The Glover Posting

'Awakening' makes for a bloody mindless good time

2012-01-20T15:01:00.000-08:00

Release: January20th, 2012

Cast: Kate Beckinsale , Michael Ealy, India Eisley, Stephen Rae

Directors: Måns Mårlind & BjörnStein

Run Time: 1hour 28 minutes Rated: R

It has been six years since we last saw Selene (Kate Beckinsale), and it seemsthat everything has gone to hell in a hand basket for our heroine in Underworld Awakening.

The human population is now privy to the fact that there'snot only one but two races of monsters living among them, and they are none toopleased. The world can't tolerate either species' existence so it's not a safetime to be a Lycan (werewolf) or a Vampire as the humans try and purge bothfrom the world.

In an attempt to flee, Selene is captured and becomes a testsubject for 12 years, until she is set free by an unknown fellow test subject.Selene is released into a changed world, one that she barely recognizes. Theonce powerful Vampires and Lycans are nothing more than a whisper of theirformer

glory hiding in the dark.

Restoring order or glory is not is not Selene's concern.What drives her is finding this escaped test subject who set her free, becausethere is something about the person that is getting the attention of both herand the Lycans, and she wants to know why.

The Underworld series has always been a turn off your mindand roll with it kind of series, and UnderworldAwakening is no exception. It's Lycans and vampires trying to kill eachother, and it gets pretty messy people.

In UnderworldAwakening I guess you can throw actual people in that fight too, which justmakes for more people to dispatch in stylistic (if not grisly) way.

No one really does take Lycan, human, or even vampires outlike Selene being once what was called a death dealer, she tends to be good atwhat she does. Now she is fighting just to stay alive, and for me no one can makethis character work like Beckinsale.

In UnderworldAwakening, Beckinsale simply makes Selene a badass, even after a six yearbreak from the character. The choreography and the words written are all welland good, but without a good delivery, they are meaningless. In the case ofBeckinsale, she delivers.

UnderworldAwakening also delivers on more of a future centric theme, and brings a littlemore emotion to the forefront. TheUnderworld series has up until this point played in the past a little.

For this film, the trouble is not found in the past, but inthe here and now. This changes things a little in that things don't feelancient, there is no historical reference. I liked how the subject materialfelt old, but that's lost out to the new problems at hand and an attempt at amore emotional movie.

Attempt is the right word, because at the fast pace Underworld Awakening moves and the lack of depth many of the characters have,it's really hard to feel anything. There are a few moments where you feel alittle something, but those are fleeting and forgotten quickly.

Much of this film is forgotten quickly, and it's got a fewproblems with predictability and random happenings, but at the moment when oneis watching our badass vampire heroine shredding though a world she hardlyrecognizes Underworld Awakening is alot of fun.

Grade: C

'Napoleon Dynamite' proves to be weak animated series

2012-01-16T16:19:00.000-08:00

Air Date: January 15th, 2012

Episode(s): "Thundercone" and "ScantronicaLove"

Cast: Jon Heder, Aaron Ruell, Efren Ramirez, Jon Gries

Last night I decide to give the new animated series NapoleonDynamite a shot and it was possiblythe worst animated show I've seen in awhile.

Well maybe since AllenGregory which was just cancelled.

Napoleon Dynamiteis based on the 2004 film of the same name, and features the voices of theoriginal cast voicing the characters they played.

I think the lesson after the two- episode premiere lastnight is that no matter who you have voicing the characters, if it isn't funny,it really doesn't matter.

I like the movie a lot, but the animated series bringsnothing new to the table making the same type of jokes in different situations.That gets old pretty quick, and by the end of episode (both of them)

you getthe feeling that 2004 called and wants its quirky and awkward humor back.

Humor and new material weren't the only elements lackingin the two-episode premiere last night. What made Napoleon Dynamite work back in 2004 was the comedy, but also thecharm. The film came off as innocent, a little strange, and in a way kind ofsweet.

The animated show has none of these factors, and is at amajor disadvantage. Napoleon Dynamitethen has to rely on the comedy to keepits head above water, but of course that is where the show encounters the mosttrouble.

I'm not trying to be mean here, but after an hour of laughfree comedy, some questions need to be raised about the quality of the showbeing put on air.

I'm starting to wonder who thought trying to make Napoleon Dynamite as an animated series wasa good idea, because this isn't the first time that I've seen Fox produce aclunker of an animated comedy.

Shows like Bob's Burgers and Allen Gregory are prime examples of poor decision making, and Ithink green lighting Napoleon Dynamitewas equally bad.

It won't be easy to save this show, but if there is a willthere is a way I suppose. For NapoleonDynamite to be successful the show should take in some of the charm fromthe film, and leave some of the jokes behind.

Fresh comedy and newly discovered charm would do wonders forthe Napoleon Dynamite, but I have toadmit that I haven't seen much worse than this when it comes to an animated TVseries. It will be interesting to see what the future hold for the show, maybemore interesting than the show itself.

Grade : F

'Contraband' fails to bring the goods

2012-01-16T10:40:00.000-08:00

Release: January 13th, 2012

Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Ben Foster, Giovanni Ribisi, KateBeckinsale

Director: Baltasar Kormákur

Run Time: 1 Hour 49 Minutes Rated: R

Chris Farraday (Mark Wahlberg) had left the criminalunderworld behind him and became a husband and father.

But the past has comeback to haunt this one time legendary smuggler when his brother-in-law Andy(Caleb Landry Jones) is in need of protection from his boss Tim Briggs(Giovanni Ribisi).

He was out, but now the circumstances have pulled him backin.

Farraday takes a job that will protect his brother-in-law,but finds the job quickly goes south putting his wife (Kate Beckinsale) andtheir children in the crosshairs.

The story here is nothing to get excited about, and maybethe one saving grace would be the action.

Unfortunately for the moviegoer (andthe movie) action cannot save this film because the only small pockets ofaction can be found.

The one adrenalin shot Contrabandreally gets from action is when Farraday's and one of his crew get caught up inan armored car heist. This is exciting stuff, especially when it goes a littlesouth.

Like all stimulants however, this shot of adrenalin wearsoff.

Contraband is thenleft with predictability issues, hollow characters, and the feeling that thefilm is dragging on far too long.

There is no sense of excitement or tension from close calls,or even from plot twists. The twists in the film can be seen from a mile away,or are spelled out for the audience. Idon't think it's too much to ask for a challenge, and a real surprise from afilm about smuggling and other illegal nastiness.

Of course it could just be me.

The need for a sharp looking movie also seems to be a tall orderto fill, because there are several (mostly close-up) shots that becomesignificantly blurred. This is done for style, but if there is ever a reason tosacrifice style, this blurring shot would be it.

Contraband suffersfrom many problems, from lack of action to even the distracting styles of someshots, but in the end the number one problem has to be with the characters.

It's hard to really feel for any of these people on thescreen. These characters that the audience is supposed to feel for aresuffering from a lack of compelling story and in one case a lack of weakcasting.

Not only does Contrabandlack story and developed characters, but has cast Mark Wahlberg in the role ofhero tough guy.

This is a role he's done several times, and it is a littleboring to see him picked for the same role over and over. The scenery mightchange, but the same guy finds his way into the same performance with very fewexceptions.

Contraband is afilm that pulls one in with the promise of action twists and turns, but ends up feeling toolong and being weak in pretty much every area it explored. It's not wrong towant more out of an action film, and it's not wrong to want a challenge, justdon't expect that from Contraband.

Grade:F

Golden Globes thoughs and picks before the show

2012-01-15T14:34:00.000-08:00

The 69^th annual Golden Globes will be heldtonight, and I am looking forward to seeing who takes home the big prize, but I’malso excited to see what host Ricky Gervais has to say about the Hollywoodelite.

Last year Gervais cracked out some cringe inducing zingers,and it seemed that after the show Gervais would not be asked back.

So imagine my surprise to see he’s coming back to host onceagain. I have found him funny every time, even if the crowd sitting in front ofhim did not.

I don’t think that the crowd in front of him was aninfluence on the decision to bring Gervais back. It probably had more to dowith the crowd watching at home and how much of an impact he had on theirexperience watching the show.

Whatever the reason for his return, I’m interested to seewhat has to say.

As for the awards, I have to admit that I haven’t seen asmuch as I wanted when it comes to both movies and TV (the Golden Globes honorboth), but there are a few people, shows and movies I wouldn’t mind seeing getthe Globe.

A few picks forfilms

Best Picture – Drama

I wouldn’t mind seeing TheDescendants or Moneyball win. Iknow its two picks, but in this category my indecisiveness is the real winner.

Best Performance byan Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama

I want to see Rooney Mara win the Globe for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo becauseshe does a fantastic job in a tough role. But she is going up against two heavyweights in Meryl Streep and Viola Davis, so realistically it’s not lookinggood.

Best Performance by anactor in a Motion Picture – Drama

Simply put, I like George Clooney for his role in The Descendents.

Best Motion Picture –Comedy or Musical

The Artist seemsto be on a roll and I don’t see it stopping at the Golden Globes.

Best Performance byan Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical

Kristen Wiig seems like the right choice here because of herrole in Bridesmaids.

Best Performance byan Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical

As I said, The Artistis on a roll, so its star Jean Dujardin is almost a lock here.

Best Animated FeatureFilm

Puss in Bootsseems to me to be a solid choice, only because Cars 2 was a rare miss by Pixar.

Best Performance byan Actress in a Supporting Role

Shailene Woodley for her performance in The Descendents will most likely take the Globe.

Best Performance byan Actor in a Supporting Role

I would love to see Jonah Hill win for his performance in Moneyball

A few picks for TV

Best TelevisionSeries – Drama

I’m a big Game ofThrones fan, so I hope to see it win in this category.

Best Performance byan Actress in a Television Series – Drama

Julianna Margulies for her work in The Good Wife is my complete shot in the dark guess.

Best Performance byan Actor in a Television Series – Drama

Nominated for his role in Boardwalk Empire, I tend to favor Steve Buscemi in this category.

Best TelevisionSeries – Comedy or Musical

I would love to see the NewGirl win the Globe, because it would be nice to see some new blood wininstead of. Modern Family, which seems to rule this category.

Best Performance byan Actress in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical

Again, I would love to see new blood win, and ZooeyDeschanel for her work in The New Girlshould take the Globe home.

Best Performance byan Actor in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical

I’m a big fan of TheBig Bang Theory, so I’m pulling for Johnny Galecki who plays Leonard.

The 69^thannual Golden Globe Awards airs tonight on NBC 8pm-11pm (EST) 5pm-8pm (PST).

Most anticipated movies of 2012 part 2

2012-01-06T21:43:00.000-08:00

Part two of my most anticipated feature the top five films on my list. These are the films that I will have to see no matter what, and I will be excited to do so. Here's looking forward to the new year in movies!

5.

Skyfall

Cast: Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Bérénice Marlohe, Naomie Harris

Director: Sam Mendes

Release: November 9

I was beginning to think that we weren't going to seeanother Bond film with Daniel Craig due to the recent financial trouble MGM washaving. I am happy to see that things have been ironed out, and that we willsee Craig in the role of Bond once again. I tend to think that Craig is thebest Bond, due to the fact that he makes the iconic spy human, unlike those inthe past (even Connery). Not much is known about the next installment in the longrunning series, but no matter what it will be great to just have a Bond film hitting theaters thisyear.

No official trailer yet.

The Amazing Spider-Man

Cast: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Sally Field

Director: Marc Webb

Release: July 3

Some might wonder if we really need a new Spider-Man movie. Ilike the idea to be honest. Starting earlier in high school, and starting offwith the real first girlfriend (at least in the comic book) Gwen Stacy is a good direction. Casting AndrewGarfield (not really younger, but young looking) is a good choice to bring Spider-Man to life, and I have to admit that I was a little surprised that EmmaStone was cast in the vey blond role of Gwen Stacy, but if she is right for therole (and I think she will be) what's a little hair color? I think that thisfilm could be better than the first, not that the first was bad, but this onewill be a little more grounded and willbe armed with a better cast.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Cast: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Cate Blanchett, HugoWeaving

Director: Peter Jackson

Release: December 14

This film is really a win/win for me. On one hand thefantasy geek inside is ready for a trip back to Middle Earth. The film geek islooking forward to the a well crafted film (if they are anything like Lord ofthe Rings) and the people coming back to the series. I've never been a fan ofOrlando Bloom's work outside of the Lord of the Rings films, but I'm actuallyvery happy to see him coming back as elf archer Legolas because he does such agood job in the role. From the preview, the film looks like a lot of fun, and theonly down side (so far) is the fact that I have to wait until December to seeit.

The Avengers

Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans,Jeremy Renner

Director: Joss Whedon

Release: May 4

This is what I would consider the super superhero movie,and I never thought something like this could be done. I always thought toomuch red tape would get in the way of this type of film, but here it comes. Ihave been a fan of all of the films from Marvel Studios, and all the charactersfrom those films have found their way into one movie. Not too much has beenseen in the trailers so far, but if TheAvengers is anything like the rest of the films from Marvel Studios, I lookforward to seeing all these heroes in one place and getting answers to the manyquestions I have. The biggest question is, of course, will this film work? Ican't wait to find out.

The Dark Knight Rises

Cast: Christen Bale, Tom Hardy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, AnneHathaway

Director: Christopher Nolan

Release: July 20

I'm a huge Batman fan, and this will supposedly be the last film in what I considerthe greatest Batman film series ever. How could I not put this film on the topof my most anticipated film of 2012? When it comes to The Dark Knight Rises, the rule book in my opinion is out thewindow, and not knowing what will happen is really kind of refreshing. I can'twait to see Bane and Catwoman (Hardy and Hathaway) and I learned my lesson lasttime in assuming what the performances are going to be like, and I won't makethat mistake with this film. I didn't think Heath Ledger was going to be a verygood Joker, and I was very wrong. I won't be guessing when it comes to Rises, just counting the days until Ican see Batman up on the big screen (supposedly) one last time.

Most anticipated movies of 2012 part 1

2012-01-05T18:14:00.000-08:00

The films of 2011 have come and gone, and now it's time to look forward. It's always fun to start fresh every year, and to finally see films that have been in production since (at least) last year. In the first week of the year, I look at what's around the corner, and find that special ten that have really gotten my attention. So, in part one, I talk about films ten through six and I offer the trailers for each film.

10.

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance

Cast: Nicolas Cage, Violante Placido, Christopher Lambert,Ciaran Hinds

Director: Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor

Release: February 17th

I will admit that the 2007 Ghost Rider was a cheesy mess that went too light with a characterthat is, for all intents and purposes, a soldier of Hell. This time around, welook to be going on the darker side of the of the Ghost Rider. I do likeNicholas Cage, and thought that he was fine in the first film. It wasn't hisacting that was the problem, it was the tone and little use of hard action thatreally sank the first film. Through the previews alone I can see the film witha harder edge and more action. It will be interesting to see if the trailer isjust the tip of the iceberg or a summary of all the good parts of the film.

Snow White and the Seven Huntsmen

Cast: Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth, Charlize Theron, IanMcShane

Director: Rupert Sanders

Release: June 1

Maybe Kristen Stewart wouldn't have been my first choice toplay Snow White but I think it will be interesting to see what she can do. Outof the two Snow White stories coming to theaters (the other being Mirror,Mirror) this one seems the most serious and fantasy action oriented. This is really a welcomed twist of the oldfairy tale, and seeing that the title character is in battle armor reallybrings that home. Add to that the dark undertone, an interesting cast, and thismight be the fairest snow white movie of them all.

Prometheus

Cast: Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron,Patrick Wilson

Director: Ridley Scott

Release: June 8

Is it a prequel to 1979's Alien or isn't it? That is a great question that really didn'tmatter after I saw the preview. All I know is that I really want to see thisfilm. I am a fan of the Alien films, and even if this has the slightest bit ofthat DNA I'm all in. Alien reallydefined the sci-fi horror genre, and it will be fun to see Scott come back tothe genre that he established with a new cast of actors that I have come toreally like (Rapace and Fassbender are among my favorite actors). I'm hopingthat it's an Alien prequel, but if itis more than that, I still would love to take a look.

The Hunger Games

Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson ,Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson

Director: Gary Ross

Release: March 23

I was reading about this book called "The HungerGames" and it was getting to the point I finally broke down and read thefirst one once I heard the movie was in the works. This young adult book definitelyheld my attention, and it definitely puts the adult in young adult. I am eagerto see how the film brings the book to life, and casting Jennifer Lawrence asKatniss Everdeen was an interesting choice. I never thought of her in the role,but once I saw the trailer, I could see it. I'm excited to see The HungerGames, because I really enjoyed the book, and seeing it play out on screenwill hopefully be a blast.

6.

The Expendables 2

Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Bruce Willis, DolphLundgren

Director: Simon West

Release: August 17

The Expendableswas a all out, guns blazing throwback to 80's action films for the ModernWarfare generation. It was crazy fun, and I am looking forward to round two.The second round will bring new old school action stars like Jean-Claude VanDamme and even Chuck Norris. It also looks like Bruce Willis and ArnoldSchwarzenegger will be getting to see some more screen time too. Sure thismovie is most likely about the gun and 'splosions, but I'm allowed a guiltypleasure now and then.

'Ghost Protocol' makes for an impossibly good time

2012-01-02T14:33:00.000-08:00

Release: December 21^st,2011

Cast: Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, Paula Patton

Director: Brad Bird

Run Time: 2 Hr. 13 Min. Rated: Pg-13

The world of espionage is a dangerous one for the spy.Threats from rival spies, being caught by the enemy the spy is infiltrating aretwo of the biggest threats for the spy.

And then there’s Ghost Protocol.

Ghost protocol is the spy’s own government disavowing him,and providing him no means of backup, and this is where we find Ethan Hunt (TomCruise) in Mission Impossible: GhostProtocol.

Hunt and his team are in pursuit of a terrorist and nearlycorner him in the Kremlin, but instead they are implicated in a terrorist actthat gives the US president no choice but to declare Ghost Protocol, disavowingthe IMF and Hunt’s team.

Hunt and his team now have no backup, and are now consideredterrorists making the mission to capture the real terrorist a truly impossibleone.

With this being the fourth installment in the Mission Impossibleseries, many might write this film off as low quality attempt to get as muchmoney as possible. For those thinking that need to see this film becausenothing could be further from the truth.

Mission: ImpossibleGhost Protocol directed by first time live-action director Brad Bird ispossibly the best installment in the series, doing more right than wrong.

I've always liked Cruise as Ethan Hunt, he giving thecharacter a charm and electricity that works with the action packed nature ofthe Mission Impossible series. Cruise is the anchor of Ghost Protocol, and one might think that this consistency mightfeel old, but the film feels fresh and new.

Jeremy Renner is the biggest new addition to the film, andreally works well off of Cruise. Renner's character Brandt is a mystery, but after ashort while it's not hard to like him as a new addition to the team.

Brandt is a new addition to the team ,but is he what he says he is, or is he working for the enemy, and really whocan you trust? The great thing about GhostProtocol is that it always keeps you guessing, and guessing until the end,and the it never becomes overbearing.

Ghost Protocoldoesn't beat you down with questions, keeping it suspenseful and fun all at thesame time. There has always been a nice sense of humor that runs through the MissionImpossible films, and in this installment the humor is far more present keepingthis a little lose.

One thing that isn't very present in the film is the main villain. That villain is Kurt Hendricks (MichaelNyqvist), and he lacks both charisma and screen time. I tend to like a villainwith swagger and this guy doesn't have it, he's just nutter butters and that'sall that's necessary I guess.

What this film does have in great quantity is a clevernessin the areas of technology and action sequences, areas of a Mission Impossiblefilm that really count.

The gadgets in GhostProtocol are all interesting, but the most inventive one is a projectorthat replicates the image of a long hallway to fool a security guard in theKremlin. The scene with the projector built a good sense of tension that reallyis a lot of fun.

The most fun in the film comes from a fight sequence in a mechanizedvertical car park between Hunt and Hendricks. It's quick, full of action packedintensity, with just a slight touch of humor that makes for one of the morememorable sequences in the entire film.

Mission: Impossible GhostProtocol on the whole is one of the more memorable missions in the series,and proves that making a quality fourth installment is not as impossible as onemight think.

Grade: A-

A few thoughts on 2011

2011-12-30T15:32:00.000-08:00

I have watched many a movie, played many a game, and read acomic book or two in 2011, and I can say for sure that this year had morepositives than negatives when it came to entertainment.

Every year has its ups and downs, and 2011 is no exception,but I found for every terrible film I saw, say Sucker Punch (F), there were two films that were great like Captain America: The first Avenger(A),and Super 8 (A).

I still have a hard time thinking about Sucker Punch, because it appeared to be everything a geek like mewould love. Big guns, martial arts, video game influence, and attractive womenaltogether in one movie sounds like it would be a geeks delight, but is reallyone massive disappointment.

What wasn't a disappointment in 2011 was the renumbering of52 comic book series in the DC Comics lineup. There was a lot of concern thatthis would fail big time, but I actually like what I have been seeing since the"new 52' launched on August 31st with the release of "Justice League # 1".

Not all of the comics I started reading from the reboot andin some cases startups are winners, like "The Dark Avengers" wasn'tmy cup of tea, and I'm still pretty iffy "Men of War". Other serieslike "Detective Comics" and "Action Comics" are really welldone , and have become more interesting since the reboot, and even series Iwould have never thought about reading have become really interesting too like"Auquaman" and the "Catwoamn" books.

In my opinion, the "new 52" is one of the moreinteresting things that happened in 2011, but not the most exciting.

To me the mostexciting thing to happen this year was the release of a video game that I hadbeen waiting years for. I'm talking about ElderScrolls V: Skyrim, the role playing game that takes me away from myfavorite video game genre, the first person shooter (FPS).

Don't get me wrong, I do love me some FPS action found inmany 2011 releases like Modern Warfare 3, Halo: Combat Evolved AnniversaryAddition, and Battlefield 3 , but this one RPG has won me over.

From beautiful graphics, immersive story, and so much to doinside and outside of the main quest, I have not had so much fun playing a gamein a long time. It is so easy to lose one's self in the world of Skyrim, thattime just seems to fly by so quickly.

I guess that could be said for 2011 as well, because itfeels like only yesterday we were all welcoming the new year that was 2011. Butnow, we look forward to 2012, and all that it has to offer.

I for one will beexcited to see what comes in the way of entertainment.

Until then, have a safe and happy New Year, and I will seeyou next year.

'Men in Black III' trailer makes for promising comeback

2011-12-13T19:59:00.000-08:00

Agent J (Will Smith) and Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones) arecoming back to theaters next year after a 10 year absence in Men In Black III.

The first trailer hashit the web , and it looks like the third film in the series looks to bringthings back on track after thedisappointing second film, simply called MenIn Black II, released in 2002.

Not much is actually known about the story in Men In Black III, but time travel will definitelybe playing a role, and a spot on younger Agent K portrayed by Josh Brolin looksvery interesting.

It will be interesting to see if this film can capture the excitementand fun of the first, and hopefully less of the disappointment that came withthe second film. Not only does the film really need a win, but Smith needs thewin just as much.

Men In Black IIIwill be Smith's first film in three and a half-years after his 2008 film Seven Pounds which was poorly accepted by both fans and critics ( anasty 23% on the tomatometer).

After seeing the trailer I am cautiously excited about thefilm, it reminds me of what made the first film really fun, but we'll have towait until the film hits theaters May 25th, 2012 to find out.

Have look at thetrailer:

'The Sitter' makes for a garden-variety bawdy comedy

2011-12-12T17:30:00.000-08:00

Release: December 9th, 2011

Cast: Jonah Hill, Max Records, Landry Bender, Kevin Hernandez

Director: David Gordon Green

Run Time: 81 minutes Rated: R

When babysitting, it's probably best not to bring the kidsyou're babysitting to go and buy some coke for your girlfriend, who promises tohave sex with you that same night if you bring the nose candy.

Just don't tell that to Noah (Jonah Hill), who's at thecenter of director David Gordon Green's film The Sitter.

Noah is a lazy guy, who has been kicked out of college andis jobless. Considering he has all this time on his hands, Noah's asked by hismother to babysit the neighbor's kids.

The three kids that are left in his care are going to be thebane of Noah's existence. Not only does he have the pressure of babysittingthree seemingly nightmare children, but his girlfriend is ready to go all the way.

Noah is going to havecrazy night ahead of him, with the question of will he survive the night fullof cocaine, gangsters, and three kids in tow.

The Sitter is nota terrible film, just one with a number of issues that could have been fixedeasily with more attention.

Being inconsistently funny, and very predictable are two ofthe major issues with The Sitter, andit seems to me one problem is the cause of the other.

In other words, it doesn'thelp to see the joke coming from a mile away, because that takes all the punchout of the humor.

At least most of the time.

Even with the predictability of some of the jokes, there are those that do still make youchuckle and laugh. Unfortunately those jokes that get out from under theblanket of predictability are far too spaced out through the entirety of themovie.

I did like Hill's character, even if that's been a consistentcharacter through several of his films. The sweet, fast talking, loveable bigguy who's quick with a joke has always worked for him.

The same act works for him in The Sitter but it's when he interacts with the kids that make himstandout a little in this film when compared to his other comedies.

When helping out the kids, Hill takes on a bit of maturitythat many of his roles lack. He may do a lot of the same things in other films,but the maturity is not something seen in many of his comedic roles.

Changing it up a little bit when it comes to Hill'sperformance is nice, but with that being the only unpredictable element of theentire film, The Sitter just feelslike another average comedy about debauchery and hijinks of the R ratedvariety.

Grade: C

Check out the NSFW trailer:

Warner Bros. wants your 'Potter' money now

2011-10-24T21:41:00.000-07:00

So in obvious money grab news, Warner Bros. announced Mondaythat effective December 29, 2011 they will be pulling all of the Harry PotterDVD and Blu-ray sets and individual titles (including Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows: Part 2 which is out Nov. 11)from store shelves.

In a stolen move from Disney, which releases certain titlesfor a limited time and then locks them back up in a "vault", WarnerBros. has given the home video collection of the potter films an expirationdate.

I'm not a fan of this type of business, but I understandthat there is a lot of profit behind it. People panic, go out and buy the films thatseal up the holes in the collection, or buy the whole series if they haven't already.

People react to things like this, and I am very guilty ofthis myself, especially if it's something I really want.

I personally don't have any of the Harry Potter films, and it seems that I might find myself without,because at this time it doesn't seem right to spend so much.

What Warner Bros. is doing with the Harry Potter series isn't right, especially now in tough times. It'salmost like they are telling fans that you need to buy now, or you won't get toown the films for years. You don't buy now, and we punish you with a long wait.

It's always felt like a dirty, money grabbing, punishmentwhen Disney did it with their films, and I just hope that this isn't somethingWarner Bros. will be doing with some of its better known movies, but if thismove is lucrative with Potter, I'm sure we could see morethings disappearing from store shelves.

First official 'Avengers' trailer hits all the right spots

2011-10-12T11:47:00.000-07:00

Yesterday they released the first real trailer for the Marvel super group event movie The Avengers, and if the trailer is anything like the full film, I can't wait.

The trailer doesn't give too much away, but it does seem that Loki (Tom Hiddleston) will be causing some, if not all, the trouble. No this trailer is light on plot detail, but heavy on promoting the idea that it's really cool all of these heroes are in the same room.

It's funny, it's action packed, and that's just the trailer.

I will be eager to see what comes to theaters May of next year. Really the biggest if in this film will be Mark Ruffalo as Dr. Bruce Banner/ The Hulk. He is the only untested actor when it comes to the world of super heroes.

Ruffalo is taking the place of Edward Norton, who was the last actor to fill Banner's shoes. This being Ruffalo's first appearance as Banner might be risky, because he is a new face in a role that has had a string of actors already.

The change in actors doesn't bother me, but to get a better idea in terms of the change, I will have to see the whole film. After seeing the trailer though, I really wish I didn't have to wait until May of next year to see The Avengers.

Check out the trailer below from Marvel Studios:

Didn't know 'Rage' could be so beautiful

2011-10-08T13:56:00.000-07:00

Release: October 4, 2011

Developer: id Software

Publisher: Bethesda Softworks

Genre: First-person shoot (FPS)

Systems: Xbox 360, PS3, PC

Locked in a vault called an Ark, you are one of the fewchosen to become the last best hope for the survival of the human race. As youare being locked in the Ark, a large asteroid is barreling towards Earth.

A hundred plus years later, you emerge from the Ark into aworld just short of hell. A world where good people are beaten down by theoppressive government regime simply known as The Authority and are in constantfear of bandit raids and mutant attacks.

Simply put, welcome to the world of Rage .

And what a big beautiful world it is, one that is developedby the legendary first-person shooter (fps) developer id Software (Doom and Quake) all while using their new id Tech 5 engine that makes itsimpact when the player steps outside the Ark for the first time.

The environment, characters, and even the little details aretop notch and should be admired between blowing the heads off of bandits ormutants.

Speaking of shooting and blowing stuff up, the game play in Rage is actually a little surprising inboth good ways and bad. At its core, Rage is a fps that feels great, with alot of satisfaction coming from the feel of power coming from the weapons. IdSoftware has done what it does best, and that is make a quality fps action.

Id Software scores brownie points with its addition of adriving element that is as much fun as the fps side of things. Do I want tostrap rocket launchers and mini-guns on a dune buggy and go out racing or blowup enemy vehicles?

With a great sense of speed, and the kind of detail thatcould give a racing simulator a run for its money, hell yes I want to do this. It'seasy to have a lot of fun with driving element in this game, making thisusually risky addition to a fps feel very natural in Rage.

Another thing that begins to feel natural, unfortunately, isthe feeling of an errand boy. There is no real cohesive story in Rage, just you being sent out on tasksthat have a little something to do with what is considered a story. Basically,these tasks are meant to throw the player into the action, and I have no hugeproblem with this as long as the action is good and there is lots of tension.

Rage has no problems with action or tension, thusmaking the lack of a real story less important.

The enemy creates this action and tension being both smartand crazy fast, and with various enemy types the players will be kept on theirtoes when going into places like a bandit hangout or an Authority prison. Andwith the various ammo types, it's always fun to see what works best with whatenemy.

The one major disappointment in Rage comes for the multiplayer, and the fact that it lacks thevariation the rest of the game embraces. The multiplayer features a co-op modeand a mode called road rage.

Road rage uses the fantastic driving element in a playerversus player game type, and though interesting at first, it gets tiresomepretty quick. The co-op has players doing one off missions that are notconnected to the campaign.

Seeing this lackluster multiplayer, Rage should have been strictly single player campaign all the way.The multiplayer just feels like an afterthought, and this is truly a shame.

It's a shame, because this beautiful game called Rage would be excellent without it. Itis still a well crafted game from the father of the fps genre that is idSoftware, and even with the disappointment of a bad multiplayer, Rage isa beautiful and fun fps.

Grade: B

First trailer for 'The Raven'

2011-10-07T19:59:00.000-07:00

I don't know what it is about my interest in using historical figures as characters in films where the events are fictional, but I do find it interesting. In this, the first trailer for The Raven, we find that a murderer is using the works of Edgar Allen Poe to kill his victims.

The police gain the help of Mr. Poe (John Cusack) in there pursuit to stop this murderer, and in doing so it seems that the case becomes personal for the famous poet. I think this looks pretty sweet if you ask me, but that might just be my opinion. Take a look and see if this is something that might interest you.

'50/50' is a 100 percent quality film

2011-10-06T17:56:00.000-07:00

Release: September 30, 2011

Cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Adam), Seth Rogen (Kyle), AnnaKendrick (Katherine), Bryce Dallas Howard (Rachael)

Director: Jonathan Levine

Run Time: 1 hour 39 minutes Rated: R

A film about a man with cancer is not something one wouldautomatically think to find humor in, but with 50/50 not only is there humor but also heartfelt story telling inequal parts.

50/50 stars JosephGordon-Levitt as Adam, a 27-year-old man that is diagnosed with a form ofcancer that has a 50% survivability rate.

After the diagnosis, the film picks up steam, presenting theaudience with the journey Adam will make through the highs and lows of livingwith cancer.

There are obviously more lows than highs, but the lows arepresented in such a way as to be respectful of the struggle while also findingthe lighter side of it.

A perfect example of how this works is found in Adam's firstchemotherapy treatment. He makes friendswhile undergoing the treatment , and they offer him some strong pot brownies.The light side of this is that he's higher than a kite walking out of thetreatment.

The struggle comes later for Adam, when the effect of thetreatment is clear when he becomes very sick. This feels like a perfectbalance, and the best part is that this balance is maintained throughout thefilm.

Everything in 50/50feels very personal, like every struggle is addressed with care and balance,and that I think is due to the writer of the film Will Reiser who battled andrecovered from cancer and for whom the character of Adam is based.

Writing the film can only get you so far, because you needsomeone to deliver the performance. Gordon-Levitt delivers a fantastic performancethat's engaging, funny and heartfelt.

Essentially he is the right man for the job.

It's one of those performances that has an audience seeingthe actor at first, but as the film goes on the actor becomes the character. Bythe end of this film you feel for Adam and you don't see Gordon-Levitt anymore,making this a masterful performance.

That's not to say that the rest of the cast doesn't do agreat job too.

The most notable performance of the supporting cast is AnnaKendrick as the therapist trying to help Adam cope with what he's going throughin his life. Kendrick and Gordon-Levitt have a really nice chemistry together,that is delightful and slightly unexpected.

What is completely expected walking into this film is SethRogen's character being the loud everyman stoner, that is named Kyle in thiscase. Kyle is Adam's best friend, and that's really all that separates thischaracter from the others he's played in the past.

If only he could have been a little different, I mean doeshe always need to be a stoner? Even with the repetitious nature of the role, itstill works out, and I admit that even if it is a little predictable, Rogen ispretty solid in that type of role.

But then, generally speaking, 50/50 is a solid film with quality acting and a great balance ofhumor and heartfelt storytelling that makes for an unexpectedly great motionpicture.

Grade: A-

'Killer Elite' is a killer bore

2011-10-05T13:20:00.000-07:00

Release: September23, 2011

Cast: Jason Statham(Danny), Clive Owen (Spike), Robert De Niro (Hunter), Yvonne Strahovski (Anne)

Director: GaryMcKendy

Run Time: 1 hour 26minutes Rated: R

It's not wrong to expect more from action movies nowadays. Imean gun fire and explosions are key components to such films, but there ismore that can be had with these films. With this way of thinking one mightexpect far more from Killer Elite.

But that line of thinking only leads to disappointment.

Starting with the paper thin plot, Killer Elite is the story of two retired special-operations agents(Jason Statham and Robert De Niro) running into trouble when their mercenarywork puts them up against a secret society and their never quitting leader (CliveOwen).

Killer Elite isbased on actual events, and the source material for the film is a book, and Ihope for all the readers out there currently reading The Feather Men (though I believe they changed the name to matchthe film's title) that the book is more complicated, interesting and just plainbetter than what is presented in this film.

Much of the film is full of humdrum action, and for the mostpart doesn't offer anything in the way of tension, which is an importantelement to have so as to create excitement.

I will admit that there is one great fight scene in the filmbetween Statham and Owen in a small hospital room. They are beating the hellout of each other, there are quick close camera cuts, and it's very gritty.

Why couldn't the rest of the film be as good as that fightscene? Instead the film just plods along after this very well done throw down.

That's what KillerElite does, it plods along, and as one gets closer to the end of the film,it feels even worse because it feels like the film is going to end fivedifferent times. By the time it finally ends, there is a sense of relief thatthe film is finally done, and this is a crime.

The biggest crime in the whole of the film is the underuseof Robert De Niro.

De Niro gives a few great lines, fires a few guns, and playsmentor to Statham's character but is mostly in the background of this film. Youhave a legendary actor like De Niro and yet he's filling up the background, Imean that just isn't right.

Another area that doesn't feel right is Statham's loveinterest played by Yvonne Strahovski. There is absolutely no reason to have herin this film, and when they use her finally, it feels like a poor attempt tomake her a real part of the film.

This is too bad, because I like Strahovski, better known asSarah on NBC's Chuck. I guess sheexpected that working on Killer Elitewith De Niro meant working on a great action film.

What we expect, isn't always what we get. My expectationsfor a great film, with a cast I like doesn't come to pass with Killer Elite. Hell, I would have settled for a good movie, but thatis not what this film is.

It's not wrong toexpect more from the action movies we see these days, but when expecting moreand getting less happens, the disappointment is far greater.

Grade: F

'Drive' maintains interest, but not speed.

2011-09-24T13:51:00.000-07:00

Release Date: September 16th, 2011

Cast: Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston, Ron Perlman

Director: NicolasWinding Refn

Rated: R RunTime: 1 Hr. 40 Min.

Drive is a cool ridethat cruises along being more crime drama than high octane driving experience,which is completely unexpected.

With the title, one would think that the film would shiftinto high gear, and bring the action expected from something that might comeout of the Fast and the Furious franchise.

This is not the case with Drive.

This film is a subtle character study that just happens tohave a few fast cars and some tight, if not all too short car chases. RyanGosling plays Driver, a stuntman that is moonlighting as a wheel man forcriminals at night.

All things are going well for Driver, until he starts tocare for his neighbor (Carry Mulligan) and her son Benicio (Kaden Leos).

The problem is that she is not divorced from her ex-conhusband, and when he is released from prison, he brings a criminal element intomother and son's lives.

To protect the woman and child he's become attached to,Driver will have to help the ex-conhusband settle some debts, but not even the best laid plans go right every time.

Gosling is in great form in Drive, portraying a McQueen kind of cool and a white hot meanstreak when you get him angry. Not much is learned about his character, and hedoesn't say a lot, but it's not a problem.

His character is fascinating being this mysterious and istoo cool to have the fact that we learn little about him take away from the performance.

What does take away from the performance, if just a little,is the amount of silence his character and others are involved in.

There is actually a lot of silence in this film, and that isboth a good and bad thing. There are areas in Drive that benefit from the silent tension before all hell breaks loose.

The bad side of the silence in this film comes out of Mulliganand Gosling on the screen at the same time. There is a lot to be said insilence, but if that silence goes on to long than that moment just feelsawkward, and sometimes it reaches that point of awkwardness in this film.

Drive stalls acouple of times throughout the film due to this use of silence, but most of thetime it is a cool picture that cruises at its own pace. The acting is top notchall around, but Drive would havebenefitted from maybe kicking it into a higher gear in terms of action.

Grade: C+

Have a look at the trailer:

Starbucks gives you the $85 coffee stain

2011-09-21T18:00:00.000-07:00

I have missed my calling.

Starbucks is celebrating their 40th birthday by charging you$85 for a designer shirt that appears to have a coffee stain on it.

I'm sure I could give you the same thing for cheaper and itwould most likely smell better. I've been doing it for years with a variety ofStarbucks beverages.

I should have gone into the fashion biz.

I usually don't write about fashion, but this is one ofthose stories that grabs the attention, and makes you really shake your head.

Are we really doing this? Really?

It seems so, and I guess they felt that charging 85 bucksfor a T-shirt is a great thing to have to celebrate 40 years of coffee.

I don't really know who's getting the better gift. Is it theaverage consumer getting a good laugh at the sky high price, or is it Starbucksmaking money off of an obsessed fan base with way too much money in theirwallets.

The T- shirts are the products of award winning designers,but I have to admit, I wouldn't buy one of these shirts if it was made byCalvin Kline himself.

The offending shirt in this case is made by designerAlexander Wang , and is particularlynasty looking. It's a white shirt that has the coffee stain on the left shoulderof the T-shirt.

The only cool part of this design is that the coffee comesdown the shirt, and creates the Starbucks symbol.

No problem fully admitting that this is neat, but not $85neat.

I was hoping to read about some redeeming factor when itcomes to the price of these shirts, like a portion of the profits going to acharity or something like that.

That is not the case however, and really that's not too muchof a shock. What's a little greed from the biggest coffee grinder in the world?

I am sure that there will be those that will buy one ofthese shirts, and I cringe to think of all the lost opportunities I've hadspilling my cup of coffee...dang.

If you want to buy(or see other designs) of these shirts be sure to check out StrabucksStore.comor select Norstrom locations beginning September 19th.

'Contagion' is a sick movie in more ways than one

2011-09-12T19:56:00.000-07:00

Release: September 9th, 2011

Cast: LaurenceFishburne, Matt Damon, Kate Winslet, Gwyneth Paltrow

Director: StevenSoderbergh

Run Time: 1 hr 45min. Rated: PG-13

Watching Contagion,after awhile I became distinctly aware that I had not washed my hands beforedigging on in.

My God what could be on my hands?

This is why watching a film like Contagion is usually not my cup of tea, but in all honesty the filmis an interesting, if not slightly flawed piece of work that kept my attentionthroughout.

Contagion isessentially a disaster film that focuses on the very real possibility that avirus could devastate the human population. This is presented in an understatedtone, with no over the top actions being taken by government or citizen.

Basically it's being more realistic then the usual disasterfilm fare.

The film follows multiple people in various positions in theworld, and it's the people that really make this an interesting film, and notthe virus itself.

From top officials like Dr. Ellis Cheever (Laurence Fishburne)to average Americans like recent widower Mitch Emhoff (Matt Damon), all of thecharacters act differently and are affected differently based on their role inlife.

What Contagion doesreally well is highlight the idiocy of policy and the various human reactionswhen faced with crisis or disaster. In many ways, this is more about humanitythan it is a virus, and this is great for a genre that puts too much focus on theevent and not the people dealing with it.

In theory this should be thrilling, and Contagion is advertised as a thriller, but I never found it to bevery thrilling. Creepy is the right word to describing the film. The creepyfeeling is created with understated realism, the fact germs can be passed soquickly, and the musical score from Cliff Martinez.

The creepiness in this film is overpowered by the medicalaspect of the film, which plays far too big a role. It's too medical, and atparts can become very boring because of it. For the most part the medicaljargon is too much in some places, and that can really take a person out of thefilm.

There is a scene where the doctors at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) are discussingwhat the virus is, and maybe 10 seconds into it the jargon becomes a littletoo heavy to really keep up with. There is a similar scene at the World HealthOrganization where it too becomes a little too heavy with jargon when theydiscuss the spread of the virus.

The jargon gives Contagiona clinical feel that takes the viewer out of the film, and the film then beginsto feel like it's moving at a snail's pace. For all my appreciation when itcomes to realism, I don't believe that Contagionshould have been bogged down in medical jargon like it is.

What Contagion hasgot going for it is the all-star cast, and the quality performances that gowith such a cast.

Along with Fishburne and Damon, Kate Winslet, GwynethPaltrow, Jude Law and Marion Cotillard make up the rest of the main cast. Not abad cast in my opinion, but the performance that stood out to me was Winslet asDr. Erin Mears.

Winslet's performance as a CDC worker on the frontlines isprobably the most interesting character in the film, because her characterbrings the two worlds of government and civilian life together, putting her ina dangerous position.

With the quality acting, and the realism, its look athumanity and the problems with policy, Contagionis a good film, but the film does get held back by its slow pace, its clinicalfeel, and the film's way of making an audience member become periodically disinterested.

Given all of the flaws however, Contagion is still an interesting film. The quality acting alone isworth the price of admission, just remember to wash your hands before digginginto that bucket of popcorn, because this film will have you thinking twice.

Grade: C

My view on some of the 'New 52'

2011-09-07T17:18:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading a few of the new number ones from DCComics, and I have to say that I am impressed by what I'm reading.

All of it has come off very fresh, and new. All of thecharacters look to be younger, and are slightly different from their (veryrecent) past incarnations.

For those not in the know when it comes to comics, DC Comicshas decided that they are going to take 52 comic books all the way back tonumber one this month. These "New 52" include some of the cornerstonesof the DC Universe and American PopCulture.

For comic book fans, and those that like the characters,this is a big event.

The comics I've readso far are Justice League of America # 1,Detective Comics # 1, Action Comics # 1, and Men of War #1.

These comic books all feel wrong, but in a good way.Something is off about all of these characters that I have come to know overthe years, but that strange feeling of being off gives me a renewed sense ofexcitement and anticipation.

New always feels wrong, especially when it comes to messingwith something so established as Superman or Batman, but I couldn't be happierwith the end result.

We find these heroes that are so well known being openlyquestioned and somewhat feared in the public eye. The police are not acceptingthe presence of Batman and Superman, they are questioning the motives andtrying to stop them.

The heroes that we once knew are different, and the heroesthat knew each other in the pages of theses comics, now only know them by whatthey hear.

It feels odd having the Green lantern and Batman meeting forthe first time.

That is a major shock when it first comes up in JLA #1, but it leads to great things inthe book, and the next one to come. I would have to say that I'm hooked by thisnew and somewhat unfamiliar universe.

I say somewhat, because you can't get rid of the old, pillarlike, elements of certain characters and comics.

In Detective Comics #1, Batman may not be completely appreciated by Gotham's finest, but he isstill fighting the Joker, and when it comes to Action Comics #1, Lex Luthor is behind something that Superman willnot like.

With "The New 52", at least the ones that I haveread so far, the old saying "what's old is new again" applies and Ihave enjoyed the comics of old being brought up to the times, and making thecharacters more contemporary.

I know that this change might frustrate, and even anger somehardcore fans. I understand this, but those people need to understand that thisis also a business, and DC has been behind Marvel for years on the businessside of things.

This event right here could change all of that, and if thehardcore Superman fan or the hardcore Batman fan wants his or her character tostay relevant in the medium that borethem, than this needed to happen.

And it is happening, and in my opinion it is awesome. Ifthose fans are troubled by "The New 52", I suggest that they pick upa copy of their favorite superhero's number one and see what's going on. I'mwilling to bet that they might like what they see.

As for me, I ameagerly awaiting the next batch of number ones out next Wednesday, and thecontinuations of stories I have already had the pleasure of reading so far.

Here is a look at what's coming out next week on September14th, 2011 (the ones in bold are of particular interest for me):

Batman and Robin #1

Batwoman #1

Deathstroke #1

Demon Knights #1

Frankenstein Agent of S.H.A.D.E #1

Green Lantern #1

Grifter # 1

Legion Lost #1

Mister Terrific #1

Red Lanterns #1

Resurrection Man #1

Suicide Squad #1

Superboy #1

Level five is free but level six will cost you

2011-09-06T16:07:00.000-07:00

Warhammer 40,000:Space Marine comes out today, and I'm all for games that have the playertaking up the role of a badass warrior, but there is one element of this game that just bothers me.

Warhammer 40,000:Space Marine will use what is called an "Elite Pass" which willunlock the full multiplayer experience. This code will be printed on the backof the manual that comes with the game.

If this code is not used, the player will not be able toprogress beyond level five. Players are allowed to play as much of the multiplayeras they want, but if they want to go beyond level five and get those sweet,sweet upgrades that are tied into the leveling system the player has to havethe code or pay.

If the player doesn't have this code, he or she will have topay $10 in the Xbox Live or PlayStation Network stores.

I'm not sure I like this idea, and I know that this was usedby the video game Home Front and Ididn't like the sound of it then either. To me this sounds like a punishment,and another opportunity for gaming companies to squeeze a few more dollars outof the consumer.

I know that squeezing money out of the consumer is the wholepoint (that and to punish anyone for buying a used copy of the game), but is itreally necessary to be so obvious about it.

This whole code for multiplayer business is really kind ofdirty in my opinion, and saying that anyone can play up to level five is notgoing to make the situation appear any better. That level five bit, is a tease,a taste of the goods if you will.

If you buy the game used, you will be given this taste, andthe powers that be behind Warhammer40,000 are willing to bet that you will put $10 into the rest of themultiplayer.

I don't know, this just feels wrong, and the fact that notone but two games have done this leads me to believe that more games will beusing this money making tactic.

I hope not, but I get the feeling that this could become anasty trend, one that could be far higher than $10 in future games. Like many things in life however, only time will tell.

A look at Radcliffe's creepy new film

2011-09-01T10:35:00.000-07:00

Just saw the trailer for TheWoman In Black starring Daniel Radcliffe, and I have to admit, it looksreally interesting.

The film follows a young lawyer named Arthur Kipps ( Radcliffe) who is traveling to the villageof a recently deceased client to get his papers in order. While there, he staysin a home that is occupied by a ghost with a lust for vengeance.

This trailer is only a teaser, but it is successful ingiving me the creeps.

Very dark, andseemingly full of tension, this film is definitely a different beast for theactor best known for his role as Harry Potter.

What will be interesting will be seeing if Radcliffe canseparate himself from the role that made him famous. I guess we will have tosee next February when the film is released.

For now, take a look at the teaser for The Woman in Black.

The Ghost rides again in 'Vengeance'

2011-08-26T14:00:00.000-07:00

When I heard that there was going to be a sequel to what I felt was a very disappointing Ghost Rider film, I rolled my eyes.

This I thought was going to be bad.

If the first trailer for the sequel Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance is any indication of what's to come next February, I have to admit I have a little hope.

The film finds Johnny Blaze/Ghost Rider (Nicolas Cage) hiding out in Europe, but he has been asked to come back and do battle with the devil, who is trying to take human form on Earth.

The trailer is short on footage, but every piece of footage is very promising. The film looks to be darker, and it looks to have a sharper edge that the previous film needed but lacked.

In short, Ghost Rider in Vengeance is the badass antihero I was looking for in the first film. I like how the darker tone of the film is seen in the Ghost Rider itself, with the dark char present on both bike and skull.

Nice touch.

What I hope to see in February of 2012 is more of what I find in the trailer below. Enjoy!

Halo Fest celebrates 10 years of Halo at this year's PAX

2011-08-26T00:02:00.000-07:00

Starting today, the three-day gaming festival known as the Penny Arcade Expo, PAX for short, will feature something called Halo Fest.

This will be the first Halo Fest at the Seattle Washington event, and is being put on by the new developer 343 Industries, the company that is in charge of everything Halo.

It sounds like this event will be a big one, and one that will be great for any fan of the Halo series. It is said to be the most expansive Halo event ever and will feature things like Halo tournaments, panels, and prizes.

And hopefully some news on upcoming games.

When it comes to news I want to hear come out of the Halo Fest, I would love to hear more about Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary Edition, but hear more about the recently announced Halo 4 would be even better.

All of this will be to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Halo franchise, but I also get a sense that this is a way for the new developer 343 Studios to make their mark on a series they inherited from original developer Bungie Studios.

I remember like it was just yesterday playing the original Combat Evolved, and now it has been 10 years since...man how the time can fly.

But there has been plenty to enjoy during the past 10 years.

From all the games, books, and toys I have enjoyed all that the Halo Universe had to offer, and I look forward to another 10+ years of more quality entertainment .

Ign.com has a fantastic trailer for the event and it's posted below. Great music, great visuals, and for any Halo fan it's worth a look.

Krueger a dream in nightmare world of 'Mortal Kombat'

2011-08-18T14:04:00.000-07:00

Mortal Kombat, or MK9 if you like, has had a number of characters for download, and they have all been kind of obvious my opinion.

That is until Freddy Krueger was avalible for purchase.

Yes, for the small price of 400 Microsoft points, I could own the dream killer from the 1984 film A Nightmare On Elm Street.

I didn't see this one coming, but now that it's here, I see what a great fit this "malevolent spirit from the dream realm" is in the Mortal Kombat Universe.

The only concern I had was that as a fighter, Krueger was going to suck.

There was no need for such concern, because this character is very quick, and with two gloves now he can really bring the pain.He has special abilities that come right out of the movies like the crawling claw and the claw that rises out of the ground.

Then there are those special abilities that are original to the game like teleportation, and a slime that disorients the opponent by putting them in a dream state.

What I liked with the character is that there is no real attempt to tie it to any person who has played the character in the past like Robert Englund from the 1984 original or Jackie Earle Haley from the 2004 remake.

In essence, they took a character that was well known, tweaked it just a bit, and found a nice balance between making it their own and paying homage to the original movie character.

Add to that the fact that he is a fun and effective character to use, and you have a successful piece media cross-pollination. This success makes me wonder why this can't be done right more often?

But such questions are hard to contemplate when you are having too much fun ripping people apart as a horror movie icon from your childhood...good times.

Here is the official (from MK website) story of why Krueger is in MK9:

"A malevolent spirit of the Dream Realm, Freddy Krueger preys on the souls of the living as they sleep. When Shao Kahn began to steal Earthrealm's souls - souls Freddy considered his own - Freddy battled the emperor in the Dream Realm. But Shao Kahn's will was too strong. He pulled Freddy into the real world, where he was mortal, and defeated him. A badly injured yet determined Freddy fitted both his hands with demonically enhanced razor gloves. Once he has killed Shao Kahn he will find a way back to the Dream Realm, where he will torment Earthrealm's souls for eternity."

Check out the Trailer:

Shining light on the production of 'The Dark Knight Rises'

2011-08-01T17:28:00.000-07:00

The Dark Knight Rises doesn't come out until next summer, but that doesn't mean there isn't something to look at. The Hollywood Reporter released nine images from the set of the third and final film, and the teaser trailer of the film has made its way to the internet.

The images are onset, and show Tom Hardy (as Bane) fighting with Christian Bale (as Batman) while Marion Cotillard climbs aboard the Batmobile. The other images, while interesting (they show Christopher Nolan at work, and better shots of Batman's vehicles) the pics with the actors in them are more attention getting in my opinion.It looks to me that the suit that Batman wears has not changed very much, and I have to say that I like the mask that Tom Hardy wears as Bane. It looks very much like the one found in the comics but realistic enough to be considered something that can be found outside of the comic book world. Very believable. The Batmobile looks to be in need of a paint job, but I am happy to see that it will return for the third film, and it looks like the Batcycle will be used at some point. It looks to me that there might be some more detail and polish on the bike. Could this mean that the cycle is a stand alone vehicle? That might be really cool if used right.

I find it interesting that there is no sign of Anne Hathaway (who will play Catwoman) in either the trailer or the pictures. It makes sense that there would be some secret keeping when it comes to this film, but I was hoping to at least see a costume design. It will be very interesting to see what they come up with when it comes to a costume for her, because the costumes change frequently in the comics. Having Cotillard in the pictures is interesting because of the character she plays.I don't want to give much away here, but if I were to guess as to what her role will be in the third and final installment of the series, it would have to be love interest. But, and I emphasize this, I could be very wrong. One of the best things about the recent Batman series is that it keeps you guessing more and more with every film, it's just too bad that this is the last Christopher Nolan film in the series. And it is really too bad that I will have to wait a year to see the final product, but take a look at the trailer at the bottom. It's only a teaser, but you will hear a familiar voice, see the Commissioner in the hospital, and see Bane come face to face with Batman.

Enjoy!

Captain America rises above superhero packed summer

2011-08-01T15:17:00.000-07:00

Release: July 22^nd, 2011

Cast: Chris Evans, Hayley Atwell, Tommy Lee Jones, Hugo Weaving

Director: Joe Johnston

Run Time: 2h 5min. Rating: Pg-13

The 2011 summer movie season is full of superhero movies, but it’s the patriotic World War 2 throwback Captain America: The First Avenger from Marvel Studios that really stands out from the rest of the crowd.

What this film does differently, when compared to the rest, is make you care about the man becoming the hero.

The man, Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), is a physically weak man that wants to serve the U.S. during WWII. He has tried to sign-up many times, and has been rejected every single time.

But he never loses his determination, and this is observed by Dr. Abraham Erskine (Stanley Tucci), a

man working on a secret project for the government.

Dr. Erskine offers Rogers a chance to take part in the project.

Rogers takes part in the project, and with technology from Howard Stark (Dominic Cooper) and funding from the U.S. Army, Rogers becomes the most powerful soldier the U.S. has to offer.

America, and the rest of the world, will need him, because there is a greater evil becoming more

powerful than even Hitler.

This evil is known as The Red Skull (Hugo Weaving), and it is up to Captain America to stop him and his personal army known as H.Y.D.R.A.

Captain America: The First Avenger gets you really feeling for Rogers early on, because when you see him he is so small. He’s bullied, he’s beaten, but he doesn’t back down when he feels he needs to stand for what’s right.

I think the performance of Evans as Rogers makes this character likeable, and makes you pull for him a little bit. He is very good in the role, never really losing touch with the character.

I’m not saying that the visual effect used on the weak Steve character didn’t make an impact. I find this to be a surprisingly good effect, looking like a real life person instead of a head put on a body.

Even with that good visual, the film is not perfect in the visuals department. Two scenes that stand out for me are a combat montage and a high speed train sequence, both of which lack the clarity of the rest of the film.

It’s what Captain America: The First Avenger doesn’t lack that gets more of my attention. The film is well balanced with humor and action some emotion thrown in at perfect opportunities, it doesn’t come off as too heavy and it doesn’t try to be, and it makes connections to other Avenger characters and movies.

This last element really impresses me.

The biggest connection to the other Marvel Studios Avenger films (other than the Cosmic Cube) is

Howard Stark, and the role is played perfectly by Cooper.

Like father like son, the young father in Captain America: The First Avenger is very much like the older son Tony Stark played by Robert Downey Jr. in the Iron Man films.

Making this connection is simply cool, and making this connection so well just really knocks it out of the park.

In a summer full of superhero movies, Captain America: The First Avenger in general knocks it out of the park. It is fun, it’s engaging, it’s light and entertaining. Simply the best I’ve seen all year when it comes to the superhero side of summer.

Grade: A+

'The Thing' trailer hits

2011-07-30T20:39:00.000-07:00

The 1982 John Carpenter cult classic The Thing starring Kurt Russell is getting a prequel entitled The Thing. Despite the epic fail of an original title, the first trailer doesn't look half bad.

A new group of scientists find themselves in the presence of an alien that turns itself into whatever it's hunting. In this case it turns itself into various members of the small group of scientists in an Antarctica research facility.

It sounds just like the 1982 film, but there are differences.

Our main character this time around is Kate Loyd (Mary Elizabeth Winestead) a graduate student called in to help analyze this unknown creature.

It should be interesting to see if this prequel has the same charm as the 1982 film that has become a cult classic, but the jury will be out on that until October 14th, 2011 when The Thing fines it's way to theaters.

For now, sit back and enjoy the first trailer.

Amy Winehouse 1984-2011

2011-07-24T16:03:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, July 23^rd, 2011, singer/song writer Amy Winehouse was found dead in her home in London. She was only 27 years old.

The cause of death is not known as of this post, but she has had several issues with substance abuse, and had been seeking treatment as recently as a month ago.

The five time Grammy winner had, in recent years, become better known for her bad behavior than for her music.

Public drunkenness, addiction, run-ins with the law, and being late for or completely missing shows altogether was what made up her recent years.

Her last show in Belgrade, Serbia was what one might consider an epic disaster, being that she was visibly disoriented and slurring her songs (that is when she decided to make a go at singing them).

Really, all of this is very sad, but not completely unexpected.

Winehouse has been in trouble for years, and there was no good end in sight. In her death, she joins a group of talented musicians.

That talent includes artists like Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, and Kurt Cobain. These artists all died at the age of 27 like Winehouse and they all belong to the “27 club”.

I don’t put much stock in the club idea, but I do put a lot into looking to the past for answers, and when it comes to what actually killed the British artist, I won’t be surprised if substance abuse played a role in this tragedy.

'Dark Knight Rises' teaser poster revealed.

2011-07-13T17:08:00.000-07:00

Being a huge fan of the Batman films, I am happy to show you the new teaser poster for next summer's The Dark Knight Rises.

Being a teaser, there isn't much going on in the poster, but if one looks closely, they can see that the city seems to be crumbling.

Does Gotham City get destroyed in the next film? Will the Dark Knight be called upon to save the city, that after the last film, is now hunting him?

The only way to get those answers is to check out The Dark Knight Rises next summer directed by Christopher Nolan and starring Anne Hathaway as Catwoman, Tom Hardy as Bane, and Christian Bale as Batman.

Another note about The Dark Knight Rises by the way.

The rumor is that there is a teaser trailer connected to another Warner Bros. property.

When Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows: Part 2 is released this weekend, keep your eyes peeled for a trailer.

And of course, once it gets online, you'll definitely find it here.

'Green Lanter' struggles with depth but still entertains

2011-07-13T16:44:00.000-07:00

Release: June 17, 2011

Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard, Mark Strong

Director: Martin Campbell

Rating: Pg-13 Run Time: 1 hour 45 minutes

In recent years, moviegoers have been getting deep, entertaining comic book films involving both first tier (Batman) and second tier (Iron Man) characters.

The Green Lantern, is not one of these movies.

The film is entertaining, but it lacks much of what is being found in today’s best comic book adaptations. Things like character depth and complex story are nowhere to be found.

The story is about test pilot Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds) becoming the first human in an intergalactic peace keeping force called The Green Lanterns.

Jordan comes into the force at a time when the Green Lanterns, as well as the entire galaxy is in danger from a monstrous villain named Parallax (voiced by Clancy Brown).

It is up to this human, a newly minted Green Lantern, and the rest of the Lanterns to fight this threat and bring peace to the galaxy.

It sounds simple and it is, and more proof of its simplicity is found in the flimsy love triangle back on Earth between Jordan, his co-test pilot Carol Ferris (Blake Lively), and rival/friend Hector Hammond (Peter Sarsgaurd).

Paper thin to say the least this weak love triangle is one of the more uninteresting subplots of the movie. I have to admit that the chemistry between Reynolds and Lively is good, making for at least one good thing to come out of the lackluster love triangle.

I don’t believe there should have even been a triangle in the first place; given the role of romantic rival is so boring.

There really is no other good purpose for the Hector Hammond character except maybe to look freaky, but that’s not worth having an entire character in a film.

This Hammond character, in trying to be a villain, is just annoying.

That’s not the only thing that is annoying in this movie, and it’s not the worst thing either.

For me, when it comes time for the big reveal of the super hero to the planet Earth, it is to be done with a mix of drama, excitement, and it’s got to inspire some awe.

In The Green Lantern, the big reveal is botched big time.

Saving lives with what amounts to a Hot Wheels track for a crashing helicopter sounds fun, but it doesn’t do anything to really make for a spectacular moment.

The fact that a joke is made about it should have been a warning sign that they should have gone back to the drawing board on such an important scene.

Only in the last few seconds of that scene is there a little redemption, that Hot Wheels car will forever drive me nuts.

In general, the acting was good, I liked Reynolds in the role as Jordan, he really seems to make it his own while staying true to the source material.

Mark Strong, as Sinestro is probably the most complex character you’re going to find in The Green Lantern, and the film would have benefitted from this character getting a little more screen time.

Even though I do like The Green Lantern for what it is, in the end I wish this film followed the recent trend of intelligence and depth of previous comic book films. Unfortunately, The Green Lantern bucks a positive trend, making it entertaining yet disappointing.

Grade: C

New 'Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol' hits the web

2011-06-29T22:37:00.000-07:00

The first trailer for Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol has made its way to the internet, and being that I was a fan Mission Impossible 3, I was eager to see if it looked any good.

It looks pretty good to be honest and I can't wait to see it this December.

A few things that caught my eye when it comes to the trailer is Simon Pegg's character Benji Dunn gets out of the lab and into the field (go nerd!).I am becoming a big fan of Jeremy Renner, and after seeing the trailer I am glad to see some fresh blood in the series.

And believe it or not, you get a little glimpse here and there of Josh Holloway (Lost's Sawyer). I wonder if he is the villain? Evidence in the trailer suggests that he is, and it will be interesting to see him in that role if it is indeed true.

For me this whole movie is a big interest, because I really like the third film so much. It's didn't do great business, because I think people were scared away by Tom Cruise's couch surfing craziness during 2006 ( the same year that the Mission Impossible 3 was released).

Let's just hope that Cruise can keep his feet on the ground on off the couch between now and December when the film will be released.

For now, my suggestion is to check out the Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol trailer below, and if you haven't seen it, check out Mission Impossible 3, it's worth it.

DC renumbering on the horizon

2011-06-29T13:56:00.000-07:00

Action Comics # 1 Cover

Went down to the local comic shop today to see what was new. This is all pretty routine, but when checking out I saw that the July issue of the "Previews" catalog was already out.

Basically the catalog looks months ahead, so people can put a pull in at the comic shop. For those who don't know what a pull is, it's basically reserving a copy of an up coming comic book.

The July issue of "Previews" catalog looks into the month of September, the same time DC Comics is going to do their massive reboot and renumbering of all of there super hero series.

Bought the copy of "Previews", got myself a pull form, and went straight home to study.

Detective Comics # 1 Cover

Studying the "Previews" catalog, I have to say there is a lot to choose from, but there are things that really had to be on my list. Action Comics # 1, which is a one of the corner stones of the DC Universe definitely made the pull list, as did Detective Comics # 1 (another cornerstone).

There are other series that got my attention immediately, like The Flash # 1, The Green Lantern # 1. And then there are others that just sound interesting to me like Grifter #1, and Men of War #1.

The last two I don't know if I will like, but they do sound interesting, and all of this makes for a fun experience. It should be interesting to see where all of these stories go.

If you are a comic fan, or your looking to get into a few comic book series, I suggest going to a local comic shop and checking out the July issue of Previews. There is no better way to start than from number one, and DC is giving the readers the chance to do just that this September.

Looked into 'Skies' and found average sci-fi TV

2011-06-21T13:29:00.000-07:00

The series premier of Falling Skies looked interesting enough, and with Steven Spielberg as executive producer, I immediately though the show had potential.

Even though the story is nothing new for the sci-fi genre.

Basically, Earth has been over run and occupied by an alien force. The world is pretty much crippled, but we come in at about 6 months later and find our main character, Tom Mason (Noah Wyle), and what is remaining of his family in a resistance movement.

They resist, and they survive, but it becomes apparent that the humans are just as dangerous as the occupying alien force. Naturally issues arise, and this story is rather predictable.

Before watching the show, I was a little worried that I wouldn’t be able to separate Wyle from his role as Dr. John Carter from the medical drama ER. I was relieved to see that the characters could be separated easily, and I was very surprised to see that Wyle had a little range in his performance.

Another surprise to me is the setup I picked up on as I watched the show.

While watching the “Pilot” episode, I saw more of a The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly setup. Wyle’s character is what I would call “The Good”, a former military history professor and man just trying to look out for the well being of his family and others.

Then you have “The Bad”, which is Will Patton’s character Weaver, a man that is in charge of the soldiers protecting the civilians. He doesn’t like civilians, and doesn’t care about their problems, making him pretty unlikable.

Bringing up the rear is that character of John Pope played by Colin Cunningham. He is what I would consider “The Ugly”, because he a criminal and a raider.

He is also the gray area of the show, an unpredictable element that could make this show a lot of fun.

He is intelligent and brash, and probably the best character so far.

With these three characters, good conflict is made, and it will be interesting to see how it will develop over time.

The unfortunate truth is that these three are the only ones that really matter, with the surrounding cast making very little to no impact.

In “Pilot”, it does take a while to really get into the show, because it basically throws you into a world turned upside down with very little explanation.

I don’t really know why it started off just like that, but I do know it held back any real story development. The aliens came, we lost, and life sucks now follow this group of people and see how they deal with it.

That is as obvious as it gets, and that’s what Falling Skies offers.

Falling Skies then proceeds to show viewers the hardships of surviving the apocalypse in a softer light than I would have liked. If the world is so bad, why don’t you show it in all of its gritty nastiness?

Don’t tell me this can’t be done.

AMC’s The Walking Dead does this all the time, presenting the apocalypse with gritty ethical situations and great (if not a little disturbing) visuals.

Falling Skies does have one strong thing going for it, and that would be in the visual department. The aliens look great, the ships look great, and the mother ship also looks great.

But as a whole, the premier of Falling Skies is not great. It did keep my interest, and started to improve as the two hour series opener progressed. For now, I will hold out hope that the series will improve with each new episode.

Grade: C