Goodbye 2008!

I just wanted to wish EVERYONE a happy and safe New Year.
2008 had some great times, and I hope 2009 will be even better. Thanks to everyone who was able to influence and enrich my life this year, and I look forward to a great next year!

See you on the flip side!
-Kevin

Fantasy casting Round 1: Gilligans Island

It's news today, the original creator of Gilligan's Island, Sherwood Schwartz has agreed to give the rights to a big screen adaptation of the tv show. No casting rumors have been set, however, I have come up with who I think would be good. Now, I'm always right, however, I would love to hear what other people would think of as Gilligan and the rest. Let's not get into plot points now, because, unless you have a magical switch to move an island, the castaways could be found using Google Earth in about 10 minutes. Oh well, that show didn't exactly come across as gripping and heart-pounding realism.
So, here we go:

Gilligan- Michael Cera, of Juno fame
Skipper - Seth Rogan, of 40 year old Virgin and Pineapple Express
Professor - Nathan Fillion of Serenity and Firefly
Ginger - Lindsey Lohan of slutty tabloid fame (c'mon, she looks good as a redhead)
Mary Ann - Eliza Dushku, she played Faith on Buffy, was in Bring it on and Dollhouse
Thurston Howell III - Alan Rickman, the voice of God, Sheriff of Nottingham, Love Actually
Lovey Howell - Maria Bello, of Mummy 3 fame

FUN FACT : The characters' full names - The Skipper: Jonas Grumby - The Professor: Roy Hinkley - Mr. Howell: Thurston Howell III - Mrs. Howell: Eunice Howell - Gilligan: Willey Gilligan - Ginger: Ginger Grant - Mary Ann: Mary Ann Summers

Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale, A tale of a fateful trip That started from this tropic port, Aboard this tiny Ship.
The mate was a mighty sailin' man, The Skipper brave and sure, Five passengers set sail that day For a three hour tour..........

top 10 movies of 2008

According to a Deadline Hollywood sample of men and women, they released a top 10 list for women and for men. Clearly this pool is a perfect example of what will do well this year and should be taken as cold hard fact. Yep, no possibility or margin for error. Non, whatsoever.

According to Men:
1. Star Trek 23%
2. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen 17%
3. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince 14%
4. X-Men Origins: Wolverine 9%
5. Terminator Salvation 7%
6. Watchmen 7%
7. Angels & Demons 5%
8. Public Enemies 3%
9. G.I. Joe 3%
10. New Moon 3%

According to Women:
1. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince 25%
2. New Moon 15%
3. Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen 11%
4. Angels & Demons 9%
5. X-Men Origins: Wolverine 7%
6. Star Trek 6%
7. Public Enemies 5%
8. Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian 4%
9. The Lovely Bones 3%
10. Where the Wild Things Are 2%
It's interesting to see the difference between the two lists. So, what do you think, does the list hold true for you?
For me, I would have Angels & Demons at the bottom, not really looking forward to that.

Star Wars Clone Wars review

Let me start off by saying I am a huge Star Wars fan. I love all 6 movies, some more than others, but I would say all are very good. I also love the Clone Wars TV show, I think it's is beautifully rendered, the plot is gripping, and they avoid a lot of the problems with knowing the outcome of the battle.

That being said, the movie released in theatres and recently on DVD is absolutely awful, I mean that thing is bad. There is one certain thing in Star Wars that should never happen, and that is me looking over at the clock over and over again, waiting for the end to come. This was supposed to be a movie about a key moment in a key war in the universe, its something that ties, or destroys this fascinating universe that has been laid out for us. The characters are already familiar to the audience, so, I could understand a little less character development, unfortunately there is none. They introduce a new character, the Padawan to the reluctant Anakin Skywalker, Ashoka Tano. Unfortunately, she comes across as so annoying, I was hoping she would get a light saber upside the head throughout the movie, which is unfortunate, because she is actually a great part of the story in the series. The movie is just battle scene after battle scene and varies very little. The overall plot of rescuing Jabba's baby is terrible, and frankly, it's never something I care about, because, it's Jabba the Hut, and he's a bad guy. On top of that, they force Padme in at the very end, because they couldn't find any place else to put her. It's just the last of the many atrocities of story telling this movie has.

I highly recommend seeing the series, and in no way, is this movie required to clear up anything. So, don't watch this movie, not even a free rental, not even if a friend brings it over, not even if its on Cartoon Network at 2 am and there is nothing else on, not even if your too lazy to get up and change the channel and it is currently on the tv; NOT AT ALL!

Was that clear enough? I give it a 3 out of 10

You won't talk in the Theatre after this...

The Philadelphia Inquirer is reporting on a case of movie rage like no other. Everyone hates it when people simply won't shut up in a theatre, in fact, according to good ol' Shepard Book, there is a special hell for Child Molesters and people who talk in movie theatres. James Joseph Cailella Jr., 29 thought so too, and wanted to send Thomas Jefferson there to prove it. It seems Jefferson was one of those who wouldn't shut up, and Cailella got mad and decided to shoot him in the chest for not being quiet. Apparently, police were called and Cailella was charged with aggravated assault, attempted murder and a weapons possession charge.
As off balance as this is, I really hate people providing commentary in a theatre. I am not suggesting capital punishment, but maybe a good tazing wouldn't hurt now and then. It's just really crazy that some Plaxico Burress wannabe brought a gun to a theatre, that's just not smart.
So, next time, be careful who you sit next to, they could be packin'.

Fox wins Watchman battle...now what?

In the latest in what seems to be a brutal legal battle over a seemingly incredible movie took an interesting turn this week, as it was announced that FOX wins the rights to the Watchman franchise and all the characters.
Fox has announced they don't want a cut of the profits, they do not want the movie to come out at all. As a result, without a successful appeal, the movie you saw through the countless trailers may never see the light of day. The alternative to that is FOX making their own cuts of the footage shot and releasing it as a FOX movie, so, again, the movie represented by the trailers may not exist.
This is terrible news for all movie fans, because I truly believe not only would this movie make copious amounts of money, I think it would revolutionize the industry, and especially, the art of adapting graphic novels, especially one as popular as this.
Another question is, how could this kind of error happen in this day and age? I mean, in a matter of three minutes, I can look up just about anything, see what it looks like from space, and watch a porno about it, so how is it, that nobody did their homework in finding out if they actually do have the rights or not?
This is an interesting case, but no matter what, it looks like the March release date will be delayed, hopefully not by much, but more than likely, it will be delayed by quite a bit, either late summer, or Christmas 2009, at best.

2008 Best of list

I have seen so many Best of 2008 lists over the past few days, my head is spinning all Exorcist-like. I guess it's typical to look back over the year, as a way of measuring the year. So, I have a few different pics here, along with a top 10. Now, I have not seen every movie or TV show this year, much to my dismay, but the water was calling many times this year, so, that's my excuse.

First off, my top 5 movies of '08.
5) Cloverfield -
This is not going to be on any Oscar lists, that is an issue for another column. This movie had a brilliant idea; put the audience in the mix of a godzilla-esque attack, let them feel the turmoil, the danger. This movie is shot with a first person view similar to Blair Witch, except, it's not some witch, its a huge monster, attacking New York. This movie was brilliantly done, and also, importantly, it was brilliantly marketed.
4) Tropic Thunder-
I just recently saw this movie, and there have been few movies that have made me laugh as hard. The performances, again, were amazingly good, that's right, even Ben Stiller nailed his role. Robert Downey Jr. cemented his trophy as "comeback guy of the decade" with this role. Tom Cruise was in it, and was not only good, he was unforgettable. The script was hilarious, and had a great mocking of Hollywood that, after the laughs, should be looked at. My favorite comedy of the year!
3) Wall-E-
An animated movie that has more heart and soul than most movies I have ever seen. The lead character does not have any lines, other than beeps and groans, and yet, is easily identify able and well acted, better than most actors in movies I've seen this year. On top of that, the special effects were gorgeous, the score was very good, and there were a few morals to this story that will stick with you after the heart-warming ending.
2) Dark Knight -
That's right, number two, but, it's my list, so whatever. I thought this movie was nearly flawless. Amazing performances, a perfectly written story that had a great bad guy, this had great action, good effects. This is a movie that shot to the top of the dollar sign charts and will remain there for some time. The only reason this is second, is possibly due to the original being so good, I wasn't just hoping for perfection, I was expecting it, and it did deliver. The only gripe I have is it's a little long.
1) Iron Man -
Let me start off by saying I know this is not the norm, everyone is putting Dark Knight at this position. The reason why this is here is possibly due to the fact I had very low expectations for this movie, only to be blown away by how well done this movie is. We were fortunate enough to have two movies this year that simply re-wrote how to do a comic book movie. This one did the start off of a franchise perfectly with the right balance of story, humor, and action.

Now, a few winners of 2008 -
Best TV moment - 2008 Olympics, specifically, the finish of Phelps 100 meter Butterfly. He won by .001 seconds! Amazing, I loved it all! A close runner-up was Obama winning the election, and the reaction of the media.
Best TV Show - Burn Notice, with runner-up Chuck.
Best TV male actor - James Roday, Psych
Best TV female actor - Emily Deschannel - Bones
Top movie performance of the year - Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
Comeback of '08 - Robert Downey Jr., a close runner-up was S.N.L. who thought they were still around? Thanks to Tina Fey, they made a huge comeback election time!
Biggest movie news of the year - Writers Strike
Best original concept - Dr. Horrible's Singalong Blog

Fanboys trailer

Fanboys is a movie that has supposed to have come out for over a year. There has been a huge legal battle, a debate over a final cut, and several delays from the production company. The original story is that of the guys going to Skywalker Ranch because their friend wants to see Episode One before he dies of cancer. The last cut removed that idea and just made the story that they were really obsessed. After a huge outcry from fans, they put the cut back in, and finally, it looks like this will finally come out.
Now, the question I have is, will this movie really do well? Sure Star Wars fans like myself may see this movie, but, lets face it, their numbers have been dwindling over the years, and now, do they really have enough numbers to make this a hit? I don't really think this movie will appeal to anybody besides what exactly the title refers to, fanboys. Will that be enough, I don't think so.
Still a nice trailer, though....check it out!

Merry Christmas!

I just wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas! I hope everyone has a great one, and is able to spend time with their family and loved ones. That is what Christmas is all about, and I hope you get to enjoy it.
Thanks for reading my blog up through this point, I hope over the next year, we can entertain each other!

-Kevin

Night at the Museum trailer

Here is the Night at the Museum 2, Battle at the Smithsonian trailer.
The first movie was great, one of the better Ben Stiller movies out there (next to Zoolander, and my favorite, Tropic Thunder) and this one looks like it could be good, if not a bit too similar to the old one. We'll see, but I am still looking forward to this one.

Reason #50 why Nathan Fillion is the man!

Here is a small video skit, that is hopefully, the first of many to come. The series is called "PG Porn." Now, before you click on it, it IS SAFE FOR WORK, even though it does not seem like it will be.
Roles like this, and Captain Hammer in Dr. Horribles Singalong Blog that show the true depth and talent of Nathan Fillion, along with the fact he is willing to take chances, which have paid off for him so far. Fillion is also in one of my favorite movies of all time, Serenity.
So, check this out, it's hysterical!



Nailing Your Wife

Monsters Vs. Aliens trailer

Well, if you look at the the post I did about movie trailers, this trailer does everything right. I was left rolling on the ground laughing with this one. Animated or not, I will be in line to see this one!
For your enjoyment:

Tropic Thunder review

A bunch of actors who get thrown into a real life war movie, and by the end, they aren't sure what is a movie, and what is not.

The movie of the movie stars Tugg Speedman (Ben Stiller), Kirk Lazarus (Robert Downey Jr.), Jeff Portney (Jack Black) and Alpa Chino (Brandon Jackson) as a group of actors with a really big ego. You have Stillers character who used to be the most famous in a lot of action movies, but after the last hollywood dud, he desperately needs a blockbuster. Next, you have Downey's character, who already has 5 Academy Awards and is an actor who immerses himself fully as an actor. Blacks character is only known for his Fatty's franchise, basically a movie like Eddie Murphys movies, where he is every character in a fat suit. Finally you have Jackson's character, who is the quintessential black, rapper guy. After having some clashing, the director decides to drop them off in a North Vietnam valley, they find themselves in a situation similar to the movie they are filming.

This movie was sheer brilliance in every degree. The movie had great comedy with the mocking of different situations in many movies, and mocking the Academy itself. This movie came so close to the line, without going over it, it was amazing. The film actually had some controversy due to the word "retard" being used, in possible one of the funniest dialogues in all cinema. They talk about never going "full retard" because if you do, the Academy will deny you the Oscar.

Another priceless part of the movie is Tom Cruise. It is a small part, but Cruise plays the Producer of the movie, and is nothing like the Tom Cruise in every other movie he plays in. He is balled, hairy, fat, a total D-Bag, and a great addition to the movie.

There are nonstop laughs throughout the movie, and actually, a bit of mocking of actors, and the process they go through to prepare themselves for the role they chose.

This is a must watch, I give it a 9.5 out of 10.

A couple teaser posters to wet your appetite!

Good afternoon, everybody! Here is the first teaser poster for Fast and Furious 4. I like the poster. I am all about a simple teaser poster. The more simple the better, and this one is simple, and very good. The only problem I have is the tagline; "new car, same parts." What the hell? This is the most terrible tagline ever. I mean, just off the top of my head....'fourth time's a charm,' or 'at 120 mph, no one can hear you scream,' or 'remember Paul Walker and Vin Diesel?' I mean c'mon, that's unacceptable!

The next poster, I totally geeked out over. Land of the lost, the '70s version, was just campy and silly, but very enjoyable. And then, you have a show that started in the early '90s, which was a terrible remake that I loved. Shut up, I know, it was campy, silly and bad, but it had dinosaurs, a really hot jungle girl, and Patrick Duffy, so two outta three aint bad! This next movie has Will Farrell. I know, I know, not a good start. I love Farrell, but the same act over and over again gets a little tired. I think Farrell can stumble through a slightly more serious role well enough for a movie with dinosaurs and Slestacks. No matter what, I'm excited, it's also a pretty enjoyable poster, so we'll see!

Fred Clause

I finally got a chance to see the latest Vince Vaughn movie to come on DVD, Fred Clause. The movie stars Paul Giamatti as the Jolly old fat man himself, you have Vince Vaughn as Santa's less famous older brother Fred Clause, and their mother Cathy Bates and Fred's girlfriend, played by Rachel Weisz.

The movie focuses on Vince Vaughn having to deal with being the less famous brother of Santa. Vaughn starts off as a bitter, smart mouthed user, who only thinks of himself. After being forced to call his brother, he makes a deal for his brother to pay his bail, in exchange for Fred coming to the North Pole to help in the weeks before Christmas. The reluctant Fred agree, because he sees something in it for him. Upon arrival, he sees his brother, Nicholas being overweight, and stressed out, due to the arrival of an efficiency expert, played by Kevin Spacey. Fred has his usual shennanigans and uses others so he doesn't have to do anything. After a fight, he realizes, the only way the kids will have a merry christmas is the other Clause needs to step up and help out.

This movie is tough to review. It is a little more difficult to say anything bad about a Christmas movie without sounding like a guy named Scrooge. This movie, however, doesn't have much going for it. The performances of Spacey and Giamatti are very good. Vaughn, however, doesn't look like he was able to carry a movie like this on his shoulders. He shows the typical Vince Vaughn, which I really enjoy, however, I don't think it has much place in a Christmas movie. The main flaw is trying to force such a character into such a movie. Fred comes off as simply annoying, and at no point is endearing. Santa Clause has a major flaw through most of the movie, in that he goes out of his way to flush out and almost mock the kids that appear on the naughty list. Finally, the elves seem the most annoying, and instead of developing into lovable characters, they just seem easily brushed off.

Now, the good is, it's a funny, and mildly enjoyable Christmas movie. There are some funny scenes, mainly with Vaugh fighting Salvation Army Santas and his brother. Giamatti is a perfect looking Santa. He doesn't feel forced, it seems much more natural, and is often mocked by the movie itself with quotes like "I'm a saint, tough love is a little difficult." Kevin Spacey is, as usual a very good bad guy. Spacey shows why he is one of the greatest actors of his generation. Another great part of the movie is the brother support group scene, including John Syallone, Sly's brother, along with Bill Clinton's forgot brother. Finally, Rachel Weisz has a small part, but she comes off as truly love able, very sweet, and with a thick English accent is just plain hot.

There are very few Christmas movies that are truly horrible because all of them have a moral of love, happiness and giving at the heart of them. Also, these movies are only entertaining for a few weeks out of the year. This movie is entertaining, but it is not one of the top Christmas movies you will see this year. Save that honor for the Peanuts crew, or maybe the Muppets and catch this on TV and enjoy the season.

It is worth a rent, especially if its a free rent. I give it a 6 out of 10.

Fun Fact: Kevin Spacey asks for a Superman Cape. Spacey played Lex Luthor in the 2006 movie Superman Returns.

R.I.P. Majel Roddenberry

Majel Barrett Roddenberry, the widow of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry died at the age of 76, of Leukemia. She was best known for her roles in all Star Trek incarnations. She was nurse Chapel in the original series, the voice of the computer in all of Star Trek, and she also played Lwaxana Troi, the ships counselors mother in the Next Generation series. She is survived by her son, Eugene.

Her work in the franchise, along with her relationship with its creator earned her the nickname "the first lady of Star Trek." She reportedly just finished her voice work for J.J. Abrams new Star Trek movie due out in May, so the legacy will remain intact for now.

The collective souls of trekkies everywhere will shed a small tear for such an influential person.

Batman 3 rumors run amuck

Eddie Murphy as the Riddler, Rachael Weisz as Catwoman, Angelina Jolie as Catwoman, Johnny Depp as the Riddler, Phillip Seymor Hoffman as Penguin, and my personal favorite, Shiah LaBeuf as Robin are among the many rumors surrounding the purposed third film in the Batman reboot. The truth, however, is much less interesting. The truth is, Warner Brothers has not signed a contract with director Chris Nolan to make a third movie. According to Warner Brothers president, they are working on moving forward, and they hope to get Chris Nolan going by next year, but they are being "very respectful to Nolan, and his ideas and timeline." The President, of WB, and Nolan, himself have said on several occasions they do not want to rush anything, they want to make a quality movie, which would be a rarity for a third movie in a trilogy.
The reason for the rumors is simple, how do you fill the shoes of Heath Ledgers Joker? Obviously, there can be no return for the Joker, due to Ledger's untimely and tragic death, so, what does one do for an encore to such a great clinic of acting ability? The answer, is to bring in another actor with the ability to completely immerse themselves in a truly evil, dark character, with plenty of layers. Could any of the above rumors be a true fit, or is there someone out there we haven't considered? Nolan's choice for Ledger wasn't exactly met with praise, but obviously, he saw something we had not, and I hope he can pull another rabbit out of his hat for the third. Whatever the case, it will be really tough to cover up any details, no matter how small regarding this movie.
My personal favorite idea so far, has been Johnny Depp as the Riddler. I don't think anyone can immerse themselves in a role like Depp. I am not to keen on a Catwoman. I guess, if done right, could be good, but who knows.

New Wolverine Trailer!

Here it is, I'm not sure how good the movie will be, but the trailer is at least intriguing. We'll have to see, I guess. Are you excited for this story?

X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE HD

"Kill 1,000 kids, no biggie, but don't touch the Mutt!"

In the words of the immortal Martin Riggs: "I can't shoot a dog, people, sure, but not dogs."
I found myself upset about an advertising company basically coming out and saying through viral marketing that the dog was going to die in a movie that will remain nameless. For me, there is no bigger turn off than to hurt a dog, I can't stand it. That is why Benji, Homeward Bound and all those other stupid 'dog overcomes adversity' movies will be emotional to so many, because the thought of the dog getting hurt is unbearable. The one moment of movies I have seen over the past year or two that has brought me close to crying is when a dog is injured and about to die. I don't want to ruin a very significant plot piece in the movie, so I won't say which movie, but I looked around and found the people I was with sobbing hysterically in unison with the rest of the theatre over this dog. And, to let me know the dog is going to die, in what looks like a Turner and Hooch type move, it's something I don't care to see.
It got me thinking, though. I have seen movies with body counts in the hundreds, I've seen movies that nearly wipe out the entire human race, I have seen a movie where the badguy slays dozens of young kids with a light saber, and all of those moments never even made me skip a beat. I've seen people tortured and killed, and I've seen movies where people are blown to bits, or eaten by aliens, or ripped apart, and while grotesque, didn't really invoke much of an emotional response, certainly not the likes of when a dog is injured or killed. Does that make me a bad person? Does worrying about a dogs safety (strictly in the movie sense, I assure you) over a persons safety make me jaded to violence or gore or death in movies, or is it something that's natural? Do you get upset when someone dies, or more specifically, when a kid dies; how about when a dog is injured or killed, is it worse?
Does knowing a dog could be injured turn you off from a movie, or make you really upset, or is it as jaded as people getting killed by robots?
For me, you don't harm the dog, kill people plenty and often, but not the dog. There could be some social commentary, and I don't want to know what Sigmund Freud would say about that (maybe he would say it's caused by a deep seeded emotional trauma from my childhood).

New Director for New Moon

The second installment in the Twilight series has found its director after canning the director of the first movie, Catherine Hardwicke. The new director is Chris Weitz, who directed Golden Compass and About a Boy. Here is his IMDB sheet, not all that impressive, but it is a change that could be good for the series. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0919363/
They are looking for an up and coming director, and I guess they found one!

AFI's top 10 of the year:

So, the American Film Institute has announced, in no particular order (cowards) the top 1o movies of 2008. I have never been a big fan of the institute, or their lists of best movies, simply because I believe they are all old people, who have lost their touch with society. I believe society changes, and so do the movies, it doesn't make them better or worse, just different. They see it differently, I guess. Anyway, here are the movies, I'm a bit surprised, pleasantly, that Iron Man made the list, but I have heard good things about everything on this list, the only thing that strikes me as a bit odd is that most of these movies have come out within the last 2 months. Is this a whole "what's fresh in the mind" type problem, or did most of the quality movies come out recently?

THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
THE DARK KNIGHT
FROST/NIXON
FROZEN RIVER
GRAN TORINO
IRON MAN
MILK
WALL-E
WENDY AND LUCY
THE WRESTLER

And, does AFI really need to have the one-kneed approach to Clint Eastwood too? It's bad enough the Oscars already do. Let me know if you agree, or what movies were left off this list!

Hugh Jackman to host Oscars

It was just announced that Time Magazines Sexiest man of the year, Hugh Jackman will be hosting the Oscars this year. This is a bit of a different choice with last years Jon Stewart being mainly a TV guy. This year, it seems, they are looking to get back some of the demographic they lost last year, mainly young females. I guess, they don't care about the young males, but this is a good move with Jackman having two movies coming out in 2009, and Australia just being released, Jackman is a hot name right now, and hopefully, it will bring some recognition to an awards ceremony that has suffered terribly in previous years with ratings. Can Jackman save the awards, or is it too much even for Wolverine?
I personally think the ceremony has been too snooty for years now. I think my attention to the awards stopped when they stopped caring what was the best movie, and started worrying about Clint Eastwood. Anyway, maybe this year will be different, look for there to be a big ordeal over Heath Ledger's possible Best Supporting Actor. If he doesn't win, I think there will be a big to do about voting next year.
Will Jackman's name be enough for you to tune in? I guess we'll find out!

New Watchman Trailer

As you may have noticed, I have been focusing heavily on movie trailers lately, mainly because, as I explained previously, I think a trailer can make or break a movie. The trailers I am featuring here are certainly good ways to make the movie.
This trailer is the newest for the Watchman. I am very excited about this movie, and this trailer uses more than just the eye candy technique, although the special effects are simply stunning. Now, it makes me want to go out and read the graphic novel.....screw that COMIC BOOK just to see what happens. I hope their legal woes don't hold this up, it would hurt the movie community even more than the company releasing it.

Memorable movie speeches in 2 minutes

Let's see how many you recognize, and how many you can recite from the beginning. I found myself going through entirely too many of them to not be worried about me having a life.
Anyway, check it out, it's a great video!

New Terminator Salvation Trailer!

Here it is, check it out. I'm a little worried about this movie, I'm hoping it's going to be better than I think it will be, but I will say this, the trailer looks outstanding. If you look at my rating of trailers below for 2008, would you not agree that this seems to give you just enough to leave you wanting more? I would.
Anyway, let me know what you think!

14 Dark Knight DVD's?

Have we gone too far with all this special edition stuff? In the name of all that is holy, there should NEVER be 14 versions of a movie at the same time. I mean, I think that comes close to toping Lucas's Star Wars money making...uhh, I mean special edition fiasco. Lord of the Rings also made a run at the title with a regular version, a special edition, a special extended cut, and a directors cut; just what we needed, that trilogy, only longer. Anyway, I am all for making money, but this ridiculous and a bit overzealous of the production company. Now, I'm tempted to not buy the movie because I know there will be a special edition directors cut extended version within 6 months, so why should I buy a version now. IT'S TAKING ADVANTAGE OF MOVIE GEEKS AND I DON'T LIKE IT!
I understand movie companies are trying to make money and milk this cash cow for all they can, but it doesn't mean I have to like it, nor does it mean that it's right.
Since this is a growing trend for movies, we might as well get used to 45 versions of movies coming out. So, watch out for the special Bat Pod version and I'll talk to you soon.

Wanted: Director for New Moon

A week ago, Catherine Hardwicke was saying that she is already making plans for the second movie in the Twilight Series, New Moon. She was saying that she can make the movie a bit quicker and that she has a few ideas for shots. This news came as great news, because one of the biggest complaints I heard about this movie is the wonky shots, that often seemed awkward and and a little silly.
Now, news has come out that Ms. Hardwicke will not be back for the second movie. The studio is claiming it is because Hardwicke can not meet the studios timeline, which, incidental is late 2009, which is a bit rushed. Reports, however, claim it is because Hardwicke did not get along with studio reps, the producers, or the actors, and they canned her, in search of someone better. With the previous movie making a ton of dough, they should have no problem finding someone who can take the reigns of a serious movie.

The Dark Knight back, January 23rd!

Come January 23rd, you will have a choice to see the Dark Knight in the theatre again, or in your own personal theatre. They are releasing the Dark Knight on DVD December 12th, and as of the new year, the movie will be back in theatres just to remind the Oscar committee how great the movie is, come nomination time. Another perk of the re-release is it will count toward the box office gross amount, which could easily push it past Titanic for the highest grossing of all time.
So, would you go see the movie again, or are they wasting precious movie theatre space for a movie that needs to stay on DVD?
Personally, I saw it, and loved it, but I wouldn't go spend another $10 to see it. I will spend my $14.99 for the DVD and enjoy it on my own time, with my own snacks, and the dog!

Taglines

So, have you ever been hooked into a movie simply by the tagline? I have, and I have been looking at the taglines for hundreds of movies to find the best taglines in cinema history. I think I have the list, but please let me know your favorite taglines, and I will see where it fits into the list. In order to tide you over, I have a bit of trivia, on some of my favorites, most of these will probably be on the list, so lets see if you can figure out the movies they go to. I expect any and all previous Blockbuster employees to get every one of these!

1. My favorite: In Space, no one can hear you scream
2. In October of 1994 three student filmmakers disappeared in the woods near Burkittsville, Maryland, while shooting a documentary...A year later their footage was found.
3. The Scariest Movie of all time
4. In a world of 1s and 0s...are you a zero, or The One?
5. Some Thing Has Found Us
6. An Adventure 65 Million Years In The Making
7. Let The Magic Begin
8. Mischief. Mayhem. Soap
9. Surf's up! Time to save the world!
10. Can't stop the signal
11. Never give a saga an even break!
12. Why So Serious?
13. Some memories are best forgotten
14. You'll never go in the water again!
15. It will blow you through the back wall of the theater!

Good luck, I hope you can get these, and look for the list to come out soon!

Bond Song top 10

Well, Quantum of Solace has come and gone, reviews have been so-so, and there is talk of another already, but what about the Bond introduction. Personally, I wasn't a fan of the intro by Jack Black and Alicia Keys, but the video was better than the last. A friend of mine did a countdown of the music, and sense this is a movie blog, you would have to go here http://blog.myspace.com/eaglesfanintampa

Let me know what you think!

What makes a good trailer?

This all started off with a list of the top 10 trailers of 2008, per Yahoo! which I will post here, but it got me thinking, what is a good trailer, and even though these trailers are the most viewed, are they really the best. Hold on, guys, this is gonna be fun!
When you are sitting in the movie theatre, there is nothing more exciting for me then when they lower the lights and the previews come on, a good movie trailer can get you so excited, you can often times lose focus on the movie you are there to see, but the traits of a good movie trailer are often varied, depending on the film.
The worst part of a trailer is giving everything away, there's an old saying 'less is more' and that seems to be perfect for trailers, there is nothing that turns me off of a movie more than figuring out the mysterious killer simply by watching the trailer, or seeing the bad guy who was so mysterious throughout the film, only to be spoiled by the trailer. Those kinds of reveals should be saved for the end of the movie only. Often times, my favorite trailers say very little, or next to nothing about the movie itself; for instance, a trailer that came out last year during Transformers comes to mind as one of the most gripping trailers I've seen, it showed a party, some rumbling, and finally the head of the statue of liberty being thrown down the street with the numbers 1-18-08, and that's it. I immediately went home and searched for everything I could about something so mysterious, it doesn't even give you the title of the movie. That was a great trailer.
Now, having said less is more, there is the counter to that, often times, the most disastrous thing that can happen to a movie is a trailer that gives off the wrong impression. This trailer can give an impression of a horror movie, which draws all the horror fans, only to prove it's a drama, or mystery/suspense movie, which usually results in very disappointed fans, and some bad ratings of the movie. The best example I can think of to date, is a favorite of mine, The Village, by M. Night Shylaman. I loved this trailer because it told you very little about the movie, left a very creepy vibe, and made you wanting more, but the problem was, it also gave off a horror feel, along with some eerie movie posters, and viral marketing by M. Night, this movie had horror fans lining up, simply to see a really well made suspense movie. As a result the movie had terrible reviews and was laughed at because of the impression set forth by the trailer.
Another trait of a good trailer is including some material that engages the characters. You have to introduce the hero and the villain and make you want to go on their journey with them. The hard part about this particular ingredient is making sure you don't give away the best moments and most passionate exchanges in the movie, because if you do, then audiences will have already seen the best stuff and feel a sense of letdown when they watch the movie. This problem is very prominent in nearly all comedies, you see an exchange with the main characters that makes the audience bust out in laughter, only to see the movie and watch the same joke that is no longer funny. The trailer that comes to mind as a great example of this is Rush Hour, all three, actually. After seeing the trailer, my side had sufficiently split, I couldn't wait to see such a comedic exchange between two actors. I got to the theatre, only to know the best parts of the movie by heart, and simply wait for the next exchange to happen. As a result, my side was not split, and it wasn't as good of an experience as it could have been.
Another approach that you will often see is simply a showcase of special effects, a trailer that simply is the best eye candy seen by man. Most versions are sci-fi in nature, and show dazzling, almost unbelievable special effects that capture the imagination so much, there is no need to go into the plot of the movie. Sometimes the approach is good, because it escapes the pitfall mentioned above, of giving away all the plot details. Also, it can work out perfectly, because the special effects can be so good, people will want to see what the rest of the movie holds, which better mean the movie has plenty of eye candy left for the audience. Sometimes, the special effects are not so CGI, but simply such an immense scene that it begs people to find out exactly how they got there. Many examples of this are Saving Private Ryan, and Lord of the Rings, or even Braveheart. When you see a scene as massive as thousands upon thousands of people, or creatures going at it, the scale is so massive, you have to come back to see the journey that took them there, and the result of the massive battle. Another angle that implies eye candy, which again, doesn't have to be CGI, is to just put a hot woman, or guy, depending on the audience on the screen and let them stand there, usually lightly clothed, and grip the audience that way. This is usually less effective because most won't go to a movie just to see a hot celebrity, but it's often a way to bring in a few bodies. A great example of this is nearly any Jessica Alba movie, I'm also reminded of my Blockbuster days, when Spring Break came out, they played a trailer that teased sex, and scantily clad women; it was amazing to see those copies fly off the shelf as a result.
Now that we have an idea of what is a good trailer and what is bad, let's look at the most viewed, and see if they hit on something magical.

10) Kung Fu Panda

This seems to have a good amount of comedy, it introduces the characters, and invites you on a journey, in this case for a Panda to become a Kung Fu-ish guy.

9) Sex in the City

This trailer depends on you knowing the characters quite a lot. I'm not a fan of the show, so I don't know what's going on, but it seems to me they take a lot of parts of the movie, that could be all the good stuff, since I'll never know, someone can tell me if they did or not. The other problem is, I know the ending thanks to the trailer.

8) Hancock

One of my favorite trailers of the year, it takes you on a journey, and definitely will make you laugh, I'll have to let you know if it shows all the good parts, which I'm afraid it will. Also, the only bad part is I know the ending, based off this trailer. The one before it left off that problem.

7) Wanted

A perfect example of the whole 'put some great eye candy up there and people will come' technique. No one can deny Anjelina Jolie is eye candy, but if that wasn't enough, they through in some amazing special effects, and you have a trailer that works well.

6) Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

A great trailer, because it hints at the plot, but it definitely gives you the whole 'less is more' example. I don't think this movie even needs a trailer, it will already be a record setter, but if you are gonna do one, this is a great example, you don't know what will happen, but you are dyeing to find out.

5) Iron Man

This is my favorite trailer of the year. This trailer, in particular, is not my favorite released, because it reveals a bit too much about the plot, and in particular, the bad guy, however, the is a great example of putting some eye candy on there, along with some humor lines, and, since I've seen the movie, they did not waste all the best lines for the trailer. This also happens to be one of my favorite movies of the year.

4) The Incredible Hulk

This trailer never heard of less is more. It gives you a perfect summary of the movie, and gives you all the best scenes in the movie. There is a bit of eye candy in the special effects of the Hulk, but it also gives you everything else.

3) Twilight

This is another trailer that simply didn't need to be made because everyone who went to the movie already know exactly what the movie is about because they read the book. This movie simply shows some interaction between characters, the idea is the interaction and chemistry is so good, you will instantly fall in love with them and want to find out what happens. Personally, I think the acting is just not good enough, in the trailer, anyway, to do that.

2) Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull

Say what you want about the movie, this trailer is golden. the trailer gives you the plot of the movie through narration, it gives a dramatic introduction to the character everyone wants to see, in Indy, and shows a lot of stuff blowing up, which is really what everyone wants to see, it's a great trailer.

1) The Dark Knight

It only is right, the number one watched trailer is also the number one watched movie of the year. This trailer shows the conflict, shows a great villain and introduces us to a gritty, dark movie with a gritty dark trailer. It does several things, it gives us these characters that everyone falls in love with and dares you to see what happens to them, it also gives you enough eye candy in the appearance of the Joker, Batman himself and explosions to make you wanna see how it turns out. I can also tell you, it doesn't ruin the movie, or give away the best parts.

Am I the only one who doesn't like a Christmas Story?

First off, there should never, ever be a 24 hour marathon of one movie, let alone this movie, and second, they are celebrating the 25th anniversary of A Christmas Story this year with a new DVD, and I couldn't care less.

I was never a huge fan of this movie, but my true disdain of this movie has come from TNT continually showing a 24 hour marathon every frickin' Christmas, along with every teacher I had in school showing this movie instead of jumping into new material right before the holiday, strike that, CHRISTMAS break.

Everyone seems to love to quote this movie, and it seems to offer some sort of comfort, knowing someone else is more screwed up then them, but I have never found it funny, or even amusing.

If you are going to watch some Christmas movies, start with the classic Rudolph, and maybe go to Elf, A Charlie Brown Christmas, National Lampoons Christmas, heck, one of my friends always watches The Ref every year; watch one of those instead of this movie. If I have to hear that terrible narration again about a double-dog-dare, I may shoot someone, and I will aim for the eye!

What is Jumping the Shark?

Here is the definition and history for the term, thanks to Wikipedia. Despite the fact this is a movie blog, this term is thrown around a ton, and I sometime want to scream "You keep using that word, I don't think it means what you think it means" -(Indigo Montoya, Princess Bride) because people keep throwing it around without knowing what it means, so here you go.

Jumping the shark is a colloquialism used by TV critics and fans to denote that point in a TV show or movie series' history where the plot veers off into absurd story lines or out-of-the-ordinary characterizations, particularly for a show with falling ratings apparently becoming more desperate to draw viewers in. In the process of undergoing these changes, the TV or movie series loses its original appeal. Shows that have "jumped the shark" are typically deemed to have passed their peak.
The phrase refers to a scene in a three-part episode of the American TV series, Happy Days, first broadcast on September 20, 1977. In the third of the three parts of the "Hollywood" episode, Fonzie (Henry Winkler), wearing swim trunks and his trademark leather jacket, jumps over a penned-in shark while water skiing.

Why don't we have Friends on the Big Screen?

Which one are you most like, Joey, Ross, ahh, I got it, the Chan-Chan man. What about you, are you the anal Monika, the flaky Phoebe or the annoying Rachel. These questions are still in pop culture lore. One of the most loved TV series of all time, Friends set records for viewers, and for DVD sales, and I loved it, I mean, it jumped the shark (the history for that will be in the next post) with about 2 seasons to go, but I really loved the perfect comedy, the well placed drama and, especially the chemistry between the group, which is hard to maintain for so long with such a large cast. So, the question is, with the success of Sex and the City and the upcoming sequel, along with any other TV shows turning into movies these days, why is one of the best not the first one in line. Friends had a huge following, and spanned a large demographic, but why has that not translated to the big screen?
I read a possible reason the other day, someone said that people were used to seeing these beloved characters for free, and were not willing to pay to see them now. Yet another had stated it's because of terrible attempts at the big screen by its cast, and he was right, let's think of a few of the movies they tried to do.
Lisa Kudrow attempted Marci X, and Lucky Numbers; Matt LeBlanc attempted Lost in Space and Ed; David Schwimmer was in 6 days and 7 nights and The Pallbearer; Courtney Cox has done 3000 miles to Graceland, and Scream; you had Jennifer Anniston who got dumped by Bradd Pitt and Picture Perfect; and finally, my favorite, Chandler's Matthew Perry did Whole Nine Yards (which I loved) and Fools Rush In, along with Tango and Cash and Serving Sarah.
None of these movies have done anything, so has their track record turned off Hollywood execs from taking a chance, or perhaps has the story simply run it's course, and the creative minds behind the series simply run out of stories? The actors have all said they would be up for a movie, given the right script, so, let's get the gang back together to save the world from an atomic bomb, or perhaps stop an alien invasion, or, maybe, just sit around the coffee house and remind us all of a comfortable time, with some people we all consider friends.

SAG Strike eminent?

The Screen Actors Guild has announced a strike is likely with talks continuing to break down, which will lead to a stoppage of TV and Cinema with all actors going on strike. The latest is a result of the previous screenwriters guild strike. The screenwriters were wanting money, and especially royalties for online and DVD money. The actors are looking for something similar, and to cash in on things like Netflix money, DVD releases and additional benefits.
So, what do you think, do these multimillionaires deserve to be compensated for their hard work and dedication, and does that compensation need to be updated for the future, or are these overpaid actors just complaining and demanding more of an over-inflated business?
In my opinion, I do think actors are way too overpaid for their talents, and with this big business, it is hurting the heart of some movies. That being said, I do think their compensation package is old, and outdated, and they should be treated like other workers, and most workers have had their compensation packages updated for the twenty first century; and they caved for the screen writers, it's a given you need to cave for the actors.
Look for this to affect nearly all TV and cinema very shortly. Let's hope this gets resolved very shortly!

Striking while the iron is hot...

So, there are two big rumors, circulating, that seem to have more than a little fact behind them.
The first is for all the Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans out there, with the huge success of Twilight, Joss Whedon (the creator of Buffy, and my favorite, Firefly) is set to present an already finished script this week for a Buffy movie. With so much attention to Vampires in TV and movies lately, there seems to be a lot of talk, saying this will be given the green light to start pre-production as early as next year. Actress Sarah Michelle Geller Prinze Jr. (are we not forgetting a name?) has already said she would be up for a movie if it ever gets made.

The other bit of info has been circulating for awhile, but now, seems to have a script and contracts in place for a Police Academy 8. That's right, moviegoers, I said EIGHT. The beloved series that gave Steve Guttenberg is start to international fame, and now, no fame at all is coming back, with Guttenberg starring as the iconic, comedic Mahoney. According to Guttenberg, they are ready to start pre-production and everyone has signed on to return in their roles, with the exception of David Graf, who played Tackelberry. Unfortunately, he kicked the bucket, so he will not be returning for the rest of his life.

I don't know about you, but I'm actually kinda excited about both bits of news. I think the Buffy series was well written and directed at times, and has been, and could still be a great cultural influence on all ages, and could really turn into a franchise very quickly, and it's good to see success being rewarded. As far as Police Academy, I actually loved the first two, after that, it got really, really bad. I hope it can get back to the form it was in the 80's and deliver some great comedy.
So, that's the news so far, now go out there and try not to keel over from too much turkey!

Comics and movies?

No, this post is not about the flood of comic book movies out there right now. This post is because I read they are releasing comic books for several sci-fi movies coming out, including Star Trek, they are releasing some comics for my favorite sci-fi movie ever, Serenity, along with a new series for Iron Man, based on the movie.
So, is there a correlation between comics and movies? Would you be tempted to go pick up the comics before the movie comes out to prime yourself? I am right at the demographic, but I still don't have any intention of grabbing the comic books, if you wanna be super clever, post viral videos online of mini-stories prepping some side things that really don't have much to do with the movie, but it does get people psyched to see it, and keeps your mind on the upcoming movie. (that is MY idea, you CAN'T have it, J.J. ..... because, ya know, he often frequents my blog) But, seriously, having little side movies is a great way of getting the audience ready, especially for a sci-fi genre that really targets the Internet audience. Comics, however, I don't see the correlation, and will probably be lost in the confusion.
And, for all of you out there, reading and deciding to take some ideas and pitch them to movie companies, you ought to check out another J.J. Abrams movie, Cloverfield. That movie did "Viral marketing" better than anyone with text messaging, fake Myspace accounts, Youtube videos of news reports about activity before the movie, along with multiple websites. Two words: BRILLIANT!

Billy Ray Cyrus is back? Ha!

So, I just read today that Billy Ray Cyrus is starring in a movie opposite George Lopez and the great Jackie Chan called The Spy Next door. This got me to thinking, I've seen way, way more of Billy Ray lately than I would like to. He has starred in 3 movies, most of which were direct to DVD nightmares, but he is there, nonetheless. 'Where did he come from,' I wondered, and that is when it hit me; isn't his daughter some really famous chick? Not as famous as Miley Cyrus, right? What, she is Miley Cyrus? Oh yeah, that's where he came from, his daughter.
I find it terrible, bad parenting and a simply horrible ethical move to use your daughter to get rich and famous. I mean, it's terrible that you thrust her into the limelight, made her a Disney star and splashed her entire teenage years over every paper in the world, but now, he's using that fame to make himself famous too, and that's crossing the line. It is clear he would never be famous on his own merit (Achy Breaky Heart....c'mon!) so he has to use his daughters incredible charm. As Daffy Duck would say, 'you're dispickable.'
So, don't take any lessons of parenting from this guy, and don't see his movies, unless they look really good, or if he is in there for like 30 seconds, or if there is a really hot women in there....well, you get the point!

That didn't take long!

With the news that Twilight smashed records for box office dough this week, bringing in $70.5 million, they have already announced the sequel, New Moon.
The good news for any big fans out there, everyone has signed on for a three movie deal, so you will see Kristen Stewart back as the pale-skinned love interest. Apparently, the movie will be shooting as early as this spring, so look for the second to go toe-to-toe with Harry Potter in coming years.
So, who is gonna win, Edward or Harry? Harry has some more books, but Edward is what is fresh and new, and apparently, Edward is setting records for swooning teenagers, while Harry seems to be ok with flashing his junk on Broadway.
My money will be on Harry, but I do think the margin will be pretty close since the delay of this movie has disappointed quite a few, I think the PR machine needs to kick it into gear soon to generate some hype, or the fanged-one could make a run at the title!
What do you think, Harry or some vampire-type?

Quantum of Solace review:

So, I decided to brave the flood of teenage Twilight fans and go see Quantum of Solace last night. From what I could tell, going into the movie, it seemed more action and less spy, but I was still excited to see it. After I was done, I had some mixed opinions of the movie and thought I had just gone through and hour and a half of Michael Bay on crack, but it still wasn't a bad ride. Let me explain.

Bond is back, and he is brooding in this followup to Casino Royal, Daniel Craig picks right up where he left off, with the story starting twenty minutes after the end of the last movie (which means you need to see the first one before seeing the second or you will look like a monkey hooking up a surround sound). Daniel Craig is after the guy that put the hurting on his girlfriend, after a few great chase scenes, he realizes he has stumbled onto something much bigger with a group called QUANTUM (Reminds me too much of CHAOS, but whatever). Now, Bond is after this group and the people that harmed him at any cost. Along the way, he meets some really good characters, especially in Bond girl Olga Kurylenko who has an agenda of her own.

So, now that you know the story, let me get to the good in the movie. The action scenes were intense and the chases were very good. There is one scene he is in a boat and the entire time my mouth was hanging open, trying to soak up all the chase goodness only a Bond film can provide. Also, the characters were well portrayed, even if there wasn't as much back story as there could have been, Craig was good as a ticked off Bond, Olga played an equally disturbed Bond girl who actually has a story, Judy Dench plays a great M, as always, and the badguy, Mr. Green was very slimy and very unlikable, which is a good quality for a villain.

Now, the not so good. As I said before, this is very Michael Bay-ish, and I say that because I only saw one scene that was more than 4 seconds long, and most action scenes were barely 1 second before the camera cuts to another angle. This method is very good, used in moderation because he brings the audience to the edge of their seat, but it isn't used in moderation, it's throughout the entire movie, and most action scenes, the switching is so quick, it's hard to keep track of what is what, and which angle is up, you start to feel like your in Blair Witch at times.

As I had talked about in previous postings, this movie strays farther from the Bond of the cold war era, and more into the gritty, dark, bad ass anti-hero that seems to be all the rage in today's society (cough cough DARK KNIGHT cough cough), however, the movie did make a great action movie, but an only ok Bond movie. There was no Q, no great gadgets, just Bond beating the shit outta people. I would have like to see the traditional homage to Bond films past with the Martini line, or even a "Bond, James Bond," I would even have put up with a flight suit in the background, but this movie had none of that, it was too busy blowing things up and killing people. While I understand it's a new story for the classic character, I don't think its wise to not show some respect to the classic franchise.

Over all, not a bad action movie, I give it a 6.5 out of 10

Fun fact: First time that an actor (Jeffrey Wright) has played the Bond ally character of Felix Leiter in a consecutive Bond movie (the precursor film is Casino Royale (2006)). It is only the second time that an actor has played Leiter twice. David Hedison played him in Live and Let Die (1973) and Licence to Kill (1989).

Jamie Foxx as James Bond?

There is a report going around that some reporter has asked Jamie Foxx about what Quantum of Solace star Daniel Craig has said, saying "we are ready for a black James Bond." Obviously the role peaked the interest of Jamie Foxx, or vice versa. Apparently, Foxx said he would be interested.
Would you like Jamie Foxx as James Bond in the next movie? I remember when Daniel Craig was announced, supposed die hard fans were complaining and saying a blond Bond would be unacceptable, and now, most are saying that Craig is the man, so would Jaime Foxx receive the same problems with the same praise, I don't think so.
While there are great reasons Foxx could be the next Bond, I don't think it's a good move. Before you call me a racist, hear me out. Bond requires a bit of swagger and wit, and despite the two latest movies, Bond isn't as much of a Commando as he is a smooth talking, gadget wielding pimp, and Foxx has never shown he has the ability to do that. He can win an Oscar as Ray Charles, and he can shoot down planes in Stealth, but a suave, British spy, I don't think he has it in him. Are there other reasons I don't think he should be Bond, maybe, but that's my answer, convenient or not.
Do you think America is ready for a black James Bond? We just elected a black president, so is this the next logical step? I don't think so, not yet. I think that will be proof that America takes its movies more serious than the politics (I live in Florida, so I can say that!). But, maybe one day, there will be a black Bond, but don't do it to make a statement, do it because that person truly will be the best fit to take on the burden of such a role. I think the "statement" of such a person would blanket the quality of the film.
I do believe there is a difference between this and the story I had before, of Will Smith as Captain America. While there may be some statement making, I think they thought he would be the best for the role, I mean he is king of the summer blockbusters.
What do you think, is a black James Bond a good idea, or a problem in the making?

The new Mad Hatter!

So, here is a new picture of the amazingly talented, if not a little wacky Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter in Tim Burton's new movie Alice in Wonderland. Have you ever noticed Burton has a similar theme and look in every movie? Check out an old 1920 silent movie, made in Germany called The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0010323/) This is the movie that gave Burton his style. This movie is amazing and everyone should see it. Anyway, I digress, here's the pic.

Bond Vs. Bond, Round 2

"Human Beings fear change"-some philosopher dude.
First, we have Casino Royal, and now, Quantum of Solace, two movies that have reinvented the 007 series with a new star, a new enemy and a new, grittier approach, however, are they doing anything more than dividing Bond Fans?
It used to be the only discussion you would hear Bond fans talking about is 'who is better, Connery or Brosnan,' or 'which theme is number 2 on your list, cause we all know Live and Let Die is number one.' However, with the release of the second film, I'm noticing more and more people debating (that's the nicest way to describe it) whether or not this reinvention is reshaping the character they have loved for over 20 movies.
I am going to see the movie very shortly, but between Casino Royal and some reviews I have read so far, the biggest complaint I have heard is "it's not Bond," referring to the lack of swagger, sophistication and charm that Bond is known for. Instead, the film chooses to concentrate on more action, more of a darker, grittier Bond then perhaps what we are used to with the previous incarnations of Bond.
So, the question is, is a darker, more action packed Bond just a Bourne movie with an accent, or is this simply an evolution that is necessary to keep the character relevant in today's society? Let's face it, most of the people who will see this movie either don't know what the cold war was, or if they do, it's confined to history books, so that plot is out, but the swagger and style of Connery, Dalton, Moore and the rest has evolved into a more in-your-face Bond, and lets face it, that's what is selling tickets. I know I want to see a great car chase (a requirement for any good Bond film) I want to see why Bond is such a feared opponent by all his enemies, and I want to see Bond do more than just charm the ladies. What I don't want to see, however, is pretending the other films don't exist, and the fans aren't important, I think they will need to start bringing the two elements together to focus on a more badass Bond, but one is is suave, too. Is Daniel Craig the actor for that, I'm sure the ladies will say yes, I guess we'll find out.
So, who is right, is this an evolution of Bond, or is it a bastardization of a cinematic hero (I've always wanted to use 'bastardization,' it's such a great word to say, c'mon, say it, you know you want to)? In my opinion, they are simply laying the groundwork for a reinvention of the character, but they don't seem to be giving us much to start out with, I think the action is necessary, and money seems to point to the darker and grittier these days, cough Dark Knight, cough, but, for me, there is something comforting about those cheesy villains, those great one-liners, and the over the top action scenes, and I think, paying a bit more homage to that would be a smart move in reuniting such a passionate, and broad fan base.
So, go see Quantum of Solace, and remember, it's simply a foundation of things to come, are you going to like the direction of the modern Bond?

Get Smart review:

Would you believe the best movie ever; what about best movie of 2008; what about pretty damn funny? Get Smart, the rehashing of the old TV series, created by Mel Brooks makes it's comeback with Steve Carrell playing the iconic Maxwell Smart, made infamous by the late, amazing Don Adams in a quirky, fun comedy that will leave you wanting more.

The movie starts off with the iconic tunnel leading to the telephone booth that everyone remembers. Maxwell Smart has tried 8 times to become an agent, and finds out he does become one after the spy company, CONTROL, is attacked, and the identity of all but one agent is found out. The result is Maxwell Smart on is virgin mission with the gorgeous Agent 99, played by Anne Hathaway. The steaks couldn't be higher with the comeback of the nefarious group CHAOS, and their plans of global domination.

Steve Carrell hits the small mannerisms of Adams smart perfectly and had me in tears more than once with a modern version of the classic series. Hathaway does a good job at the hardcore spy 99, and looks gorgeous doing it, the movie has a good supporting cast that includes Dwayne "don't call me The Rock" Johnson, and Hero's Masi Oka as the gadget guru, and Alan Arkin as the Chief.

The movie was good because Smart wasn't so over the top stupid it was annoying. He had his moments of brilliance and his moments of stupidity (there is a scene with a blow-dart that comes to mind), there are plenty of hints for loyal fans of times past with the Cone of Silence, the original car Max Smart had, the original Sigfried made a cameo, and of course, the shoe phone. The good part, though, is you don't have to be familiar with the original to enjoy this movie. Steve Carrell and Anne Hathaway had a great onscreen chemistry and I really hope they make another installment (which both Carrell and Hathaway have signed on to do so) because one movie was just not enough. This was a great family comedy with little violence, very little sexuality and a lot of laughs. I give it an 8 out of 10!

Fun Fact: The producers called Mel Brooks to ask his permission and input on redoing the series, and Mel Brooks simply asked "what are you going to call it?" The producers responded "Get Smart!" Mel Brooks just responded "that was smart!"

Watchmen is lookin good!

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1808406490/video/10658091
Here is the link to the new trailer for the movie. I don't know about anyone else, but I am really excited about this! I just hope they don't try to market it as a Sin-City type movie, there is much more drama in this movie, and while it has it's action parts, I think this movie is supposed to be dramatic. Anyway, this is another movie that is on my "first night opening" list.

I'm geekin' out here!

Alright, so, I am starting to get really excited about the new Star Trek, which is something I rarely do with movies, and never do with Star Trek. Star Trek is something I generally like, but it's often hit or miss. For example, I didn't like much of DS9, some seasons were good, though. I didn't like Voyager, but I loved Enterprise, which is something completely different from most Trekkies (which may not be a bad thing). Anyway, I digress, let's get down to it, if this picture doesn't get you excited, I don't know what will!

Movie stars to politicians?

Up there on the gossip lists this week is Top Gun star Val Kilmer, thinking of running for governor of his home state of New Mexico. The movie and TV star, currently the voice of KITT on TV's Knight Rider is consulting with California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on the stress of the job, and how to properly make the transition.
So, with Arnold, Jesse Ventura, and former President Ronald Regan, does this mean you would be more inclined to vote for a movie star than a politician? Would the fact that it could say "Ice Man" on the ballot sway your vote, and do you feel more comfortable with a movie actor?
For me, personally, I may have a little biased toward people I have seen in movie roles, however, I think I have a tendency to over compensate to ensure I am voting on these people for their political views and not their movie merits. This does seem to be a bit of a trend with Hollywood lately, I mean George Clooney has a large political agenda for life after Hollywood, along with Tim Robbins, so this is an issue I think many of us will be talking about more and more. With that being said, do you think actors pick roles with politics in mind, I mean, no one wants to vote for a guy who plays a terrorist, or a supervillian. I think were pretty safe with Clooney, the guy played the nipple-hero Batman, Kilmer was in Real Geniuses, so you know he's smart, and Arnold was a Kindergarten teacher in Kindergarten Cop, so, if roles have anything to do with it, I think were ok, just don't get me started on Tim Robbins.

Twilight, huh? Whatever....

Am I the only one not excited by the new movie Twilight, coming out November 21st?

I understand it's more of a movie geared toward teens, the same group as the novel is, but, then again, so is Harry Potter, and that movie has seemed to bridge the age gap pretty successfully. So, why is it I have no desire to see it? Is it because it's a vampire movie? I mean, vampire movies, I think have been done to death. Look at Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Underworld, Ultraviolet, all the Dracula movies, Blade, the TV show True Blood, along with countless other cheesy horror movies based on the undead, I mean, at some point, either do something new, or just drop it. I don't see this as anything new, cool, or interesting, but everyone else on the net seems to think so. Do they see something I don't, am I jaded with horror movies, or is it not really that good. Let me know what you think, and if you thought the novels were any good.

Here is the trailer - http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi710344729/

the 3 Stooges are back!!!

That's right, I know everyone is excited about this. The three stooges are being brought back and made into a movie...wait, what?! How can you have a 3 stooges movie, aren't they all dead? Well, I don't know who they will cast, but I don't know how they can hope to come close to the comedic timing of the original trilogy.
I understand this not being a bad move, I mean Hollywood is in a remake phase right now, and the stooges haven't been touched for about 10 years, and they haven't made anything new for over 30 years, so at least it's not a back to back remake, like the Hulk, but...the Stooges? I dunno, there is something almost untouchable there, I mean, I remember waking up early in the morning and watching re-runs with my father and laughing hysterically, I'm not sure I want those memories tarnished by a half-hearted attempt to make money. No role is un-recast able, (look at the Joker, and 2009's Captain Kirk) but, I would say this would come close!
What do you think, are the Stooges untouchable?

Bye Bye Joaquin Phoenix

In some disappointing news this week, actor Joaquin Phoenix has announced he is no longer acting in movies. The Walking Tall star announced he is quitting acting to focus on his music. He has an album he is trying to launch the spring of 2009.
Apparently, after Walking Tall, and a Broadway stint, someone told him he had a great singing voice, so, he decided to go with it.
It's a bit sad, because he has given us performances in The Village, Signs, Ladder 49, Hotel Rwanda, Gladiator....I mean, this guy can act. Oh well, anyway, look for his album next year!

Fun fact: the Wilhelm Scream

Here is a bit of trivia for you. This is on the most famous sound bite in movie history.

The Wilhelm's revival came from motion picture sound designer Ben Burtt, who re-discovered the original recording (which he found as a studio reel labeled "Man being eaten by alligator") and incorporated it into a scene in Star Wars. Although the identity of the individual who recorded the scream (which was actually one of a series of six) is unknown, Burtt uncovered documentation suggesting the scream might have been recorded by singer Sheb Wooley, who was one of the actors in Distant Drums. Burtt named the scream after "Pvt. Wilhelm", a minor character who emitted the same scream in the 1953 film The Charge at Feather River.[4] Burtt began incorporating the effect in other films he worked on, including Raiders of the Lost Ark. Other sound designers picked up on the effect, and inclusion of the sound in pictures became a tradition among the community of sound designers.[5] Use of the effect spread beyond use in television and films made in English-speaking countries; several anime and video games have included at least one instance of the scream.

Some familiar movie this scream was in include
all 6 Star Wars movies, all 4 Indian Jones movies, History of the World Part 1, Space Balls, Star Trek The Motion Picture, Batman Returns, Aladdin, the Fifth Element and Lethal Weapon 4 to name a few.
Here is the link to the full list: http://www.hollywoodlostandfound.net/wilhelm.html

are Fanboys a good thing?

Did you see the Star Trek photos I posted a few days ago? There are one or two more out there, along with loads of conjecture about the plot, the characters and the respect the director, J.J. Abrams has for the source material.
Trekkies, as they used to be called have somewhat evolved into what society now calls fanboys. The only difference in the two terms is the source material. You see, a fanboy can be that person who dresses up as the characters, learns the ins and outs of everything in a movie, and seems to have difficulty determining the movie world from the real world (think Justin Long's character in Galaxy Quest) and a Trekkie is the same thing, only exclusively Star Trek. Since the franchise has been dormant for some time, they have dropped the exclusiveness and branched out to other movies.
So, here is where the discussion comes in. These fanboys, flocking back to the resurrection of Star Trek have dissected every photo very carefully and have found many reasons to hate it, including the color of the uniforms, the look of the set in the background and the look of the character, specifically their age.
So, is this extreme....'passion' a good thing for a movie, or does it turn everyone else off from a movie, for fear that it's only made for these fanboys?
I have done my fair share of drooling over trailers, posters and shots of movies, but what you have to realise is that is one snapshot of one scene in a massive collage of shots. The director and producer have to take those shots and turn it into a movie, so, how can you determine anything based on one shot? I think the only thing these photos are good for is getting the word out there is a movie coming, and stirring up movie blogs like this one in anticipation of the movie, not giving a glimpse into characters, plots and further details.
I personally think these fanboys give people who are passionate about movies a bad name, and, due to their technical prowess and passion, they often can be responsible for a movie getting a bad name well before the movie comes out. The reverse, however, is they are often the bulk of the money spent on the movie the opening weekend.
So, while movies must recognize the fanboys, I don't think they are worth constructing an entire movie around. However, it may be smart to listen to them, because they do have an eye for detail, and may often spot things not noticed by producers, however unlikely.

21...more like 13-ish

21, is based on a true story of a math wiz who learns to count cards and takes on Vegas and the game of BlackJack.
The story is of Ben Campbell, played by Ben Sturgess, who is a genius at math, and who wants to be a doctor. In order to make the money required (because loans don’t exist in this universe) he joins a group of students, led by his math professor, played by Kevin Spacey, and includes Kate Bosworth and that guy from EuroTrip (he’s not important enough for a name). Together, they devise a system to avoid the detection of an aging bouncer, played by Lawrence Fishburn. Things turn south when our hero starts to think he is unbeatable.
Ok, first off, the fact this was a true story, is really interesting, but not movie worthy. I thought this movie was incredibly slow, and filled with clichés. The main characters story is old, and has been told a million times; I mean, he thinks he cool and ditches his friends, until his world comes crashing down and he has to go back and apologize. The rest of the group is really not mentioned. One is a clepto, one is a jerk, and there is some Asian woman, and Bosworth’s hottie, but you never really find out their story, or really who they are. Most of the movie is just scenes of someone playing BlackJack, and Kevin Spacey sounding sarcastic. I think they could have used the slow time to explore the rest of the characters much more. Finally, the bad guy, who is trying to catch Ben Campbell is also not explored; all we know is, he is being outdated by a software, and he’s a not-nice guy. I kind of felt sorry for him, because he’s just doing his job, and doing it well, he even shows a bit of kindness to the hero in the end.
Over all, it wasn’t a bad movie, it just wasn’t well done, and really not worth your time. If there is nothing else on TV, watch it, but it isn’t worth the rent.