Move Review - MegaMind

Despite my jovial manner, I'm not a kid, nor did I attend the screening of MegaMind with one. While you would've thought I would be out of place and looking a little creepy, the movie surprisingly made me feel right at home, making me realize I was seeing an adult movie cleverly disguised, much like one of MegaMinds disguises, as a child's movie.

The movie takes many very familiar elements from movies like Superman and adds in a lot of pop culture elements, the voices of Will Farrell, Brad Pitt, Tina Fey, Jonah Hill and David Cross and creates a fun story, albeit a slightly complicated one for the younger audience.

The idea is that Farrell's MegaMind and Pitt's MetroMan are sent to earth from a dieing world into separate places. Megamind lands in a jail and takes the part of villain to MetroMan's hero. Once MetroMan is gone, in a slightly disturbing death scene, Megamind realizes he no longer has a challenge, so he creates a new hero, from a lonely camera guy, played by Jonah Hill, only to realize his creation is a terrible villain. Now, the once great super villain must put on the cape and be a hero, with the help of a journalist and love interest, voiced by Tina Fey.

I saw the movie in 3-D and was blown away by how good it looked. Sure, there were some gimmicky shots like spiders and popcorn being dangled in front of the audience, but the movie did a really good job of keeping the effects subtle and beautiful. The little things like the hair on MetroMan's head, or the water surrounding MetroCity, or the building landscapes all looked crisp and clear and stood out with the 3-D glasses.

The soundtrack was the best part, however, with an extremely lively selection of songs by the likes of AC/DC and Michael Jackson to name a few. The songs really added to the story, and every time MegaMind made a flashy entrance, the music only added to the enjoyment.

The characters were extremely cliched, but it was part of the slightly different take on the genre the movie used. In the movie, we weren't cheering for the perfect, Superman-esque hero, or the lonley, pathetic dork-turned Superman, we were cheering for the evil super-genuise who only wanted to win one battle, and be the one to get the girl. The eventual role reversals were really interesting and quite different as we see the villain reluctantly be forced into the role of hero.

While I truly enjoyed the movie, I was left wondering if some of the more complex plot points were wasted on my tiny friends watching the movie with me. While I couldn't seem to tell if they got it, I can say the audience was completely silent for the entire hour and a half of the movie, which probably says something right there. Megamind is a very entertaining movie for the whole family, and one you shouldn't feel uncomfortable going to, no matter your age.

EDITORS NOTE: This review appeared on SpoilerTV HERE, and Creative Loafing HERE

Sanctum Trailer

In a previous post, I was just talking about James Cameron, and I come across a trailer for a movie called Sanctum, which Cameron produced. The movie apparently uses the rig he developed for Avatar in a movie that looks intense to say the least.

I've Scuba dived in a cave before, and found it creepy, but this movie looks to take it to a whole new level. If they can capture that eeriness, this movie could be really good. I'm a little leery on the "based on a true story" thing, but we'll see I guess.

What do you think?

A geek flow chart - Movie geeks aren't at the top?

Avatar 2 & 3 are announced as Cameron's next project

It was announced today that James Cameron's next project would be the next two movies in what will be an Avatar trilogy. It wasn't much of a surprise, given the movie made more money than any other movie in history (excluding inflation). So, the question is, what do you do for an encore?

The problem with doing a movie that blew away theater goers as Avatar did is that studios want you to do it again and again. Sadly, those expectations are rarely met. Especially with Avatar, I think it will be more than a bit tough due to the most mentioned part of the movie; the special effects. The 3-D immersion was something we had never seen in movies, and the CGI was beautiful, creating a living, breathing world that took my breath away, but when we go back to Pandora, I will be ready this time. So, how will my mind be blown?

Don't get me wrong, this is a good problem to have, but it's a problem nonetheless. Cameron has said he hopes to go into the oceans of Pandora for the second movie, and of course, he will use his 3-D rig, developed for the movie. So, we should be able to expect more of the amazing special effects, the only thing left for mind-blowage would be an incredible story. The previous film had a good story that I found engrossing, but left some wanting more. Is this the one area the second movie can improve on? Sure, but will it help? I don't know, either way, they should be out around 2014, and they will make crazy amounts of money.

Are you looking forward to going back to Pandora? Do you think it's possible for the second movie to be better than the first? Sure, Spiderman 2 was, and Cameron's second Aliens was a good sequel, but will Avatar 2 be added to the list?

Christopher Nolan dishes on third Batman film

It’s hard to remember a movie that has as many rumors flying around as the current Batman franchise does. Since the previous film The Dark Knight was released, and gained critical and financial acclaim, audiences have wondered what the third movie could entail. Rumors of different actors for Batman, every different villain you could think of and a love interest for Bruce Wayne are among the hot topics. Well, thanks to /Film, we have an answer or two.

The third film will be called The Dark Knight Rises, according to director Christopher Nolan. He also said we are able to rule out the Riddler, a popular rumor for the main villain in the third movie. Rumors of Inception stars Tom Hardy and Joseph Gordon-Levitt circulated for the role, but with the character out of the running, along with Mr. Freeze, it leaves us wondering who will be the villain. “We’ll use many of the same characters as we have all along, and we’ll be introducing some new ones," Nolan cryptically exclaimed. Because that’s a lot of help.

So, who would you like to see as the villain of the third Batman? And, what do you think of the title?

John Landis calls Inception unoriginal - I need to vent

This isn't going to be the well thought out, masterfully constructed blog post you are used to on this site. Stop laughing, I'm serious. ... No, really, stop laughing. Anywho, this post is about me venting over news that director John Landis (Blues Brothers, Psych, Oscar) was quoted as saying smash hit Inception was "interesting enough..., but not original."

Now, I have no problems with someone saying they don't like the movie. Inception will be one you either love or hate, and it's easy to see both points of view. I personally love it, but as I said, I can see the other point of view as well. What I do have a problem with is calling the movie unoriginal. With all the sequels, reboots, prequels, and adaptations for old TV shows, I find it unacceptable to call a movie like Inception unoriginal. Does it take plot or character elements from another source? Sure. But what story in history hasn't? The Bible took elements from Mayan stories of a great flood and fires before it, along with Homeric tales being taken from rumored other stories that have vanished over the centuries, and it's hard to get much earlier than either of those. Star Wars took multiple story lines from multiple other movies and stories, along with The Matrix taking elements from philosophy, the Bible and other Sci-Fi tales, but no one calls those unoriginal.

It's hard to find anything truly original, because so many stories have been touched on. If you look hard enough, you will find something familiar in everything. So, when something that was written from scratch, was designed from scratch and has no noticeable previous media influences is created, we should celebrate, because at least it isn't Charlie's Angels 3, or another Hulk reboot. It's a direction Hollywood should start going in, where people sit down to create new ideas, not rehash old ones, but it doesn't seem to be a common trend, and that is commendable.

What do you think? Are there really no original ideas anymore? Is Inception unoriginal? Sound off.

Netflix streaming out-does DVD's for first time ever

DVD, Netflix

1997-2010

Netflix DVD's were a fine companion for many Friday nights. Seeing Netflix come in my mailbox was always a treat, and having them sit on top of my box was a site of pure joy. Netflix started off simple enough, with modest means, quickly taking over for it's blue cousin, Blockbuster, destroying everything, including its red cousin, Red Box. Netflix DVD passed unexpectedly in the third quarter of 2010. Survived by a loving internet streaming family and hundreds of thousands of fans. Services will be held at a later date.

Pretty good obit, right? It's a gift, really. You may be asking why I am writing an obit for Netflix DVD's. The reason is because for the first time ever, Netflix streaming out sold the DVD counterpart. It's a huge deal because it seems to be a sign of things to come for the company and the industry as a whole.

So, are you contributing to the alarming trend of DVD's being dead? Do you like the streaming or do you think DVD's are alive and well?

Indiana Jones in 3-D?

Alright, enough is enough. It seems like every other day, I read about some beloved franchise getting dusted off and converted into 3-D. This week, the news in one of my favorite franchises of all time, Indiana Jones. The question is, will people go see it.

Reports surfaced this week that claimed Lucas and Speilberg were looking into converting the beloved series just as Lucas is doing for Star Wars currently. Apparently, according to the article, this isn't the first time they have looked into resurrecting a franchise. The article states they played around with cleaning up Jaws, but thought better of it. I assume someone showed them Jaws 3.

I suppose I should be happy this re-release will bring an amazing movie like Raiders of the Lost Ark to a new generation, but maybe I still have a slightly bitter taste in my mouth after the dreaded fourth Indiana Jones movie. I also don't think 3-D will add anything to the movie, and if not done well, could take away from the story.

What do you think?

A new trilogy in the works for Star Wars?

Star Wars fans are a die hard bunch. Ever since Return of the Jedi was released, and the fans were, uhh, graced with the presence of Ewoks, they have longed for a proper sequel to their beloved franchise. Sadly, they got Jar-Jar Binks and the prequels, but even that train wreck wasn't enough to dissuade them from their dreams of sequel heaven. There's been talk of the infamous episodes seven through nine for years, and now the rumors resurface, as the Star Wars geeks freak out.

/Film is reporting a rumor that has been denied by Lucasfilm that a planned trilogy is in the works and will be released after the six movies are released in theaters in 3-D. The rumored story will be quite some time in the future and have nothing to do with the Skywalker family, at least no one we know.

The good part about a storyline having nothing to do with the familiar characters is that Lucas doesn't have to play puzzle master, leaving some fans yelling "convenient," like they did with the prequels. This would give Lucas a fresh start in a very large universe. I don't know, however, how the Jedi would fit into a world so much farther in the future. It would seem to me the logical progression would be that the Jedi council and any remaining Jedi would just get pushed aside, similar to Paganism. I mean, they were responsible for the years of the dark times in the universe.

What do you think, does this sound like a good idea to you? What kind of stories would you like to see?

Do you have a "calm down Movie"?

For the second time in two years, I exited a movie and headed home in dread. Interestingly, the dread was due to a movie called Paranormal Activity, and lately, the sequel to the movie. Once I got home, there was an uneasyness in the air as I pet the dog, put down my keys and turned on every light in the house, and looked for a flashlight or two, just in case. As I sat down, unable to go to bed, I thought of 10 or 20 movies I could watch to help erase the thoughts of terror in my head. Last week, my sister saw the first movie and came up with a movie or two, and now, I'm going to add to the list. What movies would you choose to calm those frayed nerves?

Muppet Treasure Island - Alright, shut up, I like that movie! I know the music, and Kermit is an extremely versatile actor. The movie is light, has no scary elements to it, and will leave you singing Cabin Fever, ahh!

Back to the Future - Like the go carts in Clerks II, this movie takes me back to a simpler time. It's funny, isn't really heavy, and I can quote everything in the movie. On top of that, the themes are engaging, and the characters are good enought to take your mind off any para raptor.

Blazing Saddles - This one seems like an easy one. AFI's number two funniest movie of all time, this movie will make you laugh, from the Camp-Town Ladies at the beginning all the way to the great pie fight at the end, this movie will prove laughter can get rid of any thoughts of terror.

Balls of Fury - The title alone probably gives away the reason. Sure, there is a lot of comedy on this list, but in my opinion, comedy is the exact opposite of terror, and the best medicine for a creapy evening. This movie has Christopher Walken as a Chinease guy, a whole bunch of blind jokes, and a great parody of Enter the Dragon with ping-pong, or as the Chinease call it Ping-Pong. Besides, it has the Dragon; the least intimidating ping-pong player of all time.

Oceans 11 - This one is a bit different. Sure, it's comedy, but it isn't the silly slapstick of the previous two. This one has so many quotable moments, and funny parts, from the beginning with Danny Ocean and Rusty, to "the little Asian guy" to the amazing finale. It's a fun movie I could watch, and have, over and over again. There's also a bonus here that this movie is always on TV.

The Replacements - This is what I used last year, actually, and it worked well. It's a fun football movie that has the little guy winning in the end; what more could you want? The movie has some great moments that are funny, and also very heart-felt, along with that one scene where the team gets a penalty when a cheerleader smacks the other on the ass (quality TV).

So, there you go, your remedy to Halloween, and the scary movies playing during the season. If you have another remedy, let me know!

Inception 2 - Secret of the Ooze

Ever since the huge hit that was Inception came out, there has been talk of a sequel. If you've seen the movie, you know that story-wise, it doesn't make sense, but we all know Hollywood's love of money, and considering the movie is up to $810 million so far, before it even hits store shelves, the movie is a huge financial success. So, will a sequel be made? The answer is yes, apparently, if Warner Bros has anything to say about it.

There are several reports that Warner Bros wants to make a sequel, but it is highly unlikely director Christopher Nolan would return, given he has expressed several times that the project is done. So, given Warners wants more money, and Nolan doesn't want anything to do with it, will the studio get a new director? I would say most likely not, since Nolan is pretty much heading all their biggest projects, including directing the third Batman flick, and overseeing the Superman flick. I doubt they wouldn't want to piss of the man in charge of the company's future.

However, if there were to be a sequel, what would you do? Suffice to say POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD!

The most obvious route to me would be to follow another member of Cobb's team after the job depicted in the first movie. It would be an easy move because Tom Hardy, Ellen Page and Joseph Gordon Levitt's characters were so interesting, and not touched on too much, that seeing that story line unfold could be quite a lot of fun. Gordon-Levitt's character was described several times in the film as the best in the business, so it would be interesting to see why. It would be a smart move because you would never have to mention Leonardo DiCaprio's Cobb, which would leave the impact of the ending intact, and audiences looking for any tidbit or clue as to the outcome.

So, that's my idea for a sequel that should never happen, and hopefully won't, but that's not to say there isn't talk of one.

TheHopp.NET blogtastic project

Here is the video for DAY 1 of the project.

Box Office Report - Paranormal Activity 2 dominates

Paranormal Activity 2 blew away expectations to land in first place with $41.5 million, setting a record for horror movie premieres. The original blew away all expectations, but steadily grew in money week after week. While the second has a very promising start, I don't know if it will be able to maintain the huge box office dollars, despite great reviews (including one from yours truly).

Jackass 3D dropped an expected 60% to come in second, with Red coming in third. Not a bad box office weekend for films.

What did you see this weekend?


BOX OFFICE TOP TEN
1. Paranormal Activity 2 - $41.5 million ($41.5 million total)
2. Jackass 3D - $21.6 million ($87.1 million total)
3. Red - $15 million ($43.5 million total)
4. Hereafter - $12 million (12.3 million total)
5. The Social Network - $7.3 million ($72.9 million total)
6. Secretariat - $6.9 million ($37.6 million total)
7. Life As We Know It - $6.1 million ($37.6 million total)
8. Legends of the Guardian: The Owls of Ga'Hoole - $3.2 million ($50.2 million total)
9. The Town - $2.7 million ($84.6 million total)
10. Easy A - $1.8 million ($54.8 million total)

Movie Review - Paranormal Activity 2

The first Paranormal Activity was the surprise hit of 2009. The movie shocked Hollywood execs after making crazy amounts of money with a budget of only around $12,000. I heralded the movie as one of the scariest movies I had ever seen due to the dramatic tension-filled buildup, and the philosophy of less is more, building up to a shocking ending. With as much hype as the first garnered, there is no possible way the sequel can be anything but a way to make more money, right? Wrong.

The first movie setup some rules, such as waiting for the now iconic bedroom cam signifying something terrifying is going to happen, along with most of the events happening at night. The sequel smashes those rules and amps up the terror as the film uses a clever story of security cameras being installed after an alleged break in. With the security cameras and an addition of a handheld camera, we see a family with an interesting relation to the events to the first film as something terrible unfolds before the audiences eyes.

The movie did some really clever things like interweaving the story of this movie with the first. As a result, both movies are scarier. The film also took advantage of some of the primal fears we have, such as something in the basement, fear of the dark, and afraid of being alone. The script was also more complex with more characters, like the father, who was pretty funny and quite genuine; the mother, who is also Katie's sister; the younger daughter, who was also convincing, and the maid, which was a bit silly.

While the first filmed had some jarring moments, there were probably only two or three, leaving the tension and eerie events to sit, leaving it a bit more cerebral. The second had some cerebral elements, but the jarring moments were much more frequent with three or four moments that scared the crap out of the audience, leaving the theater buzzing with an uneasy laughter that few movies can reproduce.

With all the brilliant things the movie did, I think the movie abandoned the steady incline of tension the first one had, and started off a bit slow, setting the premise and the rules, only to notch the terror up to an 11, and kept it there until the end of the movie, which left the possibility of a third movie open, without it being necessary.

Overall, I really enjoyed the movie, and thought it did a good job of amping up the terror, and being a great compliment to the first film, which is required viewing for this film. The storyline was original and fresh, and the jump scares were effective over and over. While I was blown away with the first, I really enjoyed the second as a solid scary movie. I will be telling my sister not to see this movie, because I just don't her nerves can take it.

Reel Terror Film Festival - A Night in Review

On Saturday, horror came to Tampa Bay with the first ever Reel Terror Film Festival. Reel Terror was an opportunity for horror film fans to come together to see some of the best horror films from local filmmakers, generally those who are just trying to make a film not because of money, but because they love to, which is more than refreshing in this day and age. Creative Loafing had some interesting and surprisingly well done movies, a few panels of filmmakers, a first ever life Reel Projections podcast (which I participated in), along with awards and fun.

There were some pleasant surprises in movies, which included the short film Risen, a film about a Ted Bundy esque killer in the middle of a zombie uprising. The shots were clever, along with the performance of Al Mauro, who played Henry, the killer.

Other great films include 2:22, a beautiful short film about a woman who wakes up in a fog, naked and sick, and recalls the terrifying events of the night before. The movie had a great performance, along with some great sound and visual effects. I also enjoyed Wine, a perfectly short film about a wine connoisseur with a bizarre taste in wine. Another memorable short was Simone, about a woman who wakes up after a lesbian filled evening and finds the results of her fun.

There were plenty of other films there that showed, above all else, a passion for film. The audience also seemed very excited to see the films and mingle with the films makers and stars, some of which were on hand to promote the movie, but most of which just seemed excited to be with others who enjoy film.

Overall, it was a really fun experience that I hope will be an annual, or even semi-annual event that had everything a film fan could want.