Friday, December 25, 2009

HAPPY FESTIVUS!!!!!!!!!


Just wanted to tell everyone HAPPY FESTIVUS!!! Boy I am sore from doing the Feats of Strength. Now I am getting ready to do the Airing of Grievances with my family. I hope you all have a wonderful holiday. AND IT'S A FESTIVUS FOR THE REST OF US!!

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

My Top 10 Movie of 2009

As 2009 comes to a close, I shall reflect on some of the good it had to offer in the way of film. There was a lot of crap, but these were the few that stood out...

1. Paranormal Activity

You may not have liked the movie but you can't ignore it's influence and impact. Made on a $15,000 budget and going on to gross over $107 million. Numbers don't lie. This movie had me spooked and I'm not easily shaken by films. After the movie ended, every time I heard a noise in my house I got up to investigate. No shit. A movie hasn't effected me like that in a looooong time. So it must be something special.

2. Martyrs

I know it was made in 2008, but the movie wasn't released in the states until '09. Martyrs is one of those movies that stick with you well after you've seen it. It hits you in the gut and makes you squirm in your seat. It's a movie that's definitely hard to watch but absolutely brilliant. I let all my friends borrow my dvd of it and they all had the same reaction...WTF? But they all loved it. I wish I could watch it again for the first time.

3. Let the Right One In

Again, another movie made in 2008 but released domestically in 2009. I had zero expectations going into this film and it blew my mind. This is how a REAL vampire move should be made, folks. The characters were totally believable and the acting was top notch. I never would've thought a Norwegian movie about a child vampire could be so good.....and bloody.

4. Taken

I'll be the first to admit I'm not a big Liam Neeson fan, but he proved me wrong with this one. He left behind his one dimensional, sappy acting and put on a performance that made his role in Schindler's List look pale in comparison. I'm a sucker for revenge flicks and Liam pulls no punches in trying to find his kidnapped daughter. For being pg-13, the movie is violent. The dinner scene alone is one of the most memorable I've seen in years. Kudos to Liam, keep up the good work.

5. The Hurt Locker

I lost one of my best friends in Iraq this year and this movie was hard to watch for me. The main character reminded me a lot of him. This movie is very realistic and Jeremy Renner might be the most slept on actor of recent years. The tension the film creates is remarkable. When a character is defusing a bomb, you sweat on the edge of your seat feeling every second tick by. What's crazy is that this movie is directed by a woman named Kathryn Bigelow. What was even more shocking is that she created Point Break. This chick has balls!!

6. District 9

All though I felt the movie didn't live up to expectations, I still thought it was great. The CGI in this film is amazing and the documentary style of the film works well. Peter Jackson always has an eye for talent and he made a great decision in putting this film in theaters. In it's core, this movie is deep. It's full of social commentary and you don't have to be too bright to follow it. The movie takes place in Johannesburg, South Africa. Figure out the rest for yourself. I can't wait to see what Neil Blomkamp comes up with for 2010.

7. Inglorious Basterds

Tarantino + war = success. It's a simple formula. The movie that has been in Tarnatino's mind for years finally pays off. It's an excellent movie any full of Quentin's great attention to detailed dialogue. I know some people felt it was too much. Others hated the fact that much of it was subtitled. Get a grip people. I don't mind reading subtitles to make the film feel more authentic. The only flaw the movie has is not seeing and missing some Tarantinoisms...Big Kahuna Burger, A Vega Brother, Red Apple Cigarettes, "inside of car trunk" shot. But it does have mexican standoffs and a narrating Samuel L. Jackson.

8. Zombieland

Surprised me. I had no idea this movie was going to be so good. Woody Harrelson still has his assholish comedy timing to a perfect tee. The comedy is dark but hilarious. The slow-mo shots are some of the best I've ever seen. And the surprise cameo in the movie was freakin awesome. Can we get a sequel???

9. 2012


I know....the plot was thin, the characters cookie-cutter, and the movie completely unrealistic. Doesn't matter...this move should be seen for it's eye candy. The end of the world never looked so glorious. The effects might be some of the best ever put to film (have yet to see Avatar). It's a unrelenting, non-stop action thrill ride. Other than John Cusack, nobody else really matters in this movie. People thought it was too long, but I thought it was paced perfectly. Can't wait for the blu-ray.

10. The Hangover

The movie lived up to the hype of the hilarious trailer. An extremely funny movie that everyone (minus children) can enjoy. The characters were all side-splitting laugh inducing and the cameo Mike Tyson was Hollywood genius. I didn't want to see it end. With all the co-ed bachelor/bachelorette parties being popular lately...ladies and gentleman, this is how a bachelor party should be. Oh yeah...don't be a rah-tard.

'Frozen' trailer

Ever since I've heard about this movie it's gotten my interest. I assume it's going to be Open Water on a ski-lift.

Plot:
Three skiers are stranded on a chairlift and forced to make life-or-death choices that prove more perilous than staying put and freezing to death.

Monday, December 21, 2009

'Robin Hood' trailer

Not a big fan of Robin Hood, but it's directed by Ridley Scott which means I must see it.

Plot:
The story of an archer in the army of Richard Coeur de Lion who fights against the Norman invaders and becomes the legendary hero known as Robin Hood.

'X-Men: First Class' Details


They need to make an X-Men movie where they are fighting the Sentinels the whole time. Not that cheap shot scene they did before. Ah well, at least Bryan Singer is returning.

Source: Variety

In the last few days, we've learned that X-Men and X2: X-Men United helmer Bryan Singer is returning to direct X-Men: First Class for Fox and that Jamie Moss will write the new script. Lauren Shuler Donner and Simon Kinberg are producers.

Variety learned more from Singer, who said that the studio sparked to a detailed treatment he wrote for the film.

"This is the formative years of Xavier and Magneto, and the formation of the school and where there relationship took a wrong turn," Singer said. "There is a romantic element, and some of the mutants from 'X-Men' will figure into the plot, though I don't want to say which ones. There will be a lot of new mutants and a great villain."

In the film, Xavier and Magneto will be twenty-something, and the film sounds similar in construct to the J.J. Abrams-directed Star Trek.

"Whether it's 'Batman,' 'Lord of the Rings' or 'Star Trek,' if the characters are good, you want to see them on their journey even if you know their destiny," Singer said. "I put myself in the fan's position, and I think this story is something I would want to see, and so will they."

R.I.P. Dan O'Bannon


Dan O'Bannon passed away at age 63. If you guys don't know....this guy was THE TRUTH. He wrote Alien. Check his resume...

# Untitled Alien Prequel (2011) (announced) (characters)

# AVPR: Aliens vs Predator - Requiem (2007) ("Alien" characters)
... aka AVP: Aliens vs. Predator - Requiem (USA: DVD box title)
... aka AVP: Requiem (USA: DVD box title)
... aka Aliens vs. Predator 2 (Singapore: English title)
... aka AvP2 (USA: short title)
... aka AvPR (International: English title: short title)
# AVP: Alien vs. Predator (2004) ("Alien" characters) (screen story)
... aka Alien vs. Predator (Germany) (USA: short title)
... aka AVP (USA: promotional abbreviation)
# Batman: Dead End (2003) (characters: Alien) (uncredited)

# Alien: Resurrection (1997) (characters)
... aka Alien 4
# Bleeders (1997) (screenplay)
... aka Hemoglobin (UK)
... aka The Descendant (USA: TV title)
# Screamers (1995) (screenplay)
... aka Screamers - L'armée souterraine (Canada: French title)
... aka Sukurîmâzu (Japan)
# Alien IV? (1994) (certain original characters)
# Alien vs. Predator (1993) (VG) (characters)
# Alien³ (1992) (characters)
# Alien³ (1992) (VG) (characters)
# Total Recall (1990) (screen story) (screenplay)
... aka El vengador del futuro (USA: Spanish title)

# Aliens (1986) (characters)
# Invaders from Mars (1986) (writer)
# Lifeforce (1985) (screenplay)
... aka Space Vampires (UK: alternative title) (USA: working title)
# The Return of the Living Dead (1985) (screenplay)
... aka Return of the Living Dead (USA: video box title)
# "Blue Thunder" (2 episodes, 1984)
- The Island (1984) TV episode (story)
- Arms Race (1984) TV episode (screenplay) (story)
# Blue Thunder (1983) (written by)
... aka Blue Thunder the Movie (UK: video box title)
# Heavy Metal (1981) (original story) (segment "Soft Landing") (story) (segment "B-17")
# Dead & Buried (1981) (screenplay)
... aka Dead and Buried (UK)

# Alien (1979) (screenplay) (story)
... aka Alien: The Director's Cut (USA: director's cut)
# Dark Star (1974) (original story and screenplay)
... aka John Carpenter's Dark Star (Australia)

Jackass 3-D Coming Soon


3-D has officially jumped the shark....

Source: Paramount Pictures

The third installment of "Jackass" from Paramount Pictures and MTV Films will hit theaters on October 15, 2010, this time in eye-popping 3D. Johnny Knoxville and the boys will begin shooting in late January with Dickhouse Production's Jeff Tremaine at the helm and producing alongside Spike Jonze and Knoxville.

The addition of 3D to the new film will raise the mayhem factor to new heights, promises star/producer Johnny Knoxville. "We're going to take the same 3D technology James Cameron used in 'Avatar' and stick it up Steve O's butt. We're taking stupid to a whole new dimension." 


2002's Jackass: The Movie earned more than more than $64 million and was heralded as "a disgusting, repulsive, grotesque spectacle, but also hilarious and provocative. God help me, thumbs up" by esteemed critic Richard Roeper. Released in 2006, Jackass: Number Two earned over $72 million and was heralded by The New York Times as being "debased, infantile and reckless in the extreme, this compendium of body bravado and malfunction makes for some of the most fearless, liberated and cathartic comedy in modern movies."

Cloudy Filmmakers in Talks for 21 Jump Street


Might be the gayest idea I've heard in months...

Source: Variety

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs writer/directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller are in talks with Columbia Pictures to helm 21 Jump Street, based on the TV series that starred Johnny Depp.

Variety says that the film, about a group of baby-faced cops who go undercover at high schools, has been guided by Jonah Hill and Mike Bacall, who developed the story together.

Bacall wrote the script and Hill will star in the film and executive produce.

Neal Moritz is producing with Stephen J. Cannell.

Robert Rodriguez Talks 'Sin City 2'


Source Bloody Disgusting:
It such a bummer having to talk Sin City with the sudden passing of Brittany Murphy, who starred as Shellie in the 2005 live-action adaptation to Frank Miller's classic graphic novel. While she wasn't a huge character, who knows what role she might have had in the forthcoming sequel that's been in development hell for over four years now. While on the set of Predators, Bloody Disgusting's Chris Eggertsen chatted it up with producer Robert Rodriguez who told reporters that while Sin City 2 is still on his radar, it's not his next directing project.

"We still talk about doing that as early/later next year, but I haven’t gotten into that yet," Rodriguez told us. "I know Frank [Miller] wants to do it I know I wanna do it and its always sort of time permitting kind of thing but its not like I can tell you definitely we’re starting…its not my next picture I know that. Doesn’t mean that its not the picture right after because that’s still a possibility."

As for whether there's a script he's happy with, Rodriguez indicated that the script has been in existence since 2007, and that it will likely be the version that goes into production, with some consideration given to what, if anything, will be altered.

"It’s the one that Frank wrote and we have to look at it now and go is this really the one?…I think its built up so much, like are we really going to satisfy everybody with what we have, should we add to it? It’s the thing we’ve always talked about but now two years later going on three we’d probably make some adjustments but nothing that would take a long time."

Rumor has it that the sequel is about Dwight McCarthy planing to have his vengeance against the woman who betrayed him, Ava Lord, while Nancy is trying to cope with Hartigan's death.

Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever trailer

Eli Roth has nothing to do with this one. It's a shame too. It's directed by Ti West who is the most overrated director in horror. It's direct to video so we should be able to see it shortly.

Plot:
A high school prom faces a deadly threat: a flesh-eating virus that spreads via a popular brand of bottled water.

Clash of the Titans trailer

I'm a fan of the original. I used to watch it a lot as a kid. It looks like they did the remake some justice.

Plot:
The mortal son of the god Zeus embarks on a perilous journey to stop the underworld and its minions from spreading their evil to Earth as well as the heavens.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

MY Top 10 Christmas Movies of All Time

10. The Ref

A Christmas movie starring Denis Leary. Seriously. It was Bad Santa before Bad Santa and done beautifully. Denis stars as a jewel thief trapped in a suburban home with an insanely dysfunctional family (with Kevin Spacey as the father). Denis basically brings his comedy rants to holidays. He lets everyone have it in this flick. This movie is probably going to be the least watched on this list and it's a shame because it's absolutely hilarious.

9. Home Alone

Even though I would've beat his little ass and his parents should've been thrown in jail, Macaulay Culkin was perfect as precocious Kevin McCallister. And casting Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern as the 'Wet Bandits' was genius. I remember the first time I saw this movie I kept waiting for Pesci to stab little Kevin in the neck. But good ole Joe steps out of his typecasting to show range in a comedy. I've ssen this movie 20 times and the traps are still just as funny. Keep the change ya filthy animal!

8. Emmett Otter's Jug-Band Christmas

Jim Henson takes time away from the Muppets to create, in my opinon, his best work ever. Emmitt Otter is full of catchy tunes with good melodies, and hilarious one-liners. The cameo from Kermit the Frog gave it legitimacy, but it didn't need it. This one is a classic, and it pisses me off that it's never shown on television. Everyone should be able to witness The Riverbottom Nightmare Band.

7. Bad Santa

The Anti-Christmas movie. I just saw this movie for the probably 50th time two days ago and laughed my ass off like it was the first time. Billy Bob Thorton should've gotten an Oscar for this one. No one else could've pulled it off, yet he does it so convincingly that I swear if I ever got to meet the man I would expect to see him with a bottle of Thunderbird in his hand. It's shocking, vulgar, and crude, and tasteless.....and brilliant. A true defining moment not just for holiday movies, but comedy in general.

6. Gremlins

Props for Joe Dante for being smart enough to set this movie during Christmas. It gave the dark theme of the story some balance. With all the violence and bloodshed seeing the Christmas trees and snow almost feels refreshing. Gizmo is still the cutest creature to every be put to film and all the characters were believable and well acted. The only thing I didnt like about the movie is not seeing Judge Reinhold get tore apart by Spike and his boys. Damn.

5. Elf

Casting Will Ferrell wasn't a stretch, but he nails Buddy the Elf with savant like precision. Even though I'm getting tired of seeing it on tv every other hour, this movie is a modern classic. It's so good that it put my father in the Christmas spirit and he makes Scrooge look like Santa Clause. After seeing this movie, my dad was singing Christmas carols at the top of his lungs. And in the end...that's all Buddy wanted.

4. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation


Who would've thought that after the European sequel that Chevy Chase could pull off a funny Vacation movie. Well, he did. All of his whacked out relatives and obsessive light display was utter bliss. Thank God for John Hughes (R.I.P.) because had it not been for his script, this movie would've been garbage. No one knows Christmas themed movies like Hughes. To be honest, the real star of this movie is Cousin Eddie. Randy Quaid steals every scene he's in. It's almost a shame too.....obviously someone else shares my sentiment because they made Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie's Island Adventure. I'm not joking.

3. Scrooged

The sarcastic comedy of Bill Murray is more than welcomed in this modern retelling of Dickens' classic. Out of all the movies on this list, this is the one I enjoy watching more than once. Bill's comedic timing in this movie should be a standard that all comedians to follow. Had anyone else been cast as Frank Cross, this movie would've been a turd. But it's Murray's ability to mend his prickish attitude and comedy that makes the film. Being directed by Richard Donner doesn't hurt either.

2. It's a Wonderful Life

This movie will always have nostalgic place in my heart. I watch it every year with my mother....and she's sobs every year. It's almost ironic that one of the best holiday movies of all time failed at the box office. Probably had something to do with Christmas being mixed with themes of suicide. But Jimmy Stewart puts on his best performance in this movie, showing what a truly great actor he was. If you ever are in doubt about your place in this world, watch this movie and it'll help guide you where you need to be. If not, then at least watch it to try to spot the cameo from The Little Rascal's Alfalfa.

1. A Christmas Story

This movie really needs no explanation. Hands down the best Christmas movie ever. Good thing it had 'Christmas' in the title. Who would've thought the guy that directed Porkie's would go on to make a wholesome family Christmas movie? It's got cursing kids, tongues stuck to poles, pissed of Santas, bullies, bb guns, leg lamps, and a kid that won't eat. Everything needed for a great Christmas. On a side note, this movie was filmed in Cleveland and Ralphie's house was preserved to look as it did in the film. I live in Ohio and never knew that. I just might have to make a little drive to Cleveland some day.

Sunday, December 13, 2009

I'm Baaaaack..........

It's been a few weeks since I've posted last. Had some personal issues to attend to but I will be posting again starting this week. Stay tuned.
 
Hit Counters