the dad soon after and kidnaps Sarah, keeping her in a basement. Sarah somehow notifies authorities, and before fleeing, Charles stabs Sarah in the belly, paralyzing Nica inside.

It's great to see Brad back in an on-screen appearance; his first in the series since the original film. That in itself is a HUGE deal for most fans. The backstory works and seems well connected throughout the film. It also sheds a bit more light on Ray's instability and gives a jump-off point for the first film. Ray flees the basement, only to be chased down and shot in the toy store by Detective Mike Norris. They even include footage straight from the original film! These scenes give us more background for the series than any of the other films combined!

How does Chucky get from home to home in that giant package? He certainly can't mail himself, now can he? The truth is: He has a little help from his friends. After the court scene where Nica is found guilty for all the murders that occur in the house throughout the film, a police officer grabs Chucky from the evidence and hops in his car. He then places a phone call, telling the person on the other end not to forget his money. Then, in a scene that calls back to Bride of Chucky, Tiffany rises from the backseat of the car and slices the officer's throat open. We next see Tiffany open the bag and ask Chucky "So, who's next?" We then see Tiffany shipping a rather large package, where it ends up where Alice is now living.

If you were going to bring Jennifer Tilly back, this was the perfect way to do it. I, for one, had grown a bit tired of seeing so much Tilly. It's not that I don't like Tilly, but she had become the focus of the series it seemed. This brings her back in a way that calls back to that incredible opening we saw in "Bride." It also explains some logistical loose ends.

Throughout the series, Chucky's main goal is always to transfer his soul from the doll to another human being. In one of the more eyebrow-raising moments of "Curse," it appears that Chucky finally gets his opportunity. Chucky is shipped to Alice's grandmothers house, where she's staying after the murder of her mother and father. Alice arrives home from school to see an opened package on the table and no grandmother in sight. Chucky pops up behind Alice, scaring for a second. However, Alice is glad to see Chucky again, as Alice still believes it was Nica who killed everyone. With Grandma "in the cellar," Chucky appears to have an open shot at transferring his soul with a willing and naive participant. However, the next spoiler we'll talk about seems to indicate that Chucky was unsuccessful, as it happens "six months later,"and Chucky is still a doll.

Now, there are many theories as to what could have happened. The "six months later" scene happens after the credits and could just be an easter egg and not canon. However, I think that if this were true, they wouldn't have given us a time frame for it. Another theory is that by Alice's grandmother popping up at the end of the film, that could've disrupted the ritual, causing Alice to run and setting up the events of what could be the next film in the series. If that's the case, then we're ultimately given spoilers by the scene after the credits for the next film. I'm sure there are many other ways this could work out, but it is something that has left me scratching my head a bit, but maybe that's exactly what they want.

If ever there were a reason to stay after the credits, this is it. With no reference to how Andy Barclay's been since 1991, fans had always wondered what Andy had been up to. Was he dead? Was he living a normal life? Was he piling up assault weapons and mapping out an intricate plan to slay Chucky once and for all? While the scene after the credits doesn't give us too many details, it does let a few slip. First off, Andy is alive and well, living in an apartment building. He receives a package he knows all too well, brings it in, and has a phone call with his mom. The phone call actually fills us in on a few things. One, Karen Barclay is alive and it sounds like she's living on her own and not in a mental hospital. Secondly, Andy says "Say hi to Mike for me," which indicates that she's married to (or at least involved with) Detective Mike Norris from the first film. It could be a different Mike, I suppose, but I'd like to think it's Norris. We can also tell by the pictures and the certificate from Kent Military Academy displayed that Andy had accepted his life as a military man, maybe even spending much of the 2000's out of the country. Andy pulls a rifle on Chucky and says "Play with this" as he blasts him in the face to end the film.

This might have been the most satisfying thing in the whole movie. Even my wife, who's not a fan of the series but knows the lore, was excited to see this scene. I've watched it several times since, and it gets me every single time. Props to Don Mancini and Alex Vincent for making this happen. You both made a lot of fans VERY happy with this small cameo. 

All these great developments bring new blood to the series. I'm more excited than I've ever been for the Child's Play franchise, and I look forward to more Don Mancini films. Mancini's been in the business for over 25 years now, and it feels like he's hitting his stride. I can't wait for the Blu Ray and all the extras that come along with it. I yearn to hear that commentary track! Here's to everyone involved with the film. You all deserve a standing ovation for this one...

Written by: Lexicon

It's a rare occurrence that when I review a film for this site, it's a series I'm truly a fan of. I mean, all the films I even bother with are ones that interest me in the first place, so there's always a good chance that I'll like what I'm watching. However, it's usually a film I'm "taking a chance on" via my local Redbox kiosk, and I'm always upfront and honest with each film I review. I must confess, in full disclosure, that I am a fan of the Child's Play series. Or Chucky Series. Call it whatever you want. "Child's Play" sounds classier, so I'll use that. However, that fact does not protect it from any harsh criticisms. Instead, the film does a fine job of protecting itself. Here's my review...

There have been rumors, as far back as 2008, that the original Child's Play film was getting a reboot. It was even mentioned in the commentary of the 20th anniversary DVD release. Years went by, however, and no news had been released. No news until just about a year ago, that is, when Universal announced Curse of Chucky, the 6th film in the long running series. It was set to be penned and directed by Don Mancini, the writer of the original Child's Play script. So, was it a good move to go for a direct-to-market sequel instead of a theatrical remake? The short answer for me is: Yes.

Curse of Chucky is mysterious and methodical to start. The film thrusts you into a large, gothic house where Sarah and her daughter Nica (a paraplegic) reside. They receive a package and yep, you guessed it, there's Chucky. Sarah is mysteriously murdered that very evening, and the rest of Nica's immediate family (sister Barb, brother-in-law Ian, niece Alice, and nanny Jill) come to the house for the funeral. Chucky begins picking people off one-by-one, and everything comes to a head. Sounds like the usual, and for the most part, it is. But there's a lot more to this plot than I can explain without spoiling too much. What I can tell you, however, is that Curse of Chucky is good. How good? Allow me to explain further.

Right off the bat, I need to commend Don Mancini on his direction of the film. Mancini was slaughtered by critics, and even fans, with Seed of Chucky (the last entry in the series before Curse). He took the response and used it as fuel to make "Curse." Not only is the plot sharply written, the camera work is stylish and elegant. Don't let the gore and special fx deceive you, this is a classy film. It's a classy film because Mancini respects film in genreal and isn't out to just cash in another check. Not only does he respect film, but he respects what he's built and the fanbase as well. This could have been a really boring, mundane 90 minutes in the hands of another director, but Mancini scratches the visual itch just as much as he does the itch for the series lore. 

There's a scene involving a game of Russian Roulette with a bowl of poisoned chili that is made up of beautiful shots and great suspense. Being a direct-to-market film, the budget on this movie was low. In fact, it was the lowest budget in the series. Yet Mancini was able to hold a professional look. Unfortunately, the thing that looks the most cheap at times is the doll. This is my biggest gripe of the film. Depending on the shot, Chucky goes from looking like the plain ol' Good Guy Doll, to having a feminine chunk-face. It's weird, and some will get caught on that for sure, but it was a small gripe in the grand scheme of things. 

The majority of the film takes place in the aforementioned gothic house. I didn't mind this, but it was good when we got a shot from outside. That's what a small budget will do to you, though. And like I stated above, Don Mancini masks this with good writing and interesting characters. Fiona Dourif (the daughter of Brad Dourif, the voice of Chucky) does a masterful job of playing Nica. Obviously, playing a paraplegic isn't the easiest of tasks, so I give Fiona a lot of credit. Each of the other actors give their characters a genuine feel, and Brad Dourif kills (no pun intended, I swear) as Chucky once again.  

By the end of the movie, I was like a giddy little girl. All the references in this film to past films is genius. It's like a treasure hunt for Chucky fans. It all wraps up together. From musical queues to old camera shots; from one liners to flat-out old footage... this film drips of a love letter to the fans. Curse of Chucky is rewarding, fulfilling, jaw dropping, and just a damn good film. A lot of people have complained about it being a direct-to-market film, and I know the stigma that has with it, but I love that it's direct-to-market. I no longer go to the theater, as I don't believe sitting in a room with 50 or more other people is the way to watch a movie in this day and age. I loved watching this on my living room TV by myself with only my thoughts of past films and their connection to Curse to distract me. Kudos to Universal for this call and kudos to Mancini for taking on (and kicking the shit out of) that challenge. When Curse of Chucky was over, I felt satisfied. Satisfied as a longtime Child's Play fan. Satisfied as a horror-enthusiast.

I find myself struggling to write this review, because I want to spill the beans about all the great stuff jammed into this film, especially the stuff jammed in for the fans of the previous 5 films. But I want to keep this as spoiler-free as possible. So, if you're interested in hearing my thoughts on the MASSIVE SPOILERS, I will be writing another article soon containing all the juicy details.

To wrap this up, not only can I recommend Curse of Chucky to fans of the series, but I can recommend it to horror movie fans in general with complete confidence. It's a perfect flick for Halloween, but I suggest you watch it before then as well. Curse of Chucky is currently available through digital download, with the DVD and Blu Ray coming out on 10/8.

Reason to Stay After the Credits: YES!! DON'T MISS THIS SCENE!!!

By Tommy Dennis:

It's been a while since wrestling was discussed in my articles (like never), but I like to discuss the gold ol' days of wrasslin so here goes.  In a world where WWE is the big shark or even the only shark of wrestling home video...there have been some great independent documentaries.  One great underground documentary is "Forever Hardcore."

This 2005 classic was directed by Jeremy Borash (yes the TNA guy) and featured uncensored and in depth behind the scenes history of ECW.  This is achieved via in depth interviews with the hardcore legends themselves. 

Names like Terry Funk, Sandman, Sabu, New Jack, and Francine give the inside scoop down memory lane. 
What stands out is the vivid detail that the most memorable moments in ECW are described with commentary.  The "night the line was crossed" in which Extreme Championship Wrestling came to be is put in perspective by Shane Douglas (including his now legendary "shoot" promo).  New Jack holds no punches in describing his many controversial matches including the one that lead to his arrest!  My favorite moment was Terry Funk and Sabu (who rarely does interviews) discussing their brutally famous barbwire match that they have the scars to show for.

This low budget video has become an underground legend because of the pure and gripping honesty it brings home.  There is no filter or conflicting interest to censor the details.  In WWE video ECW releases there is always that thin level of barrier since Vince McMahon's company owns the rights to the former hardcore company.  This video does not involve anyone with a financial conflict that might sugarcoat old stories involving current wrestling money banks.  

Pre-Show Panel:  Josh Matthews, Alex Riley, Booker T., & Santino Marella
Announcers:  John Bradshaw Layfield, Michael Cole, & Jerry Lawler
Spanish Announcers:  Carlos Cabrera & Marcelo Rodriguez
Ring Announcers:  Justin Roberts & Lillian Garcia

Tag Team Turmoil Match -
1) Tons of Funk defeated 3MB when Tensai got the pinfall on Drew McIntyre
2) The Real Americans defeated Tons of Funk when Jack Swagger made Brodus Clay submit
3)  The Real Americans defeated The Usos when Jack Swagger made Jimmy Uso submit
4)  Prime Time Players defeated The Real Americans when Darren Yound got the pinfall on Jack Swagger to become the #! Contenders for the WWE Tag Team Championship

WWE Intercontinental Championship Match -
Curtis Axel defeated Kofi Kingston via pinfall to retain the WWE Intercontinental Championship
Referee:  John Cone

Fatal Four Way Match -
WWE Divas Championship -
AJ Lee defeats Natalya, Brie Bella, & Naomi via submission on Natalya to retain the WWE Divas Championship
Referee:  Rob Zapata

World Heavyweight Championship Match -
Rob Van Dam defeats Alberto Del Rio via disqualification when Del Rio would not break on the count of five
*Alberto Del Rio remains the World Heavyweight Champion
Referee:  Charles Robinson

The Miz defeated Fandango via submission
Referee:  Mark Harris

No Disqualification Handicapped Elimination Match -
CM Punk eliminated Curtis Axel via submission
Paul Heyman defeats CM Punk via pinfall
Referee:  Mike Chioda

WWE United States Championship Match -
Dean Ambrose defeats Dolph Ziggler via pinfall to retain the WWE United States Championship
Referee:  Chad Patton

WWE Tag Team Championship Match -
The Shield defeats The Prime Time Players when Seth Rollins lands the pinfall on Titus O'Neal to retain the WWE Tag Team Championship
Referee:  Chad Patton

WWE Championship Match -
Daniel Bryan defeats Randy Orton via pinfall to win the WWE Championship
Referees:  Scott Armstrong & John Cone

The next time we will be bringing you pay-per-view coverage will be on Sunday, October 6th for WWE Battleground.  Our coverage begins at 7pm with a live pre-show, live chat during the event, and when it's over a live post show recapping everything that went down.

We will also be streaming live match results as they happen on Twitter @RantEMRadio

Source WWE.com

WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross announced that he is retiring from WWE today, after 20 years of service, to focus on his personal business endeavors.

Jim has had a long and storied career at WWE, both on the corporate staff as well as his television persona, calling some of the most memorable matches in WWE history as the voice of Monday Night Raw and SmackDown for more than two decades. He made his debut with WWE at WrestleMania IX in 1993 and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2007 by his long-time friend “Stone Cold” Steve Austin.

Jim has made many contributions to WWE and the sports-entertainment industry, and we thank him for his many years of service and wish him well.

If you aren't familiar with the oddness of a Rob Zombie film, or Rob Zombie in general, there will be several things in the first few minutes of The Lords of Salem that will have you turning the film off in disgust. I'll be frank, so to not waste your time reading this review: If you didn't like any of Zombie's other films, you won't like this, either. Okay, so I guess if you're still reading this, you like Zombie's films and are excited to hear what sort of macabre situation Rob sets us up for. Let's get into it, but I'm warning you, there's no turning back...

Rob Zombie's latest dive into horror is about witches. I have to admit that when I first heard what the film was about, I was skeptical. I'm usually not a fan of witches in movies, unless it's Hocus Pocus, because that movie is all sorts of awesome. But I'll save that for October and The Graveside Report. Back to The Lords of Salem. A group of witches from Salem, MA is hunted down by Rev. John Hawthorne for performing "the devil's music" in the woods of Salem, but they are doing much more than that. The coven has chosen a woman to be the surrogate for the devil's child. After performing a dance around the fire... naked (full frontal)... they cut the baby right out of the pregnant woman. However, when the child is born a normal human, the lead witch (played by Meg Foster) repeatedly spits in the baby's face. It's an intense opening, but it's only prep for the rest of the weird stuff to follow. The scene certainly makes the viewer uncomfortable, even if the baby is obviously an animatronic.

We jump forward to present day where we see Heidi (played by Sherri Moon Zombie), a local Radio Personality. Heidi is a part of "The Big H" radio show, teaming with Herman "Whitey" Salvador (played by Jeff Daniel Phillips) and Herman "Munster" Jackson (played by Ken Foree). The film takes place over a week, and at the start of that week, Heidi receives a vinyl record at the station sent by "The Lords" in a wooden box. When played, the music makes Heidi shut down and envision the burning of the witches seen in the first scene. The record is played over the air and the group is dubbed The Lords of Salem. As Heidi hears the record more, she begins to go crazy, which leads to a few "didn't really happen" scenes. All the while, Francis Mathias is trying to crack the code of this mysterious record, biting off a little more than he can chew. Not wanting to spoil too much, that's all I can say about the plot. It's strange. It's odd. It's Zombie.

Sherri Moon Zombie does a fantastic job as Heidi, and you can tell that the role was written for her. She plays all her ranges superbly and has the right "look" for the character and the subject matter. However, my favorite performance was Bruce Davison as Francis Mathias. Davison brings a much welcomed kindness and enthusiasm to the film as the could-be heroine. There are a few Zombie regulars, like Ken Foree, but I was surprised by the lack of usually suspects. Sid Haig apparently shot a scene for the film, but the scene was cut in editing, which is very unfortunate. Even though the style of the film is familiar to what Zombie has done in the past, it's set in Massachusetts, which is quite a change of scenery from anything else he's done. Still, Zombie hits the mark with the feeling of the Northeast, and everything works on that level. 

More than any of his other films, it feels like Zombie's vision was inspired, specifically by Stanley Kubrick. Quite a few times you'll notice nods to The Shining and Eyes Wide Shut. It makes for an explosive combination that can be hit or miss. One thing I always look for when I'm reviewing a film is how it stuck with me the next day. There are several images that have stuck with me after watching The Lords of Salem, and for that, I can appreciate it. However, the movie takes a turn down a dark alleyway, and for that, it mars the experience. I believe that films are art, but I also believe that they need to keep one foot on the ground. The Lords of Salem leaps into insanity in it's third act, leaving me scratching my head a bit. Apparently, some have claimed that Zombie meant this to be a "metaphorical and spiritual" prequel to his Halloween films. Is this suggesting that Michael Myers is the devil's child, or does it have a more abstract meaning?  

I've enjoyed all of Zombies films, but I'm not sure where I'd place this one. It satisfies the "crazy imagery" itch, but falls short in the story department. It limps across the finish line with a blown hamstring after sprinting through the first two acts. Still, The Lords of Salem is worth a watch if you're also a fan of Zombie's previous works. It's worth it just to say you saw some crazy shit, and trust me, you will see some crazy shit.

Reason to Stay After Credits: NO