Picture
It's that time again!

We are getting ready to embark on our Summer Reading and Watching Projects. Every summer, we read a comic series and watch a season of a TV show together, and now's the time for you to nominate your picks for this year.

Head over to the forum and give us one Reading Project and one Watching Project nomination. We'll be putting a poll up on the site in the next week or so, and then we'll start the projects by the end of May.

Let us know what you want to read and watch!

Perhaps a little Automan? (Too bad it's not on Netflix)
Add Comment
 
 
Picture
by Brian LeTendre

The last time I was grinning from ear to ear walking out of a horror movie was when I saw Sam Raimi's Drag Me to Hell back in 2009. It's pretty rare these days to find a horror movie that manages to be smart, fun and original at the same time. I am very happy to say that The Cabin in the Woods is all three of those things, and is easily the best horror movie I've seen in a long time.

It's hard to talk about this movie without spoiling it, and you should go see it knowing as little as possible. What I will say is that Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard have drawn on their storytelling experience, as well as their knowledge and love of the genre to give us something that every horror fan can appreciate. In many ways, much of the movie feels like an episode of Buffy or Supernatural. The character interaction we've come to love from those shows is present throughout the movie. Every cliche we see in almost every modern horror movie is here--some are played straight up, and some with a twist. Moments of tension are well balanced with moments of humor. And while the movie is not blood soaked from start to finish, there are some very gory moments featuring a good mix of both digital and practical effects.

What I'm trying to say without actually revealing anything is that there's a little bit of everything in The Cabin in the Woods, and it all comes together to form a really fun horror movie. One of the things that a lot of modern horror movies seem to have forgotten is that they're supposed to be fun. It's a blast to go to the theater with a group of friends and be put through the ringer of emotions that a good horror movie can offer. Laugh one minute, jump out of your seat the next, cringe in disgust, and then cheer for the monster. The Cabin in the Woods lets you do all of these things, and for that I love it.

5 out of 5 Happy Horrors
1 Comment
 
 
Picture
To say this film has been a long time in the making is a bit of an understatement! Since the 1930’s, the Three Stooges have been entertaining and stunting the maturity level of folks as they cemented their place in history.

Welcome back boys…

‘The Three Stooges’ is the latest film from the Farrelly Brothers and if you know anything about the brothers, this is the film they have always wanted to make. The movies plot is simple; the Stooges are trying to raise money to save the orphanage they grew up in. Not a spoiler if I tell you they do!

The movie is set up into three shorts that all tie together. Each one captured the feel, pacing and style of the originals, complete with hammers to the heads and plenty of eye gouges. The funniest moments in the film revolve around Moe joining the cast of ‘Jersey Shore’. That is the most ‘Jersey Shore’ I’ve ever watched.

Chris Diamantopoulos (Moe), Sean Hayes (Larry) and Will Sasso (Curley) are perfect in their rolls; and not just in the physical comedy but the way they deliver their lines. The supporting cast including Jane Lynch, Sofia Vergara, Larry David, and Brian Doyle – Murray all do an amazing job.

I had hoped this movie would be the next ‘Dumb and Dummer’, but it wasn’t. It is a funny, fun and very entertaining movie that to me stood more as a tribute to the Stooges than anything else. It’s an all age’s movie that also includes an incredibly cool disclaimer at the end. This is a great way to introduce a young audience to the magic that has entertained us for at least three generations.

Matman Rating: 4 out of 5 fire hydrants
1 Comment
 
 
In case you missed it, Ron Burgundy made an appearance on Conan this week to talk about one of the most anticipated sequels of all time. 
1 Comment
 
 
by Brian LeTendre

Ghost Rider: Spirirt of Vengeance is exactly the movie I was hoping it would be. Veering away from the abysmal original movie, this sequel is all killer and no filler, focusing less on story and more on over the top, comic book action. Directors Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor’s' manic filmmaking is a perfect match for Nicholas Cage's cartoonish performance, and together they deliver the proper Ghost Rider movie we should have had the first time around .

An animated sequence near the beginning of the film brings viewers up to speed, where we find out Spirit of Vengeance picks up eight years after the original. Johnny Blaze has traveled halfway around the word to live in self-imposed exile, trying to repress the Ghost Rider and keep the Spirit of Vengeance from manifesting at all. He's pulled back into active duty when a monk comes to him for help, explaining that the devil has fathered child here on the mortal plane, and he plans on using the child as a vessel to become as powerful here as he is in hell. The monk promises to lift Johnny's curse if he saves the boy from his fate. The Ghost Rider must then protect the boy and his mother from the devil and his minions until the window for the transference ritual has closed. It’s an interesting but simple premise, and the rest of the movie doesn’t spend a lot of time developing the story further. What little we do get is delivered in the same sort of animated sequences that contribute to the comic book feel of the movie.

If you've seen the Crank movies, then you know that Neveldine and Taylor are known for their crazy camerawork, and that is evident here right out of the gate. The way they film the chase scenes in this movie puts you right at road level, and it really lends to the action. Outside of the action scenes, their twitchy camerawork drives home the idea that Johnny is constantly fighting the Spirit of Vengeance for control, as when the Ghost Rider really takes over, no one that has ever sinned is safe.

Speaking of the Ghost Rider, he looks as dark and nasty as he should look in this movie. The special effects on his head and on his bike are fantastic. The way he moves is creepy, and he feels more menacing every second he is onscreen than he ever did in the first movie. The effects are all the more impressive due to the fact that the budget for making Spirit of Vengeance was $35 million less than its predecessor.

At the end of the day though, you will either love or hate this movie based on Nick Cage’s performance. He is completely over the top in this movie, playing Johnny Blaze as a man who is half crazy from his constant battle to keep the Rider at bay. I loved his performance--he goes all out, and I think the movie is a lot more fun because of it.

For me, the jump between the 2007 original and this movie was like the jump between the Punisher and its sequel. While the first movie was meant to attract a wider audience, the sequel is more concerned with doing the character justice. And it succeeds here just like it did there.  My only real gripe was that it could have been rated R, but I'm hoping for an unrated DVD down the road. For me, this is the only Ghost Rider movie, and it's one I would gladly pay to see again. 

4 out of 5 Nick Cage Fans


P.S. I didn't see the movie in 3D, so I'd love to hear if anyone did and what they thought of it.
2 Comments
 
 
Picture
According to Box Office Mojo, Star Wars: The Phantom Menace 3D had a pretty decent opening weekend, taking in $23 million, and finishing in fourth place behind The Vow, Safe House and Journey 2 (also a 3D title).

Both Matt and I saw it, and we'll be talking about the movie in episode #405 of Secret Identity. You can read Matt's review in yesterday's post.

On an interesting note, Reuters said that 51 percent of the audience was made up of people over 25 years of age, and 60 percent of the audience was male. That sounds about right to me, as I've heard a lot about dads taking their kids to see it, which is what I did.

So what do you think of the film's opening weekend performance? I'd say it's a pretty strong opening for a film that is over a decade old, but I was surprised there were not more people there when I went to see it. I distinctly remember the sold out showings when the movie originally came out, and while I did not think that would happen all over again, I did expect a little more hype around the movie.

--Brian
2 Comments
 
 
Picture
So here we are, 13 years after the initial release of ‘Star Wars – The Phantom Menace’ and I find myself sitting in the theater again. This time I’m sporting these cool Darth Maul 3–D glasses.

History has shown ‘The Phantom Menace’ to be the least successful and most hated of the Star Wars films… but certainly not by me. I love the movie and rank it as my 3rd favorite of the six so and constantly defending it.

So let’s talk about what is awesome about this film!

This is the beginning of everything. The insignificant planet of Naboo is the backdrop of the political posturing and positioning as Senator Palpatine helps cause an invasion with the domino effect that manifests itself in the birth of the Empire.

Here we see for the first time the inner workings of the Jedi council; how it works and who does what. We also get to meet some incredible characters like Qui – Gon Jinn, Obi – Wan Kenobi, Padme and even Jar Jar Binks. Each does their best in continuing the story that has been our life blood since 1977.

The effects, the locations, music and overall production is seamless and top notch.

Most of the negativity seems to be pointed at poor Jar Jar, who wasn’t as annoying than C - 3PO was to me way back when. I wasn’t a big fan of the Pod Race scene and there were certain moments that the acting wasn’t… well very good! But it is Star Wars!

Now we must talk about the 3-D! if you were expecting Boss Nass spit to fly out at you or to be sprayed by Darth Maul guts you will be disappointed. What you got was a lot of depth added to scenes and some moments where things really ‘pop’ at you. But don’t see it just for that… see it because it is an awesome movie that needs to be rediscovered.

The Phantom Menace is awesome… and that is it! it is Star Wars and it deserves more respect than it has gotten.

Matman Rating – 5 out of 5 Gungan Celebrations
1 Comment
 
 
Picture
Next month, The Star Wars saga returns to the big screen in eye popping 3-D! The plan is for one release a year for the next six years. I’m surprised that there seems to be more anger and backlash about this than excitement!

For me being able to see prequel and original trilogy on the big screen is real exciting for me. I admit I’m a George Lucas apologist and with good reason… he created the best memories of my childhood!

In 1977 I was in 4th grade and moved from Massachusetts to Connecticut I was terrified. Of course I didn’t know anyone but I soon realized no one in East Windsor liked comic books, the New England Patriots or hockey. But what every kid loved was Star Wars! And because of that I was able to walk right into any conversation and be ok. So for that alone I love George Lucas.

And of course I will always defend him; new trilogy, ‘Howard the Duck’ and Greedo shooting first. Why? Because it’s his vision and his universe so he can do what he wants to with it. He is currently taking so much flack for the 3 – D releases as just ways to make money. So what is the problem with that? He has made money off me for years but I want to give it to him. I wanna see these movies in the theatre again and as long as George keeps putting them in there, I’ll be going. My choice!

So instead of taking it so personal or feeling like you wanna ‘stick it to the man’, just go or don’t go. Make your point with your wallet. If you don’t like ‘The Phantom Menace’, than don’t go see it. I happen to love the film, Jar Jar Binks and all! I will defend Mr. Lucas until the day I die for the way he colored my world. Luke Skywalker is as important to me as Captain America and The Beatles as far as the man (or at least the geek) I became.

I hated the Ewoks but I also don’t like ‘Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band’. However not liking those two things don’t make me angry; I just work around them. Those things shouldn’t distract from the entire bodies of work.

I can’t imagine my world without Star Wars… can you?
9 Comments
 
 
Picture
As we countdown the time until the next James Bond film (early November), some cool news is coming our way!!!

 First is the news that ‘Skyfall’ will be directed by Sam Mendes and not the director of ‘Quantum of Solace’ Marc Forster. 

“As much as I loved ‘Quantum of Solace’”, said Bond fanatic Matman, “I felt the director took the large scope element out of the film with all the close ups and made it more Bourne than Bond! The scenes in a James Bond film need time to breathe, and I hope that Mendes brings that back!”  

And here are some cool events that coincide with ‘Skyfall’ and the celebration of 50 years of James Bond! Get ready…

BOND IN MOTION 
Reports Britain's Telegraph, an exhibition called Bond in Motion, celebrating 50 years of 007 vehicles, opens beginning January 17th at the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu. "Bond In Motion will feature a range of Bond-related vehicles including cars, boats, motorbikes, sleds, jets and many more," says the Telegraph. "As ever, the star attraction will be the silver 1964 Aston Martin DB5 from Goldfinger, in tandem with the 1937 Rolls-Royce Phantom III owned by arch-villain Auric Goldfinger. Other famous vehicles include "Wet Nellie", the aquatic Lotus Esprit S1 from The Spy Who Loved Me, and the BMW 750iL from Tomorrow Never Dies. The Jaguar XKR with special effects weapons from Die Another Day and the Ford Mustang from Diamonds Are Forever also star. Away from four wheels, there's also the tiny Bede Acrostar jet used in Octopussy, the original Parahawk paraglider/snowmobile hybrid featured in The World is Not Enough and the original cello case navigated by Timothy Dalton during a snowy chase in The Living Daylights."

THE 007 REUNION 
According to Contact Music.com, this year's 50th anniversary salute to James Bond and the 1962 release of Dr. No will culminate in a premiere party for Skyfall (film number 23) that will bring together every actor who has played James Bond. This means that if all goes according to plan, there should be one hell of a photo op with Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig. 

Says the Site, "The event will take place following the premiere of the latest 007 film, Skyfall, in October (12) and will also include many of the actresses who have played Bond girls over the years, including Ursula Andress and Eva Green." 

In an official statement, current Bond Daniel Craig noted, "It's an astonishing record for any character to endure for five decades in showbiz but I'll bet this: the franchise is such a phenomenon that in another 50 years time a whole new bunch of actors and their leading ladies will be gathering for another party when Bond becomes a centenarian."

For more information, just follow the link! http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/mediageek/news/?a=52915

Thanks Mitch!!!
 
 
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!

--Brian
1 Comment