The Cocoa Critic

Cocoacritic Has Moved!

2010-09-13T16:11:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! Thanks for the continuous support! Here's some good news, I have finally migrated over to a hosted site.

Please continue to read my posts at:

http://www.cocoacritic.net

Again, thanks for reading!

Andrew Garfield is the next 'Spider-Man'

2010-07-01T17:14:00.000-07:00

So says Variety.

Not bad. I think Garfield was impressive in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. But unfortunately, I haven't seen him anything else. To be honest, I was hoping Joseph Gordon-Levitt would get the part, but a somewhat new face will do just fine.

For those who don't know who Andrew Garfield is, check the interview below.

Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows Part 1 Trailer is UP!

2010-06-28T16:11:00.000-07:00

Angelina Jolie As Cleopatra

2010-06-18T11:02:00.000-07:00

The web is all a flutter with news of sex symbol Angelina Jolie as Cleopatra in Hollywood’s latest remake. Comparisons to Liz Taylor cannot be avoided as both women have lead controversial lives. Jolie fell in love with Brad Pitt on the set of Mr. & Mrs Smith and Taylor fell out of love with Eddie Fisher and in love with Richard Burton. This reinvisioning has the potential to be successful; however there appears to be a bit of a backlash. Essence and Clutch Magazine claim the famous Egyptian queen was not White and there appears to be evidence to support this claim.

Yet historians throughout the years have had a difference of opinion. Citing as an ancestor of Ptolemy I, Cleopatra was more than likely of Greek decent as there was no mixing of the blood lines. Let it be known that neither side of the argument can produce the origins of Cleopatra’s mother. But we do know the queen’s sister Princess Arsinoe was indeed African and considered to be a member of the Ptolemy dynasty.

This wouldn’t be the first time Angelina’s name has come up in a race debate. Cast in the film A Mighty Heart as Daniel Pearl’s bi-racial widow, Mariane Pearl. Jolie donned a curly wig, bronzed skin and dark contacts. Labeled as modern day Black Face, although her performance was critically acclaimed, her portrayal of Pearl didn’t go over well with audiences and the film failed to succeed at the box office.

I think the reaction surrounding Jolie’s Cleopatra is very telling. As the movie viewing audience becomes more diverse and cognizant of Non-White actors in starring roles, with this acceptance comes a yearning for thespians of different ethnic backgrounds. This in addition to the many versions that have been done, this latest account could be a tough sell.

Perhaps it would behoove the studios to make a film about Nefertiti instead.

Michael Fassbender as Magneto?

2010-06-17T23:32:00.000-07:00

So says Nikki Finke! I think this is terrific news. At first, when I heard McAvoy was cast, I was on the fence. Although I love him as an actor, I felt he was far too young for the role. I feared the rest of the mutants would be High-School musical kids, or worse than that Miley Ray Cyrus. However, casting Fassbender as Magneto along with Amber Heard as Mystique has changed my mind. I don’t know if any of you are familiar with a little show named Hex that aired on BBC. If you’re not, you should be. It’s a great supernatural series. In it, Fassbender played the evil and sexy Azazeal, leader of fallen angels.

Back then, I knew he would move onto film and eventually become a big star. He’s not quite there yet, but he’s definitely on the cusp. Even the bomb Jonah Hex, which I didn’t like him in at all, won’t ruin his career. Next of course was Fassbender’s awesome work in Inglorious Basterds. Proving yet again what a good actor he is, Fassbender all but vanished into the Archie Hicox character. His next project is Centurion, which opens August 27th. I’ll definitely be there for that one since I love swords and sandal movies. Check out the trailer below. Side note, Doctor Who fans will recognize Noel Clarke.

Movie Review: Jonah Hex

2010-06-17T16:11:00.001-07:00

This film was a mess from start to finish. Truth be told after watching a couple snippets of Jonah Hex at Comic-Con, I didn’t think it would be great in the first place. Main reason for the terrible-ness? MEGAN FOX. But all the blame does not fall upon her shoulders. Everything about his movie was just bad, bad, bad. Hex could go down as one of THE worst comic-book adaptations ever, even worse than the 1990 version of Captain America. Yes, that bad.

What I find amusing is that Josh Brolin wanted Megan Fox in this film. Now, was it because he truly believed she was a good actress, or was it simply because he wanted eye-candy to swoon over him during the film shoot? I’m thinking it’s the latter. Because any person with a lick of sense surely realizes Fox cannot act and if they didn’t, they know now. But back to Brolin, he wasn’t terrible in this, but he wasn’t his usual good-self either. Maybe it’s because he watched the dailies.

Michael Fassbender, whom I love from the TV series Hex and Inglourious Basterds annoyed me. He was way over the top and I couldn’t wait for someone to put a bullet in his head. Unfortunately his death didn’t come soon enough. Malkovich, another thespian whom I’ve enjoyed over the years, put on a campy performance. Again, maybe he watched the dailies as well. Or maybe he was just doing this for a pay-check. Who nows? It general, it really felt like no one really gave a fig about this film.

As far as Fox’s presentation in this, it was very flat for the simple fact she cannot connect with another actor, at least not with Brolin. A skill not needed when running from giant robots; chemistry was required here. Unfortunately, Brolin and Fox had none.

Were there any good bits? Well, I did enjoy the sequences where Hex revived a dead body to interrogate it and the motion comic opening was pretty bad ass. If only the entire movie was that way.

Who I felt bad for was Aidan Quinn. What was the last good thing he’s been in?

Ah well. Thus continues the onslaught of mediocre to terrible comic-book adaptations.

Jonah Hex. 0 out of 10.

Movie Review: The Karate Kid 2010

2010-06-13T23:30:00.000-07:00

I thought I would hate this remake. A child of the eighties I enjoyed the original “Karate Kid” starring the irresistible Ralph Macchio. Yes, like the majority of teen girls at that time, I was in love with him and in some ways I identified with his plight because as a kid, I was bullied. My grandfather, a strong man and WWII vet, grew tired of picking me up after grade school with cuts and bruises and did the best thing for me. He enrolled me in karate class. My instructor at the time was one bad ass Harold E. Scroggins. Tall brotha who even stopped by my school one year in his karate gee! He was barefoot and everything.

So yeah, I felt Daniel’s pain. My Mr. Miyagi, was Mr. Scroggins. When word hit the net a remake was underway, I was immediately against it. Here goes Hollywood again, destroying my childhood. Even though I like Jaden Smith, (who was excellent in Pursuit of Happyness) I had sworn at that time, I wouldn’t see it. Then positive buzz for the film leaked from ShoWest. I became curious. Rottentomates rated it a 70%. All the more curious.

I checked it out Saturday and well…. I really liked it! I felt the filmmakers did enough to separate this new version from the old while keeping the heart of the original film in tact. Was it as good as the original? No, but it is definitely enjoyable and worth seeing in a theater. Jaden was terrific as Dre, a boy relocates to China after his mother, played more than adequately by the beautiful Taraji Henson, is transferred. As one would gather, he doesn’t fit in. An outsider, his immediate interest for a cute Chinese student makes matters worse and he is ultimately beat-up the day he arrives.

Enter Jackie Chan. Proving yet again how much of an amazing martial artist he is, Chan plays Mr. Han a maintenance man with a wounded heart, who trains Dre to fight in an all or nothing tournament. That particular sequence got the audience excited. People applauded and cheered and I was definitely one of them.

Yes, the 2010 remake or reboot of The Karate Kid was indeed good. It’s a film I plan to add to my library and I will definitely watch the sequel. I give it a 7.5 out of 10.

But, just to end things on a proper note, I leave you Ralph Macchio in this very amusing Funny or Die short.

Wax On, F*ck Off with Ralph Macchio from Ralph Macchio

Movie Review: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

2010-05-26T23:46:00.000-07:00

Films based from video games are rarely good. When news hit that Disney was making a movie version of Prince of Persia, I set my expectations very low. I didn’t think the finished product could mirror the fun I remembered having when I played the cult classic back in the 90’s. In addition, casting Jake Gyllenhaal as lead was a bit of a head scratcher. He’s not Persian. Shocking I know. However, the screenwriters wisely wrote their way around the prince’s true heritage. In the film Dastan is an orphan, leaving his ethnic background up to the viewer.

But I digress. As I was saying, most video game films, save for the first Tomb Raider, have sucked. Mario Bros. Sucked. Street Fighter. Suckage. Mortal Kombat. Ultimate suck. Resident Evil. The first one was good, the rest suckage to the umpteenth power. Did anyone watch the Chun-Li movie? That said, Prince of Persia didn’t have much of a high bar to surpass. But I felt it did. Surprisingly, this latest Bruckheimer/Disney collaboration was a ton o’ fun. Even though it was very formulaic, (in the beginning I thought I was watching a live action version of Aladdin) I enjoyed myself.

Ignoring the weak accent, Gyllenhaal was adequate. More of a dramatic actor, I was impressed with how well he embraced the action hero role. His love interest, Tamina, played by Gemma Arterton , whom I believe could be the next action heroine, was better in this sword wielding film than in Clash of the Titans. Rounding out the cast are a few talented thespians, one of which is an Oscar winner. Of course the latter of which I speak is the excellent Ben Kingsley, who proves yet again that with little effort, he can be convincing in any role. Alfred Molina adds a bit of comic relief and was very amusing as the scene stealing, tax evading, Sheik Amar. This brings me to the Sheik’s business partner, Seso, wonderfully played by Steve Toussaint, I’ve never seen him before. Like Molina, he has great screen presence and has an intense dagger throwing sequence toward the end of the movie.

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is definitely worth a matinee ticket. Lacking in some areas, it excels in others and with Mike Newell’s direction, (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) the film looked and felt like the classic video game. My expectations met, I liked it and give the movie a B.

Charlie Sheen Wants More Money

2010-05-17T10:47:00.000-07:00

TMZ just reported Charlie Sheen is asking for roughly 2 million dollars per episode. Given his personal issues as of late, I'll be disappointed if Warner Bros caves to his demands. Yes, Two and a Half Men is very successful and has made the studio a lot of cash, but lets face it, it's no Friends. Even with Matthew Perry's stint in rehab for drug addiction, his personal problems back in 2001 pale in comparison compared to Sheen's. At this point, the former Young Gun..

... is more of a liability than an asset.

I think its time to pull the plug.

Movie Review: Nightmare On Elm Street

2010-04-28T14:57:00.000-07:00

Neither Wes Craven nor Robert Englund wanted a thing to do with the latest horror film reboot of Nightmare on Elm Street and after watching it, can’t say that I blame them. The movie lacked much of what made the original great. Gone was the 80's camp. I remember not only being creeped out by Freddy Krueger, but finding him pretty darn funny. This Freddy played by Jackie Earle Haley was hardly either. Tough shoes to fill, I couldn't imagine anyone doing as great a job as Englund did . Maybe Billy Bob Thornton, but even he knew not to even try. Can't say that I blame Mr. Haley, though. He's a great actor who gave a chilling performance in Little Children and was amazing as Rorschach in The Watchmen. Honestly, with his credentials I expected more than mediocre. But given the weak script he had to work with, I can forgive him.

There's simply nothing new about this Nightmare on Elm Street. No risks were taken. If you are a fan of the 84 original, you've seen it all before and better. The first time I watched Wes Craven's Nightmare on Elm Street, I was terrified. Even watching it now, some twenty years later, I become uneasy watching the bloody bedroom scene when girl is dragged across the ceiling. But I felt none of that while watching the 2010 version. Whats even worse, I felt nothing for any of the actors. Yeah Kellen Lutz is good looking, but that's about it. (He's only in the film for five minutes by the way, so you Twilight fans are better off saving your money and watching Twilight and New Moon again). The blond (Kris Fowles) was your typical Michael Bay actress. Then there's Nancy. (Rooney Mara) who was quite bland in comparison to the original (Heather Langenkamp).

See, in the 84 version, you felt for the girl and you wanted her to live. You couldn't help but root for her, but try all she might she couldn't keep her hot boyfriend Glenn (Depp) alive. Who can forget that death scene, eh?

Plainly the target audience isn't fans of the original, but kids born in 1990 who enjoyed Rob Zombie's Halloween and the sequel. Neither one of those remakes were any good and this is coming from someone who liked The Devil's Rejects.

So I say stay away from this reinvisioning. But if curiosity gets the better of you, go for the matinee.

My grade. D-

From Listology: 10 Ways To Get That TV Look

2010-04-22T09:13:00.000-07:00

Cocoacritic here! For those who want to acquire the look as seen on tv, take a gander at this editorial written by Natalie Zutter.

Source

Listology: 10 Ways To Get That TV Look

By NATALIE ZUTTER

[ Image Source ]

While you can look at the runways for fashion trends, to see them in action you gotta turn on the television. Primetime soaps, sitcoms, mysteries, and more showcase the latest looks -- and now you can imitate these characters' day, night, and loungewear outfits. Read on...

90210: Trenchcoat

The teen soap is already on top of the coat trend, with Naomi looking classy. Except that her look is less detective dame and more traditional flasher: it's all she's wearing, to tempt Liam back. So that you don't end up sweating uncomfortably like Naomi, nab one from Gap (it costs a bit much, but a coat is always an investment), or definitely look at your local vintage spot like my sister did.

Gossip Girl: One-shoulder dress

Even though she doesn't get the interview with the French secret-society head, Blair was a stunner in Monday's episode in this sparkly black dress. Whether it's a state dinner or a night on the town, you can copy the look with Ivy's black slub knit one-sleeve dress at Bluefly. Like Blair, be sure to keep your clavicle unbothered with jewelry and instead clip on the chunky earrings.

Glee: Preppy fun

Anna’s already espoused the monochromatic sophistication of Emma Pillsbury, so I figured we’d highlight Lea Michele’s look as Rachel: a skirt boasting bold colors and prints, balanced out by a single-hue sweater. Straight hair is more control-freak than curly is, and make sure you’ve got a set of pipes to match.

The Good Wife: Courtroom chic

Upon going back to law school, Alicia has to prove herself doubly because of her age and because she's a woman -- she does this by rocking flattering, conservative looks that are still youthful. She's good inspiration for us viewers, though we're much younger, as we put together interview outfits: a short-sleeved gray sweater from Ann Taylor Loft; slimming trousers; and a sharp blazer from Macy's.

Life Unexpected: Laid-back luxe

Foster teen Lux manages to have a wardrobe that's trendy but inexpensive. How to get her look? Combine gray skinny jeans, a cami and plaid shirt (Planet Gold at Macy's), a short but warm peacoat, and a crocheted beret on top.

Dexter: Flowy sundresses

Julie Benz may have left the show, but the memory of Rita in her cute strappy sundresses in the Miami heat lives on, especially as we’re(finally) shifting into spring. Old Navy's cute Sundown Gowns fit the bill.

The Big Bang Theory: Geeky chic

I'm not saying that the socially-challenged grad students are fashion authorities at all, but for the person looking to be snarky simply while walking down the street, then their funny T-shirts are ideal. And you're in luck -- this site has 101 Lost shirts for you to choose from. I especially like #10, with the Dharma Chinese Food company. Plus, if you want to be really meta, you can simply buy Big Bang Theory tees.

The City: Homemade

While compiling this list, reality TV almost entirely stayed off my radar, yet since we’re about relatability I figured I should include at least one. At the end of last season, doe-eyed LA transplant Whitney Port got seriously working on her own line. It’s backed by Kelly Cutrone, which should give it some more cred than, say, Heidiwood.

The United States of Tara: Schizophrenic patterns

Just like housewife Tara juggles multiple personalities, you can combine several influences in one outfit. Of her three alters, Alice is the most fashion-forward (ironic since she's straight out of the '50s). To modernize her look, however, I'd suggest inverting what we see above -- do a bright dress with a neutral cardigan.

Movie Review: The Losers

2010-04-18T23:26:00.000-07:00

Disclaimer: I’m a fangirl who is very familiar with the The Loser comic books illustrated by Jock and written by Andy Diggle. So, that said, I may be more critical about this film than the average movie viewer.

What can I say about The Losers? Good try? Nice effort? Thus the onslaught of mediocre comic book movies begins. I guess all three. The Losers had the potential of being an amazing franchise. Nothing like The Dark Knight or Iron Man but something lucrative for Warner Bros. Unfortunately, I don’t think a successful franchise will rise from this because the film was disappointing. Is it terrible? No, not at all. Save for the cluster-ef of a beginning and ending, the film for the most part was entertaining.

The casting was perfect. Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Clay, spot on. Idris Elba as Roque, perfect. Zoe Saldana as Aisha, ( I was concerned about this one) on the money. New face Oscar Jaenaeda as Cougar, whom I believe is one to watch was excellent and Chris Evans as Jensen, although annoying at times was, on the money. ( I still don’t see him as Captain America). Lastly, Columbus Short was funny as Pooch and he wasn’t the stereotypical sidekick. All in all, this crew had great chemistry. The banter between Roque and Clay was pretty much identical to what was written in the comics as were some of the scenes. But a good cast of actors does not a good film make.

Where did the film fall short? The writing and editing. The decision to stick five or six comics in one film was a bad one. Too much information in a short amount of time made for a confusing first half. There is so much thrown at the viewer in the first thirty minutes of the movie, I will be hard pressed to believe that the Average Joe knows who these Special Ops agents are and why they are being set-up. Character development? Null. Nada. None. There simply was no room for it. At least that’s what the director thought.

Jason Patrick as the villainous Max was nothing more than a caricature. I felt his talent wasn’t utilized at all. Aisha (a very thin Saldana ) was pretty bad ass in this. I liked the opening fight sequence between her and Clay (Jeffrey Dean Morgan). But it wasn’t really established that these two knew each other.

Things started to come together by the second act, but by the third, fell apart again. I don’t feel the reshoots were necessary. What was added did nothing for the film. All it did was further sanitize it. But even an R rating couldn’t make this film as polished and clever as it could have been.

Still, I won’t give The Losers a failing grade for the simple fact I wouldn’t mind seeing the group again in a sequel directed and written by someone else. Is it too soon for a reboot?

Grade= C

Movie Review: Death At A Funeral

2010-04-14T11:44:00.000-07:00

I’ve yet to watch the original and British version of Death at a Funeral but after watching the American depiction, I am eager to compare the two. The first hour was a bit off and it took awhile to set things in motion. Things just didn’t gel. But after all the players were finally under one roof, the funny started and kept rolling until the credits. Of course with a cast helmed by Chris Rock, Martin Lawrence and Tracy Morgan, how could Death at a Funeral NOT be entertaining?

The entire set up had funny written all over it. Two brothers (Rock and Lawrence) are reunited after years of not seeing each other at their father’s funeral. During the ceremony the two discover something so shocking they try to hide it. The funny begins at their attempt to do so. While all of this is going on, cousin Elaine (Zoe Saldana) tries to control a fiancé (James Marsden) from making a fool out of himself in front of her overbearing father (Ron Glass). Unbeknownst to him, moments before arriving at the service, Oscar took what he believed to be Valium when in truth it was a hallucinogenic, engineered by Jeff (Columbus Short), Elaine’s brother.

As one would assume Chris Rock and Martin Lawrence’s comedic timing was on as usual and definitely enjoyable to watch. Tracy Morgan as friend of the family Norman, longs to be accepted by Elaine (the film never goes into why this is). A bit of a neurotic hypochondriac he brings along with him Elaine’s ex Derek (Luke Wilson). I didn’t care for Luke in this. For some reason he appeared pained. Unlike Marsden, who seemed as if he was having a good time, Wilson gave off the, “I don’t know why I’m here” vibe. Tracy was of course, Tracy. But he wasn’t like his 30 Rock character.

If you are wondering, the hilarious bits are not revealed in the trailer which makes this film worth seeing. It’s worth a matinee.

I rate this film 7/10

Movie Review: After.Life

2010-04-09T12:39:00.000-07:00

Christina Ricci should be a bigger star than she is. That said, I enjoyed her portrayal of a dead or maybe not so dead car accident victim. In After.Life Ricci plays a school teacher named Anna, an despondent young woman who dies in a tragic collision with a truck. After her body is delivered to the local mortician, Eliot Deacon, (Liam Neeson) it appears as though Anna isn’t dead at all. Able to speak while laying on a porcelain table, she insists she is alive. However Elliot says otherwise. A seer of sorts or psychic, he is able to speak to the dead and see them as they truly are... Or so he says. What transpires next are a bevy of scenes sure to make the viewer question whether or not Anna is correct.

The film as a whole is not perfect. Some may find themselves annoyed with the ending. But I appreciated originality of the story (written by Agnieska Wojtowicz-Vosloo and her husband Paul) and interesting characters. Liam Neeson is as one would have expected superb. One moment you believe he is a well meaning professional utilizing his supernatural gift to help the dead transition to the after life, the next a cold-blooded killer.

Justin Long’s character is similar to the one played in Drag Me To Hell. Again he’s the boyfriend of the cursed or dead. Insistent in seeing Anna’s body before the funeral, Paul is haunted by guilt and also memories of Anna. To add to the mix and round out the creepy is one of Anna’s students. Jack (Chandler Cantebury)seems to have the same powers as Deacon and like the mortician is drawn to the dead and vice versa.

Some of the visuals are unsettling, but nothing that will cause a person to lose any sleep. In general, this film could have gone straight to video but I’m glad it didn’t. As a culture inundated with remakes, After.Life is refreshing and worth seeing.

Movie Review: Alice In Wonderland

2010-03-05T00:05:00.000-08:00

Alice In Wonderland is meant to be creepy. Well, at least in my mind it is. When I read “Through The Looking Glass” as a child, I was disturbed yet intrigued by the imagery Lewis Caroll penned. The illustrations were haunting and memorable. Although I loved Disney’s animated version, I longed for something a bit darker, something that mirrored Carroll’s vision. As of Wednesday night, I need look no further than Tim Burton’s inspired interpretation. Similar to Burton’s version of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”, “Alice” is just as sinister and subservice yet at the same time amusing, charming and fun.

As the film opens, we meet Alice, played wonderfully by newcomer Mia Wasikowska, at her very own engagement party. But the girl dressed in her trademark blue gown does not wish to marry the oafish red head, Harnish. (Leo Bill). All her life Alice has been told what to do. An arranged marriage was the last straw. To the rescue, in comes the White Rabbit (Michael Sheen) who lures Alice away from the uncomfortable proposal, and yes down the rabbit hole, the young miss follows, thrusting us the viewer into the magnificent world of Wonderland.

A sight to behold, Burton’s visualization of this magical place does not disappoint. Rich with vivid color and uniquely designed characters, I was a bit overwhelmed but very pleased. Bonham’s Red Queen was perfection. I think Miss Carter could have acted this role in her sleep. The performance was effortless. Crispin Glover’s, eccentricity was put to good use as the Knave of Hearts. Anne Hathaway as The White Queen I thought was perfect. Stephen Fry did an excellent job voicing the Cheshire Cat, who is the best rendered character in the film. Depp is on point of course as the Mad Hatter, and although his look is unsettling, one can’t help but like him. Alan Rickman’s voice as the Absolem Caterpillar is a flawless fit, I chuckled every time he called Alice a “Stupid Girl”. Ah that Snape, I mean Caterpillar.

I definitely enjoyed my trip to Wonderland. It met my expectations and I will most certainly watch this again. Now onto Dark Shadows!

Review: Shutter Island

2010-02-17T00:23:00.000-08:00

Let me preface this review by stating I haven’t read the book written by Dennis Lehane. (The same author who penned Mystic River). So I can’t say if the film version is a spot on adaptation or not. But I will say this about Shutter Island, it is an engrossing and chilling film that will be studied for years to come. Sure to be deemed a classic, even now as I write this critique I am still in awe. To be honest, when I watched the trailers for the film, I wasn’t too impressed. I didn’t quite know what to make of it. But Scorssese and Dicaprio sold me. And so, instead of passing on tonight’s screening, I attended. I’m very glad I did.

This does not feel like your typical Scoresse film. Laced with unsettling imagery and poignant cinematography, it reads like Kubrick. A style not easy to replicate convincingly, whether it was intentional or not, Scorsese does it well. Additionally, Scorsesse continues to cast his films well. In what is now the fourth time directing protégé DiCaprio, the marriage between the two has never been better. It’s never been more solid.

DiCaprio is absolutely excellent in this. Best Actor excellent even. As U.S. Marshall Teddy, Daniel’s, investigating the disappearance of a patient held at the mental facility housed on Shutter Island, his performance mirrors the deep complexity of the script. Playing Daniel’s trustworthy partner Chuck Aule, is the very talented Mark Ruffalo whom I’ve been impressed with since Zodiac. He’s a fine actor who disappears in each character he portrays. Ben Kingsley, amazing. Max Von Sydow… creepy. Jackie Earle Haley does what he does best, make my skin crawl. If this had been released in October Haley could have earned a Supporting Actor nod. Same thing goes for Ruffalo too. But whose performance really resonated with me was Michelle Williams. I won’t speak much about it, as it will give some of the mystery away.

Shutter Island is definitely worthy of a second viewing. When you watch it, you’ll see why. My score: A

Movie Review: The Wolfman

2010-02-08T23:11:00.000-08:00

The Wolfman, directed by Joe Johnston, could have been epic. In fact the film started off very strong. Reminiscent of the original 1941 Wolfman complete with full moon shrouded by mist, the tone was set. All the important key elements were in play. Strong actors, beautiful cinematography and a memorable score composed by Danny Elfman mirroring that of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, this film could have been flawless. It should have been. But unfortunately due to a so/so script, the movie was okay.

Did I hate the film? No. I enjoyed it for what it was, a popcorn movie filled with action and amazing transformation sequences. Rick Baker (An American Werewolf In London) proves yet again what a genius he is. During the asylum segment, I was literally on the edge of my seat. Hats off to Johnston and Baker for it reminded me of the werewolves rampage in American Werewolf In London. When I first heard The Wolfman was going back into post so that four legged movements could be added roughly a year ago, I wasn’t to sure what to think about it. But after seeing the finished product, I have to say it was a good call. The werewolf was definitely more menacing.

I like and value the classic look of the Wolfman. Those who are mostly familiar with lycanthropy from the Underworld films and heaven help us Twilight may not. However, for me it was a nice to remember where the legend began. The attention to monster film doctrine was much appreciated and I definitely believe Joe Johnston, Benicio Del Toro( Wolfman star and one of the producers of this film) and of course Rick Baker were fans of the original. I mean, you cannot have an old school werewolf film without gypsies, the mention of a curse, a preacher claiming that half-men/ half-beasts are of the devil and an angry mob running blindly through the woods with torches.

But where The Wolfman was definitely weak was with character development. We really don’t know much about Lawrence Talbot (Benicio Del Toro) and we’re not really made to care. Hopkins as the Wolfman’s father is another one-dimensional character and so is Emily Blunt’s, Gwen Conliffe. Yes I’m aware that this is a horror film and its not meant to be Shakespeare, but this could have been cured by a few lines of better dialogue and perhaps a moving scene here or there. Supposedly Gwen and Lawrence fall in love at some point and I can’t really figure out where it happened.

What does work well is what I brought up briefly before are the action scenes. Save for the cheesy trampoline launch in mid-air stunts, they were impressive. The gypsy camp bludgeoning in particular was, forgive me for writing this, a real howl. I loved it; and by the audible reception during that scene, so did the rest of the audience.

If you go into this film with moderate expectations, you won’t be disappointed. It’s sure is a hec of a lot better than the last Edward Cullen’s film. And a big improvement when compared to Universal’s Van Helsing a few years back. What a crapfest that was. But Hugh Jackman looked good in it sooo, I gave it a pass.

Two notable cameos. Rick Baker during the gypsy slaughter scene and for American Werewolf In London fans, the guy from the Slaughtered Lamb who tells the traveling American’s they best be on there way. I gotta admit I geeked out when I noticed him.

Rated R, a strong R for decapitations and the like, The Wolfman is not for children or the squeamish. I give this film a B-.

Movie Review: The Lovely Bones

2010-01-15T15:16:00.000-08:00

(with the two spaces before 'embed' and '/embed' of course)
Peter Jackson proved his fantastic storytelling and directing ability with The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Now the accomplished director/writer/producer is back in familiar, although not similar territory , with The Lovely Bones. Before he helmed the fantasy classics penned by J.R.R. Tolkien, Jackson directed Heavenly Creatures, a tale of obsession and murder back in 1994. No stranger to conveying the dark side of man or women for that matter, Jackson brings us yet another tragic tale involving one Susie –last-name-like-the-fish- Salmon. Murdered at the age of 14 on December 6th, 1973.

Based off the novel written by Alice Sebold of the same name, Susie’s death and the identity of the person who killed her is revealed in the opening act. (Note: See if you can spot Tucci who portrays the evil George Harvey in the opening sequence at the mall) From this point forward, we the viewer learn how a family can deteriorate after the loss of a child. Susie’s mother, played wonderfully by Rachel Weisz, is so wrought with grief she leaves the household. Whereas the father, well acted by Mark Walberg, becomes obsessed with finding his daughters murderer.

Grandma Lynn, portrayed by Susan Sarandon whom I will mention again later, responds, as any grandmother would react, she storms into the Salmon household and attempts to hold the crumbling family together. While all of this is going on, Susie (Saoirse Ronan) is stuck in the ‘in between”, a plain where souls remain until they let go of earthly ties. But Susie refuses to do this. Set on revenge, she wants her killer to be discovered and punished for his actions; actions that prevented the fourteen-year-old from experiencing her first kiss and becoming a wildlife photographer.

With this real and heart breaking performance, perfectly executed by Ronan, (Atonement) we cannot help but be drawn into Susie’s pain and thanks to the superb direction of Peter Jackson, we watch anxiously for the evil Harvey to be brought to justice.

Although the screenplay is missing a few elements from the novel, (mainly the deterioration of the Salmon marriage) Jackson maintains the overall essence of Sebold’s bestselling book. In addition, he imagines a magnificent heaven, filled with vibrant colors and imagery. But one wouldn’t expect anything less from the man who brought us the groundbreaking Gollum and Treebeard.

The casting is also impressive. Tucci plays creepy very well making the villain in this story all the more terrifying. But it’s Sarandon who nearly steals the spotlight from all with her hilarious portrayal of alcoholic Grandma Lynn.

One last positive to mention, is the well-directed scene involving Susie’s sister (Rose McIver). Reminiscent of Alfred Hitchcock, it will have you on the edge of your seat.

The Lovely Bones opens nation wide January 15th. I recommend you see it.

Blake Lively Cast As Carol Ferris

2010-01-11T09:31:00.000-08:00

Pardon my crudeness but this is some Twilight bulls#@t. A Gossip Girl as Carol Ferris? Yes, I do realize Lively’s been in other things. Films like The Private Lives of Pipa Lee, New York I Love You and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. None of the characters in those films scream Vice President of an Aerospace company. Lively is simply too young and she’s a GOSSIP GIRL. My pick would have been Eva Green or Emily Blunt. An actress born in the late seventies, early eighties, not one who has never used a pay phone.

To be honest, I was concerned about the Green Lantern project when Ryan Reynolds was cast. Not because he’s isn’t talented. He most certainly is. But Marvel has him cast as Deadpool for their film of the same name and in my comic book mind that doesn’t work. But that’s merely a small grievance that can and has been dismissed. However this Blake Lively business is a bit much. On the flip side, she may be aware of what she is taking on and she could perhaps surprise me. One can only hope.

Source

10 Things I Love About “10 Things I Hate About You”

2010-01-08T12:17:00.000-08:00

The 10th anniversary of one of my favorite teen films has arrived on Blu-ray. 10 Things I Hate About You, a modern take on The Taming Of The Shrew, stars the late Heath Ledger, who even then proved to be a natural talent, and the lovely Julia Stiles. To commemorate the release, below is a list of what I loved about this film along with a couple movie clips. Enjoy and make sure to pick up the anniversary edition complete with outtakes and interviews from the cast 10 years ago!

1. Heath Ledger – He was absolutely charming and so handsome in this as Patrick. A great talent gone too soon. Ledger is terribly missed.

2. Julia Stiles - Perfect as the head strong Kat who had no need for boys.

3. Heath singing “Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You” So endearing and classic, makes Kat realize that perhaps boys aren’t so bad.

4. The Poem. Still moving to this day. What teenage girl has never felt like that?

5. Joseph Gordon-Levitt –Who incidentally bares a resemblance to Ledger, was quite amusing as the new kid on the block, Cameon who falls for the beautiful Bianca.

6. Ms. Perky (Allison Janney) Comic relief to the maximus.

7. The writing. The script is perfection

8. Kat (Julia Stiles) dancing on the table to Notorious B.I.G.

9. Mr. Morgan (Daryl “Chill” Mitchell). Reading Shakespeare to High School students as rap? Brilliant!

10. The music. Indie music, mixed in with some hip-hop and rap make for a great soundtrack.

New Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus Trailer

2009-10-07T12:24:00.000-07:00

This still looks fantastic. I will certainly watch this opening weekend. How can I not? Heath Ledger, Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and Jude Law co-star in it.

Chris Rock Nailed It

2009-10-02T20:58:00.000-07:00

To coincide with this post, here's a list of celebs that are for Polanksi's extradition.

Thanks to Chrismm for putting this together.

The List

Countdown to Where The Wild Things Are

2009-10-01T22:53:00.001-07:00

I love the fall. Most of all, I love fall films. Many tend to be emotional works of substance and this is definitely the opinion I have of Where The Wild Things Are upon viewing the tv spots and trailers. From the moment I watched the first teaser I was brought back to my childhood. Back the I owned the book written and illustrated by the talented Maurice Sendak. I even had the words and pictures memorized and I begged my grandparents for one of those wolf costumes worn by Max. Unfortunately, I didn’t get one.

A couple years ago, when word hit the net that a live-action film was in the works, I was pretty darn happy about it and I became all the more ecstatic upon learning that Spike Jones, (whom I believe to be a true artist and visionary), was set to direct. And what sealed my positive opinion was the additional footage at this year's Comic-Con. Because within the little that was shown, I was instantly moved by the wonderful imagery and music.

To see what I mean view the featurette below. Beneath that, listen to the fitting soundtrack wonderfully crafted by Karen O.

Listen Here

Review: Zombieland

2009-10-01T22:08:00.000-07:00

When killing zombies, make sure to give them a “double tap”. Not sure what that means? Go check out Zombieland this weekend to find out. I promise that you won’t be disappointed. Similar in comedic vein to that of the funny and gory film “Shaun of the Dead”, Ruben Fleischer gives us his own hip and trendy version of the Zombie genre.

From the moment the opening sequence begins, the viewer is transported into the apocalypse. As expected, the undead outnumber the living. Given this disturbing fact, in order to survive one must not only be on the top of their game, but they must abide by a set of zombie survival guildlines. Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), a virginal college student, has at least 32. Throughout the film, about a dozen are revealed in creative ways. As for the remaining twenty, my guess is they’ll be included on the DVD.

While Columbus is on his way back to Columbus to search for surviving relatives, he meets the wild-eyed and fiery Tallahassee played perfectly by Woody Harrelson. The two are complete opposites of each other. Where one is a loose cannon, offing zombies with hedge clippers and a banjo, the other is a mediator who wants everyone to “just get along.”

Eventually the pair team up with a pair of swindling sisters (Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin). It’s a rocky meeting in the beginning, but it doesn't take long for the foursome to come to terms with each other and realize four fighting against a countless number of zombies is better than one.

This film is entertaining in that the director comes up with original ways to kill the undead. Think the Roadrunner and Wile E. Coyote. ACME has nothing on some of the things used and the way death blows are given. There’s a cameo by a famous and hilarious A-List comedian. Without giving up his name and what happens, I will say I was shocked the director went there. Shocked yet pleased.

The soundtrack is good, as is the camera work and writing. Unfortunately the audio was terrible where I viewed it and I may check it out again this weekend to catch what I missed.

When the credits rolled, there was a round of applause. (Of course I watched the film with about 1,000 zombies at The Grauman. That could be the reason behind the verbal approval) People even stood and did the fist pump. Yeah it’s that fun. My only issue is that there were parts where the film lagged a bit, but this doesn't ruin the overall experience of the movie. One more thing, stay until the end of the credits, there’s a short scene with the A-Lister I mentioned.

Comic Con 2009 - The Box & Nightmare on Elmstreet

2009-07-24T20:48:00.000-07:00

Donnie Darko’s director Richard Kelly is back and with yet another unsettling tale named The Box. In this story, a freakishly scarred Frank Langella pays a married couple (Cameron Diaz and James Marsden) a visit. Gifting her with a wooden box, he informs her that if she presses the button within it, she’ll receive a million dollars. Of course there is a catch. If she does so, someone will die.

Much like Darko this film will prompt much discussion and multiple viewings because it delves into the human psyche. What would anyone do if they were in the same shoes? Would there be ramifications and if so what? Kubrick’s name was bounced back and forth between Diaz and the moderator when classifying the style of this movie of which Kelly was inspired. It’s definitely something that will no doubt stay with the viewer once the credits have rolled.

The Box opens October 30th, 2009

Here to speak about the ~~remake~~ rein-visioning of Nightmare On Elmstreet were producers Andrew Form and Bradley Fuller, director Samuel Bayer, and Jackie Earle Haley.

Shortly after the introduction, shown for the first time was a trailer put together just for us folks at Comic-Con. In the clip we see Freddy Krueger chased down by a mob of angry parents into an old warehouse where he pleads for his life, stating he isn't guilty of what he is being accused of. Moments later a someone in the crowd throws a can of gasoline into the building and of course lights the place on fire. Lit aflame, we see a shot of Freddy escaping the building while ablaze. Then it cuts to different sequences.

Similar to that of the first, we witness a barrage of scenes loaded with disturbing imagry. Remember the sequence where the blond is dragged across the ceiling in the first Elmstreet? There appears to be a scene mirroring that one as well as some creepy shots in the high school.

Although Jackie Haley is no Robert Englund (who we were told does not make a cameo appearance in this) he's a good fit. And anyone who watched him in Little Children as well as Watchmen knows he's got the creepy guy character down.

Make-up artist Andrew Clement designed Freddy's burns to look more realistic, which Haley remarked as being "more disconcerting and alarming" than the original. It did appear more pragmatic and as Haley also said, "I tried to go out in the world wearing the make-up (without the costume)…I think people would have thought it was real.

Nightmare On Elmstreet opens April 30th, 2010.

Comic Con 2009 - Where The Wild Things Are & The Book of Eli

2009-07-24T17:42:00.000-07:00

Warner Bros. started things off with an emotionally charged clip of Where The Wild Things Are. Directed by Spike Jonze this classic written by the gifted author Maurice Sendak is given its due. Introduced by an awe stricken Max Records who was visibly overwhelmed by the massive crowd, much like the source material this film adaptation could be a classic. The trailer I watched prior to the scenes presented left me empty. But the additional clips have made me optimistic once again. If the film has as much heart as the ten minutes of footgage, the movie will not only be a success it will stay true to Maurice Sendak's work.

The Book of Eli

Comprised of the Hughes Brothers, who directed the film, Mila Kunas, Gary Oldman and Denzel Washington The Book of Eli panel was the most entertaining. There was a fun banter between the five artists, which made for not only one of the most interesting Q & A sessions; I’d say it was one of the liveliest. As one would guess, Oldman and Washington are quite charismatic. I can only imagine what it was like for Kunis to be in the midst of all that testosterone.

The discussion began with a motion-comic titled Billy. Written specifically for Oldman’s character, Carnagie it establishes his back-story. Oldman’s character was brought up by abusive parents and after a severe beating from his father; he burns the house down with both his mother and father asleep inside.

It was an impressive piece followed by the trailer now viewable online.

Washington underwent rigorous training for the, film which is evident upon viewing the footage online. It was obvious that he and Oldman enjoyed working together. During the Q & A they kept joking with each other. At one point Denzel confessed to wanting Oldman’s part to which Gary replied, “I don't know how it happened with the villain thing. I mean look at the size of me, I look like a bald chicken."

A fan then asked what the chemistry was like between the two. Denzel’s response. “It was like good sex.”

Below is a clip uploaded by Optimum5x5 to give a better picture of the comedy that transpired.

Post-apocalyptic films are my thing and this piece looks promising. With an impressive cast like this one, if nothing else it will be at least entertaining.

The Book of Eli opens January 15th, 2010.

Comic Con 2009 - Jonah Hex and Sherlock Holmes

2009-07-24T15:42:00.000-07:00

Jonah Hex

Director Jimmy Hayward started things off with never seen before footage of the western comic-book Jonah Hex, and unfortunately compared to the other clips presented prior, it didn’t acquire the warmest reaction. Sure any scene with Megan Fox in it was well received, but in general I don’t think the crowd was all too impressed.
However, they were entertained with the panel. Shortly after the clip was shown, Megan Fox joined the stage along with Josh Brolin and Michael Fassbender.

Fox’s character is as one would gather Josh Brolin’s love interest. A prostitute named Leila, she is Hex’s best customer and apparently she has a few kick-ass scenes. Josh wasn’t familiar with the comic book series before taking the role, but was definitely excited about working on the project.

The film itself isn’t a big production. Because of its low budget director Hayward had to be creative. But even with the lack of funds Hayward managed to reign in big talent like John Malkovich who portrays Quentin Turnbull.
Jonah Hex opens June 18, 2010.

Sherlock Holmes

I was one of the few people not impressed with this movie when the trailer hit. It felt like more of a Guy Ritchie film than it did Arthur Conan Doyle’s creation of the lanky detective. For one, Robert Downey Jr isn’t tall nor lanky and two, last thing I checked Sherlock Holmes wasn’t kicking ass all over London. But after watching the extended trailer that was charismatically introduced by RDJ himself, my mind has been won over.

The film just looks like a bunch of fun and the cast, which consisted of RDJ, Rachel McAdams, Jude Law (who couldn’t be there due to other obligations) and Guy Ritchie (who also could not attend) appeared to have a good time making it.

In Guy’s place sat producers Joel Silver, Susan Downey and writer Lionel Wigram. Wigram a long time fan of Sherlock Holmes had been thinking of a new way to depict Sherlock Holmes for years and was inspired by Doyle’s fascination with the occult, which this movie dives into.

Instead of sending in the usual spec script, Wigram and a colleague constructed a 25 page comic book to pitch. Hopefully the comic book will be included in the DVD extras.
As usual, Robert Downey stole the show and the banter between he and McAdams was priceless. It’s what makes going to Comic-Con worthwhile every year.

Sherlock Holmes opens Christmas Day

Comic Con 2009 - The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

2009-07-23T16:34:00.000-07:00

A beautiful montage of Terry Gilliam's work was presented before he took the stage, which received great fanfare as he is such an underrated genius. At least the comic-book community realizes his worth. Right as he was about to present the first clip, Gilliam was bestowed with Comic-Con's own Ink Pot award for Achievement In Film & Arts, then it was on with the show. He made it known that only the "boring bits" would be shown as to not give away the best parts of the film. Of course the clips shared with the 6,000 fans was anything but. Magical, inspired and of course odd in a good way, Parnassus is definitely another Gilliam masterpiece.

In Imaginarium, Parnassus (Christopher Plummer) has the misfortune of losing a game to the Devil (Tom Waits) resulting in the loss of his daughter on her 16th birthday. That is if he cannot acquire souls in exchange for his only child's life. This is where the Imaginarium comes in. A mysterious magical act of wonderment it is also an alternate reality helmed by his assistants, Tony (Heath Ledger, Colin Farrell, Jude Law and Johnny Depp), Percy (Verne Troyer) and Anton (Andrew Garfield).

Troyer assisted Gilliam with setting up the clips before their debut and said very little during the Q & A session. But he did have much to say when asked about Heath Ledger and said he lucky to have worked with him and although he only knew him for a short time, it felt as if they were old friends. Terry Gilliam went a bit further stating that Ledger was wise beyond his years. He seemed "a hundred years old" was how he put it and that a great talent was lost.

Not much was discussed in regards to the three actors who took on the role of Tony. However, I can tell by the footage the transitions will fit into the story seamlessly and it is of my opinion that Colin Farrell will be the most memorable of the three.

When asked about his next project, Gilliam confirmed that he procured the rights for The Man who Killed Don Quixote and at present looking for financing and of course the cast.

The discussion then came to a close with an exclusive trailer prepared for Comic-Con attendees and I can honestly say I cannot wait to view it.

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus opens October 16th, 2009.

Comic Con 2009 - Avatar Presentation

2009-07-23T15:43:00.000-07:00

Anyone who was in Hall H this afternoon was blown away by James Cameron's presentation of Avatar. Buzz about Cameron's return to sci-fi has been swirling around this film for months and after viewing twenty five minutes of footage from his latest, the buzz has grown all the more stronger. Here's a brief rundown about this marvel without giving too much away. Avatar is about a soldier (Sam Worthington) paralyzed from the waist down. Recruited by Dr. Grace (Sigourney Weaver) to explore the planet Pandora. From my understanding, the planet is only livable by the alien race which inhabit it, named the Na'vi. Because of this vital fact, Dr. Grace and her staff of scientists discovered a way to make avatars infusing human DNA with that of the Na'vi for soldiers like Jake Sully (Worthington) to dwell in with their minds.

The Avatars, like the race they are born from are beautifully crafted creatures. Much work went into their design and specific movements. Zoe Saldana, who portrays the Na'vi princess Neytiri said that this was the most physically demanding role that she had ever done. It also took two years to develop the Na'vi language, which of course Saldana had to learn and thanks to Dr. Paul Frommer it was accomplished. Sigourney Weaver mentioned her appreciation for the great care and detail spent to make Pandora appear alive. Every plant, leaf and tree breathed life which made Weaver more passionate about the work and what Cameron is setting out to achieve, a mind blowing and even altering sci-fi experience.

The motion capture animation is beyond anything that has been done. Where as most films have not been able to nail emotion entirely, this comes very close.

August 21st is when the public will be able to watch 15 minutes of Avatar footage in IMAX 3D for free. This could be a brilliant marketing move or it could possibly backfire. Although I loved what was shown, it is so beyond anyone's imaginings it could very well turn people away. I for one hope it does not.

Cameron was asked whether or not he and the governator will work together again. He didn't exactly say no and side stepped the question by saying he "would let Arnold do the announcing."

Avatar is sure to be an exhilarating journey and opens December 18th, 2009.

Early Pubic Enemies Review

2009-02-16T22:38:00.000-08:00

Last week I was fortunate enough to attend an advanced screening of "Public Enemies" at the Sherman Oaks Arclight. The line for the film was quite long and I’m lucky I got in as there were at least a couple hundred people before me waiting. Expectations were set moderately low. Since the film isn’t do out until summer, I figured a bit of editing still needed to be done, sound mixed and visual effects refined. However, being a Depp fanatic, I was extremely excited about being one of the first to watch what could live on to be a film classic.

I’ll just start off by saying the film is good. Is it great? Not yet. But with a few minor changes it can be. Johnny Depp was excellent as Dillinger and it was refreshing to see him in a non-over-the-top-type role. I was beginning to think that he was good at was portraying larger than life characters. But in "Enemies" Depp was very subtle and yet at the same time forceful when he needed to be. And behind the tough guy Depp played, he emoted this suaveness, which made the brief love affair between he and Billie (Marion Cotillard) believable. I wouldn't be surprised if some compared Depp to Clark Gable because there are definite similarities.

Christian Bale, was good but he wasn't developed enough for me. However, I was told by someone who read the book that his character was pretty drab. Still, I would have liked to have known more about Purvis. (Bale) But back to Bale’s performance. His southern accent was spot on and he was the perfect adversary to Dillinger. Lets face it even if some DP is messing up his scene, Mr. Bale will not do a bad job.

Now onto Cotilliard as Dillinger’s love interest Billie. What can I say? Marion is beautiful and talented. The chemistry between she and Depp is quite apparent, thus making the viewer care about the doomed affair.

In general, the film itself felt and is long. It could stand to lose about twenty minutes as it dragged in some places. Too much time was spent on secondary characters I didn’t really care for, like Baby Face Nelson for example. He was pretty annoying and I felt the time taken on him could have been spent on Bale. But those grievances didn’t spoil the overall experience for me.

Every bank heist was well choreographed and shot, the shoot-outs, classic gangster. This in addition to the costumes, cars and guns made or a great film. Think "Heat" meets the "Untouchables". And even though historians knows how Dillinger meets his end, the final scene was absolutely riveting. I will definitely watch "Public Enemies" again upon its official release because I am curious as to what changes will be made, and of course to watch Mr. Depp on the big screen.

My rating for now. 7/10. It could change once I've viewed the finished product.

Vampires Are All The Rage

2009-02-05T23:21:00.001-08:00

With the success of Twilight and True Blood the CW picked up a pilot based from the novels written by L.S. Smith named the Vampire Diaries. The series centers around a young woman torn between two brothers, both of which are fighting for her soul. All ready this sounds a bit too soap opera-ish to me, but since I love the vampire and werewolf genre, I'll give it a go.

Signed up to executive produce and write for the series are Kevin Williamson (Scream, I Know What You Did Last Summer, Dawson's Creek) and Julie Plec (Kyle XY). Something tells me this is going to be Beverly Hills 90210 meets The Lost Boys. If that's the case, I'm sticking with True Blood.

There are no vampires in this scene, but Lafayette is one of my favorite characters and he brought it!

"Tip your waitress."

Amy Heard Is One Lucky Chick

2009-02-05T22:19:00.000-08:00

Johnny Depp has a co-star for the long awaited Rum Diaries. A role coveted by actresses such as Keira Knightly and Scarlett Johansson has been awarded to Amy Heard The Hollywood Reporter reports. Turns out a few prospects before the star landed this role had trouble with the nudity entailed in this film. Not Heard, who is naked throughout Bret Easton Ellis's adaptation of "The Informers". Which of course begs the question that many hormonal women will ask. Will Johnny Depp be naked? Not bare bum naked, but we're talking full frontal. I figure if a woman can show her naughty bits, so can a man. And if said naughty bits belong to Mr. Depp I say it should be in his contract somewhere that his lovelies be shown. To not do so is simply cruel.

How many years has this Adonis been on the scene and the only glimpse we've received of him is his hind quarters in Private Resort? No. That was back in 85 and he looks much better now then he did then. We as his loyal viewing audience are due for some frontal. He owes it to us.. Yeah! Without his millions of fans Depp wouldn't have earned a ridiculous salary for Pirates of the Caribbean 4

Skip to 1 minute and 40 seconds for a good look of Johnny's bum in the 80's.

Sex & the City 2 is a go!

2009-02-05T14:15:00.000-08:00

It's confirmed. As of yesterday, all four leads (Sarah Jessica-Parker, Kim Cattrall, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis) have signed on to the sequel. Great news! But what about Dante (Gilles Marini)? He was the hottie that bested Smith.

Without him there can be no Sex & the City 2. Actually there can be, but it sure won't be as steamy.

Erm...Side bar

2009-02-05T14:04:00.000-08:00

Source Drunken Stepfather

Who wears short, shorts? Juliette wears short, shorts. Yeah. I'll just leave it at that.

Christian Bale Comedy

2009-02-04T15:10:00.001-08:00

By now you’ve heard the mp3 of Bale losing it when a DP walks in his line of sight during an intense scene, but just in case you haven’t give it a listen. Bale totally loses it and uses the ef word about 36 times in three minutes. Was it out of line? Yes. Was he verbally abusive? Of course he was. But I couldn’t help but chuckle at the outburst. Grown men throwing a tantrum amuses me.

Since the release of the audio, a few internet savvy users have come up with their own versions. Here are but a few. Enjoy.

The final clip is my favorite.

Another Reason Why I love Jon Stewart

2009-02-04T14:18:00.000-08:00

He too felt that The Curious Case of Benjamin Button was a sore fest. Was it terrible? No. But it could have used a bit more editing. It just seemed to drag on and on and on. If there was one more shot of Brad looking grim, (and that’s about all he did) I was going to chuck something at the screen. Give me Forrest Gump any day.

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Intro - Slumdog Millionaire

Daily Show Full Episodes
Funny Political Videos

Important Things With Demetri Martin
More Funny Videos

2008 Oscar Picks

2009-01-30T13:50:00.000-08:00

Oscar nominations were announced on the 22nd and if it wasn’t apparent all ready that Hollywood politics play a key role in which films are selected it sure as heck should be now. Where to begin? Ah yes, the front-runner, Benjamin Button with 13 nominations. 13! Did I watch the same film as everyone else? Now I’m not saying the film is terrible or that it does not deserve to be nominated at all but it was basically a second installment of Forrest Gump. Those of you who have watched Gump and Button and then happened to catch this hilarious video from Funny or Die titled The Curious Case of Forrest Gump would have to agree. I will admit that Benjamin Button is a great looking film but unfortunately for me that is where the accolades for the movie ends. See, for me Button lacked what Forrest Gump has in spades, heart.

Button did have a few tender moments, but not enough for me to care enough for the two leads. Unlike Gump where I wanted desperately for Jenny and Forrest to end up together, I could have cared less about Daisy and Benjamin. There wasn’t much chemistry between the prima ballerina and the man born under unusual circumstances. Interesting enough, there was more fire between Tilda Swinton’s character, a married woman Button has a short affair with, than the love of his life. For me that was a problem.

Then there is the acting. Button is a good of example of character performers stealing the show. Taraji P Henson was fantastic, as was the man who was struck by lightening 7 times (all though I only recall 6 listed) the tugboat operator, and Swinton. Cate Blanchett, an impeccable gifted actress was only adequate here and the same can be said for Brad. I really don’t understand how Mr. Pitt got in over Leonardo DiCaprio, who gave a jarring performance in Revolutionary Road.

I could go on and on, but the argument is moot at this point. Onto my Oscar picks!

….and the nominees are:

BEST PICTURE

* “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.)
* “Frost/Nixon” (Universal)
* “Milk” (Focus Features)
* “The Reader” (The Weinstein Company)
* “Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight)

Missing from this list of nominees is The Dark Knight. A snub so GLARING I had to wear sunglasses the rest of the day after reading about the omission. Way to kill the ratings among the 18 to 35 year old viewers Academy. If show schedulers are smart the Supporting Actor award won’t be presented until about 10:48 EST. And yes I know the Academy doesn’t care about ratings, but the sponsors do. At the rate viewership is dropping for these award shows, they won’t be televised on network television.
..but I digress. Slumdog is my pic for best picture. It was a well directed, well acted and well shot film. It is a flawless film, one that made me feel so inspired as the credits rolled I wanted to dance during the credits. But will it win? The fact that Benjamin Button earned 13 nominations makes me a bit nervous. Will Hollywood politics win out? Guess we'll find come Oscar night.

BEST ACTOR

* Richard Jenkins in “The Visitor” (Overture Films)
* Frank Langella in “Frost/Nixon” (Universal)
* Sean Penn in “Milk” (Focus Features)
* Brad Pitt in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.)
* Mickey Rourke in “The Wrestler” (Fox Searchlight)

I was glad to see Richard Jenkins squeeze in as he was most excellent in “The Visitor” but the heavy weight in this competition that cannot be beat is Mickey Rourke. Not only was Mr. Rourke pushed to emotional limits with his portrayal of a washed up wrestler but physical as well.

BEST ACTRESS

* Anne Hathaway in “Rachel Getting Married” (Sony Pictures Classics)
* Angelina Jolie in “Changeling” (Universal)
* Melissa Leo in “Frozen River” (Sony Pictures Classics)
* Meryl Streep in “Doubt” (Miramax)
* Kate Winslet in “The Reader” (The Weinstein Company)

With six Oscar nominations total, Kate Winslet should finally win. But Meryl Streep could take it as she was gave a jarring performance in "Doubt" As for Angelina Jolie, she was good but not great. Drama is not her forte. Because of her striking features which are borderline cartoonish she is more suited for action flicks. And I'm sorry, her wailing "I want my son, back!" made me cringe. It was over the top. So yeah, Kate or Meryl for the gold.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

* Josh Brolin in “Milk” (Focus Features)
* Robert Downey Jr. in “Tropic Thunder” (DreamWorks, Distributed by DreamWorks/Paramount)
* Philip Seymour Hoffman in “Doubt” (Miramax)
* Heath Ledger in “The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.)
* Michael Shannon in “Revolutionary Road” (DreamWorks, Distributed by Paramount Vantage)

Yay for the Michael Shannon love! Up until this nom I wondered if anyone in the Academy had viewed his or her Revolutionary Road screeners. Although, Shannon's scene was short, within the amount of time given he definitely made an impression. However, Ledger should and will be rewarded for his take on the Joker. He's the only one I feel 100% sure about.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

* Amy Adams in “Doubt” (Miramax)
* Penélope Cruz in “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” (The Weinstein Company)
* Viola Davis in “Doubt” (Miramax)
* Taraji P. Henson in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.)
* Marisa Tomei in “The Wrestler” (Fox Searchlight)

Penelope Cruz won SAG and I think she'll win the Oscar two. Second choice is Taraji Henson.

Last but certainly not the least we have BEST DIRECTOR with the following nominees.

* “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), David Fincher
* “Frost/Nixon” (Universal), Ron Howard
* “Milk” (Focus Features), Gus Van Sant
* “The Reader” (The Weinstein Company), Stephen Daldry
* “Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Danny Boyle

No brainer here. Slumdog Millionaire. It was the perfect movie going experience and Boyle deserves recognition for that. Not once was I bored. I cared for each of the main characters, and that included Jamal’s a-hole of a brother Salim. But what touched me most was the love story between Jamal and Latika. I was so moved by their tale that him winning the million rupees was insignificant to me. The real prize was that he could be reunited with the girl he had loved since he was little boy.

Movie making magic at its finest! So many films nowadays lack passion and are inundated with pretentiousness (See Benjamin Button.) Slumdog Millionaire was a refreshing ride and I do hope it wins the major categories.

Terminator Salvation-Comic-Con 08

2008-07-26T23:48:00.000-07:00

Last but certainly not the least is the Terminator Salvation preview. From the minute I discovered McG was directing this picture, I had my doubts. Then Christian Bale signed on as the lead role and I still had my doubts. I thought Bale was crazy for doing this. Did he not realize that McG was the man who brought the world The OC and Charlie’s Angels? Okay, I liked the Angel’s movies for the most part because it was silly fun. But in no way did I think the man behind those chick flicks could make a decent Terminator movie. Again, I thought to myself “Well, here’s another franchise shot to hell.” But after watching the footage presented at the Con, I’ve changed my mind.

Not only am I convinced McG is the man for the job, but that I underestimated his talent, smarts and vision. As he stood behind the podium his tone and stature pretty much said, “I know what you fans have been spewing out there and I’m here to prove you wrong.” Determined to make this right he consulted with James Cameron, Arnold Swarzenneger and the Late Stan Winston in regards to Terminator history. When a Sarah Connor look-alike stood up to the mic during the question and answer sequence, chastising him for having a Terminator on stage, McG was able to shoot back a response in character, which made perfect sense in the Terminator-verse.

McG is definitely well studied and even spoke of the tweaking that had to be done as far as the time line goes for this film to make sense. (For those who are curious, the annihilation of the world is due to occur in the year 2018.) When asked if Swarzenegger returned for this installment, McG was vague. “The T-800 model is indeed part of the mythology of the Terminator,” was his reply. He also informed a fan that the studio’s release false information on purpose when he inquired about McG’s thoughts about leaks on the internet.

The clip was received well and I think the actor Sam Worthington said it best when he voiced it’s “not for pansies.” It’s gritty, brutal, dark, violent. Apocalyptic. It has a Mad Max feel to it and from what I can tell the CGI is understated which is good.

The majority of the main cast was there to answer questions, save for Bale who was in Japan promoting The Dark Knight. However, McG called Christian on his cell and prompted the crowd to scream with enthusiasm before the preview.

McG made it known he didn’t want his film to look “lily white”. To create a racial and gender balance the movie is comprised of the followiong: Sam Worthington a, rugged Australian who looked the part of a Terminator. The beautiful multi-ethnic Moon Bloodgood is part of the resistance as is Common, John’s close friend and confidant. Bryce Dallas Howard is Mrs. Connor and Kyle Reese is played by Anton Yelchin.

Every Q & A has interesting characters at the mic. Not only did this panel have a Sarah Connor but a T-1000 held up a photograph of John Connor (Edward Furlong) and asked the folks on stage where he could find him. But THE best had to be the Asian guy (he was deemed as such by McG) who spoke in an Austrian accent. He was so entertaining; the director asked the fan to join them on stage behind the podium.

Moments like that is why I go to Comic-Con every year. Not only do I feel at home with my peeps, I leave with great memories. Next year is Comic-Con’s 40th anniversary and it will be as huge if not larger than this one. Of course “ I’ll be back.”

LOST - Comic-Con 08

2008-07-26T20:40:00.000-07:00

I missed twenty minutes of the Lost presentation so unfortunately I can’t write too much about it. But I can say it was a lot of fun. Co-creator/executive producer Damon Lindelof and executive producer Carlton Cuse handed exclusive Lost merchandise to the fans who asked questions. Matthew Fox was the surprised guest looking hot as ever. A hilarious moment occurred when a Hurley look a like took the mic. I don’t even remember what he asked but he was given a food prize of some sort.

Not much was revealed really. The 5th season will begin in Feb 09 with no interruptions. That’s right 17 hours of Lost week after week with no breaks in between. The final season will run the same as well. Vincent will return. We’ll also see Danielle Rousseau’s back-story.

An over zealous fan stormed the stage claiming he had top secret information to show the public about the DHARMA Initiative. Click the vid for the footage.

Online Videos by Veoh.com

The Black Panel - Comic-Con 08

2008-07-26T19:31:00.000-07:00

The day began with me not attempting to get into the Heroes panel and going to one of what I considered to be of more importance, The Black Panel. Hosted by Michael Davis (The Unerground, Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Black People, But were Afraid To Ask). There to represent was Method Man (The Wu Tang Clan), Reggie Hudlin (President of B.E.T.) Denys Cowan (B.E.T. Animation) Rusty Cundieff (The Chapelle’s Show), John Dokes (Marvel Comics), Dwayne McDuffie (Milestone Media) and Faith Cheltenham (Tor.com)

Quite an established assortment of folks and this time around the room it was held in was pretty full. And not just with Black people. In front me sat a nice young man (yeah I sound like a grandmother here) who lacked melanin. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say he lived in Orange County. He loved my Cocoa Leia shirt and asked for my business card so he could see what else was available at my site. He represents the new comic book buyer, the one who is thirsty for something more than the typical White superhero. He even suggested I design a character from HALO with his helmet off saying the person beneath the suit would be a Rasta with dreads. I’m definitely giving this some serious thought because I’ve wanted to create shirts that guys will wear.

Now, back to the panel. It was inspiring and interesting. After a lively iMovie intro to the tune of Kanye West’s Stronger it was down to business. The floor was open to questions and there seemed to be some small controversy centering around an animated video that premiered on BET called Read A Book. Some loved it, some hated it. I found it on Youtube and except for the deodorant part that kinda lost me I thought it was funny and pretty poignant. Click the vid below.

Many questions were asked, and one garnered a moment of silence. A Disney fan asked the panel what they thought about The Frog Princess to which the response was pretty much We hope its good. I personally think the film might be a steaming pile given what I know about the changes made due to some outrage. BUT I’ll buy a shirt because damn it, it’s about damn time there’s an Afrocentric Disney princess that looks like me.

The Q & A section ran a little long, and I ended up leaving a little early so I could get in line for the Terminator Salvation presentation in Hall H. That’s the problem with Comic-Con. Many things are booked around the same time, and due to the large crowds, (150k in attendance) one has to stand in line for the popular panels or risk being shut out.
The main topic of discussion was the Black Panther comic book hero and the cartoon endeavor with Marvel. The animated series is due to premiere on B.E.T next year, and all though I don’t like the programming on that network, I will watch it for that. If the ratings soar, more ethnic comic book characters will receive their due therefore penetrating the market.

The Spirit - Comic-Con 08

2008-07-25T18:20:00.000-07:00

Next up was The Spirit, which was helmed of course by the awesome Frank Miller and producer Deborah Del Prete. Now, of course I am familiar with Frank Miller’s work but I knew nothing about Ms. Del Prete before hearing her speak and I should have studied. Not only is she a life long comic-book fan she has produced many films and in a male dominated industry, that’s pretty darn impressive. What impressed me most about Del Prete is the fire that stormed from within when she spoke of Will Eisner’s vision. Like Mr., Miller, she wanted to make something the late Eisner would be proud.

Samuel Jackson is introduced and of course the fans receive him well. He definitely enjoyed being a part of this film and spoke highly of Frank Miller as a director. Samuel is beyond charismatic and he seems like a cool cat to shoot the shiz with. At one point, he was asked out of all the movies he was in which there was an action figure made, what was his favorite. His answer Mace Windu. He also went on to say he had many figures of himself in his office. Some staring at each other, one peeking around a book. Pretty funny stuff. Then the trailer was shown and I gotta say, all though I am excited about this film and it being Frank Miller’s directorial debut, I don’t know what to make of it. It seems all over the place. Will it be visually stunning? Yes. But will the film be too over the top for fans? We’ll have to wait and see.

Eve Mendes couldn’t be a part of the panel because she is in the middle of filming The Bad Lieutenant and couldn’t get away. However, Jamie King was present and her mysterious character will be seen throughout The Spirit. Another clip was aired and it was of Eva Mendes under water. Now, this particular scene was given quite a build up. Both Frank and Deborah spoke of how precise they wanted this sequence to be, down to the movement of the hair and perfect make-up. Again, I wasn’t too impressed.

Gabriel Macht joins the stage and he is The Spirit. He’s a good-looking man with a great smile that reminds me of Ioan Gruffudd. One last clip is presented and it involves Samuel’s character (The Octopus) and Gabriel’s (Spirit) in hand to hand combat. It was very ACME. I don’t recall The Spirit being this campy, but I might be wrong.

The Wolf Man - Comic-Con 08

2008-07-25T18:16:00.000-07:00

As I had pointed out earlier, the Watchmen trailer was overbooked. To make sure I didn’t miss Lionsgate’s 2:45pm presentation of The Spirit me and a friend got into the line from hell at 12:20pm. Okay, at that point it wasn’t the line from hell but it did grow to that point shortly there after. At 1:30 we entered Hall H, watched a few trailers (Qunatum of Solace & The Watchmen being the best of the bunch. All though there was this teaser with Kiefer Sutherland, a horror flick about mirrors that looked interesting) and waited for The Spirit panel to arrive, completely forgetting that Universal’s talk about The Wolf Man was right before it.

Oscar award winning special effects artist Rick Baker moderated since he is the genius behind the Wolf Man’s make up. During the presentation he paid homage to the late and great Stan Winston who passed earlier this year. Emily Blunt who plays Benicio’s love interest in Universal’s resurrection of the creature classic spoke about her part in the film, as did Benicio himself. As usual Beni looked as if he threw back a few gin and tonics, plus his hair was a bit out of place, which made me wonder if the man had just woke up. This didn’t stop me from thinking the man was sexy, however.

The clip shown gave me hope. After the Van Helsing mess I wasn’t sure what to think about The Wolf Man, but after viewing the footage my faith has been restored. Not to mention Anthony Hopkins and Hugo Weaving’s presence in the movie is a good sell. A question about the rating was posed and I think it should be rated R. I mean, a guy gets gutted. But since there is no gratuitous sex, It will probably land a PG – 13 rating.

I would like to note that Mr. Baker has been offered the directing spot for many a picture but has turned the title down. His reasoning? He believes it is difficult for a director’s vision to remain in tact and unspoilt due to the many outside influences. I totally agree with him. Lately, I’ve watched a few films and can tell at what point a studio executive stuck his fat nose into the mix throwing the entire thing off.

But who knows, Rick could be fortunate enough one day to work with a studio that wouldn’t hamper him. Maybe then he will sit in the drivers seat.

Comic Con 2008 July 25, 2008

2008-07-25T11:57:00.000-07:00

I arrived at the San Diego Convention Center at 10am in the hopes of catching Warner Bros presentation of The Watchmen at 11:55am. The line was all ready 1000k deep! So, I didn't get in. Right now I'm taking a break and will head back to the same line to see Lionsgate's presentation of The Spirit at 2:45. First I need a Frap or something. There's a Starbuck's to the right of me but the line is ridiculous. Maybe I can pay somebody 10 bucks to get me a Mocha. Le sigh.

As you can imagine it's quite crowded here. The 4 day passes sold out a month ago and it is pretty much wall to wall people. The costumes some of the comic-book fans are quite elaborate. Lots of Batmans and Jokers. I'll hit the exhibit halls later and take photos of the collectables.

Yesterday I missed out on Gerard Butler who was promoting the next Guy Ritchie film Rock N Rolla. I've seen the trailer for it and this could be the film to propel his career. Guy Ritchie (formerly known as Mr. Madonna) directed the awesome films Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels & Snatch. I'll ignore Swept Away which was horrendous. Maybe his career will get back on track now that he's no longer with the Material Girl..

Hugh Jackman was also at the Con Thursday promoting the Wolverine Origins flick, which looks pretty promising. I'm not sure if Samuel Jackson will be here today, but he could make a surprise appearance. Here's to hoping!!

That's it for now! More later.

The Dark Knight

2008-07-16T21:16:00.000-07:00

I’ve been a comic book fangirl since junior high and my favorite superhero has and always will be Batman. Unlike the near indestructible Superman, a pretty boy donned in blue and red spandex, the caped crusader is an icon one can identify with and admire because he is a self-made hero. He has no superpowers. His strength is derived entirely from within. He is a vigilante, a carrier of justice amidst a time of great corruption. He is the Dark Knight.

Marvel started things off right with Iron Man. Now enters DC and Christopher Nolan at the helm once again with the continuance of the Batman saga. The film starts shortly after Batman Begins ends. Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) now lives in a penthouse. Alfred (Michael Caine) is still a surrogate father to his employer. Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman) continues to create top of the line vehicles and armory for the CFO of Wayne Industries, and Lt. Gordon (Gary Oldman) is still fighting the good fight. But there is a new guy in town. District Attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart). Similar to Batman he is passionate about ridding Gotham of crime.

With Dent around cleaning up the city, Bruce begins to wonder if Batman is still necessary. Then the Joker makes his presence known. A sadistic villain with no rules, he has one goal and one goal alone and that is to get rid of The Batman. If insurmountable carnage happens, so be it.

Of course by now, unless you’ve been living under a rock you’ve heard or read about Heath Ledgers unsettling yet extraordinary performance and it just that. His portrayal of the Joker is unlike no other. Ledger’s cadence, his walk, his pitch, his mannerisms and the way he sucks his cheek when he speaks. All of these little tick’s come together perfectly and create one of the most terrifying villains of all time. Ledger deserves the praise and he certainly deserves the attention. Not once did I think of Jack Nicholson. Further more, I Ledger’s death didn’t detract me from this masterpiece. I was lost in the film, I was lost in his performance, and I was lost in Gotham.

Christian Bale proves yet again that not only is he the perfect Bruce Wayne, he is also the perfect Batman and because of the great chemistry between Bale and Ledger, every scene between them is rewarding to watch. Aaron Eckhart was perfectly cast as Harvey Dent. And can I just say I love Gary Oldman? He is able to put across the Commissioner’s vulnerability with nothing more than a look. Another legend I admire is Morgan Freeman. He can do no wrong at this point. As for Maggie Gyllenhaal it was nice to see her in a sane role for once and I think she was a nice replacement for Mrs. Cruise.

The action sequences in this movie for the lack of a better word are INSANE. If the audience isn’t clapping or professing their shock audibly during the semi-truck scene then I say you are surrounded by a bunch of slugs, It’s a day later and I’m still in awe over that one. If you’re looking for Bat-gadgets, there aren’t too many in this installment but I’m sure many are privy of the Bat-cycle and all I can say about it is… Hell.Yeah.

Oh! I can’t forget the soundtrack. The film itself is packaged well by Hans Zimmer’s powerful score, which surpasses Danny Elfman’s. I downloaded it from Itunes and I will make a disc for my car.

I expect The Dark Knight to break the Spiderman 3 record and thank goodness for that. The final showdown between Batman and the Joker beats the tights off of Spiderman and tar dude.. Okay , okay Venom. At any rate it was during the final scene I did feel some sadness. In it the Joker utters to Batman while flailing about upside down, “This is what happens when an unstoppable force slams into an immovable object. You and I could do this for ever.”

If only I could hop into a time machine and make it so.

Tuesday's Trailer: Frank Miller is back!

2008-04-21T19:55:00.000-07:00

This looks all sorts of badass! The Spirit is based on the newspaper strip created by Will Eisner. Frank Miller of Sin City and 300 fame wrote and directed. I must say this trailer is clean and whoever picked the theme music from "The Untouchables" as it's backdrop deserves a nice pat on the back. The Spirit opens January 15th, 2009.

So Take A Look At Me Now...

2008-04-17T19:45:00.000-07:00

How can I just let you walk away, just let you leave without a trace
When I stand here taking every breath with you, ooh
You're the only one who really knew me at all

How can you just walk away from me,
when all I can do is watch you leave
Cos we've shared the laughter and the pain and even shared the tears
You're the only one who really knew me at all

So take a look at me now, oh there's just an empty space
And there's nothing left here to remind me,
just the memory of your face
Ooh take a look at me now, well there's just an empty space
And you coming back to me is against the odds and that's what I've got to face

Who knew Jude Law would go the way of Phil Collins? Oh well, he's still a cutie even with the hair loss. Here he is out and about with an armful of crap. Which begs the question, where on earth is his manbag? Supposedly Mr. Law has sought out specialists to help fix his problem. I say just let it go. He's a good looking man and I doubt he has a head shape like Nicolas Cage or Scottie Pippen for that matter.

Summer Movie Preview III

2008-04-13T20:34:00.000-07:00

HULK SMASH! Yup, the humongous green guy is back June 13th. Many will be pleased to know that Ang Lee had nothing to do with this installment. Louis Leterrier (Transporter, Transporter 2) helms this one with Ed Norton who not only is Bruce Banner, but he wrote the screenplay as well. Impressed yet? I am. Ed Norton was at last year’s Comic Con, and even with little sleep due to the rigorous shooting schedule he was coherent enough to make a good sell down in San Diego. A comic-book fan, he knows his Hulk.

I love Steve Carell. The man is brilliant. And up until Evan Almighty I believed he could do no wrong. Sure it wasn’t his fault the sequel failed to make its money back at the box office. The blame is placed on the studio. A comedy with a budget of 175 million? I’d like to know what the powers that be were smoking when that budget was approved. As of today the film has yet to reach 125 million. But all of that aside, Steve Carell is still funny and he was on point as usual this past Thursday with the return of The Office. Now he is back on the big screen in the film adaptation of the classic television show Get Smart. Dwayne Johnson looks scrumptious and Anne Hathaway is hot. This looks like another fun film. Hopefully Don Adams would have approved.

Pixar will continue to amaze and astound with its latest animated flick WALL *E , which premieres June 27th. I am totally jazzed about this film. Disney showed a clip at last years Comic-Con and impressed the inhabitants inside the large exhibit hall. Ben Burtt sound engineer of Star Wars fame demonstrated the various sounds created to bring realism to WALL *E and the other robots. So, I wouldn’t be surprised if this film wins an Acadamy Award for best sound mixing and editing. Each Pixar movie preceding this soon to be classic has been great and worth multiple viewings, and from what I’ve seen, this beautiful looking film will have the same effect.

Angelina Jolie is back in black and kicking ass in WANTED, a loosely based comic book adaptation created by Mark Millar. Now, I say loosely based because the major elements of the story have been tossed aside. The main characters are no longer supervillains but have been downgraded to assassins. This irks me to no end. Finally the public would have had a chance to see a different take on the superhero genre. What if supervillains took over the world? What if there were no Superman or Batman to save us from their tyrannical reign? Well, looks like we’re not going to see that version, because instead the studio decided to give us Matrix all over again with a splash of Equilibrium.

I would love to boycott this film. But unfortunately James McAvoy and Common are in it… Oh and Morgan Freeman too. Which of course begs the question. What is Morgan doing in this film? Isn’t he getting a bit up there in age for this sort of thing? Was Lawrence Fishbourne busy? Oh wait.. he was in that movie about a Christ like character who had to choose between a Pepto pill and Viagra. Like I said the similarities to the Matrix is kinda obvious.

WANTED opens June 27th.

Summer Movie Preview Part II

2008-04-13T19:18:00.000-07:00

Rounding out May is one of the most anticipated films of the year…Well at least among women. Sex And The City. It hits theaters May 30th. I was a wee bit too young to totally understand where Miranda, Carrie, Charlotte and Samantha were coming from when the show first aired on HBO, but around the fourth season. I got it. I think among every group of female friends you can spot a Charlotte or a Miranda and I’m pretty sure most have had this discussion. “Which one am I?” cough Anywho, the girls are back and more fabulous than ever. I have a feeling the film will do quite well.

On June 6th Dreamworks brings us the first animated film this summer, Kung Fu Panda. This flick might be a disappointment, but I don’t care. How can I miss out on a Kung Fu fighting panda voiced by Jack Black? There is bound to be belly laughing fun to be had by all.

Kung Fu Panda Teaser Trailer (Release Date: June 6, 2008)

I’m not quite sure what to make of this next film; a comedy starring Adam Sandler titled Don’t Mess With Zohan. It’s about an Israeli soldier who travels to America to become a hair-stylist. Erm..yeah. One of the scriptwriters is none other than Judd Apatow from Knocked Up. I gotta say, films of this ilk is wearing thin on me. But I suppose these movies will always find their target audience.. Regretfully.

I won’t be spending any money on this one.

M. Night Shyamalan returns with The Happening June 13th. I have been a fan of Mr. Shyamalan since The Sixth Sense. I hung in there for Unbreakable, which I loved while others were just meh about it. The Village was disappointing because by then everyone expected a surprise ending. Next came the badly marketed Lady In The Water, which I didn’t think was as horrible as everyone said it was. I truly feel that M. Night is my generations Steven Spielberg and after viewing The Happening trailer a few weeks ago, my waning faith has been restored.

Summer Movie Preview Part I

2008-04-13T19:12:00.000-07:00

Summer Movies 2008 Part I

Well folks Summer is just around the corner. That simply stated, I decided to put together a list of the films I'm looking forward to, those I'm just "meh" about and the few I feel should have either never been made or go directly to DVD.

Iron Man kicks things off May 2nd and I've been looking forward to seeing Robert Downey Jr's performance as the superhero since I viewed the trailer at last years Comic Con. He looks great, sounds great, and is great. I've always been a Downey fan. Jon Favreau (Elf, Zathura) of Swinger's fame, (it doesn't matter how many films he's done since the 1996 release he will always be known for that hipster movie classic) impressed me during the Q & A session at the Con and because of his passion for the screen adaptation of Iron Man, I have hopes for this move.

Next we have Speed Racer from the Wachowski's, which opens May 9th. From the footage I've seen via the net, the only thing I'm impressed with is the racing sequences and this dude:

Southern Korean pop singer Taejo Togokhan. He just looks so cool in the trailers and I dig his hair. Plus it doesn't hurt that he's good to look at too and I'm all for seeing new faces on the big screen.

The Chronicles Of Narnia tale from C.S. Lewis continues with Prince Caspian on May 16th and I believe it will be better than The Lion Witch & The Wardrobe. The effects will be cleaner; the kids are more familiar with their characters and director Andrew Adamson is dead set on improving upon what he created the first time around.

The White Witch is back and Aslan has returned. I'm definitely watching this opening day.

I remember watching Raiders Of The Lost Ark as a kid and thinking, man; I never knew archeology could be so cool and so dangerous. Exotic locations, Nazis, snakes, a large bolder, and Nazis, the Ark of the Covenant I'm in! Plus it didn't hurt that the dashing lead was Harrison Ford. Now he's back and he looks great. Not only has he returned so did Karen Allen! If it doesn't make 75 mill opening weekend I will be really surprised.

Movie Review: Pan's Labryinth

2007-01-05T10:56:00.000-08:00

Laberinto del Fauno, El (Pan’s Labyrinth)
Rated: R

Unlike the happy- happy-joy-joy stories produced by Disney, Pan’s Labyrinth is a dark modern day fairy tale for adults. Rich with metaphors and vibrant imagery, Guillermo Del Toro’s (Hellboy, Blade II) latest film is lyrical escape from reality to the realm of the unknown.

The tale begins with a young girl, a bookworm by the name of Ofelia (played marvelously by actress Ivana Baquero) travels to a post Civil War outpost with her ill and pregnant mother Carmen. (Ariadna Gil) The settlement is where we are introduced to the evil and brutal Stepfather, Captain Vidal (Sergi Lopez) who is spear heading an army to fight and annihilate guerilla resistance.

While exploring her new surroundings, Ofelia stumbles upon a labyrinth where she meets the Greek god Pan, (striking in an intricate mask) who informs her that she is a princess who left the underground kingdom many years ago for life above, perishing in the process and her father the King still grieves and awaits her return.

Does any of this wet your appetite?

This movie is truly a work of art, and where many Hollywood films of today lack imagination and heart, this film makes up for and delivers with a broad-brush stroke. Never have I seen a film transition from reality to fantasy so smoothly. Of course, this is due to Guillermo’s great writing and near flawless directing. Filmed with orange overtones the overall look and feel of this film is amazing and the visual effects will astonish audiences. Additionally, Pan’s would not be the masterpiece it is without its strong cast. Sergi Lopez (Captain Vidal) is an excellent villain and Ivana the perfect heroine. Rounding out the ensemble is Mercedes (Maribel Verdu) who gives a courageous performance in one of the final scenes from the film and Dr. Ferreiro (Alex Angulo) the compassionate doctor.

With this film, not only does this further establish Guillermo Del Toro’s directing prowess, but his skills as a writer with a vivid imagination. If one is looking for an escape no need to look further than “Pan’s Labryinth” a film in which I give an A.

The Trailer for Pan's Labyrinth can be viewed here.