Full Moon Reviews Turns FIVE YEARS OLD!!!

Are you serious? Has it been FIVE YEARS already? While I started my blogging on MySpace back on October 1, 2006, I created Full Moon Reviews as a back-up for any reviews I posted on that ancient social networking site. I never thought I would be doing this for as long as I have, or that Full Moon Reviews would even be around. I'm close to 600 reviews now, thanks to anyone who has supported the blog by spreading the word about it, reading, and sending comments about the stuff I write. Last year, the blog was close to 400,000 views, which I thought was amazing at the time. Now, Full Moon Reviews is very close to 700,000 views, which just boggles my mind. I met a lot of great people through this blog, and now through the video stuff I've recently filmed.

I took a two month break due to burn out and frustration. But celebrating FIVE YEARS makes me realize how blessed I have been to do this and it means so much to me that people still care to read or watch my reviews. Having people tell me "welcome back" after my short break meant the world to me. So thank you to all of you who have even bothered to view my blog. FIVE YEARS OLD - just boggles my mind, guys.

I had a lot of fun within the last year on this blog. The theme months were more successful than I had ever believed. This is especially the case with SHARK SUMMER, which ran in July and August. Who knew so many people loved shark films? I knew reviewing JAWS would get views and comments, but I never thought two other shark films would exceed the film that started it all.

I also thought SEQUEL SEPTEMBER went well also. I think reviewing THE HERETIC: EXORCIST II was the most fun during that month, just to hear what so many others had thought of it. I still think it's a crappy flick, but at least it's somewhat entertaining.

HORROR MOVIE MONTH in October didn't go down exactly how I wanted it to due to competing in the Facebook challenge, Halloween Horror Movie Madness - in which you have to watch a bunch of horror films to gain points. I wanted to do an all classic horror theme, but trying to watch so much horror in a short amount of time burnt me out. I think that was the reason why I was so quiet earlier this year. It was just too much for me. I get invited every year, but I think I may take a break from it for this year's HORROR MOVIE MONTH to make up for last year's.

Also, doing video reviews again has been an experience. I will continue to make video stuff, just not sure how frequent. Writing the review for EVIL DEAD (2013) a couple of days ago made me realize why I had done it that way for so long. I do have videos planned, but it won't be an every day thing. Plus, no one wants to look at my ugly mug anyway, so it's probably for the best. But they were pretty successful and I definitely see that networking visually would be beneficial in the long run.

As for what's coming up this year, I have a lot of stuff planned. Within the next two months, expect TWO franchises being covered - one for THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS franchise [I can't believe they've gone through six already] and one for the SUPERMAN franchise [those should be fun]. Also, SHARK SUMMER II will take place during July and August again. However, I may make July be more shark-oriented, while August would be ANIMAL AUGUST [focusing on killer animal films in general]. Haven't decided yet on that. SEQUEL SEPTEMBER will return, as well as HORROR MOVIE MONTH. Also, I may make November a focus on the great Stephen King and his movie adaptations.

As for video content, I still plan on doing "A Film For Every Year I've Lived", as well as trying to review every single zombie movie ever made. Let's see how long it takes before I become a member of the undead doing this.

Thanks again to everyone who has supported me and my blog in any way. You guys are the best and it motivates me to reach that SIXTH birthday. Some great stuff coming up, so stay tuned.

- Fred [The Wolf]


TOP 10 MOST VIEWED POSTS [from 4/12/12 to 4/12/13]

10. THE THING (2011)
Posted January 18, 2013, this post has 773 views.

This review came about due to many in the horror community celebrating John Carpenter's birthday. This "prequel" to his much beloved and respected remake of THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD (1951) isn't as bad as many believe it is. It doesn't match the greatness of the Carpenter classic, but I appreciate the attempt to connect itself to a much better film. This was also a video review that honestly didn't do well in terms of views on YouTube. So I'm still not sure why it got so many views on my blog.

9. CABIN FEVER (2002)
Posted April 12, 2012, this post has 796 views.

This was the first review, right after I posted Full Moon Review's FOURTH birthday post. This was a film I had wanted to review for a long while, since many had requested it. It gets a lot of hate [mainly due to Eli Roth, who I never had an issue with], but I still think it's a good gory flick that's a nice homage to older films that inspired it. Much better than that terrible sequel. I'm with Ti West - I'd like to forget that film even exists myself.

8. IRON MAN 2 (2010)
Posted April 25, 2012, this post has 806 views.

This review came about during my look at the films that brought forth THE AVENGERS film. One of my least favorite films of Phase One [Mickey Rourke was criminally underused here], but still a worthy superhero sequel. I will be posting a review for IRON MAN 3 in a few weeks for sure.

7. THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012)
Posted July 22, 2012, this post has 1,003 views.

The final Christopher Nolan BATMAN film definitely had a lot to live up to. And while I prefer 2008's THE DARK KNIGHT more, I still find TDKR to be a fitting conclusion to a fantastic trilogy. Tom Hardy as Bane still rocks my socks. Thank you, sir, for erasing that horrible representation in 1997's BATMAN & ROBIN.

6. 6 DEGREES OF HELL (2012)
Posted December 8, 2012, this post has 1,024 views.

I'm really surprised at how many views this review received. Sure, it "stars" Corey Feldman [top billing, but only in the film for 5 minutes], but nothing about this film or review screamed "must read". I guess the marketing prior to it was done well, which resulted in many reading my review for this film. Too bad 6 DEGREES OF HELL was one of the worst films I watched last year. Decent premise but terrible execution.

5. TEXAS CHAINSAW 3D (2013)
Posted January 5, 2013, this post has 1,058 views.

TEXAS CHAINSAW 3D was my return to making video reviews, and quite successfully I may add. It was the first horror film of 2013, which probably resulted in the many views I received for it. Still think it's an average flick with dialogue that will be remembered for years. "Do ya thing, Cuz!" - so silly. But glad to see Leatherface back on the big screen regardless.

4. 2-HEADED SHARK ATTACK (2012)
Posted on July 31, 2012, this post has 1,063 views.

Judging by the amount of views for this review and the number one post within the past year, a lot of my readers love B-movie shark flicks. Then again, who wouldn't want to read my thoughts on a shark movie that starts Charlie O'Connell, Carmen Electra, and the fantastic thespian work of one Brooke Hogan? This movie was too silly to really hate, although I wouldn't watch it again any time soon. I do look forward to Brooke Hogan's porn version of 2-HEADED SHARK ATTACK. After all, she is trying to follow her father's footsteps, right?

3. THE AVENGERS (2012)
Posted on May 5, 2012, this post has 1,214 views.

While not the best film of 2012 [that would be ARGO], THE AVENGERS is still my favorite of last year. Just a lot of fun to watch with my cousins and a sold out theater crowd. I'm a huge comic book geek [and a big Avengers fan], so this was nerd heaven for me. I know many try to reveal all the flaws and why THE DARK KNIGHT RISES was superior. But I don't care. It had a ton of fun watching it and I still do when I watch it at home. I can't wait to enjoy Phase Two, on the road to THE AVENGERS 2 in 2015.

2. THE CABIN IN THE WOODS (2012)
Posted on April 15, 2012, this post has 1,568 views.

I may not like it as much as I do now, but at the time, THE CABIN IN THE WOODS was probably my favorite horror film of 2012. I think Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon did a great job dissecting horror, giving us their take as to why so many sub-genres follow the same template over and over again. Like I said, the film doesn't hold up as well on repeated viewings, but I loved it the first time I watched it - even if some people didn't and thought it was overrated. It won't change horror, like some said, but I thought it was a great step in the right direction for the genre.

1. SHARK ATTACK 3: MEGALODON (2002)
Posted on July 24, 2012, this post has 2,027 views.

"I'm a little wired... what do you say I take you home and eat your pussy?" Does anymore need to be said as to why this review was so popular?


TOP 10 MOST VIEWED REVIEWS [April 12, 2012]

1. 1408 (2007) - 14,192 Views

2. WITCHBOARD (1987) - 10,933 Views

3. ELVIRA MISTRESS OF THE DARK (1988) - 4,242 Views

4. BABYSITTER WANTED (2008) - 2,986 Views

5. A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET (2010) - 2,526 Views

6. SCREAM 4 (2011) [Video Review] - 2,317 Views

7. TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES (1990) - 2,129 Views

8. MORTAL KOMBAT (1995) & MORTAL KOMBAT: ANNIHILATION (1997)  - 2,085 Views

9. 2001 MANIACS: FIELD OF SCREAMS (2010) - 1,973 Views

10. THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE 2 (1986) - 1,960 Views


TOP 10 MOST VIEWED REVIEWS [April 12, 2013]

1. 1408 (2007) - 58, 824 Views

2. WITCHBOARD (1987) - 23,748 Views

3. ELVIRA, MISTRESS OF THE DARK (1988) - 5,513 Views

4. BABYSITTER WANTED (2008) - 3,748 Views

5. TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES (1990) - 3,262 Views

6. A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET (2010) - 3,122 Views

7. NIGHT OF THE DEMONS (2009/2010) - 3,014 Views

8. NEIGHBOR (2009) - 2,969 Views

9. 2001 MANIACS: FIELD OF SCREAMS (2010) - 2,722 Views

10. PIRANHA (2010) - 2,655 Views