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...
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Some big news...
Here are your headlines for Wednesday, the 30th of July...
- A film based around Marvin The Martian is in the works...
- Patrick Swayze is in talks to star in the upcoming Dirty Dancing sequel...not a spin off like Havana Nights, a true sequel...
- Universal and The Weistein Co. are in negotiations on Quentin Tarantino's upcoming film, Inglorious Bastards, which would make it QT's first forray into the "studio system"...
- Disney's next film, the Princess and the Frog will be animated in 2-D!!!!
- An Alvin and The Chipmunks sequel has been confirmed...
- A spin off from this years comedy hit, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, is in the works, and it will be called Welcome to The Greek, and will be based around Russell Brand's rockstar character from FSM...
- Finally, we have the first true teaser trailer for Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, and I must say, I'm not excited for it. It looks kind of interesting, and dark, but I've never read the books, and I've only seen one of the films, so I won't be checking this out...
What do you guys think???
So, that's all I have for now, come back later for some DVD recomendations...
- A film based around Marvin The Martian is in the works...
- Patrick Swayze is in talks to star in the upcoming Dirty Dancing sequel...not a spin off like Havana Nights, a true sequel...
- Universal and The Weistein Co. are in negotiations on Quentin Tarantino's upcoming film, Inglorious Bastards, which would make it QT's first forray into the "studio system"...
- Disney's next film, the Princess and the Frog will be animated in 2-D!!!!
- An Alvin and The Chipmunks sequel has been confirmed...
- A spin off from this years comedy hit, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, is in the works, and it will be called Welcome to The Greek, and will be based around Russell Brand's rockstar character from FSM...
- Finally, we have the first true teaser trailer for Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, and I must say, I'm not excited for it. It looks kind of interesting, and dark, but I've never read the books, and I've only seen one of the films, so I won't be checking this out...
What do you guys think???
So, that's all I have for now, come back later for some DVD recomendations...
Top 10 Political Films...
Alright, this is kind of a broad topic. This week sees the release of two films in wide release, The Mummy 3, and Swing Vote. While the Mummy 3 looks fun, and Swing Vote looks purely horrible, I thought that this topic would be more interesting than my other option, Adventure films. So, with the release of the impossibly ploted, one-man's-vote-decides-election film, Swing Vote, comes my list of top 10 politically charged films...I took this term pretty loosley, so this is pretty broad...
10. Wag the Dog
9. No End in Sight (the best Iraq War film made to date)
8. The Manchurian Candidate (ORIGINAL)
7. Election (High school elections...maybe the best highschool film ever made)
6. Citizen Kane
5. Full Metal Jacket/ Clockwork Orange
4. Reds
3. All The President's Men
2. Schindler's List
1. Dr. Strangelove
What is your favorite "political" film...
10. Wag the Dog
9. No End in Sight (the best Iraq War film made to date)
8. The Manchurian Candidate (ORIGINAL)
7. Election (High school elections...maybe the best highschool film ever made)
6. Citizen Kane
5. Full Metal Jacket/ Clockwork Orange
4. Reds
3. All The President's Men
2. Schindler's List
1. Dr. Strangelove
What is your favorite "political" film...
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
W Trailer...
Hey guys! Sorry about not having a post yesturday. I took an adventure up to GR for a screening of The Dark Knight in IMAX (free tickets bitches!), and I didn't get back until about 1:15...I'm currently going on roughly 3-3.5 hours of something that sort of resembles sleep, so I'm going to keep this a little bit short. Also, there really isn't much to talk about, so here is the biggest piece of news... the first W TRAILER!!!!
Alright, what do you guys think?? I'll hold my comments for a while...
The last thing I want to talk about is a simple question I would like to ask you guys...
This summer there have been a ton of great flicks, all of which have their own merits (except for the sub par Hancock). Now, the census is that Iron Man and The Dark Knight are the two best, which I also have to agree with. So, the question is simple...
What is your favorite summer film so far, and why? (films released May 1st to July 25th)
A) Iron Man
B) The Dark Knight
C) Other (name the flick)
I can't wait to get some feedback on this...
Go see something good!!
Alright, what do you guys think?? I'll hold my comments for a while...
The last thing I want to talk about is a simple question I would like to ask you guys...
This summer there have been a ton of great flicks, all of which have their own merits (except for the sub par Hancock). Now, the census is that Iron Man and The Dark Knight are the two best, which I also have to agree with. So, the question is simple...
What is your favorite summer film so far, and why? (films released May 1st to July 25th)
A) Iron Man
B) The Dark Knight
C) Other (name the flick)
I can't wait to get some feedback on this...
Go see something good!!
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Weekend Wrap Up...
Hey guys! Here is your weekend wrap up. First, the box office top 10...
1.The Dark Knight
2.Step Brothers
3.Mamma Mia!
4.The X-Files: I Want to Believe
5.Journey to the Center of the Earth
6.Hancock
7.WALL-E
8.Hellboy II: The Golden Army
9.Space Chimps
10.Wanted
TDK grossed another 75 MILLION DOLLARS, bringing it's total, domestic gross, to 315 MILLION BUCKS....IN 2 WEEKS...that's another record for the boys over in Gotham City...
Alright, so what about DVDs to go and rent this week...well, here are your note able releases you can expect at your local video rental store, or in your Netflix queue...
- Doomsday...This is an interesting thing. This is a post apocalyptic film from the director of The Decent, a fantastic horror film, and it is like Mad Max, just with updated visuals. I know nothing about this flick, so I may have to take a look at it.
- Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay...I've never seen the first film, and I will probably never see this one. Do give it a shot of DVD though, as the DVD is made to be a sort of "choose your own adventure" style of flick. I hate stoner comedies, so I won't be checking it out.
- Never Back Down...Think Step Up mixed with a bad UFC fight, and add a pinch of Laguna Beach, and you have Never Back Down. It's entertaining, but in a campy kind of way. It's poorly written, poorly acted, poorly shot, and nothing in it really works. Don't see this film...
~~ PICK OF THE WEEK ~~
- Shine A Light
Rolling Stones + Martin Scorsese = Shine A Light. That's all you should have to hear to get excited about this flick...
And for those of you who want to get out this weekend, you have three choices that are going wide this weekend. First we have the horribly titled, Midnight Meat Train, starring Vinnie Jones, coming to us from the mind of Clive Barker. If a tall, former soccer player bashing faces in on a train isn't really your style, then there is the family friendly, improbable, Swing Vote. This stars Kevin Costner and tells the story of one man, who's vote will decide who the president of the US is. Finally, the one I will be at, is The Mummy: Tomb of The Dragon Emperor. It's the third film in The Mummy series, and brings back Brendan Fraiser in the lead role, and he takes on China's "Dragon Emperor" and his undead army. It looks fun, and Jet Li is in it, so you can expect a few fight scenes. So, those are your main three choices this week.
That's all I have for now! This week you can expect a DVD review, some news and notes, and a few recommendations for films to rent this weekend. Also, I'll be seeing Mummy 3, so expect some stuff from that. So come back for more!
Go see something good...
1.The Dark Knight
2.Step Brothers
3.Mamma Mia!
4.The X-Files: I Want to Believe
5.Journey to the Center of the Earth
6.Hancock
7.WALL-E
8.Hellboy II: The Golden Army
9.Space Chimps
10.Wanted
TDK grossed another 75 MILLION DOLLARS, bringing it's total, domestic gross, to 315 MILLION BUCKS....IN 2 WEEKS...that's another record for the boys over in Gotham City...
Alright, so what about DVDs to go and rent this week...well, here are your note able releases you can expect at your local video rental store, or in your Netflix queue...
- Doomsday...This is an interesting thing. This is a post apocalyptic film from the director of The Decent, a fantastic horror film, and it is like Mad Max, just with updated visuals. I know nothing about this flick, so I may have to take a look at it.
- Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay...I've never seen the first film, and I will probably never see this one. Do give it a shot of DVD though, as the DVD is made to be a sort of "choose your own adventure" style of flick. I hate stoner comedies, so I won't be checking it out.
- Never Back Down...Think Step Up mixed with a bad UFC fight, and add a pinch of Laguna Beach, and you have Never Back Down. It's entertaining, but in a campy kind of way. It's poorly written, poorly acted, poorly shot, and nothing in it really works. Don't see this film...
~~ PICK OF THE WEEK ~~
- Shine A Light
Rolling Stones + Martin Scorsese = Shine A Light. That's all you should have to hear to get excited about this flick...
And for those of you who want to get out this weekend, you have three choices that are going wide this weekend. First we have the horribly titled, Midnight Meat Train, starring Vinnie Jones, coming to us from the mind of Clive Barker. If a tall, former soccer player bashing faces in on a train isn't really your style, then there is the family friendly, improbable, Swing Vote. This stars Kevin Costner and tells the story of one man, who's vote will decide who the president of the US is. Finally, the one I will be at, is The Mummy: Tomb of The Dragon Emperor. It's the third film in The Mummy series, and brings back Brendan Fraiser in the lead role, and he takes on China's "Dragon Emperor" and his undead army. It looks fun, and Jet Li is in it, so you can expect a few fight scenes. So, those are your main three choices this week.
That's all I have for now! This week you can expect a DVD review, some news and notes, and a few recommendations for films to rent this weekend. Also, I'll be seeing Mummy 3, so expect some stuff from that. So come back for more!
Go see something good...
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Step Brothers...
Comedies are critic proof. How does one even begin to try to critique a comedy film? Well, this guy is going to try to do that, so lets get started..
Pretty much, Step Brothers is a story about two 40 somethings who still live with their parents, and their said parents get married. Dale lives with his father, Dr. Richard Doback, and has been since his mother passed away when he was young. Brennan is a 39 year old man caught in grown adolescence, and lives with his divorced mother. The two decide that the house isn't big enough for the two of them, so they fight to gain the "control" of the home. However, after a late night encounter with Brennan's younger brother, the two become close friends. However, things change, and the relationship between the step brothers does as well.
Now, the biggest criticism one can make with a comedy is about the simple fact of, did it make you laugh? My response to this question, just barely enough to recommend this film. As with most Will Ferrell films, especially ones helmed by Adam McKay, the jokes are not highbrow, and the actors are not afraid to put themselves in awkward situations (tea bagging a drum set anyone??). However, the past two films that Ferrell has headlined, Semi Pro and now Step Brothers, have both been sort of toned weirdly, with the best example being SP. The thing with that is, the jokes are dirty, and don't take the most brains to get, but then you get people really being kind of ass holes to each other, in an otherwise joyful flick. I know it's a minuscule thing, but it's something that bugged me. Also, it's not shot in an inventive way, and before SB was a trailer for Pineapple Express, and some shots in the trailer make it seem like there may be more to it visually than a simple pot comedy, which can't be said for this film.
Performance wise, the film is also batting .500. The two stars, Reily and Ferrell are very funny, most of the time at least, but are let down by horrible performances from Adam Scott as Brennan's brother, and Dale's father, played by Richard Jenkins. The jokes don't always hit, and if you aren't a fan of potty humor, which includes me, then more won't hit. I love this analogy, and it really works here, but this film is kind of like taking in empty calories. It fills you up at the time, but after words, you feel empty and craving real laughs. It's truly an extended SNL skit with more risque dialogue and some really weird and unnecessary scenes. It is a 90 minute film, and it really felt like it. There is an affair subplot between the wife of Brennan's brother and Dale that goes nowhere interesting, it just goes into the toilet, and so do many of the jokes here. However, the thing here is, it did make me laugh at moments. Truly, I can say all of these negative things about the art of the film and the performances, but when it comes to comedy and comedy films, you are only really there to laugh. Would I have liked the laughs to last with me, like films such as Rushmore or other great comedic films, sure, but in a summer that has shown us every superhero we could imagine, and even some of the darkest moments we are likely to see all year, it was fun to get out and laugh a few times. That is why this film is getting a recommendation, if ever so slight of one, for this critic here. RENT IT with some buddies. Do not go see it in theatres. Save your money for Tropic Thunder or Pineapple Express. Hell, go see The Dark Knight again, or give X FILES A CHANCE!
Step Brothers - 6/10
Is it just me, or are most of these jokes saved by the delivery of Reily and Ferrell, and that most are reliant on swearing?
Alright, hope you guys enjoy that review, and I would love to hear what you guys have to say about this buddy comedy.
Go see something good!!!
Oh, and remember, don't lose your Dinosaur...
Thursday, July 24, 2008
News...BIG COMICON NEWS!!
Hey guys! Today is a big news day as it is the start of the largest pop culture convention of the year, Comic Con. So, to get this rolling, here are your headlines...
-- Kevin Smith's next film, Zach and Miri Make a Porno will be recieving an NC-17 rating, unless Smith decides to change his cut...
-- A remake of The Rocky Horror Picture Show is in the works...OH did I mention it will be done by MTV studios...
-- Hairspray is looking to get a sequel...you can expect this one in mid July of 2010...
-- A live action adaptation of Cowboy Beebop IS INDEED in the works.
-- DARREN ARONOFSKY will indeed be helming the upcoming RoboCop remake...SCORE!!!
-- The first footage from X Men Origins: Wolverine has been shown...sounds pretty solid. All that was shown was a rough teaser with Sabertooth and Wolverine being captured during war...and then shots of Gambit and Deadpool...
-- Robert Rodriguez has confirmed that their will be a Machete trilogy...
-- Disney suprised Comic Con atendees at their press confrence with the release of Tron 2 footage!!!
-- This really isn't big news, but Lost fans, you can expect to see the Series be rerun until you know every word as G4 will now be running the series in "2.0" just as they do Cops. You will now see your favorite show with trivia and extra random info.
Alright, so the biggest news today comes from overseas. Christian Bale was back on the promotion path yesturday, as he was at the Spain premiere for The Dark Knight. He was allowed to leave custody to continue his promotion, and it is coming out that the mother and sister may have actually had alterior motives. It is rumored that the mother has been jelous of her son, and husbands fame, and this is a direct correlation of that. Witnesses have also said that the abuse was indeed physical, but not to the stature that the true "dynamic duo" has blown it out to be. Also, reportedly some big time magazines have already begun offering the two huge sums of dinero to tell their side of the story. Wow...thoughts? For me, this changes a lot. I was giving the mother and sister the benefit of the doubt, and sticking up for them almost, until today. While it's not alright in any shape or form to strike your sister or mother, it's also not right for the woman who raised you to use one of your own faults, in Bale's case, his temper, for cash profit. What are your thoughts?
Alright, so that's all I have for now. Expect more news to come as Comicon starts (on G4), in about a half an hour...
Go see something good
-- Kevin Smith's next film, Zach and Miri Make a Porno will be recieving an NC-17 rating, unless Smith decides to change his cut...
-- A remake of The Rocky Horror Picture Show is in the works...OH did I mention it will be done by MTV studios...
-- Hairspray is looking to get a sequel...you can expect this one in mid July of 2010...
-- A live action adaptation of Cowboy Beebop IS INDEED in the works.
-- DARREN ARONOFSKY will indeed be helming the upcoming RoboCop remake...SCORE!!!
-- The first footage from X Men Origins: Wolverine has been shown...sounds pretty solid. All that was shown was a rough teaser with Sabertooth and Wolverine being captured during war...and then shots of Gambit and Deadpool...
-- Robert Rodriguez has confirmed that their will be a Machete trilogy...
-- Disney suprised Comic Con atendees at their press confrence with the release of Tron 2 footage!!!
-- This really isn't big news, but Lost fans, you can expect to see the Series be rerun until you know every word as G4 will now be running the series in "2.0" just as they do Cops. You will now see your favorite show with trivia and extra random info.
Alright, so the biggest news today comes from overseas. Christian Bale was back on the promotion path yesturday, as he was at the Spain premiere for The Dark Knight. He was allowed to leave custody to continue his promotion, and it is coming out that the mother and sister may have actually had alterior motives. It is rumored that the mother has been jelous of her son, and husbands fame, and this is a direct correlation of that. Witnesses have also said that the abuse was indeed physical, but not to the stature that the true "dynamic duo" has blown it out to be. Also, reportedly some big time magazines have already begun offering the two huge sums of dinero to tell their side of the story. Wow...thoughts? For me, this changes a lot. I was giving the mother and sister the benefit of the doubt, and sticking up for them almost, until today. While it's not alright in any shape or form to strike your sister or mother, it's also not right for the woman who raised you to use one of your own faults, in Bale's case, his temper, for cash profit. What are your thoughts?
Alright, so that's all I have for now. Expect more news to come as Comicon starts (on G4), in about a half an hour...
Go see something good
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Some news...
Hey guys! So, today seems like it might be a little bit bigger of a news day, so lets get into it! Here are your headlines...
- Batman: The Dark Knight is set to gross roughly 240 MILLION DOLLARS for it's opening week, breaking ANOTHER record. It set the alltime, non holiday, monday this past monday, grossing 24.5 million bucks. How far can this go? Well, lets look at it this way...
~~ Great cast
~~ EXCESSIVLEY HYPED role
~~ Solid story
~~ Opening weekend sellouts
~~ Amazing reviews
~~ Great rewatchability
~~ Tons of action
~~ Overall great film
Well, lets just say, sky's the limit...
- Instead of coming out with two console games, Warner Brothers will be releasing two DOWNLOADABLE games...I personally have this flick at the top of my anticipated spring films, so any good news just adds to my excitement...
- The last piece of news comes to us from ABC. They have found replacements for Ebert and Roeper. Here's the news from the Chicago Tribune...
Ben Lyons of E! Entertainment Television and Ben Mankiewicz of Turner Classic Movies Tuesday were named co-hosts of what was described as “the new generation” of “At the Movies” by the Walt Disney Co.’s Buena Vista Productions and Disney-ABC Television Distribution.
“With the addition of Ben Lyons and Ben Mankiewicz as our talented, charismatic new co-hosts, and exciting new segments planned, we’re confident that audiences will be enjoying ‘At the Movies’ for many years to come,” said Brian Frons, who oversees Buena Vista Productions as president of Disney-ABC Television Group’s daytime division.
Two days later...Two of the greatest critics today, one of which happens to be one of the greatest EVER, are replaced in two days. Impressive ABC. To bad they missed out on yours truly. However, Grand Valley Students listen, check out GVBN, the schools news channel, as I may just be making some regularly scheduled appearences...not my own show, but I will have a spot on a talk show, at least as of this moment...
Alright guys, that's all I've got for now. Come back later for more news and notes along with three films to check out this weekend!
Go see something good!
- Batman: The Dark Knight is set to gross roughly 240 MILLION DOLLARS for it's opening week, breaking ANOTHER record. It set the alltime, non holiday, monday this past monday, grossing 24.5 million bucks. How far can this go? Well, lets look at it this way...
~~ Great cast
~~ EXCESSIVLEY HYPED role
~~ Solid story
~~ Opening weekend sellouts
~~ Amazing reviews
~~ Great rewatchability
~~ Tons of action
~~ Overall great film
Well, lets just say, sky's the limit...
- Instead of coming out with two console games, Warner Brothers will be releasing two DOWNLOADABLE games...I personally have this flick at the top of my anticipated spring films, so any good news just adds to my excitement...
- The last piece of news comes to us from ABC. They have found replacements for Ebert and Roeper. Here's the news from the Chicago Tribune...
Ben Lyons of E! Entertainment Television and Ben Mankiewicz of Turner Classic Movies Tuesday were named co-hosts of what was described as “the new generation” of “At the Movies” by the Walt Disney Co.’s Buena Vista Productions and Disney-ABC Television Distribution.
“With the addition of Ben Lyons and Ben Mankiewicz as our talented, charismatic new co-hosts, and exciting new segments planned, we’re confident that audiences will be enjoying ‘At the Movies’ for many years to come,” said Brian Frons, who oversees Buena Vista Productions as president of Disney-ABC Television Group’s daytime division.
Two days later...Two of the greatest critics today, one of which happens to be one of the greatest EVER, are replaced in two days. Impressive ABC. To bad they missed out on yours truly. However, Grand Valley Students listen, check out GVBN, the schools news channel, as I may just be making some regularly scheduled appearences...not my own show, but I will have a spot on a talk show, at least as of this moment...
Alright guys, that's all I've got for now. Come back later for more news and notes along with three films to check out this weekend!
Go see something good!
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Some News...
Hey guys! Here are the important headlines for this Tuesday, the 22nd of July...
- R.I.P. Estelle Getty. The tiny Golden Girl actress passed away today at the age of 84 due to complications from a battle with severe dimentia...
- Iron Man is set to be released on DVD on September 30th...
- R.I.P. the world as we know it!! Due out in the fall is the new Matty McConaughey film, Surfer Dude! Just to let you guys know what it's like, here's the trailer...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPwFpYrPv94&eurl=http://www.themovieblog.com/
People...if this makes one dollar...the world might just end...
Could be the cause of a ton of drinking games though...And it sucks because as some of you may know, I love Thomas Hayden Church, so it's really sad to see a great comedic actor do a flick with this kind of shitpotential...shitential...
- So, as some of you may know, Christian Bale may have a little problem on his hands...Thanks to Variety for this info...
Batman star Christian Bale was arrested Tuesday on allegations of assault, police said. British media had reported that Bale’s mother and sister complained they were assaulted by the 34-year-old actor at the Dorchester Hotel in London on Sunday night, a day before the European premiere of “The Dark Knight.”
The women made the allegation at a local police station in Southern England on Monday, Britain’s Press Association news agency said. It said the allegation was then passed on to the Metropolitan Police in London.
May these allegations be false, or drug enduced, because if not, this is definitley not a good thing. If these allegations are indeed true, does this affect your view of him and his body of work? How about other stars that have run ins with law or tabloids, such as say, Mel Gibson? Can you separate art from life, or should they go hand in hand??
Alright, thats all for now. Come back later for more news and notes, and three films to rent this week...
Go see something good!
- R.I.P. Estelle Getty. The tiny Golden Girl actress passed away today at the age of 84 due to complications from a battle with severe dimentia...
- Iron Man is set to be released on DVD on September 30th...
- R.I.P. the world as we know it!! Due out in the fall is the new Matty McConaughey film, Surfer Dude! Just to let you guys know what it's like, here's the trailer...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPwFpYrPv94&eurl=http://www.themovieblog.com/
People...if this makes one dollar...the world might just end...
Could be the cause of a ton of drinking games though...And it sucks because as some of you may know, I love Thomas Hayden Church, so it's really sad to see a great comedic actor do a flick with this kind of shitpotential...shitential...
- So, as some of you may know, Christian Bale may have a little problem on his hands...Thanks to Variety for this info...
Batman star Christian Bale was arrested Tuesday on allegations of assault, police said. British media had reported that Bale’s mother and sister complained they were assaulted by the 34-year-old actor at the Dorchester Hotel in London on Sunday night, a day before the European premiere of “The Dark Knight.”
The women made the allegation at a local police station in Southern England on Monday, Britain’s Press Association news agency said. It said the allegation was then passed on to the Metropolitan Police in London.
May these allegations be false, or drug enduced, because if not, this is definitley not a good thing. If these allegations are indeed true, does this affect your view of him and his body of work? How about other stars that have run ins with law or tabloids, such as say, Mel Gibson? Can you separate art from life, or should they go hand in hand??
Alright, thats all for now. Come back later for more news and notes, and three films to rent this week...
Go see something good!
Monday, July 21, 2008
Unseen DVD Blog A Thon...
Hey guys! Now, I like reading blogs, and checking out interesting things that people write about. In turn, I have been told about something that anyone can participate in. It's called the Unseen DVD Blog-A-Thon, and is hosted by a friend of mine over at cinexcellence and is open to anyone. Here's a link to get more information...
http://cinexcellence.com/2008/07/21/unseen-dvd-blog-a-thon/
Go and post your reviews!!
Go see something good!
http://cinexcellence.com/2008/07/21/unseen-dvd-blog-a-thon/
Go and post your reviews!!
Go see something good!
Some news...
Hey guys! Here are your headlines for this Monday, the 21st of July...
- Rumor has it that there are rumblings of a possible Top Gun sequel coming down the pipeline...
- Fanboys, the hotly anticipated film about just that, fanboys, particularly Star Wars fanboys, will finally be released in September, and it will be screening at this weekends Comc Con...
- The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers is working on standardizing home entertainment systems for 3-D...
- Ebert and Roeper are leaving their spots at ABC's At The Movies with Ebert and Roeper...
- Tobey McGuire has joined the cast of The Crusaders...
Thats about it for today...Come back later for more news and notes...hopefully there will be something worth discussing next time...Oh! Come back for the top 10 Dysfunctional Families in honor of Step Brothers...should be fun...
- Rumor has it that there are rumblings of a possible Top Gun sequel coming down the pipeline...
- Fanboys, the hotly anticipated film about just that, fanboys, particularly Star Wars fanboys, will finally be released in September, and it will be screening at this weekends Comc Con...
- The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers is working on standardizing home entertainment systems for 3-D...
- Ebert and Roeper are leaving their spots at ABC's At The Movies with Ebert and Roeper...
- Tobey McGuire has joined the cast of The Crusaders...
Thats about it for today...Come back later for more news and notes...hopefully there will be something worth discussing next time...Oh! Come back for the top 10 Dysfunctional Families in honor of Step Brothers...should be fun...
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Weekend Wrap Up...
Hey guys!! Here is this weekends top 10 box office rank....
1.The Dark Knight
2.Mamma Mia!
3.Hancock
4.Journey to the Center of the Earth
5.Hellboy II: The Golden Army
6.WALL-E
7.Space Chimps
8.Wanted
9.Get Smart
10.Kung Fu Panda
TDK made 155.34 MILLION dollars this weekend, which means it now has the highest grossing opening weekend of any film, ever. Mamma Mia made 27 million bucks...did any of you see that??
So, this week is a really lame week for DVD's...actually, there is only one new release that is worth noting, 21. 21, the gambling film starring Jim Sturgess, from Across The Universe, is alright, and probably worth a rent for his performance. It has it's moments, but it really is a mediocre film. It's shot really generically, and the characters, while funny at times, are really type characters...probably a 6 or 7/10. Go rent High and Low, a film noir from brilliant director Akira Kurosawa...
Just like DVD's, this is a small week for Theatrical Releases, however, the two that are going wide are pretty big films themselves...We have Step Brothers and X Files:I Want to Believe. I know where I'll be, but I want to hear from you guys...where will you be this weekend...
A) Watching Step Brothers
B) Watching X Files
C) Checking out both
D) Checking out The Dark Knight
That's all I have right now...come back later for more news and notes!
Go see something good!
1.The Dark Knight
2.Mamma Mia!
3.Hancock
4.Journey to the Center of the Earth
5.Hellboy II: The Golden Army
6.WALL-E
7.Space Chimps
8.Wanted
9.Get Smart
10.Kung Fu Panda
TDK made 155.34 MILLION dollars this weekend, which means it now has the highest grossing opening weekend of any film, ever. Mamma Mia made 27 million bucks...did any of you see that??
So, this week is a really lame week for DVD's...actually, there is only one new release that is worth noting, 21. 21, the gambling film starring Jim Sturgess, from Across The Universe, is alright, and probably worth a rent for his performance. It has it's moments, but it really is a mediocre film. It's shot really generically, and the characters, while funny at times, are really type characters...probably a 6 or 7/10. Go rent High and Low, a film noir from brilliant director Akira Kurosawa...
Just like DVD's, this is a small week for Theatrical Releases, however, the two that are going wide are pretty big films themselves...We have Step Brothers and X Files:I Want to Believe. I know where I'll be, but I want to hear from you guys...where will you be this weekend...
A) Watching Step Brothers
B) Watching X Files
C) Checking out both
D) Checking out The Dark Knight
That's all I have right now...come back later for more news and notes!
Go see something good!
Saturday, July 19, 2008
The Dark Knight...
Yeah, I own that poster...
So, it's finally here. The Dark Knight is finally here. It's a fan favorite, a box office smash, and a critical darling. However, does it pass this critics test for a good film??
The Dark Knight is a sequel to the solid film, Batman Begins, and sees our hero in a battle for Gotham's streets with two men. A new villain, the Joker, and a new D.A., Harvey Dent. The Joker is the black, Dent is the white (at first glance), and the Caped Crusader is the gray, and this films is about their struggle to bring order, or what they consider order, to this crazy world.
So, as I said in the short intro (I just wanted to get into this), this film is a critical darling, and rightfully so. This is easily the best film I've seen all year, and the best film I've seen since There Will Be Blood. Heath Ledger, I'm just getting this out of the way because he really is the Elephant in the room, is brilliant. Every time that man was on screen, I had a visceral and emotional reaction. Not just that it was Heath, who was taken from us much to early as this film would have LAUNCHED him into the stratosphere, but he is just insane, and it seems like no one can stop him, even our seemingly invincible Knight. He is a psychopath, with a intensely dark view of the world, and is the polar opposite to our brutish hero. He and the bat can't live without each other. The Joker is what Batman would have become had he decided to snap in the years after his parents passed. Batman can't and won't kill Joker for moral reasons, and Joker won't kill Batman as he would have nothing to live for if he did. This relationship is extremely interesting and done brilliantly in Christopher Nolan's new comic book/superhero masterpiece.
The rest of the cast is also pitch perfect. Bale is perfect as our hero, Gary Oldman plays the old veteran cop James Gordon amazingly, and Aaron Eckhart again shows why he is one of the better actors working today, as Harvey Dent. This film is also gorgeous. It is grimy in a dark, polished pallet of blues, oranges, browns, blacks, and grays. The action scenes keep you oriented while still showing the craziness that is trying to fight the Dark Knight, and they look amazing. The story is insanely compelling, and while it didn't have me on the edge of my seat, it had me in a corner, biting my nails. This is a VERY DARK FILM, and is really not a pg 13 flick. Yeah, there's no blood, no real seedy language, and no nudity, but this film is extremely violent, and dark. It's about a man who wants to see the world burn, and for that reason only, he just wants to see it. He has no real motives, other than to show that the world needs to be changed. It's about that man, and our hero, the man who thinks this world still has something to live for. The only real flaw that I can say is that it did lag a little bit in the second act, and it's running time is 2 1/2 hours, and it kind of feels like it. However, as a MASSIVE Batman fan, and a person who thinks he knows his fair share, this film is true to the comics (outside of the origin of Two Face, at least in The Long Halloween, the comics I think these films are based on... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman:_The_Long_Halloween ).
This is a great film, the best film of the year so far, and one of the most intense films I've seen in a long time. The reason I'm keeping this short, is I want your opinions, and I want to get a discussion going, hopefully with more than one or two people. What do you guys think???
The Dark Knight - 9.5/10
Here is my new top 10 of the year. I've seen some new flicks, so lets update this...
10. Smart People
9. My Blueberry Nights
8. Wanted
7. Iron Man
6. Hellboy 2
5. In Bruges
4. Wall E
3. Funny Games
2. Paranoid Park
1. The Dark Knight
Go see something good!!
***I didn't see this in IMAX, although I am going on Monday, so I will talk about the special, IMAX camera shot scenes then...free tickets!!! THANK YOU CHRIS!!***
WATCHMEN LOOKS BRILLIANT!!!
Friday, July 18, 2008
The Dark Knight...review coming tomorrow!!!
Hey guys! I'm just posting this to say that I DID see the Dark Knight, and I would like to get your thoughts on the subject. I have my thoughts *cough* MASTERPIECE *cough*, but I would like to get a discussion going.
My review will be up tomorrow afternoon...I'm a man of my word...
My review will be up tomorrow afternoon...I'm a man of my word...
Thursday, July 17, 2008
A couple new trailers...
Hey guys! The only real news today, is that two HUGE trailers have been released...The trailers for Watchmen, and Body of Lies can be seen below...
Watchmen
Body Of Lies
All I can say is that Watchmen looks AMAZING and so does Body of Lies, although, suprisingly, I'm far more interested in Watchmen at this point. The novel has always intrigued me, though I've never read it, and it looks like it could be great. I have a better chance at being suprised by that. Body we all know WILL be great. With Watchmen though, the fact it comes to us from Zack Snyder, aka the guy who was behind the mediocre 300 (send the hatemail now), gives me pause, but I think the trailer looks great. How about you???
The only other thing I have to say is that I saw Hellboy 2 and Wall E yesturday, and both are phenominal. Hellboy 2 is visually stunning, although some of it did feel a little self indulgent, which, with Guillermo Del Toro, is not a negative neciserally. It also shows Del Toro's growth as a storyteller, in that he balances action and romance perfectly, and he shows that he can actually have a villian that isn't one dimensional. Wall E is just brilliant, and thats all I want to say, as I would like to hear from you guys!! What did you think of Wall E and/or Hellboy 2???
My Ratings
Hellboy 2
8.5/10
Wall E
9.5/10
Go see something good!!
Watchmen
Body Of Lies
All I can say is that Watchmen looks AMAZING and so does Body of Lies, although, suprisingly, I'm far more interested in Watchmen at this point. The novel has always intrigued me, though I've never read it, and it looks like it could be great. I have a better chance at being suprised by that. Body we all know WILL be great. With Watchmen though, the fact it comes to us from Zack Snyder, aka the guy who was behind the mediocre 300 (send the hatemail now), gives me pause, but I think the trailer looks great. How about you???
The only other thing I have to say is that I saw Hellboy 2 and Wall E yesturday, and both are phenominal. Hellboy 2 is visually stunning, although some of it did feel a little self indulgent, which, with Guillermo Del Toro, is not a negative neciserally. It also shows Del Toro's growth as a storyteller, in that he balances action and romance perfectly, and he shows that he can actually have a villian that isn't one dimensional. Wall E is just brilliant, and thats all I want to say, as I would like to hear from you guys!! What did you think of Wall E and/or Hellboy 2???
My Ratings
Hellboy 2
8.5/10
Wall E
9.5/10
Go see something good!!
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Terminator Salvation Trailer...
The title says it all...here's the trailer...
What do you guys think??? Bale as John Connor??? Possibly JOSH BROLIN as the Terminator??? McG as the director??? Let me know what you think!!!
What do you guys think??? Bale as John Connor??? Possibly JOSH BROLIN as the Terminator??? McG as the director??? Let me know what you think!!!
Who will write Iron Man 2???
Alright guys, here are some big headlines from this Wednesday, the 16th of July...
- Rumor has it, that Keanu Reeves is tossing around a possible adaptation of The Plastic Man comic book, and wants none other than The Wachowski Brother's to be at the helm of the project...
- Resident Evil 4 HAS been greenlit, so expect that to go into production soon...
- People attending Comicon will be able to see Midnight Meat Train...for free!! God, why can't I live in California...
- Wicked is being adapted to become a feature film...AWESOME!
- And finally, the biggest news of the day, is that Justin Theroux, yes, the amazing Justin Theroux, the scribe of the upcoming Tropic Thuder screenplay, will be guiding us through the world of Iron Man in 2010. What are your thoughts???
That's all I've got for now, so come back later for more news and notes...
Go see something good!!
- Rumor has it, that Keanu Reeves is tossing around a possible adaptation of The Plastic Man comic book, and wants none other than The Wachowski Brother's to be at the helm of the project...
- Resident Evil 4 HAS been greenlit, so expect that to go into production soon...
- People attending Comicon will be able to see Midnight Meat Train...for free!! God, why can't I live in California...
- Wicked is being adapted to become a feature film...AWESOME!
- And finally, the biggest news of the day, is that Justin Theroux, yes, the amazing Justin Theroux, the scribe of the upcoming Tropic Thuder screenplay, will be guiding us through the world of Iron Man in 2010. What are your thoughts???
That's all I've got for now, so come back later for more news and notes...
Go see something good!!
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
The Dark Knight...Why are you excited??
Alright, so, outside of news that Wanted 2 IS in the works as of this second, there really isn't any news, so I decided, in honor of The Dark Knight's hotly anticipated release this friday, that I might get some information from you all. I know that 99.9 percent of you are pretty stoked for the Caped Crusader to get his ass back in the jet black suit and on the silver screen. However, this films release has one big thing hanging over it. Heath Ledger. The guy looks f-ing phenominal, and I have no doubt in my mind, that come Oscar season, you might hear a little bit about this great actor who was taken from us much to soon. Now, heres the question. Why are you excited to see The Dark Knight...
A) Heath Ledger's Performance
B) Christian Bale's Performance
C) It's Batman, so I'm there
D) Christopher Nolan is a genius
E) The story looks good
F) Cast Looks good
G) It's Batman, so it sucks
Leave a comment and we can get into some of the reasons why this film may be the most anticipated film in years...
Oh, as stated earlier, Wanted will be getting a sequel...thoughts?? I LOVED Wanted, so the more the better...what do you guys think?
Go see something good!
A) Heath Ledger's Performance
B) Christian Bale's Performance
C) It's Batman, so I'm there
D) Christopher Nolan is a genius
E) The story looks good
F) Cast Looks good
G) It's Batman, so it sucks
Leave a comment and we can get into some of the reasons why this film may be the most anticipated film in years...
Oh, as stated earlier, Wanted will be getting a sequel...thoughts?? I LOVED Wanted, so the more the better...what do you guys think?
Go see something good!
Monday, July 14, 2008
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!!!
- 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!!!
Sunday, July 13, 2008
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!
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!
Friday, July 11, 2008
The Tracy Fragments...
Hey guys. So, I go to the video store the other day, and as I walk in, trying to find a copy of Batman: The Gotham Knight, I hear the clerk say that they have The Tracey Fragments. So, having known about this experimental, split screen flick staring Hard Candy, and most notably for everyone else, Juno's Ellen Page, I decide to pick it up. The film has an interesting premise, which I'll get to later, and it's biggest draw is the almost constant use of the split screen. This film is kinetic, experimental, arty to the nth degree, and not as horrible as it seems.
The Tracey Fragments is a film about young teenager Tracey Berkowitz, and her hunt for her 8 year old brother, Sonny. She has a boyfriend, deals with bullies, and runs away all while looking for her brother who she lost while watching him. Now, this is based on a novel written by Maureen Medved, who also adapted it for the screen, and comes to us from indie filmmaker, Bruce McDonald, whose visual style makes this film a solid entry into the whole casts canon.
The biggest pro this film has going for it, is the visual style. It's kinetic, and keeps the film interesting, even during some of the more hyper kinetic, boisterous parts. All of the uber experimental split screen shots are sort of playing into the whole mindset that the protagonist, Tracey, has during the film. She's an angst ridden teen, who loves her brother, and is head over heels for the school "rock star" and is bullied by all of the "popular" girls. Granted, some of these things aren't new, and have been captured in better films, but none have been this visually interesting to watch. It's like Ally Sheedy's character from the Breakfast Club walked up to David Lynch and asked him to do a film on her life. The script lacks, but is saved by Pages performance, who hits most notes perfectly. She plays the angst ridden teenager so damn good, and she still has this hint of sweetness and innocence to her that is just a real joy to watch on screen. However, there are a few negatives, such as the beginning of the film.
We are introduced to Tracey and the people surrounding her life in this very sped up and kinetic feeling opening that is so hyper edited and sort of obnoxious that it bugged me a little bit. Also, as stated earlier, the script isn't really all that great. The story isn't totally compelling, but then again the visuals are so damn interesting to watch, and Page is really good here, so please, go give this flick a shot. It's fearless and audacious filmmaking, and it's truly riveting to watch, minus a lacking opening. The film takes chances, and hits on most, and thats more than can be said for other either tepid indie dramas, or stuffy hollywood blockbusters that the cinemas are filled with now a days. Please, it takes a little bit to get used to, and it may be to experimental for some, but just go check it out,. Take a break from the theatres tonight, go to your local rental shop, and give this little indie film a shot. If you do, let me know what you think!
7.5/10
Alright, so go rent that flick, and come back later for more news and notes!!!
Go see something good!
Thursday, July 10, 2008
News, and A MAX PAYNE TRAILER!
Hey guys! I've got some huge news today, so here are your headlines!!
- Robert Downey Jr. has been locked up to play Sherlock Holmes in Guy Ritchies upcoming adaptation...thoughts?
- There will be a 15 second...I repeat, only a 15 second trailer for the new Harry Potter film infront of The Dark Knight in IMAX theatres...
- Louis Letterier has been approached to helm a new Superman film...
- John Favreu has inked a deal for Iron Man 2...
Now, here's my favorite piece of news. Heres a trailer for the upcoming film adaptation for Max Payne!!!
I personally think that this game was one of the best I've ever played, and this movie looks really good...what are your thoughts???
Thats all I've got for today, so come back later for more news, and a review of The Tracey Fragments!
Go see something good!!!
- Robert Downey Jr. has been locked up to play Sherlock Holmes in Guy Ritchies upcoming adaptation...thoughts?
- There will be a 15 second...I repeat, only a 15 second trailer for the new Harry Potter film infront of The Dark Knight in IMAX theatres...
- Louis Letterier has been approached to helm a new Superman film...
- John Favreu has inked a deal for Iron Man 2...
Now, here's my favorite piece of news. Heres a trailer for the upcoming film adaptation for Max Payne!!!
I personally think that this game was one of the best I've ever played, and this movie looks really good...what are your thoughts???
Thats all I've got for today, so come back later for more news, and a review of The Tracey Fragments!
Go see something good!!!
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Some news, Top 10, and what makes a horror film?
Alright, I have a lot to get into, so lets just get down to it with some news and notes for today...
- Transformers 2 and G.I. Joe footage will be shown at the upcoming comicon...they are expecting 140,000 people to show for the event...3 TIMES THE SIZE OF ROTHBURY...let that sink in for a second...
- Tarantino's next film, Inglorious Bastards, is set to start filming in October, and he wants to open at next years Canne film festival...
- For all you dumb comedy fans (and that's fans of dumb comedies, not dumb fans) here's the poster for the upcoming mock flick, Disaster Movie...
- Alright, the last thing I have to talk about is a funny little thing. It's a promotional trailer for a mockumentary surrounding Tropic Thunder. In the spirit of the documentary about Apocalypse Now, Hearts of Darkness, here's the trailer for Rain of Madness...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmMQD4og-JA&eurl=http://www.themovieblog.com/
Don't know if this will get an actual release or just a special feature on the DVD, but it looks funny, so I am interested...what about you?
So, now it's top 10 time, and this should be an interesting one. This top 10, and the question I will ask you guys for some response on were both bred out of the fact that I am really bored while at work, and think about stuff like this. So, as in my last note about Will Smith, I was told that Leonardo DiCaprio was overrated, and that I thought he was probably in my top 10. So, while at work, I thought up my top 10 actors and actresses, however I will say that this is not of all time. This is my 10 favorite actors and actresses as of this second, that, if they have a film coming out, I will run and see it...
ACTORS
NAME (Favorite Role)
10. Leonardo DiCaprio (Romeo + Juliet or Gangs of New York)
9. Benicio Del Toro (Traffic)
8. Ryan Gosling (Half Nelson)
7. Gael Garcia Bernal (The Motorcycle Diaries or Amores Perros)
6. Javier Bardem (The Sea Inside or No Country for Old Men)
5. Tommy Lee Jones (No Country For Old Men)
4. Tony Leung (In The Mood For Love)
3. Christian Bale (Rescue Dawn)
2. Robert Downey Jr. (Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang)
1. Daniel Day-Lewis (The Ballad of Jack and Rose or There Will Be Blood...all roles actually)
ACTRESSES
10. Zooey Dechanel (All The Real Girls)
9. Umma Thurman (Kill Bill Vol. 2)
8. Nicole Kidman (Moulin Rouge)
7. Julian Moore (Magnolia)
6. Juliette Binoche (Cache)
5. Angelina Jolie (A Mighty Heart)
4. Zhang Ziyi (2046)
3. Naomi Watts (Mulholland Drive)
2. Cate Blanchet (Notes on A Scandal or The Aviator)
1. Jennifer Connelly (House of Sand and Fog...anything she does...)
So, please, post your favorites and lets start a discussion...
Speaking of discussion, while I was at work, I began to think why most new age "horror" films don't work for me. This led me to decide that these films are not true horror films, at least not to me. Take the difference between the new and original Halloween films. The old one was a brisk 90 minutes, low budget, and never showed a drop of blood. Also, the score was great, and the scares were not over done. However, in the newest film, the score is obnoxious, the scares are overdone, and ultimately excessively gory, about 2 and 1/4 hours long, big budget, and gave the character an unnecessary back story. So, the question to you guys is, what makes a good horror film?? I have some criteria, but I will get into that later because I really want to hear from you guys. What makes a good horror film, and what is your favorite??
Alright, that's all I've got for now, come back later for more news and notes!!
- Transformers 2 and G.I. Joe footage will be shown at the upcoming comicon...they are expecting 140,000 people to show for the event...3 TIMES THE SIZE OF ROTHBURY...let that sink in for a second...
- Tarantino's next film, Inglorious Bastards, is set to start filming in October, and he wants to open at next years Canne film festival...
- For all you dumb comedy fans (and that's fans of dumb comedies, not dumb fans) here's the poster for the upcoming mock flick, Disaster Movie...
- Alright, the last thing I have to talk about is a funny little thing. It's a promotional trailer for a mockumentary surrounding Tropic Thunder. In the spirit of the documentary about Apocalypse Now, Hearts of Darkness, here's the trailer for Rain of Madness...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmMQD4og-JA&eurl=http://www.themovieblog.com/
Don't know if this will get an actual release or just a special feature on the DVD, but it looks funny, so I am interested...what about you?
So, now it's top 10 time, and this should be an interesting one. This top 10, and the question I will ask you guys for some response on were both bred out of the fact that I am really bored while at work, and think about stuff like this. So, as in my last note about Will Smith, I was told that Leonardo DiCaprio was overrated, and that I thought he was probably in my top 10. So, while at work, I thought up my top 10 actors and actresses, however I will say that this is not of all time. This is my 10 favorite actors and actresses as of this second, that, if they have a film coming out, I will run and see it...
ACTORS
NAME (Favorite Role)
10. Leonardo DiCaprio (Romeo + Juliet or Gangs of New York)
9. Benicio Del Toro (Traffic)
8. Ryan Gosling (Half Nelson)
7. Gael Garcia Bernal (The Motorcycle Diaries or Amores Perros)
6. Javier Bardem (The Sea Inside or No Country for Old Men)
5. Tommy Lee Jones (No Country For Old Men)
4. Tony Leung (In The Mood For Love)
3. Christian Bale (Rescue Dawn)
2. Robert Downey Jr. (Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang)
1. Daniel Day-Lewis (The Ballad of Jack and Rose or There Will Be Blood...all roles actually)
ACTRESSES
10. Zooey Dechanel (All The Real Girls)
9. Umma Thurman (Kill Bill Vol. 2)
8. Nicole Kidman (Moulin Rouge)
7. Julian Moore (Magnolia)
6. Juliette Binoche (Cache)
5. Angelina Jolie (A Mighty Heart)
4. Zhang Ziyi (2046)
3. Naomi Watts (Mulholland Drive)
2. Cate Blanchet (Notes on A Scandal or The Aviator)
1. Jennifer Connelly (House of Sand and Fog...anything she does...)
So, please, post your favorites and lets start a discussion...
Speaking of discussion, while I was at work, I began to think why most new age "horror" films don't work for me. This led me to decide that these films are not true horror films, at least not to me. Take the difference between the new and original Halloween films. The old one was a brisk 90 minutes, low budget, and never showed a drop of blood. Also, the score was great, and the scares were not over done. However, in the newest film, the score is obnoxious, the scares are overdone, and ultimately excessively gory, about 2 and 1/4 hours long, big budget, and gave the character an unnecessary back story. So, the question to you guys is, what makes a good horror film?? I have some criteria, but I will get into that later because I really want to hear from you guys. What makes a good horror film, and what is your favorite??
Alright, that's all I've got for now, come back later for more news and notes!!
Monday, July 7, 2008
Hancock and the Bond Trailer...thoughts?
Hey guys. So, it's a Monday, a slow news day, girlfriend is out working, so what is a guy supposed to do? Well, this guy went out a checked out Hancock, and I have some stuff to say, so lets get into it a little bit, because I also have a couple of other pieces of news to discuss...
Hancock is an ass hole. At least at the start of this hero-who-is-a-zero turned world saver tale. Hancock is an unhappy hero, who constantly leaves a pile of destruction in his angsty wake. He saves his city by a moment, drinks the rest away. However, this changes one day, as he meets an up and coming p.r. manager, Ray. After Hancock saves Ray's life, he vows to make the world see the true heart of this reluctant powerhouse. However, a warrant goes out for his arrest, and he willingly surrenders, and spends time in jail, all awaiting his call to help the very town he neglected his entire life. However, some stuff is not exactly what it seems, and people in particular, are not who they seem.
See, that's a great premise. However, the movie, in the end, doesn't live up to that. Will Smith is the star of this film, and of course, he does great. Watching him ham it up as an "asshole" as he is called much of the film, is truly fun. However, the fellow performers don't truly stand up to the task. Jason Bateman, who plays Ray, is fine, but the script really just kind of sits there the entire film. There are comedic moments, but most aren't dialogue based, and in one instance, is such juvenile humor, that it really doesn't work. The direction also is kind of all over the place, and during the action scenes, is really reminiscent of Transformers, and that's never a good thing. The last thing is, the film went 90% of the way without truly delving into Hancock's back story, yet, at the end, in the most tense of moments, they decide to grind the film to a complete and utter halt with a lame duck discussion about his life. Granted, it did sort of raise the stakes a little bit, as he began to figure everything out, but it could have been handled better, at say his trailer, instead of which they just decided to throw a big fight in there. This film could have been a good ten-15 minutes shorter, and it would have worked.
All of those negatives aside, the premise and story are really intriguing and watching Will Smith play it up in those early scenes is worth at least the price of a ticket at a second run theatre.
6/10
Most of you have already seen this, so that's why I'm just keeping it short. Also, I have to talk about an interesting thing that happened before the film. So, before Hancock, a certain trailer, for a certain double-O's upcoming film is shown. Now, for those of you who haven't seen the flick, here's the trailer...
Now, the simple question is, is this film an anticipated one for you? Are you looking forward to this flick, and if so, or not, why? Do you like the old Bond films, or do you hope that they keep taking it to the sacred cow?
That's all for now. Wednesday, I'll be seeing Wall-E, so you can expect my thoughts, more like a discussion starter on that flick, and then when I get home on Sunday, I'll have a review of Hellboy 2...in the meantime, I'll have some news, notes, a top 10, and more thoughts about the world that we call the film industry.
Go see something good!!
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Box Office...new releases...
Hey guys...Here are the stats for this weekends box office...
1.Hancock
2.WALL-E
3.Wanted
4.Get Smart
5.Kung Fu Panda
6.The Incredible Hulk
7.Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
8.Kit Kittredge: An American Girl
9.Sex and the City
10.You Don't Mess With the Zohan
Wow, Kit Kittredge beats Sex and The City...Hancock pulled in roughly 107 million dollars over the 6 day opening, with 66 million of that coming over the weekend, almost doubling Wall-E's weekend, 33.5 million dollars.
So, looking for something to rent this week, here are your noteable DVD releases for this Tuesday...
Batman: Gotham Knight
- Joe Strummer: The Future is Unwritten
One of the better docs from last year. Not the greatest documentary, or even the best Clash documentary, but it's solid, and is worth a rent...
- The Ruins
Torture flick...skip it...
- Sleepwalking
Small little film from earlier this year, starring Charlize Theron. Thats really all I know about it, so, I'll be checking this one out, as should you.
- Stop Loss
Not the worst Iraq War film, but one that is skipable. It's really only worth your time for the great performance by Joseph Gordon Levitt.
- Superhero Movie
Really, is this even appealing to any of you? Skip it..
~DVD Pick of The Week~
Batman: Gotham Knight
6 Interlocking stories, 6 acclaimed anime directors, all produced by the people behind Batman Begins and Batman: The Dark Knight. Oh, did I mention they have the voice actor behind Batman: The Animated Series back to reprise his role as the Caped Crusader. If you have been reading the blog, you know that I'm really excited for this, as you all should be. Anime may turn off some, as I know it does to me sometime, but it's Batman, and really, outside of a mediocre Clash doc, you have nothing new, so give it a shot.
Also, this Friday we have three wide releases, the Eddie Murphy vehicle, Meet Dave (avoid), The 3D "epic" Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D (avoid), and the pick of the week, Hellboy 2: The Golden Army. I'll be checking out Hellboy this weekend on my trip to Birch Run, and you all should see it too. Guillermo Del Toro is one of the better filmmakers that we have today, so support anything the guy does, even the upcoming Hobbit movie.
Now, thats all I've got for now, but come back later for some more news, notes, and a top ten.
Go see something good!
Saturday, July 5, 2008
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!
Disney/Pixar's full animated Slate through 2011...
Hey guys! With Wall-E and it's critically acclaimed creators, Pixar, and their bosses, Disney, come some of the most hotly anticipated animated films of the year they are released, and now, we know what those films will be through 2011...here they are... (Nod to Firstshowing.net for the info...)
- BOLT
Directed by: Chris Williams and Byron Howard. For super-dog Bolt (voiced by John Travolta), every day is filled with adventure, danger and intrigue — at least until the cameras stop rolling. When the canine star of a hit TV show is accidentally shipped from his Hollywood soundstage to New York City, he begins his biggest adventure yet — a cross-country journey through the real world. Armed only with the delusions that all his amazing feats and powers are real, and with the help of two unlikely traveling companions — a jaded, abandoned housecat named Mittens (voiced by Susie Essman), and TV-obsessed hamster in a plastic ball named Rhino — Bolt discovers he doesn't need superpowers to be a hero. Miley Cyrus ("Hannah Montana") brings her vocal talents to the role of Penny, Bolt's human co-star on the television series.
- UP
Directed by: Pete Docter (Monsters, Inc) and Bob Peterson. From the Academy Award-nominated team of director Pete Docter ("Monsters, Inc.") and co-director Bob Peterson comes "Up," a comedic adventure taking off (and lifting spirits) in summer 2009. Carl Fredricksen spent his entire life dreaming of exploring the globe and experiencing life to its fullest. But at age 78, life seems to have passed him by, until a twist of fate (and a persistent 8-year old Wilderness Explorer named Russell) gives him a new lease on life. "Up" takes audiences on a thrilling journey where the unlikely pair encounter wild terrain, unexpected villains and jungle creatures. When seeking adventure next summer — look "Up."
- THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG
Directed by: John Musker (Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Hercules) and Ron Clements (Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Hercules). A musical set in the greatest city of them all, New Orleans, "The Princess and the Frog" marks Disney's return to the timeless art form of traditional animation. The film teams Ron Clements and John Musker, creators of "The Little Mermaid" and "Aladdin," with Oscar-winning composer Randy Newman to tell the most beautiful love story ever told … with frogs, voodoo, and a singing alligator.
- TOY STORY 3
Directed by: Lee Unkrich (Toy Story 2, Finding Nemo). The creators of the beloved "Toy Story" films re-open the toy box and bring moviegoers back to the delightful world of Woody, Buzz and our favorite gang of toy characters in "Toy Story 3." Lee Unkrich (co-director of "Toy Story 2" and "Finding Nemo") directs this highly anticipated film, and Michael Arndt, the Academy Award-winning screenwriter of "Little Miss Sunshine," brings his unique talents and comedic sensibilities to the proceedings.
- RAPUNZEL
Directed by: Glen Keane and Dean Wellins. In this new telling of the classic fairy tale, "Rapunzel," audiences will be transported to a stunning CG fantasy world complete with the iconic tower, an evil witch, a gallant hero and, of course, the mysterious girl with the long golden tresses. Expect adventure, heart, humor, and hair … lots of hair, when Rapunzel unleashes her locks in theaters for the 2010 holiday.
- NEWT
Directed by: Gary Rydstrom (Lifted). What happens when the last remaining male and female blue-footed newts on the planet are forced together by science to save the species, and they can't stand each other? That's the problem facing Newt and Brooke, heroes of "newt," the Pixar film by seven-time Academy Award winner for sound Gary Rydstrom, and director of Pixar's Oscar-nominated short, "Lifted." Newt and Brooke embark on a perilous, unpredictable adventure and discover that finding a mate never goes as planned, even when you only have one choice. Love, it turns out, is not a science.
- THE BEAR AND THE BOW
Directed by: Brenda Chapman (The Prince of Egypt). A rugged and mythic Scotland is the setting for Pixar's action-adventure "The Bear and the Bow." The impetuous, tangle-haired Merida, though a daughter of royalty, would prefer to make her mark as a great archer. A clash of wills with her mother compels Merida to make a reckless choice, which unleashes unintended peril on her father's kingdom and her mother's life. Merida struggles with the unpredictable forces of nature, magic and a dark, ancient curse to set things right. Director Brenda Chapman ("The Prince of Egypt," "The Lion King") and the storytelling wizards of Pixar conjure humor, fantasy and excitement in this rich Highland tale.
- CARS 2
Directed by: Brad Lewis. All the world's a racetrack as racing superstar Lightning McQueen zooms back into action, with his best friend Mater in tow, to take on the globe's fastest and finest in this thrilling high-octane new installment of the "Cars" saga. Mater and McQueen will need their passports as they find themselves in a new world of intrigue, thrills and fast-paced comedic escapades around the globe. "Cars 2" is being directed by Brad Lewis, producer of the Oscar-winning film "Ratatouille."
- KING OF THE ELVES
Directed by: Aaron Blaise (Brother Bear) and Robert Walker (Brother Bear). Legendary storyteller Phillip K. Dick's short story (his only experiment in the fantasy genre) becomes the basis for this fantastic and imaginative tale about an average man living in the Mississippi Delta, whose reluctant actions to help a desperate band of elves leads them to name him their new king. Joining the innocent and endangered elves as they attempt to escape from an evil and menacing troll, their unlikely new leader finds himself caught on a journey filled with unimaginable dangers and a chance to bring real meaning back to his own life.
Okay, so now here's the thing. What are you most looking forward to, and what are you least looking forward to? Also, they are rereleasing Toy Story and Toy Story 2 in 3D...
Oh, BTW, all of these films, minus the Princess and The Frog, will be in 3D...
Go see something good!
- BOLT
Directed by: Chris Williams and Byron Howard. For super-dog Bolt (voiced by John Travolta), every day is filled with adventure, danger and intrigue — at least until the cameras stop rolling. When the canine star of a hit TV show is accidentally shipped from his Hollywood soundstage to New York City, he begins his biggest adventure yet — a cross-country journey through the real world. Armed only with the delusions that all his amazing feats and powers are real, and with the help of two unlikely traveling companions — a jaded, abandoned housecat named Mittens (voiced by Susie Essman), and TV-obsessed hamster in a plastic ball named Rhino — Bolt discovers he doesn't need superpowers to be a hero. Miley Cyrus ("Hannah Montana") brings her vocal talents to the role of Penny, Bolt's human co-star on the television series.
- UP
Directed by: Pete Docter (Monsters, Inc) and Bob Peterson. From the Academy Award-nominated team of director Pete Docter ("Monsters, Inc.") and co-director Bob Peterson comes "Up," a comedic adventure taking off (and lifting spirits) in summer 2009. Carl Fredricksen spent his entire life dreaming of exploring the globe and experiencing life to its fullest. But at age 78, life seems to have passed him by, until a twist of fate (and a persistent 8-year old Wilderness Explorer named Russell) gives him a new lease on life. "Up" takes audiences on a thrilling journey where the unlikely pair encounter wild terrain, unexpected villains and jungle creatures. When seeking adventure next summer — look "Up."
- THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG
Directed by: John Musker (Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Hercules) and Ron Clements (Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Hercules). A musical set in the greatest city of them all, New Orleans, "The Princess and the Frog" marks Disney's return to the timeless art form of traditional animation. The film teams Ron Clements and John Musker, creators of "The Little Mermaid" and "Aladdin," with Oscar-winning composer Randy Newman to tell the most beautiful love story ever told … with frogs, voodoo, and a singing alligator.
- TOY STORY 3
Directed by: Lee Unkrich (Toy Story 2, Finding Nemo). The creators of the beloved "Toy Story" films re-open the toy box and bring moviegoers back to the delightful world of Woody, Buzz and our favorite gang of toy characters in "Toy Story 3." Lee Unkrich (co-director of "Toy Story 2" and "Finding Nemo") directs this highly anticipated film, and Michael Arndt, the Academy Award-winning screenwriter of "Little Miss Sunshine," brings his unique talents and comedic sensibilities to the proceedings.
- RAPUNZEL
Directed by: Glen Keane and Dean Wellins. In this new telling of the classic fairy tale, "Rapunzel," audiences will be transported to a stunning CG fantasy world complete with the iconic tower, an evil witch, a gallant hero and, of course, the mysterious girl with the long golden tresses. Expect adventure, heart, humor, and hair … lots of hair, when Rapunzel unleashes her locks in theaters for the 2010 holiday.
- NEWT
Directed by: Gary Rydstrom (Lifted). What happens when the last remaining male and female blue-footed newts on the planet are forced together by science to save the species, and they can't stand each other? That's the problem facing Newt and Brooke, heroes of "newt," the Pixar film by seven-time Academy Award winner for sound Gary Rydstrom, and director of Pixar's Oscar-nominated short, "Lifted." Newt and Brooke embark on a perilous, unpredictable adventure and discover that finding a mate never goes as planned, even when you only have one choice. Love, it turns out, is not a science.
- THE BEAR AND THE BOW
Directed by: Brenda Chapman (The Prince of Egypt). A rugged and mythic Scotland is the setting for Pixar's action-adventure "The Bear and the Bow." The impetuous, tangle-haired Merida, though a daughter of royalty, would prefer to make her mark as a great archer. A clash of wills with her mother compels Merida to make a reckless choice, which unleashes unintended peril on her father's kingdom and her mother's life. Merida struggles with the unpredictable forces of nature, magic and a dark, ancient curse to set things right. Director Brenda Chapman ("The Prince of Egypt," "The Lion King") and the storytelling wizards of Pixar conjure humor, fantasy and excitement in this rich Highland tale.
- CARS 2
Directed by: Brad Lewis. All the world's a racetrack as racing superstar Lightning McQueen zooms back into action, with his best friend Mater in tow, to take on the globe's fastest and finest in this thrilling high-octane new installment of the "Cars" saga. Mater and McQueen will need their passports as they find themselves in a new world of intrigue, thrills and fast-paced comedic escapades around the globe. "Cars 2" is being directed by Brad Lewis, producer of the Oscar-winning film "Ratatouille."
- KING OF THE ELVES
Directed by: Aaron Blaise (Brother Bear) and Robert Walker (Brother Bear). Legendary storyteller Phillip K. Dick's short story (his only experiment in the fantasy genre) becomes the basis for this fantastic and imaginative tale about an average man living in the Mississippi Delta, whose reluctant actions to help a desperate band of elves leads them to name him their new king. Joining the innocent and endangered elves as they attempt to escape from an evil and menacing troll, their unlikely new leader finds himself caught on a journey filled with unimaginable dangers and a chance to bring real meaning back to his own life.
Okay, so now here's the thing. What are you most looking forward to, and what are you least looking forward to? Also, they are rereleasing Toy Story and Toy Story 2 in 3D...
Oh, BTW, all of these films, minus the Princess and The Frog, will be in 3D...
Go see something good!
Friday, July 4, 2008
The Day The Earth Stood Still Trailer...
Hey guys, today is July 4th, so it's kind of a slow news day, as it should be, but there is one big piece of news. Here is the newest trailer for the upcoming Sci Fi remake, The Day the Earth Stood Still...
I rewatched the original trailer, and I just recently watched the film, and to me, this is unnecesary, HOWEVER, it does look like it could be good. I love Jennifer Connelly as you all know, and Keanu does give me pause, but then I remember he plays an alien, so that works. I am kind of excited for this flick now. The poster's lame, but the trailer and cast are decent, so it's on my radar. What do you guys think???
Come back later for more news and info!
Go see something good!
I rewatched the original trailer, and I just recently watched the film, and to me, this is unnecesary, HOWEVER, it does look like it could be good. I love Jennifer Connelly as you all know, and Keanu does give me pause, but then I remember he plays an alien, so that works. I am kind of excited for this flick now. The poster's lame, but the trailer and cast are decent, so it's on my radar. What do you guys think???
Come back later for more news and info!
Go see something good!
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Top 10 Films, in 10 Genres...
Today is a really really slow news day, so I have a pretty broad question for you guys to answer for me. Actually, I have to, but let me preface this with something. A couple weeks ago, AFI released their top ten films in ten "classic" genres. Now, here are the ten genres with their respective films...
ANIMATION
1. "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," 1937.
2. "Pinocchio," 1940
3. "Bambi," 1942.
4. "The Lion King," 1994.
5. "Fantasia," 1940.
6. "Toy Story," 1995.
7. "Beauty and the Beast," 1991.
8. "Shrek," 2001.
9. "Cinderella," 1950.
10. "Finding Nemo," 2003.
FANTASY
1. "The Wizard of Oz," 1939.
2. "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring," 2001.
3. "It's a Wonderful Life," 1946.
4. "King Kong," 1933.
5. "Miracle on 34th Street, 1947.
6. "Field of Dreams," 1989.
7. "Harvey," 1950.
8. "Groundhog Day," 1993.
9. "The Thief of Bagdad," 1924.
10. "Big," 1988.
GANGSTER
1. "The Godfather," 1972.
2. "Goodfellas," 1990.
3. "The Godfather Part II," 1974.
4. "White Heat," 1949.
5. "Bonnie and Clyde," 1967.
6. "Scarface: The Shame of a Nation," 1932.
7. "Pulp Fiction," 1994.
8. "The Public Enemy," 1931.
9. "Little Caesar," 1930.
10. "Scarface," 1983.
SCIENCE FICTION
1. "2001: A Space Odyssey," 1968.
2. "Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope," 1977.
3. "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial," 1982.
4. "A Clockwork Orange," 1971.
5. "The Day The Earth Stood Still," 1951.
6. "Blade Runner," 1982.
7. "Alien," 1979.
8. "Terminator 2: Judgment Day," 1991.
9. "Invasion of the Body Snatchers," 1956.
10. "Back to the Future," 1985.
WESTERN
1. "The Searchers," 1956.
2. "High Noon," 1952.
3. "Shane," 1953.
4. "Unforgiven," 1992.
5. "Red River," 1948.
6. "The Wild Bunch," 1969.
7. "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," 1969.
8. "McCabe & Mrs. Miller," 1971.
9. "Stagecoach," 1939.
10. "Cat Ballou," 1965.
SPORTS
1. "Raging Bull," 1980.
2. "Rocky," 1976.
3. "The Pride of the Yankees," 1942.
4. "Hoosiers," 1986.
5. "Bull Durham," 1988.
6. "The Hustler," 1961.
7. "Caddyshack," 1980.
8. "Breaking Away," 1979.
9. "National Velvet," 1944.
10. "Jerry Maguire," 1996.
MYSTERY
1. "Vertigo," 1958.
2. "Chinatown," 1974.
3. "Rear Window," 1954.
4. "Laura," 1944.
5. "The Third Man," 1949.
6. "The Maltese Falcon," 1941.
7. "North By Northwest," 1959.
8. "Blue Velvet," 1986.
9. "Dial M for Murder," 1954.
10. "The Usual Suspects," 1995.
ROMANTIC COMEDY
1. "City Lights," 1931.
2. "Annie Hall," 1977.
3. "It Happened One Night," 1934.
4. "Roman Holiday," 1953.
5. "The Philadelphia Story," 1940.
6. "When Harry Met Sally ...," 1989.
7. "Adam's Rib," 1949.
8. "Moonstruck," 1987.
9. "Harold and Maude," 1971.
10. "Sleepless in Seattle," 1993.
COURTROOM DRAMA
1. "To Kill a Mockingbird," 1962.
2. "12 Angry Men," 1957.
3. "Kramer Vs. Kramer," 1979.
4. "The Verdict," 1982.
5. "A Few Good Men," 1992.
6. "Witness for the Prosecution," 1957.
7. "Anatomy of a Murder," 1959.
8. "In Cold Blood," 1967.
9. "A Cry in the Dark," 1988.
10. "Judgment at Nuremberg," 1961.
EPIC
1. "Lawrence of Arabia," 1962.
2. "Ben-Hur," 1959.
3. "Schindler's List," 1993.
4. "Gone With the Wind," 1939.
5. "Spartacus," 1960.
6. "Titanic," 1997.
7. "All Quiet on the Western Front," 1930.
8. "Saving Private Ryan," 1998.
9. "Reds," 1981.
10. "The Ten Commandments," 1956.
The two questions are as follows...
What is your favorite genre of film? It doesn't have to be one of these ten here...
Finally, what are is your favorite film in each of the ten genres here? Just like the first question, the movie does not have to be on the lists or made in America, so what is your favorite?
Thats all I have for today, but this should be an interesting subject, so lets get into it!
Go see something good!
ANIMATION
1. "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," 1937.
2. "Pinocchio," 1940
3. "Bambi," 1942.
4. "The Lion King," 1994.
5. "Fantasia," 1940.
6. "Toy Story," 1995.
7. "Beauty and the Beast," 1991.
8. "Shrek," 2001.
9. "Cinderella," 1950.
10. "Finding Nemo," 2003.
FANTASY
1. "The Wizard of Oz," 1939.
2. "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring," 2001.
3. "It's a Wonderful Life," 1946.
4. "King Kong," 1933.
5. "Miracle on 34th Street, 1947.
6. "Field of Dreams," 1989.
7. "Harvey," 1950.
8. "Groundhog Day," 1993.
9. "The Thief of Bagdad," 1924.
10. "Big," 1988.
GANGSTER
1. "The Godfather," 1972.
2. "Goodfellas," 1990.
3. "The Godfather Part II," 1974.
4. "White Heat," 1949.
5. "Bonnie and Clyde," 1967.
6. "Scarface: The Shame of a Nation," 1932.
7. "Pulp Fiction," 1994.
8. "The Public Enemy," 1931.
9. "Little Caesar," 1930.
10. "Scarface," 1983.
SCIENCE FICTION
1. "2001: A Space Odyssey," 1968.
2. "Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope," 1977.
3. "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial," 1982.
4. "A Clockwork Orange," 1971.
5. "The Day The Earth Stood Still," 1951.
6. "Blade Runner," 1982.
7. "Alien," 1979.
8. "Terminator 2: Judgment Day," 1991.
9. "Invasion of the Body Snatchers," 1956.
10. "Back to the Future," 1985.
WESTERN
1. "The Searchers," 1956.
2. "High Noon," 1952.
3. "Shane," 1953.
4. "Unforgiven," 1992.
5. "Red River," 1948.
6. "The Wild Bunch," 1969.
7. "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," 1969.
8. "McCabe & Mrs. Miller," 1971.
9. "Stagecoach," 1939.
10. "Cat Ballou," 1965.
SPORTS
1. "Raging Bull," 1980.
2. "Rocky," 1976.
3. "The Pride of the Yankees," 1942.
4. "Hoosiers," 1986.
5. "Bull Durham," 1988.
6. "The Hustler," 1961.
7. "Caddyshack," 1980.
8. "Breaking Away," 1979.
9. "National Velvet," 1944.
10. "Jerry Maguire," 1996.
MYSTERY
1. "Vertigo," 1958.
2. "Chinatown," 1974.
3. "Rear Window," 1954.
4. "Laura," 1944.
5. "The Third Man," 1949.
6. "The Maltese Falcon," 1941.
7. "North By Northwest," 1959.
8. "Blue Velvet," 1986.
9. "Dial M for Murder," 1954.
10. "The Usual Suspects," 1995.
ROMANTIC COMEDY
1. "City Lights," 1931.
2. "Annie Hall," 1977.
3. "It Happened One Night," 1934.
4. "Roman Holiday," 1953.
5. "The Philadelphia Story," 1940.
6. "When Harry Met Sally ...," 1989.
7. "Adam's Rib," 1949.
8. "Moonstruck," 1987.
9. "Harold and Maude," 1971.
10. "Sleepless in Seattle," 1993.
COURTROOM DRAMA
1. "To Kill a Mockingbird," 1962.
2. "12 Angry Men," 1957.
3. "Kramer Vs. Kramer," 1979.
4. "The Verdict," 1982.
5. "A Few Good Men," 1992.
6. "Witness for the Prosecution," 1957.
7. "Anatomy of a Murder," 1959.
8. "In Cold Blood," 1967.
9. "A Cry in the Dark," 1988.
10. "Judgment at Nuremberg," 1961.
EPIC
1. "Lawrence of Arabia," 1962.
2. "Ben-Hur," 1959.
3. "Schindler's List," 1993.
4. "Gone With the Wind," 1939.
5. "Spartacus," 1960.
6. "Titanic," 1997.
7. "All Quiet on the Western Front," 1930.
8. "Saving Private Ryan," 1998.
9. "Reds," 1981.
10. "The Ten Commandments," 1956.
The two questions are as follows...
What is your favorite genre of film? It doesn't have to be one of these ten here...
Finally, what are is your favorite film in each of the ten genres here? Just like the first question, the movie does not have to be on the lists or made in America, so what is your favorite?
Thats all I have for today, but this should be an interesting subject, so lets get into it!
Go see something good!
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Top 10 films about watching...
Well, today is a slow news day, outside of news that Will Ferrel and Sasha Baren Cohen will be teaming up to do a Sherlock Holmes flick, so I decided to come up with a top 10 that I've been meaning to do for a while. Here is the list of my top 10 films about Voyeurs...
10. 2001: A Space Oddessy (It gets on this list for the lip reading scene alone....it's not really a movie about watching, but that shot is so damn good, and it's one of the best films ever made, so it is my number 10)
9. Being John Malkovich
8. Rashomon
7. Cache
6. The Lives of Others
5. The Conversation
4. Sex Lies and Videotape
3. Funny Games
2. Blue Velvet
1. Rear Window
What films about watching do you like??? I also have something else to talk to you guys about. I mentioned that an option for my top 10 was a list of ten films that are underseen by most people, that shouldn't stay that way. So you know what, today is a rainy day, so go run to your local videostore, and rent any one of these ten films... These are mostly recent films, so just to let that out there.
10. Bottle Rocket
9. Sunshine
8. Mean Creek
7. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
6. The Good German
5. A Prairie Home Companion
4. Mulholland Drive/ Inland Empire
3. Primer
2. Funny Games
1. Piano Tuner of Earthquakes
Now, if any of these films sound like they are interesting, please, post a comment on here, and I would love to go in depth about any of these films. Also, if you have any films that you have seen recently and would like to talk about, please, post a comment about that too! I would discuss each of these flicks, but I have some more work to do, so I will talk about ones that people are interested in.
Alright, thats all. Come back later for more news and notes. Please, leave comments! These lists are here to spark debate!
Go see something good!!!
10. 2001: A Space Oddessy (It gets on this list for the lip reading scene alone....it's not really a movie about watching, but that shot is so damn good, and it's one of the best films ever made, so it is my number 10)
9. Being John Malkovich
8. Rashomon
7. Cache
6. The Lives of Others
5. The Conversation
4. Sex Lies and Videotape
3. Funny Games
2. Blue Velvet
1. Rear Window
What films about watching do you like??? I also have something else to talk to you guys about. I mentioned that an option for my top 10 was a list of ten films that are underseen by most people, that shouldn't stay that way. So you know what, today is a rainy day, so go run to your local videostore, and rent any one of these ten films... These are mostly recent films, so just to let that out there.
10. Bottle Rocket
9. Sunshine
8. Mean Creek
7. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
6. The Good German
5. A Prairie Home Companion
4. Mulholland Drive/ Inland Empire
3. Primer
2. Funny Games
1. Piano Tuner of Earthquakes
Now, if any of these films sound like they are interesting, please, post a comment on here, and I would love to go in depth about any of these films. Also, if you have any films that you have seen recently and would like to talk about, please, post a comment about that too! I would discuss each of these flicks, but I have some more work to do, so I will talk about ones that people are interested in.
Alright, thats all. Come back later for more news and notes. Please, leave comments! These lists are here to spark debate!
Go see something good!!!
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
New Batman poster...
So, sorry about the late post, but I figure, why not wait for something this amazing. The above picture is the latest in the line of BRILLIANT posters for the upcoming Batman film, The Dark Knight. I think this may be one of the better posters I've seen in a long time. What do you guys think? I know Batman has been the topic on here for a day or two now, but really, there isn't much else to talk about news wise, so lets just keep it going...
I would have a review of Wall-E here, but the film burned, which caused a fire inside of the whole theatre, so that's out of the question. However, of the 30-40 minutes I saw, it may be Pixar's best film yet, and one of the best films of the year. It's truly amazing, and even the short before it is brilliant. I will definitely be checking this one out, just not sure when. You all will be the first to know when I do get out there...maybe this weekend. Maybe a Wall-E/Hancock double feature...who knows...
Alright guys, I'll have a top ten either later tonight or tomorrow, so come back for that. Top 10 films about Voyeurs or maybe a list of 10 films that I think are under seen...Got any other ideas???
Go see something good!!!
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