Friday, July 18, 2008
AMG is ABD
I typically don't put a lot of personal stuff on here, but this is too good of news not to share. For those of you who haven't heard yet, Wednesday I had my oral exams and passed unconditionally. I am now considered 'ABD', which means 'all but dissertation'. It is now such a huge relief to have passed that hurdle. It hasn't always been easy, but I made it. Now all that's left is that pesky little dissertation. But I'm sure I'll be able to knock that out in a couple of hours. But for right now, what this all means is that I am done with taking college courses. After being in a classroom for so long, it'll be weird not taking any classes this fall. Somehow though, I think I'll get over it pretty quickly.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Bond Countdown: Thunderball (1965)
Plot: The thrills never stop as Agent 007 (Sean Connery) goes above the call of duty - and to the bottom of the ocean - to track down a villainous criminal who's holding millions hostage and threatening to plunge the world into a nuclear holocaust!
Firsts: Opening scene revealed in gun barrell
Gadgets: Jet pack, underwater camera, geiger counter watch, minature breathing apparatus, homing device pill
Girls Bond slept with: Patricia Fearing, Fiona Volpe, Domino Derval
Elaborate murder attempt that Bond escapes (tie): Trapped in an enclosed swimming pool with sharks, trapped on a stretching machine set on full speed
Personal review: After the success of Goldfinger, the franchise's excesses begin to show in this installment. This one attempt to do everything that the previous films did, but on a larger scale. Sometimes this works, and other times it comes off looking ridiculous. What gets lost amongst all the gadgets and action is a decent story. The film tries to cover up it's simple 'steal a nuke and hold the world ransom' plot with a bunch of glitz and glamour. And while the eyepatch gives the film's primary villain, Largo, a cool factor, he'll go down as one of the dumbest Bond villains for failing to kill Bond despite numerous easy opportunities to do so. Domino, the main Bond girl in this one has been the most boring up to this point and had no chemistry with Connery. I was also disappointed to see Terrance Young back as director of this film (He directed the first two). The way he edits and paces his films do not compare with Guy Hamilton's direction in Goldfinger. A lot of the individual fights scenes look pretty bad as a result. However, the film is saved from all of it's ridiculousness with a badass underwater brawl between Largo's thugs and British secret agents. The scene is doubly impressive considering that you didn't see a lot of stuff like that in films back then. This one has its moments, but definitely lacks the quality and/or novelty that the previous films in the series had. 7/10
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Good-bye Gil Grissom
Shocking news on EW.com this morning regarding the 10th episode of the upcoming season of CSI being William Petersen's last episode as a series regular...
All together now, CSI fans: Breathe. Executive producer Carol Mendelsohn assures me that her team was anything but blindsided by the upcoming departure of William Petersen. "We do have a plan," she says. And that plan includes not only Grissom's sure-to-be-stellar swan song, but also the arrival of some new blood (one with funky DNA), the return of some old blood (welcome back, Jorja Fox!) and an episode that's been nearly nine years in the making. Here, Mendelsohn and fellow EP Naren Shankar offer an exclusive preview of what will go down when this sure-to-be-controversial season starts up.
* Jorja Fox will be back for "multiple" episodes, beginning with September's season premiere -- an hour that will also feature an appearance by Gary Dourdan's Warrick, who was seemingly shot to death in last May's finale. "We're not saying whether or not Warrick lives or dies," hedges Mendelsohn, "but we will say that the premiere may be the last time our loyal fans see the entire original CSI cast together."
* Previously-announced addition Lauren Lee Smith (The L Word) joins the cast in the third episode as new CSI Riley Adams. "She will come in to ostensibly replace Sara Sidle," says Mendelsohn. "She has a very distinct personality... a very wry sense of humor. She doesn't take herself too seriously." Adds Shankar: "This is a person who, unlike the rest of our gang, has not had Grissom as a mentor. So there's a very different relationship between Riley and Grissom."
* Another new CSI, this time a male, will be brought in later this fall, but "he will not appear on the landscape as a CSI to begin with," teases Mendelsohn. "He's a professor with background in pathology. He will appear when Grissom is investigating what will be a two-part case. He will help Grissom and the team bring the perpetrator to justice, and then this character will stay around and ultimately become a CSI." And although Mendelsohn says the new guy (who will possess a very rare genetic abnormality) will "not necessarily [replace Grissom as] supervisor," he'll inevitably be branded Petersen's replacement -- if for no other reason than the caliber of actor being sought for the role: Kurt Russell, Laurence Fishburne and John Malkovich are said to be at the top of CBS' wish list. Of the three, Mendelsohn would only confirm that Malkovich was approached, adding that "scheduling conflicts" had quickly taken him out of the running.
* Current cast members Liz Vassey (lab rat Wendy) and David Berman (coroner David) have been upped to full-fledged series regulars. Wallace Langham's Hodges, meanwhile, will become more prominent.
* Arguably the drama's most infamous serial menace to date, the Miniature Killer, "will come back for an episode," Mendelsohn reveals. "Grissom will cross paths with her."
* Finally, the show will celebrate its landmark 200th episode this spring with a blockbuster installment helmed once again by Petersen's good friend (and To Live and Die in L.A. director) William Friedkin. Is it fair to assume that this could be the episode in which Petersen debuts as a very special CSI guest star? "Billy will definitely be on the set for Mr. Friedkin's episode -- whether it's behind the camera or in front of the camera is TBD," Mendelsohn teases. "I don't think you'll be able to keep him away once he's back in L.A."
Heroes Webisodes: Chapter 1 - A Nifty Trick
Looks like Heroes is getting in on the webisode fun this summer too...
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Bond countdown: Goldfinger (1964)
Plot: Special agent 007 (Sean Connery) has just come face to face with one of the most notorious villains of all time. And now he'll have to outwit and outgun this powerful tycoon to prevent him from cashing in on a devious scheme to raid Fort Knox - and obliterate the world economy!
First appearances: Bond's Aston Martin, Q branch
Other firsts: Title song sung over opening credits
Gadget: Loaded Aston Martin equipped with rotating license plate, smoke screen, ejector seat, wheel scythe, oil slick, bullet-proof shield, machine guns, and homing device tracker.
Girls Bond slept with: Jill Masterson, Pussy Galore
Elaborate murder attempt that Bond escapes: Castration via laser beam
Personal review: You may think this would get an immediate glowing review from me given its classic status, but I actually had to rewatch it again to be convinced. The previous few times I had watched, I actually found it to be slow at times. I must have just been tired though, because watching it again convinced me of its greatness. Clearly, by the third film they had all the pieces in place: You've got a classic villain (Auric Goldfinger), who's devised an over-the-top scheme for world domination (set off nuclear bomb in Fort Knox) and is helped by a unique henchman (Oddjob). You also have one Bond girl memorbably die (epidermal asphyxiation after being painted gold) and another one with an unforgettable name (Pussy Galore). When you add in on top of all that a car with so many gadgets ahead of its time, you have the perfect recipe for a spy film. If all of that weren't enough, you have Connery really starting to understand the character by finding that right balance of action and humor. Everything just clicks here and makes it one of the best Bonds ever. If you want to start watching the Bond films and you don't care about watching them in chronological order, then start with this one because it is the epitome of what this franchise is all about. 10/10
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Credible Hulk
So I'm still trying to catch up with all the summer movies I've missed lately and ended up seeing The Incredible Hulk a few days ago. I never saw the 2003 Hulk film, but from general consensus, I didn't miss much. While some may think that it was too soon to do a Hulk reboot, I can understand why it was done. I would compare it to the Ocean's Eleven franchise. Ocean's Twelve was a critical disaster and those involved felt it was necessary to make another to appease fans. Given how beloved the Hulk is in the comic book universe, I think Marvel had a similar mentality in wanting to do another film. And while I'll assume this was better than the 2003 film, this latest incarnation of the big green guy still fails to deliver a home run that will be remembered in the annals of great comic book movies.
This time around Edward Norton plays Bruce Banner. Through an opening credits montage we see the origins of the Hulk, and then start the film with Banner hiding in Brazil. The first half of the film focuses on Banner always being on the run trying to elude the military led by General Thaddeaus 'Thunderbolt' Ross (William Hurt). While this is a familiar storyline for the Hulk, I really felt that this film tried to focus on it now as a result of the popularity of the Bourne films. This film tried to have the same vibe of 'tortured guy on the run from the government', but it lacked the intelligence or intensity that those films have.
Edward Norton is certainly a talented actor and does fine here, but is not helped by his surrounding cast. Both Hurt and Tim Roth (playing soldier Emil Blonsky, who eventually becomes the Hulk's archnemesis, the Abomination) underplay their roles. Neither guy gets an opportunity to let loose and exhibit any traits that would make the audience truly hate them. Liv Tyler as Banner's girlfriend, Betty Ross, is miscast here. There was no sense of chemistry between her and Norton. And her milquetoast performance never allows to audience to sympathize with her as she watches her boyfriend going through this unfortunate metamorphisis.
The second half of the film does provide plenty HULK SMASH moments, but the scenes have a sense of destruction for destruction's sake rather than being meaningful. I couldn't help but think while watching Hulk and the Abomination go at it in the streets of New York that people should lay off of Hancock for his destructive ways given all of the damage that this superhero imposes on a city.
Without getting emotionally invested in the characters, I found myself picking up on small things that annoyed me; things I probably would have ignored in a better film. For instance, there is a lengthy action sequence with the military attacking the Hulk on a college campus, yet there doesn't appear to be a soul around. If these events took place at my college, there would be mass hysteria, plus a strong likelihood of many students getting injured amongst all the carnage that is taking place. On the flip side, later on in the film we see the Abomination destroying everything in his sight on a New York street. Minutes later, the Hulk finally arrives to do battle, yet there are still a large number of citizens hanging out in the streets. Wouldn't most of these people have already fled in fear at this point? While these are clearly minor things in the scope of the film's quality, they stuck out at me nonetheless and caused the film to lose its realism (as real as a film about a giant green man could get, that is).
What's interesting about The Incredible Hulk is how workmanlike it is. The film isn't bad, just completely ordinary. There is no real sense of fun found in the film. For a film that is about a larger than life character, the film is anything but. Everybody goes about making this film as if it is just another job. At no point do you get the sense from anyone involved with the film that they have a passion for this character and they want to share it with the millions of fans who love this character.
After two underwhelming efforts, I have a feeling that the Hulk is Marvel's equivalent to Superman when it comes to film. While both are wildly popular characters, neither are engaging enough to make entertaining films about them. They are both simply too strong to make them relatable. I think if either one makes a return to the big screen, it should be as part of an ensemble; a JLA movie for Superman and the Avengers for Hulk.
Speaking of the Avengers, this movie does provide a few more hints that such a film could soon become a reality. Shame on the marketing department for spoiling the Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark cameo in this film, but kudos to the filmmakers for adding that scene in. It's one of the few moments in the film where you actually feel some electricity and excitement. Part of that was just the natural charisma of Downey, but it was also due to the fact that in that scene you got a sense of something significant will happen beyond the mindless destruction offered by the Hulk alone.
Like so many other films this summer, this one seems to have its heart in the right place, it just doesn't quite put everything together to make it a sucess. If this film was done merely to help establish the Avengers franchise, I can live with that. But if there are any legitimate plans to continue making Hulk movies, they better go back to the drawing board again because some fixes still need to be made. If you haven't seen this already, I'd suggest just waiting for DVD. It's not like there aren't any other comic book movies out there to see if you want to watch one. Save your money and go see The Dark Knight next week. I have a feeling that one might be a bit better. Grade: B-
This time around Edward Norton plays Bruce Banner. Through an opening credits montage we see the origins of the Hulk, and then start the film with Banner hiding in Brazil. The first half of the film focuses on Banner always being on the run trying to elude the military led by General Thaddeaus 'Thunderbolt' Ross (William Hurt). While this is a familiar storyline for the Hulk, I really felt that this film tried to focus on it now as a result of the popularity of the Bourne films. This film tried to have the same vibe of 'tortured guy on the run from the government', but it lacked the intelligence or intensity that those films have.
Edward Norton is certainly a talented actor and does fine here, but is not helped by his surrounding cast. Both Hurt and Tim Roth (playing soldier Emil Blonsky, who eventually becomes the Hulk's archnemesis, the Abomination) underplay their roles. Neither guy gets an opportunity to let loose and exhibit any traits that would make the audience truly hate them. Liv Tyler as Banner's girlfriend, Betty Ross, is miscast here. There was no sense of chemistry between her and Norton. And her milquetoast performance never allows to audience to sympathize with her as she watches her boyfriend going through this unfortunate metamorphisis.
The second half of the film does provide plenty HULK SMASH moments, but the scenes have a sense of destruction for destruction's sake rather than being meaningful. I couldn't help but think while watching Hulk and the Abomination go at it in the streets of New York that people should lay off of Hancock for his destructive ways given all of the damage that this superhero imposes on a city.
Without getting emotionally invested in the characters, I found myself picking up on small things that annoyed me; things I probably would have ignored in a better film. For instance, there is a lengthy action sequence with the military attacking the Hulk on a college campus, yet there doesn't appear to be a soul around. If these events took place at my college, there would be mass hysteria, plus a strong likelihood of many students getting injured amongst all the carnage that is taking place. On the flip side, later on in the film we see the Abomination destroying everything in his sight on a New York street. Minutes later, the Hulk finally arrives to do battle, yet there are still a large number of citizens hanging out in the streets. Wouldn't most of these people have already fled in fear at this point? While these are clearly minor things in the scope of the film's quality, they stuck out at me nonetheless and caused the film to lose its realism (as real as a film about a giant green man could get, that is).
What's interesting about The Incredible Hulk is how workmanlike it is. The film isn't bad, just completely ordinary. There is no real sense of fun found in the film. For a film that is about a larger than life character, the film is anything but. Everybody goes about making this film as if it is just another job. At no point do you get the sense from anyone involved with the film that they have a passion for this character and they want to share it with the millions of fans who love this character.
After two underwhelming efforts, I have a feeling that the Hulk is Marvel's equivalent to Superman when it comes to film. While both are wildly popular characters, neither are engaging enough to make entertaining films about them. They are both simply too strong to make them relatable. I think if either one makes a return to the big screen, it should be as part of an ensemble; a JLA movie for Superman and the Avengers for Hulk.
Speaking of the Avengers, this movie does provide a few more hints that such a film could soon become a reality. Shame on the marketing department for spoiling the Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark cameo in this film, but kudos to the filmmakers for adding that scene in. It's one of the few moments in the film where you actually feel some electricity and excitement. Part of that was just the natural charisma of Downey, but it was also due to the fact that in that scene you got a sense of something significant will happen beyond the mindless destruction offered by the Hulk alone.
Like so many other films this summer, this one seems to have its heart in the right place, it just doesn't quite put everything together to make it a sucess. If this film was done merely to help establish the Avengers franchise, I can live with that. But if there are any legitimate plans to continue making Hulk movies, they better go back to the drawing board again because some fixes still need to be made. If you haven't seen this already, I'd suggest just waiting for DVD. It's not like there aren't any other comic book movies out there to see if you want to watch one. Save your money and go see The Dark Knight next week. I have a feeling that one might be a bit better. Grade: B-
Friday, July 11, 2008
The Office webisodes: Kevin's Loan (Episode 1)
It's summertime and The Office has decided to once again grace us with a series of webisodes. The first episode debuted this week and it already delivers. I can't wait to see the following installments each week. Enjoy!
Holmes vs. Holmes
In recent years, we've seen some epic battles between Hollywood films that are released close to one another and have the same basic premise: Deep Impact vs. Armageddon, Dante's Peak vs. Volcano, The Illusionist vs. The Prestige. But viewers better brace themselves, because another feud is brewing and this one promises to be...murder.
That's right, in the past week, news has leaked that there are two films being made about Sherlock Holmes. In one corner, you have Guy Ritchie directing Sherlock Holmes, with Robert Downey Jr. signed on to play the titular character (Read here). In the other corner, you have the presumably more comedic take on the famous detective with Sasha Baron Cohen (Borat) playing the sleuth and Will Ferrell playing his assitant, Watson (Read here)
The earliest either film will come out is 2010, so that leaves us plenty of time to speculate on their potential success. So I'll leave up to you movie gumshoes...based on the clues thus far, which movie will prevail and which will perish in the Mystery of the Two Holmes?
That's right, in the past week, news has leaked that there are two films being made about Sherlock Holmes. In one corner, you have Guy Ritchie directing Sherlock Holmes, with Robert Downey Jr. signed on to play the titular character (Read here). In the other corner, you have the presumably more comedic take on the famous detective with Sasha Baron Cohen (Borat) playing the sleuth and Will Ferrell playing his assitant, Watson (Read here)
The earliest either film will come out is 2010, so that leaves us plenty of time to speculate on their potential success. So I'll leave up to you movie gumshoes...based on the clues thus far, which movie will prevail and which will perish in the Mystery of the Two Holmes?
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Bond countdown: From Russia With Love (1963)
So I ended up forgetting to bring along the Bond DVDs with me when I went on vacation to Cleveland, which has put me behind on my countdown. I'm going to have to play catch-up this week in hopes of getting back on track soon enough.
Plot: James Bond (Sean Connery) squares off against the evil SPECTRE organization in a pulse-pounding race to seize the Soviet Lektor decoding machine. His mission thrusts him into a thrilling boat chase, a brutal helicopter attack and a deadly brawl aboard the Orient Express, proving once again that Agent 007 can't be stopped!
First appearances: Q, Ernst Blofeld
Other firsts: Dancing silhouetted women in title sequence, Promise that 'James Bond will return' in end credits
Gadget: Loaded briefcase fitted with knife, gun, and knockout gas
Girls Bond slept with: Sylvia Trench (the only Bond girl to make a return appearance), two gypsy girls (presumed), and Tatiana Romanova (multiple times)
Elaborate murder attempt that Bond escapes: Klebb's poison-tipped shoe
Personal review: In this second outing, things were beginning to look more and more like the Bond films we would come to expect and love. This one established certain things that would become staples of the franchise like Bond girls and the mysterious presence of SPECTRE. On the positive side, Kerim Bay is much better second banana than Quarrel was in Dr. No. And Tatiana (played by Daniela Bianchi) was just as hot as Ursula Andress was. I loved SPECTRE playing both the British and the Soviets off one another and they almost get away with it. In addition to the ambiguous introduction of Blofeld, this one has some decent villains with Grant and Klebb. The biggest complaint with the film is that it's awfully slow in the beginning. Bond doesn't actually get the Lektor until about halfway through the film. Then after nearly no action for the first 3/4ths of the movie, they cram way too many action sequences (train fight, helicopter attack, boat chase, duel with Klebb) in the last half hour. If they could have balanced things out better this would have been an excellent film. Instead, it's just another solid entry in the Bond franchise. 8/10
Plot: James Bond (Sean Connery) squares off against the evil SPECTRE organization in a pulse-pounding race to seize the Soviet Lektor decoding machine. His mission thrusts him into a thrilling boat chase, a brutal helicopter attack and a deadly brawl aboard the Orient Express, proving once again that Agent 007 can't be stopped!
First appearances: Q, Ernst Blofeld
Other firsts: Dancing silhouetted women in title sequence, Promise that 'James Bond will return' in end credits
Gadget: Loaded briefcase fitted with knife, gun, and knockout gas
Girls Bond slept with: Sylvia Trench (the only Bond girl to make a return appearance), two gypsy girls (presumed), and Tatiana Romanova (multiple times)
Elaborate murder attempt that Bond escapes: Klebb's poison-tipped shoe
Personal review: In this second outing, things were beginning to look more and more like the Bond films we would come to expect and love. This one established certain things that would become staples of the franchise like Bond girls and the mysterious presence of SPECTRE. On the positive side, Kerim Bay is much better second banana than Quarrel was in Dr. No. And Tatiana (played by Daniela Bianchi) was just as hot as Ursula Andress was. I loved SPECTRE playing both the British and the Soviets off one another and they almost get away with it. In addition to the ambiguous introduction of Blofeld, this one has some decent villains with Grant and Klebb. The biggest complaint with the film is that it's awfully slow in the beginning. Bond doesn't actually get the Lektor until about halfway through the film. Then after nearly no action for the first 3/4ths of the movie, they cram way too many action sequences (train fight, helicopter attack, boat chase, duel with Klebb) in the last half hour. If they could have balanced things out better this would have been an excellent film. Instead, it's just another solid entry in the Bond franchise. 8/10
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Secret Identity
As I mentioned a couple of days ago, I saw a pair of summer movies while up in Cleveland. The second of which was Hancock, the latest from Will Smith. Smith has become synonymous with the 4th of July as he has had several hits open during the holiday. Despite their big box office numbers, most of these movies haven't been what I considered good. Some, like Wild, Wild West and Men in Black II were just plain awful. And I feel Independence Day and the first Men in Black are both highly overrated. But despite that track record, I had hopes for Hancock given I've enjoyed a lot of Will's more recent films and the trailers indicated that this one had an interesting story. Sadly, my hopes were doused and Will continued his run of underwhelming, yet successful 4th of July films.
Based on the trailers and advertisements, the film is about Hancock (Smith), a man with superpowers, but not necessarily a good guy. His rescue efforts are sloppy and he tends to do more damage than good when on missions. Part of this is due to his attitude, while some of it could be attributed to the fact that he's also an alcoholic. When the city of Los Angeles gets fed up with his antics, a PR agent (played by Jason Bateman) steps in to help Hancock with his image. While some of this story seems to be borrowed from The Incredibles, the plot seems intriguing nonetheless.
But for some reason, about halfway through the film, a major plot twist comes into play and the whole reckless superhero storyline is thrown out the window. Once the film transitions to this new plot point, the whole concept of Hancock rehabbing his image is ignored. This could have been tolerated had the plot twist taken the film into an interesting direction, but it doesn't. I wish I could explain it more, but I'd rather not give away this key point of the film. Worst of all, this plot twist is never really explained fully for the audience to understand. Instead, they seemed content to fill the remainder of the film with a bunch of action scenes, hoping the audience would be easily distracted by the destruction and loud noises.
What it boils down to is that the film ends up being like two television pilots put together. Each one provides an interesting beginning to a story, but neither one are given enough time to properly tell that story or provide any sense of closure. I'm not sure why the writer felt the need to make such a drastic change in storytelling, but it doesn't work at all. In fact, this film really fails to tell us anything. It certainly did not tell the story I was expecting. And while it appears to have a message, Hancock does not sufficiently get it across to the audience. Some have said that the film is using Hancock as a metaphor for the United States, but I didn't feel that those themes were drawn out enough (which is probably for the better considering how weary I'm getting of Hollywood feeling the need to add political commentary to every single film that's made).
The acting in this film is sufficient. Will Smith has fun (initially) poking at his own clean cut image by portraying the less-than-reputable Hancock. Jason Bateman also provides a few funny lines that only he can produce; although he's a bit more reined in here than I would have liked. The film could have used more scenes involving him snarking on Hancock's bad behavior. Charlize Theron is also in this (although you wouldn't know that from the advertisements) and is suitable in her role as Bateman's wife. However, even though each of the main stars' performances is perfectly acceptable, it is also inconsequential as most people aren't going to be checking this film out for the fine performances.
Equally nice, but also insignificant is the action sequences. It's fun seeing freeway signs get obliterated or whales tossed back into the ocean, but if there isn't a decent story connecting these action sequences together. If the audience can't follow along with what's happening or if they aren't invested in what happens to the characters, then all the CGI in the world isn't going to save your film.
The door was certainly left open at the end of the film for a Hancock sequel, but at this point, I'm not sure I would be interested in seeing it. I would have to see some significant changes in how the characters are presented and the storyline associated with them before I would be willing to check it out. And given how deceptive the advertising was for this one, I'm not sure I could even trust the trailers to tell me if improvements had been made. Will Smith is usually careful in the projects he picks, so let's hope he either decides to forego a sequel or pulls his weight in order to get a better story written for Hancock's second go.
This movie isn't terrible, it's just wildly disappointing. It showed a lot of promise in its premise and advertising and then failed to deliver on its bill of goods. If you're content on seeing mindless summer entertainment, you'll probably some value in this film. My recommendation though would be to make sure you lower your expectations before checking it out so you won't have the same sense of disappointment I had with it. This is a film that aims to soar through the air, but ends up never leaving the ground. Grade: C
Based on the trailers and advertisements, the film is about Hancock (Smith), a man with superpowers, but not necessarily a good guy. His rescue efforts are sloppy and he tends to do more damage than good when on missions. Part of this is due to his attitude, while some of it could be attributed to the fact that he's also an alcoholic. When the city of Los Angeles gets fed up with his antics, a PR agent (played by Jason Bateman) steps in to help Hancock with his image. While some of this story seems to be borrowed from The Incredibles, the plot seems intriguing nonetheless.
But for some reason, about halfway through the film, a major plot twist comes into play and the whole reckless superhero storyline is thrown out the window. Once the film transitions to this new plot point, the whole concept of Hancock rehabbing his image is ignored. This could have been tolerated had the plot twist taken the film into an interesting direction, but it doesn't. I wish I could explain it more, but I'd rather not give away this key point of the film. Worst of all, this plot twist is never really explained fully for the audience to understand. Instead, they seemed content to fill the remainder of the film with a bunch of action scenes, hoping the audience would be easily distracted by the destruction and loud noises.
What it boils down to is that the film ends up being like two television pilots put together. Each one provides an interesting beginning to a story, but neither one are given enough time to properly tell that story or provide any sense of closure. I'm not sure why the writer felt the need to make such a drastic change in storytelling, but it doesn't work at all. In fact, this film really fails to tell us anything. It certainly did not tell the story I was expecting. And while it appears to have a message, Hancock does not sufficiently get it across to the audience. Some have said that the film is using Hancock as a metaphor for the United States, but I didn't feel that those themes were drawn out enough (which is probably for the better considering how weary I'm getting of Hollywood feeling the need to add political commentary to every single film that's made).
The acting in this film is sufficient. Will Smith has fun (initially) poking at his own clean cut image by portraying the less-than-reputable Hancock. Jason Bateman also provides a few funny lines that only he can produce; although he's a bit more reined in here than I would have liked. The film could have used more scenes involving him snarking on Hancock's bad behavior. Charlize Theron is also in this (although you wouldn't know that from the advertisements) and is suitable in her role as Bateman's wife. However, even though each of the main stars' performances is perfectly acceptable, it is also inconsequential as most people aren't going to be checking this film out for the fine performances.
Equally nice, but also insignificant is the action sequences. It's fun seeing freeway signs get obliterated or whales tossed back into the ocean, but if there isn't a decent story connecting these action sequences together. If the audience can't follow along with what's happening or if they aren't invested in what happens to the characters, then all the CGI in the world isn't going to save your film.
The door was certainly left open at the end of the film for a Hancock sequel, but at this point, I'm not sure I would be interested in seeing it. I would have to see some significant changes in how the characters are presented and the storyline associated with them before I would be willing to check it out. And given how deceptive the advertising was for this one, I'm not sure I could even trust the trailers to tell me if improvements had been made. Will Smith is usually careful in the projects he picks, so let's hope he either decides to forego a sequel or pulls his weight in order to get a better story written for Hancock's second go.
This movie isn't terrible, it's just wildly disappointing. It showed a lot of promise in its premise and advertising and then failed to deliver on its bill of goods. If you're content on seeing mindless summer entertainment, you'll probably some value in this film. My recommendation though would be to make sure you lower your expectations before checking it out so you won't have the same sense of disappointment I had with it. This is a film that aims to soar through the air, but ends up never leaving the ground. Grade: C
Fall TV scoopage
TV Guide recently published some tidbits on the upcoming seasons on some of our favorite sci-fi shows, so I figured I'd share the news with you here:
Heroes: Season 3 kicks off September 22 with an all-Heroes night - a one-hour red-carpet special with previously unseen clips, followed by the first two hours of "Villains," a 13-episode story arc "that's not as obvious as its title might sound," says Zachary Quinto, who plays the brain-snatching Sylar. "There's an event at the Company that releases a whole host of Level 5 prisoners - all very dangerous killers - but 'Villains' will cast a much wider net than that. We'll explore the darkness and villainy in everybody. Even the good guys. Each has a line - what does it take for them to cross it?" The season premiere picks right up after last December's cliff-hanger, when Nathan was shot by an assassin and Niki seemingly died in an explosion. Hiro inherits his late father's business empire and gets a new nemesis, Daphne (Friday Night Lights' Brea Grant), who moves at supersonic speed. Meredith (Jessalyn Gilsig) returns to teach daughter Claire how to protect herself after an attack by Sylar. But who's going to protect her in the future? A flash-forward in time finds a very different Claire Bear. "She becomes mean, damaged and kinda nuts - the 180-degree opposite of the character we know," Panettiere reports. "Future Claire is a real badass."
Chuck: No big surprise, the life of Chuck Bartowski will be in danger - only this season it's his National Security protector Casey who's assigned to rub him out. "When the Intersect is rebuilt, Chuck becomes obsolete and expendable," says cocreator Josh Schwartz of the top-secret database implanted in Chuck's brain. "The government wants him to 'disappear' and that mission falls to Casey." CIA agent Sarah comes face-to-face with her high-school nemesis (Nicole Richie). Tony Hale (Buster from Arrested Development) joins the cast as a new assistant manager at the Buy More, who's determined to get to the bottom of Chuck's mysterious absences. John Larroquette guests as an alcoholic ex-spy who teaches Chuck how to seduce a black widow, played by The O.C.'s Melinda Clarke, and Michael Clarke Duncan plays baddie-for-hire Mr. Colt. "There's a catastrophic event at the end of the season premiere," Schwartz adds. "We're coming out with all guns blazing. We're not saving anything."
Reaper: Life gets no easier for the Devil's bounty hunter, Sam and his buds Sock and Ben when Season 2 premieres. The trio returns from an extended vacation only to hunt an escaped soul with his own loophole out of Hell. "this is a guy who broke a deal with the Devil," says exec producer Michele Fazekas. "So it turns into the search for the one-armed man." Meanwhile, demon assassins keep looking for marked man Sam. And though Sam's dad survived live burial last season, he'll keep Sam mourning a bit longer. And, says Fazekas, "By the end of the season, you will know more about his parents' deal with the Devil and what it all means."
Heroes: Season 3 kicks off September 22 with an all-Heroes night - a one-hour red-carpet special with previously unseen clips, followed by the first two hours of "Villains," a 13-episode story arc "that's not as obvious as its title might sound," says Zachary Quinto, who plays the brain-snatching Sylar. "There's an event at the Company that releases a whole host of Level 5 prisoners - all very dangerous killers - but 'Villains' will cast a much wider net than that. We'll explore the darkness and villainy in everybody. Even the good guys. Each has a line - what does it take for them to cross it?" The season premiere picks right up after last December's cliff-hanger, when Nathan was shot by an assassin and Niki seemingly died in an explosion. Hiro inherits his late father's business empire and gets a new nemesis, Daphne (Friday Night Lights' Brea Grant), who moves at supersonic speed. Meredith (Jessalyn Gilsig) returns to teach daughter Claire how to protect herself after an attack by Sylar. But who's going to protect her in the future? A flash-forward in time finds a very different Claire Bear. "She becomes mean, damaged and kinda nuts - the 180-degree opposite of the character we know," Panettiere reports. "Future Claire is a real badass."
Chuck: No big surprise, the life of Chuck Bartowski will be in danger - only this season it's his National Security protector Casey who's assigned to rub him out. "When the Intersect is rebuilt, Chuck becomes obsolete and expendable," says cocreator Josh Schwartz of the top-secret database implanted in Chuck's brain. "The government wants him to 'disappear' and that mission falls to Casey." CIA agent Sarah comes face-to-face with her high-school nemesis (Nicole Richie). Tony Hale (Buster from Arrested Development) joins the cast as a new assistant manager at the Buy More, who's determined to get to the bottom of Chuck's mysterious absences. John Larroquette guests as an alcoholic ex-spy who teaches Chuck how to seduce a black widow, played by The O.C.'s Melinda Clarke, and Michael Clarke Duncan plays baddie-for-hire Mr. Colt. "There's a catastrophic event at the end of the season premiere," Schwartz adds. "We're coming out with all guns blazing. We're not saving anything."
Reaper: Life gets no easier for the Devil's bounty hunter, Sam and his buds Sock and Ben when Season 2 premieres. The trio returns from an extended vacation only to hunt an escaped soul with his own loophole out of Hell. "this is a guy who broke a deal with the Devil," says exec producer Michele Fazekas. "So it turns into the search for the one-armed man." Meanwhile, demon assassins keep looking for marked man Sam. And though Sam's dad survived live burial last season, he'll keep Sam mourning a bit longer. And, says Fazekas, "By the end of the season, you will know more about his parents' deal with the Devil and what it all means."
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Boobie prizes
Someone has compiled a video of what they are claiming to be the 10 worst McDonald's Happy Meal toys:
I'll admit most of those are pretty lame (although I don't think the E.T. posters are that bad). I think my favorite is the generic "prize" one. I believe that's fast food speak for "We're clearing out the storage locker and you'll get whatever we give you".
I'll admit most of those are pretty lame (although I don't think the E.T. posters are that bad). I think my favorite is the generic "prize" one. I believe that's fast food speak for "We're clearing out the storage locker and you'll get whatever we give you".
Monday, July 7, 2008
Bye Bye C.C.
Brewers land Sabathia in big deal
The C.C. trade just puts an exclamation point on a thoroughly depressing season for the Indians and their fans. It's hard to say how I should feel about this news. On one hand, I'm glad C.C. is going to a team like Milwaukee and not someone like Chicago or Boston. I'll be much happier seeing them succeed over some of these other overrated and/or annoying teams. Also, for as good as C.C. is/was, he had yet to prove himself to be a clutch pitcher and I would have hated to see him continue to take us to the playoffs, only to disappoint us each time. But from a negative perspective, this is just another example of the Indians once again losing to their greatest enemy; money. We continue to establish stars in this league, only to lose them due to greed before they can take us to the promised land. And with the injuries piling up and guys playing below expectations, this C.C. deal makes me wonder how long it'll be before we are a contender again.
As for what we got in return for C.C. it's way to early to determine if we got screwed on this deal or not. On the surface, we're getting four minor leaguers with varying levels of promise. At best, we could hope for similar results to what we got in the Bartolo Colon trade that saw us getting Grady Sizemore, Cliff Lee, and Brandon Phillips. At worst, we could be stuck with a bunch of Andy Martes. Clearly, it will be a while before we truly know the impact of this deal. Until then we're stuck suffering through yet another summer of disappointment from our beloved Tribe.
The C.C. trade just puts an exclamation point on a thoroughly depressing season for the Indians and their fans. It's hard to say how I should feel about this news. On one hand, I'm glad C.C. is going to a team like Milwaukee and not someone like Chicago or Boston. I'll be much happier seeing them succeed over some of these other overrated and/or annoying teams. Also, for as good as C.C. is/was, he had yet to prove himself to be a clutch pitcher and I would have hated to see him continue to take us to the playoffs, only to disappoint us each time. But from a negative perspective, this is just another example of the Indians once again losing to their greatest enemy; money. We continue to establish stars in this league, only to lose them due to greed before they can take us to the promised land. And with the injuries piling up and guys playing below expectations, this C.C. deal makes me wonder how long it'll be before we are a contender again.
As for what we got in return for C.C. it's way to early to determine if we got screwed on this deal or not. On the surface, we're getting four minor leaguers with varying levels of promise. At best, we could hope for similar results to what we got in the Bartolo Colon trade that saw us getting Grady Sizemore, Cliff Lee, and Brandon Phillips. At worst, we could be stuck with a bunch of Andy Martes. Clearly, it will be a while before we truly know the impact of this deal. Until then we're stuck suffering through yet another summer of disappointment from our beloved Tribe.
Playing it Smart
After what seems like forever, I finally made it to the theater to check out a couple new movies, one of which I'll review here and then the other will be forthcoming soon. First up is Get Smart, which is yet another in a seemingly endless line of films that are adapted from small screen hits. Unlike most of them, I was anticipating one because I was such a fan of the television show. Even though I am a child of the 80s, I saw reruns of the 60s spy comedy (created by Mel Brooks and Buck Henry) when I was a kid and thought it was hilarious, even if I didn't always understand the Cold War humor.
One of the film's strengths, and a large reason why I had high hopes for it, was its cast. They picked the perfect people for the roles. And I'm not just talking about the leads, but all of the minor characters as well. There could be no other man but Steve Carell to take over the Don Adams role of Maxwell Smart, aka Agent 86. Anne Hathaway is also great as romantic foil Agent 99. At times I felt she was vocally reminiscent of the original 99, Barbara Feldon. Alan Arkin was the right choice for the Chief and again plays well off Carell, just as he did in Little Miss Sunshine.
The rest of the cast is a wonderful bounty of familiar faces: The Rock, David Koechner, Terrance Stamp, Terry Crews, Masi Oka, Ken Daviditian, and Patrick Warburton all have a lot of fun in their limited roles. Credit to the filmmakers for not only adding all of these funnymen to the cast but then using them as beloved minor characters from the original show. In addition to all of these roles, there are a handful of entertaining cameos as well. These were particularly enjoyable because they weren't spoiled for me ahead of time.
As evidenced by the solid casting, the filmmakers clearly had a love for the original show and tried to pay homage to it as best they could, which cannot be said for all films that were adapted from TV shows. Unlike some films which are made simply to cash in further on a recognizable name, the people behind Get Smart took the time to include a lot of what made the original show so enjoyable into their film.
When one of these TV adapatation films is made, there seems to be two methods of creating them. One is to create a general story and then try to shoehorn a few references from the original show to justify using the title. For instance, Starsky and Hutch. That movie was just an ordinary action comedy starring Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson. It just so happens that their names are Starsky and Hutch. The other approach is to identify key aspects of the original show that need to be a part of the movie and then create the story around them. Get Smart is an example of this. Many of the show's classic catchphrases, punchlines and objects are all found in here and come across for the most part naturally.
While the approach Get Smart took does right by its source material, it doesn't always equate a solid story. That is certainly the case here. The central plot is a little weak and at times, the pacing of the film was uneven. They would belabor on certain points and rush through others. For instance, they really hammered home the antagonistic beginnings of 86 and 99's relationship (Typically, "I'm the expert, you're the rookie, leave the crimefighting to me" stuff). But then they really rushed through the part where 99 not only learns to trust Max, but also falls for him. It seemed the film could have used another 20 mins. or at least cut out some of the earlier scenes and added more near the end.
Even though I applaud the filmmakers for paying proper homage to the original show, they did include some things in the film that I felt were unnecessary. One was a minor plot point about how Max used to be really overweight and then lost a bunch of pounds in order to become an agent. This didn't bother me from a continuity perspective as much as I just found it to be unfunny. They had enough quality material to work from the original show without needing to add some lame fat jokes. The other added annoyance was James Caan playing the President as a complete boob in a thinly veiled jab at our current Commander in Chief. At this point, Hollywood's stance at the current administration has become tiresome and it had really no place in this film. I especially felt sorry for an esteemed actor like James Caan to be reduced to such a hack role like this.
I've focused a lot on the film's comedy, but it is worth noting that this film is as much an action film as it is a comedy. I was impressed with a lot of the action sequences here as they more involved and realistic than you would find in most comedies. The action doesn't rival something you'll find in a pure action movie like Die Hard, but they clearly spent some money in order to make the film look as impressive as possible. I think if you're a comedy or an action fan, you'll have a good time with this one.
This is not a perfect movie ("missed it by that much"), but for summer escapism fare, I've seen a lot worse. I hope all of the Get Smart fans out there go see this movie and appreciate the job the producers did in adapting this film to the big screen, because I sure did. This film did just enough to make me hope they end up doing a sequel. They clearly have the right cast in place and with a stronger story, they could have a very successful action-comedy franchise for years to come. Grade: B
One of the film's strengths, and a large reason why I had high hopes for it, was its cast. They picked the perfect people for the roles. And I'm not just talking about the leads, but all of the minor characters as well. There could be no other man but Steve Carell to take over the Don Adams role of Maxwell Smart, aka Agent 86. Anne Hathaway is also great as romantic foil Agent 99. At times I felt she was vocally reminiscent of the original 99, Barbara Feldon. Alan Arkin was the right choice for the Chief and again plays well off Carell, just as he did in Little Miss Sunshine.
The rest of the cast is a wonderful bounty of familiar faces: The Rock, David Koechner, Terrance Stamp, Terry Crews, Masi Oka, Ken Daviditian, and Patrick Warburton all have a lot of fun in their limited roles. Credit to the filmmakers for not only adding all of these funnymen to the cast but then using them as beloved minor characters from the original show. In addition to all of these roles, there are a handful of entertaining cameos as well. These were particularly enjoyable because they weren't spoiled for me ahead of time.
As evidenced by the solid casting, the filmmakers clearly had a love for the original show and tried to pay homage to it as best they could, which cannot be said for all films that were adapted from TV shows. Unlike some films which are made simply to cash in further on a recognizable name, the people behind Get Smart took the time to include a lot of what made the original show so enjoyable into their film.
When one of these TV adapatation films is made, there seems to be two methods of creating them. One is to create a general story and then try to shoehorn a few references from the original show to justify using the title. For instance, Starsky and Hutch. That movie was just an ordinary action comedy starring Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson. It just so happens that their names are Starsky and Hutch. The other approach is to identify key aspects of the original show that need to be a part of the movie and then create the story around them. Get Smart is an example of this. Many of the show's classic catchphrases, punchlines and objects are all found in here and come across for the most part naturally.
While the approach Get Smart took does right by its source material, it doesn't always equate a solid story. That is certainly the case here. The central plot is a little weak and at times, the pacing of the film was uneven. They would belabor on certain points and rush through others. For instance, they really hammered home the antagonistic beginnings of 86 and 99's relationship (Typically, "I'm the expert, you're the rookie, leave the crimefighting to me" stuff). But then they really rushed through the part where 99 not only learns to trust Max, but also falls for him. It seemed the film could have used another 20 mins. or at least cut out some of the earlier scenes and added more near the end.
Even though I applaud the filmmakers for paying proper homage to the original show, they did include some things in the film that I felt were unnecessary. One was a minor plot point about how Max used to be really overweight and then lost a bunch of pounds in order to become an agent. This didn't bother me from a continuity perspective as much as I just found it to be unfunny. They had enough quality material to work from the original show without needing to add some lame fat jokes. The other added annoyance was James Caan playing the President as a complete boob in a thinly veiled jab at our current Commander in Chief. At this point, Hollywood's stance at the current administration has become tiresome and it had really no place in this film. I especially felt sorry for an esteemed actor like James Caan to be reduced to such a hack role like this.
I've focused a lot on the film's comedy, but it is worth noting that this film is as much an action film as it is a comedy. I was impressed with a lot of the action sequences here as they more involved and realistic than you would find in most comedies. The action doesn't rival something you'll find in a pure action movie like Die Hard, but they clearly spent some money in order to make the film look as impressive as possible. I think if you're a comedy or an action fan, you'll have a good time with this one.
This is not a perfect movie ("missed it by that much"), but for summer escapism fare, I've seen a lot worse. I hope all of the Get Smart fans out there go see this movie and appreciate the job the producers did in adapting this film to the big screen, because I sure did. This film did just enough to make me hope they end up doing a sequel. They clearly have the right cast in place and with a stronger story, they could have a very successful action-comedy franchise for years to come. Grade: B
Monday, June 30, 2008
"And now the movie of a wealthy family who lost everything, and the one son who had no choice but to keep them all together"
From EW.com:
Bluth family lovers, unite! Former Arrested Development co-star Jeffrey Tambor confirmed published reports that a movie version of the Emmy-winning Fox comedy is in the works. “After months of speculation. I think we have finally figured out for sure that we are indeed doing an Arrested Development movie," Tambor told EW.com at the premiere of Hellboy 2 on Sunday. "I am very excited about that. I love that cast and crew and I felt like we had more to say."
The series, which aired for three seasons, starred Jason Bateman, Portia de Rossi, Jessica Walter, Will Arnett and Michael Cera. The single-camera comedy was beloved by critics, but was never a ratings bonanza for Fox. The network canceled the show a year after it won the Emmy award for best comedy.
NMR: The Grand
This will be the last Netflix review for the foreseeable future. With my subscription coming to an end, I put a hold on my account until September when paychecks will start rolling in again. But have no fear, once I get back to Raleigh I'll resume the Bond countdown and also have plenty of summer movies to review.
If you're not familiar with this film, it is a mockumentary about a poker tournament that came out earlier this year to little fanfare. It does boast a solid cast that includes Woody Harrelson, David Cross, Ray Romano, Jason Alexander, Chris Parnell, and Cheryl Hines. The cast seems game and their love of poker is evident, but the movie never really comes together to be decent. Too much of the film is spent establishing the characters and all it does is turn them all into one dimensional people. There are a smattering of laughs found throughout, but not enough to justify a recommendation from me. The film fails to produce enough laughs for comedy fans and doesn't contain enough poker to appease poker fans. I've certainly seen worse movies, but this is a pretty weak entry in the mockumentary genre. Netflix rating: **
If you're not familiar with this film, it is a mockumentary about a poker tournament that came out earlier this year to little fanfare. It does boast a solid cast that includes Woody Harrelson, David Cross, Ray Romano, Jason Alexander, Chris Parnell, and Cheryl Hines. The cast seems game and their love of poker is evident, but the movie never really comes together to be decent. Too much of the film is spent establishing the characters and all it does is turn them all into one dimensional people. There are a smattering of laughs found throughout, but not enough to justify a recommendation from me. The film fails to produce enough laughs for comedy fans and doesn't contain enough poker to appease poker fans. I've certainly seen worse movies, but this is a pretty weak entry in the mockumentary genre. Netflix rating: **
Good news for Office fans
Amy Ryan is returning to The Office
I thought she was a fantastic addition in the finale and I can't wait to see her back for more episodes this Fall. Looks like we officially have another love triangle (maybe rhombus if you include Kevin) on our hands. Poor Michael can never have things go easy for him. But that's ok, we wouldn't want to have it any other way.
I thought she was a fantastic addition in the finale and I can't wait to see her back for more episodes this Fall. Looks like we officially have another love triangle (maybe rhombus if you include Kevin) on our hands. Poor Michael can never have things go easy for him. But that's ok, we wouldn't want to have it any other way.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Coming Attractions: Brad Pitt edition
I have a pair of interesting new trailers to share, each of which star Brad Pitt. What is more interesting to me is the pedigree and subject matter of the films.
The first is Burn After Reading (due out Sept. 12), which is the new film by the Coen brothers (who directed last year's Best Picture, No Country For Old Men). This one has an all star cast which including Pitt, George Clooney, Tilda Swinton, JK Simmons, John Malkovich, and Frances McDormand. While the plot seems complicated, it seems like it's going to somehow combine political thriller with comedy. It sounds twisted, which seems typical for the Coens. Watch the trailer below:
The other is The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (due out Dec. 19). This one is being directed by David Fincher (who's done Seven, Fight Club and one of my favorite movies of last year, Zodiac). It's based on a F. Scott Fitzgerald novel and is the life story of a man who ages reversibly (born an old man and slowly becomes a child). I actually saw this trailer in front of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, but they've been slow to put it online. You can now finally see it at the movie's homepage. From the trailer, the film has a Big Fish vibe to me, which is a good thing. I think the fantasy element combined with a stellar director and cast gives this film a good chance at some Oscar nominations.
The first is Burn After Reading (due out Sept. 12), which is the new film by the Coen brothers (who directed last year's Best Picture, No Country For Old Men). This one has an all star cast which including Pitt, George Clooney, Tilda Swinton, JK Simmons, John Malkovich, and Frances McDormand. While the plot seems complicated, it seems like it's going to somehow combine political thriller with comedy. It sounds twisted, which seems typical for the Coens. Watch the trailer below:
The other is The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (due out Dec. 19). This one is being directed by David Fincher (who's done Seven, Fight Club and one of my favorite movies of last year, Zodiac). It's based on a F. Scott Fitzgerald novel and is the life story of a man who ages reversibly (born an old man and slowly becomes a child). I actually saw this trailer in front of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, but they've been slow to put it online. You can now finally see it at the movie's homepage. From the trailer, the film has a Big Fish vibe to me, which is a good thing. I think the fantasy element combined with a stellar director and cast gives this film a good chance at some Oscar nominations.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Mario Party...literally
So while reading some video game news, I stumbled upon this story about a bar in Copenhagen that has started having parties based on Mario and all the assorted Mario characters. They've even designed several drinks based on the characters. I always appreciate when creativity and booze get mixed together.
Read about it here: It's-a-me: Mario Bar!
Read about it here: It's-a-me: Mario Bar!
More problems for Hogan
As if the Hulkster didn't have enough drama going on what with his wife divorcing him, his son in jail and his daughter's singing career floundering, there comes news that his Ultimate Grill has been deemed a fire hazard! Thank goodness it got pulled before anyone burned their foot on it.
But this is bad news for me as I had planned on getting some to give out as Christmas gifts. Looks like I'll just have to buy the Tracy Jordan Meat Machine instead...
But this is bad news for me as I had planned on getting some to give out as Christmas gifts. Looks like I'll just have to buy the Tracy Jordan Meat Machine instead...
EW's Top 100 New Movie Classics
Entertainment Weekly has decided to compile a list of what they believe are the best movies of the past 25 years. I'll list them here for all of you to see and possibly debate. I'll also include parenthetical notation for the ones on the list that I have seen.
100. South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (seen)
99. The Blair Witch Project (seen)
98. The Talented Mr. Ripley (seen)
97. Glory
96. Far From Heaven
95. In the Mood For Love
94. Full Metal Jacket
93. Ed Wood
92. Menace II Society
91. Back to the Future (seen)
90. Napoleon Dynamite
89. Breaking the Waves
88. Austin Powers: Internation Man of Mystery (seen)
87. Swingers
86. Y Tu Mama Tambien
85. The 40 Year Old Virgin (seen)
84. Sideways
83. Evil Dead 2
82. Lost in Translation
81. Moonstruck
80. Michael Clayton (seen)
79. Waiting for Guffman (seen)
78. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (seen)
77. Sid and Nancy
76. The Departed (seen)
75. Out of Africa
74. Drugstore Cowboy
73. Office Space (seen)
72. Thelma and Louise
71. Unforgiven (seen)
70. Broadcast News
69. All About My Mother
68. Witness
67. Donnie Brasco
66. Natural Born Killers
65. Dirty Dancing
64. No Country For Old Men (seen)
63. Big
62. Sex, Lies and Videotape
61. Beverly Hills Cop (seen)
60. Scream (seen)
59. L.A. Confidential (seen)
58. Ghostbusters (seen)
57. There's Something About Mary (seen)
56. The Lives of Others
55. Risky Business
54. Fatal Attraction (seen)
53. The Truman Show (seen)
52. The Naked Gun (seen)
51. There Will Be Blood
50. The Piano
49. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
48. Scarface
47. Men in Black (seen)
46. Children of Men (seen)
45. Rain Man (seen)
44. The Player
43. Gladiator (seen)
42. Clueless
41. Dazed and Confused
40. Speed (seen)
39. The Sixth Sense (seen)
38. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (seen)
37. Pretty Woman (seen)
36. Spider-Man 2 (seen)
35. The Incredibles (seen)
34. Fargo (seen)
33. The Breakfast Club
32. Fight Club (seen)
31. Brokeback Mountain
30. When Harry Met Sally
29. The Bourne Supremacy (seen)
28. Wings of Desire
27. Aliens
26. Hoop Dreams
25. Shrek (seen)
24. A Room with a View
23. Memento (seen)
22. Rushmore
21. Schindler's List
20. The Lion King (seen)
19. Casino Royale (seen)
18. Do the Right Thing
17. Jerry Maguire (seen)
16. Boogie Nights
15. Edward Scissorhands (seen)
14. Crumb
13. Goodfellas
12. The Matrix (seen)
11. This is Spinal Tap
10. Moulin Rouge
9. Die Hard (seen)
8. The Silence of the Lambs (seen)
7. Hannah and Her Sisters
6. Saving Private Ryan (seen)
5. Toy Story (seen)
4. Blue Velvet
3. Titanic (seen)
2. The Lord of the Rings trilogy (seen)
1. Pulp Fiction
This list was done in commemoration of Entertainment Weekly's 1000th issue. They've also done similar lists for TV, music, books and other assorted new entertainment classics. To check out those lists, you can buy the issue or check them out here.
100. South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (seen)
99. The Blair Witch Project (seen)
98. The Talented Mr. Ripley (seen)
97. Glory
96. Far From Heaven
95. In the Mood For Love
94. Full Metal Jacket
93. Ed Wood
92. Menace II Society
91. Back to the Future (seen)
90. Napoleon Dynamite
89. Breaking the Waves
88. Austin Powers: Internation Man of Mystery (seen)
87. Swingers
86. Y Tu Mama Tambien
85. The 40 Year Old Virgin (seen)
84. Sideways
83. Evil Dead 2
82. Lost in Translation
81. Moonstruck
80. Michael Clayton (seen)
79. Waiting for Guffman (seen)
78. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (seen)
77. Sid and Nancy
76. The Departed (seen)
75. Out of Africa
74. Drugstore Cowboy
73. Office Space (seen)
72. Thelma and Louise
71. Unforgiven (seen)
70. Broadcast News
69. All About My Mother
68. Witness
67. Donnie Brasco
66. Natural Born Killers
65. Dirty Dancing
64. No Country For Old Men (seen)
63. Big
62. Sex, Lies and Videotape
61. Beverly Hills Cop (seen)
60. Scream (seen)
59. L.A. Confidential (seen)
58. Ghostbusters (seen)
57. There's Something About Mary (seen)
56. The Lives of Others
55. Risky Business
54. Fatal Attraction (seen)
53. The Truman Show (seen)
52. The Naked Gun (seen)
51. There Will Be Blood
50. The Piano
49. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
48. Scarface
47. Men in Black (seen)
46. Children of Men (seen)
45. Rain Man (seen)
44. The Player
43. Gladiator (seen)
42. Clueless
41. Dazed and Confused
40. Speed (seen)
39. The Sixth Sense (seen)
38. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (seen)
37. Pretty Woman (seen)
36. Spider-Man 2 (seen)
35. The Incredibles (seen)
34. Fargo (seen)
33. The Breakfast Club
32. Fight Club (seen)
31. Brokeback Mountain
30. When Harry Met Sally
29. The Bourne Supremacy (seen)
28. Wings of Desire
27. Aliens
26. Hoop Dreams
25. Shrek (seen)
24. A Room with a View
23. Memento (seen)
22. Rushmore
21. Schindler's List
20. The Lion King (seen)
19. Casino Royale (seen)
18. Do the Right Thing
17. Jerry Maguire (seen)
16. Boogie Nights
15. Edward Scissorhands (seen)
14. Crumb
13. Goodfellas
12. The Matrix (seen)
11. This is Spinal Tap
10. Moulin Rouge
9. Die Hard (seen)
8. The Silence of the Lambs (seen)
7. Hannah and Her Sisters
6. Saving Private Ryan (seen)
5. Toy Story (seen)
4. Blue Velvet
3. Titanic (seen)
2. The Lord of the Rings trilogy (seen)
1. Pulp Fiction
This list was done in commemoration of Entertainment Weekly's 1000th issue. They've also done similar lists for TV, music, books and other assorted new entertainment classics. To check out those lists, you can buy the issue or check them out here.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Bond countdown: Dr. No (1962)
So I've always been a big fan of the James Bond films and am eagerly anticipating the new one, especially after being so impressed with the direction Daniel Craig has taken the character. If my math is correct, we are 21 weeks out from the new film (Quantum of Solace is due out Nov. 7). So in preparation for the new film, I'll recall each of the previous 21 official films (Never Say Never Again doesn't count) in chronological order.
Plot: In the film that launched the James Bond saga, Agent 007 (Sean Connery) battles the mysterious Dr. No, a scientific genius bent on destroying the U. S. space program. As the countdown to disaster begins, Bond must travel to Jamaica where he encounters the beautiful Honey Rider (Ursula Andress) and confronts the megalomanical villain in his massive island headquarters.
First appearances: M, Miss Moneypenny, Felix Leiter
Other firsts: "Bond, James Bond", Shaken, not stirred vodka, mention of SPECTRE
Girls Bond slept with: Sylvia Trench (presumed), Miss Taro, and Honey Rider (presumed)
Elaborate murder attempt that Bond escapes: Death by tarantula
Personal review: With this first effort, there are lot of things missing that would become stallwarts of the franchise. Still, this a pretty decent effort. The movie kicks off with a mysterious murder that gets Bond right into the investigation. Quarrel is a decent second banana (although Bond's treatment of him wouldn't fly in today's PC era). And Ursula Andress is a quintessential Bond girl. She's hot and isn't annoying in the damsel in distress role. Things drag a bit from the time Bond reaches Crab Key until he meets Dr. No, but then the film ends with some decent action. Not my favorite, but solid nontheless. 8/10
Plot: In the film that launched the James Bond saga, Agent 007 (Sean Connery) battles the mysterious Dr. No, a scientific genius bent on destroying the U. S. space program. As the countdown to disaster begins, Bond must travel to Jamaica where he encounters the beautiful Honey Rider (Ursula Andress) and confronts the megalomanical villain in his massive island headquarters.
First appearances: M, Miss Moneypenny, Felix Leiter
Other firsts: "Bond, James Bond", Shaken, not stirred vodka, mention of SPECTRE
Girls Bond slept with: Sylvia Trench (presumed), Miss Taro, and Honey Rider (presumed)
Elaborate murder attempt that Bond escapes: Death by tarantula
Personal review: With this first effort, there are lot of things missing that would become stallwarts of the franchise. Still, this a pretty decent effort. The movie kicks off with a mysterious murder that gets Bond right into the investigation. Quarrel is a decent second banana (although Bond's treatment of him wouldn't fly in today's PC era). And Ursula Andress is a quintessential Bond girl. She's hot and isn't annoying in the damsel in distress role. Things drag a bit from the time Bond reaches Crab Key until he meets Dr. No, but then the film ends with some decent action. Not my favorite, but solid nontheless. 8/10
Saturday, June 14, 2008
The war is finally over!!
See the announcement here...
U.S. Finally Gets Around To Closing Last WWII Internment Camp
Oh you thought I meant the current war? Sorry, my bad.
U.S. Finally Gets Around To Closing Last WWII Internment Camp
Oh you thought I meant the current war? Sorry, my bad.
NMR: The King of California
Between the fact that my Netflix subscription is almost up and because I'm heading back up to Cleveland next week, I'm not sure when I'll see my next Netflix movie, so I'll just do a quick review for this one one.
This was a nice, sweet story about a father and daughter. Michael Douglas plays the dad who's just been released from a mental hospital and Evan Rachel Wood plays the responsible daughter. Douglas' character believes there is gold buried underneath a Costco and the daughter reluctantly plays along. It has some humorous moments, as well as some touching scenes. It's not groundbreaking or truly remarkable, but it's just an enjoyable movie. The boasts in the trailer that Douglas gives an award-worthy performance were a bit over the top, but it does look like he's having fun with this crazy character. Given the film's subject, there's probably no better weekend than this one to check it out. Overall though, I wouldn't say it's a must-see, but if you do stumble upon it, you'll probably enjoy it. Netflix rating: ****
This was a nice, sweet story about a father and daughter. Michael Douglas plays the dad who's just been released from a mental hospital and Evan Rachel Wood plays the responsible daughter. Douglas' character believes there is gold buried underneath a Costco and the daughter reluctantly plays along. It has some humorous moments, as well as some touching scenes. It's not groundbreaking or truly remarkable, but it's just an enjoyable movie. The boasts in the trailer that Douglas gives an award-worthy performance were a bit over the top, but it does look like he's having fun with this crazy character. Given the film's subject, there's probably no better weekend than this one to check it out. Overall though, I wouldn't say it's a must-see, but if you do stumble upon it, you'll probably enjoy it. Netflix rating: ****
So many jokes....head exploding!
Take a look at this video for a wonderful new invention:
The thing is a walking punchline, so let me try out a few:
- I'm guessing these fella won't be shaking hands after their 18 holes.
- Pee time is set for 9am
- If the cap comes loose when you swing does that count as a water hazard?
- I think I'll use my number 1 iron.
- Do you tip caddies extra for emptying your clubs?
- This thing is much better than their attempt at the URO Bowling Ball.
OK, I'm spent for now, I'll turn it over to you to provide some additional comedy.
The thing is a walking punchline, so let me try out a few:
- I'm guessing these fella won't be shaking hands after their 18 holes.
- Pee time is set for 9am
- If the cap comes loose when you swing does that count as a water hazard?
- I think I'll use my number 1 iron.
- Do you tip caddies extra for emptying your clubs?
- This thing is much better than their attempt at the URO Bowling Ball.
OK, I'm spent for now, I'll turn it over to you to provide some additional comedy.
Friday, June 13, 2008
TV casting news
We're still months away from the new TV season beginning, but we're already getting word on some interesting casting news from a few of my favorite shows. For more info on each casting story, click on the name of the show.
24: Jon Voigt (the actor, not the periodontist) has signed on to play the villain next season. Certainly Voigt has done his fair share of villainy on film and TV before and sounds like he'll be an excellent addition. The only thing that confuses me is the fact that it seemed like we already knew who the main villain would be. So either they've changed the storyline or one of the villains is a red herring. Unfortunately we still have to wait until Jan. 09 to find out.
Heroes: Apparently they've hired another Veronica Mars alum (Francis Capra who played Ron/Weevil) to be one of the many villains for next season. I never saw VM, so I can't really comment on the quality of this hire, but if it helps ensure that Kristen Bell sticks around, I can support that.
The Office Spinoff: We still don't have a premise for the show, but the spinoff to The Office has made it's first official hire and it's Human Giant's Aziz Ansari. In my limited viewing of his work, I've found him to be very funny, so I definitely see this as a good pick. On a side note, Ansari will also be appearing on Scrubs next season.
As I said, no official premise for the show has been announced. However, reports now say that it probably won't be an original cast member leaving to lead the new show, but rather a new character will be introduced on the regular show at the beginning of next season and then they will become the main character for the spinoff. If anything new is announced about it, I'll be sure to post about it here.
24: Jon Voigt (the actor, not the periodontist) has signed on to play the villain next season. Certainly Voigt has done his fair share of villainy on film and TV before and sounds like he'll be an excellent addition. The only thing that confuses me is the fact that it seemed like we already knew who the main villain would be. So either they've changed the storyline or one of the villains is a red herring. Unfortunately we still have to wait until Jan. 09 to find out.
Heroes: Apparently they've hired another Veronica Mars alum (Francis Capra who played Ron/Weevil) to be one of the many villains for next season. I never saw VM, so I can't really comment on the quality of this hire, but if it helps ensure that Kristen Bell sticks around, I can support that.
The Office Spinoff: We still don't have a premise for the show, but the spinoff to The Office has made it's first official hire and it's Human Giant's Aziz Ansari. In my limited viewing of his work, I've found him to be very funny, so I definitely see this as a good pick. On a side note, Ansari will also be appearing on Scrubs next season.
As I said, no official premise for the show has been announced. However, reports now say that it probably won't be an original cast member leaving to lead the new show, but rather a new character will be introduced on the regular show at the beginning of next season and then they will become the main character for the spinoff. If anything new is announced about it, I'll be sure to post about it here.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Time to rock out with your....um, nevermind
Here's the trailer for a new comedy called The Rocker staring Rainn Wilson (Dwight from the Office). The trailer has some laughs, but I've been burned by August comedies before (The Brothers Solomon, Hot Rod, etc.) So I guess I'll have to wait for the reviews before deciding whether this is a theater or Netflix movie. Enjoy.
NMR: Strange Wilderness
I couldn't wait for another movie before writing this review. I needed to get this out as a warning to anyone potentially interested in seeing this. This Happy Madison production (the same company that produced Grandma's Boy) has an impressive cast including Steve Zahn, Jonah Hill, Justin Long, many of Sandler's regular flunkies, Jeff Garlin and Ernest Borgnine. Too bad the movie is absolutely AWFUL. I maybe laughed twice and they were more pity laughs than anything else. I cannot believe how unfunny this was. In addition to being unfunny, the script is terrible and the film is edited poorly. I see no condition under which I could recommend this film to someone, unless I hated that person and even then, I don't know if I could be that cruel. Technically, since I haven't seen 10 total movies yet in 2008, I could put this on my Top Ten list, but I can't even bring myself to do that. I wouldn't want to give anyone a false impression that the film is good in the least. I wish Netflix allowed zero or negative star ratings, because this would get it. Since they don't - Netflix rating: *
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
The Apocalypse is upon us
So about a year ago this fake trailer was created starring Knocked Up stars Seth Rogen and Jay Baruchel and it generated a lot of Internet buzz. Well, now it appears it's actually getting turned into a real movie. You can read about it here and you can check out the orignal short below. (Warning: Video is NSFW)
Monday, June 9, 2008
NMR: Quickies
I've once again fallen behind on my Netflix reviews, so here are some quick thoughts on the stuff I've caught most recently:
The Rainmaker - Decent legal thriller, but for a film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, it lacked a certain level of gravitas. Nothing really noteworthy here besides Matt Damon in one of his earliest roles. Netflix rating: ***
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm - This was actually an animated film that got a theatrical release in 1993. The animation is solid and the storyline is decent, but I thought too much time was spent on Batman's love interest. I understood why they did it, but it really dragged the film down. Love interest subplots belong in Superman and Spiderman, not Batman. Netflix rating: ***
Bowling for Columbine - Typical Michael Moore film (this one is on gun control), aside from the fact that it was made before he truly became famous, so he could still get away with his ambushes against people KMart, Charlton Heston, and Dick Clark. Thought provoking stuff, although I felt some of the material was too tangential and there were too many montages at the beginning. Netflix rating: ****
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead - This one just came out last winter and was directed by famed director Sidney Lumet. A story about two desperate brothers who's failed attempt at a burglary goes horribly wrong. The film starts out really interesting but grows increasingly depressing as it goes on. The lack of a likeable character makes it a real downer. The best part of the film was getting to see a lot of Marisa Tomei here. Credit also to Lumet for making a well-crafted film that directors half his age wish they could make. This film is well-done but doesn't have a lot of rewatchability. Netflix rating: ****
The Rainmaker - Decent legal thriller, but for a film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, it lacked a certain level of gravitas. Nothing really noteworthy here besides Matt Damon in one of his earliest roles. Netflix rating: ***
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm - This was actually an animated film that got a theatrical release in 1993. The animation is solid and the storyline is decent, but I thought too much time was spent on Batman's love interest. I understood why they did it, but it really dragged the film down. Love interest subplots belong in Superman and Spiderman, not Batman. Netflix rating: ***
Bowling for Columbine - Typical Michael Moore film (this one is on gun control), aside from the fact that it was made before he truly became famous, so he could still get away with his ambushes against people KMart, Charlton Heston, and Dick Clark. Thought provoking stuff, although I felt some of the material was too tangential and there were too many montages at the beginning. Netflix rating: ****
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead - This one just came out last winter and was directed by famed director Sidney Lumet. A story about two desperate brothers who's failed attempt at a burglary goes horribly wrong. The film starts out really interesting but grows increasingly depressing as it goes on. The lack of a likeable character makes it a real downer. The best part of the film was getting to see a lot of Marisa Tomei here. Credit also to Lumet for making a well-crafted film that directors half his age wish they could make. This film is well-done but doesn't have a lot of rewatchability. Netflix rating: ****
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Lost finale thoughts
Yes, I know the episode aired over a week ago, but I figure this way I ensure that I'm not spoiling anything for anyone who hasn't seen it yet (really I've just been lazy).
Anyway, I thought it was a nice capper to an excellent season, but maybe not as good as last year's finale. Part of the problem with this one is that due to the flashforwards, some of the drama was taken away. We already knew the fate of nearly everyone so you knew how things would turn out. That doesn't mean that the show didn't have its share of surprises and of course, has left us with a lot of questions. Here are some of the big questions we're left pondering:
1. Where is the island?
2. What will be the time frame that will dominate the storylines next year; 2004 or 2008?
3. What happened to Faraday and the people on the raft?
4. When Ben says everyone has to return that does include people like Aaron and Walt?
5. Why did Christian Shepherd and the whispers show up on the freighter?
6. Is Jin really dead?
7. How did Locke get in the coffin? And is he really dead?
Speaking of Locke in the coffin, here's an interesting video of some alternative endings that were shot for the finale:
8. What did Sawyer whisper to Kate?
Actually, that one has seemingly been answered:
And for one other interesting tidbit, here's a quality photo of the newspaper clipping regarding "Jeremy Bentham's" death.
Finally, here is my own LOST theory after seeing the finale. Some others may have already speculated on this, but I did not get it from anywhere but my own mind.
Ben says that by moving the island he cannot return to the Island. We also know that he is strongly pushing Jack to have the Oceanic 6 return to the island. Why? I feel that if they return, there is a way for him to return as well.
In addition, I believe all of the freighter folk had been to the island before too (there was hints of that already with Charlotte). What if Widmore needed the freighter folk to return to the island for the same reason that Ben needs to Oceanic 6 to return.
You all can chew on that, and for quite a while too, since Lost won't be returning until Jan. '09. *sigh* I hate the waiting game.
Anyway, I thought it was a nice capper to an excellent season, but maybe not as good as last year's finale. Part of the problem with this one is that due to the flashforwards, some of the drama was taken away. We already knew the fate of nearly everyone so you knew how things would turn out. That doesn't mean that the show didn't have its share of surprises and of course, has left us with a lot of questions. Here are some of the big questions we're left pondering:
1. Where is the island?
2. What will be the time frame that will dominate the storylines next year; 2004 or 2008?
3. What happened to Faraday and the people on the raft?
4. When Ben says everyone has to return that does include people like Aaron and Walt?
5. Why did Christian Shepherd and the whispers show up on the freighter?
6. Is Jin really dead?
7. How did Locke get in the coffin? And is he really dead?
Speaking of Locke in the coffin, here's an interesting video of some alternative endings that were shot for the finale:
8. What did Sawyer whisper to Kate?
Actually, that one has seemingly been answered:
And for one other interesting tidbit, here's a quality photo of the newspaper clipping regarding "Jeremy Bentham's" death.
Finally, here is my own LOST theory after seeing the finale. Some others may have already speculated on this, but I did not get it from anywhere but my own mind.
Ben says that by moving the island he cannot return to the Island. We also know that he is strongly pushing Jack to have the Oceanic 6 return to the island. Why? I feel that if they return, there is a way for him to return as well.
In addition, I believe all of the freighter folk had been to the island before too (there was hints of that already with Charlotte). What if Widmore needed the freighter folk to return to the island for the same reason that Ben needs to Oceanic 6 to return.
You all can chew on that, and for quite a while too, since Lost won't be returning until Jan. '09. *sigh* I hate the waiting game.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Hollywood R.I.P.s
The entertainment industry was hit hard this past week with the passing of a number of well known people, including funnyman Harvey Korman (The Carol Burnett Show) and two composers; the man who created the Star Trek theme and the man who created the theme for the Andy Griffith Show.
But the biggest loss this week had to be actor/director Sydney Pollock. His name may not be immediately recognizable, but you've no doubt seen his work either in front of or behind the camera. I could try and list all of his credentials, but instead, I would suggest you click on the link below to see a good example of some of his work.
Sydney Pollock: A retrospective
And in a weird way, we also mourn the loss of some classic Hollywood artifacts as earlier today there was a fire at the Universal studios which caused damage and/or destroyed several sets (including the Back to the Future clocktower) and thousands of videos and film reels. Luckily, there are duplicates of most of the videos and film reels stored elsewhere. Still, it's a shame to see so much cinematic history go up in smoke like that. You can read more about the blaze here.
But the biggest loss this week had to be actor/director Sydney Pollock. His name may not be immediately recognizable, but you've no doubt seen his work either in front of or behind the camera. I could try and list all of his credentials, but instead, I would suggest you click on the link below to see a good example of some of his work.
Sydney Pollock: A retrospective
And in a weird way, we also mourn the loss of some classic Hollywood artifacts as earlier today there was a fire at the Universal studios which caused damage and/or destroyed several sets (including the Back to the Future clocktower) and thousands of videos and film reels. Luckily, there are duplicates of most of the videos and film reels stored elsewhere. Still, it's a shame to see so much cinematic history go up in smoke like that. You can read more about the blaze here.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
NMR: Double Feature
Cloverfield: I never had the time or energy to check out this monster movie from J.J. Abrams when it came out earlier this year, so I decided to rent it now. I will give the movie credit for not following the normal monster movie conventions (you barely see the monster, and the focus is on a few individuals and their attempts to escape the danger). I'll also say that the film delivers a number of decent thrills. But for all that it does right, the movie doesn't work due to its high level of implausibility. The actions that the main characters choose to do are so unrealistic that I couldn't sympathize with their situation. In addition, the movie was filmed as if one of the main characters was recording it all on their own camera, documentary-style. As I'm watching it, I'm yelling at the screen, 'put the f'ing camera down and save yourself!' Despite trying to give this a very 'real' feel, it felt like one of the fakest movies I had ever seen. Still, if you're looking for a cheap thrill, this is probably better than most of those cheesy horror flicks that come out every three weeks. Netflix rating: **
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang: After being so impressed with Robert Downey Jr.'s work in both Iron Man and Zodiac, I decided to seek out some of his other recent work. This relatively unknown film came out 2-3 years ago and is an homage to film noir and detective movies. Downey (again delivering a good performance) plays a small time crook who ends up getting a job as an actor and then becomes a detective to prepare for the role. It sounds confusing, but it (sort of) makes sense in the film. The film has a lot of good laughs and the central mystery is fun. It also has fun at being unconventional with Downey also being the film's narrator and making snarky comments throughout. However, the film at times acts cuter than what it really is. There are also some slow moments in the film that could have been cut out. I couldn't take a steady diet of this, but it offered a nice change of pace. Netflix rating: ****
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang: After being so impressed with Robert Downey Jr.'s work in both Iron Man and Zodiac, I decided to seek out some of his other recent work. This relatively unknown film came out 2-3 years ago and is an homage to film noir and detective movies. Downey (again delivering a good performance) plays a small time crook who ends up getting a job as an actor and then becomes a detective to prepare for the role. It sounds confusing, but it (sort of) makes sense in the film. The film has a lot of good laughs and the central mystery is fun. It also has fun at being unconventional with Downey also being the film's narrator and making snarky comments throughout. However, the film at times acts cuter than what it really is. There are also some slow moments in the film that could have been cut out. I couldn't take a steady diet of this, but it offered a nice change of pace. Netflix rating: ****
OMFG!!! Pictures from the Sex and the City premiere!
What a fab event this was...
Check out Kristin Davis in her gold dress...
and there's Cynthia Nixon with her "girl"friend...
and the moment we've all been waiting for, here comes Sarah Jessica Parker and Kim Catrall. Aren't they looking lovely?
Ugh! After seeing this movie have a better opening day than Indiana Jones, I have lost all faith in humanity.
Check out Kristin Davis in her gold dress...
and there's Cynthia Nixon with her "girl"friend...
and the moment we've all been waiting for, here comes Sarah Jessica Parker and Kim Catrall. Aren't they looking lovely?
Ugh! After seeing this movie have a better opening day than Indiana Jones, I have lost all faith in humanity.
EPIC FAIL - Sports edition
I don't know how a prestigious organization like the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League will ever be able to live down such an embarassing incident.
I'm surprised a diva like her couldn't throw that further. I'm sure if that had been a bottle of the wrong brand on mineral water she would have been able to hurl it all the way to the plate.
I don't know what's more shocking - the announcer calling Danika Patrick the biggest name in her sport when she's only won one race in her career or the nonplussed reaction by the guy in the headphones to this terrible incident.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Eerie Indiana
It's funny, I never saw any of the Indiana Jones movies until about 10 years ago and never was a huge fan of the series, yet I ended up seeing the new film on opening day.
Now having seen the fourth installment, I can say that it was just an ok film. But since I thought the other three were just 'ok' too, I'm not sure that tells you a lot about the quality of the film, so let me try and provide some further analysis of the film's strengths and weaknesses.
The film wastes no time in getting right into the action and heart of the story, which is pretty typical of this franchise. However, after the initial action sequence, the film really gets weighed down with a series of pointless scenes. There are several moments early on where Spielberg unnecessarily hammers home the point that the film is taking place in the 50s (Oooh, greasers! Eeek, the Red Scare!) Yet, despite inundating us with the film's temporal context, he never really says anything about the decade. The Russian villains here could have just as easily been Nazis again. I give the film credit for advancing the film's chronology to match Harrison's actual aging, but they don't do anything significant with the era that they place the film in.
Speaking of Harrison Ford, despite the nearly twenty year layoff between films, he picks up the fedora and bullwhip without a hitch. He remains the same presence on-screen that he was when he made the character so engaging in the first place. Yes, he may be greyer on top, but that doesn't mean he doesn't still bring the energy here. For many, just seeing him back as this beloved character will make this film a thumbs up for them.
Ford's surrounding cast is a mixed bag. On one hand, it's nice to see Karen Allen back as Marion Ravenwood from Raiders of the Lost Ark, but the reunion between her and Indy somewhat fell flat. Part of the reason is that not enough time was given to let them banter and squabble to exhibit the chemistry they had in the first film. The other reason is that it seemed odd to bring back a former flame when it seemed that the women in the Indiana Jones films were similar to Bond girls; one and done. I never got the vibe in Raiders that Marion was Indy's soul mate, even though they try to make it seem that way here.
The film, also includes one of my least favorite actors, Shia LaBeouf. In this film, he actually doesn't bother me all that much, which is probably the best compliment I can give him. Rather I was more annoyed by Spielberg's apparent man-crush for him and the way he exhibited it in the way his character's portrayed. There were too many scenes that attempted to make you believe he is the heir apparent to the Indy franchise and they just came across as ludicrous to me.
Finally, Cate Blanchett is here as well as the villainous Irina Spalko; a Russian who wants to to use mind control to take over the world. Frankly, I thought her talents went to waste here. She's a quality actress, but really any woman with a halfway decent Russian accent could have done this role. Again, it's really more of a fault of the writing and directing rather than anything that she did poorly.
There are several other side characters here(John Hurt, Ray Winstone, Jim Broadbent), who could have been interesting, but again the film spends so much time focusing on the action, that they never have a chance to shine or truly explain why they're being included in the film at all.
I suppose I should also mention the titular crystal skull; the desired chotchkee that both good and evil are seeking. For me, the skull doesn't have the same gravitas as say the Ark or the Holy Grail from previous films. That's probably unfair though as in some cultures the crystal skull is just as highly revered as the Ark is to Christianity. However, since the cultures in which the skull is revered probably are the minority of the viewing audience, I think more could have been done to emphasis what a great treasure it truly is.
The action surrounding the procurement of the crystal skull is all good fun and on par with the action of the previous films. You have several scenes where key items are exchanged back and forth between both sides. You have the trademark creepy scenes involving some sort of critter (in this case, big, nasty ants). And you have a finale that involves a special-effects laiden death scene. I would explain more about what is the significance behind finding the crystal skull, but I don't want to spoil too much here. Needless to say, the events are likely to make fans devisive over whether or not they belong in an Indiana Jones film.
Where the filmmakers falter in creating a coherent story, they equally succeed in providing a number of easter eggs related to the previous films. There are several references to characters, objects, and events from the earlier films that will be appreciated by all of the fans of the franchise. The scene which calls back to Indy's fear of snakes is probably my favorite of the film.
Given the goodwill that these films have built up over time, this new film will probably get a pass from most people, including myself, despite some glaring weaknesses. If this were a stand alone film, I'm not sure how kind most people would be to it. But because the action is acceptable summer fare and because they throw enough bones to fans of the franchise, it receives a marginal recommendation for all. There's likely to be something for everyone to enjoy about this film.
And despite the problems I saw here, I would still be ok with seeing another film made if everyone is up for it. In particular, I would really like to see them attempt Indy 5 as opposed to trying a spinoff franchise involving LaBeouf. If nothing else, this film proved that Harrison Ford can still swashbuckle with the best of them. Grade: B-
Now having seen the fourth installment, I can say that it was just an ok film. But since I thought the other three were just 'ok' too, I'm not sure that tells you a lot about the quality of the film, so let me try and provide some further analysis of the film's strengths and weaknesses.
The film wastes no time in getting right into the action and heart of the story, which is pretty typical of this franchise. However, after the initial action sequence, the film really gets weighed down with a series of pointless scenes. There are several moments early on where Spielberg unnecessarily hammers home the point that the film is taking place in the 50s (Oooh, greasers! Eeek, the Red Scare!) Yet, despite inundating us with the film's temporal context, he never really says anything about the decade. The Russian villains here could have just as easily been Nazis again. I give the film credit for advancing the film's chronology to match Harrison's actual aging, but they don't do anything significant with the era that they place the film in.
Speaking of Harrison Ford, despite the nearly twenty year layoff between films, he picks up the fedora and bullwhip without a hitch. He remains the same presence on-screen that he was when he made the character so engaging in the first place. Yes, he may be greyer on top, but that doesn't mean he doesn't still bring the energy here. For many, just seeing him back as this beloved character will make this film a thumbs up for them.
Ford's surrounding cast is a mixed bag. On one hand, it's nice to see Karen Allen back as Marion Ravenwood from Raiders of the Lost Ark, but the reunion between her and Indy somewhat fell flat. Part of the reason is that not enough time was given to let them banter and squabble to exhibit the chemistry they had in the first film. The other reason is that it seemed odd to bring back a former flame when it seemed that the women in the Indiana Jones films were similar to Bond girls; one and done. I never got the vibe in Raiders that Marion was Indy's soul mate, even though they try to make it seem that way here.
The film, also includes one of my least favorite actors, Shia LaBeouf. In this film, he actually doesn't bother me all that much, which is probably the best compliment I can give him. Rather I was more annoyed by Spielberg's apparent man-crush for him and the way he exhibited it in the way his character's portrayed. There were too many scenes that attempted to make you believe he is the heir apparent to the Indy franchise and they just came across as ludicrous to me.
Finally, Cate Blanchett is here as well as the villainous Irina Spalko; a Russian who wants to to use mind control to take over the world. Frankly, I thought her talents went to waste here. She's a quality actress, but really any woman with a halfway decent Russian accent could have done this role. Again, it's really more of a fault of the writing and directing rather than anything that she did poorly.
There are several other side characters here(John Hurt, Ray Winstone, Jim Broadbent), who could have been interesting, but again the film spends so much time focusing on the action, that they never have a chance to shine or truly explain why they're being included in the film at all.
I suppose I should also mention the titular crystal skull; the desired chotchkee that both good and evil are seeking. For me, the skull doesn't have the same gravitas as say the Ark or the Holy Grail from previous films. That's probably unfair though as in some cultures the crystal skull is just as highly revered as the Ark is to Christianity. However, since the cultures in which the skull is revered probably are the minority of the viewing audience, I think more could have been done to emphasis what a great treasure it truly is.
The action surrounding the procurement of the crystal skull is all good fun and on par with the action of the previous films. You have several scenes where key items are exchanged back and forth between both sides. You have the trademark creepy scenes involving some sort of critter (in this case, big, nasty ants). And you have a finale that involves a special-effects laiden death scene. I would explain more about what is the significance behind finding the crystal skull, but I don't want to spoil too much here. Needless to say, the events are likely to make fans devisive over whether or not they belong in an Indiana Jones film.
Where the filmmakers falter in creating a coherent story, they equally succeed in providing a number of easter eggs related to the previous films. There are several references to characters, objects, and events from the earlier films that will be appreciated by all of the fans of the franchise. The scene which calls back to Indy's fear of snakes is probably my favorite of the film.
Given the goodwill that these films have built up over time, this new film will probably get a pass from most people, including myself, despite some glaring weaknesses. If this were a stand alone film, I'm not sure how kind most people would be to it. But because the action is acceptable summer fare and because they throw enough bones to fans of the franchise, it receives a marginal recommendation for all. There's likely to be something for everyone to enjoy about this film.
And despite the problems I saw here, I would still be ok with seeing another film made if everyone is up for it. In particular, I would really like to see them attempt Indy 5 as opposed to trying a spinoff franchise involving LaBeouf. If nothing else, this film proved that Harrison Ford can still swashbuckle with the best of them. Grade: B-
Friday, May 23, 2008
FOX pilots
So as you probably gathered if you read my posts about the networks' fall lineups, there is not going to be a lot of new shows as a result of the strike. And of the new shows that the networks did announce, not a lot of information was given. However, FOX has recently released teasers for a few of their new shows; a couple of which I'm interested in. One is the Family Guy spinoff devoted to the Cleveland character, and the other is Fringe, the latest offering from J.J. Abrams. You can check both of them out below.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
NMR: Quick recap
So with as much as I've been doing for school lately, plus being up in Cleveland all last week, I haven't been able to watch much through Netflix lately.
However, in preparation for the new one coming out this week, I did rent the first three Indiana Jones movies again recently. I had not seen them in a long time, so I'm glad I watched them again. Overall, I'm not a huge fan of the movies. I'm not sure what it is, but this franchise doesn't captivate me like a lot of others ones do. Having said that, I think, oddly enough, that Last Crusade is the best of the bunch. It includes everything that should be in a film like that and Sean Connery was a welcome addition to the cast. It's a shame that he's retired now and couldn't be lured into making a cameo for the new one. Raiders is solid, but because so much of that movie has been parodied in other shows and films, it's hard to appreciate it in the same way as when it first came out. The worst of the bunch was Temple of Doom, which it seems is the consensus dud. We never see the professorial side of Indiana in that movie and both the female lead and Short Round are really annoying. There are a few decent action sequences, but not enough to put it on par with the other two films. Given their classic status, I'll grade these higher than I might have if they were new films.
Raiders: ****
Temple: ***
Last Crusade: ****
I also saw United 93, which is a terrific film, subject matter aside. But because it deals with such a horrific event, I could never in my right mind watch it again. If you feel you can handle it, I would definitely recommend you see it. Netflix rating: *****
However, in preparation for the new one coming out this week, I did rent the first three Indiana Jones movies again recently. I had not seen them in a long time, so I'm glad I watched them again. Overall, I'm not a huge fan of the movies. I'm not sure what it is, but this franchise doesn't captivate me like a lot of others ones do. Having said that, I think, oddly enough, that Last Crusade is the best of the bunch. It includes everything that should be in a film like that and Sean Connery was a welcome addition to the cast. It's a shame that he's retired now and couldn't be lured into making a cameo for the new one. Raiders is solid, but because so much of that movie has been parodied in other shows and films, it's hard to appreciate it in the same way as when it first came out. The worst of the bunch was Temple of Doom, which it seems is the consensus dud. We never see the professorial side of Indiana in that movie and both the female lead and Short Round are really annoying. There are a few decent action sequences, but not enough to put it on par with the other two films. Given their classic status, I'll grade these higher than I might have if they were new films.
Raiders: ****
Temple: ***
Last Crusade: ****
I also saw United 93, which is a terrific film, subject matter aside. But because it deals with such a horrific event, I could never in my right mind watch it again. If you feel you can handle it, I would definitely recommend you see it. Netflix rating: *****
Friday, May 16, 2008
Tropic Thunder red band trailer
Here's the new 'restricted' trailer for the Ben Stiller comedy due out this August. Man, this thing looks like it will pull no punches when it comes to mocking the Hollywood industry. And it looks damn funny to boot!
Red band trailer for Tropic Thunder
Red band trailer for Tropic Thunder
The Office deleted scenes (Goodbye Toby)
In addition to the deleted scenes, I've added a link at the bottom of a review from last night's truly excellent season finale. I agree with virtually everything this guy says, so consider reading it as the equivalent to hearing what I had to say about the episode. Ryan's arrest video, which the Dunder Mifflin crew watching on YouTube in last night's episode has also been added for your enjoyment.
Time.com review of The Office season finale
Time.com review of The Office season finale
The return of OO
I mentioned a few backs that the wrestling website that I wrote a column for, Online Onslaught, seemingly went away. Well after abandoning the previous hosting company, Rick, OO's webmaster, has a new site up that looks just like the old one. You can check it out here.
And while you're there, you can check out my new column which is featured on the front page. This one reviews Summerslam 2002, which is most notable for Shawn Michaels return match after being semi-retired for four years with a back injury.
And while you're there, you can check out my new column which is featured on the front page. This one reviews Summerslam 2002, which is most notable for Shawn Michaels return match after being semi-retired for four years with a back injury.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Upfronts Update (CBS and Fox)
Here are the remaining schedule announcements from CBS and Fox. Again, not a lot of shakeups in their lineups and only a few new shows debuting.
CBS:
Fox:
CBS:
CBS has sent out its fall lineup, and in addition to adding five new series, the Eye is shuffling around three returning favorites.
Old Christine, which to the surprise of many was plucked from ABC's anxious grasp and kept on at CBS, now will lead off Wednesday nights. That sets the table for Project Gary, a new comedy starring Jay Mohr as a recent divorcé. With Rules of Engagement on hold until midseason, Worst Week (Jericho's Kyle Bornheimer and Kitchen Confidential's Erinn Hayes are newly engaged) will join the Monday comedy block.
CBS Tuesday still starts out with NCIS, but then continues with The Mentalist (starring Simon Baker) and Without a Trace (landing on a new night).
Claiming Trace's Thurday-at-10 spot is Jerry Bruckheimer's Eleventh Hour. One of the perhaps oddest fits has The Ex List, a big ol' romantic dramedy, filling the Friday gap between Ghost Whisperer and Numbers.
The Unit now calls Sundays-at-10 home. Harper's Island, a murder mystery, debuts midseason.
Fox:
For those who've been keeping an ear to the tracks, Fox's fall plan didn't shake out exactly as expected. Perhaps waylaid by CBS' decision to program Wednesday's 8 o'clock hour with comedies, Fox has opted to counterprogram with Bones. Leading out of House on Tuesdays at 9 is Lost creator J.J. Abrams' much-anticipated Fringe.
On Monday, Terminator and Prison Break have swapped places, with Sarah Connor now opening the night. Wednesday's 9 o'clock hour features 'Til Death and the new comedy Do Not Disturb (née The Inn). Thursday's reality twofer now features Moment of Truth and Kitchen Nightmares, with 5th Grader and Lyrics airing Friday.
Prison Break, Fringe and Bones each will return with two-hour episodes, airing Aug. 25, 26 and 27 (respectively).
Sunday maintains the status quo, with the new animated series Sit Down, Shut Up and The Cleveland Show premiering in spring '09.
Joss Whedon's Dollhouse, as expected, won't open until midseason. 24, Idol and Hell's Kitchen all return in January.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Upfronts Update (ABC and CW)
As I mentioned before, the announcements of the network's fall schedules has taken on a different light this year. Since the strike went on for so long, very few pilots for new shows were made. So most of the networks' new schedules look eerily similar to their current lineup.
Yesterday, NBC gave their schedule. I talked about most of their big moves a few weeks ago because they had already revealed a lot of their plans (i.e. The Office spinoff debuting after the Super Bowl). I didn't mention their new shows, so I might do that in a different post if I have the time and/or energy.
Today, ABC and the CW gave their schedules. Since I don't watch much on either network, I'm just posting TV Guide.com's reporting of their schedules. Enjoy!
ABC
the CW
Yesterday, NBC gave their schedule. I talked about most of their big moves a few weeks ago because they had already revealed a lot of their plans (i.e. The Office spinoff debuting after the Super Bowl). I didn't mention their new shows, so I might do that in a different post if I have the time and/or energy.
Today, ABC and the CW gave their schedules. Since I don't watch much on either network, I'm just posting TV Guide.com's reporting of their schedules. Enjoy!
ABC
ABC has announced their new fall schedule and it looks promising. (That's right, no shows based on Geico commercials!) Let's break down the schedule starting with new shows.
New ABC Series
• Life on Mars (airing Thursdays at 10 pm/ET)
David E. Kelley's version of the BBC series, it revolves around a modern-day police detective (Jason O'Mara) who, after a car crash, mysteriously finds himself transported back to 1973 and still working as a cop.
• Opportunity Knocks (Tuesdays at 8)
This game show is going on the road, arriving the doorsteps of everyday Americans to test how well they know their family. The mobile team will stop by any small town in America in a semi that is flush with flat-screen TVs, new furniture and cash prizes that the family can win right there.
New Midseason Series
• The Goode Family
Mike Judge brings ABC this animated series about a family obsessed with doing the "right" thing, whether it's environmentally, politically or socially. Their efforts, however, often have accidental (and comic) consequences.
• Scrubs
J.D., Turk, Carla, Kelso, Cox and all your other Sacred Heart favorites resurface on ABC to truly finish their story.
• Untitled Ashton Kutcher/Tyra Banks Project
Besides that duo making me cringe, the show is described as "a beauty pageant unlike any you've ever seen."
Of course, Lost, According to Jim and The Bachelor will also be back midseason.
Shows on the Move
• Boston Legal moves to Mondays at 10.
• Eli Stone's sophomore run unspools Tuesdays at 10.
the CW
The CW is the latest network to spill their fall slate, and two nights — Monday (Gossip Tree Hill) and Thursday (Smallnatural) — remain unchanged.
Tuesday will offer some "zip" in the form of 90210, the BH follow-up featuring an occasional drop-by from "guidance counselor" Jennie Garth. Leading out of that is Surviving the Filthy Rich (fka How to Teach Filthy Rich Girls, and starring Reba's JoAnna Garcia).
Wednesday, as usual, kicks off with Top Model, now followed by Stylista, a Devil Wears Prada-esque reality series from Tyra Banks. Everybody Hates Chris and The Game, having lost their Sunday-night home, have been moved to Friday.
Speaking of CW's Sunday... that's "TBA." Media Rights Capital, the firm network "outsourced" the evening to, will announce its offerings (two dramas and two comedies) at a later date.
Reaper will return midseason.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Three the easy way!
Sadly, despite this and Cliff Lee pitching 9 innings of shutout ball, the Indians still lost this game 3-0 in extra innings.
TV Comings and Goings
The network upfront meetings are taking place this week, which usually means the announcements of the Fall TV schedules. Because of the strike, they aren't being run as usual. Right now, we're getting announcements here and there about what's going on. If they actually announce full TV schedules, I'll announce them here and provide some comments. But for now, here is the fate for some of the bubble shows...
The lucky ones:
How I Met Your Mother - renewed for a 4th season, thanks to it's recent upswing in the ratings. I guess Britney Spears was good for something after all.
Reaper - picked up for a second season, but it'll only be for 13 episodes and as a mid-season replacement.
Scrubs - officially moving to ABC this fall for another season.
Boston Legal - renewed for a 5th season
Eli Stone - renewed for a 2nd season
The New Adventures of Old Christine - renewed by CBS for a 4th season
Rules of Engagement - renewed for another (3rd?) season by CBS
Shows that will RIP
Shark
Moonlight
Aliens in America
Miss Guided
Women's Murder Club
Cavemen
Big Shots
Carpoolers
Men in Trees
Cashmere Mafia
October Road
Back to You
Canterbury's Law
New Amsterdam
The Return of Jezebel James
Las Vegas
Journeyman
Bionic Woman
Cane
Welcome to the Captain
The lucky ones:
How I Met Your Mother - renewed for a 4th season, thanks to it's recent upswing in the ratings. I guess Britney Spears was good for something after all.
Reaper - picked up for a second season, but it'll only be for 13 episodes and as a mid-season replacement.
Scrubs - officially moving to ABC this fall for another season.
Boston Legal - renewed for a 5th season
Eli Stone - renewed for a 2nd season
The New Adventures of Old Christine - renewed by CBS for a 4th season
Rules of Engagement - renewed for another (3rd?) season by CBS
Shows that will RIP
Shark
Moonlight
Aliens in America
Miss Guided
Women's Murder Club
Cavemen
Big Shots
Carpoolers
Men in Trees
Cashmere Mafia
October Road
Back to You
Canterbury's Law
New Amsterdam
The Return of Jezebel James
Las Vegas
Journeyman
Bionic Woman
Cane
Welcome to the Captain
Heroes Season 3 trailer
It's not much, but I guess we'll take anything we can get at this point.
By the way, don't be fooled by their promise of a "3-hour premiere". It's really a 2-hour premiere with a season 2 recap episode airing before it.
By the way, don't be fooled by their promise of a "3-hour premiere". It's really a 2-hour premiere with a season 2 recap episode airing before it.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Stark raving
Even with as busy as I have been, I still managed to keep my yearly tradition (dating back to 1998!) of seeing the first big movie of the summer box office season in its opening weekend. And if the first movie is any indication, we should be in for a great summer. This year has gotten off to a great start (much better than last year with the underwhelming Spider-Man 3), both in terms of quality and financial success (Weekend box office numbers)
And unless you've been trapped by Afghanis in a cave, you'd know that I'm talking about Iron Man. The film, which is latest adaptation of a Marvel comic superhero, is about Tony Stark, playboy weapons developer, who, after being attacked by terrorists using the weapons he created, decides to do something good with his life and destroy the very weapons he made. In order to do so, he creates a special suit and thus becomes Iron Man. And that is about as crude of an explanation of the story's background as you'll ever see.
What clearly makes this film as good as it is, is Robert Downey Jr. playing Stark/Iron Man. He, moreso than any other actor currently portraying a superhero in film, is the perfect embodiment of the comic book character. Not only is he a perfect fit for the role, but he also makes the character really appealing and entertaining. Playing an intelligent, yet sarcastic playboy billionaire could be offputting or too familiar (comparisons to Bruce Wayne/Batman perhaps), but Downey rises above those potential problems and delivers an outstanding performance. It's wonderful to see a guy who's dealt with so many personal problems in his life, finally start to get things together and provide a performance that is likely going to be enjoyed by so many.
Luckily for Downey and the film as a whole, he doesn't have to carry the film on his back, as he is surrounded by a very capable cast of characters. Gwenyth Paltrow plays Stark's dutiful assistant/potential love interest Pepper Potts. I've never been crazy about Paltrow's work, but she's really great here and has some wonderful chemistry with Downey. I'm glad to see they casted someone who was a little bit older and mature, like her, because I think the dynamic would have been off if they would have chosen pretty, young, flavor-of-the-week actress instead.
Rounding out the cast is Terrance Howard as James 'Rhodey' Rhodes who is Stark's friend and military liason and Jeff Bridges, playing Obidiah Stane, Stark's business partner, who clearly doesn't share Stark's newfound oppositional viewpoint on war profiteering. I would have liked to seen more from them (a lot of time is spent solely focusing on Stark and his creation of the Iron Man suit), but in the time that they are given, they provide solid performances.
The film follows a typical origin storyline. While the variables are obviously different, the basic remains familiar here. In addition, the film uses a handful of movie cliches that I could have done without (false drama created through computer download counter, scenes setting up later plot points being hammered home, etc.). The overall sense of familiarity/cliche I think is a result of director Jon Faverau. This is Faverau's first foray into the big budget action flick territory and it is apparent. He doesn't quite have the ability yet to rise above these overused tactics, in the way that Christopher Nolan has. Still these are minor problems with the film and don't really detract from the film's enjoyability.
I mentioned earlier how I felt the Rhodes and Stane characters could have gotten more screentime. The Stane character in particular could have been more fleshed out, I felt. Without spoiling too much, I felt many of his actions needed more explanation. Also, Iron Man's final battle with the film's villain could have gone on longer as well. The film takes its time in having Stark not only design the suit but also perfecting how to use it as well. If it weren't for the fact that those scenes are so damn enjoyable, I might be more critical of the time management issues of the film.
I will say that for as good as the film is, I left the theater not feeling as amped up as I have been seeing that I absolutely loved. And what's bugging me is that I'm not sure why I didn't feel a stronger connection to the film. It could be that the final battle scene wasn't as cathartic as it could have been. It may be that I'm not as familiar with the Iron Man character as I was with other comic book heroes and thus don't have as strong of an emotional attachment to the character. It may have been the people I saw the film with (I ended up going with a bunch of CRDM students). I'm not sure what the explanation is. I can't really pinpoint a major problem with the film, so I don't know why I'm not embracing it more. I'm thinking though that maybe another viewing of the film will hopefully either make me appreciate it more or give me some clarity on a flaw that I'm missing.
Despite, what I'm saying here, I wholeheartedly recommend everyone check out this movie. The film never drags and it provides an excellent balance of action and comedy. The nagging issues I mentioned will not and should not affect your enjoyment of this film. Downey alone makes the film worth the price of admission and I definitely think we have a new comic book franchise on our hands. But we can look to the future at another time, for now, go out and see this movie and pray that everything else this summer will be as good as this.
One final recommendation...please do yourself a favor and stick around past the credits. There is one final additional scene that includes a surprise cameo and is very tantalizing. Trust me, you won't be disappointed. Grade: B+
And unless you've been trapped by Afghanis in a cave, you'd know that I'm talking about Iron Man. The film, which is latest adaptation of a Marvel comic superhero, is about Tony Stark, playboy weapons developer, who, after being attacked by terrorists using the weapons he created, decides to do something good with his life and destroy the very weapons he made. In order to do so, he creates a special suit and thus becomes Iron Man. And that is about as crude of an explanation of the story's background as you'll ever see.
What clearly makes this film as good as it is, is Robert Downey Jr. playing Stark/Iron Man. He, moreso than any other actor currently portraying a superhero in film, is the perfect embodiment of the comic book character. Not only is he a perfect fit for the role, but he also makes the character really appealing and entertaining. Playing an intelligent, yet sarcastic playboy billionaire could be offputting or too familiar (comparisons to Bruce Wayne/Batman perhaps), but Downey rises above those potential problems and delivers an outstanding performance. It's wonderful to see a guy who's dealt with so many personal problems in his life, finally start to get things together and provide a performance that is likely going to be enjoyed by so many.
Luckily for Downey and the film as a whole, he doesn't have to carry the film on his back, as he is surrounded by a very capable cast of characters. Gwenyth Paltrow plays Stark's dutiful assistant/potential love interest Pepper Potts. I've never been crazy about Paltrow's work, but she's really great here and has some wonderful chemistry with Downey. I'm glad to see they casted someone who was a little bit older and mature, like her, because I think the dynamic would have been off if they would have chosen pretty, young, flavor-of-the-week actress instead.
Rounding out the cast is Terrance Howard as James 'Rhodey' Rhodes who is Stark's friend and military liason and Jeff Bridges, playing Obidiah Stane, Stark's business partner, who clearly doesn't share Stark's newfound oppositional viewpoint on war profiteering. I would have liked to seen more from them (a lot of time is spent solely focusing on Stark and his creation of the Iron Man suit), but in the time that they are given, they provide solid performances.
The film follows a typical origin storyline. While the variables are obviously different, the basic remains familiar here. In addition, the film uses a handful of movie cliches that I could have done without (false drama created through computer download counter, scenes setting up later plot points being hammered home, etc.). The overall sense of familiarity/cliche I think is a result of director Jon Faverau. This is Faverau's first foray into the big budget action flick territory and it is apparent. He doesn't quite have the ability yet to rise above these overused tactics, in the way that Christopher Nolan has. Still these are minor problems with the film and don't really detract from the film's enjoyability.
I mentioned earlier how I felt the Rhodes and Stane characters could have gotten more screentime. The Stane character in particular could have been more fleshed out, I felt. Without spoiling too much, I felt many of his actions needed more explanation. Also, Iron Man's final battle with the film's villain could have gone on longer as well. The film takes its time in having Stark not only design the suit but also perfecting how to use it as well. If it weren't for the fact that those scenes are so damn enjoyable, I might be more critical of the time management issues of the film.
I will say that for as good as the film is, I left the theater not feeling as amped up as I have been seeing that I absolutely loved. And what's bugging me is that I'm not sure why I didn't feel a stronger connection to the film. It could be that the final battle scene wasn't as cathartic as it could have been. It may be that I'm not as familiar with the Iron Man character as I was with other comic book heroes and thus don't have as strong of an emotional attachment to the character. It may have been the people I saw the film with (I ended up going with a bunch of CRDM students). I'm not sure what the explanation is. I can't really pinpoint a major problem with the film, so I don't know why I'm not embracing it more. I'm thinking though that maybe another viewing of the film will hopefully either make me appreciate it more or give me some clarity on a flaw that I'm missing.
Despite, what I'm saying here, I wholeheartedly recommend everyone check out this movie. The film never drags and it provides an excellent balance of action and comedy. The nagging issues I mentioned will not and should not affect your enjoyment of this film. Downey alone makes the film worth the price of admission and I definitely think we have a new comic book franchise on our hands. But we can look to the future at another time, for now, go out and see this movie and pray that everything else this summer will be as good as this.
One final recommendation...please do yourself a favor and stick around past the credits. There is one final additional scene that includes a surprise cameo and is very tantalizing. Trust me, you won't be disappointed. Grade: B+
The Office deleted scenes (Did I Stutter?)
Also, I had to include the pics of Dwight's organization plans because they are so brillantly hilarious that they deserve to be observed up close:
Regular chart
Dwight's Emergency Overlay
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