Fallout fan movie is irradiated awesome

Sometimes, I enjoy fan-made movies more than normal ones. I can't help it because everything is filled with blind enthusiasm, which makes it hard not to appreciate. Sure the acting isn't always the best, but seeing the intentions on something made with very little money is encouraging.

This little bit of awesome was found on /Film. It is based of the game series Fallout, which I love. The universe is based around the United States after an atomic war. The survivors are doing the best they can in a world radiation, giant insects, and murderous bandits. I think this movie captures it pretty well.

So, here is Fallout: Nuka Break

Movie Review - The Mechanic

A remake of the Charles Bronson film, The Mechanic stars Jason Statham, Ben Foster and Donald Sutherland in a movie that has plenty of action, some gore and plenty of a stern-faced Jason Statham. If I have you sold, (and most ladies will be, since he's shirtless for a good 3 seconds) then my job is done, if you're not sure, read on, I'm sure you will figure it out.

The Mechanic involves Statham's Bishop as a high end assassin, filling jobs. When one gets personal, Bishop's conscious starts bothering him until he takes on a reckless apprentice in Foster's Steve. Now the two have all kinds of problems on their hands with betrayals and plenty of dead bodies.

First off, if you were thinking it looks like another of Statham's movies, The Transporter, let me assure you that is way off; there is no driving at all in this movie. There also isn't any truly amazing fight scenes either. So, since the movies are so different, you won't recognize Statham looking stern throughout the whole movie. The action scenes were very similarly shot, with alternating shaky cams with tripod shots in a confusing sequence. While the movie was a bit darker than Transporter, and offered less of the humor, the similarities were there.

While I like Statham, the script gave him zero range, and less of a character. Bishop is methodical, quiet, and very boring. While this doesn't change, the movie does add Steve, and the audience is very grateful. Foster is a great actor and he shows his chops here, amid the bullets, the bad guys and the blood. Foster is a great opposite of Statham, he's very emotional, has plenty of rage, and he's sloppy. While the two should conflict, you never get that sense, mostly due to the script.

There were some good parts of the movie. The action scenes weren't bad, especially with Foster's gun play. There were a few really brutal scenes were a ton of guys get killed, and it was quite well done. There's even a scene that makes Statham look all kinds of dark. There are glimpses of Bishop getting into fights, and not using guns, but they are all very quick, and don't have the scope of other movies.

Overall, it wasn't a bad movie, just something that's been done before...three times in fact, in the Transporter movies. So, if you like those, you will enjoy yourself with The Mechanic. If you are like me, and thought those movies grew tired, then you may want to reconsider seeing this film.

2010 Oscar Nominations are out!

Here is the list of nominees. It's extremely exciting. I've seen quite a few, so I guess the debate over the winners begins here! I don't see too many surprises, and most seem clear-cut to me.

But first, is there a movie that got snubbed? Let me know in the comments!

BEST PICTURE:
Black swan
The Fighter
Inception
The Kids Are All Right
The King’s Speech
127 Hours
The Social Network
Toy Story 3
True Grit
Winter’s Bone

DIRECTING:
Darren Aronofsky, Black Swan
David O. Russell, The Fighter
Tom Hooper, The King’s Speech
David Fincher, The Social Network
Joel and Ethan Coen, True Grit

ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE:
Javier Bardem, Biutiful
Jeff Bridges, True Grit
Jesse Eisenberg, The Social Network
Colin Firth, The King’s Speech
James Franco, 127 Hours

ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE:
Anette Bening, The Kids Are All Right
Nicole Kidman, Rabbit Hole
Jennifer Lawrence, Winter’s Bone
Natalie Portman, Black Swan
Michelle Williams, Blue Valentine

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE:
Christian Bale, The Fighter
John Hawks, Winter’s Bone
Jeremy Renner, The Town
Geoffrey Rush, The King’s Speech

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE:
Amy Adams, The Fighter
Helena Bonham Carter, The King’s Speech
Melissa Leo, The Fighter
Hailee Steinfeld, True Grit
Jackie Weaver, Animal Kingdom

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY:
127 House
The Social Network
Toy Story 3
True Grit
Winter’s Bone

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY:
Another Year
The Fighter
Inception
The Kids Are All Right
The King’s Speech

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM:
Biutiful
Dogtooth
In a Better World
Incendies
Outside the Law

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM:
How to Train Your Dragon
The Illusionist
Toy Story 3

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY:
Black Swan (Fox Searchlight) Matthew Libatique
Inception (Warner Bros.) Wally Pfister
The King’s Speech (The Weinstein Company) Danny Cohen
The Social Network (Sony Pictures Releasing) Jeff Cronenweth
True Grit (Paramount) Roger Deakins

FILM EDITING:
Black Swan (Fox Searchlight) Andrew Weisblum
The Fighter Paramount Pamela Martin
The King’s Speech (The Weinstein Company) Tariq Anwar
127 Hours (Fox Searchlight) Jon Harris
The Social Network (Sony Pictures Releasing) Angus Wall and Kirk Baxter

BEST DOCUMENTARY:
Exit through the Gift Shop (Producers Distribution Agency) Banksy and Jaimie D’Cruz A Paranoid Pictures Production
Gasland Josh Fox and Trish Adlesic A Gasland Production
Inside Job (Sony Pictures Classics) Charles Ferguson and Audrey Marrs A Representational Pictures Production
Restrepo (National Geographic Entertainment) Tim Hetherington and Sebastian Junger An Outpost Films Production
Waste Land Lucy Walker and Angus Aynsley (Arthouse Films) An Almega Projects Production

Movie Review - The Rite

The Rite, starring Anthony Hopkins comes off as an Exorcist knockoff in the trailer, with creepy images, and scary makeup and Hopkins doing his best demonic look, which incidentally, is quite good, but in the end, is it enough to make this movie worthwhile? In a word, no.

The Rite is a movie about a young priest, Michael Kovak, (played by Colin O'Donoghue) with father issues who leaves the family mortuary in search of something else. He finds his path in a seminary, only to have a lack of faith he says is "like an ex girlfriend, she just keeps turning up." As a solution, one of the priests tells Kovak to see Father Lucas (Hopkins) for help on exorcisms. Once there, Kovak isn't sold on the practice until things really start hitting close to home. Now, he must find faith, or something really bad may happen.

There is a certain fascination with exorcisms. It's something that can't be proven, only believed in, so the events are always debated, but the curiosity is always the same. There are some great movies on exorcism, including The Exorcist, The Exorcism of Emily Rose, and even last year's The Last Exorcism. All had a good spin on the story. Sadly, The Rite isn't one of them. It seems to be the same old story, just with Hopkins soaking up the celluloid. Sadly, a fresh coat of paint on the same old wall just isn't enough to keep my interest for two hours.

The first half of the film does a good job balancing whether exorcisms are shams, or a true relief to people, as the audience struggles along with the character to believe in them. It's not scary, as the trailer shows, just rather disturbing. When the second half of the movie comes, however, it just assumes you've made up your mind and tries to take you along for a creepy ride. Since it's banking on the first half selling you, it seems like a bit of a let down.

I will say Hopkins hasn't lost a step here. He is brilliant as an exorcist who gets caught up in everything, relying on Kovak for salvation. He is creepy, and comforting all at the same time, and the films climax will leave you thoroughly disturbed only because of Hopkins great portrayal.

The movie is also extremely hung up on the religious aspect. If you are like me, and don't particularly like religion with a side of cinema, then this movie may rub you the wrong way. It's very Christian in it's beliefs, and pretending to question them doesn't sell the suspense. The film is always religious, and as a result makes it very predictable toward the end of the climax.

Overall, it's the same old thing, with nothing new brought to the table. I would recommend you watch this, but don't waste your time or money on the theaters. Wait until you have a free movie rental and prepare for some disturbing scenes without the leftover guilt of paying an arm and a leg at the end.

2010 Razzies are announced

The Razzie awards. An award given to the worst movie in category for actors, cast, writing and worst movie. It's not something anyone wants to receive, but it's given out anyway, and often with more anticipation than the Oscars. Because, let's face it, we love making fun of box office bombs. So, here is the list. Did you say "nuh uh" to any of them? Be honest! I know one person *cough my fiance cough* who will be a bit pissed at one entry...or three.

WORST PICTURE
The Bounty Hunter
The Last Airbender
Sex and the City 2
Twilight Saga: Eclipse
Vampires Suck

WORST ACTOR
Jack Black / Gulliver’s Travels
Gerard Butler /The Bounty Hunter
Ashton Kutcher / Killers and Valentine’s Day
Taylor Lautner / Twilight Saga: Eclipse and Valentine’s Day
Robert Pattinson / Remember Me and Twilight Saga: Eclipse

WORST ACTRESS
Jennifer Aniston / The Bounty Hunter and The Switch
Mylie Cyrus / The Last Song
Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis & Cynthia Nixon / Sex & the City 2
Megan Fox / Jonah Hex
Kristen Stewart / Twilight Saga: Eclipse

WORST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Jessica Alba / The Killer Inside Me, Little Fockers, Machete and Valentine’s Day
Cher / Burlesque
Liza Minnelli / Sex & the City 2
Nicola Peltz / The Last Airbender
Barbra Streisand / Little Fockers

WORST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Billy Ray Cyrus / The Spy Next Door
George Lopez / Marmaduke, The Spy Next Door and Valentine’s Day
Dev Patel / The Last Airbender
Jackson Rathbone / The Last Airbender and Twilight Saga: Eclipse
Rob Schneider / Grown Ups

WORST EYE-GOUGING MIS-USE Of 3-D
Cats & Dogs 2: Revenge of Kitty Galore
Clash of the Titans
The Last Airbender
Nutcracker 3-D
Saw 3-D (aka Saw VII)

WORST SCREEN COUPLE / WORST SCREEN ENSEMBLE
Jennifer Aniston & Gerard Butler / The Bounty Hunter
Josh Brolin’s Face & Megan Fox’s Accent / Jonah Hex
The Entire Cast of The Last Airbender
The Entire Cast of Sex & The City 2
The Entire Cast of Twilight Saga: Eclipse

WORST DIRECTOR
Jason Friedberg & Aaron Seltzer / Vampires Suck
Michael Patrick King / Sex & The City 2
M. Night Shyamalan / The Last Airbender
David Slade / Twilight Saga: Eclipse
Sylvester Stallone / The Expendables

WORST SCREENPLAY
The Last Airbender, Written by M. Night Shyamalan, based on the TV series created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Brian Konietzko
Little Fockers, Written by John Hamburg and Larry Stuckey, based on Characters Created by Greg Glenna & Mary Roth Clarke
Sex & the City 2, Written by Michael Patrick King, Based on the TV Series Created by Darren Star
Twilight Saga: Eclipse, Screenplay by Melissa Rosenberg, Based on the Novel by Stephenie Meyer
Vampires Suck, Written by Jason Friedberg & Aaron Seltzer

WORST PREQUEL, REMAKE, RIP-OFF or SEQUEL
Clash Of The Titans
The Last Airbender
Sex & The City 2
Twilight Saga: Eclipse
Vampires Suck

Box Office Breakdown - Natalie Portman wins!

A bit of a week showing for movies this weekend, with No Strings Attached bringing in $20 million to take first place away from Green Hornet, which took in $18 million in its second week. Natalie Portman was the winner with showings in first and sixth place this week. Not bad, right?

What did you see?

BOX OFFICE TOP TEN
1. No Strings Attached - $20.3 million ($20.3 million total)
2. The Green Hornet - $18.1 million ($63.4 million total)
3. The Dilemma - $9.7 million ($33.4 million)
4. The King's Speech - $9.2 million ($58.6 million total)
5. True Grit - $8.0 million ($138.6 million total)
6. Black Swan - $6.2 million ($83.6 million total)
7. The Fighter - $4.5 million ($73.0 million total)
8. Little Fockers - $4.4 million ($141.2 million total)
9. Yogi Bear - $4.1 million ($88.9 million total)
10. Tron Legacy - $3.7 million ($163.3 million total)

Batman ends casting rumors with Anne Hathaway and Tom Hardy

After years of having to put up with rumors like Eddie Murphy as the Riddler, or Jim Carrey as The Joker, or Angelina Jolie as Catwoman, the stupid rumors have finally come to an end. /Film is reporting that Anne Hathaway has been cast as Selena Kyle (alter ego Catwoman) and Tom Hardy is cast as Bane. It's interesting to say the least.

Now, let's start with Hathaway as Selena Kyle. First off, let me make this clear, Nolan's press release stated "Selena Kyle" not Catwoman. The difference could be pretty big. Catwoman was a terrible movie starring Halle Berry, where as it seems they will go for the more grounded approach of Selena Kyle, Cat Burglar. And in that sense, I think Hathaway has the acting ability and the sex appeal, even though we haven't seen the aggressive side of her yet, that doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

Bane is a tough one. He has brains and brawn, so Hardy could channel the cold, calculating character, that is as smart or smarter than Batman, or he could go with the all out animal you see in Batman and Robin. I'm hoping for a mix of the two, actually, and after seeing Inception, I'm really interested to see if Hardy can pull it off. The trick, I think will be grounding this guy in the real world, as the rest of this series does. Bane is a monster, and it could be tough. It's also interesting that this character is the only one to defeat Batman, by literally breaking his back. And, since director Christopher Nolan has said this would be his last, it could make for an interesting ending.

If the actors can pull of the two characters, it could make things interesting. You have Cat Woman who would be the Bruce Wayne villain, and you have Bane, a great villain for Batman, exploring the duality of the character. As long as it doesn't turn cheesy, and everything is somehow grounded in the real world, I think this could make for a great movie.

Greatest trailer ever? I present "Rubber"

Sometimes a trailer can tell you completely about the movie. It's a fine line between too much and not enough, but when a trailer gets the formula just right, it's amazing. Now, take that, and add in an amazingly bizarre, yet brilliant concept, and you have Rubber. It looks to be a story of how a tire becomes alive...and has psychic powers or something. I am stupidly excited about this trailer, and so are you!

First look at Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows Pt. 2

Look at Neville Longbottom looking mildly bad-ass with a Bill Cosby sweater and the look of Arnold Schwartz....ok, never mind. It does look pretty cool, and gets me excited for the finale to the Harry Potter franchise.

What do you think?

Box Office Breakdown - Green Hornet on top

The Green Hornet, which you can see the review of below had a pretty good weekend, setting the highest opening weekend for a Seth Rogen live-action movie. The film had a budget of $125 million, so, I don't see the film having an issue reaching that at some point. The Dilemma came in second with $17 million, on a budget of $70 million showing that Vince Vaughn needs to step up his game, while True Grit continues to do extremely well with a budget of only $38 million, pulling in $15 million, putting it second all time for westerns.

So, not a bad weekend for movies this weekend. What did you see? Anything you would or wouldn't recommend?

BOX OFFICE TOP TEN
1. The Green Hornet - $34.0 million ($34.0 million total)
2. The Dilemma - $17.7 million ($17.7 million )
3. True Grit - $15.0 million ($110.4 million total)
4. The King's Speech - $9.1 million ($44.6 million total)
5. Black Swan - $8.1 million ($73.0 million total)
6. Little Fockers - $7.1 million ($134.2 million total)
7. Tron Legacy - $5.7 million ($156.9 million total)
8. Yogi Bear - $5.3 million ($75.6 million total)
9. The Fighter - $5.1 million ($65.8 million total)
10. Season of the Witch - $4.5 million ($17.0 million total)

Alien prequel movie dead - Gives birth to something else

The Alien Prequel we've all heard so much about is now gone. /Film is reporting that although the Alien movie is gone, something has resulted from the storyline. Something better. It's called Prometheus, and the script is being adjusted by famed script writer Damon Lindelof.

I, like the /Film article, like the idea. With all the prequels and sequels and reboots and reimaginings out there, it's good to see something that's original get promoted. If Inception taught us anything, it's that original ideas can work, given enough talent.

So, this Prometheus already has a famous, or soon to be famous actress attached to the film in Girl with a Dragon Tattoo's Noomi Rapace. The film also reportedly is in talks with Charlize Theron and Angelina Jolie. With some talent like this lined up, I'll be extremely interested in this project.

Golden Globes 2011 Predictions

The Golden Globes don't hold much weight, and most consider them a dress rehearsal for the Oscars, but I actually like the Globes better. While the grandness isn't as big, it's generally less stuffy and more entertaining. And with Ricky Gervais hosting, it should make things entertainingly uncomfortable.

So, without further delay, here's my picks for the winners. Do you agree with my picks?

Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture

Amy Adams, "The Fighter"
Helena Bonham Carter, "The King's Speech"
Mila Kunis, "Black Swan"
Melissa Leo, "The Fighter"
Jacki Weaver, "Animal Kingdom"

Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Comedy
Johnny Depp, "Alice in Wonderland"
Johnny Depp, "The Tourist"
Paul Giamatti, "Barney's Version"
Jake Gyllenhaal, "Love and Other Drugs"
Kevin Spacey, "Casino Jack"

Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Comedy
Anne Hathaway, "Love and Other Drugs"
Julianne Moore, "The Kids Are All Right"
Annette Bening, "The Kids Are All Right"
Emma Stone, "Easy A"
Angelina Jolie, "The Tourist"

Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama
Jesse Eisenberg, "The Social Network"
Colin Firth, "The King's Speech"
James Franco, "127 Hours"
Ryan Gosling, "Blue Valentine"
Mark Wahlberg, "The Fighter"

Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama
Halle Berry, "Frankie and Alice"
Nicole Kidman, "Rabbit Hole"
Jennifer Lawrence, "Winter's Bone"
Natalie Portman, "Black Swan"
Michelle Williams, "Blue Valentine"

Best Director -- Motion Picture
Darren Aronofsky, "Black Swan"
David Fincher, "The Social Network"
Tom Hooper, "The King's Speech"
Christopher Nolan, "Inception"
David O. Russell, "The Fighter"

Best Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical
"Alice in Wonderland"
"Burlesque"
"The Kids Are All Right"
"Red"
"The Tourist"

Best Motion Picture, Drama
"Black Swan"
"The Fighter"
"Inception"
"The King's Speech"
"The Social Network"

Best Screenplay -- Motion Picture
"127 Hours"
"The Kids Are All Right"
"The King's Speech"
"The Social Network"
"Inception"

Best Animated Feature Film
"Despicable Me"
"How to Train Your Dragon"
"The Illusionist"
"Toy Story 3"
"Tangled"

Best Foreign Language Film
"Biutiful"
"The Concert"
"The Edge"
"I Am Love"
"In a Better World"

Best Original Song -- Motion Picture
"Bound to You," "Burlesque"
"Coming Home," "Country Strong"
"I See the Light," Tangled
"There's a Place for Us," "Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
"You Haven't Seen the Last of Me," Burlesque

Best Original Score -- Motion Picture
Alexandre Desplot, "The King's Speech"
Danny Elfman, "Alice in Wonderland"
A.R. Rahmin, "127 Hours"
Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, "The Social Network"
Hans Zimmer, "Inception"

Movie Review - The Green Hornet

I am a sucker for a superhero movie. You know, a guy who overcomes trauma to risk life and limb to save the world? Well, Green Hornet is not that movie, but you probably figured that out when you saw it stars Seth Rogen. So, can a movie based on an old radio show; directed by the guy that did Be Kind, Rewind; and a 3-D January release be any good? Well, let's just say it's different.

The movie is about Rogen's Britt Reid having his father die, and inheriting a newspaper empire (sound familiar?). He meets his fathers mechanic, Kato (Jay Chao) who is a martial arts expert and a mechanical genius. After the pair stop a mugging, they decide to be superheroes. What follows is them clashing with a crime kingpin (Inglorious Basterds Christoph Waltz) and blowing a lot of stuff up. Sound cheesy? Good.

The movie, like the '60s TV show and the radio show was cheesy. The movie was less like Iron Man, and more like Rush Hour. The main hero, Rogen, was kind of a douche, making it hard to root for him. His 'sidekick' Kato was the real action star, and was really impressive, doing all the hard work, to Rogen's comedy. The pair was actually pretty good together. While the character Rogen played wasn't great, his portrayal was actually pretty entertaining, although not much of a stretch.

The movie was filmed quite differently. The action was different, where they slow down action scenes, and stretched them out to make it look more like a comic, and less like The Matrix. It was normal action, and while it was very unique in its depiction of time slowing down for Kato, it may not be an innovation in the action scene. Even though it was very entertaining, and quite fun, the 3-D took away from the action. The film occasionally tried to remind you it was in 3-D with some gimmicky shots, but overall, the 3-D was just a distraction.

The comedy was also pretty evenly spread throughout the movie. It started off introducing Waltz's villain opposite a James Franco cameo. It was extremely funny when Waltz asks why he isn't very scary. The film also had plenty of slapstick comedy as well (the gas-gun scene had me in stitches). The comedy fit in pretty nicely with the semi-serious tone of the movie.

The movie may not be for everyone, but I actually enjoyed it. It isn't quite the start of the summer action movies, but it's entertaining, a little silly and quite a lot of fun. Rogen has no problem fitting in this role, and Chao was really good as an action star. While it isn't quite what you may expect, I don't think you will be disappointed.

EDITORS NOTE: This also appeared on Creative Loafing, HERE.

James Cameron: Battleship degrades cinema

I guess I'm feeling argumentative today, but I saw an interview where James Cameron, director of movies like Titanic, and Avatar, the two highest grossing movies of all time said movies like the upcoming Battleship, based of the popular board game are degrading cinema. And, while he has more than earned the right to speak his mind, I disagree. Partly.

Firstly, the idea of a movie based of the board game Battleship is a terrible idea. I'm not judging the movie, I'm judging the idea and it sounds horrible. I also agree that Hollywood is only banking on those movies that already have an audience, meaning original ideas take a backseat to lame, stupid ideas, which does not invoke originality.

So, while I agree Hollywood is playing it far too safe lately, we only have ourselves to blame. Me included. I saw Transformers 1 & 2 in theaters. I freely admit it, and I don't care. I'll even go as far as to say I enjoyed the first Transformers movie. I'm not alone, either. Those movies raked in the dough, and as long as they do, Hollywood will continue to make them.

I do disagree that making a movie like Battleship will degrade cinema. I'm sure the same was said during the grindhouse era of the '70s too, where cheap, crappy movies were churned out every week, but did that hurt cinema? No, it helped it. These movies are the same. If it's entertaining, it's not hurting anything. That's what a movie, first and foremost should be about, entertainment. There are exceptions, such as documentaries and such, but a movie should be entertaining first. Whether it's entertaining because it ripped off a cartoon in the '60s, or Ferngully, it's still entertaining, and therefor worth my hard-earned...well, my money.

What do you think? Is Battleship hurting movies?

Andrew Garfield as Spiderman

There has been tons of talk about the reboot of Spiderman, starring Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone, being directed by Marc Webb. Finally, we get a glimpse at the wall crawler himself. The suit looks less cartoon-ey than the last one, doesn't it? Maybe a little more worn than the previous Tobey Maguire suit?

What do you think?

Geek-ism dyeing? Blasphemy!

So, I read a really, really well written article over at Film.com that was in response to a comment made that said as a whole, geek culture is dyeing. The time where those socially inept, Star Wars quoting movie geeks are coming to an end, saying that because of the internet, and IMDB, the people that knew everything there was to know no longer stand out, and as a culture, it's dyeing. Well, as a self-professed movie geek, I can't let a statement like that go by without responding, can I? Of course not. They would take my geek card away.

First off, and no disrespect to the writer, I don't like the underground mentality. It's the same thing with music or comedy or restaurants. The idea that something is really cool when no one knows about it, and then, when that same thing becomes popular, it's no longer cool. That seems to be the idea of the article, and I disagree. If something is good, or cool when no one knows, it's the same if everyone knows. I think the same applies to movie geekery.

Since when does having more movie geeks become a bad thing? The Internet has given the shy, quiet movie geek (me) a voice; whether anyone wants to hear it doesn't matter. Besides, with so many voices, collaboration has gotten better, communities and friendships have blossomed and movies are getting made, and the art and business is growing as a result.

Now, is our culture dyeing? I don't think so. I think the geek culture is stronger than ever. When a whole bunch of people become knowledgeable about a subject, it forces the true geeks to be even better. Sure, it may be a little tougher to spot a real geek in a crowd now, but the culture is there, it's just not as obvious with the pen protectors, the suspenders and thick glasses, as before.

I will say, however, with movie geeks, the big, dominant franchises that we all grew up with, like Indiana Jones, Star Wars, and Star Trek haven't been as prevalent as they used to be. Go ahead, think of a franchise that's as strong. Harry Potter? Maybe. Twilight? It has the ferocity, just not the longevity. Other than that, what else is there to hang your geek hat on? That seems to be the only possibility for a decline in geekery. But I think, it's not a bad thing, it just requires us to be more well versed in different movies and different genres.

So, as a self-professed movie geek, I say the geeks out there are alive and well, and while we may share some of our culture with the rest of the world, it doesn't mean that culture is gone. What do you think? Is geekery dyeing?

Tron 3: De-rez

I just made up the title, but the "Tron 3" part is happening. What, no dropped chins? No gasping for air at the shock? No, me either. A follow up to a remotely successful franchise is as normal as breathing in Hollywood, and Tron: Legacy looks to be on par to atleast break even. But is Tron 3: De-Rez a good idea? (And, by the way, Hollywood, I expect my royalties check for that title)

We all know how the third movie is usually the downfall of the franchise. Do I have to cite examples? Ok. Aliens 3, Major League 3: Back to the Minors (yeah, I whipped that out), Spiderman 3, X-Men 3: The Last Stand, Terminator 3, Star Trek 3: The Search for Spock, Tremors 3 (or as the Spanish say "Tembelores"), Godfather Pt. 3, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 3. I could go on and on, but you get the point. And, notice, I didn't mention a few other third-parters, and if anyone says something about Ewoks, there will be stuff going down.

Anywho, I digressed a bit, but you get the idea, third movies generally mark a serious drop in quality and originality, so why would Tron be any different? My answer is it won't. It probably won't be any good, especially given the events of Tron: Legacy effecting the characters and the world quite a bit.

That being said, I'm not a negative Nancy, or even a negative Ned, so I will still be as giddy as a school boy when it comes out, and I will still race to see it, hoping it will rock my world. And if you say you won't do the same thing, then...well, that's just not cool.

What do you think? Tron 3 a good idea? Tell me!

How to be a movie critic - By true experts

Everyone's a critic. That's how the saying goes, anyway. But, is everyone really a movie critic? Technically they are, but not neccesarily a good one. Being a professional movie critic is hard. It's something I've wanted to be for as long as I can remember, but it's not as easy as you would think. There's challenges from the writing aspect, the way it's constructed and your opinion of the movie compared to everyone else.

So, with that said, here's a quick video from two of the best movie critics ever. I don't always agree with their opinions on movies, which is ok, but I always enjoy reading their reviews. It's as much an art as the movies they review, and they're talented artists.

So, I think I should watch this video before my next review. What do you think? Good advice?

How I want to come to work everyday

Last night was Attack of the Shows first show of the year, with a new set, and new co-host in Candace Bailey. As a result, they have a new way to come to work in the morning, and I'm stupidly jealous. Check out this video, I cracked up!

Video Game - E3 2011 - Comedy

Ghostbusters Wedding Cake

Alright, this is really kinda silly and over the top and...and....and I totally want one. Who am I kidding? Don't you? I mean, this is like two and a half kinds of awesome!

Movie Review - Country Strong

I didn't think I would enjoy Country Strong when I saw the trailer. While it looked like it would have some good performances, I am not a country music fan, and I usually don't like music dramas; I think the movie is all about the performance, and not enough about the story. I like Gwyneth Paltrow, and I heard she actually sang in the movie, but I didn't think it would be enough. So, when I tell you I went home and downloaded, uhh, I mean, bought the soundtrack, you'll realize this movie is impressive to say the least.

The movie is about Paltrow's Kelly Canter, who is a famous country singer who has fallen after falling off a stage, drunk and pregnant. Now, recovered, Kelly attempts to return to her old life with a husband who can't forgive her, played by Tim McGraw, as she drags two rising stars into the light in Garrett Hedlund and Leighton Meester.

First off, you expect a good performance out of Paltrow, and she more than delivers with some great performances and some amazing singing. She plays the broken singer really well, and she hides the one thing you expected, her singing talent until the end, and when you hear it, you will be more than satisfied. Her characters actions make you root for her, only to be disappointed through most of the movie, but the longer she's on screen, the more you want her to get back on her feet.

The surprising part, however, is how she nearly gets out done by Tron: Legacy star Hedlund, who plays Beau, a country star in the making, and someone who has a soft spot for Kelly, and other rising star, Chiles Stanton (Meester). The performances were all absolutley outstanding, with Paltrow and Hedlund leading a good performance from McGraw, and a surprisingly sufficient performance from Meister.

While the performances were amazing, the music was the star. The stars apparently sang the songs themselves, and they made a non-country music fan smile. The songs were heartfelt and extremely well done with a mix of slow and upbeat songs, along with an intimate song or two in there.

If there is one fault, it's the pace of the story, which can wobble a bit, when you're not sure of character motivations, or whether the end will truly be the end. I can tell you the movie is a little mixed in the middle, but the end will amaze you and will make up for any shortcomings you find. The movie plays much like your average country song, with plenty of heart, a lot of love, some sadness and plenty of strength. There were a few tissues in the theater I was in.

Overall, it was a great movie whether you like country music or not, simply for the performances. There was a surprise or two, and some expected great performances. I expect some possible recognition come Oscar time. While it may not be able to dominate the awards, is should leave a mark.

Obama is Luke Skywalker? Jon Stewart says it's so

I love the Daily Show. I'm a huge fan of the brilliance that is Jon Stewart and his writing team. There, I said it. I'm not ashamed either. Apparently, more people look to him for the news than anywhere else, and why not? He's the only one that comes out and says exactly what he's doing; being funny. So, when he said Obama was like Luke Skywalker, he really had my attention. He makes a good point, too, don't ya think?

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Barack Obama Is Luke Skywalker
www.thedailyshow.com
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