Same old story

Another year and another collection of utter fails by our favorite local news stations. Enjoy, but be careful as some clips aren't exactly safe for work.

It's the end of the year as we know it

I'm sure there will be a bunch of these coming out over the next couple of weeks, but this is the first I saw and was very impressed with it. Here's a mashup of the greatest moments from the 2012 movie trailers. What's even more impressive is that the creator of the video actually has a purpose behind the organization of his clips. If you visit the actual YouTube page, you can see how he broke the video into three distinct sections, each with its own theme.

2012 Fall Movie Preview (October)

BUTTER (October 5)
Plot: A tale of competition at its most cut-throat, "Butter" surveys the raw ambition of Laura Pickler (Jennifer Garner), the wife of Bob Pickler (Ty Burrell), Iowa's long-reigning champion butter carver. For 15 years, Laura has relished her high-profile role as the beautiful, loyal helpmate to her affable, artistically gifted husband. But when Bob is pressured to retire and allow someone else a chance at glory, an indignant Laura decides to enter the competition herself. She is first in line on sign-up day, only to see her odds of victory fall below 100% with the arrival of an unlikely yet formidable contender: 10-year-old Destiny (Yara Shahidi), the African-American foster child of local couple Julie and Ethan (Alicia Silverstone and Rob Corddry). And that's not all. Bob's would-be mistress, bad-girl stripper Brooke (Olivia Wilde) also declares her candidacy, as does his #1 fan, Carol-Ann (Kristen Schaal). Facing three opponents, mocked by her stepdaughter Kaitlen (Ashley Greene) and furious with her husband, Laura resolves to do whatever it takes to win. And if that means resorting to sabotage - and recruiting her dim-witted former boyfriend Boyd (Hugh Jackman) as a co-conspirator - then so be it.

Quick thoughts: This film better turn out to be good after I've been talking it up for nearly a year. I like the cast and it is certainly one of the quirkier ideas for a film to come out recently. This will likely live and die by its political satire. In an election year, this is either going to be lovingly embraced or quickly rejected - like butter so often is in most people's diets.


TAKEN 2 (October 5)
Plot: Liam Neeson returns as Bryan Mills, the retired CIA agent with a particular set of skills who stopped at nothing to save his daughter Kim from Albanian kidnappers. When the father of one of the kidnappers swears revenge and takes Bryan and his wife hostage during their family vacation in Istanbul, Bryan enlists Kim to help them escape, and uses the same advanced level of special forces tactics to get his family to safety and systematically take out the kidnappers one by one.

Quick thoughts: Though the first film had its flaws, there is no denying the sheer joy of seeing Liam Neeson unleash a violent assault on anyone who dares cross him. In this second outing, I can hope they will build upon the story created in the first and make an even better film. But even if they ends up being nothing more than another couple of hours of Neeson kicking ass, I'm thinking most people will be just find with that.


ARGO (October 12)
Plot: Based on true events, "Argo" chronicles the life-or-death covert operation to rescue six Americans, which unfolded behind the scenes of the Iran hostage crisis--the truth of which was unknown by the public for decades. On November 4, 1979, as the Iranian revolution reaches its boiling point, militants storm the U.S. embassy in Tehran, taking 52 Americans hostage. But, in the midst of the chaos, six Americans manage to slip away and find refuge in the home of the Canadian ambassador. Knowing it is only a matter of time before the six are found out and likely killed, a CIA "exfiltration" specialist named Tony Mendez (Affleck) comes up with a risky plan to get them safely out of the country. A plan so incredible, it could only happen in the movies.

Quick thoughts: Argo is very high on my list of most anticipated films this fall. Affleck has shown a real talent behind the camera in his previous efforts, so I'm expecting more of the same here. It doesn't hurt the film's story, which is based on true events, is something I find very compelling. Hollywood and politics don't always make the best pair, but I think it will work out real well here.


PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4 (October 19)
Plot: The continuing exploits of suburban houses being haunted by a disturbing ghostly presence.

Quick thoughts: Who would have thought I would ever be this excited for the fourth film in a horror franchise and yet here we are. The cleverness of the third film coupled with the new details in the series' mythology have whetted my appetite to see what they have in store for us next. Anyone who has been a fan of this franchise will no doubt be eager for even more answers the film's central wiccan family.


OTHER POSSIBLE FILMS OF INTEREST
Here Comes the Boom (October 12)
Seven Psychopaths (October 12)
Killing Them Softly (October 19)
Cloud Atlas (October 26)

2012 Fall Movie Preview (September)

This week I'll be looking at the top films I'm looking forward to over the next four months as well as identifying some other big releases set to come out soon.

HOTEL TRANSLYVANIA (September 28)
Plot: Welcome to the Hotel Transylvania, Dracula's lavish five-stake resort, where monsters and their families can live it up, free from meddling from the human world. But here's a little known fact about Dracula: he is not only the Prince of Darkness; he is also a dad. Over-protective of his teenage daughter, Mavis, Dracula fabricates tales of elaborate dangers to dissuade her adventurous spirit. As a haven for Mavis, he opens the Hotel Transylvania, where his daughter and some of the world's most famous monsters - Frankenstein and his bride, the Mummy, the Invisible Man, a family of werewolves, and more - can kick back in safety and peace. For Drac, catering to all of these legendary monsters is no problem, but his world could come crashing down when one ordinary guy stumbles on the hotel and takes a shine to Mavis.

Quick thoughts: After a rough stretch of bad movies, Adam Sandler hopes to turn things around in the friendly environment of computer animation. Though the basic story isn't novel (over-protective dad can't let go of his little girl), the setting lends itself to a number of wild and colorful characters. Opening a month before Halloween, this will no doubt be a big hit with kids.


LOOPER (September 28)
Plot: In the futuristic action thriller "Looper," time travel will be invented, but it will be illegal and only available on the black market. When the mob wants to get rid of someone, they will send their target 30 years into the past, where a 'looper' - a hired gun, like Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) - is waiting to mop up. Joe is getting rich and life is good, until the day the mob decides to 'close the loop,' sending back Joe's future self (Bruce Willis) for assassination. The film is written and directed by Rian Johnson and also stars Emily Blunt, Paul Dano, and Jeff Daniels.

Quick thoughts: I took an interest in this film fairly early on and with each preview I've seen or read, it has continued to build. I always appreciate films that come up with novel or unique plots. And you gotta love this cast. Joseph Gordon-Levitt has already had quite a year and this one might just end up being his best one yet.


THE MASTER (September 14)
Plot: Set in America in the years following World War II, a charismatic intellectual (Philip Seymour Hoffman) launches a faith-based organization and taps a young drifter (Joaquin Phoenix) as his right-hand man. But as the faith begins to gain a fervent following, the onetime vagabond finds himself questioning the belief system he has embraced, and his mentor.

Quick thoughts: This one has really been generating some Oscar buzz, particularly after its first trailer was released. Though still a lot is unclear about this movie, it appears that it will be in some way based on life of Scientology founder, L. Ron Hubbard. That will no doubt create some controversy. Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, who also directed There Will Be Blood, this will be if nothing else, captivating.


TROUBLE WITH THE CURVE (September 21)
Plot: Gus Lobel (Clint Eastwood) has been one of the best scouts in baseball for decades, but, despite his efforts to hide it, age is starting to catch up with him. Nevertheless, Gus, who can tell a pitch just by the crack of the bat, refuses to be benched for what may be the final innings of his career. He may not have a choice. The front office of the Atlanta Braves is starting to question his judgment, especially with the country's hottest batting phenom on deck for the draft. The one person who might be able to help is also the one person Gus would never ask: his daughter, Mickey (Amy Adams), an associate at a high-powered Atlanta law firm whose drive and ambition has put her on the fast track to becoming partner. Against her better judgment, and over Gus's objections, Mickey joins him on his latest scouting trip to North Carolina, jeopardizing her own career to save his. Forced to spend time together for the first time in years, each makes new discoveries, revealing long-held truths about their past and present that could change their future.

Quick thoughts I can't help the fact that I'm a sucker for baseball movies, so I immediately wanted to check this one out. The fact that it features Clint Eastwood in front of the camera for the first time in four years just sweetens the deal. Now that the Cleveland Indians have given up their season, this may be the only good baseball I have to look forward to for the rest of the year. Last year's baseball movie, Moneyball, topped my 'best of' list. I'd have no problem if this accomplished the same feat this year.


OTHER POSSIBLE FILMS OF INTEREST
The Words (September 7)
Finding Nemo 3D (September 14)
End of Watch (September 21)
Won't Back Down (September 28)

Garfield and friends

Check out the latest trailer for The Amazing Spider-Man starring Andrew Garfield as our friendly neighborhood Spiderman.

One last Party

While Nintendo has all but given up releasing titles for the Wii as they gear up to launch Wii U, there is one final title we have to look forward to - Mario Party 9, the first one specifically made for the Wii (Mario Party 8 was originally created for the Gamecube and then converted for the Wii). Mario Party 9 has a U.S. release date of March 11th. In the meantime, you can check out what's in store for this latest addition (there appears to be some intriguing changes) in this new trailer that just hit the web.