Official Trailer: 'The Dark Knight Rises'

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Trailer #2: Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance

Teaser Trailer: ' The Expendables 2'

OPENS: AUGUST 12, 2012

Trailer: 'G.I. Joe: Retaliation'

I Mean this just looks waaaay better than the first.

OPENS: JUNE 6TH, 2012

Trailer: 'The Dictator'

Lmaoooooooooooooooooooooo this actually looks funnier than Borat. I cant wait to see this.

OPENS: May 11, 2012

Trailer: 'Men In Black 3'

Id watch it. Kiss my ass, so what.

Trailer: 'Safe House'

Woooooooooooooooooo the black Jason Bourne with a dopest song to go with the trailer.

TRAILER: "THE AVENGERS'

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

TRAILER: 'J. EDGAR'

Another gem directed by Clint Eastwood portraying the controversial life of J. Edgar Hoover, founder of the FBI, played by Leonardo Di Caprio.




OPENS: NOVEMBER 9TH

REVIEW: 'KILLER ELITE'

Based on true story and book called 'Feather Men' by Ranulph Fiennes, Killer Elite takes place in 1980 and tells the story of ex-spec ops gun for hire played by Jason Statham as he is dragged back into a life he has long shunned to save the life of his friend and mentor played by Robert De Niro.
On the surface the movie seem like a simple good guy vs bad guy mindless shooter. It is not. And I question the wisdom of other critics who have rated it so poorly. Yes the film has its flaws but it is far from terrible. There is plenty of spy vs spy espionage and intrigue. The biggest problem with the film is that there is not a true villain. The "bad guys" aren't really bad guys in the normal sense, they all just have different reasons for doing what they do. One of these characters is actually left out of the pot summaries and clips but the simplest motivation that begins the string of events in the movie is revenge.
A rich a powerful sheik in the middle east in exile wants revenge on some british now ex-special forces members that killed 3 of his sons in a past war (which was vaguely talked about). Not only do they have to be killed, it has to look like an accident. Deniro is taken hostage as an incentive for Statham to do the job. Clive Owen plays an british ex-special forces member, and member of a secret military society who becomes privy to the plot on his friends and takes it upon himself to stop Statham.
Although that is just brief rundown, which I left plenty of plot points out on purpose, you can see that everything isn't so cut an dry. The plot is in fact quite complex but strife with holes and unanswered questions. Even so it doesn't make the movie less enjoyable to watch or bad as some would have you think.
Plot holes and Clive's corny mustache aside, Killer Elite is a great action movie, with Statham still showing he's the best man in the action game.
I have not read the book, but it is stated that everything in it was fully denied by the British government as was any involvement related to the war vaguely described within. That only makes me want to read it more. If you can appreciate Killer Elite for its complexities and the intrigue it offers, as it did me for now wanting to read the book, you see its more than just the average action film.

Score: B

REVIEW: 'MONEYBALL'

Coming from someone who thinks baseball is the most boring and wackest sport ever, this is the best baseball movie I have ever seen. And yes I have seen many baseball films because in movie form the sport seems way more interesting.
Moneyball is based on the true story of the Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane, as he goes against the standard convention of building a team through scouting, recruiting, and trades. With a limited budget he is forced to build his team by a new method; acquiring undervalued players based on statistics and formulas with the help of an Yale economics grad played by Jonah Hill. Even though these players statistically can pitch, hit, and score runs, they have all been shunned by scouts in the league for having some flaws.
So in a sense, Beane is a revolutionary. The team manager played by Phillip Seymour Hoffman, unhappy with his current contract with the team, disagrees with Beane's methods and fights him every step of the way. And the teams scouting department also disagrees and believes Beane is running the team into the ground. The movie follows the teams 2002 rocky but historic season.
Its a smart and witty film. Pitt brings energy and life to his role. He is the standout not just because of his name but in acting. He's not the typical manager. His character was a former player and one the youngest to hold his position. His relationship on screen with Hill was very enjoyable as Pitt's energy an personality contrasted and complimented Hill's shy and soft spoken demeanor.
Now don't expect to see a bunch of baseball played in this movie. This is about the business side of the game. What is takes to build a championship team and one man's vision and struggle in doing so. His triumphs and his failures. A Great movie for baseball fans and non-fans alike.

Score: A+

REVIEW: 'DRIVE'

After I saw this movie, I was sort of at a loss for words. not because its the greatest movie I ever saw, but because it was not what I expected nor a typical action movie.
This movie had style. It was artful and paced. Cool and calculating as an action film could be. There was always a mood set by the director with just music (electronica is heavily used for the score) and shots of Gosling behind the wheel.  These elements are what make the movie special but also its nameless main character played by Ryan Gosling. The mysterious loner who is only referred to throughout the movie as "The Driver". All we come to know about this character is the fact that he is an stunt driver for Hollywood movies and does less reputable work as a getaway driver. His only friend, who also gets his "work", is played by Brian Cranston (Breaking Bad). Carrie Mulligan plays the Driver's neighbor, who he falls for, but also happens to married to a recently released inmate that can't seem to stay out of trouble. And it is Driver's feelings for her and her son that compel him to help the husband do one job to clear his debts.
Now the most peculiar thing about Gosling's role is the lack of dialogue from his character. I mean for the whole movie, all his lines could probably fit onto an index card. This further adds to aura of mystery. And behind the wheel, he's so calm and focused, it almost takes away from the suspense and adrenaline of certain scenes. In even the most tense of situations it doesn't seem as if he breaks a sweat. He's always just very calm and cool.
Ultimately I would describe this movie as an artsy action film. More upscale and elegant than than typical run n gun action movie. Upscale with a retro vibe. Again the electronica music contributes to this. Its like 80s pop music that can be off-putting at first but ultimately is accepted. It is a movie that definitely deserves your money, but because of its uniqueness, may require your patience as well.

Score: A-

Set Images: 'Man of Steel'

Here are some set images of Henry Cavill as the new Superman. The suit looks cool as far as the material and dark blue color. And they didnt put those horrible red underwear on over it. Thank you again Christopher Nolan.

'Man Of Steel' also stars Amy Adams as Lois Lane, Diane Lane as Martha Kent, Kevin Costner as Jonathan Kent, Michael Shannon as General Zod, Antje Traue as Faora, Julia Ormond as Lara Lor-Van, Russell Crowe as Jor-El, Harry Lennix as General Swanwick, with Christopher Meloni as Colonel Hardy & Laurence Fishburne as Perry White.

OPENS JUNE 14, 2013

'The Rum Diary' trailer

Its nice to see Johnny Depp not playing a pirate.

OPENS OCTOBER 28TH

Video clip: Warrior

Here's a scene from the upcoming film 'Warrior' starring Tom Hardy (Inception) and Joel Edgerton. This scene features Hardy who gets into the ring with a MMA star for a friendly sparring match at the gym...

OPENS SEPTEMBER 9TH

15 Movies You Need To See Before You Die

Now before we continue, reread the title. This is NOT a Top 15 movies list so don't say what should have been on here and what shouldn't have. These are just some great iconic movies, that have defined or even redefined a genre. Movies you either love or hate. Nevertheless they are timeless classics that deserved to be seen by as many people as possible. Some of these movies are polarizing, instantly sparking debate, but controversy is what makes some of them so great. Whether based on a true story or pure fictional, these are masterpiece's of movie making and undoubtedly some of top movies you need to see before you die.



#15: THE SANDLOT

If you were a kid you watched this movie. If you were a kid, you loved this movie. Narrated by the main character 'Smalls' as an adult, as he recalls the greatest summer of his childhood. This movie is all about kids just being kids. The simple life of being young and only wanting to have fun playing the best game in the world (to them). You cant help but watch this movie and recall great childhood moments of your own.

#14: CASINO ROYALE

The Bond franchise is the longest running in the movie industry. And at #21, Casino Royale is perhaps the finest in its history and deserved to be here. It is named for James Bond's creator, Ian Fleming, first book featuring the British secret agent. The movie strays from the traditional characteristics of older Bond movies; overuse of sexual innuendo, one-liners, and crazy gadgets, which it replaces with a more raw and deeper portrayal of the iconic character. We see Bond reach 00 status with an early sequence and embark on his first mission where he eventually falls for his partner Vesper. Its this relationship which gives the movie its weight and eventually leads to a direct sequel, a first for the franchise.

#13: Inglourious Basterds

Writer/Director Quentin Tarantino's alternate vision of World War II, where we follow a small band of Jewish american soldiers as they are dispatched behind enemy lines with the sole purpose of killing Nazi's and ultimately Hitler.The movie in fact is comprised of two parallel story lines, the other following a young who saw her family in front of her and has the opportunity to exact revenge on her killers. But the character that steals the show is Colonel Hans "The Jew Hunter" Landa played by Christoph Waltz. Besides being filled with excellent dialogue, and an alternate (and more satisfying) vision of history, it is Waltz who absolutely steals this movie and makes him one of the greatest movie villains of all time. The only gripe I have with the movie is that The Basterds themselves didn't get enough screen time. Honestly, it should have been called 'The Jew Hunter'. In the end, still masterful.

#12: Se7en

Without a doubt the darkest, most chilling, and brilliant thriller I have ever seen. Set in a grim and depressing New Your City, two detectives investigate a serial killer who chooses his victims based on their offense of committing one of the seven deadly sins. Overflowing with moral and religious implications, Seven pushes the boundaries cruelty to ones eyes as scenes with mutilated victims and crime scenes are not easily forgotten. If the exploits of the killer throughout the movie aren't enough the ending leaves you utterly shocked and ultimately depressed. Kevin Spacey managed to make his character "John Smith" one of the best movie villains as well.

#11: The Dark Knight

IF HEATH LEDGER DIDNT HAVE THE BEST ON SCREEN PERFORMANCE FOR A SADISTIC, INTELLIGENT SOCIOPATH, THEN I WILL DELETE THIS BLOG AND MY TWITTER AND SAY FUCK EVERYTHING. HE DIED BECAUSE OF THIS ROLE.
But seriously, this movie is that great, not just for a comic based hero genre, but for crime drama's in general. This is another movie whose title should have been changed for the villain because it was the Joker that stole the show. I can only imagine the transformation Heath had to go through to portray the Joker. You think any actor could just put on some makeup and change his for voice to play that role? NO (not even J Depp). He had to become a completely different person. A person that led to his mental instability, drug abuse, and untimely death. But out of that tragedy came one of the greatest performances of our generation.
RIP Heath

#10: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Possibly the best martial arts film ever made. Most people measure a martial arts film based on the quality of its fight scenes. This is quite flawed. The combination of story and fight scenes is what makes a movie in this genre great and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is in a category of its own. Upon deeper analysis of the movie you come to realize it isn't a martial arts film at all. Its a tragic love story. This masterpiece won instant acclaim the time it was released. With superb choreography, special effects, and acting, this is a film you must see preferably with a lightskin lady friend.

#9: FULL METAL JACKET



I actually had to post a clip this movie. The first 6 minutes of one of the best war movies ever made. Stanley Kubrick's vision of life as a soldier in Vietnam, from basic training to the front lines. The movie is simultaneously chilling and memorable tight from the beginning as the standout performance of R. Lee Ermey, a real life drill instructor, plays a terrifying hard ass drill sergeant who will absolutely make you think twice about ever joining the marines. The rest of the movie takes place in Vietnam as the soldiers experience the reality of war first hand. The clip above alone should make you want to see this movie.

#8: The Star Wars Saga

The biggest movie franchise in history spanning more than 3 decades, this saga spans 6 films of science fiction greatness. George Lucas was forever cemented in history with the release of Episode IV in 1977 and made it the highest grossing film of its time. From the trademark text scroll at the beginning of each film to the film score, these movies will remain a part of movie history forever. Watch from episode I as an innocent young slave boy ages and transforms into the most feared and powerful Jedi, then Sith, in the galaxy. Its an adventure, a love story, a tragedy, and an epic that you must see before you die. (yeah its 6 movies not one. sue me)

#7: INCEPTION



Unquestionably my favorite movie (next to Dark Knight)(yeah i have 2 favs so what?). Like many other directors on this list, Christoper Nolan is a visionary genius. This is probably one of the most polarizing films I can think of. Either you love it or you hate it. There really is no grey area with this movie. Described as a thinking mans action movie, its plot is so complex and scenes so visually stunning, its takes more than one viewing to take in the everything the movie has to offer. A minimum must see twice. Criticized for its many plot holes, I feel the majority of its opponents were just too slow and ultimately left too confused to enjoy it. Hopefully you got to enjoy this in IMAX as I did. This films score also deserved awards for its suspenseful and heart-pounding sounds which masterfully complimented the beautiful visuals and special effects. To fully appreciate it at home you should be watching on blu-ray on a full 1080p flat screen with full surround sound with the bass up. Anything less would be disrespectful. Don't disrespect me bro. GO watch this movie right now. Please and thank you.

#6: A BRONX TALE

A great drama directed by De Niro himself tells the story of a young boy, De Niro's son, who witnesses a murder by local wiseguy Sonny. Sonny befriends the boy a shows him the perks of mob life. Although the boy  idolizes Sonny, he also loves and respects his father, who tries hard to keep him away from mob life. Torn between two worlds it isn't until the boy comes of age and suffers tragedy that he realizes what he wants to do with his life.

#5: CASINO

Arguably the best crime/ mob drama of all time. Definitely Joe Pesci's best movie and one of De Niro's best. The film chronicles the story of Sam Rothestein, Nicky Santoro, and Ginger and their rise to prominence and power in Vegas and ultimate downfall. A story of vice and violence, Casino is superb in story-telling and acting with the 3 main characters born to play their respective roles. Few crime dramas made since can even be mentioned in the same sentence as Casino.

#4: GLADIATOR

One of the greatest movies ever made. Gladiator is just perfect in virtually every sense. Drama, action, tragedy, betrayal, revenge, this movies has it all. An excellent performance by Joaquin Phoenix, the film's antagonist, top this movie off as one the finest of its kind. Russell Crowe plays a prominent Roman army general who comes to lose everything he has ever held dear, taken away by the devious new Emperor Commodus played by Phoenix. He escapes his execution only to sold into slavery, but eventually given a chance to win his freedom and exact his revenge on the emperor. I really can't say enough of this movie. Just go watch it already.

#3: THE GODFATHER TRILOGY

The pinnacle of film-making and the greatest mob movie of all time. A classic. A masterpiece. *Insert another label for greatness you can think of here*. The 2 in the series were virtually flawless films. Acting and storytelling by some of the best to ever to do it. The first film tells the story of Michael Corleone's rise to power. And the second tells two stories. One goes back in time as we get to see a young immigrant Vito Corleone, come to America and make a name for himself and start a mob family. The second is Michael's continuing story as head of the family, as he makes his first attempts to go fully legit and hold his marriage together. After extended absence of over 15 years the Godfather 3 was released to less than stellar reviews. In its defense its pretty hard to follow the first two films. But everything that made the first two so great, namely Michael Corleone and his struggles with mafia life and his family, are kind of lost in the 3rd. I don't want to bash he film but since it is a trilogy so watch all three. But the true greatness of the trilogy is in the first two films.

#2: THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION

Based on a story by Stephen King, Shawshank tells the sotry of Andy, recently convicted of murder, is sentenced to life in prison. Narrated by Morgan Freeman, who also stars as inmate "Red" and Andy's first friend, he helps tell of the harsh realities and life of Andy inside the prison. Constantly harassed and underestimated, Andy never breaks and ultimately wins favor with many inmates and later on the Warden and guards. The climax comes in Andy's greatest achievement; escape from the prison. In the end anyone who wronged Andy in prison got what was coming to them. A powerful and very uplifting movie, Shawshank is expertly acted and told and should be seen by anyone with a television.

#1: CITY OF GOD

By putting City of God number 1 you might be thinking I believe this is the best movie on this list or my favorite. Not all. But it is one of the best movie's you will watch if you do indeed watch it. And I put is as number 1 because not enough people know of the movie or how great it is. I put my own bias aside when making this list (kind of) and felt City of God deserved the top spot because of its "underground" and foreign appeal, it gets overlooked by movie watchers. Based on a true story, City of God tells the story of life in one of Brazil's most dangerous favelas in the 1960s, told by the main character nicknamed 'Rocket'. The violence is the most powerful tool used to tell its story. The lawlessness of time in the favelas is portrayed with shocking realism. Kids are biggest gangsters and perpetrators of this violence which actually makes the movie scary. Nothing is censored in this epic story and the narration by its main character are more than welcome as his words try and make sense of the chaos that is life in Brazil. See this movie first. It deserves your praise.

'Underworld: Awakening' trailer

The Underworld series is prolly my favorite of vampires. Im glad they decided to do another.

Opens January 20, 2012

'Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance' trailer

Well this doesnt look like itll suck as bad as the first. Then again trailers can be better than the actual movie sometimes. From what I saw I dont see how they could mess it up but its been done before. We shall see...



OPENS FEBRUARY 2012

'Puncture' trailer

Well ole Captain America himself is a lawyer now. A drug addicted lawyer. Guess times got tough. Based on a true story of an addict/lawyer that takes on a medical supply corporation, 'Puncture' stars Chris Evans who appears to be expanding beyond corny superhero roles. Good for him. Versatility extends the life of an actors career.

Opens September 23rd

'The Great Actor Debate' 1st/2nd round results

A little while ago @MrMikeJay and myself, the Film Junkie's that we are, decided to have a little competition to decide who the best actor is. Given this monumental task, we didnt want to make it easy by automatically ranking greats like Pacino or Denzel number 1, and easily hand them a title. So we decided to make it tough. For all those who participate to have to make tough decisions to push actors to the next round by pitting them against similar greats. 32 of the best actors, old and new.
To make it fair, and not give any sole actor a #1 seed we went with March Madness style seeding. Four groups, 1-8 seeds, going head-to-head all the way to the bloody end. Mwahahahahahaha.

CLICK HERE for the bracket and results of rounds 1 and 2

We will be doing this tournament debate all week so please participate and give me or @MrMikeJay your votes.

'Killer Elite' trailer

Based on a true story, Jason Statham is a retired British special forces soldier brought out of retirement when his mentor, Robert De Niro is captured, by villian Clive Owen.

Looks dope and it comes out in September

'The Devils Double" trailer

Based on the true story of an Iraqi soldier who is chosen to be the body double of Saddam Hussein's son Uday Hussein. With his life and that of his family's threatened, he is given the chance to live in Uday' s life of opulence. What he isnt prepared for Uday's reckless drug use, partying, and violence.

Already out in limited select theaters:

'Drive' trailer

You could say this is a Transporter knock off, but this looks to be less "flashy and cool" as the Jason Statham movies and more gritty and suspenseful with Ryan Gosling. I prefer the latter. I wouldve liked to see more chase scenes in it but I guess they gotta save the good stuff for the movie right? Check it out.

Opens September 16th

'Contagion' trailer

I love these survival thriller type movies where mysterious virus has the potential to wipe out everyone. Mostly because this kind of thing isnt far-fetched at all. Its a "what-if" situation, that you actually put yourself in a characters shoes and ask what would you do and how would you survive.

So here's Contagion staring Matt Damon, Lawrence Fishburne, and Gweneth Paltrow. Opens September 9th.

'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' trailer

Based on the best-selling novel I havent read yet so I have no idea what its about. So heres the wikipedia introduction, a general plot description:

"An epic tale of serial murder and corporate trickery spanning several continents, the novel takes place in complicated international financial fraud and the buried evil past of a wealthy Swedish industrial family. Through its main character, it also references classic forebears of the crime thriller genre while its style mixes aspects of the sub-genres."

'The Ides of March' trailer

Not too often you get a good political drama on film. Theres enough to see on CNN. But heres 'The Ides of March' directed by and starring George Clooney, as a presidential candidate. Leo Di Caprio is the executive producer.

OPENS October 7th

'In Time' Trailer

Just another reason why Justin Timberlake won't be making music again. This movie looks GOOD.



OPENS OCTOBER 28TH

RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES: Review

There is always the improper labeling of movies as remake's when they are in fact just reboots. Rise of the Planet of the Apes is the latter. I've seen many negative reviews saying its a remake of the original and doesnt live up to the original. But its not. Its a new beginning. And what an excellent beginning for this version of the series it is.

What immediately stands out while watching are the CGI motion capture effects which give the chimps the most life like and most expressive facial qualities not easily achieved by men in suits. This same technology, which was created for Avatar and now applied to 'Apes', makes you realize this movie couldn't have been made without it.

The star of the movie was the chimp Caesar, the offspring of chimps that were tested on and altered by a drug being developed to cure Alzheimer's. The drugs function is to restore brain tissue, but goes far beyond that as to increase intelligence. The doctor heading this research is unconvincingly played by James Franco.Perhaps it is the dialogue which makes him to be more of PETA than a doctor. But you are immediately sympathetic to his passion for his research as we learn Franco's father, played by John Lithgow, has Alzheimer's.

The development of Caesar's character from the smart baby chimp to the mature and determined leader of a revolution is where the movie shines. Its a remarkable transformation. Its the emotion invoked during this time that is truly surprising. The initial joy you feel seeing a baby grow and learn. The sadness and sympathy when seeing others reactions to and abuse. When he is put in a helpless situation you feel sorry for him, and at some point in the movie you're just gonna think "wow we really are assholes to animals". But it is this feeling that makes the second half of the movie that much more satisfying.

With his ever increasing intelligence he is able to empower and liberate himself and other apes, also exposing them to the drugs that made him so smart. This leads to a Caesar's revolution. And boy were they organized. There are some great scenes on Golden Gate Bridge as the apes easily outsmart and dispose of the police forces out to kill them.

In the end Caesar's revolution wasn't about killing humans or revenge, it was just about freedom and respect for his animal kind. He ultimately showed mercy on almost all those that tried to kill him and the other apes. He wouldn't even allow the other apes to kill humans. There were some understandable exceptions. But the ending had many surprises as you will see. Most importantly a plot point which gets greatly underplayed and underdeveloped, is how it becomes a "planet" of the apes. So stay a little after the credits start rolling to see that little scene and pay attention to the background graphics when credits are rolling.

Overall it was a great movie and origin story. A-

'Red Tails' trailer

A film inspired by the Tuskegee Airmen, produced by George Lucas' (Star Wars) studio. Looks good. You'll a lot of familiar faces.

OPENS January 2012

'Colombiana' Trailer

OPENS AUGUST 26, 2011

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 3 trailer

Yes there is a 3rd one. Honestly I like the Paranormal Activity movies. I prefer the style of horror that put people in seemingly real situations that we can relate to, and scare you with out a bunch of special effects and monsters and aliens. Its easier for you to put yourself into the characters shoes and ask yourself what would I do if that was me? Paranormal Activity is very good at this. Check out the trailer



OPENS OCTORBER 21, 2011

Why Captain America Sucked

Are you really surprised? Where you really watching the movie, eyes glued to the screen, thinking how awesome it was? Seriously, if you were, just leave now. This movie was just bathed in mediocrity.

Now Im not just going to destroy the movie because there were plenty of positives. The first of which being Chris Evans, who plays Steve Rogers. For someone who doesnt like the idea of seeing the same actor play as more than one hero in the same comic book movie universe, Evans being cast as Rogers was actually quite perfect. As the frail and skinny little man Rogers, he succeeds at being the wimp too well. He's likable for his guts and determination but you feel so bad for him that you just wanna hurry up and give him the super soldier serum out of pity. Best performance of the movie by far.

Tommy Lee Jones did serve the movie well as the smartass Colonel Philips. Also a likable character which provided some good humor.

I also did like the set up of the movie. From how it begins as a salvage team finding Captain buried and frozen in a wreck, with the main story basically being a flashback, and ending with him in present day New York. This serves more to Avengers movie releasing next year than to anything else but works me.

Now that was the good. Pretty much the rest I had problems with. First of which is how the movie seemed to mock and insult its own hero. So Steve takes the super soldier serum and does what again?? He's doing USO shows to sell bonds? What in the hell just happened? Did that just happen? Yes it did. He was a super soldier in a costume doing shows to sell products. Wow. Not only was this allowed to happen. It went on for like 20 damn minutes! The precise definition of anticlimactic. They made him into a cornball posterboy. The man had to pull a one man army, Call of Duty type mission just to get some respect.

After his transformation and that dreaded sequence of him performing in the USO, the action seemed to pick up and everything else seemed to fall off. The last half of the movie was basically just one big action scene. And at no point in the movie did we ever learn anything about anyone else in the movie or what the blue object was. Hugo Weaving who plays the Red Skull, is a great actor, and we have seen how good of a villain he can be. But to be the mad and powerful Red Skull he was just so....underwhelming. He confronted Captain America entirely too early in the movie with no build up or excitement at all. And for all his grand scheming and more advanced technology, his Hydra forces just got their asses kicked all through this movie. Look at the technology they had! US soldiers just mowed em down really.
Skull just seemed to be running away the entire movie.

The love story in movie was highly underdeveloped. Perhaps because Captain was never going to get a chance to be with her, it was decided not pursue that storyline. I feel that decision hurt the movie as the actress Hayley Atwell, who plays Peggy Carter, got so much screen time it was to be expected that the Captain would get the girl or at least have some sort of serious romance develop. But the chemistry never was truly there or given a chance to be. Not enough time in between all the battles.

In the end I have to say I am not happy with this adaption of Captain America. Ultimately I felt rushed through the process and that this movie was really only being used as a platform to set up the Avengers movie. In the beginning you were engaged with the little wimpy Steve and emotions were there, only to be sucked away by the complete 360 story took after his transformation. The drama was gone, as was any sense of character development or emotions for them (did you feel anything when his best friend died? were you given a chance to?). It was inconsistent and underdeveloped in too many areas. I liked Thor more. I hope they do better with the character in the Avengers.

FINAL GRADE: D+

The Best of Ari Gold

In light of the greatest show ever made returning for a final season tomorrow night, I present to you the best moments from the greatest fictional agent in the world, Ari Gold:

The Walking Dead Season 2 trailer

Far as I'm concerned, AMC is the best channel on tv. They show all the best classics and now have 3 of the best, if not THE best shows on television, including Mad Men and Breaking Bad. This is trailer for the second season of the Walking Dead, the comic based series on AMC. Hopefully there's more than just the few episodes this season.

THE THING

Before you do anything, go on netflix and watch the original 1982 John Carpenter classic 'The Thing' staring Kurt Russell. A Great sci-fi horror classic that deserves a worthy prelude.



OPENS OCTOBER 14, 2011

Plot Summary: Antarctica: an extraordinary continent of awesome beauty. It is also home to an isolated outpost where a discovery full of scientific possibility becomes a mission of survival when an alien is unearthed by a crew of international scientists. The shape-shifting creature, accidentally unleashed at this marooned colony, has the ability to turn itself into a perfect replica of any living being. It can look just like you or me, but inside, it remains inhuman. In the thriller "The Thing," paranoia spreads like an epidemic among a group of researchers as they're infected, one by one, by a mystery from another planet.

Paleontologist Kate Lloyd (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) has traveled to the desolate region for the expedition of her lifetime. Joining a Norwegian scientific team that has stumbled across an extraterrestrial ship buried in the ice, she discovers an organism that seems to have died in the crash eons ago. But it is about to wake up.

When a simple experiment frees the alien from its frozen prison, Kate must join the crew's pilot, Carter (Joel Edgerton), to keep it from killing them off one at a time. And in this vast, intense land, a parasite that can mimic anything it touches will pit human against human as it tries to survive and flourish.

"The Thing" serves as a prelude to John Carpenter's classic 1982 film of the same name.

IMMORTALS

From the producers of 300 is the movie Immortals. It looks like a mix between Clash of the Titans and 300 as the story deals with Greek mythology and is visually produced like 300.



OPENS NOVEMBER 11, 2011

PLOT SUMMARY:
Tarsem Singh ("The Cell," "The Fall") and producers Gianni Nunnari ("300"), Mark Canton ("300") and Ryan Kavanaugh ("The Fighter") unleash an epic tale of treachery, vengeance and destiny in "Immortals," a stylish and spectacular 3D adventure. As a power-mad king razes ancient Greece in search of a legendary weapon, a heroic young villager rises up against him in a thrilling quest as timeless as it is powerful.

The brutal and bloodthirsty King Hyperion (Mickey Rourke) and his murderous Heraklion army are rampaging across Greece in search of the long lost Bow of Epirus. With the invincible Bow, the king will be able to overthrow the Gods of Olympus and become the undisputed master of his world. With ruthless efficiency, Hyperion and his legions destroy everything in their wake, and it seems nothing will stop the evil king’s mission.

As village after village is obliterated, a stonemason named Theseus (Henry Cavill) vows to avenge the death of his mother in one of Hyperion’s raids. When Theseus meets the Sybelline Oracle, Phaedra (Freida Pinto), her disturbing visions of the young man’s future convince her that he is the key to stopping the destruction. With her help, Theseus assembles a small band of followers and embraces his destiny in a final desperate battle for the future of humanity.

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: GHOST PROTOCOL

The next installment of the Mission Impossible series. With every movie they seem to be doing bigger badder stunts in more exotic locales. The action scenes in the series are always top notch. The Dubai scene in the trailer looks pretty dope. Jeremy Renner (Hurt Locker) is also in the movie. Hes a great actor and its nice to see him more big name blockbuster movies. I think he could be a solid action star and an even better bad guy. And Id like to thank whoever cast Paula Patton in this movie.



OPENS DECEMBER 16, 2011

Captain America: The First Avenger today!

The Cap makes his debut today. From the first trailer to clips it just looks better and better. Check out this nice little shield fight clip:

More Captain America: The First Avenger Videos

My review coming soon.....

COMIC BOOK MOVIES SHOULD NOT BE MADE FOR KIDS

Before we begin just sit back, think, and let that marinate for minute.......

Good? Ok.

Of course, a question one would naturally ask first is since comics are made for kids, why wouldnt the movies be made suitable for them? Well first just look at the circumstances that made that hero who he or she is. For the biggest heroes, do you know what the common factor between them is? SOMEONE ALWAYS HAD TO DIE FIRST. Bruce Wayne's parents get killed right in front of him. Peter Parker's uncle gets shot. Blade's mother dies giving birth to him. Superman's whole planet gets destroyed. So based on these circumstances, how does one craft a lighter less tragic movie while still remaining a somewhat believable human story in the context of that characters world? You dont decide to risk your life day after day to save others because you had good easy life. Perhaps you can.....if you are making a cartoon.

Second, Villains are evil right? Not just bad. But EVIL. So an accurate depiction would be ones causing certain  amounts of death and or destruction, yes? So much that only our hero can stop. Otherwise you could just call the cops to catch em. And they wouldnt be called villains they would just be called  "bad guys". Take Sandman from Spiderman 3. He was so cooooooooorny. He was the diet coke of evil. Did he harm one person the whole movie? Honestly I dont remember. You could have just called the fire department to use water hoses on him. That movie still disgusts me to this day. These types of nonsensical characters cant be allowed if you want to reach the full potential in a movie.

In the end, it boils down to this. Tragedy must be portrayed and in a dark manner. The psychological effects of which need to be conveyed to the audience. We want to see the transformation from man to hero. And the struggle of that hero to be accepted or rejected in society while battling some great threat. This is called, the Nolan Formula. Named for Christopher Nolan, director of Batman Begins and Dark Knight, who revolutionized the genre. Nolan has a gift for playing to the psychology of the audience (see Memento, Inception). As you saw from Batman Begins, he took us on the journey of a young boy, who witnessed the murder of his parents, make himself to be the Batman. We saw his struggle every step of the way, his many mistakes and triumphs. Fighting people trying to destroy a city is not easy nor was portrayed to be. Ultimately Nolan answered the question: "If Batman were based in reality, what would he be like and how would we perceive him?"

And this is the question that needs to be applied to every other comic book hero. How would that character live in our world? People appreciate the realism more than the fantasy I believe. Fantasies are for children. Again, let them watch cartoons for that. Apply the Nolan Formula to any and every other comic book hero and tell me it couldnt work.

I am a bias Batman fan yes, and I know it wasnt the first comic book movie to use the formula. Michael Keaton's Batman kind of used it. Blade also did in a sense. But Blade is more of a vampire movie than a comic book hero movie in the traditional sense. You kind of forget or dont remember he is Marvel character. At least I dont anyway.

If you want to make the best possible movie using a good comic-based hero, the Nolan formula MUST be applied. Its the only way for that characters maximum potential to be reached. Whatever you do, DONT MAKE THE MOVIE FOR KIDS.

Why 2012 will be the greatest year for movies EVER.

BECAUSE THERES JUST THAT MANY GOOD DAMN MOVIES COMING OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here's a little list. See for yourself:

Dark Knight Rises
The Amazing Spiderman
The Avengers
The Bourne Legacy
Hunger Games
Underworld: Awakening
Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance
Men in Black 3
Star Trek 2 (untitled)
Total Recall
The Expendables 2
G.I Joe 2
Resident Evil: Retribution
Dredd (as in Judge Dredd)
James Bond 23 (untitled)
The Hobbit

Ok maybe not alllll of them are gonna be good, but most. Still a damn good lineup, no? Besides the comic book movies a new Bourne and Bond? Yeah thats dope.

                                                   CANT WAIT

The Amazing Spiderman!

I would have to say The Amazing Spiderman is the second most anticipated movie of 2012 in a long line of blockbusters to be released next year (Do you really have to ask which is first?). This a reboot from the original trilogy directed by Sam Raimi and staring Tobey Maguire. Personally I think its going to kick the originals ass. Wanna hear why well hear it goes:

1. Tobey Maguire is not a good actor. Can you even name another movie he was in? Peter Parker is supposed to be nerd but Tobey was such a dork he totally took the character to a new level of lame.

2. Minus, Doctor Octavius and Venom, the villains sucked. Sandman? Really? And I was more afraid of the cartoon Green Goblin than the movie version. (Along with the story, Doc Oc was just that damn good, which is why #2 is easily the best of the series)

3. Spiderman 3 truly made a mockery of the entire trilogy. Yes, it was that bad, it actually hurt the others. Venom wasn't nearly as evil and honestly deserved his own movie. You can't have a villain that powerful and give him so little screen time. They had Spiderman/Peter fighting so many battles at once, (which he seemed to all conveniently beat at once) it was, for lack of a better word; a clusterfuck.

Well taking the Batman formula for how darkness and tragedy create a hero, the new installment seems to be shaping up pretty well.See for yourself:



THE AMAZING SPIDERMAN OPENS JULY 3, 2012

Dark Knight Rises

Here is a preview, of the soon to be end, of the greatest comic book movie trilogy of all time. Not much for a teaser trailer. Like they did for the Joker, a good shot of Bane probably wont be shown for a while.

Dark Knight Rises in theaters July 20, 2012

The Movie God

Much like basketball, movies are a passion of mine. With so many great ones to talk about and ones we have yet to see and talk about I think it was only natural I created this blog. But this isn't only for me, its for anyone who loves movies like I do. I invite to talk and debate and offers reviews and I will post them, with my opinions added of course. Hopefully you'll enjoy it and what I have to say. Why wouldn't you respect The Movie Gods opinion?