Best of 2009!

So ends another year. We have not only that change, but the end of the decade and a full moon! The wolves are going to be out tonight!


Anyways, Yahoo! put together their "Most Watched Trailers of 2009". Over at RopeofSilicon was their opinion on the top 25 movies of the year. Im going to give one final post of the decade and rate my favorite trailers, top soundtracks, and my favorite movies.

Trailers of 2009: KEEP IN MIND. IM NOT SAYING THESE WERE ALL GOOD MOVIES. The trailer simply got me more excited than other previews...

12. Inkheart


11. Drag Me To Hell



10. Sunshine Cleaning



9. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince


8. Avatar

7. Nine



6. Watchmen



5. 2012

4. UP

3. Where the Wild Things Are



2. Transformers


1. Star Trek

BEST SOUNDTRACKS OF 2009:

5. Grey Gardens (Rachel Portman)

4. Coraline (Bruno Coulais & other various artists)

3. Star Trek (Michael Giacchino)

2. Up (Michael Giacchino)

1. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (Nicholas Hooper)


The Ones Buzzing That I Havent Seen Yet that will no doubt change my best movie list.
Single Man
Me and Orson Welles
Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire
Red Cliff
The White Ribbon
A Prophet
Up in the Air
The Hurt Locker
The Lovely Bones

Biggest Disappointments
5. Wolverine (I knew it would suck… but a tiny part of me wished it would have be amazing… something more serious -instead of campy/cartoony)

4. Monsters Vs. Aliens (Dreamworks follow-up to a favorite of mine (‘Kung Fu Panda’)… did not wow, and was just another film that over did the 3D)

3. Inkheart (I loved the Trailer… which tricked me into thinking this would be a great movie)

2. Transformers 2 (No story / just graphics only works for the box office)

1. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (Stunning cinematography, soundtrack, and graphics could not save a screenplay overly saturated with teen romances and an ending entirely void of emotion and action – notice I said screenplay… not story.)


Best movies (While thinking about this… I really realized how few non-blockbuster movies Ive seen...pathetic)
6. Coraline
5. Fantastic Mr. Fox
4. Star Trek
3. An education
2. Inglorious bastards
1. Up

Love

Last night I watched a film called "Paris Je T'aime". What a great movie. It is a collection of shorts all with the central theme of love. Each short has a different director (most names you will reconize) and includes a list of actors (many of whom you will also reconize). Some of the stories are more down to earth while others are far more fantastical or cerebral. If you remember hearing of "New York, I love You" released earlier this year, It is the same thing but different setting.

I think everyone (especially aspiring filmmakers) should see this film. It is a great chance to see how a director can take a theme and make it very different than another's artistic take.

Brittany Murphy

Brittany Murphy, who we first really met in 'Clueless' burst back into the scene a few years back with 'Happy Feet', 'Sin City', '8 Mile', and more, died unexpectedly yesterday due to cardiac arrest. Murphy was only 32 and is an actor who I expected to be in the scene for many years to come.

Cheers Miss Murphy!

Kick Ass

I like the premise...

Jim Henson

So I got my news back reguarding the job over at Henson Studios... and it was not good.... Merry Christmas to me. But thats what happens in life. You get knocked down and you get up, and keep moving forward. Unfortunately, now the entire industry has gone on break for two weeks and I will not be able to do much of anything.

So, I have been here over a year now, endured countless rejections, and have somehow managed not to fall to pieces. Which, I will say, makes me proud of myself. Its all you can do is to keep believing. When something you want so badly goes awry and what you want is as simple as grabbing ahold of smoke, what else can you do but believe in yourself. And someday it will happen.

Last night a friend came by and ordered some ghastly chinese food (and I mean... like unedible), but I did snag a fortune cookie... And It's note was supprisingly relevant to my life.

"The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph."

So... I guess that means that when I do get a job... its going to be taking over the creative department for Lucas or maybe writing, directing the "Magneto: Origins" movie (which I would be amazing at).

Everyone says that the more rejection you can endure, the stronger you will be in the end. Well... Im probably going to end up like The Thing" from Fantastic 4. Which... would not be too bad...

Valentines Day

Valentines day... ugh. Typical. Anyways, I read the script a while back.... didnt really care for it. But the trailer looks great, much better than I would have expected. And it will obviously do well considering the cast (not to mention the ridiculous hype surrounding Taylor Lautner and Swift). I like seeing who was cast to play each character.

PANIC ATTACK!

Lets pretend that we are not struggling. That we have it made. Simply because of a short we filmed that was seen by a big director with his own production house. This director bid 30 million dollars to get the rights to the film before other studios could. So we are sitting pretty on our gold desk chairs yelling at our assistants that the coffee is burned and that the pencils are not sharp enough (As we sit in an office with a fish tank of sharks swimming behind us).
This story is true. Minus the yelling at assistants and sharks we threaten to feed them to if they dont sharpen our pencils. This short film got the director (who paid roughly 300 dollars for it) a 30 million dollar deal with Sam Raimi's Ghost House Pictures.
So check out Fede Alvarez's "Ataque de Panico!".... and join me as we continue fighting for our own success

Shrek 4

So, Shrek 4's preview is out. After 3... not too excited... It was Chris Nolan who pondered 'who has ever made a successful 3rd film' (as he wondered about doing batman 3... please please try Director Nolan!)

Anyways... Shreck 4...

Exhausting?

"Hot Tub Time Machine"? Has anyone (aside from John Cusack and crew) heard anything about this before? Looks fun. And... we sure could use some more comedy sleeper hits!

Bryan Singer and Xmen... Together Again!

Bryan Singer, director of the first two X-Men films will be brought back. The dismay the fans endured after X3, then followed by Wolverine:Origins can never truely be forgotten by some (Im speaking mainly of myself... who is a huge fan... and cannot get over that bloody 3rd film)! But this might be diminished now that Singer is back on board! No... he is not going to do what I wished he would (redo the third film... or even do a 4th... that actually focused on Jean Grey's darker side), but an origin film. This one is called "X-Men: First Class" and will be focusing on the younger students.

Personally, Id prefer seeing him direct a Magneto Origins... But I'll just have to hope that might come together in the future.

Iron Man 2 Trailer!

Ladies and Gentlemen... After months of waiting....We got it.

Now if anyone cares about my two cents (which you obviously do as you are reading my blog), what excited me the most... was mister Mickey Rourke. I was so impressed by him in "The Wrestler" and am really hoping he does something amazing again (which, from the tid bit we saw... looks promising).

Iron Man 2 Preview... coming soon.

So, with all the info about Iron Man 2 coming out... I thought I should post some pictures... We are going to see a trailer (apparently before Sherlock Holmes) very soon!

And the most controversial. This poster has fans wondering "Is War Machine going to be a baddie" based on the stance. What do you think?

Havent We Seen This Film Already?

I know Scott directed Gladiator... but this looks like it could be the freakin sequel! And didnt we get an amazing Robin Hood a few years back? I dont really understand. Im sure it will be great... Just doesn't look all that new...

Wonderlands New Trailer!

Wow, Wonderland is certainly going in a direction I hadnt expected. I still hope Johnny Depp doesnt dominate the film. Carter looks great as the Red Queen! Love her.

If You Want A Real Treat, Put Down the Eggnog...

Some of the biggest and most anticipated films of the year are being released right now! This week we saw the first 2D animated film to be released by Disney in years! I have not seen it yet, and it unfortunately is not receiving grand reviews but very very average ones. Yahoo! movies has critics reviewing it at a "B+ and users with an "A-", while over at RopeofSilicon.com (a site that regards an average film to be a "C") has given it a "C+".

Avatar is also heading to theaters in a mere matter of days. 'Silicon' has

given it an early review of an "A-" saying that it delivers as a blockbuster, has a little bit for everyone, but doesn't find it to be as spectacular as they had hoped.

Other films that are buzzing are Peter Jackson's "The Lovely Bones", "Nine", "A Single Man", "Up in the Air", & "Sherlock Holmes". Im sure that weare going to hear quite a bit about "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" as well, for obvious reasons... Regardless of your taste in film... there will be something for everyone in theaters this holiday season.

Warner Brothers

So, I heard through the grapevine that Warner Brothers has done another layoff of about 30 people! The industry is picking back up (finally) and it is so concerning that this happenend again! (Im actually scared to ask any of the people I know from there about it... hopefully they were not the ones who were laid off...) *Gulp*

*Note: I looked online and found no record of this... this is strictly based on what I have heard...

Potter 7a

The blu ray for Potter 6 is out. To be honest... I wasnt very impressed with its transfer as the previous (Order of the Phoenix) looked stunning. But I suppose it has to do with how outrageously dark the film is. Its hard to make something look so pristine when there is so little light involved.

One thing that was great about the home video is the special features. A few of the cut scenes really could have added a little to the story. I dont usually care for cut scenes, as there is typically a reason to why they were cut. But I enjoyed these.

Anyways, the main attraction was the preview to the final chapter, The Deathly Hallows. The last book is being split into two (something I think they could have done with the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th film). Personally I would cut each story into two, and make the films shorter as a whole (each is about 2 1/2 hours on average and they could be nice at about 1:45-2 hours with a bit more substance). For example... one major thing this past film left out was (aside from hardly any action) any real attention to the story. We got the bizarre love triangle... but what about more on the Prince? By the end of the story... when the prince is revealed... who actually still cares?

ANYWAYS, I digress... here is the preview for the next chapter. Deathly Hallows: Part 1

Jim Henson/Muppets

I had my second interview Tuesday at Jim Henson. Im so excited and really hoping something happens. (Fingers crossed!) I interviewed with my potential boss, then with Human Resources and then finally, I'll be interviewing with Jim Henson's daughter Lisa Henson.

So, when I was interviewing, we talked about the company and how it has changed over the years. And one of the things that I was not aware of (there wasnt much... I did some research before each interview - something I strongly suggest doing before any interview) was that the Muppets (Kermit & co.) were sold to Disney. Now, Henson does creatures for many movies, but does not actually seem to have a mascot. (Kermit stands outside the studio, but isnt owned by them anymore)

The studio itself is really amazing. It was build by Charlie Chaplin and looks like a small village in the woods. Its pretty cool, right off La Brea and Sunset.

Anyways, even though the Muppets aren't Jim Henson anymore, I wanted to post this fun video that is (according to Yahoo!) taking the internet by storm.

Dark Knight dethroned by Twilight

Well, the title really says it all. "Twilight: New Moon" was released this week, and already brought in a ridiculous 140.7 million. MILLION! WTF!? Like... seriously? Its not even getting good reviews!

Regardless, Dark Knight brought in 67 million opening day. Twilight went forward and knocked it down with its opening of 72.7 million and showed in 342 fewer theaters! Thats insane!

So, if the film is as poor as it is being reviewed, what does this mean? Uh... I dont know really... Chalk it up to saying that they sure marketed it well. The main actors may-or may not- be dating. Taylor Lautner and all his shirt taking off stuff. And not to mention, a well done trailer/posters/tv spots/the fact that the actors are on practically ever magazine cover at the moment, ect. ect.

So, Im probably going to see it. But not until I can go into the theater without someone behind me talking about their math homework and how division is hard then switching to ask her (or his) friend if she is team Edward or team... other guy. After that, I'll go...

Ugh... I went to go find pictures for this post... and in the comment below one of Taylor Lautner, I read this: "OMFG hes beyond hot hes better then channing tatum hot!!!" Wow... That kind of hurts my head...

Reality Teleivision

I dont like reality television. Which can not be misinterpreted for not respecting it. There is plenty to appreciate about reality tv and how it has come to dominate what is being shown on television today.

For the past week, I have been working on the show "Ruby". It is about a woman who is dangerously overweight and her journey to become a healthy size again. Let me just say, I had a blast. They people on the show were just awesome. It was so organized and flowed so much more nicely than anything I have working on before. The cast and crew all seemed to get along and enjoy working together, something I also havent experienced much of.

Whatever it may be, reality television is a force. And the show "Ruby" really sends a strong message that I enjoyed being a part of. So one of these days, check it out.

Clash of the Titans

I dont like this preview. It looks rushed. Compare it to "Avatar", that came out last week, and you will find... that there is no comparison. This just looks like jumbled action sequences that do not flow in the least. But, the story is one to look forward to... Hope it isnt all messed up in the end.

Where Have I Been?

I'll tell you where. But let me preface...

In LA, unemployment rates are higher than almost every part of the US. This is really the first recession that has affected the entertainment industry. Reason being? Who really knows. But my guess is that it has to do with the threat of the SAG going on strike. A few years ago, the writers went on strike, which shut down production of nearly everything for a while. People lost millions of dollars and remembering this no doubt terrifies studio executives.

So what would you do if you camera talents were threatening to strike at any minute? You would, just as the execs have, green lit far fewer projects. This means that many of the actors who are not "A or B list" will have to take less desirable roles, further pushing the unknown people down the post. Where do they go? Restaurants!

Anyways, so the actors and people who wish to work behind the camera, have all gone to work at restaurants and bars. THAT, ladies and gentlemen, is where I have been working. And restaurant work... is just awful.

So, last week... things finally began to look up! I am up for an assistant position at Jim Henson Studio (you know... Kermit the Frog), have someone helping me get an interview at William Morris (the talent agency), and finally... got a PA job for one week (starting next monday). So, since the restaurant has been so slow... this PA job will help me a lot. But Im really hoping for something to happen at Henson or WME. Fingers are very tightly crossed.

New Trailers!

I saw two of these today actually, and really am excited about them both - especially "Avatar" - Though I have to say, the use of Steve Jabionsky's "My Name Is Lincoln" track from the movie "The Island" (the first music that plays) seems.... a little out of place.

And, while this film looks like it has a lot of potential, Im not as excited as I was about "Kung Fu Panda" or "Shreck".

New Reviews!

So, Ive been gone for a while.... and have seen a quite a few movies since my last post. So, instead of my typical review, Im going to do a few condensed reviews in one post.

Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen - The graphics and action are spectacular. The story, new characters, humor and everything else were just wretched. Dont see this movie, unless you are a die hard fan. Or you want to watch something that involves no thinking (minus the often question like "WTF" or "Does that make sense?")

Drag Me To Hell - Excellent scary film. Very eerie, not campy (except perhaps the ending), and not gory - an aspect I appreciate of scary films.

Where the Wild Things Are - Much better than expected. Though there is little story, the beautiful cinematography kept my interest. It is not a children's movie, but something that is meant for those who like a deep movie where you have a lot to think about afterwards.

An Education - One of the better films I have seen lately. Great story, brilliant acting, and

nicely shot.

Snow White - the review

Talk about it being time for an update! Wow, where did I go?!

Anyways, lets start with a quick blurb about the "Snow White" blu-ray. So, I bought myself a copy and finally had a chance to watch it. Its peculiar how time can change something. I remember "Snow White" to be short in length, funny, and somewhat scary. But, that was 20 years ago. Now, it is a classic. Does this mean that it is still as enjoyable as it was when I was little? No. But it came out in a very different time. Films were more dramatic, acting was far less realistic with a more theatrical feel. Think Betty Davis in "Marked Woman".

Anyways, Miss White spends half the movie screaming about nothing and running while holding the front of her dress up. Not to mention, girl falls in love with a homosexual prince in less than 60 seconds (talk about settling). I mean, this movie really doesn't do much for women except teach them to rely on men, be nice to little people, dont hate the gays - fall in love with them (especially if youre desperate and dont want to have to work), and be wary of fruits and vegetables. But again, that was the time. And there is plenty to appreciate about this movie.

Lets start with my favorite aspect, the fact that this was a hand drawn cartoon... the first feature lenght animated film... EVER. Consider this, if the audience didnt like this film, few of my generation would know the name Disney. No joke. If Snow White did terribly and the audience couldn't buy the idea of feature length animation, Disney would have no money left to try a second attempt. And none of the films we know today would have been made.

Also, the movie is very beautiful. Spectacular really. It isnt anywhere near as advanced as "Sleeping Beauty" (which looks like a brand new film on blu ray) but that also came out 22 years later. I just have to point out that some of the shots and sequences that are just amaizing. The few that stand out, are the queen (doing basically anything - but especially her transformation), Snow White running through the woods, the cleaning of the house, and the dance between the dwarfs and SW. Really beautifully done.

If you have a love for old animation, or have children, check this out. It may not be what you remember, but it certainly will never be forgotten.

This is a picture Disney put out with Rachel Weisz. Just thought it was worth posting.

Mirror, Mirror...

So, for all of you out that have taken the plunge that is blu-ray, I wanted to give you a little heads up. Many titles are coming out. This holiday season with be a big one for the blu market. And Im not talking specifically about this prevous summer's blockbusters. We are being treated to such titles from many years ago (some mentioned below) along with those who helped with raking in the summer's cash and aided in making this summer the biggest grossing summer for films ever.

ANYWAYS, I really wanted to mention something. "Snow White", yes... a film with no explosions, sex or violence (minus a poison... ugh I wont even say it), was just released on Blu-Ray. It has had rave reviews regarding the image and audio transfers. If you are a Blu Ray lover, and appreciate classics (as well as animation), check out this link. Here you can find the movie for sale on Amazon.com. Not only is it listed at $19.99, there is a promotional code (snowhite) -note only one "W"- that drops another $10 off!

Disney Blu-Rays tend to be pricey, so I suggest taking advantage of this now, before the sale ends! (I did yesterday)

Oh Roman...

Roman Polansky is once again in the hot seat. Well... He has kind of been in the hot seat for 31 years now.

If you are unaware of what im talking about, let me explain.

Lets travel back 31 years to Jack Nicholson's abode. There, Roman Polanski was enjoying sex with a younger woman. And they were doing things that many couples do while not wearing clothes (I dont need to go into specifics, if you need more definition, look it up). Low and behold, Polansky was slapped with a rape charge. Why? Because the girl, who was younger, was actually MUCH younger. Being only 13.

Ok, now that you have gotten back up from falling out of your chair, lets move on. Polanskipleaded guilty to this charge, and was sentenced to 42 days in a Chino State Prison to be examined for psychiatric abnormalities. Anyways, when he was out, the judge deemed he was fit to stand trial.

But here's the rub. Wasnt that already his sentence? I mean, he probably expected to pay some fines and take some counciling, but he already served time. Now the judge wanted him to stand trial? So Polanski decided to break bail and fly to London way back in 1978. He has not been back to the US since.

I think that as far as the story goes... its the judges fault. Not that Im ok with Polanski's choice to mess around with someone just hardly a teenager, but the Judge should have been more clear when sending him to prison all those years ago. I have never heard of anyone going to prison, only to serve time deemed by a judge and then have to come back to court... ugh... im sick and all this hurts my head. Bottom line, the whole situation is as messed up as it gets. Anyways, now Polanski has been arrested in Zurich, and facing being extradited to the US. Polanski is no doubt going to get in some trouble for running and breaking bail, but what of the actual case? What do you think should happen? And what should happen with his most recent film that had to be halted mid-production?

The Fourth Kind

So, check out this trailer. I dont have much of an opinion, but it looks like its up my alley. Kinda scary, but we'll see...

Blu Ray releases!

This week on Blu-Ray there are two releases that I am quite excited about. The first, "Wizard of OZ" the 70th anniversary edition. I cannot wait to read a review on how this one looks. And next, "The Dark Crystal", which I have actually never seen as well as "Labyrnth" (which successfully scared the living crap out of me).

Everyone says that I would really enjoy "The Dark Crystal", which is probably true. When I was out at Jim Henson studios, they had a few creatures from the film (many were ruined over the years), but they looked pretty cool. So, what better chance to see this film than now in high definition?!

And speaking of which, "OZ" will no doubt be amazing as well considering I havent seen that film in like 10 years.

But if you have a Blu-Ray player, I suggest waiting to buy OZ down the road. The version that is being released today is a collectors edition with books, extra disks and special packaging is going to set you back almost 85 bucks! For me... I can wait. And while Im waiting... Ill watch "The Dark Crystal"

A Whole Bunch of New Stuff...

So! Here is where I just give out a whole bunch of new information. I wrote recently about how there is going to be a "Pirates of the Caribbean 4", well Geoffery Rush (one of my top 3 favourite actors - who plays Barbosa in the Pirates franchise) did a little talking about it. Rush said that the script isnt quite finished because the screenwriters are trying hard to get something that is fresh and interesting for the audience (perhaps he was just as thrilled with how rushed the story felt from pirates 2 & 3 as I was.)

Here is the full interview:

Movie Trailers - Movies Blog

Next up: Venom.

Really? I thought he was dead... but hey... thats the fun about comics. You can kill anyone and find some crazy way to bring them back. Anyways, Paul Wernick, who I suppose is writing the script for "Venom" said that Marvel is "pushing forward" the script, but declined to elaborate whether or not it was going to tie into Spider-Man 4 which is due out May 6, 2011. Interesting...

Then! Ole Sam Sam Rockwell did some talking as well. Rockwell, who is playing weapon competitor Justin Hammer, said that he teams up with Mickey Rourke to take Stark down. But is kind of the brains behind the operation, as Rourke is the one who does all the fighting and "kicking ass in the film". He also noted that this film has a larger scope, more characters and is much more action packed. This could be a good, or very bad thing. In my opinion, when too many characters are added, a film becomes diluted because youre trying to remember each character and what they are doing and why they

are doing it. Hopefully, John Favreau keeps his head above water and doesnt deliver an X3 or Batman & Robin.

Kruger...

The movie that scared me the most when I was little (that and "Critters") is back! And surprisingly produced by none other than Michael Bay! So... does that mean it will be PG-13, have lots of explosions, and a cheesy song over the credits? Hope not.

As for me, I hate gory movies but love scary movies. Though I never go out of my way to see them. So, I suppose we'll just have to wait and see. Looks good, very reminiscent of the original...

Patrick Swayze

2009 is not the year for those considered famous. We lost another face known by all in the entertainment world. Patrick Swayze died Monday after fighting pancratic cancer for nearly two years.

The actor was known for films such as "Dirty Dancing", "Ghost", "Point Break" and yes... "Too Wong Foo". At only 57, Swayze might have had a prosperous career ahead of him.

Heres to you, for making us laugh, cry, and occasionally be envious as you tore up the dance floor.

Cheers Mr. Swayze.

Scrooge and Vampires!

New Trailers! First off, we get Robert Zemeckis's newest film. And as he continually seems to outdo his previous attempts of CGI, we are getting a new take on the most over-redone film of all time.... "A Christmas Carol". (If you have no idea what this story is about and care to find out... you'll have plenty of films to choose from). So, take a look.

Maybe, youre like me and am thinking.... "wow... I know this story far too well to see it again." Especially as it seems that Jim Carey is playing like... EVERY CHARACTER. lame. Perhaps it will do well, considering it is on IMAX 3D.

And then we come to the next thing for me to complain about.... a new "Twilight" trailer. I havent watched it yet. So... lets do so together....

OK.... ooooook. Aside from everyone NEEDING to be shirtless... that looks pretty good (minus the graphics seem sub-par)... Damnit....

Oh Kanye...

I hate awards shows (usually) they seem less and less fun over the years. They seem less and less about the great moments of winning. (anyone remember Cuba Gooding Jr.'s academy award, or Julia Roberts) It should be fun. And sometimes you get to see how some celebrities really are. I wont soon forget how some people take their awards as though they expect them. Or how others act when they dont win them.

Its an award. Being nominated should be enough of an honor.

Im not really going to talk much on the Kanye thing, because everyone is in the same boat (at least everyone I've heard mention anything). But, I seem to remember that it wasnt all that long ago when ole West was speaking about how he needed to calm down the cockiness. Apparently, he had to put that goal on hold and again prove what is wrong with some celebrities. I mean, seriously, the poor girl.

There is plenty that I do appreciate about this situation. The backlash. Pink, Kelly Clarkson, the usually lame Speidi, and more all had something to say. And I think the biggest kick in the balls for Kanye was when Beyonce let Swift back on stage to finish.

As Americans, we tend to forget things like this quickly, so I hope this one is remembered. I would not mind seeing Kanye fail from this point on. Even if he came back in ten years.... Just for him to be reminded of how fragile fame and success can be. That moments like this should (and hopefully will) warrant backlash.

Pink said it perfectly, 'hes getting what he wants, people are talking about him'. So lets all stop and focus in another way....

Here is my proposition, dont buy his stuff (I certainly wont be) and support the other artists. And if you find yourself needing one of his songs or albums on a playlist... find an alternate method of obtaining said material (not that Im SUGGESTING the art of stealing).

And finally, I wanted to post Pink's discussion of what happened from eariler today on The Today Show. She has always been a favorite of mine.... and I wouldnt mind seeing her lay down the law on Kanye. Rock on girl, you're awesome.

Inglorious Bastards

Weird. I saw "Inglorious Bastards" and had just assumed I wrote a review. Apparently, I lied... to myself.

Tarantino's new film is gold. But we should just know to expect that from him by this point. There is no other director that can continually create successful art forms the way he does.

The film does not rely on gimmicks (aside from another amazing soundtrack). Nor special effects. It is another perfect example of a Tarantino story that is completely character driven using unparalleled dialogue.

It certainly is not afraid to show you some gore. So beware of that. But, if youre feeling like watching a brilliant new take on WWII-Tarantino style, then get out to a theatre now.

Bay vs. Fox - Round 4

OK, I love Megan Fox......'s look. She is very very pretty. But, damn.... I'm so sick of that girl and all the nonsense she has to say about everyone she has worked with in the past. It seems that now shes an "A-List actress" she has to bash each film she does... almost as an excuse for her terrible skills as an actress. I mean... most people in the film world have heard the rumors that Michael Bay is rediculous and that he is horrible to work with, but this girl is just not letting it go!

Now she is having a go at Karyn Kusama, director of "Jennifer's Body" saying (in regards to the script); "There are days (on set) when I said 'What the fuck does that mean?'" and then says that Kusama would say 'I dont know but lets shoot it anyways'.

Seems to me, that if Ms. Fox continues like this, no one will want to work with her. (which isnt a problem to me... I wouldnt mind seeing the girl just go into modeling and forget the screen).

Well, Bay has not minded slamming her right back. And this time has done so through his crew members. Who posted a response on Bay's website.

"We've had the tedious experience of working with the dumb-as-a-rock Megan Fox on both Transformers movies," the letter says early on. [Note: the grammar ansd phraseology are weak so I've cleaned up certain portions.] "We [work] in different departments, and can't give our names because sadly doing so in Hollywood could lead to being banished from future Paramount work. One of us touches Megan's panties, another has the often shitty job of pulling Ms. Sourpants out of her trailer, and the last of us is near the Panaflex camera that helps to memorialize the valley girl on film."

Unfortunately this also seems silly due to the poor grammar and sentence structure. But we get the point.

Pirates 4

So, back to the open seas we travel. Pirates 4 is rearing to go, Johnny Depp has officially signed on. Im not going to lie to a single folk out there... I really couldn't care less at this point. The previous two were so disastrous, a third sequel just sounds exhausting at this point.

And, as no executives have asked me my opinion... we are set to get a fourth. This one is titled "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides", which at first glance just sounds terrible. I mean... didnt we already watch three films with the crew going on stranger and stranger tides? Seriously, Pirates 3 brought them to the land of the dead where there were like 30 Johnny Deps running around like they had a crab in their pants.

If you want more of a breakdown of what this film MIGHT be about, check out what

Amazon.com has posted about Tim Powers novel oddly titled "On Stranger Tides".

"World Fantasy Award–winner Powers (Three Days to Never) demonstrates a precise control of complex narratives in this reprint of his rollicking and enchanting 1987 novel. Puppeteer John Chandagnac, bound for Jamaica to recover stolen money from his uncle, becomes Jack Shandy after pirates attack his ship and force him to join their crew. Shandy's struggle to accept his new life grounds the story for readers, even as Blackbeard and vodun magicians whisk everyone away to dreamlike lands where the Fountain of Youth itself awaits. The chaotic sea battles sing, though at times key events happen so quickly that they get lost in the shuffle as Jack tries to comprehend where he's going and what's at stake. This dark fantasy tale will appeal not just to pirate fans but also to anyone who appreciates Powers's talent for blending the most unlikely elements into a brilliantly cohesive whole."

Goats

So, this is "The Men Who Stare at Goats", George Clooney's comedy that makes a huge string of his films that is coming out over the next year. The guy has been busy. So check out this trailer. It looks hilarious.

You Tell Me About 3D

What are your thoughts on 3D? It is taking the cinema by storm. 3D isnt a new thing, but has been around for years. And now, we have reached a stage where watching movies in 3D is possible in our homes.

But for me, im not sold. When I see a movie, say "Coraline" or "Monsters vs. Aliens", I see a movie that is made with too many shots intended for 3D, simply to shock the audience. These same shots would look slightly odd to viewers watching the movie without 3D glasses.

These moments take me out of the story. Frankly, Im not a huge fan. And now we are seeing more and more films slated for being 3D ready. "Iron Man 2" for example.

Anyways, what do you think about all this 3D stuff? Is it fun? Something that should be reserved for animation? Or is it just distracting? You tell me.

Dorian Gray

I love the story of Dorian Gray. Great book. And I really enjoy Ben Barnes (and Colin Firth). So you can imagine the trill of finally seeing the trailer!

Though I remember almost nothing shown here (it has been a while since my last read), it looks pretty wonderful.

Check it out! And read the book!

IMAX! Batman 3!

So check this out! Batman 3 people... Batman 3. Yes, I am excited. Check this tid-bit out I found from RopeofSilicon.com

Next comes word from Ain't It Cool reporting Christopher Nolan's Batman 3 "could very well be FULLY shot in IMAX, not IMAX Digital – but the beautiful, stunning IMAX that we saw pieces ofThe Dark Knight in." AICN's Harry Knowles speculates the reason Nolan went from The Dark Knight to Inception "was possibly to create a few new IMAX cameras made to his specs."

Now, doesnt that just tickle you in a "Im a fanboy and just peed a little" kind of way?

"Princess and the Frog" s New Villain

I am a Disney fan. I mean, really, how could you not be? At each point in our lives, thats what our entertainment (not to mention dreams) were conjured from. And as I reported before, "Princess and the Frog" is due out November 25, hitting the screen in a long over due 2D format.

Now, to make a classic Disney film, a classic villain is just as important (if not, in some cases, more so) than the main character. They have to be terribly villainous and bent on destroying the world of the main character. When I think Disney villain, there are two standing most prominent. The queen from "Snow White" and the number one animated villain (in my book) the wonderful Malificent. In "Princess and the Frog" we get a new face, Dr. Facilier. Check out the little feature on the character. What do you think? Will he stand the test of time? We'll see...

Avatar

Ok, so I didnt watch "Wolfman" before posting. Looks pretty good.

Anyways, James Cameron is back. Hes got plenty to live up to. (If you dont know who I'm talking about... look him up). But he is back with the CGI laden "Avatar". Again, I know nothing about this film. And am posting the trailer without watching it first. But, knowing me and my love for CGI and fantasy, the pictures look pretty cool. Lets watch together...

The Wolfman

Ok, so with "Twilight" beginning this ridiculous obsession with vampire movies/television shows, it was only a matter of time before we started seeing werewolf stories.

Now, here is a film that sounds like it could easily bomb, but has such a strong cast... you know the script must be great.

Its the remake of "The Wolfman". And is directed by "Jurassic Park III" director Joe Johnston. (see... it makes it feel suspect already) But if we add in the twist of Benicio Del Toro starring alongside Anthony Hopkins, Hugo Weaving, and Emily Blunt your faith might be restored. Anyways, we will have to wait until Febuary 12, 2010 to find out.

District-9

Has it really been two weeks since I posted something....? Wow. Feels like 4 days, but weeks and months are just flying by... so i suppose it makes sense.

Anyways, lets get some updates!

Im starting with my review of "District-9". Its a very interesting concept. Instead of a 'What would happen if aliens attacked' story, it is a 'Well... they have lived here for 20 years, and things just arnt that great for either them or us.'

I think that people who went into this movie expecting some sort of catastrophic alien attack movie, were disappointed. But those who could see it, see the messages it was sending about humanity, might take something more away with them.

Dont get me wrong, it had enough action to keep me entertained. The CGI was pretty great, I dont think Jackson would under-whelm anyone in that department.

Overall, I walked out really happy with what I saw. Was it something that will go down in time, probably not... Do I think that it will have a sequel? Probably not. But for a good summer flick that thankfully does not entertain with the same hollywood faces we see everywhere, it was a well done film.

Grey Gardens

I actually do not have cable television. Weird, I know. So, when HBO released "Grey Gardens" starring Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lange, I didn't have a chance to see it. Now that it is released on DVD, I got my chance.

And let me tell you, I thought the film was brilliant. Half of the brilliance came from Lange and Barrymore because the two of them nailed the characters.

The story bounces back and forth between a telling of their pasts, then going forward and recreating scenes from the documentary. It was really quite clever.

What I do recommend about the feature movie, is seeing the documentary first. Then see this. I think that is far more interesting than doing it the other way around. I also would have been interested to see some actual cutting between the original footage and this, it might have been more interesting to see some of the documentary added in somehow. Might have had some fun editing. Who knows...

Box Office/Total Domestic Gross Reports... I Loose....

So my comment below about the box office ratings... wow. I was wrong. Lets break down what is doing what. These numbers are total gross:

At number 1: Transformers 2 with 389,508,496

2: Pixar's Up with 286,409,185

3: Harry Potter 6 with 260,610,864

4: The Hangover with 257,269,418

5: Star Trek with 254,777,330

6: Monsters vs. Aliens with 198,021,110

7: Ice Age 3 with 183,660,946

8: Wolverine with 179,665,805

Honestly, I'm quite a bit surprised. I didnt think Transformers had done so well. Or Monsters vs. aliens. And I had completely forgotten about the Hangover! And I'm also a bit impressed with "Up" ranking number two.

The opening weekend Box Office amounts are also interesting. Shows how fast people learn whether a movie is good or not.

1: Transformers

2: Wolverine

3: Harry Potter

4: Star Trek

5: Fast and Furious

6: Up

7: Monsters Vs. Aliens

8: Watchmen

One to point out. The most anticipated of all "Watchmen" is at number 16 for total gross, bringing in only 107,509,799. But summer isn't over. "G.I. Joe" and "Julie & Julia" come out this weekend and "Harry Potter" is finally getting its IMAX run. So who knows what is going to happen in the end...

El orfanato -The Remake

I love a great horror film. But I hate slasher flicks. They dont scare me as much as they gross me out. Good scary movies (in my opinion) are ones such as "The Others" and "The Orphanage". These are moves that scare you, something that is seriously flawed about most horror flicks today. Wait, wait, wait, youve never heard of "The Orphanage"? Of course you havent. Its a spanish film and we American's dont like to read when we go to the movies. Sure it was released in theatres, and is in the dvd/blu-ray isle, but most people steer clear of subtitles.

And that is why we get this endless list of remakes for the American audience. Because they are in english. But the translation of films from one language to english almost always looses an element of the original.

"The Orphanage" is only two years old, and was produced by Guillermo del Toro. But it is already set to be remade. It is a fantastic story, and I highly recommend watching it on Halloween or some spooky/rainy night as it is nothing short of eerie. And when the new one comes out, I'm sure I'll have something witty to say about the destruction of a good story.

This is the original trailer: