FIRST LOOK: Watchmen Ultimate Cut DVD/Blu-Ray...

Warner Brothers has unveild the much anticipated (as /Film put it) double-dip, the Watchmen: The Ultimate Cut DVD set. Featuring 5 discs for DVD and 4 for Blu-Ray, this will hit stores and myn house on November 3rd 2009. Check out the specs below.

DVD Details:

Disc 1:
• Watchmen: The Ultimate Cut Film
• Audio Commentary with Zack Snyder and Dave Gibbons
Disc 2: Over 3 Hours of Special Features
• The Phenomenon: The Comic that Changed Comics
• Real Super Heroes, Real Vigilantes
• Mechanics: Technologies of a Fantastic World
• Watchmen: Video Journals
• My Chemical Romance Desolation Row
• Under The Hood
• Story Within A Story: The Books of Watchmen

Disc 3: Digital Copy of the Theatrical Version
Disc 4 and 5: Watchmen: The Complete Motion Comics

Blu-Ray Details:

Disc 1:
• Watchmen: The Ultimate Cut Film
• Audio Commentary with Zack Snyder and Dave Gibbons
Disc 2: Over 3 Hours of Special Features
• The Phenomenon: The Comic that Changed Comics
• Real Super Heroes, Real Vigilantes
• Mechanics: Technologies of a Fantastic World
• Watchmen: Video Journals
• My Chemical Romance Desolation Row
• Under The Hood
• Story Within A Story: The Books of Watchmen

Disc 3: Digital Copy of the Theatrical Version
Disc 4: Watchmen: The Complete Motion Comics
BD-Live

I have the Director's Cut of the film, and honestly, while I may purchase this thing based solely on how F****** gorgeous the set looks, there really is no need to buy this thing. If you DON'T have the Director's Cut, then buy THIS version, but really, there is no way that just by adding in Tales of The Black Freighter (a solid animated film and key part of the graphic novel), that it can make Watchmen all that much more intriguing. That said, or 44$, this is easily the best bang for your buck in terms of Watchmen. However, if I didn't know about that Criterion Collection releases DVD's, I would say it's a great value overall. While I love Watchmen, simply go buy the Director's Cut, and save up some money for say, A Woman is A Woman on Criterion. Just my humble opinion.

Go see something good!

TRAILER: Dark Country

So, I love Thomas Jane. Unabashedly so. He's a great actor, and he is having a career reboot of sorts with the new show, Hung, which is currently a must watch this season on HBO. However, hearing that he was working on a film as the director/star, I was un-moved. That has definitely changed with this trailer. Oh, AND it's going straight to DVD, which while it sounds awful, may be a perfect start for Jane's directorial career.

BTW, it's stylish film noir, so I'm in. I'm so f****** in.



A couple (Thomas Jane and Lauren German) en route from Las Vegas are forced to deal with a body out in the desert making their honeymoon one hellish ride. Are you interested in seeing this movie at all?

Dark Country is the directorial debut of actor Thomas Jane, who previously directed a short titled Jonni Nitro in 2000. The screenplay was written by Tab Murphy, of films like The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Tarzan previously (yea, we're confused, too). Sony Pictures is finally bringing Dark Country straight to DVD starting on October 6th, however it could end up showing at some film festivals before then as well.

Go see something good!

REVIEWS: My Thoughts On Yes Man and State of Play...

So, this weekend has been filled with lots of studying, yet I did get a chance to see a couple films, outside of Crank: High Voltage. Here are my breif thoughts on Yes Man and State of Play...

YES MAN:

Here's the synopsis - Carl Allen is at a standstill. Until the day he enrolls into a personal development program based on a very simple idea: say yes to everything! Carl discovers with amazement the magical power of "Yes", and sees his professional and romantic life turned upside down overnight: an unexpected promotion and a new girlfriend. But he'll soon discover that better can be good's enemy, and that all opportunities shouldn't be taken.

Coming to us all from the guy who did The Break-Up, Peyton Reed, this Jim Carrey vehicle features an interesting premise, that doesn't really hit. Yes, there are a few moments where the cast shines, particularly Zooey Deschanel who brings a sense of reality to a rather quirky character (it also helps that she sings during the film). Carrey is fine, and has some scenes where he really hits, and so does the rest of the supporting cast, but the film as a whole misses. It's just cliche after cliche after cliche, and had the people I watched it with perfectly predicting the films ending half way in. That said, I watched it while studying, and it was a pleasent watch. Nothing I will ever watch again, but it wasn't time wasted.

Yes Man - 5/10

STATE OF PLAY:

Here's the synopsis - A petty thief is gunned down in an alley and a Congressman's assistant falls in front of a subway - two seemingly unrelated deaths. But not to wisecracking, brash newspaper reporter Cal McAffrey who spies a conspiracy waiting to be uncovered. With a turbulent past connected to the Congressman and the aid of ambitious young rookie writer Della Frye, Cal begins uprooting clues that lead him to a corporate cover-up full of insiders, informants, and assassins. But as he draws closer to the truth, the relentless journalist must decide if it's worth risking his life and selling his soul to get the ultimate story.

Now this film, is one that I want to see many, many more times. It stars Helen Miren, Russel Crowe, and Rachel McAdams, and is the newest film from Last King of Scotland director, Kevin Macdonald, and is probably the best thriller I have seen all year. It takes a dying thing, newspapers, and gives a burst of life into it. It's got it's cliche moments, as it's kind of a paint by numbers thriller, but with the combination of performances, even a great one from the underrated Ben Affleck, film making, and the brilliant script penned by Tony Gilroy and Billy Ray, is just a masters class in great thrills garnered from an equally great story. Please, give the theatre some money, and check out this film.

State of Play - 8.5/10

Thats all for now, but come back tomorrow for more news and notes, and my thoughts evaluating the themes in the amazing film, Doubt.

Go see something good!

NEWS: Benjamin Button To Get A Criterion Release...

Excuse me while I clean up the mess made from the geekgasm I just had. It looks like David Fincher has true clout in Hollywood, as his most recent film, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, will be getting a Criterion Collection DVD Release...

BRAD PITT STARS IN DIRECTOR DAVID FINCHER’S SWEEPING EPIC NAMED BY OVER 150 CRITICS AS ONE OF THE BEST FILMS OF THE YEAR

THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON

One of the Year’s Most Critically-Acclaimed Films Arrives May 5, 2009 On Two-Disc Special Edition DVD and Two-Disc Blu-ray Brimming with Over Three Hours of Fascinating Special Features
HOLLYWOOD, Calif. – A thrilling adventure and captivating story of one man’s unusual and enchanted life, director David Fincher’s Academy Award®-winning film THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON debuts as a two-disc DVD and two-disc Blu-ray on May 5, 2009 from Paramount Home Entertainment. Called “a monumental achievement” that “must be experienced” (Rex Reed, New York Observer), the film stars Academy Award nominee Brad Pitt who “does his best work ever” (Lou Lumenick, New York Post) and Academy Award winner Cate Blanchett who “is simply dazzling” (Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal) in an exhilarating adventure that takes viewers on a breathtaking journey filled with romance and redemption. Nominated for 13 Academy Awards and winner for Best Visual Effects, Art Direction and Makeup, THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON also stars Academy Award nominee Taraji P. Henson (Hustle & Flow), Academy Award winner Tilda Swinton (Michael Clayton) and Julia Ormond (Legends of the Fall)) in a grand tale of a not-so-ordinary man and the people and places he discovers along the way, the loves he finds, the joys and romance of life and what lasts beyond time.

THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON two-disc DVD and two-disc Blu-ray boast over three hours of enthralling special features including interviews with stars Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett with behind-the-scenes footage of their astonishing on-screen transformations, an in-depth documentary revealing the unusual journey of the film itself including the secrets of its award-winning visual effects and an exploration of the groundbreaking computer wizardry that brought the magical world of Benjamin Button to life.



THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON DVD & Blu-ray

THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON two-disc and single-disc DVD are presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 TVs with Dolby Digital English 5.1 Surround, French 5.1 Surround and Spanish 5.1 Surround and English, French and Spanish subtitles. The two-disc Blu-ray is presented in 1080p high definition with English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio™, French 5.1 Dolby Digital and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital and English, English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles. The two-disc Criterion Edition DVD and two-disc Criterion Blu-ray include the following special features:

o The Curious Birth of Benjamin Button—four-part documentary:
o Academy Award-nominated director David Fincher introduces the surprising beginnings of what would become an epic masterpiece including the casting of Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett, the decision to change the location of the story to New Orleans and more.
o Follow the production from day one including the challenges of aging Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett, designing over five thousand costumes and creating the animatronic baby.
o Explore the incredible visual effects techniques created specifically for the film that allowed Brad Pitt to play the title character at virtually every age. Also includes a visit to the scoring stage with composer Alexandre Desplat.
o Walk the red carpet at the film’s premiere in New Orleans, with final thoughts from cast and crew.
o Audio Commentary by director David Fincher

There is also a single-disc DVD presentation that includes the feature film.

About Paramount Home Entertainment
Paramount Home Entertainment (PHE) is part of Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment. PPC is a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. PHE is responsible for the sales, marketing and distribution of home entertainment products on behalf of various parties including: Paramount Pictures, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Paramount Famous Productions, Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, CBS and PBS and for providing home entertainment fulfillment services for DreamWorks Animation Home Entertainment.

That, my friends, is what I call amazing...

Go see something good!

WTF?: Assassination of a High School President Going Direct To DVD?

This can't happen, and we all have to do what we can in our little power to stop it. /Film reports...

At the 2008 Sundance Film Festival, Yari Film Group premiered Brett Simon’s Assassination of a High School President, a film noir mystery set inside the world of a John Hughes-style High School comedy. It quickly emerged as one of the underdogs on the schedule to become one of the most buzzed about films at the festival. Unfortunately, Yari Film Group was forced into involuntary bankruptcy, and the film has been sitting on the shelf ever since. This has presented a very serious problem for theatrical distribution, and because of the legalities of bankruptcy court, the timing of this economic downturn and a whole slew of other worst-case-scenarios, Assassination is on the verge of losing its opportunity to have the theatrical run it deserves.

There might still be hope. Studios are still deciding whether or not they want to take a financial risk by buying the theatrical rights, spending cash on P&A and distributing the movie theatrically. Sony has the home video distribution rights, and from a business standpoint, they think it makes more sense to send the film direct to dvd. But I, like many others, think that Assassination of a High School President deserves to be seen on the big screen. What can you do? Leave your thoughts in the comments below, become a fan of the film on Facebook, and spread the word. Distributors like Sony Pictures Classics, Samuel Goldwyn, Fox Searchlight, etc need to see that there’s an audience out there waiting for an opportunity to see this film.

Not only did /Film love the film, but so did many others...

Ken Evans called it “a film that I fell in love with within the first 15 minutes” and “I would have walked right back into the theater to see again if I could have.”

Mel Valentin called it “wholly satisfying, enthralling high school-noir every bit the equal of Brick.”

MTV said “the film is stuffed with so many rapid-fire laughs that you’ll need to watch it multiple times — especially so you can memorize all the super-quotable lines.”

Film School Rejects said it one of those films that makes you “want to run to the top of a mountain and shout its praises”, calling it “smart, sexy and rich with supporting characters that are at some points as interesting as those who get the spotlight.”

ComingSoon called it “a funnier and more biting look at high school than any we’ve seen in some time”.

UGO calls it “nothing short of brilliant, a hilarious noir-comedy mixture in which each character is more colorful than the last.”

FirstShowing says “The comedy never stops, the story is full of twists that keep you on the edge of your seat, and overall this is one of the best balances of mystery and comedy that I’ve seen in ages” and calls it “a great movie that deserves endless appreciation.”

Aint It Cool News says “it’s witty characters and style make it the kind of film you’d want to visit a few times over just to hang out with it a little more.”


Seriously, if a film like Slumdog Millionaire can get taken out of the DVD doldrums, a true independent film, with a ton of style and a true breathe of fresh air in the world of cinema, can have the same done for it. Check out it's Facebook page, and leave a comment there or at any of the above linked websites. Anything that has critics saying the films name and Brick in the same sentence, while having a straight face, is good in my book.

Go see something good!

DVDS: Buy, Borrow, and Burn...

Hey guys! This week is a pretty slow week for DVD's, HOWEVER, there is one in particular that was a personal favorite of mine from this year, so here are the DVD's you should either buy, borrow, or burn...

BUY:

Wanted - This may be the single biggest surprise from this year, so far. The first trailers, hell, all of the trailers made this film look like one of the biggest piles of drek that would be released this year, but then it was released, and it blew me away. From the outset, the action in this film is non stop, up until the end which is maybe the most interesting one, at least to talk about, this year. Now, this is a simple balls to the wall action film, so if you aren't a fan of films like Crank (which may be it's closest relative), then avoid, but even then go out and at least rent this flick. Get some friends over and just have a blast. Also, if you are like me and LOVE this film, there is a sweet collectors edition that I would like to tell you guys about...here are it's features...

* Extended Scene – Be the first to view this killer extended scene from Wanted.
* Cast and Characters – Go behind the scenes with Angelina Jolie, James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman, Thomas Kretschmann and Common as they discuss their roles in the film and their experiences on set.
* Stunts on the L Train – Stunt coordinators Nick Gillard and Mic Rodgers explain how cast members Angelina Jolie and James McAvoy performed the astounding elevated train stunt sequence.
* Special Effects: The Art of the Impossible – Special effects supervisor Dominic Tuohy explains how his team pulled off the stunning special effects throughout the film and how Angelina Jolie contributed to the action.
* Groundbreaking Visual Effects: From Imagination to Execution – A look at how the spectacular visual effects in the film were pre-visualized and executed.
* The Origins of Wanted: Bringing the Graphic Novel to Life – Creator Mark Millar, producer Marc Platt, director Timur Bekmambetov and screenwriters Michael Brandt, Derek Haas and Chris Morgan discuss the original graphic novel and the process of adapting it for the big screen.
* Through the Eyes of Visionary Director Timur Bekmambetov – A video portrait of director Timur Bekmambetov, featuring interviews with Angelina Jolie, James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman, Common, producer Marc Platt and the director himself.
* Wanted: Motion Comics – Watch as the graphic novel comes to life on screen with narration and sound effects.
* The Making of Wanted: The Game
* “The Little Things” Music Video Mash-Up (Please note this feature only appears on the 2-Disc Special Edition and the standard definition collector’s set.)

Just plain awesome...

BORROW:

Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian - This film has lost the most money in the history of film (not with inflation), yet I didn't mind the first film, and for a family flick, this does look pretty cool. If you have kids or have read the books, check it out. I have no contempt for this film, it's just not my thing.

BURN:

Step Brothers - Of all of the comedies released this year, this may be the bottom of the barrell. It doesn't stand up to Pineapple Express, Burn After Reading, Tropic Thunder, or Role Models, and it really didn't work for me. This is a love it or hate it film, at least with critics, so I would say rent it if you like idiotic cursing over laughs.

X-Files: I Want To Believe - I never saw this film, so all I am going on is the critical response, which was lower than low. The film is a sequel to the solid X-Files film, and really leaves a sour taste in the mouth of a fan of the original series, like yours truly. Just not a good film.

Alright, there you have it, the noteworthy DVD releases for this Tuesday, the 2nd of December. Not the greatest of weeks, but it's not all lost.

Go see something good!

Buy, Borrow, and Burn...The Week in DVD's...

Hey guys! So, as I said in an earlier post, I am splitting up the weekend wrap up, into three separate posts. Well, now it's time to elaborate on what you all will be able to check out come this Tuesday, as these are the noteworthy DVD releases for this Thanksgiving Week...

BUY:

~Bottle Rocket~
The release date for this got moved back a couple of weeks, so I've already discussed this, but still, get out and give it a shot. It's Wes Anderson's best film.
~Chungking Express~
Wow, where to begin on this one. This is one of my favorite foreign films, and comes to us from the brilliant director, Wong Kar-wai, who has helmed such great films as In The Mood For Love, 2046, and this years solid little flick, My Blueberry Nights. This is about two heartsick cops played by Takeshi Kaneshiro and Tony Leung, both jilted by ex-lovers, that cross paths at the Midnight Express take-out restaurant stand, where the ethereal pixie waitress Faye, played by the beautiful Faye Wong, works. It's gorgeous, the acting is impeccable, and never has California Dreamin' been used so brilliantly.

BORROW:
~Hancock~
For those who haven't seen it-
It's a mix and match of Michael Bay action direction, and Turbografix 16 visual effects
For those who HAVE seen it-
Say the twist out loud for once, and then tell me it's still worth watching

BURN:
~Fred Claus~
Really? It's been about a full year for this film to get a DVD release, and it's not really needed. I never saw it, and I'm fine with keeping it that way...

~Meet Dave~
Eddie Murphy + 2008 + ridiculous premise + comedy = Epic Fail...it's simple math...

~Space Chimps~
In a world where there is Wall-E, there is no reason to see this film...


So, there you have it! Those are the note-able DVD's that you should either Buy, Borrow, or Burn...

Come back later for more news and notes!

Go see something good!

DVD REVIEW: Inside Man...

I love me a good heist. Whether it be The Ocean's Series, or the classic Rififi, there is nothing that interests me more than a solid heist film. There's just something about robbing a bank and the power struggle that goes on between cops and robbers that works so well for me. Inside Man is no different. This was the last film from the controversial auteur Spike Lee, before his release this year, Miracle At St. Anna, and I got the great chance to check this one out today on television actually. And it was definitely time well spent.

Inside Man stars Denzel Washington as the troubled and tough nosed Detective Frazier. Mr. Frazier must try to match wits with a clever bank robber (Clive Owen). As the dangerous cat-and-mouse game unfolds, a wild card, sent by the bank's president who has something to protect in a safe deposit box emerges: Madaline(Jodie Foster), a power broker with a hidden agenda, who injects even more instability into an already volatile situation. With an army of police surrounding the bank, the thief, the cop, and the plutocrat's fixer enter high-stakes negotiations as 50 hostages and their lives are on the lines. The film asks it's viewer, and the character's for that matter, a lot of questions. Why are the robbers asking for a plane when they know they won't get one. Why aren't they in more of a hurry? If the job's perfect, why is the thieves' leader in a cell?

When talking about Inside Man, the first thing that I have to discuss of course, is Spike Lee, the film's great director. He's a much controversial, much beloved helmer of such films like Malcolm X and Crooklyn, shockers like Bamboozled, and classics like the brilliant Do The Right Thing. While Inside Man isn't up to Do The Right Things level, Inside Man is one hell of a good time. It's a complete Spike Lee film whether it be the brief discussions of race (such as a brilliant scene between the two main detectives and an Arab man in a diner), and the gorgeous shots of New York City. There are also visual, Spike Lee, staples most noticeably in his patented neo-snory cam shot, in which the main character seems as though he or she is standing on a conveyor belt as they move forward.

Right from the outset, we get thrust into the story of a man in a cell describing how he has committed the perfect robbery. We then are put right at the beginning of the robbery, and interspersed are interviews with the hostages that are taken by the group of robbers, whom call each other variations of the name "Steve". The group is helmed by Clive Owen's character, Dalton Russel, and he is the best part of this film, in the performance department. There is just something about his delivery and charisma that make you root for not only the "good guys", but the robber's themselves. Owen also holds his own in the one major scene between him and the master of cinematic charisma Denzel Washington, who is also really great here.

The true star of this film is the script. It was written by Russell Gewirtz, who shockingly has also written the deplorable script to the deplorable Righteous Kill. It's a solid script, and the performances given to it are also great, as I mentioned earlier. There really is no plot set up, it's simply a movie about a bank robbery and the power struggle between the two, or in this case, three parties. That's the real meaning behind this film. No matter who is in the conversation, someone is always in power. Take the scene where the women is asked to translate something for the police. She walks in, and before doing anything, says that she needs some parking tickets to get taken care of. Then she sparks up a cigarette, and after the great Chiwetel Ejiotofer asks her to put it out, she gives him a stare, and he steps back. The film is all about power and the struggle to get it.

Finally, the last thing I would like to talk about is the twist. I'm not going to say anything, other than it really made this film that much better. It was a great turn, and really worked for me. That all said, the ending did have to make up for a few problems in the means section of the film.

The main problem I had with this film is the character of Madeline, played by Jodie Foster. She wasn't in the film enough to really warrant her role, and if you get her out of the picture, you can still go forward with the diamond subplot, in that the man she is working for is the President of the bank. Her character is like a line drawn off a perfect circle. She had no necessary connection with in the film. Say she was working for a man that wasn't so strongly connected to the bank, like the mayor or a random broker, she would have had more importance. Foster was fine in it, and her character was interesting, she just didn't seem to have a point. A few of the interchanges felt a little heavy handed, and the last thing may come off as a lame point, and it didn't bother me really at all, I just wish that there were a few more visual flourishes during the film. The film does get a little visually tired, and then comes a breathtaking shot of a still Denzel Washington "floating" towards the bank being robbed. It didn't effect my final outcome, it's just something I would have liked to have seen.

Negatives aside, this is a really solid heist film, and if you are like me, and a fan of the sub-genre, give it a shot if you haven't already.

INSIDE MAN: 8/10

I am in the search of a good top 10...Got any ideas??

Go see something good!

NEWS: Casting, Zombies, and Max Payne...PLUS, DVD Releases...

Here are the noteable headlines for this Monday, the 29th of September...

- Max Payne WILL be recieving the illustrious, PG-13 rating...
- In non news news, Zombie God, George A. Romero, will be featuring "aqua zombies" in his next film...
- Zach Snyder will lead the creative direction for three upcoming releases for EA Games...He will also own the rights to those releases, if he decides to adapt them to a feature film...
- Shakespeare lover, Kennith Branaugh, is rumored to be in the hunt for Marvel's next film release, Thor...
- Russel Crowe will be playing Robin Hood AND The Sheriff of Notingham, in the upcoming film, Notingham...
- Matt Lucas has been cast as Tweedledee AND Tweedledum in Tim Burton's new film, Alice in Wonderland...
- The people over at FirstShowing.net have reported that the people behind Green Lantern are looking at a Spring 2009 start date for the long awaited film adaptation...
- The co-writers behind the recent release, Eagle Eye, are currently working on a script for a sequel to Blade Runner...
- Pixar will NOT be "tinkering" with the release of Toy Story and it's sequel when they are released later next year...

So, I've had a hectic weekend, and never got around to doing my weekend post. Therefore, I have decided to bare it down to only the upcoming releases for DVD. Here are the films that you should buy, rent and burn...

BUY
- Iron Man -
The 318 Million dollar hit, that started the summer season off with a bang. Lead by a brilliant performance from it's star, Robert Downey Jr., this is one film every action film and comic book fan should own. Comes in a single disc, and two disc edition, along with a Best Buy Exclusive Box Set that includes a bust of the Iron Man helmet, along with a 100$ gift certificate to sideshowcollectables.com...

RENT
- Bigger, Faster, Stronger* -
Little seen documentary on steriods in sports, and the effects thereof. Crittically acclaimed, and much adored, this little documentary saw a very limited release, and is now available on DVD.
- Chapter 27 -
Film about Mark David Chapman, the man who took the life of Beatle, John Lennon. Starring Jared Leto, this film also saw a limited release, and was shown at my hometown film festival, The Waterfront Film Festival, to mixed reviews. Lindsay Lohan also stars.

BURN
- Forgetting Sarah Marshall -
Sure, it's much loved by critics, even ones I respect. However, I'm alone in my detest for most of Judd Apatow and crew's work. This one does have a little hope though. RUSSEL BRAND. The guy is a genius, and may save this film. I've not seen this one yet, but will be checking it out on Tuesday, so take this with a grain of salt. I may like it, but as of the trailers and crew behind it, I'm saying burn it..


That's all I've got for now...come back later for more news, notes, and a DVD review of Forgetting Sarah Marshall...

Go see something good!

NEWS: Iron Man 2, Soderbergh, and a Clock Tower film?

Hey guys! I know it's a little late, but here are today's headlines...

- The guys over at the great site, CHUD, had an interview with director John Favreu, and in between talks of the upcoming Iron Man DVD, he had mentioned the following points. Thanks to The Movie Blog for breaking these down...


1) He, Justin Theroux and Robert Downey Jr. are working hard already on the script

2) War Machine will be in Iron Man 2

3) Happy Hogan will get more screen time (CONFESSION: I don’t know who that is)

4) It’s going to be a trilogy

5) The Mandarin will be the main arching villain of the trilogy

6) Regarding The Avengers, Favreau sees how Captain America and Hulk fit into Iron Man’s universe, but not Thor (I agree)

7) Doesn’t want to go The Dark Knight route. He wants to keep it simple and fun

8) Says the action and battles will be much better than the first movie… he’s learning action


Okay, so there's nothing really shocking in here, but what is interesting is number 6 and 7. I have to sort of agree with Mr. Favreu that Thor really doesn't fit in the Universe. I mean, set the film in Asgard for a while, and have the final battle in the Thor film on Earth, and then set up the Avengers in the same way as in Hulk and Iron Man, but it doesn't really fit. Of all of Marvel's slated films, this could be the weak link. Also, with number 7, I couldn't me more happy. With all of the hype over the Dark Knight, there has been a huge shift in how superhero films are going to be created, and in a few of the instances, this shouldn't be the case. Summer films are meant to be fun and while Iron Man deals with substance abuse, depression and a lot of mental problems, they can deal with it and still make the film ultimately fun. I don't necessarily agree with them doing that, but I haven't seen anything, and until Favreu messes this franchise up, he gets the benefit of the doubt, at least from me. Also, Mandarin being the main villain should be no surprise to anyone...

He also wants to shoot some scenes in IMAX, and there have actually been talks to put the film in 3-D...

What are your thoughts on this news???

I've seen a couple of things from the DVD and it really looks great. I have to see this flick again. I've been checking out some photos from the film, and I forgot just how great it looked. It comes out on September 30th...

- Steven Soderbergh is set to helm a biopic based on the life of Liberace, with Michael Douglas set to star...
- Brittany Snow has signed on to play the lead in the upcoming adaptation of Clock Tower...
- Piranha's 3-D has been moved back to 2009...
- Finally, The Dark Knight will be getting an Oscar boost as it will be re released in IMAX sometime in January...

That's all I've got for now, so come back tomorrow for more news, notes, and hopefully a review of Burn After Reading. I will be seeing it sometime tomorrow afternoon, and should have a review up late that night or Saturday afternoon...

Go see something good!

Weekend Wrap Up...

Hey guys! You know the drill, so here is the estimated box office top 10...

1.Bangkok Dangerous
2.Tropic Thunder
3.The House Bunny
4.The Dark Knight
5.Traitor
6.Babylon A.D.
7.Death Race
8.Disaster Movie
9.Mamma Mia!
10.Pineapple Express

Bangkok Dangerous beats out Tropic Thunder...HOWEVER, it ONLY grossed 7.8 Million bucks. I don't know for sure, but that has to be the lowest recorded opening for a number 1 film this year. Why do you think it "bombed"?

Here are the notable DVD releases for this Tuesday, the 9th of September...only 3 of them...
- Baby Mama -
Comedy starring Tina Faye and Amy Poehler in which Faye's character hires Amy's to carry her child. Solid comedy from two of the worlds leading female comics. Both give great performances, but the show is really stolen by funnyman Steve Martin who plays Faye's geocentric boss. Good laughs, but heavy flawed. Worth a rental.

- Forbidden Kingdom -
Kung Fu movie starring Jackie Chan and Jet Li. What more do you need. Critics seem to like it, and the few people I have talked to who have seen it all enjoyed it. Worth a rental.

PICK OF THE WEEK
- The Fall -
Film directed by visionary director Tarsem Singh, or simply put, Tarsem, who is probably best known for the Jennifer Lopez vehicle, The Cell, or the R.E.M music video for Losing My Religion. The film stars Lee Pace as an injured stuntman who meets a young, impressionable child, and proceeds to tell her a story simply to get her to get him some morphine, to kill himself. Solid premise, and when anything is done by Tarsem, you know the visuals will be stunning. Worth a rental, or if you are like me, a blind buy.

Alright, so this looks to be a pretty stacked week for Box Office releases, at least in terms of demographics. The female population will be glued to there seats for The Women a remake of George Cukor's 1939 film, of the same name, or the Tyler Perry film, The Family That Preys, starring Kathy Bates. Both films deal with romance, affairs, and seem to be trying to appeal to the feminine population. Don't worry guys, we get the Pacino/DeNiro film, Righteous Kill, a story about two aging detectives on the hunt for a serial killer who takes out the "bad guys". Have DeNiro and Pacino as Detectives, throw in some guns and a Rolling Stones song, and you have yourselves a surefire hit. Now, whether it's good or not, that has yet to be seen, however, it does look promising, and with the cast they have (Donnie D anybody???), you can't go horribly wrong. Oh, wait, Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson is in it...I take that back. All of that said, there is one film that looks to stand above them all...

PICK OF THE WEEK
Burn After Reading is the newest film from my personal favorite directors working today, the Coen Brothers. The film stars George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Tilda Swinton, J.K. Simmons, and John Malkovich, and to my surprise, has gotten some lukewarm to mild reviews. Now, the film has yet to be released to the public, so I don't know how it is, but the way that trailer is set up, it really has me hyped. I loved No Country For Old Men, easily the second best film I saw from last year, but their last comedy was the Tom Hanks film, The Ladykillers, so it's good to see them going back to comedy. Do I think it will be the best film of the year, no (The Wrestler or Benjamin Button gets that nod right now), but do I think it will be a great film, and an even better time...without a doubt.

This week looks to be really interesting, so expect a review of Righteous Kill and Burn After Reading sometime this weekend. I'll be seeing BAR on Friday, so I'll have that posted as soon as possible. Other than that, expect a top 10, some news and notes, and a DVD Review of The Fall.

Go see something good!

Some news...

Hey guys...today was a pretty slow newsday, so that's the reason behind the late post. I caught a few flicks on DVD too, so I'll have a couple one liners at the end, if you are searching for a flick to throw on this weekend...first, here are your headlines....

- David Cronenberg's classic flick, The Fly, is in the begining stages of a stage adaptation...it will be an operatic re-imagning of the great 1986 film starring Jeff Goldblum...
- MTV Movie Blog has announced that a new Dracula film is in the works. MTV will not have anything to do with it, and not much was said other than it will be a much more down to earth version, with very little supernatural parts...Dracula: Year One will be helmed by Dark City/I, Robot helmer Alex Proyas...
- Interesting news out of the WB camp, reguarding Christopher Nolan...thanks to comingsoon for the info...

And Warners and Legendary are both interested in doing a third in the series, but all involved say it will be up to Nolan to come to them with a story and a plan.

“There are a lot of us who emotionally would love to do it,” Roven says. “But it’s really Chris’ call. Chris is the kind of filmmaker who just doesn’t think about the next movie before he has completely finished the movie he is working on.”

For now, Nolan is taking a well-earned vacation.

Says Roven, “When he comes back, we will see how he feels.”


WB is doing something right...It gives me tons of hope for the next film, knowing that it will happen, only if the autuer's heart is in it. If he is done, he's not contractually forced to just throw something together. What do you guys think???
- Despite rumours, Steven Spielberg is STILL on to direct the first Tin Tin film, with Peter Jackson helming the sequel...
- Children of the Corn will be getting a remake thanks to the people over at the SciFi channel...

Finally, I just want to say a couple of things on three films I checked out today...

- Ali
Will Smith's best performance, and one of the ten best sports films ever made. The way Michael Mann works the camera, the way it's shot, the performances, and the dialouge are all top notch, and proves that this is a horribly underrated film.

8.5/10

- Rocket Science
One of the most paint by numbers film's I've seen in a long time. No one does Wes Anderson better than the Birdman himself.

4/10, if only for the performance of Anna Kendrick

- Lost In La Mancha
A solid film about films, and gives an insight into what it's like when filmmaking doesn't go to plan. It's a little docky, with a lot of talking head moments, but it's more fun than a lot of straight forward documentaries. If you are into filmmaking, this is something to check out...

7/10

So, that's all I've got for today, so come back later for more news and notes!!

Go see something good!!!

Recast: The Breakfast Club...3 DVD recomendations...

Hey guys! Today is a pretty slow news day, outside the fact that rumor has it that all of the original Ghostbusters have been in talks to return to the big screen, and then give their packs over to none other than the Judd Apatow crew (thoughts??), so I decided to rip off a topic from a podcast I listen to, and ask you guys a simple thing...

You are the head of a studio, and you have earned the rights to The Breakfast Club, and you decide that it is ripe for a remake (I only chose this flick because everyone has seen it and most seem to like it, including yours truly). So, you have no budget constraints, and anyone and everyone is interested. Now who do you pick for the following roles??

Andy Clark - Emilio Esteves
Brian Johnson - Anthony Michael Hall
John Bender - Judd Nelson
Claire Standish - Molly Ringwald
Allison Reynolds - Ally Sheedy
Principal Richard Vernon - Pual Gleeson
Carl the Janitor - John Kapelos

and directed by John Hughes....

Now, I know American Teen is pretty much a direct rip off (I'm not really interested in it...anyone who's seen it, please comment), and this may be a little wierd, but with the great amount of young talent, this should be pretty interesting...

Finally, here are three DVD recomendations for you to go check out this weekend...

- Inland Empire...
Alright, so this film is not for everyone. It's like giving your money to an artist to watch him paint for three hours. It's slow and really sort of confusing. It's a David Lynch film, what else should you expect. However, I saw this film a while ago and still have some of the stark images stuck in my brain, and will forever. It's shot on a consumer/prosumer camera, and it just makes the film even more dark and really interesting to watch. It will test your patience, but this is from a director you all should get into, so check this film out. If you do, and don't like it, don't say I didn't warn you

8/10

- Paris Je T'aime...
18 short films about falling in love in Paris. It is at the opposite end of the specturm from Inland Empire, as it really is full of life and just a joy to watch. Some shorts falter, but most are really amazing (Alexander Payne's is the best), and you all should check this out. It features shorts from the likes of Alfonso Cuaron, The Coehn Brothers, Tom Tykwer, Alexander Payne, Gurinder Chada, Sylvain Chomet, and the great Gus Van Sandt. Please, check this film out...
8/10

- Mean Creek...
Think, Lord of The Flies in middle/higshcool...that's all I'm going to say about that...brilliant film...
8/10

Alright guys. Hope you check those out, and I can't wait to get some responses...

3 DVD's To Rent This Week...

Hey guys! Now, today is a slow news day, so, I decided to try something out. Along with my top 10 this week, which the topic is still up in the air btw!, I will try to tie in 3 DVD's that you all should rent each week in relation to a big release for that week, or maybe just a film I've seen, and have been horribly overlooked since their release. So, here are your three films that you need to run out and rent this week...

- The Machinist -
This may be one of the best roles that Bruce Wayne, aka Christian Bale, has ever done. He was an indie darling before his turn as the caped crusader, and this is one of the reasons why. He plays a "machinist" (factory worker), who suffers from a YEAR LONG case of Insomnia, and this film is about his battles with that and the tricks the lack of sleep plays on his mind. He did this right before Batman Begins, and when you see it, you will see why his body has still not recovered from his sudden and huge weight gain that was necessary to go from the 110 pound stick of Trevor Reznick, to the buff as hell Dark Knight. Brilliant film, and one that you need to see before the Dark Knight.

8.5/10

- Equilibrium -
A really solid, Matrix-esque action thriller, starring Christian Bale, again, in another under seen, underappreciated role as a man who lives in a world, and enforces this rule, where it is illegal to feel. Solid story, great visuals, and an amazing performance from Bale.

8/10

- The Tracy Fragments/Paprika -
The two flicks have been reviewed by me recently, and have both been in my mind since, especially Paprika. Please, go read my reviews, rent the films, and let me know what you think. I really would like to hear what you think!

The Tracy Fragments (7.5/10)
Paprika (8/10)

I've got so many more, so if you see any of these, please let me know, and I will steer you in the direction of some other great films.

Go see something good!!!

Weekend Wrap-Up

Hey guys! I'm back, and I've got some stuff to do, so, I'm gonna keep this a little short. Here are your top 10 box office winners for this week...

1.Hellboy II: The Golden Army
2.Hancock
3.Journey to the Center of the Earth
4.WALL-E
5.Wanted
6.Get Smart
7.Meet Dave
8.Kung Fu Panda
9.Kit Kittredge: An American Girl
10.Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Indy 4 is still in the top 10...Hellboy II made roughly 38 million bucks...I'll be seeing that later this week, so expect a review of that film, sometime later this week...

Here are the note able DVD releases for this Tuesday...

- College Road Trip -
Martin. Lawrence. Comedy. All three of those words are enough to keep any smart people away from this film...
- Step Up 2: The Streets -
I don't get these films, so I say that they are avoidable, at all costs
- Penelope -
Christina Ricci and James McAvoy in a film about a pig nosed girl who needs and is longing for love. Maybe worth a rent, solely because the cast is intriguing...
- Shutter -
ANOTHER horrible American remake of an Asian horror film...skip it at all costs...

~~ PICK OF THE WEEK ~~
The Bank Job
A solid heist film, starring Jason Statham, and based on a "real story". Solid performances, great cinematography, a good soundtrack, and an intriguing story make for a good entry into the heist film genre, especially in a year that hasn't seen many solid ones. Worth a rental at least.
8/10

Oh, Trafic comes out this week. For those of you who don't know about Jaques Tati, please, rent Playtime or Mon Oncle, and then you will know why I am really excited to put this one right at the top of my queue

Alright, so this week sees the release of three films in wide release to theatres across this country. First, Space Chimps, an animated film about monkey astronauts. Second, Mama Mia, a story about a girl...wait, what am I saying. Unless you are either 6 years or younger, or have an over the top obsession with ABBA, and I know, don't we all, then you will be seeing The Dark Knight. I'm not going to say anything, as, if you haven't heard about this film, than you need to ask your landlord to upgrade the rock you've been under. I will be reviewing this this weekend, but it will be a little shorter, as I really want to get into a discussion with those of you who see it this weekend. So, if and when you check it out, leave a comment and lets get into this hotly anticipated film.

So, I just have two more things to say. First, here is what the CEO from Warner Brother's had to say about a certain Wild film from director Spike Jonze.



"We've given him more money and, even more importantly, more time for him to work on the film," Horn said. "We'd like to find a common ground that represents Spike's vision but still offers a film that really delivers for a broad-based audience. We obviously still have a challenge on our hands. But I wouldn't call it a problem, simply a challenge. No one wants to turn this into a bland, sanitized studio movie. This is a very special piece of material and we're just trying to get it right."

What are your thoughts? Is it alright for studios to hold back films if they don't fit their ideas, or should the directors have a little more say in the final cut of the film they spend months working on?

Finally, here are three films that I saw this weekend on HBO, and my brief thoughts and rating for them...

- The Marine -
Over the top, So bad it's funny, campy, are all words that can describe this horribly comedic film starring professional wrestler, John Cena. Worth a rent if you need a laugh. Have a double feature. The Marine, and the Black Dahlia...
3/10
- Ocean's 13 -
Solid heist film, and the second best in the series. Totally worth a rental. Even better on second and in my case third viewings. Casey Affleck is worth it alone.
8/10
- The Simpson's Movie -
Funny film, but watch it during the week on Fox. Worth a rental for show fans, otherwise, skip able...
7/10

Well, that's all for now. Come back later for more news and notes, along with a new top 10!

Go see something good!

Paprika...brief review...

So my mind has officially exploded. Today is July 5th, and I was bored this afternoon, so I decided to take a drive out to my local video rental establishment. There, I picked up three films. Paprika, In Bruges, and City of Men. Now, while all three are great films, with the best being In Bruges, the one I can't stop thinking about, and the one that surprised me the most was this small little anime film, Paprika.

Paprika is a story about three scientists who work at the Foundation for Psychiatric Research. They come up with a mechanism that can allow the user the possibility to record and watch their dreams, called the D.C. Mini. However, when the device is stolen, the world, or what the think is the world, is flipped on it's ear. Our hero, Paprika, along with the scientists and an emotional cop must then try to saved reality from becoming the biggest nightmare possible.

Now, this film is beautiful. Let me just get that out of the way. Of the anime film's I've seen (not a ton), this may be the most inventive and genuinely out there. This exactly what David Lynch would make if he did anime films, even down to the "woman in trouble" kind of plot. It's got the normal bright pallet that is an anime staple, and the story, while quite outlandish, is completely compelling. I'm not a huge anime fan, so I don't know how it stands up to much of the past few years anime films (I see some every now and then on IFC, and love most of them) but I found it amazing to look at, funny, and completely engrossing. It really made me wonder what was reality and what was a dream, even in the opening, when the story hadn't really begun to flesh itself out. This flick is not for everyone however. Like I said, it's almost a David Lynch film, if he did anime, so you can sort of expect what is to come. I will say that it had it's silly moments, and some of the scenes were too outlandish and over the top, along with some lagging parts in the first act. Also, this is no Pixar film. The story isn't the shining point here. While it is a fine plot, the visuals are really what are on tap here. It's not the greatest anime film I've ever seen (that honor goes to Grave of the Fireflies), but it is one of the better ones I've seen, and I recomend it for any fan of animation. Just be prepared for what lies ahead. Here, watch the trailer to get an idea...



Rating: 8/10

Also, here are the ratings for the other four flicks I've watched in the past two days...

In Bruges: 9/10
Really surprising flick. Everyone is amazing, and the script is the real star of this film.

City of Men: 7.5/10
Not nearly as good as City of God, but then again, what really is?

Paris Je T'aime: 8.5/10
While a few of the films lack, the ones that really shine (Alexander Payne's and Sylvain Chomet's just to name a couple) are totally worth the price of a rental. Hell, Payne's alone is worth a purchase. Even better on multiple viewings

My Kid Could Paint That: 7/10
Not the greatest documentary, but it's solid stuff. Really interesting, even if flawed.

Alright. So come back tomorrow for more news and notes!

Go see something good!

Just a poster...couple of DVD reviews...

Hey guys...there really is no news at all today, so here is the only real bit to talk about...it's a new Happening poster...it looks pretty awesome, and while it IS an M. Night Shamalayn flick, I'm a little excited...



Okay, so since there isn't any real news, here are just a couple of things on two films that I have seen in the past couple of days on DVD...
-SAW 4-
Wow, where to begin. Lets see, the plot was a little confusing, but for the most part, a cop must go on the hunt for a friend, but then it is discovered that he is apart of Jigsaw's first postmortum game. This film continues the shitstain on cinema's underwear that is the Saw series, and it should be to no ones suprise that this movie was bad. It's now on DVD, so most of you have probably seen it, and I would like to hear from those who have. I personally think that this film has no point, no cinematic bonuses, it wasn't shot interestingly, the edits were obnoxious, the plot was basic Saw fair, and the acting was B-Movie at best. Minus Donnie D's few lines...gotta love that guy...

-HE WAS A QUIET MAN-
Now, this is a much smaller film than Saw, and many of you may not have seen it. It is a film about a loner laborer named Bob, played by Christian Slater, and he is fed up with his job. It's a lot like Office Space, just instead of being funny, it was just pretentious, and stuck with the guy who got shit on all the time for the whole movie. This wasn't a bad film, but it's about a guy who wants to kill his co workers, and then he goes through a situation that should change him, but the ending negates any investment you have in the film. It's all style over substance, and the style really isn't all that great. For example, he has fish, and the fish talk to him the entire time. It's like Office Space meets Finding Nemo, plus a little Donnie Darko thrown in, which as you all know, is not something I personally enjoy. This isn't a bad movie, it's just a mediocre movie that gets worse as you go. It would probably get a 5 out of 10 from me.

Weekend Box Office...

Hey guys! Here is the final weekend box office tally


1.Baby Mama
2.Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay
3.The Forbidden Kingdom
4.Forgetting Sarah Marshall
5.Nim's Island
6.Prom Night
7.21
8.88 Minutes
9.Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who
11.Street Kings

Baby Mama pulls in 18.3 Million…over Harold and Kumar…really interesting…21 is still on there…more on that in a wee bit.

Here are the major releases that will be hitting your local multiplex this Friday, May 2nd.

- Made of Honor….Patrick Dempsey romantic comedy…moving on


~PICK OF THE WEEK!!!~

-Iron Man-
Now, if you have no idea what this is about, then get from under your rock, sit in front of the TV and check out any tv channel during a commercial break. You WILL see this movie. EVERYONE will see this film. So I won’t say much, but you can expect a review of it this coming Wednesday.

Also, Son Of Rambow, Redbelt, and Mister Lonely all get released this Friday in limited theatres, so if you hear that these films are around you, check them out for sure. I will be posting each of those films respective trailers later.

Finally, here are the notable DVD releases that will be released this Tuesday…

-Golden Compass…Special Effects film from American Pie director Paul Weiss…rentable if you have kids…

-27 Dresses…You know what, rent this movie. If you guys have a significant other, you will enjoy this movie, because you know what, your woman will like it, probably a lot, so she’ll be happy, and happy girlfreinds are what we all strive for! But no, this movie is a solid, studio romantic comedy. Not great, not horrible, just middle ground work.

-How She Move…moving on


~DVD PICK OF THE WEEK~

-Diving Bell And The Butterfly-
Now, all I know is that this film won a ton of awards for best foreign film, and people are saying it’s life changing. Also, it’s from Basquiat director Julian Schnabel, so please check this out. It’s a major miss from last year for me, so I am really excited to check this one out.

Okay, so I have had a long week. Finals, moving out, and moving back in. So, if you couldn’t guess, productivity for this blog is taking a hit. I will be scontinuing to post here, as much as I can. I am working from 6 to 3 in the afternoon, so I won’t be posting until the late afternoon. I will continue to bring you all the same stuff, just either in longer posts, or through a scheduled thing. Like maybe specific topics for each day. I have seen 21, so you can expect a review of that tomorrow, and an Iron Man review, albeit a really tiny, egg shell walking version on Wednesday. Other than that, I have no idea. So, go see something good!!!!

Couple of posters...Hellboy/The Spirit...DVD Recomendation

Hey guys! Just thought I would drop in and let you all check out a couple of recently released posters for Hellboy 2, and The Spirit, based on Will Eisner's graphic novel. Also, come back in about four hours to check out the teaser trailer for the Spirit...So, here are the posters....






What do you guys think?


Outside of that, there really isn't any news worth noting, so here is a DVD recomendation for you all....

Once is a story of an Irish musician played by real life musician Glen Hansard, who is the lead singer of a small band called the Frames. One day, he meets a girl played by Marketa Irglova, and they begin to play together, and fall in love. Now, I didn't see this one in theatres, but after hearing all of the unanimous praise that it got out of Sundance and once it hit theatres, I had to check it out. It was really worth it. Michael Phillips, critic for the Chicago Tribune called it "possibly the greatest music film of our generation", and well, I think he has something there. This film is truly amazing. I'm not going to say anything else about it, because I went in totally blind, and it made the experience that much better. Please check this out. Here's the Trailer...



Go see something good!!

Tears of The Black Tiger...

Forget Blockbuster. I walk in a couple of weeks ago, and see that their prices are something like 2.50 per movie for five days, just for an older release. Now, I say forget that, buy four movies, and walk out. I decide that I should just make a new account at Family Video, up here in Allendale. Now, this was a few months ago, yet, I still go back every time I need my DVD fix. Today was a perfect example why. I look around after returning High Fidelity and Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, and find that I have a great selection to choose from. I pick up four movies...Bubble, Breaking and Entering, The Tripletts of Belleville, and the film I will be reviewing now, Tears of The Black Tiger, all for 2$. What a great set, and I will be reviewing them all for the blog. So, lets get started.

Tears of The Black Tiger is a Thai Western, and is a story about a group of outlaws who are ruining a region in the outskirts of a local area. Amoung them, Dum, promised an old fling, that no matter the difference in their class, they will one day become married. He becomes involved in a fist fight, and loses his chance. However, he will not stop, and this is the story of him, The Black Tiger, and his attempt at regaining his lost love.

Now, the first thing that I need to say, is that this film was suprisingly really good. I was really hesitant about picking this up at first. The cover didn't really make the film seem appealing and it took me a couple of times to actually pick it up. However, I should have done it faster. This film is so over the top. The performances are hilarious, yet they work for the film. They are over the top and really bring a sense of humor and sometimes raise the stakes too. It's almost like Telemundo Telenovela kind of acting and it's so colorful and fun to watch. The best example of this is the first meeting between the two ex-lovers after years of seperation, and when Dum leaves, he goes next to a wall, the music picks up, and he punches a wall only to turn his head and stomp off. It really is quite comical. This is one film you watch with the dubbing ON.

Speaking of colorful, this films pallet may be one of the most stunning I have seen in a long long time. It has really bright blues and pinks, and everything just pops off of the screen. There is melodramatic jump cuts, extreme emotional closeups, and classic western style shots. It's almost like Kung Fu Hustle, meets Once Upon the Time In The West. Some of the shots are also just really stunning. In the opening fight scene for example. It cuts between the women walking in a garden, and the gun fight, only to stop and point out an impossible shot the main character makes. It's so obvious that it even says that they will replay it for you, and then they follow the bullet. It really is something to behold. The score is also really well done. Now, the over the top acting and story, color scheme, and score are all really great, but I do have a few problems.

There are just a couple of negatives to point out. First, the second act lags a little bit. I personally didn't care a ton about the romance, but the style is so amazing that it still kept me in. The only other problem was that the whole thing gets to be a little tedious. Like, this should have been cut about 15 minutes. However, I had no problem sitting through it, and neither will you. Please do yourself a favor and check out this little gem of a flick. You'll have a blast. This should be at most local video rental stores, and if you have a choice, don't go to Blockbuster. Forget Blockbuster.





Okay, so, expect some more news, and maybe a review of The Triplets of Belleville or Bubble tomorow.

Go see something good!!