Minnesota Vikings Breakdown

2011 MINNESOTA VIKINGS WEEK 14

2011-12-11T20:51:00.000-08:00

Ponder struggled, Webb played well, but neither could beat the Detroit Lions as the Minnesota Vikings lose their twelfth game. With how poorly the Vikings played they were still good enough to have a chance to win the game on the last play -- which obviously was not a success.

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2011 MINNESOTA VIKINGS WEEK 13

2011-12-04T20:49:00.000-08:00

Tebow-mania in the Twin Cities! Tim Tebow connects with Demayrius Thomas for two scores on Vikings broken coverages. Christian Ponder threw for 381 yards and three scores, but the Minnesota Vikings could not stop the Denver offense.

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2011 MINNESOTA VIKINGS WEEK 12

2011-11-27T20:43:00.000-08:00

Roddy White burns the Minnesota Vikings for 10 receptions, 120 yards, and a score as the purple falls again 24-14. The offense could not get going without Adrian causing the team to absorb the tenth loss of the season.

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2011 MINNESOTA VIKINGS WEEK 11

2011-11-20T20:28:00.000-08:00

The Minnesota Vikings fall at home to the Oakland Raiders as Ponder turned the ball over in crucial situations that kept points off the board. Michael Bush battered the Vikings for 109 yards and a score as Oakland steals one on the road winning 27-21.

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2011 MINNESOTA VIKINGS WEEK 10

2011-11-14T20:13:00.000-08:00

Destruction. The Vikings get destroyed by the unreal machine known as the undefeated Green Bay Packers. Jordy Nelson caught two of Aaron Rodgers' four touchdowns as the Vikings get embarassed 45-7.

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2011 MINNESOTA VIKINGS WEEK 9

2011-11-06T20:01:00.000-08:00

BYE!!

2011 MINNESOTA VIKINGS WEEK 8

2011-10-30T19:54:00.000-07:00

The Minnesota Vikings stop Superman (duh, Cam Newton) and the Carolina Panthers to net their second victory of the season 24-21. Ponder and AP lead the charge scoring touchdowns at the right times to earn a road victory.

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2011 MINNESOTA VIKINGS WEEK 7

2011-10-27T10:32:00.000-07:00

The effort was there, Ponder provided a spark, Adrian Peterson showed his best, but in the end the now 7-0 Green Bay Packers could not be defeated. With the rookie Quarterback, the Minnesota Vikings showed promise, something fans haven't previously felt in 2011.

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2011 MINNESOTA VIKINGS WEEK 6

2011-10-19T08:05:00.000-07:00

The Vikings don't come to play at Soldier Field falling behind 16-0 in the first quarter, and later watch Devin Hester seal the Bears victory with a 98-yard kickoff return. One high from the game, Christian Ponder saw his first NFL action and looked up to the task of being the Vikings first bankable franchise quarterback in over a decade.

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2011 MINNESOTA VIKINGS WEEK 5

2011-10-12T14:58:00.000-07:00

The Minnesota Vikings score four touchdowns in the first quarter, stall in the last three quarters, but still end up defeating the Arizona Cardinals 34-10 to get their first victory of the season. Adrian Peterson dominated the field, and embarrassed the very talented rookie Patrick Peterson.

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2011 MINNESOTA VIKINGS WEEK 4

2011-10-03T01:05:00.000-07:00

The Minnesota Vikings fall to 0-4 by losing to the woeful Kansas City Chiefs because of the huge play from Dwayne Bowe.

2011 MINNESOTA VIKINGS WEEK 3

2011-09-27T15:09:00.000-07:00

The Vikings fall to 0-3 by coughing up yet another lead by allowing Megatron to take over the field. I said it all week, if Megatron has a big game, the Vikings don't stand a chance -- case in point.

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2011 MINNESOTA VIKINGS WEEK 2

2011-09-18T02:46:00.000-07:00

The Minnesota Vikings fall to 0-2 for the second season in a row. LeGarrette Blount helps the Tampa Bay Buccaneers come back from a 17-0 deficit to win 24-20.

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2011 MINNESOTA VIKINGS WEEK 1

2011-09-11T02:57:00.000-07:00

Despite a fast start provided by Percy Harvin, the Vikings offense sputters in the second half blowing a 17 point lead. The San Diego Chargers are led by Mike Tolbert's two touchdowns winning the home opener 24-17.

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CHECK ME OUT ELSEWHERE

2010-12-28T21:03:00.000-08:00

In light of how little time I have to write for multiple publications, I will not be posting much on Disputed Knowledge. All of my movie posts can be seen on The Movie Mash.com, and all of my thoughts on the Vikings can be found on Facebook, here. Check out those spots to keep up...

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2010 MINNESOTA VIKINGS WEEK 14:

2010-12-16T04:29:00.000-08:00

2010 MINNESOTA VIKINGS WEEK 13:

2010-12-09T04:28:00.000-08:00

2010 MINNESOTA VIKINGS WEEKS 11 AND 12:

2010-11-30T06:27:00.000-08:00

2010 MINNESOTA VIKINGS WEEK 10:

2010-11-16T04:26:00.000-08:00

2010 MINNESOTA VIKINGS WEEK 9:

2010-11-08T04:25:00.000-08:00

2010 MINNESOTA VIKINGS WEEK 8:

2010-11-01T04:23:00.000-07:00

2010 MINNESOTA VIKINGS WEEK 7

2010-10-26T17:10:00.000-07:00

Here is my video review...

2010 MINNESOTA VIKINGS WEEK 6

2010-10-21T22:57:00.000-07:00

TRANSFORMERS 3 GETS A TITLE - THE DARK OF THE MOON

2010-10-06T12:11:00.000-07:00

Transformers 3 news has not been scare lately as on set photos surfaced all over the web in recent months. This was especially apparent when the project was filming on location in Chicago and fans flocked the streets to get a look at the new Transformers action. However, bad news also came from the set. You can learn more by reading the piece Abby wrote a month ago about how an extra got seriously injured during filming. Well, now there is some positive news about the film in the form of an official movie title.

My favorite piece of Transformers 3 news comes from Shia LaBeouf promising fans this third chapter "won't suck." While plot details on the film have been scarce, the opening sequence is said to partially take place on the moon. That plot element makes much more sense now that the title of the movie has been revealed. According to Seibertron and confirmed by Collider, the title is officially Transformers: The Dark of the Moon. Not really sure how I feel about the new title, but it definitely doesn't excite me. I will reserve my judgment on the title until I see the movie and fully understand the reasoning behind the name.

So, there you have it, Michael Bay's latest CGI-explosion gets an official title. Stay tuned to the Movie Mash for more Transformers: The Dark of the Moon news.

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THE SPIDER-MAN REBOOT GETS SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER

2010-10-06T00:26:00.000-07:00

Finally, more Spider-Man news. Over the weeks I have been eagerly awaiting to finally put a legitimate post up about some concrete Spidey announcements. Last week it was rumored Emma Stone was being circled by Sony to play a role in the reboot, but I refused to write about the speculation because I wanted something solid. Well, after patiently waiting, Sony finally delivered by announcing Emma Stone will indeed be in their newest Spider-Man flick via a press release that broke yesterday.

Ah, Emma Stone. If you read my review for the phenomenal Easy A or my write up for last year's hit Zombieland, you can tell I have what some would call a crush on Emma Stone. It isn't just her rasping drawl, her beautiful smile, or those green eyes that pull you in; the thing that enchants me about the starlet is her endearing personality that shines through in each role she chooses. Well, consider me "stoked" (am I a surfer now?) that Stone will be starring in one of my favorite superhero franchises. While some may pin Stone to play the role of Mary-Jane Watson because of the frequency she has red hair in her roles, she was actually cast as Gwen Stacy. Fans may recall this blonde character in Spider-Man 3 played by the gorgeous Bryce Dallas Howard.

The news of a Spidey reboot was bittersweet for me. I loved Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2, and was disappointed with the Spider-Man 3. I didn't hate it, I was just disappointed. Venom? It could have been so glorious, but yet it flaked so badly. While I was sad to see the fourth Spidey movie from Raimi fall through the cracks, I was eager to see what was going to be in store for audiences with a new creative team and a fresh look into the life of the web-slinger. The first great news surrounding the project came when Marc Webb was hired to direct, then Andrew Garfield was cast as Peter Parker, now Emma Stone is joining the roster? I would regard this as a fantastic start to the new franchise.

Director Marc Webb commented on the addition of Stone:

“The chemistry between Andrew and Emma was stunning and made Emma the clear choice. At the heart of the story of Peter Parker is not only the amazing Spider-Man, but also an ordinary teenager who is wondering what he has to do to get the girl. Andrew and Emma will bring everything audiences expect to these roles, but also make them their own. Much to my surprise, it was fun to find out that our choice for Gwen (Emma) is also a natural blonde.”

The official press release states that Stone will play the female lead meaning that Gwen Stacy will be Peter Parker's squeeze in the movie and not MJ like Raimi's trilogy. I think this is a good route to take, creating a whole new Spider-Man universe complete with all new plot elements. While watching Spider-Man 3, I always hoped Peter would end up with Gwen Stacy, but then he ruins it all by moonlighting as a member of an emo jazz band. Consider the reboot a chance for me to live out that fantasy. Speaking of fantasies, did I mention that Emma Stone is playing this role?

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CHECK OUT SKYLINE AND WILD TARGET

2010-10-04T13:32:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile since DisputedKnowledge featured a duo of movie trailers, so here we go. Up on the bill today we have two very different films, but both caught my eye as "must-see cinema." First is an alien flick eerily familiar to Independence Day called Skyline, and the second is a lighthearted comedy called Wild Target which reminds me of The Whole Nine Yards. Interested yet? Check out both trailers after the jump.

Starting off, we have Skyline, another film where aliens are seeking to eradicate human existence. The cast is essentially made up of no-name actors besides Donald Faison who is best known from Scrubs. The lead in Skyline is the promising talent of Eric Balfour. He was also a television actor on the shows 24 and Six Feet Under. Another face some may recognize from television is David Zayas who plays Angel Batista on Dexter. Zayas was most recently in the overrated action flick The Expendables. I criticized Zayas' poor portrayal of his authoritarian character and his inability to pull off a bad guy role. Hopefully Skyline is a better performance from his end, otherwise his stint on the big screen may be short lived.

Skyline was directed by Colin and Greg Strause, the brothers who directed Aliens vs. Predator - Requiem. The duo is most famous for their credits as special effects gurus; their name is stamped on almost any project with great special effects in the past ten years. As you can derive from the trailer, Skyline is rich in the special effects department working into the Strause brothers favor with their expertise being computer created images. Despite recent legal complications the Strause brothers face regarding their involvement in another alien project called Battle: Los Angeles, Skyline will march on and hit theaters November 12th. Peep the trailer below.

The trailer for Wild Target made me giddy with anticipation. Yeah, I said giddy. The film stars Emily Blunt, an actress I adore for more than just her breathtaking looks. Her acting ability and choice of roles is always something that I have admired most from the 27 year-old actress. Her roles in The Great Buck Howard and The Young Victoria are two performances that allow her superb acting talents to shine through. Neither of those roles however, even compare to the complex and emotionally driven character Norah in one of my favorite movies, Sunshine Cleaning. Put into baseball terms, Emily Blunt knocked that role out of the park.

Alright, enough on my hero Emily Blunt and on to her next film Wild Target. Besides Blunt, the film also stars Bill Nighy and Ron Weasl -ah- I mean, Rupert Grint. As I mentioned a few weeks back my elation when Emma Watson picked up a role post-Harry Potter, I think it's great to see Grint out there doing the same. Wild Target is based off a French film called Cible Emouvante. Despite the serious story lines involved (murders, assassins, fleeing to live), the film appears to have a playful attitude towards it all. The spirited comedy will get a limited release in American theaters October 29th, 2010. A limited release usually means the Midwest will be skipped for showings, so you may have to check this one out on Netflix. Watch the trailer and decide for yourself if Wild Target is worth your time.

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EVERYONE LOVES FACEBOOK: THE SOCIAL NETWORK REVIEW

2010-10-01T12:14:00.000-07:00

THE SOCIAL NETWORK (A-)

Now this is a movie I really really want to see. I love Facebook, and I'm sure this movie can instruct me how to cultivate my crops better in Farmville. I'm earning money like a serf (zero) and the bank is coming down on me about the mortgage! The Social Network, help me save my farm! Wait, this movie isn't a Facebook instructional? I need help blocking someone updating their status seventeen times a day with crap like: "I miss my super duper awesome boyfriend so much because I can't breathe without my pookie bear! I'll see you soon baby! Only one more hour! Uggh, and what is Snookie thinking? She is so much better than that."

Alright, get serious here. The film in question is of course The Social Network. The brilliant script was written by Aaron Sorkin (A Few Good Men) and brought to life by the legendary David Fincher. No need to wonder if this movie is worth your time when The Social Network boasts a 100% approval rating on RottenTomatoes. Wait, three negative ratings as of the movie's release date on October 1st? Who are these critics? Prarie Miller of Newsblaze? Avi Offer of NYC Movie Guru? Armond White of New York Press? More on them later. Obviously, listening to these hack critics rivals stupidity. Listen to me instead.

Anyway, the Movie Mash (my other website) is bringing its readers the first film review via video. Instead of reading my words about how magnificent The Social Network was, you can see my pretty face blabbing alongside Movie Mash Contributing Writer Sarah Williams in this video Check out our inaugural video review for The Social Network and let us know what you thought about the film. Check it after the jump.

For anyone who cares, the previously mentioned critics Armando White and Prarie Miller (forget Avi Offer) are critics who notoriously bash quality peer reviewed films. Miller wrote one of the worst film reviews I have ever taken the time to read about the smash hit Inception. I seriously considered writing Prarie Miller a letter discussing the ignorance she displays in her written work. And as for Armando White....Armando, can I call you Armando? Look, you obviously go into movies just thinking about what you can say that will catch the attention and infuriate people like myself and Slashfilm founder Peter Sciretta.

In the linked article you can see Peter mentioning the movies Armando has given negative reviews to, the list of quality films include (my reviews are linked if you want to check my thoughts): Inglourious Basterds, District 9, The Wrestler, In The Loop, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, 500 Days of Summer, Avatar, Up in the Air, The Princess and the Frog, An Education, Star Trek, Milk, Slumdog Millionaire, The Hangover, The Dark Knight, Gone Baby Gone, Iron Man, There Will Be Blood, and Zodiac. Really Armando? You are a... movie critic? I have seen every movie on that list except for one (but didn't write reviews for them all) and that is a solid crop of movies. His negative reviews on those titles is insulting to me.

Don't listen to fools like Armando and Prarie, listen to the great movie mind Matthew Deery. (KFAN anyone?) Go out and support The Social Network.

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THREE NEW DEATHLY HALLOWS POSTERS

2010-09-30T09:16:00.000-07:00

Of course, one of my most anticipated movies of the fall season is the newest installment of the Harry Potter franchise. In the recent weeks I've been bringing you all the news about the upcoming Deathly Hallows films, but this time there is no news, only movie posters. Warner Bros. has released new individual character posters for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Three posters were revealed, each profiling one the the film's lead characters Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Check out the posters after the jump.

Below you can catch the links to the posters. While the posters are not high resolution pics, I am sure Warner Bros. will release those very soon.

Harry's Poster

Ron's Poster

Hermione's Poster

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 hits theaters November 19th, 2010 and Part two will come July 15th, 2011.

SAWYER-ERR-JOSH HOLLOWAY JOINS MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE CAST

2010-09-29T09:51:00.000-07:00

The casting news surrounding the untitled fourth Mission: Impossible film has been a hot topic in weeks past. The film recently added an adversary to pit against the Tom Cruise-led team of operatives and also pulled Paula Patton into the lead female role. The newest addition to the cast comes from one of my favorite television actors Josh Holloway. Any LOST fan will surely recognize the 41 year-old instantly as Holloway played the rouge character Sawyer on the the hit ABC show that wrapped up this past year.

Holloway is in final negotiations to join the Mission: Impossible cast, and adding him to the ensemble will put me in a theater seat no matter how bad the movie is. His character on LOST is one of my favorite characters ever created and Holloway pulls off the role to a T. With LOST shooting in Hawaii for six years, it has been difficult for many of the actors on the show to branch out to anything else because of time spent on the band of islands. With the show wrapped, I hope to see more of the LOST cast members on the big screen. Just recently, it was announced that Maggie Grace, who plays Shannon on LOST, was cast for Twilight: Breaking Dawn.

Many of you know that J.J. Abrams is a producer for this latest installment of Mission: Impossible, which was also one of his many credits on LOST. Coincidence? I think not. Just last week it was announced that another Abrams product, a television series about cops who were formerly black-ops, was snatched up by NBC and set to have LOST stars Michael Emerson and Terry O'Quinn as the lead roles. Despite the show being over, Abrams is still looking to work with his LOST protégés. Consider me a fan of this trend.

Mission: Impossible begins shooting in the coming weeks in the country Dubai. Look for the film in theaters December 16th, 2011.

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KATE BECKINSALE AND "UNDERWORLD 4" ARE A GO

2010-09-27T18:21:00.000-07:00

The first movie I remember absolutely obsessing over was the first Underworld. Kate Beckinsale on a mission to annihilate everything Lycan while looking oh so fine in skin-tight leather, prosthetic fangs, and colored contacts. My favorite thing about the Underworld films is the gorgeous cinematography, the scenes rich in cool colors and tones to set the mood for the dark tale. Of course the overall story boils down to vampires versus werewolves, but woven into the narrative are subplots like forbidden love, corrupt leadership, and an unfair class system. The aristocratic vampires initially held all the power over their counterparts using the werewolves as slaves to guard their holdings by day as the vampires slept.

Couple the immortal blood feud with Beckinsale, Michael Sheen, Tony Curran, Rhona Mitra, and Bill Nighy, and that spells instant success for a series. Unfortunately, the series featured the atrocious acting "talents" of Scott Speedman, detracting from the first two film's overall value. Interestingly enough, no actor listed above has appeared in all three Underworld movies. The first two films are sequential while the third is a prequel that profiles the story of Michael Sheen's character Lucian and his tragic tale of love with Sonja. I personally thought Underworld: Rise of the Lycans was solid (here is my full review) as Sheen got an opportunity to show off his leading man qualities.

With Underworld: Rise of the Lycans going the route of prequel and Beckinsale absent from the story, one would usually suspect the 37 year-old actress was done with the franchise. Apparently, that is not the case. CHUD has learned via a press release that Beckinsale will indeed return to the Underworld series for a fourth movie. Given the roles that she has chosen recently, it is no surprise she would be chomping at the bit to get a decent acting gig. The 2009 film Whiteout starring Beckinsale was one of the worst movies I have ever seen, here is the review if you are interested, and definitely did nothing to help her career.

Beckinsale's character Selene is said to play a smaller part in this movie as she passes the role of protagonist to her daughter. Selene having a child could also mean the return of the tool Speedman to the cast, but no word on his return has been announced. The script for the newest untitled Underworld was written by John Hlavin whose works include the television series' Trust Me and Golden Globe winner The Shield. Making revisions on Hlavin's screenplay is Changeling scribe J. Michael Straczynski. The project is still in need of a director as Len Wiseman will again be in the producer role and not the director's chair like the first two films.

Production is set to start March 2011 in Vancouver. The targeted release for the film is January 20th, 2012.

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CASTING NEWS FROM MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE, SUPER 8, AND MORE

2010-09-26T16:22:00.000-07:00

The fourth Mission: Impossible is set to begin production in December. Obviously, a villain would be necessary for the show to go on. With Jeremy Renner already signed on to play Tom Cruise's right hand man and Ving Rhames and Simon Pegg returning to the franchise, a new uber villain was needed to square off against the team of elite government operatives.

Word has dropped that unknown actor Michael Nyvquist has been cast to fill the villain vacancy (via The Hollywood Reporter). The Swedish actor's most notable role comes from the original The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo which is being remade for American audiences in the coming years. While Nyvquist just completed a film with John Singleton called Abduction, his role in the newest Mission: Impossible will definitely be his big introduction to the Hollywood scene.

Also to join the Mission: Impossible IV cast as a Russian Agent is Vladimir Mashkov. He is best known from his roles in Behind Enemy Lines and the television show Alias (via The Wrap). Another addition to the crew is Paula Patton. The actress is set play "a young operative who works with Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt character" (via Deadline). Patton got recognition from her role in the Academy Award nominated film Precious. I saw Patton in Déjà vu starring opposite Denzel Washington, and she is a fine actress. With the cast lined up, and locations for shooting being scouted, it is safe to assume all things are a go on the newest installation of Mission: Impossible.

Next up in the casting news is the stunning Emma Watson joining the Marilyn Monroe biopic called My Week with Marilyn (via The Playlist). The film is based on the memoir written by Colin Clark. Watson will play Lucy, "a wardrobe assistant working behind the scenes during the making of The Prince And The Showgirl in 1956." The role is said to not be very big, but this will be her first step outside the shadow of her role as a muggle-born wizard.

All of us know Watson as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter films because that is her only role, ever (besides voicing a character in the animated film The Tales of Despereaux). With Potter wrapping up its final production this past spring, it's great to see Watson moving on. It would be a shame if she didn't continue her career as an actress, because I love staring at her.

Quickly, I wanted to mention Leslie Mann joining the roster for The Change Up, the comedy starring Ryan Reynolds, Jason Bateman and Olivia Wilde. Barrett recently wrote a piece on Wilde joining the cast, and this past Wednesday the movie got much better with the addition of Mann.

Lastly, I wanted to give readers a heads up by letting everyone know that Super 8, the J.J. Abrams and Steven Spielberg project, has now started shooting. For those that don't know anything about Super 8, follow the link above to check out the enticing teaser trailer for the movie. Super 8 is set in 1979 with the movie "starting out with a group of kids playing around making movies with their Super 8 cameras and accidentally capture something … sinister, possibly alien, on film."

In recent weeks the cast has fattened to included Kyle Chandler, Ron Eldard, and Noah Emmerich. The children will be played by the talented Elle Fanning, Gabriel Basso, Zach Mills, Ryan Lee, Riley Griffiths, and Joel Courtney. The most recent addition to Super 8 is AJ Michalka which she announced via Twitter. The breathtaking blonde Michalka was most recently in Peter Jackson's The Lovely Bones (which was an absolutely terrible movie I might add), and will also be in Disney's upcoming film Secretariat.

Well, that is all the official casting news I will throw at you for the moment. Some may have heard that Emma Stone has been put on the short list to star across Andrew Garfield in the Spider-Man reboot, but I don't feel like writing anything up about speculation. She is "reported" to be testing for the role of Mary Jane, but Sony has declined to comment and there is no official word. Filming is set to start later this year, so when something concrete breaks, I will have the news for you. Until then, Goodnight, and Good Luck.

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MY THOUGHTS ON THE NEWEST DEATHLY HALLOWS TRAILER: EHH...

2010-09-23T21:09:00.000-07:00

The newest trailer for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows just hit the web. Of course, the Movie Mash has got you covered. This brand new trailer is not advertising both movies like the previous trailer or teaser; this mamba is strictly promoting the first film. Hit the jump to see the latest trailer for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

The trailer is definitely a good one, but in my opinion, I still have to say the original teaser for the film takes the cake. It was simple, and doesn't waste time with narration from a character like Rufus Scrimgeour.

Granted it is Bill Nighy playing the role, but his character means very little in the seventh book. Maybe the screenwriters wrote him a bigger role in Part 1, I don't know. However, creating a bigger part for Nighy in the Deathly Hallows is a problem for me; call me a die-hard. This character doesn't need more screen time in this portion of the story. Scrimgeour's glory played out in The Half-Blood Prince narrative which was a huge reason why his absence from the sixth movie was so disheartening to me. That was one of the many things that upset me about the sixth movie. Don't get me wrong, I still thought The Half-Blood Prince was a solid adaption, but it really failed to achieve in some very important areas of the movie.

Now I know the movies can never be perfectly adapted from the books. Everything from the book cannot go into the movie or else it would be a 13 hour flick (I'd still watch it). But I hate when the writers take content from the book and change how the scenes play out in the movie. Especially when the source material is crafted to perfection by J.K. Rowling herself. It infuriates me when the dialogue of a scene changes, a different setting is used, or events unfold differently in the movie. Like I said, it doesn't have to be the exact same, but don't change things that don't need to be. There is a reason Harry Potter is the best selling book series of all-time.

Strangely enough, the trailer for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 contains some footage that is obviously from Part 2. This is very apparent less than fifteen seconds into the trailer as you see Voldemort breaking into the tomb of Albus Dumbledore. We also get our first glimpse of everyone's favorite house elf Dobby. His appearance should definitely come in Part 2. Other than that, I am pretty sure the rest of the trailer is from Part 1.

The new trailer shows the seven Potters for the first time. Many of us know this is an element of deceit to confuse the Death Eaters when Harry is escorted from his house before his 17th birthday. Another snippet that caught my eye was the "Magic is Might" statue in the atrium at the Ministry of Magic. I like the statue featured, but it's definitely not as awesome as the statue of a powerful wizard sitting on a throne of defenseless muggles described in the book. It was also nice to get a taste of the Muggle-Born Registration Act being put into effect by the Ministry.

But honestly, if I had to discuss my feelings about this trailer like I was laying on the couch in a therapy session, I would whine like it was my job. So consider me kicked back and relaxed, and you are my therapist. First up on my list of concerns is Harry and Hermione looking at the grave of Harry's parents. In the book they use disguises because Harry is Undesirable Number One, aka the most sought after fugitive in the country. These disguises are of utmost importance because of the danger involved in going to Godric's Hollow on their mission. They couldn't just go strolling about in public as themselves or else they would be captured and brought to Voldemort.

Secondly, I don't like what I am seeing when Xenophilius Lovegood's house is being destroyed by the Death Eaters. They are flying through the house like smoke and destroying it? Really? No! This would eliminate one of Hermione's best moments in the whole book series. To escape incarceration by the approaching Death Eaters, she cleverly plans the trio's escape. This is one of those moments where you don't understand her logic initially, but later she explains the brilliance of her escape plan. Then you think, "Wow Hermione, you truly are a genius." Hopefully, this part will not be missing from the film.

Lastly, in the trailer Kingsley Shacklebolt sends his lynx Patronus warning the wizards at Bill and Fleur's wedding the Death Eaters are about to crash their party. In the trailer he says, "They are coming, they are coming." What? Really? This, once again is taking away from the greatness that was constructed by Rowling in the book. In the book Kingsley says, "Scrimgeour is dead. The Ministry has fallen. They are coming." Epic right? When I read that years ago, my spine tingled with fright as I thought about the ten words Kingsley just relayed. "Scrimgeour is dead. The Ministry has fallen. They are coming." Simple, straightforward, and much better than repetition heard in the trailer. As I said before, I hope this isn't how it goes down in the movie.

Of course, this is just me bitching, but I personally think these are important pieces to the narrative. It brings me back to my point, why change things for the movie, when it is done so well in the book already? Especially changing something as simple as dialogue, why? I really hate when things are changed when it really does not have to be. Anyway, the date for Part 1 is fast approaching. Mark your calendars, go check out Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows on November 19th, and then check back to the Movie Mash for my elaborate review.

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THE BEST COMEDY OF 2010: EASY A REVIEW

2010-09-21T10:14:00.000-07:00

EASY A (A)

I was surprised to come out of this past weekend having enjoyed Easy A more than my pick of the week, The Town. After checking out this light-hearted comedy, it's easy to say this movie was definitely the better of the two (but I do recommend you see both). While The Town was a solid flick that I only had minor issues with, I would be hard pressed to find something I disliked about Easy A.

The movie is a simple story driven by one character. The endearing Emma Stone plays Olive, a girl going through her high school career relatively unnoticed. She makes the mistake of telling her best friend she lost her virginity to a college boy. Given the lighting speed that gossip travels around the school yard, word soon gets around that Olive is experienced sexually.

One of her bullied friends begs her to help change his daily routine of being picked on at school by pretending to "hook up" in a bedroom at a party. That faux rendezvous leads to more nerdy individuals coming out of the wood work in need of a similar favor to change their image. With gift cards as payment, the fabricated trend of her promiscuity continues on and on until it reaches a point that Olive is ostracized as the school floozy.

Easy A takes its name from Hawthorne's Scarlet Letter where the main character Hester wears the red "A" signifying her adultery. To spite her unmerited notoriety, Olive voluntarily, unlike Hester who was branded, decides to wear the crimson letter. She sews the "A" on all of her newly purchased risque clothing to play the part everyone is casting on her.

The script for Easy A was written by the unproven Bert V. Royal and should prove to be a break through for the thirty three year-old screenwriter. For a first time effort, I commend him for the solid story, characters, and dialogue he worked into the pages of the script. The comedy was crafted with a more intelligent audience in mind. Some jokes were understandable for the masses, but much of the laughs were aimed at an audience with pop culture awareness and a shallow understanding of famous literature like Huckleberry Finn and The Scarlet Letter. The main character Olive was well constructed on many levels. The narrative shows her interacting comfortably with her close-knit family, playing a driven intelligent student in school, and then acting as an outcast tramp when she feels the backlash from her peers.

Olive's narration is done creatively through her broadcasting the emotional story of her alleged lewdness to the internet. This element helps unveil her inner thoughts as well as providing insight into the details of the story as she is telling it. The scenes showing the rumors spreading around school were done with creatively crisp editing and direction. The camera flies with fervor around the school with such a quick pace, it brilliantly symbolizes the speed of the rumors spreading.

The soundtrack was magnificent and supplemented the mood of the pictures unfolding on the screen. I was blown away by each new song matching perfectly with every scene it was set to enhance. The upbeat music was catchy and energetic causing me to tap my feet with the music while enjoying the lively scenes. The slower somber music fit the script perfectly mirroring Olive's down moods.

Lastly, I want to throw my praise out to Stanley Tucci. If you think you do not know who Stanley Tucci is, I assure you, you do. He is one of those familiar faces that shows up in so many quality movies, but you have a hard time placing your finger on his name. Tucci plays Olive's father in Easy A. I have rarely seen a character so quirky yet intelligent. His actions as a father could be considered non-conventional, but the love for his family always appears to be at his character's heart. Every time he showed up in a scene, I was excited with anticipation for what he would say or do next.

Overall, Easy A turned out to be the best comedy of 2010. The simplicity of the story itself made this movie one you could kick back and enjoy. Not only was the story simple, but it was cleverly constructed from a comedic standpoint appealing to a broader audience as well as the sharper crowd well endowed in literature and pop culture. So, it was simple, funny, had a strong supporting cast, what else? Oh yeah, how about the gorgeous Emma Stone carrying the load like a true Hollywood starlet.

If you are looking for some laughs with a little sophistication, don't miss Easy A. As you can see I graded this film an A, and Easy A earns it.

*

MUST SEE FUMBLE

2010-09-17T23:10:00.000-07:00

This has to be one of the worst fumbles I have ever seen in my entire life. Canadian Football League player Ronald Flemons pulled off a blunder that would be a nightmare for any defender. This guy literally fumbles the football steps from scoring a touchdown. This dude makes Jim Marshall look like a directional genius. The announcer says it perfect when he calls, "Can you say Leon Lett?" I think, "Can you say Adrian Peterson?" Of course I am just playing AP, just stop fumbling the football. I don't hold grudges; forgiveness comes as quick as a cessation of fumbles.

*

THE TOWN IS A MUST-SEE

2010-09-17T18:02:00.000-07:00

THE TOWN (B+)

My interest in seeing the newest presentation from Ben Affleck peaked when I saw the first riveting trailer for The Town. Bank robberies, car chases, semi-automatic weapons, hot women (Rebecca Hall), Jeremy Renner, and dialogue laced with a thick Baaaaston (Boston) accent. Affleck's directing debut, Gone Baby Gone (he also adapted the screenplay from the novel), was a movie that went under the radar for how great it was. His second directorial effort, The Town, was also adapted for the screen from a novel called The Prince of Thieves. While I am not a huge fan of Affleck's on screen achievements (he has a handful of solid roles), his performance in The Town was one of his best.

The Town didn't waste any time before jumping into an intense action scene following the intelligent robbers masked with grey skull faces and dreadlocks. These disguises ratcheted up the element of fear as you stared into their hidden masked merciless eyes. The fast paced music matches the mood of the opening heist sequence as the robbers skillfully cover all their angles at the bank to perfectly complete their plan to grab the money. The action sequences were all focused on Affleck's team of thieves stealing money from the rich. The sound effects of the blasting guns in stand-offs with the police, the squeal of the tires during a car chase, and explosions were so loud they pull the audience into the scene. The three heist sequences were well thought out and well executed by the production team.

The storyline effectively takes you through the characters difficult personal lives bridging the time between the powerful action sequences. The time spent with the mask off allows you to empathize with the characters need for significance in their poverty stricken surroundings. Affleck's character Doug leads the band of robbers and meticulously plans out each job while trying to keep his team, also his best friends, out of the reach of the police force, and then later the FBI. Doug ends up having a sweet tooth for one of the bank managers played by the lovely Rebecca Hall. He plays the traditional role of the bad boy trying to change his ways while keeping his new flame in the dark about his real life. This conflict of interest always adds tension to any drama, and The Town is no different.

The best role in The Town comes from Doug's best friend and second in command, James Coughlin. The role is played by Jeremy Renner, and if you still don't know who he is, you will very soon as his face will be all over the silver screen in the coming years. His character provides the most tension between all the parties involved in the bank robberies as the violent, deranged, lose cannon-type. His adrenaline fix comes from the thrill of the heist.

A strong performance also in need of praise comes from Blake Lively playing the drugged out sister of Renner's character. I knew Lively was in The Town before the screening, but it wasn't until her third or fourth appearance that it hit me, "Oh snap, that's Blake Lively!" She immersed herself into the thick Boston accented, alcoholic, pill popping, street trash role that was required of her. The antagonist, the FBI agent Adam Frawley, was played wonderfully by Jon Hamm. His desperation to catch these criminals is apparent as he uses less than text book police tactics to try and catch his prey.

The writing for the movie was solid throughout. The attention to the main characters' plight was well defined. The direction by Affleck was strong at times, and less than adequate during others. Some moments I thought, "Nah, I really don't like the way that shot was framed." There were also a few jump cuts that caught my eye. Affleck also spent too much time in a helicopter scanning the Boston skyline to bridge from scene to scene. I personally have never seen that many establishing shots, and this effort was definitely over-kill.

It isn't like the audience is going to forget we are in Boston just because the scene changes, someone ought to tell Ben that. I can understand if he was trying to show off the majestic beauty of the colonial city, but it really was way too much use of this type of shot. After the tenth time it really adds no new texture to the story. It doesn't tell us anything new about the city itself, the characters, or the plan to steal more money. A shot of someone getting beat up, a drug deal from afar, or even the sound of guns shots, those are fine examples of an establishing shot displaying the natural surroundings of the story's setting. A helicopter with a camera scanning the city does nothing for me.

Another thing that bothered me about The Town was how little the script spent focusing on any of the other characters involved in the robberies. Of course the screenwriters can chose which characters to develop, and developing all the characters isn't always a possibility. In this story, I think it really was important to profile more than just Affleck and Renner's characters. If the team all grew up together and are such close friends, I think that needs to be established so we care about each working part emotionally during the heist sequences.

Also, The Town missed showing the work that goes into carrying out each heist perfectly. It was barely shown one time as the characters stare at a map and talk for ten seconds, but that is hardly an effort in my book. A big part of the tension in scenes like a heist, is when the audience feels included in the planning stages. Knowing how difficult it is to pull the job off and the stakes involved is what brings the tension to a higher level. I'm not asking for anything on par with Ocean's 11 where the audience is pulled into the whole planning process, but this movie barely does it justice.

Overall, The Town was another great project stemming from the behind the scenes work of Ben Affleck. Though he did a fine job as the film's lead character, his best work in The Town came from his directing and writing. It is a movie that I am sure few will not enjoy. Many will actually think it was better than I did because the problems I had with The Town were minor shortcomings to the overall project. The acting from the star-studded cast was superb, the action was exhilarating, the story was fulfilling, the tension was always apparent, and the thick Baaaaston accents are always fun to hear.

See The Town in theaters, missing it on the big screen would be a shame.

*

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS TV TRAILER

2010-09-15T13:35:00.000-07:00

In my effort to bring readers all the details from the upcoming Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows movies, I had to post about the the newest television spot for the final two films. The spot is only advertising the first film dropping November 19th. But get excited, the short trailer shows plenty of new footage that fans have not seen before. Check out the TV spot after the jump.

I personally think this is the best trailer pieced together yet. Even though it's just a television spot and not a full length trailer, I think the combination of the images with Mad Eye Moody's narration instills the overwhelming feeling of fear for what is to come for Harry and his supporters.

Moody's low, growling voice warns, "They are coming, you can't fight this war on your own, he is too strong."

That dialogue sent shivers up my spine knowing what is ahead for Harry, Ron, and Hermione. The fight to defeat Voldemort is not for the fainthearted. This trailer perfectly encapsulates that notion.

While the television spot is only advertising the first movie, the footage shown is from both films. Watching closely you can see Ron, Harry, and Hermione running for their lives trying to escape the cursed fire, Fiendfyre, set off in the Room of Requirement by Crabbe (see the title image). This part takes place at the story's final battle scene, Hogwarts. So, this is obviously content from the second movie. It was also nice to get up close and personal with Voldemort's snake Nagini.

My favorite image from the spot has to be Albus Dumbledore in a ghost-form providing security for 12 Grimnauld Place. Watching the vague screaming face of Dumbledore rushing toward visitors who enter the house was something that floated my boat like Wingardium Leviosa.

Lastly, I wanted to give readers a chance to check out all the released stills for the movies which can be viewed at the Deathly Hallows page at IMDB.com. Some of the images are pulled directly from the trailers, but they are all worth checking out if you are an avid Potter fan. Production stills of Gregorovitch, the blind dragon escaping Grigotts, the broken mirror shard, and Hagrid's motorbike can been seen in the gallery. Thanks to the Movie Mash reader Derek for the tip. The other two television spots for the Deathly Hallows can be seen here and here.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 hits theaters Novemeber 19th, 2010, and Part 2 will finish up the series July 15th, 2011.

*

MISSED ANOTHER CHANCE...

2010-09-13T00:03:00.000-07:00

Thursday night marked the beginning of the 2010 season for the NFL; a night that puts two of the NFL's premiere teams on center stage for a rematch. The result either meant a statement of superiority from the 2009 Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints or revenge for the "oh so close" Minnesota Vikings.

The rematch is one that many Vikings fans have been anticipating since Garrett Hartley's field goal broke our hearts yet again (see 4 Super Bowl losses and 3 straight NFC Championship losses) and sent the Saints to play the Colts in the title game last year. That day, the Vikings were the better team, but failed to execute the small things that usually tie up a victory for a top tier football team. We should have won that game, ahh turnovers! As you can tell, I am still bitter. However, that is neither here, nor there, on to 2010.

Thursday's game was played in the Superdome, the same building that played host to the NFC Championship last year. The Saints are still on a Super Bowl high, with the Vikings looking to maintain their same high level of performance from last season with some new faces. Gone are the likes of Chester Taylor to free agency and Sidney Rice and Cedric Griffin to injuries. New players like Toby Gerhart, Greg Camarillio, and a collection of other new defensive backs are needed to step up their game to fill the absence of those notable players.

Many people will point the finger of blame for the opening night loss on Mr. Favre, but those people are very wrong. The fault of losing this game falls directly on the shoulders of Vikings often times moronic Head Coach Brad Childress. Favre was definitely off his game and was not N' Sync, err, I mean in sync with his receivers or the offense. Hey Brett, THAT'S WHY YOU GO TO TRAINING CAMP! If the soon to be 41 year-old quarterback could have completed just one of those poorly aimed passes, especially on the third down plays, the outcome of the game may have been different.

So why is the blame for this loss on Chilly? How about taking the rock away from Adrian Peterson, the team's best player, in the second half of the game? Childress is clearly a man who cannot adapt his game plan to what is happening on the field. It was obvious fairly early in the game Favre was not sharp and AP was running with a chip on his shoulder inspired by last years loss in the NFC Championship game. How can you take the ball away from a beast running with vigor (while also protecting the football), and then put the game in the hands of Favre who is off beat like Rosanne singing the national anthem?

AP finished the first half with 13 carries, 57 yards, and some great finishes to his runs. The second half featured a pass heavy offense that bogged down, limiting scoring chances. Favre was trying so hard to pick up where he left off from last season, but that is difficult when taking almost no reps with the first team offense in training camp. What is the easiest solution to this passing problem? How about give the ball to one of the NFL's best running backs? Easy enough right? Apparently not. It should have been an easy choice with Adrian running through tackles, protecting the football, and clearly pumped after each of his punishing rushing attempts. The more he runs, the better he gets.

But can you guess how many rushing attempts Adrian had in the fourth quarter? If you guessed zero, you are correct. Are you kidding me Childress? Zero running plays for your team's best player? I honestly almost melted down in rage when I double checked the stats to compose this article. It's not like AP was doing anything like fumbling or having no success on his attempts to deserve this treatment.

He played a great first half and was rewarded with no running plays late in the game? Sure the Vikings were playing catchup after the Saints scored again, but they were only down by 5 points. This is the type of coaching that I think keeps Childress from being an elite coach in this league and prevented the Vikings from being even better last season. We only needed one score to win, and it was clear that AP was the only guy on his game Thursday night.

The other player who looked great on offense was the Vikings underrated tight end Visante Shiancoe. He hauled in big catches when needed and provided his team's only touchdown with a nice pitch and catch with Favre. Shiancoe was the team's leading receiver in the game with 4 catches for 76 yards. And while Percy Harvin missed a lot of practice in the preseason, his lack of presence on the offense is another example of Childress under utilizing another one of the Vikings best players. At least intentionally put the ball in his hands twice a half and see what happens (minus kickoffs of course).

The Minnesota Vikings made a statement on one side of the ball with this game. Their defense only allowed the Saints high-powered offense to score 14 points. The classic bend but don't break defense of the Vikings was on full display as the unit allowed yards, but not many points. After allowing the Saints to score on the opening drive in five plays, the Vikings defense tightened up and only allowed one more score. Surprisingly, the defense didn't flex their strength of pressuring the quarterback. There was never a whole lot of pressure on Drew Brees and the defense only notched one sack from Jayme Mitchell. Once the defensive line settles in, expect some hits on the opposing quarterbacks.

My favorite stat of the day has to come from E.J. Henderson getting the second most tackles on the Vikings during the game. E.J. looks like he has returned to his usual destructive self. He was all over the field breaking up plays, plugging holes, and throwing his body into ball carriers. Also worth noting was the quality play of Antoine Winfield. Any concerns about his age were smothered with his decent play against the Saints wide outs, and a 7 tackle performance.

While the Vikings started off on the wrong foot, I think this performance was inspiring. AP looked dynamic, the defense looked as formidable as last year, and the Vikings stayed with the defending Super Bowl champs, even with a lackluster performance. Yeah, Favre looked rusty; but his play wasn't MVP-esque last season until his miracle pass against the 49ers three starts in. Now if someone can just kick Childress in the head when he is making terrible decisions, slowing the Vikings down.

*

TOP FIVE MOVIES OF THE SUMMER

2010-09-11T22:21:00.000-07:00

The summer movie season is officially over now and I am back in school attending classes at the University of Minnesota. In light of this depressing fact, I thought it would be appropriate to give a run down of my top five movies from the summer. I can't say this summer movie season was a disappointment by any means, but the number of quality movies did seem less than usual. However, the amazing movies featured on my list made this summer season a success in my book. I'm convinced picking Eclipse as the best movie of the summer will surely stir up some debate, but wait to argue until you read the article. So, let's check out my top movies of the summer after the break.

5. The Karate Kid

This movie was loved by many and hated by a few. Seeing the previews, one would expect a lot of action, but the real karate doesn't "kick" in until the second half. The first half spends time setting the scene, story, and developing the characters. The second half delivers all the karate action that movie goers came to see. Seeing the young Jaden Smith showing off his real life martial arts skill provided some exhilarating action sequences to compliment the well constructed storyline. One grievance I had with The Karate Kid was the script only focusing on Smith's character. Despite this, Jackie Chan and Taraji P. Henson play their supporting roles to perfection when they get their screen time. Thankfully, the 12 year-old actor can carry a movie like this on his own.

4. Iron Man 2

Robert Downey Jr. and Co. started off the movie season with a boom as the sequel put audiences in awe of the stunning beauty radiating from the flawless computer generated action sequences. While the sequel is not as smart as the original, the movie is entertaining from beginning to end. One thing I particularly loved was the witty and clever dialogue delivered by Downey Jr. While he lead the way as Tony Stark, the supporting cast of Iron Man 2 was what made this movie one of the summer's best. It featured Mickey Rourke, Gwyneth Paltrow, Sam Rockwell, Don Cheadle, Samuel L. Jackson, and the bombshell Scarlett Johansson. This definitely wasn't the best sequel of the summer, but it set the stage for The Avengers as well as another possible Iron Man flick.

3. Despicable Me

This movie will be swept aside by the cash cow Toy Story 3, but Despicable Me surprised me when I walked out having loved every minute of it. Forget Pixar, this movie has all the essentials to intrigue audiences of all ages. The characters were well written, the story was enjoyable to watch unfold, the movie was filled with hilarity, and the people voicing the characters have some real talent (see Steve Carell, Jason Segel, and Russell Brand). My favorite thing from Despicable Me had to be the three little girls that Carell's character, Gru, adopts. Not only were they adorable, but they provide some of the movie's funniest parts, and then the tear-jerking emotional arc towards the end of the movie.

2. Toy Story 3

Remember when I said forget Pixar? Well I was just kidding. The latest Pixar gem, Toy Story 3, is the company's biggest box office success to date pulling in over $1 billion worldwide. Even rehashing the same characters audiences have seen in the first two movies, the creators came up with another captivating story following the "lives" of a bunch of toys. The movie profiled the toys as their grown up owner Andy is putting them in storage while getting ready for college. This is a reality that any toy needs to deal with. All my toys are gone or sitting in my closet (I can't throw away my Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), and it must have been hard for them to deal with this neglect. I'm sure they come to life and have adventures just like the movies right? Poor toys. All joking aside, Toy Story 3 had me choked up at the end of the movie rooting for Woody, Buzz, and Co. to find happiness after Andy.

1. Inception

Of course my favorite movie of the summer was not Eclipse. On a serious note, selecting Inception as the summer's best was an easy choice for me. Yes I loved Toy Story 3, and I will definitely be seeing it again compliments of the DVD market. However, Inception is the only movie this summer I saw multiple times at the theater and even shelled out the IMAX dollars to see it on Minnesota's largest movie screen. It's easy to say that Christopher Nolan still has a perfect resume as a filmmaker, just like Pixar. It is only fitting to mention those two names together as they are responsible for the summer's two best films.

Some may not have fully understood Inception the first time through, but part of the intrigue of the film comes from the plot's complexity. Nolan brought a movie that challenges the viewer to really pay attention; a movie that isn't a cookie cutter piece of cinema, predictable from start to finish. There was not a weak piece to this puzzle unless you want to nit-pick story elements which boil down to one person's opinion versus another. The acting by the star-studded cast, the mesmerizing action sequences, the breathtaking visuals, and the resounding score from Hans Zimmer, were all executed with perfection making this the summer's best movie. So, when does Batman 3 come out?

There you have it, my top five movies from this 2010 summer. I am sure some of you may see it differently, but if you want to discuss it, I am up to a healthy debate. For further analysis, see my full reviews for each one of these five movies by clicking the links attached to the movie titles before each breakdown. While my top five may not match yours, what was your number one movie of the summer?

*

IT'S KIND OF A FUNNY STORY TRAILER

2010-09-08T12:53:00.000-07:00

While seeing The American the other day (which was not great I might add), I saw a preview for the upcoming movie It's Kind of a Funny Story. The trailer for the movie is not hot off the press so to speak, but my interest was sparked for this upcoming project by the preview you can check out after the jump. So in light of my recent exposure to the newest Focus Features project I thought a quick overview and the film's trailer could intrigue readers to see It's Kind of a Funny Story which hits theaters this October.

It's Kind of a Funny Story is based off the book written by Ned Vizzini with the same title. The story follows a young man named Craig who suffers from depression and checks himself into a psychiatric hospital. His experiences with the people he meets within the hospital setting is what makes this story worth telling. The book was inspired by Vizzini's own brief experience with depression and treatment for the ailment.

The film was written for the screen and directed by the duo of Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck. The two met on the set of a student film awhile back, began dating, and have been collaborating on projects since. I can't say I have ever heard of this type of work relationship before, but a romantic couple directing a movie must prove to be a colorful production. They have worked mostly on indie films, but consider this project a huge step. It's Kind of a Funny Story has an interesting concept and will prove to be a character driven story (something I love) being a product of Focus Features.

It's Kind of a Funny Story stars Zach Galifianakis, Emma Roberts (Blow), Lauren Graham, Jim Gaffigan, Jeremy Davies, Zoë Kravitz (daughter of Lenny Kravitz), and Keir Gilchrist as the film's protagonist Craig.

Look for It's Kind of a Funny Story in theaters October 8th, 2010.

*

MORE DEATHLY HALLOWS STILLS

2010-09-01T20:21:00.000-07:00

Empire has broke word that Warner Brothers just released new hi-res production stills for the highly anticipated first installment of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Being a Harry Potter nerd, I can tell all these stills are from the first of the two films. The first image shows Harry being interrogated by his old Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher Remus Lupin. With Voldemort's minions on the prowl and possessing the ability to change appearances, security questions are set in place to ensure everyone is who they say they are.

The second image shows newcomer to the parade Bill Nighy showcasing his role as the Minister of Magic, Rufus Scrimgeour. I personally love Nighy as an actor, but I don't think he really fits the role. The way Scrimgeour is described in the book always gave me a grizzled werewolf appearance, while Nighy seems too refined to fit that bill. But don't think for a second I am reserving my judgment on his execution of the role by how he looks; that will come in my elaborate review.

In the still, Scrimgeour is meeting with Harry, Ron, and Hermione to discuss the contents of Albus Dumbledore's will. The former Headmaster left a treasure for each of them with the intention of helping them in their uphill battle against Voldemort. This epic meeting is set early in the book, so obviously taking place in the first film. I call this meeting epic because Harry rips Scrimgeour a new one by letting the Minister of Magic know his feelings on how the Ministry is mishandling the whole Voldemort situation.

The third still shows Harry returning to 12 Grimmauld Place, the old headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix. Because Snape betrayed the good guys, the location is not used anymore because the Slytherin traitor could possibly teach the Death Eaters the secrets of entering the old House of Black. When Harry, Ron, and Hermione have to go on the run, they decide toseek refuge at the enchanted hiding place. Upon arriving at the old house, the trio discovers the Order of the Phoenix put protective enchantments to prevent Snape from revealing the former headquarters location. With that considered, the three spend time residing in the house early in their journey.

So there you have it, three new stills and a little diagnosis from a Potter purist. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 will hit theaters November 19th, 2010 with Part 2 gracing our senses July 15th, 2011.

To check out past Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows news, follow the links:

EARLY BUZZ: BLACK SWAN

2010-09-01T13:28:00.000-07:00

Many of you may have seen the trailer and movie poster profiled by Barrett Goetz for the upcoming flick Black Swan. The movie is from the twisted mind of Darren Aronofsky, the man who brought us The Wrestler, The Fountain, Pi, and the well known Requiem for a Dream. His movies always seem to have a demented angle to them, and Black Swan looks no different if you have seen the preview. Even though Aronofsky pushes the envelope with each of his projects, audiences usually respond well to the message he is trying to convey.

Black Swan just premiered at the Venice Film Festival and the first press screening recently let out. The buzz circulating online could not be much better for Aronofsky and his new pet project. Some of the biggest movie sources on the planet can be see raving about the film below. Even if you don't read the excerpts from the reviews, at least skim them to grasp some of the words used to describe the film. Thoughts on the film like: "devastated, tense, excited, sexy, horror-thriller, wicked, visually complex, and enthralling" are just some of the praise given by these critics.

I think the most intriguing thing I pulled from the excerpts is "horror-thriller." While I know Aronofsky was going to make this film interesting, I find it hard to wrap my head around a movie about ballet circling the horror-thriller genre. I have no doubt that Aronofsky pulled it off as you can see the positive critical reaction pouring over the latest perverse project from the director. Consider me a paying customer when the movie hits theaters.

Black Swan drops in the United States December 1st, 2010.

Variety: “Aronofsky seems to be operating more in the vein of early Roman Polanski or David Cronenberg at his most operatic.” … “A wicked, sexy and ultimately devastating study of a young dancer’s all-consuming ambition,” … “Aronofsky and costume designer Amy Westcott are none too subtle with the film’s symbolism, dressing Nina in innocent white outfits while those around her wear darker and considerably more ominous colors. These exaggerated stylistic choices (somewhat at odds with Aronofsky’s documentary-like sense of detail and Matthew Libatique’s handheld shooting style) extend to the production design as well, adding yet another motif: Reflective surfaces, mostly mirrors, offer fleeting glimpses of Nina’s other half.” … “Coupled with Clint Mansell’s score, which expands upon Tchaikovsky’s original “Swan Lake” compositions to suggest something considerably more macabre (further aided by proper horror-movie sound design), the result is an unsettling yet ultimately intuitive blend of classical and contempo techniques.”

The Hollywood Reporter: “Trying to coax a horror-thriller out of the world of ballet doesn’t begin to work for Darren Aronofsky.” … “The movie is so damn out-there in every way that you can’t help admiring Aronofsky for daring to be so very, very absurd.” … n instant guilty pleasure, a gorgeously shot, visually complex film whose badness is what’s so good about it. You might howl at the sheer audacity of mixing mental illness with the body-fatiguing, mind-numbing rigors of ballet, but its lurid imagery and a hellcat competition between two rival dancers is pretty irresistible. Certain to divide audiences, “Swan” won’t lack for controversy.” … “Portman, who has danced but is no ballerina, does a more than credible job in the big dance numbers and the tough rehearsals that are so essential to the film. In her acting, too, you sense she has bravely ventured out of her comfort zone to play a character slowly losing sight of herself. It’s a bravura performance.” … “Kunis makes a perfect alternate to Portman, equally as lithe and dark but a smirk of self-assurance in place of Portman’s wide-eyed fearfulness. Indeed, White Swan/Black Swan dynamics almost work, but the horror-movie nonsense drags everything down the rabbit hole of preposterous.”

Screen International: “Darren Aronofsky soars to new heights with Black Swan, an enthralling drama set in the competitive world of ballet. Alternately disturbing and exhilarating, this dark study of a mentally fragile performer derailed by her obsession with perfection is one of the most exciting films to come out of the Hollywood system this year.” … “a bold display of cinematic fireworks that will leave audiences breathless.” … “If you can imagine The Turning Point run through with the psychological disturbia of Repulsion or Rosemary’s Baby, you get the gist of Black Swan.” … “Portman is captivating” … “she captures the confusion of a repressed young woman thrown into a world of danger and temptation with frightening veracity.” … “Aronofsky and his faithful DP Matthew Libatique work wonders with the dance sequences, bringing them to life through ingenious and diverse camera movements, while keeping Nina’s off-stage life grainy, hand-held and claustrophobic.”

Telegraph: “Powerful, gripping and always intriguing, it also features a lead performance from Natalie Portman that elevates her from a substantial leading actress to major star likely to be lifting awards in the near future.” … “Aronovsky makes great play of a colour scheme featuring mostly black and white (while Tomas dresses mainly in grey). But some details are tellingly observed - the preponderance of pink in Nina’s bedroom,a collection of soft toys, and the Swan Lake ringtone on her phone that lets her know Mother’s calling. Tchaikovsky’s music takes on an unsettling quality as Nina’s descent progresses, all the way to the disturbing but perfect ending. Black Swan is an exhilarating if uneasy ride, one that could deliver Aronofsky his second Golden Lion here in three years (he won in 2008 with The Wrestler). As for Portman, she can expect a busy few months at awards dinners.”

ObsessedWithFilm: “Best film I’ve seen all year. Left me devastated, excited, tense and emotionally drained. Tarantino will be a fool if he doesn’t give this the Golden Lion (unless something even better is coming up!). Aronofsky has made his first masterpiece and Portman must now be favorite for the Oscar. A perfect film that blends The Red Shoes with Antichrist, via Cronenberg.”

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BREAKING DOWN PERFECTION

2010-09-01T12:41:00.001-07:00

In my movie production classes at the University of Minnesota I was trained how to look for those more subtle details which contribute to scene building aesthetics. While some of this background mechanics might not make sense to all but a few rabid movie connoisseurs, I still think it is a good read and might help you catch some of the finer nuances of the craft as you watch. I’m offering this piece because I love to examine key dynamics in powerful scenes in great film. One movie I have a passion for and have seen more times than I can count is The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. I personally think it is David Fincher's crown jewel, but that can be debated.

The plot depicts Benjamin’s unique condition where a person ages backwards. The film opens with Benjamin’s birth on the last day of the Great War and ends with his death close to the new millennium. This tale is fundamentally a love story between Benjamin and a female he has known his entire life named Daisy. After flirting with the idea of being together for years, Benjamin and Daisy finally end up as a loving couple. The particular scene I am going to analyze is when Benjamin and Daisy are in a hotel bed together discussing how things in life never stay the same as a thunderstorm rages outside. This scene is one of my favorites (it is hard to choose when there are so many great ones) and one that has many applied aesthetics to be discussed.

First on the menu is the lighting. The lighting director used a method called chiaroscuro to add to the drama of the scene. The chiaroscuro lighting in this scene emphasizes organic (everything looks natural) and emotional aesthetic functions. The emotional function is especially important as it shows the love these two have for each other. The overall lighting for the scene is low key and selective. The single light source is especially apparent and effective when the characters turn their faces away from the light showing the source is highly directional. This single light illuminates the bed and characters while leaving the background purposely darker. The low key lighting causes faster falloff on the characters' faces. This helps define the texture in their faces, especially the wrinkles on Daisy’s face. This is particularly significant as they are discussing how she only has two wrinkles.

The single light source is from a bedside table giving off warm yellowish-orange lighting to the bed. The color radiating from the lamp creates a sense of calm and desaturates everything it touches. The desaturating effect from the lamp makes the colors seem dull or bland and can help convey a sense of tranquility. The dark, saturated cool colors around the windows, door, and edge of the room convey energy and intensity which is heightened by the pounding thunderstorm. The lightning from the thunderstorm is used as a dramatic agent to intensify the chaos outside and emphasize the calm these two lovers share together, sheltered from the storm’s wrath. The warm colors surrounding the bed invite the viewer into the characters affection for each other.

Another aspect is the perfected use of sound in the scene. As the scene starts, the audience can hear the sound of the rain on the roof. As the dialogue picks up, the rain remains but effectively slips to the background allowing focus to shift to the character’s exchange. As the couple continues their discussion of the uncertainty of the future, the storm continues to rage. The use of a sound bridge is used to help the editing appear seamless. The thunder clashes as the shot switches from the characters to the door and windows being rattled by the whipping wind. The shot then cuts back to the characters with the sound of the whipping wind bridging the changed shot. The sound decays as the camera moves closer to the characters and away from the storm. It is almost as if the characters cannot hear the sound of the loud thunderstorm when they are lost in each others’ embrace.

This is emphasized as the shot leaves the comfort of the bed to the door as it rattles and the storm crashes. After the shot flashes back to the bed and its inhabitants, the melody of the score begins to overwhelm even the storm as the characters continue their conversation. Their conversation concerning the uncertain future is portrayed by the outside thunderstorm. The two are perfect in bed with each other, but the storm represents the future and all its unpredictability. Benjamin says, “Nothing lasts,” to which Daisy responds, “Some things last.” The piano melody is soft as the characters begin to embrace. I think this shows certainty in their love and that whatever the future brings these two will always have each other.

The last concept I am going to highlight are the vectors in the scene. The characters looking into each others’ eyes as they talk is an example of an index vector. The characters' index vectors are telling the audience where to look. These vectors are acting as a force to pull the audience’s attention into the characters gazing into the others' eyes.

Daisy then moves and lies on top of Benjamin’s back as he gazes into the distance while thinking. Daisy is looking directly down at him as he is thoughtfully pondering how “nothing lasts.” My eyes are draw to Benjamin because Daisy’s index vector draws me to his thought even though he is staring off camera. The scene also features graphic vectors. The graphic vector that stood out to me most is the horizontal lines of the bed (though the bed does have vertical bed posts). The characters are lying on the mattress immediately drawing my eyes to the horizontal graphic vector they rest on, and then the characters themselves. Along with the warm hues and soft music, this horizontal vector also gives off a calm feeling surrounding the bed.

This film is full of beautiful aesthetics distinguishing it as one of the best of 2009. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is some of David Fincher’s best work as a director. The same can be said for Cate Blanchett and Brad Pitt and their acting performances. I could discuss this movie at length all day long, which is why it is one of my all time favorite movies. Check out my full review of the film here.

TOY STORY 3 PUSHES ONE BILLION

2010-08-28T01:32:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Toy Story 3 crossed the $1 billion mark for worldwide ticket sales. The latest Pixar creation is only the seventh movie of all time to cross that threshold. Strangely enough, Toy Story 3 marks the second time this year that a Disney owned film has earned a billion dollars at the box office. Earlier this year, Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland also scored worldwide earnings over $1 billion. With those films both grossing more than a billion dollars, Disney becomes the first studio ever to have two films reaching those astronomical earnings in one year.

Just two weeks ago, Toy Story 3 became the highest grossing animated film of all time, and now it continues its march up the earnings list with this milestone. So obviously Woody and Buzz are the only animated characters on the billion dollar worldwide earnings list.

Even though Toy Story 3 came out more than two months ago in the United States (June 18), the movie continues to dominate the box office in other countries. The film is the most successful Disney release in Latin America ($138 million) and the United Kingdom ($102.4 million), and its also the fourth highest grossing movie ever in the UK. The film has dominated the Japanese cinema pulling in $111.2 million in its run and finishing #1 at the box office five weeks in a row.

I am not surprised this amazing movie has captivated worldwide audiences like it did the American crowds. The movie is not only a triumph of animation, but of storytelling. Getting viewers to care about toys is never a simple task, but Pixar creators did not get that memo. (Didn't you get the memo?....Batman Begins anyone?)

The surprising thing to me is that Alice in Wonderland made so much money in theaters; apparently I missed that memo. I just now learned that the 2010 Burton directed project is the fifth highest grossing film of all time, just in front of The Dark Knight. I was taken aback because I didn't think the newest 3D Alice in Wonderland was really that great of a movie. It was an interesting watch; but the 3D was crappy, the story was average, and the movie didn't seem to posses the charm of the animated classic.

Any who, I thought posting the top ten grossing films of all time would be interesting for readers to check out. The top seven have all broke the billion dollar mark with Avatar at number one destroying the two billion dollar mark and set to earn even more with its re-release to theaters this weekend.

I think its interesting to note that one of the worst Disney movies I have ever seen, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, found a place on the top ten list. I know not everyone hated this movie as much as I did, but it was one of the few movies that I seriously considered walking out of; and I absolutely loved the first installment and enjoyed the second one. You can also see two of the Potter movies in the top ten. Did you know that all six Potter movies are amongst the top 27 grossing movies of all time while all three Lord of the Rings films are in the top 20? The top ten goes something like this.

Source: BoxOfficeMojo

Avatar
Titanic
The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Alice in Wonderland
The Dark Knight
Toy Story 3
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

FAIR GAME TRAILER

2010-08-27T23:48:00.000-07:00

The upcoming release Fair Game should not to be confused with the 1995 bomb starring Cindy Crawford and William Baldwin with the same title. The 90's flick only banked $11 million on an estimated $50 million budget, scored a 13% approval on RottenTomatoes, and was nominated for Razzie awards for Worst Actress (Crawford) and Worst Screen Couple.

The newest version of Fair Game stars the absolutely stunning Naomi Watts and Academy Award Winner Sean Penn (Milk). The project also has Doug Liman's name attached to the director's role, usually counting as a plus. His best works are: The Bourne Identity, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, and Swingers. The 2010 version of Fair Game follows the real life events surrounding ex-CIA agent Valerie Plame. The screenplay is adapted from her memoirs entitled Fair Game: My Life as a Spy, My Betrayal by the White House. I always enjoy thrillers involving the government and conspiracy, but the stakes are raised when the movie is based off true events. See the captivating trailer after the jump.

After seeing the trailer, I am definitely going to be checking Fair Game out at a midnight showing. This movie seems to nail the high risk aspect of the narrative. This should have the characters' emotions pouring out on screen, especially when delivered from these two amazing actors (Watts and Penn). Seeing a married couple defending their family usually proves to fill a movie with tension, and the trailer seems to touch on that.

The script was written by Jez and John-Henry Butterworth. The brothers for the most part are unproven in the Hollywood game, but maybe this will be their big step up. Having Penn and Watts as the film's leads gives me faith that the script is at least decent, otherwise the duo would not have signed on.

Fair Game is slated to hit theaters November 5, 2010. Check back for a review after it comes out.

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JEREMY RENNER CAST IN MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE IV

2010-08-26T14:48:00.000-07:00

Well, its safe to say that Jeremy Renner, star of Oscar Gem The Hurt Locker, has ascended to the cusp of the Hollywood elite. Whether or not he will stay there is up to him. If I ventured a guess it would be that he will be around for awhile. Although I did not personally think The Hurt Locker was all that it was cracked up to be by the adoring critics (see my review here), Renner did a superb job with his unbalanced character William James. Apparently, I was not the only one to take notice of the talent this 39 year-old possesses.

Renner has been cast as Hawkeye in The Avengers, will star in Ben Affleck's upcoming bank robbery film The Town, and now has just been cast to co-star alongside Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible IV. Deadline broke the news that Renner was chosen by Paramount because they thought he held a "Daniel Craig quality." Paramount obviously sees this franchise moving on even after Tom Cruise is no longer a part of the cast. Deadline explains, "Paramount has struggled to find the right co-star to play an operative opposite Cruise, and one factor was selecting an actor who could potentially carry the series down the line, should Cruise's Ethan Hunt character not continue."

I highly doubt Cruise will return for the fifth movie when it is made, and Paramount is looking for a new leading man, preferably not balls deep in Scientology, to carry on the very successful franchise. Star Trek headliner Chris Pine and Inception's "The Forger," Tom Hardy, were also considered for the role. Both Hardy and Pine are younger than Renner, and Paramount was looking for an actor who can convey a strong sense of maturity. I personally would have taken any of these three to play the part (my personal pick would have been Hardy), but I think Renner is a good fit.

Filming for Brad Bird's Mission: Impossible is set to start this fall in Vancouver, Prague, Dubai, and of course the US. The script going to shoot was penned by Andre Nemec and Josh Appelbaum, writers of the television shows Alias and Life on Mars.

Mission: Impossible IV is scheduled to theaters December 2011.

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BRYAN SINGER TALKS X-MEN: FIRST CLASS

2010-08-24T01:45:00.000-07:00

In the effort to stay on top of the X-Men: First Class news I would of course have to report the film's Producer Bryan Singer commenting on the newest X-Men installment. Most current news about the film has revolved around the casting collage taking take place the past few weeks climaxing most recently with the addition of January Jones to the cast. The most insight into the upcoming movie however, comes with Singer's comments in an interview with AICN that you can see summarized below. As you could derive from my first X-Men: First Class article, I speculate Aaron Johnson playing the role of Scott Summers, aka Cyclops. From Singer's breakdown of the movie he clearly states that Cyclops will not be in the film. I think this is the prominent statement from the interview. After the jump you can see a summary of the AICN interview compiled by Slashfilm writer Russ Fischer.

Cyclops and Jean Grey are not in the film.
X-Men: First Class takes place in the 1960s. Real world details are in place: JFK is the president. Martin Luther King and Malcolm X are alive.
We see how Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr met, and hear of the future they dreamed of for humans and mutantkind, specifically with respect to their ideas for the X-Men.
Professor X and Magneto are in their 20s when they meet. Xavier will not be in a wheelchair at first, but we will see how he is crippled. And Xavier has hair!
Director Matthew Vaughn has been inspired by 60s-era James Bond tech, and the costumes will be far more ‘comic bookish’ than we’ve seen in the past.
The vision of the Hellfire Club will be the classic one, seemingly with the Victorian costumes and men’s club attitude first seen as John Byrne drew them in the ’80s.
The story begins with Xavier at Oxford in the ’60s, and Singer said the film will have an ‘international’ feel. Shoots in England and the US will double in places for other global locations, including the Soviet Union. Again, that’s working towards the Bond vibe mentioned earlier.

A Bond-like presence in an X-Men movie? Now that is something I love to hear. Stay tuned for more X-Men: First Class updates.

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A MATRIX HOMAGE TO SCOTT PILGRIM

2010-08-24T01:09:00.000-07:00

I recently saw Scott Pilgrim vs. The World for the second time and thought it was just as good as the first. My favorite thing the second time around had to be the catchy soundtrack filling my ears again. That is what I like to consider an easy iTunes sale. Anyway, I came across this hilarious video on Slashfilm last night and thought to share it with my readers.

The video is entitled Scott Pilgrim vs. The Matrix, and it was very cleverly edited by AEMOVIEGUY. The video is hilarious as the talented editor overlays the audio from the Pilgrim trailer on top of footage from The Matrix Trilogy. The use of the comic book elements with The Matrix video made me laugh quite a bit as Keanu Reeves' character Neo assumes the role of Michael Cera's Scott Pilgrim. Check out the video after the jump.

Picture Source: Slashfilm

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BOOOORRRRING: THE EXPENDABLES REVIEW

2010-08-24T00:51:00.000-07:00

THE EXPENDABLES (C-)

I definitely did not walk into this screening expecting much. This movie is loaded with a bunch of actors who are better at pretend fighting than pretending to act. So, consider my pre-screening feelings skeptical. However, my cautious perception of the movie was not mirrored by the movie-going American public. The Expendables ended up pulling a decent take with $34.8 million in its first weekend, $16.5 million the second, and finishing atop the box office both weekends.

The true crime here is that so many viewers skipped the best movie to hit theaters the past two weeks, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. The Edgar Wright concoction of American culture has been a box office dud, finishing 5th its opening week ($10.6 million) and 10th its second week ($5 million). I am truly baffled at how Scott Pilgrim vs. The World could be completely missed by so many with such a positive reception from critics and buzz from those who have seen it. But some internet folk point to the marketing campaign used by Universal as the true reason The Expendables has flourished and Pilgrim has floundered. In a last ditch effort, I will reiterate how great Pilgrim is. Anyone reading this should go and support this unique film, it is actually worth the price of admission.

Speaking of not worth a lofty admission price, The Expendables! My driving motivation to see the Stallone creation was to understand why it took the weekend box office crown two weeks in a row. The answer resides in the simplicity of the concept (guys, guns, babes, MURDER!), the "big" names attached to it, and the wonderfully violent fight scenes. Sad thing is, Scott Pilgrim is a much better product and features its own uncommon blend of exciting fight scenes.

For me, The Expendables was worth seeing simply to catch some of the better choreographed action I have seen this year. Even with the bombardment of action, the viewer is unfortunately forced to sit and watch the actors try to carry out the mostly mindless plot that is almost devoid of any real meaning. The Expendables pretends to be a complex story, but with a weakly written screenplay it falls flat on its face. It is not only very basic in nature, but more importantly it isn't written well enough to even work as a simple story. The ending standoff between "good and evil" is moronic to say the least. I was in disbelief when I realized the reason for these soldiers going on their final mission in the movie.

The movie almost seems abstract for how little it focuses on itself. The vague construction of the characters, their relationships, and the story itself leaves the viewer sitting and waiting for more action to kick in so the blandness in between adrenaline rushes doesn't lull them to sleep. Don't misinterpret vagueness for absence of these pieces in the project, but they are so poorly defined I had no interest in the parts bridging the action sequences. Yeah, I know its a "mindless" action movie, but it still needs a strong reason for the story to motivate the audience to follow along.

Another thing bothering me was the inclusion of names like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis in the film's previews like they would play a part in this movie. But in reality, both were included like cameo actors in a seemingly forced scene where Stallone has a secret church meeting with the two. The dialog did have some comical jabs at Arnold's new career as a politician, but nothing to make the scene worth including or featuring "The Governor" in the tag line. I was mildly surprised to see how terrible an actor Arnold has become in his absence. He was pretty bad before his new career with his typical flat, difficult to decipher delivery, but in The Expendables he was next to atrocious. The biggest casting disappointment comes from the talented Mickey Rourke playing such a small role as Stallone's tattoo artist.

While I do believe Stallone has talent as a director, his credit as a writer and actor is scraping the bottom of the bowl. Especially his laughable acting attempts in The Expendables as he tries to show some emotion with his stale, stiff face. His top lip looks permanently controlled by two fish hooks as he struggles to spit out words. He could definitely survive as a supporting character, but he cannot carry a film. It is hard to rally around an actor who seems like an emotionless idiot outside of the action scenes.

The only worthwhile character was Jason Statham's role of Lee Christmas. The role bonded the story like fresh Elmers Glue (not well), but his character wasn't given the chance to really bind the narrative together. What the film really needed was Statham's character to narrate the story to help the audience better understand him, his environment, his fellow characters, and most importantly, give the film so needed emotional value. A perfect example of a stone-faced character showing emotional range with narration is one of the best shows on television, Dexter.

Speaking of Dexter, the actor who plays Angel in the Showtime series, David Zayas, had a role in this movie as General Garza. He most likely will not get consideration for other big movie roles because he was terrible as this hardened General torn between allegiance to his country and love for his family. He was way too soft for this role and I was thoroughly disappointed with his delivery of this character.

The rest of the supporting cast like Jet Li, Terry Crews, Dolph Lundgren, Steve Austin, and Randy Couture all seem like shadows in this project. Austin did a fair job as the lead henchman and had a decent amount of screen time. The only reason I can imagine why Jet Li took this role is because he isn't getting any other film offers. He just seemed to pop in every four scenes to be a part of the team and sometimes muddle his sketchy English.

Overall, The Expendables possesses awesome action that made me fret with excitement, but the rest of the movie was mostly garbage. The supporting cast all take a backseat to the un-dynamic duo of Stallone and Statham, which is surprising considering the previews proclaiming love to all the actors involved. Stallone should be prevented from writing, directing, and starring in his own movies from now on. It probably is the only way he will ever be cast in a movie again though, only by writing himself as the male lead. The Expendables contained terrible acting, sub-par writing, and a laughable story-line. It truly is a shame this movie was the box office king two weeks in a row.

Don't waste time unless you are an action junkie looking for thrill for a matinee price. But with the quality movies in the theaters right now (Inception, The Other Guys, and Scott Pilgrim vs. The World), you will be less disappointed with one of those choices.

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A NEW TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES LIVE-ACTION MOVIE IS ON THE WAY

2010-08-23T01:37:00.000-07:00

I have been a die-hard Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fan my whole life. I am one of the many fans in the world to claim possession of the biggest collection of Turtles toys, which I do, and also still have (I know, call me nostalgic). Besides my childhood love for the toys, apparel, television show, and video games, the cinema also brought us some great big screen Turtle adaptations.

The first live-action movie, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, was released in 1990. This film was gritty, hardcore, and as realistic an environment that walking/talking martial arts trained turtles could exist in. It is set in the dark alleys and sewers of New York City as the Turtles creep in the shadows upholding justice like a band of vigilantes. The movie perfectly manifests this setting watching the first scene when April O'Neil is attacked by a pack of looters and is rescued by the elite ninja skills of Raphael as he stealthily takes care of the thugs. This dark imagination of the Ninja Turtles with a profound sense of realism is the kind of movie I crave, and this first adaptation was by far the best Turtles film in everyone's opinion (even if you think otherwise, you really don't, because the first is the best).

Then on to the second movie, Secret of the Ooze, which was more playful, riddled with goofy comedy, and targeted at a younger audience. I still enjoyed the movie (much more as a child), but it didn't posses that sense of reality that made Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles epic. The second film brought the rebirth of the Shredder and then the birth of Super-Shredder however, so it is hard to argue with those great plot points (not to mention Vanilla Ice?). The third attempt, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III, was not only a disgrace to the great Ninja Turtles name, but to cinema itself. The Turtle team going back in time is one of the stupidest constructed stories ever to hit the pages of a script.

Of course, those first three movies were all live-action adaptations with each turtle being manned by a person in a "turtle suit." The year 2007 brought Warner Brothers into the Ninja Turtle game with a computer generated chapter called TMNT. This fourth film was the second best Ninja Turtle movie in my opinion. Even being CGI, the martial arts action sequences in the movie are off the charts, not to mention the legendary one-on-one fight in the downpour between Raphael and Leonardo. The rooftop battle is truly one of the best moments in Ninja Turtle history.

Wow, I really went rambling on there. But like I said, I'm nostalgic. Anyway, I'll get to my point. It has been nothing more than speculation and pipe dreams that a new live-action Ninja Turtles film would once again hit theaters anytime soon. But after the box office success of TMNT ($95. 6 million take on a $34 million budget), the dream seemed to come closer to a reality. Last year, the wheels for a new live-action project were actually set in motion when Nickelodeon bought the worldwide rights to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles name for $60 million from the Mirage Group and 4Kids Entertainment. With the rights now belonging to Nickelodeon and sister company Paramount Pictures, the two handed off the development of this project to Michael Bay's production team Platinum Dunes.

Before the Mirage Group sold the Ninja Turtles rights, they had planned on making a live-action movie with a script written by John Fusco. This attempt at a new Ninja Turtles project never appeared to pick up any steam or make any progress towards production. A recently leaked Paramount memo diagnosed the progress on many of the potential upcoming projects for the studio. The Ninja Turtles portion of the memo listed the project as "draft not looking great." This most likely is referring to the Fusco script, which now in most regards is dead. This can be concluded from the announcement (via HeatVision) that Paramount has hired Iron Man scribes Matt Holloway and Art Marcum to begin writing the screenplay for the new Turtles live-action film. The duo also has collaborated to write Punisher: War Zone and the upcoming projects Highlander and Buck Rogers.

When it was announced last year that the Mirage Group/Legendary Pictures were planning a new live-action reboot, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles creator Peter Laird confirmed the use of a "hybrid" turtle with his statement below.

As you may recall from some of my previous comments, our initial discussions regarding the next film had to do with what we were calling a “hybrid” — live action with realistic Turtles rendered in CGI and blended in. This new idea — which, frankly, I am VERY pumped about — will have actors and stunt performers in full Turtle suits for filming in live action. As of right now, there is talk of using CGI to do “face replacement” for the suits so that we can get those great, expressive faces possible with CGI.

The main idea discussed for this newest Turtles live-action chapter is a "Batman Begins-style" reboot. As you can imagine, that is nothing but turtle wax for my shell (wink). Batman Begins is one of my favorite movies ever made. I think that movie set a new precedent for what audiences expect in superhero-type movies. The gritty/hardcore realism instilled as pillars by Christopher Nolan in Batman Begins has become what die-hard superhero fans covet from their big screen adaptations. Not only does the new live-action Turtles seem to be mimicking the ideals of Nolan's Batman franchise, but the filmmakers are also planning on starting over to tell the origin story of these four turtle brothers.

If this creative team is going the route of reboot, highlighting the origin story, you can bet your shell (yep, I went there) the movie will feature the Shredder, April O'Neil, and I would guess Casey Jones. The Shredder has always been the ultimate evil adversary for the Turtles and his presence is what makes this story so great. Consider the Foot Clan along with the Shredder to be a lock for this film as an open casting call for martial arts experts was recently broadcast to anyone interested in being a Foot Solider. Ninja Turtle creator Laird has also commented on how the movie should resort to the roots of the more violent, less kid-friendly, comic book series.

Originally, when the Mirage Group was in charge of this project, a film was scheduled to be released in 2011. With Platinum Dunes now at the helm and the project still being in the early stages of pre-production (script-writing, hiring a production team, etc.), expect the movie to be hitting theaters in 2012 or 2013. I think the easiest way to characterize my elated feelings for this new live-action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles adaptation would be, "COWABUNGA!"

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WHITE QUEEN CAST IN X-MEN: FIRST CLASS

2010-08-18T01:14:00.000-07:00

Well, my hope that Alice Eve would be cast as Emma Frost in Matthew Vaughn's X-Men: First Class has been crushed. It was announced via Deadline that January Jones will be playing the character. My disappointment gets worse as I hear Jones has talent on the hit show Mad Men, but appears to be type-cast into her role as Betty Draper on the AMC program. Playing Emma Frost requires a bit a sass, something many devoted movie and comic fans do not think Jones can pull off. Sadly, I have not seen Mad Men. But it is on my list of shows to watch, so sheath your pestering of my failure to watch the show.

Reports a month back had Alice Eve seemingly locked into the role as no other names came up in the discussion to play the part, but apparently "no deal was concluded." Now Jones has now been officially confirmed as the character known as the White Queen. She appears to look the part, but can she deliver it? I am willing to give any actor a chance at a role they can possibly fit into, and this casting doesn't seem too far from the Emma Frost persona.

Matthew Vaughn also revealed that Zoë Kravitz, daughter of Lenny Kravitz, will play the role of Angel in his X-Men adaptation. The character Angel is a white male in the comics, and Zoë is dark-skinned. Would Vaughn and Co. change up the character this drastically? My guess is no. The character in reference will probably be Angel Salvadore, a dark-skinned mutant with bug-like powers. The confusion of Zoë playing Angel is kind of funny as her boyfriend is Ben Foster. He played Warren Worthington III, aka Angel, the white male character in X3: The Last Stand.

While I am not 100% pleased about this casting information, it is great to see the final pieces of pre-production being finished up. Shooting starts in London in a few weeks.Stay tuned to DisputedKnowledge for more X-Men: First Class news.

Picture via: FirstShowing

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NEW HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PRODUCTION STILLS

2010-08-17T23:06:00.000-07:00

As promised, I will be bring you the latest from the Wizarding World through muggle modes of communication. Websites...pffht... do their pictures come to life? Us muggles should understand the best way to get news is from the Daily Prophet. But is it really? Isn't Voldemort's sly, cunning, invisible hand secretly controlling the Ministry of Magic, Hogwarts, and the Wizard lines of communication like the Daily Prophet? Never fear though, the non-Voldemort manipulated news reporting on the Wizarding World can hit your eyes right here, so continue checking in.

Alright, enough playing. Of course, I am serious in some regard though. I will have every piece of Potter news all the way up to a thorough review for the two films themselves. Warner Brothers recently sent Slashfilm high resolution stills from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Check the whole set after the jump.

As you can see below, my previous concerns about the filmmakers removing the blood from Herminone's hands seems a waste of breath as the top image shows her two mitts stained from Ron's bloody injury just like the book. Below we also see Xenophilius Lovegood, Harry with Ron and Hermione, and even Ginny and Harry embracing. But my favorite shot has to be the one focusing on Bellatrix Lestrange and her fellow Death Eaters. The most powerful thing about this image is not the repulsive nature of Bellatrix, but the quiet fear emanating from the faces of Lucious and Draco Malfoy.

Most of the production stills appear to be from the first of the two films based on the final courageous stand of Harry Potter and the righteous magical community. Again, the first part of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows drops November 19th, 2010 and the second part comes midsummer on July 15th, 2011. The images have me licking my chops. If the movies pan out the same way as the books did, these two chapters should be the best Potter films yet.

THE WHIRLWIND SURROUNDING X-MEN:FIRST CLASS

2010-08-17T15:15:00.000-07:00

A whole slew of news has recently dropped regarding X-Men: First Class. We have know for a while now that violence extraordinaire Matthew Vaughn (Kick-Ass, Layer Cake) will be in the director seat for this X-Men project profiling the younger versions of Magneto and Professor Xavier. This movie will feature the two men before they were defined by circumstances that caused them to go in two very different directions in human/mutant relations. Erik Lensherr, or Magneto as he is known, takes the route of mutant superiority. Charles Xaiver decidedly chooses to believe that humans and mutants can live in harmony and founded the School for Gifted Youngsters which in turn helps formulate the X-Men.

Enough of the background info, on to the news. Much has happened in the past few days casting-wise, helping to round out the already stellar looking ensemble. Old news is the role of Professor X being played by one of my favorite young actors, James McAvoy (Wanted). Magneto is being played by an underrated but not unknown actor Michael Fassbender. Many of you may remember him as the seemingly maniacal Spartan soldier in 300 laughing as the rain shower of Persian arrows pelted the warriors hiding behind their shields. It was also reported awhile back that the stunning Alice Eve was in negotiations to take the role of Emma Frost. If you were among the people to check out She's Out of My League, you could not miss her as the blonde bombshell lead Molly. Fingers crossed that she lands the role.

A few days back it was reported via ComingSoon that Jason Flemyng will join the X-Men: First Class crop of talent as Azazel, a teleportation specialist who later becomes Nightcrawler's father. Flemyng has worked with Vaughn on Kick-Ass and Layer Cake, and also was part of one of my favorite movies The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. I have always loved the character Nightcrawler because of his awesome mutant power, but his father Azazel possesses even more useful abilities like bolts of paralysis and destructive energy that can cause disintegration. Flemyng like the other castings, seems like a perfect fit.

Just yesterday, The Hollywood Reporter learned that Rose Byrne is in negotiations to play the role of a Scottish character named Moira MacTaggert. In the X-Men series, she was Professor Xavier's closest friend, confidant, and at one time, fiancé. Just like Xavier, Moira is adamant about creating positive human/mutant relations. She even creates her own research facility on Muir Island to better understand the genetic mutations that affect so many of the world's citizens.

I personally think Rose Byrne would be perfect for this role. She is not only very talented, but I honestly can picture her playing the role while adorned in a white lab coat just like the X-Men animated television series. Byrne is most know for her role in the FX show Damages, but has been in films like Troy, Sunshine, and most recently Get Him to the Greek.

While Rose Byre is not officially signed onto the project (Rosamund Pike has also been in talks with Fox and has been rumored to play the part), the biggest casting rumor comes from the part of Cyclops, or Scott Summers as he is known amongst the humans. The buzz around town has been that Aaron Johnson, star of Vaughn's Kick-Ass, would be playing the role of Cyclops. This report is over a month old, and we still have no confirmation on who will be playing the Cyclops role. Does this mean Johnson is in the running with other candidates to play the role while Fox ponders their choices? Johnson's casting has been dismissed, but not completely disregarded. No other actors have been mentioned to play the part, but when Cyclops is cast, you will hear it from me.

Rounding out the bill is the aging (but still $) Kevin Bacon, who is set to play the villain in the film. His name is rumored to be Sebastian Shaw, but no official word has been dropped yet. Nicholas Hoult is set to play Hank McCoy aka Beast. This will be intriguing to fans seeing the younger days of this blue haired mutant. Also signed on is the young Lucas Till (Walk the Line) playing Scott Summers brother, Alex Summers, who goes by the mutant name Havoc. Lastly, Deadline reports the talented Oliver Platt is joining the squad as a non-mutant character called The Man in Black (LOST anyone?).

Lastly, I wanted to talk a bit about Matthew Vaughn and how his role in the production of this film should make it the best yet. Consider me among the few, but I personally did not really like any of the X-Men movies. The first was decent, and the second more of the same; but the third and X-Men Origins: Wolverine were slanderous upon the great Marvel name. The only reason I sort of enjoyed those two movies was because I have been an X-Men fan my whole life. Watching all four of those movies I never really got the feel that the movies were taking themselves seriously. None of the films tried to leave the glitz and glamor of a Hollywood production to enter the dark, gritty world where I think the X-Men story resides.

In this X-Men universe you have the war of segregation forced upon mutants by humans, much like the Civil Rights Movement or the Holocaust, but obviously much less life-like. But the real story in this narrative is focused on the mutants who want to straddle both sides of the battle lines, and act as diplomats to the humans and a police force among the mutants. While the first movies do feature mutant restrictions and a forced mutant registry, as I stated above, it never felt like these films were taking it as seriously as they should have. Another thing that made those movies feel less realistic is the absence of any real violence. One example is Wolverine owning a pair of indestructible claws, but never drawing blood from his enemies. My hope is for more hardcore type violence from Vaughn and Co. in X-Men: First Class.

Vaughn, like Christopher Nolan, seems to be a mind that understands how superhero movies should be made; imagined in a world a fiction, but based in a world of reality. Many of you don't know, but Vaughn was actually hired to direct X-Men: The Last Stand, but backed out very late in pre-production. Here are his thoughts on the matter from an interview with the Telegraph.

What happened with X-Men was I didn’t have the time to make the movie that I wanted to make. I had a vision for how it should be, and I wanted to make sure I was making a film as good as X-Men 2, and I knew there was no way it could be. I just suddenly knew it wasn’t the right thing for me to do. It was a tough decision because it was a hell of an opportunity. But I was trying to make a career as a director, and I didn’t want to be the guy accused of making a bad X-Men movie.

While Vaughn and I disagree about the quality of X2: X-Men United, I still think the above statement can be nothing but music to the Marvel fans' ears. A director, turning down a movie in the last stages of pre-production, simply because he didn't feel the studio was giving him the ample opportunity to create a product he was proud of. Studios often times pull this ace out of their sleeves because they finance the movies, and usually want to manipulate the product however possible to maximize profits. Vaughn obviously knows this. I am confident to say that he wouldn't take the reigns of X-Men: First Class unless the studio entrusted him with the key to the "X-Men city", allowing him to give the film his own creative touch.

Vaughn discusses in an LA Times interview that he wanted to direct X-Men: First Class because he knew this might be his last chance to direct a big-budget superhero movie, something he has aspired to do for a long time. Why might this be his last chance?

I think we’ve kind of crossed the Rubicon with superhero films. It’s been mined to death and in some cases the quality control is not what it’s supposed to be. People are just going to get bored of it. I think [the opportunity to do one], it’s only going to be there two or three more times. Then, the genre is going to be dead for a while because the audience has just been pummeled too much. It is a crowded room. It’s too crowded.

Vaughn is a man who tells it like it is. Of course with the overload of superhero flicks people are going to grow tired of poorly made products like Spider-Man 3, DareDevil, and Catwoman. The public never goes out of their way to consume cheap products, especially ones they have to pay a pretty penny for. With studios jamming 3D down our throats, people are even less inclined to give sub-par movies their hard earned money.

While I agree audiences are possibly growing weary of the superhero genre, I will counter by saying that the movie-going public with never cease their appetite for well made movies in the genre. Who would have ever thought Batman could be resuscitated after the atrocious attempt Joel Schumacher made at the series with Batman and Robin? As long as the great superhero movies are still being produced, the American public will never cease to engorge themselves with the genre. Though the may want less of the superhero fad, the quality projects will always have staying power.

Vaughn has worked hard to only attach his name to work he can be proud of which is shown by his comment on X-Men: The Last Stand in his interview with the Telegraph:

As it happens, I could have made something a hundred times better than the film that was eventually made. It sounds arrogant, but I could have done something with far more emotion and heart.

I have to say, Vaughn has balls. To publicly criticize a movie in a franchise you are about to become a part of, to say the least, is bold. Not many names in the Hollywood landscape would go as far to say what Vaughn did, but I think he definitely has the right approach to making this movie. I believe Vaughn will make the best X-Men yet, but that is coming from someone who didn't personally like the first four.

Vaughn has that type of personality that wants a superhero movie to be believable, a mindset that I believe produces the best type of superhero movies. He likes to focus on his characters, and I would guess he will highlight their internal struggles as well as the outward pressure of being a mutant (something I felt the first movies really missed in their kaleidoscope of mutants). But now with all he has said, Vaughn has put some pressure on his own shoulders to make the best X-Men yet. Doesn't seem like he would have it any other way. I know I wouldn't.

X-Men: First Class starts filming in less than a month, and hits theaters June 3rd, 2011.

SUMMER FUN: SCOTT PILGRIM REVIEW

2010-08-14T01:31:00.000-07:00

SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD (B+)

This is a movie probably unlike any other you have seen in your lifetime. It is a combination of many forms of entertainment in our culture, seamlessly combining film, music, video games, and comic book elements. This was my second most anticipated late summer movie (after Inception), and it measured up to all my expectations. Not expecting a high dose of comedy, I was surprised to laugh as much as I did throughout this movie. Many of the laughs weren't blatant like the Will Ferrell brand, but a quieter and less dramatic form of comedy. This contribution to the overall product was something that I thought boosted this film's already high value.

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World stars Michael Cera playing his typical unsure, confidence lacking, nerdy character. Or does he? Initially Scott Pilgrim appears to be a reprise of Cera's character from Superbad (and every other role), but as the movie progresses he grows stronger in his resolve to defeat the seven evil exes of woman of his dreams, Romona. The details on why the exes all align against Scott is pretty well defined. This made the narrative easier to understand and rallies the viewer to Pilgrim's cause for victory and rightful claim to his dream girl's heart. Having all the angles explained may not be of the utmost importance in a film like this, but it is nice to have some understanding on why these throw downs are taking place.

I found it interesting to see the supporting cast members dutifully watching these battles between Pilgrim and the exes like it was just part of their regular lives. It helped the viewer mimic the characters and become entranced by the unfolding action. The battles between these adversaries was some of the most fun I have had experiencing action in a movie. It was not only well choreographed and exhilarating to watch, but entertaining with all the video game like additions to the scenes. Any gamer will be lost in pure enjoyment during these sequences.

The people involved with the creation of this project are another plus that make it a must see on your summer movie list. Edgar Wright (Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead) co-wrote and directed the project giving it his own comedic touch of greatness. His use of visuals were beneficial to the story and unique in almost every way. Un-touched shots were a rarity in this film as many of the visuals featured plenty of computer assisted graphics. Sometimes this type of addition was a little overwhelming, but for the most part it was complimentary.

The only rip I have on the Wright/Michael Bacall screenplay is the relationship between Scott and Romana. The two jump into the relationship so fast that you don't really feel the reason for their connection besides what we are told, she is the girl of Scott's dreams. No real emotion seems to resonate between the two until later in the movie when I felt it should have also been heavy in the beginning. Scott awkwardly gets Romona's attention and then later makes an ass of himself; but with the snap of a finger he is on a date with her. Soon after he is risking his life for her. I really wanted some more buildup to this relationship so I was 100% on board for Scott's plight to defeat the exes. Don't tell me these two have a connection, show me. Their chemistry had some question marks, but not to the point where you can't buy into their story.

The editing for the large part was well done as it embraced comic book split screen shots and unfurling sequences featuring written words of the action taking place. With the type of fast paced editing employed in this movie, some scenes spliced together translated to confusion early on as it takes the viewer some time to get used to the unconventional abrupt scene changes. The flashing lights, gimmicks, and especially hyper paced cutting make this movie one that can only be truly appreciated by those who enjoy the music video look and a video game feel.

The cast was also a treat to behold. I always get a kick out of watching Jason Schwartzman in any role he fills, and in this movie he plays a huge part as the most difficult ex of Romona. The cast also boasts Anna Kendrick, Chris Evans, Kieran Culkin, Brandon Routh, Alison Pill, and the endearing Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Live Free Die Hard) as Ramona. Lastly, and very importantly, I wanted to praise the awesome original music featured in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. The music rocking from Scott and his band Sex Bob-omb was so great I already bought the soundtrack for the movie and have it looped on my play list. Every time music was featured in this movie it was fitting and induced foot tapping to the catchy beats.

Overall, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is definitely in the top five movies I have seen this summer. The fun starts early with the production logo of Universal Pictures being flashed like an old Sega game. The party rolls on as this funny movie is full of unique action and amusing animations, features likable characters, and has a clear established purpose for the story. The editing may be confusing at times and bombards the viewer with lightning cuts paced like an ADD child's attention span, but it rarely felt overbearing. The two lead characters aren't developed as much as I thought necessary for this movie being about these two literally fighting to be together, but great premise though. I had a blast at the theater full of people, and recommend you give this film the box office receipts it deserves.

After seeing the Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, if you wanted to get a closer look at all those movie posters for the star character Lucas Lee, click here. Check out the taglines in the posters, they are so hilarious.

*

DEATHLY HALLOWS FEATURETTE

2010-08-12T20:19:00.000-07:00

Every time a new nugget of information for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows hits the web, I am all over it like Chris Brown's hands on Rhianna's face. Too soon? Warner Brothers just released a behind the scenes featurette for the final two Potter films that are both dropping within the next 365 days. This two minute video contains some new clips never seen by Potter fans, but most of the footage has already been shown in the other trailers.

The featurette also shows some of the people involved in creating this project discussing the content from the next two films. Of course, all of us Potter-nerds know the answers to some of the riddles the cast poses, but it is still fun to soak it all in. I just find it funny to hear Emma Watson say, "The audience will hold their breath, like, are they going to make it?" Emma, we have already read the book, it came out three years ago. We know. But anyway, check out the new Potter footage that shows fans some of the details that go into producing a movie featuring a wizard battle on the epic scale. Check the trailer out after the jump.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1: will hit theaters November 19th, 2010, and Part 2: July 15th, 2011.

*

INCEPTION EXPLAINED BY A TOOL

2010-08-11T18:21:00.000-07:00

While I know it is impossible for every person to appreciate any particular movie, it is quite distressing seeing people bash quality ones. Inception of course has been welcomed by mostly positive critic and audience reception, but there are still people out there who are going to take their shots just because they can't let themselves enjoy something liked by the mainstream. We saw very similar treatment to Cameron's Avatar and also The Dark Knight in 2008.

Like I said, I know not everyone is going to love some of these movies like most critics, the public, and myself. I can take someone making legitimate claims on why they didn't like the movie or shortcomings they felt it featured. But for someone to go out of their way to bash or claim "the movie was terrible, or confusing," (when all you have to do is clearly pay attention!) this is just a ploy to get attention. Well, people talking like this, who should not be left in a small room with me, have my attention. Hit the jump to see this bash on Inception.

This specific shot at Inception comes from Graham Scott, the man who created the (Microsoft Paint?) infographic and clearly wears a helmet. The graphic is a target-like layout showing how best to understand Inception. As you can see, Scott has difficultly watching what I like to call a "dialogue-fest." While sometimes too much dialogue can drag on, well written dialogue can be captivating, interesting, and provide what we "in the business" like to call background or exposition. In a film like Inception, plenty of exposition is necessary.

His second rung in the target shows by far just how stupid he really is. Computer Generated Images is essential to Inception? Many Nolan fans know that the acclaimed director is not a huge fan of CGI and never overuses the technology in fear of losing that real look and feeling to his films. In fact, Nolan did not really go all out with CGI compared to the average blockbuster that feature this type of film asset. The first Transformers displayed around 1000 shots with CGI in them, while Inception featured closer to 500. These days people seem to just say CGI to mean special effects, and don't know the difference. CGI is computed rendered, while special effects can be explosions, camera tricks, etc. This film did not even feature that much CGI. The hallway scene is an example of special effects at its finest as it was actually a real spinning hallway.

Pretense is probably the only piece of this little graphic that I can actually really agree with. I am not sure if Graham is saying this is a bad thing or not, but who really knows what this "genius" is trying to say. I personally don't have a problem with pretense in this project, and would actually label it more as suspension of disbelief. It's not like Nolan is saying this film is a documentary and this type of dream invasion is possible. All he is doing is creating a world where it is possible, explaining some of the rules (well, many of them actually), and asking you to just buy into and enjoy the rest. Suspension of disbelief allows the viewer to not criticize every little apparent inconsistency or always ask the most prying questions about this type of movie.

Where Graham loses all credibility for his opinion is the bulls eye which describes the heart of Inception to be Bullshit. I could really take his argument seriously had it not been for the center of this circle. The center of the graphic is the true reason I wrote up this long post criticizing his cheap graphic work. How is calling Inception Bullshit really explaining the movie at all? Even thinking that doesn't really make sense. Would you call 12 Monkeys Bullshit for asking audiences to believe that humans could time travel to the past to try and stop a society destructive disease? Or how about The Matrix, for creating a world ruled by robots and fake computed controlled realities? Inception is Bullshit? Mr. Graham, you have lost all respect for any of your claims. I felt the need to vent about this because I personally disagree with much of his infographic, and the middle proves his case is built upon the sand. My case is built upon the rock.... and that's the game.

*

DVD-MUST-SEE: INSIDE MAN

2010-08-11T01:38:00.000-07:00

My name is Dalton Russell. Pay strict attention to what I say because I choose my words carefully, and I never repeat myself. I've told you my name: that's the Who.

The above is part of the opening narration from the film Inside Man. In this edition of Netflix This, I have a recommendation for a movie at least some of you have seen or heard of. I am referring to one of the best films I have ever seen, and definitely Spike Lee's best movie, or "joint" as the New Yorker refers to his films. This 2006 project is the crown jewel in Russell Gewirtz's writing repertoire as his only other legit project was the below average 2008 Righteous Kill (which I think was not great because of sub par writing). I must say that Gewirtz covered all his angles with Inside Man as it was one of the better written movies I have had the joy of watching. I always appreciate narratives that are not completely linear storytelling, and Inside Man dips into that cookie jar.

The ensemble cast is one of the best ever collected for any film. First off we have the intense game of cat and mouse between the great Denzel Washington and the devious Clive Owen. The two square off as Owen's character Dalton Russell enacts his perfect plan to rob a New York bank while the detective work of Washington's character Keith Frazier and the police-force try to spoil his attempt. Though Dalton seems to back himself into a corner by posting up in a bank with hostages, all his actions seem calculated and part of his masterful plan. The exchanges back and forth between these adversaries is not only brilliant dialogue, but it draws the audience into each man's deeper thoughts.

This Spike Lee gem also stars Jodie Foster in the best role of her career. You heard me right, this supporting role in Inside Man is the best of her distinguished filmography. Yes, of course I have seen her lead in Silence of the Lambs where her quiet but strong demeanor as Agent Clarice Starling got her an Academy Award. Her exceptional portrayal of Madeline White in this film is the definition of a superior intelligent woman of power who has such a commanding presence you are forced to watch her every tick while she is featured on screen. This character is one of my all-time favorites in any movie. Ever. I am not even a huge Foster fan. But I love this character, and her delivery of Ms. White ignites the fuse of greatness. Each time I pop the DVD into the player I find myself salivating as her best parts near. This role alone, makes Inside Man worth seeing at least once.

Did I forget to mention the film also stars the always spectacular Christopher Plummer, the versatile Willem Dafoe, and Chiwetwel Ejiofor? Besides those three rounding out the cast, even the lesser known actors from Inside Man turn in solid performances that make the viewer completely buy into one of the better bank heist movies ever made. Though I think it is the best, others will have differing viewpoints, and I was being diplomatic. While the movie is loaded with all of Spike Lee's typical critique of racial profiling and injustice in society, this heated topic takes a backseat to the task at hand which is unraveling this elaborate plan to rob the bank. Some of the racial banter is actually funny to hear though a little difficult to digest.

Before I wrap this whole spiel up, I also have to throw love out to the very fitting and awesome soundtrack that any music or movie fan can appreciate. Each intense scene's moments are amplified by the great compilation of music accentuating the images and heightening the audiences emotions. The end of the movie especially has a great collection of string symphony pieces that always make me want to cheer for this film fitting together so perfectly. If you watch or have seen this film, check the music rolling while Jodie Foster walks out of the barbershop after her conversation with Christopher Plummer.

As you can tell from this write up, and my top ten list of movies highlighted in my profile on The Movie Mash, Inside Man is one of the best movies I have ever seen. I just recently watched it and thought, "I wonder if any readers out there have not had the pleasure of checking this masterpiece out?" So low and behold, I spread my recommendation to all of you. Even if this film isn't on you Netflix possibilites, go and buy it, because it is that great of a movie. If you don't like this movie after a viewing, then we definitely never need to meet. Unless your names is Sidney Rice.

*

LOST EPILOGUE

2010-08-06T22:50:00.000-07:00

As I reported in my LOST series finale recap, the complete six season DVD set will contain a 12-minute epilogue not seen on television. This was an obvious ploy to get fans of the show to buy the complete DVD set which will have an obscene price tag from my estimation. Somehow, Videogum was able to get their paws on the complete epilogue for our viewing pleasure.

This post was supposed to allow others to enjoy the video as I was luckily able to catch it in the brief time it was online. I had the video embedded and ready to go for readers to check out, but then, BOOM, the video was gone. I was thinking about posting my thoughts about what I saw, but with no one being able to see it, I'll just have to wait until others get to view it as well. I consider myself lucky to have been online to see this video in its short internet life, but I will say it wasn't epic like I hoped. All of you will have to buy the DVDs...

Picture via: Slashfilm

FUNNY, BUT NOT FERRELL'S BEST: THE OTHER GUYS REVIEW

2010-08-06T22:16:00.000-07:00

THE OTHER GUYS (B-)

This movie is very similar to Dinner for Schmucks in that it is a comedy featuring a tag team of lead actors who together form the only soluble piece for the entire film. Instead of the comedic duo of Carell and Rudd, The Other Guys features the mostly unfunny Mark Wahlberg and the most often funny Will Ferrell. I am going to try my hardest not to let my disdain for Wahlberg shine through in this review, but I cannot promise anything.

The story follows Wahlberg and Ferrell working as detectives who have failed to establish any credibility amongst their peers. The two go out of their way to crack a case that upon first look has no standing with the glamorous type of detective work from the department's top cops played by Dwayne Johnson and Samuel L. Jackson. With the doubt of their fellow detectives to drive them, the pair works to solve a case of white collar crime. They soon discover the deeper they investigate, the thicker the muck surrounding the case becomes.

The Other Guys was directed and written by Adam McKay who brought us Step Brothers, Talladega Nights, and Anchorman. McKay collaborated to compose the scripts for all of those projects with Ferrell himself, but this 2010 project is not the same. Ferrell was not part of the writing team, and that may have hurt the overall effort. As many will deduct from the above list of movies, the comedic genius of McKay is showcased in Anchorman and Step Brothers, both R-rated flicks. Talladega Nights, just like The Other Guys ended up having a PG-13 rating; something I believe hurt these movies drastically. The inability to use vulgarity and the typical raunch in many of the situations that arise in The Other Guys leave the laughs at chuckles when they could have been tear jerkers.

Some of the best pieces of comedy this decade come from those R-rated flicks. Many of those are so good because McKay pushes the boundaries and doesn't worry about keeping a PG-13 rating. Swear words can be overused in film, but they can also make dialogue more comical. I believe this is something McKay and Ferrell are very good at which they have shown with their R-rated projects. Barrett and I both felt this movie needed to be R-rated to be great like it could have been. Now, don't get me wrong, the movie was very funny. It had what Dinner for Schmucks lacked, the big laughs. All I am saying is this movie could have been closer to par with Step Brothers had it used the same formula that brought that classic its success.

Fans of Will Ferrell will love this role as he portrays the nerdy but enthusiastic detective looking for respect amidst all the testosterone driven police force. I know a lot of people who feel that Ferrell just doesn't do the job for them comedic-wise anymore, but I personally think he is still hilarious. However, I can see how people could feel his antics are getting old. If you are one of those who don't love Ferrell, skip this movie. Quick interjection, Michael Keaton played a supporting role in this film as the police chief. He surprised me with his ability to convey a character who takes charge but also is quietly strange.

Ok, on to Mark Wahlberg. First things first, I don't hate Marky-Mark. He has a lot of roles I think he really killed like: The Italian Job, The Departed, Fear, Three Kings, and Invincible (and his involvement in Entourage gets him brownie points). He was decent in other projects, and horrible in many others. My biggest problem with Wahlberg is his inability to chose projects that are good for him. His mistakes include: Max Payne, The Happening, The Lovely Bones, Planet of the Apes, and many more. These films don't turn out well for him because he just doesn't seem to fit into those roles. So blame his agent or Mark himself, but The Other Guys is yet another film I don't think fits this 39 year-old actor.

Mark's role in this film never seems to pick up any speed as his character Terry is seemingly normal in one scene and then invading his ex-girlfriends ballet practice calling her a stripper while also showing he himself has his own set of elite ballet skills. While some of this is the fault of the writing, the role was not carried out by Wahlberg very well either. Wahlberg has one of the movie's worst lines (unfortunately it is repeated many times), "I'm a peacock, let me fly." I seriously could not understand the inclusion of that laughable (not in a good way) dialogue several times in this movie or the horrible looking CGI peacock at the end.

The tag team of Ferrell and Wahlberg together were entertaining to watch which helped squander most of my dislike for Wahlberg's role individually. These two are the only focus of this film's narrative minus feeble attempts to incorporate Eva Mendes and a love aspect into the plot. Why she chose to be involved in this movie is not obvious to me. My guess is her agent can't find her any quality work, because this role was a waste of her time, and mine (even though she is very attractive). From my perception of Wahlberg being the weaker portion of this two piece puzzle, it hurt having the film only focus on these two characters.

Much of this film's shortcomings can be attributed to sub par writing (minus most of the comedy). I stated above how this film teetered on the necessity of an R-rating, but The Other Guys lacked quality writing in many other facets of the script as well. I will start with the inconsistent characters both Wahlberg and Ferrell are meant to portray. Both these leads switch from utterly insane to straight line police officers with the flick of a switch. This huge variation from scene to scene makes it difficult to grasp who these characters really are. Granted, perfectly constructed characters are not necessary for a simple comedy, but quality constructed characters are.

My biggest problem with this movie is the fairly complex plot that seems squeezed into the seams of the plot in between the laughs. The mystery the two detectives are trying to unravel is a white collar crime that has so many different twists it can leave the casual viewer scratching their head at who the real bad guy in this case really is. Not that this type of storytelling shouldn't be attempted in movies, but with a reletively simple comedy like this one, why try? Try McKay and co-writer Chris Henchy did, and failure was the outcome.

McKay tries too hard to make this movie stir thoughts of dissent against white collar crimes. This certainly was the most confusing part to me expecting nothing more than to laugh at the typical comedic proceedings from McKay and Ferrell. I can see an important message trying to be conveyed in a movie where some type of seriousness is relevant; but in a ridiculous comedy far from where an audience would expect a serious message, I think trying to incorporate one here is tomfoolery (Yep, I went there). As the credits roll, we are presented with facts about the corporate bailout and wrongdoings from the tyrants of the corporate world. WTF right?

Overall, The Other Guys is full of big laughs and definitely could be considered the funniest movie of the summer. It has some outrageous moments, hilarious dialogue, and an intriguing narrative. I can gripe about the smaller things that bothered me like character inconsistency or wasting time incorporating a story arc of love for both characters. But where this movie really came up short was by trying to push a message in a setting not fit for serious discussion, with a plot that doesn't really seem to fit with a simple comedy like this one.

It features the big laughs, but probably isn't worth the price of admission unless you are going to a matinee. Fans of Ferrell should not miss this, but it will not blow you away like many of his classics.

*

LACKING THE BIG LAUGHS: DINNER FOR SCHMUCKS REVIEW

2010-08-02T18:35:00.000-07:00

DINNER FOR SCHMUCKS (C+)

My feelings about this movie can be described easiest by simply saying, I expected more. This movie of course features the talents of Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, Zach Galifianakis, and Ron Livingston. With that cast, viewers go into a movie like this and expect to laugh hysterically. But this movie did not feature much of that. Sure it had its funny parts, but it lacked the kind of belly busting laughter a viewer would expect from a comedy like this. Even minus my high comedic expectations, this movie just did not do anything to really establish itself amongst other films in the genre.

The movie stars Rudd as a businessman Tim looking to further his career by impressing his bosses on the floor above him. A profitable pitch at a business meeting impresses the hierarchy at his company which gets him an invite to the special dinner that features idiots parading their bizarre talents for all to make fun of. Tim in need of a zany dinner guest, has a chance run in with Barry (Steve Carell) and realizes that he could be the perfect guest to impress his boss at this dinner.

Barry is a character right out of the pages of ridiculousness. While it can be funny at times, Barry almost doesn't seem like an actual person with his non-stop destructive behavior towards Tim. Dinner for Schmucks is a goofy comedy, but the movie very much tries to portray Barry as a normal guy who behaves strange and not just a personification of wacky behavior.

A perfect example of the right combination of an idiotic personality still seeming like a normal person is Carell's character Michael Scott from The Office. I am not saying Dinner for Schmucks should have written Michael into this movie, just that the Dunder Mifflin boss is the perfect mix of believability and funny. Michael is a moron in most regards, but the audience can identify with him because he still seems like someone we could or do know in our lives. Barry is just too much absurdness all the time to ever resemble something believable. Of course I am nit-picking, but this was how the movie was written, so I am going to put in my two cents.

The progression of the narrative was predictable like most comedies where you can see what is coming before it happens on screen. However, most good comedies, while predictable, feature plenty of laughs from many angles. Dinner for Schmucks did not have the laughs expected and never left the beaten path story-wise. Even while boasting a strong cast, this film is not going to stand out or really be remembered five years from now.

Dinner for Schmucks lacked the comedic bombs that are going to leave your eyes watering and your gut hurting. But there are plenty of little doses of laughter that could make this movie for you. Comedy is usually hit or miss with audiences. I can see people enjoying the laughs in this movie more than I did. Along that thought, the comedy in this movie will work for some better than others. I am among the others, but maybe you will be part of the some who thinks this movie is indeed funnier than I did.

The script was written by David Guion and Michael Handleman. These two could not come up with any dialogue that was really funny or even memorable. Even though I said this earlier, how, with a cast like this, can these writers not come up with some memorable dialogue for these comedic juggernauts to deliver? Funny dialogue is so important, and Guion and Handleman spend all their time concocting new outlandish situations for the characters to interact in. This movie features a lot of situational comedy, which is funny, but gravitates toward overkill when these unreal circumstances never stop.

The two main characters Tim (Rudd) and Barry (Carell) are given some development which helped the movie as it progressed. Getting to know the characters in a comedy always puts more enjoyment on the platter. A movie like Dinner for Schmucks especially needed this aspect as it lacked the big laughs a comedy like this should deliver. The chemistry between Rudd and Carell becomes more apparent as the two characters grow closer together, but that really isn't enough to make this story float. Dinner for Schmucks lacks the quality secondary characters like the two boys Augie and Ronnie provide in Role Models.

Overall, Dinner for Schmucks is a solid effort, but fails to deliver on the biggest piece of this film's draw, the comedy. I chuckled quite a bit in this movie, but never belted out with laughter. With the talented cast featured, the lack of "LOL" made this movie average. I wanted to love this movie as I had been excited to see it since I saw the first trailer. But as I walked out of the theater all I felt was disappointment, and my feelings were mirrored by the people I attended the showing with.

Dinner for Schmucks is worth a matinee showing or a rental, but don't spend the big bucks to check out this lackluster comedy. The best movie in theaters is still Inception; if you haven't seen it, get out and do so.

*

GREAT VIDEO FOR A CURIOUS MIND

2010-07-31T01:57:00.000-07:00

I had to watch this video for a class in the spring semester at the University of Minnesota and I thought I would pass it along to my readers. I enjoyed the video so much I made it into a bookmark on my browser. When I saw the bookmark recently, I clicked the link to re-watch it again. The video shows a speech about how social media and technology are changing our world. The speech is from Clay Shirky, an adjunct professor in New York University's graduate Interactive Telecommunication's Program.

While that may not sound real interesting, it definitely is a great watch. The video has a lot of great information and observations to get your brain pondering about the differences social media has on society and how it impacts our world today. He discusses how the media receiver (us) has now become a media producer as well. A perfect example of this is me writing this post for this blog. I no longer have to be a professional journalist working at a newspaper or magazine to produce content for readers to digest. Enough of me blabbing, if you want to check the video out click the link below. Trust me, it is worth a view.

*

TWO TEASERS

2010-07-30T16:00:00.000-07:00

This edition of the Trailer Trash Mash showcases two movies that both contain computer generated animations and feature comedy, but approach the genre in two very different ways. The two teaser trailers I am referring to are The Goon and Yogi Bear. While one is very much targeted at kids, the other looks to appeal to kids but upon closer inspection contains adult content to the extreme.

First up we have the favorite picnic basket stealing bear from many of our childhoods. Of course I am talking about Yogi Bear and his food stealing antics at Jellystone park. Warner Brothers is the studio behind the project that stars Dan Aykroyd as Yogi and Justin Timberlake as Boo Boo. Yeah, you heard me right, I said Justin Timberlake. While watching the preview, I did not think it was him for one second. The film also stars Anna Farris, Tom Cavanagh, and the always funny T.J. Miller. Yogi Bear is set to hit theaters, in 3D (!!!) of course, December 17th, 2010.

Second up we have a teaser trailer that is unique it in its own rights. It is a project called The Goon which is based off a dark comic book series with the same title. The series was created by Eric Powell who also penned the script for this movie. The film is being produced by one of my favorite directors David Fincher, and has Paul Giamatti voicing the character Franky and Clancy Brown giving life to the character The Goon.

A release date and a plot still have not been announced about the project, but movie posters announce a theatrical release. This footage was created by Blur Studios to showcase the project. This teaser is meant to promote The Goon to get snatched up by a big studio so they can foot the bill to finance the rest of production. So this project is still far away from completion, but as you can tell from what you can see below, The Goon will definitely be bankrolled by someone. Check out the teaser, and keep up to date with The Goon news on the official site.

Movie Trailers - Movies Blog

THE THIRD BATMAN IS UNDERWAY

2010-07-28T15:18:00.000-07:00

Want to know the best thing about Inception? This statement is going to stir up some objections, and don't get me wrong, I absolutely loved Inception. But in my opinion, the best thing about Inception is Nolan finally being done with it. That said, the road to the untitled Batman 3 sequel to The Dark Knight begins now. While Nolan hasn't revealed hardly a morsel of information about the highly anticipated third installment, we know for sure the script is near completion and the official release date is July 20th, 2012.

While most of this news is a few weeks old, I thought it was just that important to pass this information along to the avid readers. Ok, so we know for sure is that Nolan himself has not really been involved in many of the proceedings with Batman 3 because of his immersion in the work involving Inception. Nolan has commented on how he is a "one project at a time" type of guy, but the release date of Batman 3 being two short years away is not impractical.

Christoper Nolan has worked with Warner Brothers since his 2002 film Insomnia, and he states "They (Warner Brothers) know me well enough to know what my process is. I do one film at a time. It’s one of my real inefficiencies. As I start to free up on this film (Inception), I’ll be thinking about what to do next."

The acclaimed director has collaborated with his younger brother Jonathan Nolan on many of his films. The two have written the scripts for The Prestige and The Dark Knight together. Jonathan also wrote the short story Memento Mori which his older brother turned into a screenplay and eventually the 2000 cult classic Memento starring Guy Pearce. Jonathan has turned in some pretty impressive written work and he is currently penning the screenplay for the third Batman.

As for Jonathan's progress on the script, Christopher states to the NY Times, "Oh, yeah. He’s been working on a script for a long time. And working very hard. So he tells me."

Christopher Nolan's involvement with the script writing process can be understood better from his interview with MTV News recently where he was asked if he is thinking about Batman 3 already.

“Yes and no I suppose would be the answer,” he said. “We know we’re aiming for 2012 [as a release date]. That’s been talked about. We’re just working on the script, really. My brother [Jonah Nolan] has been hard at work on it for quite some time. It’s based on a story that myself and David Goyer have written.” “I’ve been very completely in this movie,” he said about his work on “Inception,” which arrives in theaters on July 16. “In a couple of weeks, I’ll surface and figure out what I’m doing next and how I’m going to approach it.”

This next bit of news is nothing short of of huge, and I mean huge. I left it down here so you all would have to read that other crap I wrote up above. While no official word has broke from Warner Brothers or the Nolans about the villain for the third Batman, word has hit the internet via FirstShowing that The Riddler will be the nemesis of Batman this time around. The word was given by a reliable source within the studio who laid eyes on the casting grid for Batman 3.

A casting grid is used in industry to coordinate the schedules of studios, production companies, and casting agencies. This helps the coordinators on film projects to know when actors are available for certain roles in a film. The casting grids are used for the specific purpose of finding available actors to be in movies. The listing of a role on this grid for a movie is a confirmation the character will appear in the film. The Warner Brothers casting grid for Batman 3 featured the role of The Riddler. One of the actors listed to potentially play the role was Nolan's "Point Man" for Inception, Joesph Gordon-Levitt.

JGL would a great fit for this role as his talent as an actor can take him to personify any character written for him. With the minds of the Nolan brothers, I am sure they are cooking up something brilliant for The Riddler. While JGL playing The Riddler is not confirmed whatsoever, the casting grid should be considered a confirmation that The Riddler will indeed be in the Nolan's third Batman. With Inception now completed, let the wait for Batman 3 begin. Of course, tune into the DisputedKnowledge or theMovieMash.com for all Batman news because we will be all over it like Lindsey Lohan on top of a line of coke.

DISPUTED PERFECTION: INCEPTION REVIEW

2010-07-26T04:50:00.000-07:00

INCEPTION (A+)

The heavy bass from the score pounds in rhythm with your now fluttering heart as the logos from the production companies responsible for the creation of Inception rip onto the screen in harmony with the booming music. The perfected score from the legendary composer Hans Zimmer pounds the drastic nature of what you are about to expeirence into your head even before the first shot is ever shown. I can honestly say that even the lead up to the beginning of this film had adrenaline coursing through my veins readying my body for a film experience I will never forget.

Inception has been the movie I anticipated more than any other this 2010 summer blockbuster season. Actually, the last movie I was this jacked about was the 2008 mega blockbuster The Dark Knight. Not to be considered anything near just a coincidence, both were products from the movie genius mind of Christopher Nolan. With the kind of ridiculously high expectations I had for Inception, it is difficult if not near impossible to live up to that kind of hype in my movie mind. That said, Inception, like all of Nolan's movies, hurdled my expectations with ease.

This project was written and directed by Nolan and can be considered this filmmakers pet project. He has aspired to make Inception since his days as a youth striving to be a filmmaker. Inception has the look and feel of a film that has nothing but perfection in mind; a film that Nolan carefully crafted each image to fit his liking and to blow viewer's minds. Nolan worked hard to ensure that all angles were covered and the personnel involved with this project could do nothing less than to help him execute his elaborate vision. When I say elaborate, trust me, that is just skimming the surface.

The plot of the movie is far too difficult for description to anyone sitting on the outside looking in (i.e. if you have not seen the movie yet). However, worry not because this "complexity" is well described and drawn out to make the viewer comprehend quite easily. Didn't you hear me saying how "ballin" a filmmaker Christopher Nolan was above? The script is masterfully written with Ellen Page's character playing the "fish out of water" which brings the audience to understand as she too is learning the features of the dream world. I have heard countless people say Inception would be too much for them to comprehend; but trust me, it is not. If you can sit and pay attention, you can understand. Even if you can't pay attention there are enough "pretty pictures" to look at along the way to make this movie worth a view.

The details and intricacies of the dream are well conceived and well defined throughout the first half of this movie. While most of the explanations of this alternate reality (the dream world) comes from dialogue, following along is as simple as listening. Again, don't be afraid to challenge your movie mind with something different. Stimulation or entertainment doesn't always come from non stop action. Typically, storytelling via dialogue is never as entertaining as watching an event unfold. Nolan however does an excellent job of incorporating images and sequences with the dialogue to creatively bring audience members up to speed.

Inception is the most visually complete movie I have ever seen. The imagery in this movie trumps even the cinematic masterpiece that was The Matrix. The sheer scale of what is brought to the audience in the dream world is what sets this movie apart from the adventure surrounding Keanu Reeve's Neo. While the first Matrix was filled with picture perfect visuals, the filmmakers didn't try anything on the scale of Inception until the second and third films. Of course, those movies were not very good and featured some of the worst CGI manufactured in this new age of computer perfected images.

I was not only wowed by all of this film's ridiculously imaginative action sequences, but stunned, shocked, and breathless for the duration of the scenes. Joesph Gordon-Levitt (aka JGL) has a mind-numbing scene set in a hotel hallway minus gravity that captivated all my senses. Without a doubt in my mind, that scene was one of the best sequences in a movie that I have ever seen. EVER (period). The second time watching this movie I was so overcome with joy knowing what I was about to experience as this scene neared. This is only one of many overwhelmingly awe-inspiring scenes featured in this film where inside the dream, anything seems possible.

The cast is also something to be awed. With the talent and track record Nolan has, he attracts Hollywood's most notable faces. The casting director in this film, John Papsidera, is another name that needs to be highly praised. Each actor in this project was not only marvelous individually but brought something to the table for the collective whole. While the script for Inception does not give each actor equal screen time and development to match DiCaprio's character Cobb, I don't think that takes away from the performance each actor brings to their character's role. Leonardo DiCaprio has established for years his wide array of acting talent and Inception is just another notch is Leo's superstar success.

On top of Leo is an ensemble cast of superstars in their own right. All big names joined this project because of how special it was. The addition of so many talented actors boosted this film's quality ten fold. Joesph Gordon-Levitt (500 Days of Summer), Ellen Page (Juno), Cillain Murphy (Red Eye), Ken Wantabe (The Last Samurai), the gorgeous Academy Award Winner Marion Cotillard (Public Enemies), two time Academy Award Winner Michael Caine, and last but certainly not least, new comer to Hollywood stardom, Tom Hardy (Bronson).

It really is hard to choose a favorite character in this movie, but if I had to it would be a toss up between Tom Hardy and JGL. Hardy plays a role known as "The Forger" and adds some needed comic relief with his witty lines. Hardy, like JGL, is a relatively unknown actor that should be catapulted to stardom with roles like this one. Both the previously mentioned actors were so magnificent in their roles they boost the film's overall value with their presence alone. I cannot wait to see Hardy in future blockbuster type movies.

I also cannot write this review without praising Marion Cotillard's disturbing yet entrancing portrayal of her character Mal. She captured your attention with her look, her body language, her voice, and her delivery. Put her as a guarantee lock for Best Supporting Actress come Academy Award time.

Overall, Inception is the best movie of the year and is unlike any movie I have ever seen in my life. Nolan took his imagination and put it up on the screen for audiences across the world to see. While I cannot call this Nolan's best (Batman Begins is my personal favorite), it is definitely another trophy to put on display for the world to know that Nolan is one of this planet's best filmmakers (if not the best). This movie will have your heart racing during the action and melting during the drama. It will stir your mind with intrigue and transfix it with the imagery. There is not a weak link in this chain from my perspective and anyone who really gives this movie a shot will find some enjoyment from it.

I have already listed a hundred reasons to see this movie, and here is one more. Inception marks a new original idea in the Hollywood market littered with sequels, prequels, remakes, and reboots. Hollywood is all about profits, and they invest in what they know will profit them most (i.e. sequels, reboots, etc.). In order for original ideas like this one to be funded in the future, this movie needs to be a success at the box office. In order for studios to take chances on new ideas in the future they need to see that audiences are open to paying for something other than the bankable cookie cutter projects we usually eat up. So even if Inception does not seem like your cup of tea, give it a shot to try something new. You may be surprised when you end up blown away by the mind of Christopher Nolan.

Nolan is the mind who brought you: Memento, Insomnia, Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, and The Prestige. Has the man gone wrong yet? Inception is more of the same... film-utopia.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For those who have seen Inception:

First, check out this really awesome rendition of fan art that visually "breaks down" Inception. I had a laugh.

I shouldn't concern myself with meddling fools, but I cannot help it. I have read and heard many of the gripes critics have with Inception. Much of the reasoning is crap like, "The only character to be developed is Cobb, and all others are just along for the ride," "This movie is confusing," and "It is hard to know when the characters are in reality and when they are dreaming." My comeback to those complaints revolves around a difference of opinion and calling them out for not paying attention. Not every writer who composes a script is going to develop every character along the way. Sometimes, like Inception, the only character's story that really matters is Cobb's. That is why he is the only character to be truly developed. I personally like character development, but not every face to appear on screen needs to be unraveled for a narrative to be good.

As for the dreaming, I believe Nolan was trying to blur the line between reality and dreams to show how easily characters can be deceived into believing they are not actually dreaming. The purpose of The Architect, The Point Man, and The Forger is to recreate "reality" within the dream. That is almost the whole point of the movie, deception to create Inception!! How could a critic miss that? I know I am just venting, but sometimes critics bash just to bash. Heck, even I do it sometimes. But to call a movie like Inception rotten overall is just ludicrous.

I seriously cannot believe this woman is a movie critic. Michelle Alexandria is her name and she seriously discusses at the end of her review considering walking out of Inception. What kind of movie critic ever considers that?! What kind of review can you write if that is what you are thinking while watching the movie!? If a person walks out early, is their opinion on the whole of the movie valid? Of course not. The fact she considered this disgusts me that she is a member of the press. How people like her make it that far in the journalism game is truly baffling to me.

I personally would never leave a movie early, so rest assured my opinions are always based on the whole picture.

*

GOOD, BUT GO SEE INCEPTION INSTEAD: SALT REVIEW

2010-07-24T17:25:00.000-07:00

SALT (B-)

Angelina Jolie headlines this project as a character that isn't a stretch from her usual sexy but deadly roles (Wanted, Tomb Raider, Mr. and Mrs. Smith). This 2010 film directed by Phillip Noyce seems to exist in a world close to our own reality where Jolie is an actual vulnerable human being. The previous mentioned films all put Jolie in a world of her own, on a pedestal of elite combative prowess. My perception of Salt early on was Jolie working her tail off to narrowly escape capture. Then the action sequences kept unfolding with Jolie coming out on top and unscathed. I began to question the film's integrity to reality as it slipped closer and closer to mindless action.

Granted I understand that movies take place in a constructed reality that characters live in, but with each project the filmmakers ask the viewers to buy into this world. The world can either be different from our reality (V for Vendetta), shown to be similar to ours (Eagle Eye), or be exactly like ours (Bourne Trilogy). This is an important distinction to make so the viewer can decide how to interpret the information being presented to them and whether or not to suspend their disbelief because this is just an action movie. Salt pretends to be serious, but then shows a reality that is too much to believe in. The inability to establish a genre, either a hardcore action movie or a thriller with some action, really hurt Salt in my mind.

Speaking of the Bourne Trilogy, this film tries so hard to be just like those three movies that equated perfection. Unfortunately, when you are trying to mimic perfection you will most often come up short just like Salt does. The action reminds me of the Bourne movies, but not near the quality. Much of the sequences seemed practical early on and were believable for Jolie's character in this movie. But as I stated above, the action kept piling on and getting more ridiculous causing me to appreciate and believe the action less and less.

Even Jolie's character seems to resemble Jason Bourne as she appeared detached from emotion for most of the movie. However, the similarity stops on the surface as Evelyn Salt features no depth compared to Bourne. Ten minutes into the film Jolie was already on the run from the government which brought me to think, "I don't know anything about her, why do I really care what happens?" I at least need something to make me side with Evelyn Salt or root for her and not just watch mindlessly as she thwarts the law. I need a reason to hope she escapes capture besides the fact she is the main character. I need to feel something is at stake and not just watch thoughtless action to be truly enthralled.

The supporting cast features the always great Liev Schrieber and Chiwetwel Ejiofor (Inside Man). These two kept the non-Jolie pieces of this narrative flowing. While none of the characters got any real development besides Evelyn Salt, it was still great to watch these two hunt her down and try to unravel the mystery of her shrouded character. Watching the drive from Ejiofor's character to apprehend Evelyn Salt was what really made this movie for me. Sure it has Jolie escaping every which way, but watching the close pursuit from Ejiofor and his team made the cat and mouse chase exciting from the "cat" end.

The most surprising thing for me walking out of this movie had to be the absence of Jolie being used as a sex object. In almost every movie featuring the 35 year-old actress her sexuality is exploited (minus Changeling). Salt is devoid of any sort of that. This is not necessarily a knock to the filmmakers, but it is Hollywood (where sex is used to sell), and Jolie is one of the finest women on the planet. I was surprised to say the least. As for Jolie's portrayal of her character, she did a convincing job. She seemed like a shell of a character we could care for, but the mediocre character development is not her fault.

Overall, Salt was a movie that can be enjoyed but not truly loved. It has semblance to the Bourne Trilogy, but fails to discover what makes that series really great, attachment to the lead Jason Bourne. The character Evelyn Salt never really develops a personality or creates audience attachment to her cause. We see the reasons to do so and all the action, but I never felt the emotion of it. Instead of trying to impress me with storytelling, the filmmakers kept pounding unbelievable action into my head. While the action was good for the most part, it took up too much time from the narrative when I should have been learning about this complex character.

Salt is worth seeing, but only if you have already seen Inception. I recommend seeing Inception twice or three times before seeing this movie once. Wait for the rental.

*

NEWS FROM COMIC CON

2010-07-22T18:14:00.000-07:00

As many comic book nerds know, the San Diego Convention Center is currently housing the now highly publicized event know as Comic Con. This event plays host to more than just comics these days with movie studios releasing all sorts of new trailers, posters, and details about their upcoming projects. Some day The Movie Mash will be down there giving readers updates from the source, but for now, we will just start with keeping you updated on the news from other reporters.

First things first, Joss Whedon (Serenity) has finally been officially confirmed to direct The Avengers movie set to be released in 2012. Sitting next to J.J. Abrams, Whedon confirmed his role as director for the superhero overloaded film that he also co-wrote the script with Zak Penn. This news is no shock to avid movie blog readers as this decision has been speculated upon for months now. Even with that said, it is still nice to see the studio getting appropriately geared up for a film that is now just two years away.

Speaking of The Avengers, if you saw Iron Man 2 and stuck around past the credits you were treated to a snippet of content showing that members of the agency S.H.I.E.L.D found the hammer of Thor in the middle of a huge crater out in the desert. This of course is a lead in to the Thor movie which is currently filming and is set to be released May 2011. Small bits of information have surfaced about the film like the casting of the ripped Chris Hemsworth, the talented Natalie Portman, and Hollywood icon Anthony Hopkins.

Entertainment Tonight was onset a month ago and interviewed a few of the film's stars which can be seen here. The studio now has recently released a slew of photos to prep Comic Con faithful for a peek into the movie that will be shown at Comic Con. This look is supposed to give audiences a feel for Thor which images alone cannot provide. My favorite picture has to be the banner for this article (seen above) of Thor and his hammer in action. While the image of course is just concept art, I think this is a good indication of what the filmmakers have in mind for the character. Along with the Thor concept art is an awesome Captain America piece showing the hero on a WWII battlefield that can be seen here.

The most recent Thor photo dropped in Wednesday's edition of USA Today and shows Hemsworth and his first encounter with his hammer known as Mjolner. After the hammer drops from the sky, no one was able to move Mjolner. Instead of continuing efforts to move the seemingly unmovable hammer, S.H.I.E.L.D just builds a base around it. I am not going to lie, this picture looks pretty tantalizing to me. Hemsworth obviously fits the built for the god Thor, and this image proves it. His arms look like my thighs under an electron microscope.

Below you can see official photos from the set which has the Thor faithful skeptical. The costumes do look a little eccentric, but you can never judge a book by its cover; or judge a film from movie stills. That said, wait for the Thor trailer to drop before drawing early conclusions. Even then you can never judge a movie by its trailer. I think it is best to wait until May before passing judgment. When the new Thor trailer drops, the Movie Mash will have it for your own personal evaluation.

TYPCIAL BLOCKBUSTER: THE A-TEAM REVIEW

2010-07-20T16:37:00.000-07:00

THE A-TEAM (C)

While this movie is not rich in content, it is the exact assimilation of the gung ho blockbuster action movie. The A-Team is almost the definition of mediocrity, but it never leaves the element of entertainment. With that said, this movie is worth seeing, but with the quality of cinema in theaters currently, I'd wait until a DVD rental.

The A-Team is a rehash of the old television series but with new generation Hollywood blockbuster angel dust. The movie has simple, shallow, cliche characters that make this movie easy to follow but difficult to really enjoy anything but the action. The characters of course are based off the television show, but the movie never leaves the basis of these standard cookie cutter pieces. While a movie like this one focuses on the action aspect, I still think at least one character deserves some depth which this film excuses.

The story is basic but intriguing enough to keep the viewer interested to keep watching until the end. The plot points throughout the movie are easy to guess making this movie short of any surprises which brings me to call out this movie for lack of creativity. The action is over the top and stylized, but you can expect nothing less from the "blockbuster type stank" bursting from the seams of this project. While the action is stylized and perfected, it is nothing short of fun to watch.

The acting is difficult to get around as only a few number of the cast have legitimate talent. Liam Neeson and Sharlto Copley deliver the film's only quality performances. Copley steals the show with his borderline psychotic antics all the while bringing much needed comedic value to the movie. Fresh off his performance as Wikus in District 9,Copley proves his acting talents are not just for the dramatic.

While Bradley Cooper has experience, I personally thought his performance was bland and devoid of any sort of emotion that would attach the audience to his "leading" male role. I say "leading" because this movie is absent of any real protagonist from my estimation. Worst of all was former UFC fighter Rampage Jackson trying his hardest to be an actor. Good thing the mission of the movie didn't revolve around believability of his character B.A., otherwise The A-Team would experience horrendous failure.

Jessica Biel also stars in this movie as Captain Charisa Sosa. Biel is always hit or miss in my book. She has movies where she does a stand up job as a feminine woman in a natural setting (The Illusionist, Summer Catch, Chuck and Larry) and others where she poorly portrays the hot but macho female lead (Stealth, Blade, Home of the Brave). Guess which type of character she plays in The A-Team? Yep, the masculine but sexy member of the military's elite services. Safe to say, she was not very good in this movie either.

Overall, while The A-Team doesn't feature a whole lot of creativity, it is a decent action flick that many adreline junkies could enjoy. It has good purpose, a lightning quick pace, and action so often you can remember little else from the film's content. I am not saying this film is really that bad, I was just hoping for a lot more. A little bit of creativity tossed into the mix and not just a cliche action flick would have done this film wonders. It is a decent effort, but forgettable in most regards.

Check this one out on DVD if you love those blockbuster action flicks but just don't expect much more than shallow entertainment.

*

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 4 BEING REROUTED?

2010-07-14T18:29:00.000-07:00

In the past I have reported about pre-production news pertaining to Mission: Impossible 4, and now some things may have changed. Many of you know that Tom Cruise recently starred in the horrible Knight and Day with the aging Cameron Diaz. I saw the movie and I personally thought it was the worst film I have seen this year. I despised this movie so much mostly because the action sequences were so ridiculous they make Lindsey Lohan's behavior seem clean cut. For my full review of the waste of space that was Knight and Day, check it out here.

Cruise's role as the bankable star in Knight and Day coupled with the film's lackluster performance at the box office, only $61 million domestically, could have thrown a wrench into Paramount Pictures plan to proceed with the current Mission: Impossible 4 script. Word is the script recently turned in by Alias writers Josh Applebaum and Andre Nemec for the fourth installment is pretty good. But with Knight and Day being such a failure, will that affect Paramount's decision to green light the project?

Deadline has the scoop:

I hear the script that came in is very good, but the studio is still trying to figure out the budget as well as Cruise’s role in light of the lackluster Knight and Day grosses. There’s talk that Tom’s character will mentor a young operative this time out if the pic proceeds.

Paramount originally signed Cruise to reprise his role as Ethan Hunt and again pose as the centerpiece for the Mission: Impossible franchise. It seems now they might be getting cold feet like a nervous groom on his wedding day. This project is still very much in pre-production with the budget, casting, and other key roles still needing to be determined; so maybe this is just a rumor. Even so, Cruise possibly being a mentor figure as opposed to the star is not something that I would think the Scientology buff would take lightly. That would be a hit to any actor's ego, especially one of the most recognizable faces of all time.

After seeing Knight and Day and considering the film's box office flop, I do not think blame can be placed solely on Cruise. I do blame him for being dumb enough to star in the film, or foolish enough to listen to his agent telling him Knight and Day would be a solid career move. The screenplay was terrible and littered with nothing but mindless action. Shame on Cruise for picking the project, but Knight and Day sucked for many more reasons than him being the lead role. However, the movie industry is a business and it is all about green numbers (profits). That said, is the aging Cruise still a bankable enough star to headline a big budget movie like Mission: Impossible 4? My answer is yes.

*

ANOTHER ANIMATED CLASSIC: DESPICABLE ME REVIEW

2010-07-13T00:14:00.000-07:00

DESPICABLE ME (A-)

An animated movie like this will always have the looming comparisons to the juggernaut on the playing field, Pixar. Heck, some people out there think every animated movie that comes out is a Pixar creation. But they aren't all from Pixar, and these type of family orientated computer generated creations rarely own up to the might of the Disney owned company. Despicable Me showed that not all animated gems come from Pixar and that it too can bank at the box office.

Despicable Me took down the box office this past weekend with $56 million and is worth your attention at the movie theater. While the release of Inception is just days away now, don't count Despicable Me out of your theater going equation. After you see Inception two or three times, switch it up with some laughter from Despicable Me before seeing Inception again. If you were on the fence about Despicable Me, take my guarantee this movie is entertainment for all ages.

The film voices Steve Carell as the protagonist, the strange looking and intelligent Gru. Strangely enough, he plays one of the world's elite super villains and a man who seems to have a Scrooge-like heart. His ego is slighted as an unknown thief steals the Pyramid of Giza. He feels the need to plan an even bigger heist to establish himself as the world's best villain. In order to carry out his new plan, the idea to adopt three adorable girls comes to Gru as he desires entry into a seemingly impenetrable fortress of an adversary named Vector (voiced by Jason Segel). Gru exploits Vector's sweet tooth as the girls are allowed into the fortress to sell Vector cookies.

As the story began to set in, I realized the simple and, in some regards, predictable nature of the setup. While the target audience is kids, where simple and predictable work, no story is too complex for some creativity. As this movie neared completion I was settling on a grade of a (B+); then the writers threw predictable out the window as the adventurous and energetic ending unfolded. Just like Toy Story 3, the Despicable Me writers add some heavy emotion into the batter and mix it in real good. During this showing I was choked up a bit as I rooted the story onwards.

On top of that, the writers created real characters the audience can identify with, and more importantly, characters we care about. The three adopted daughters are so cute they melt your heart. Each girl has different characteristics that help them survive at the orphanage and even Gru's dangerous super villain house post adoption. They band together to make it in a world that has not been kind to them. The youngest girl, Agnes, has to be one of the cutest animated children I have ever seen (Boo from Monsters Inc. is number one). She not only draws you in with her huge brown eyes, but she is downright funny in this movie. I can remember many times when she cracked me up with the words from her soft little voice.

A big piece to this project's success is the talent voicing the animated characters besides Carell and Segel. Featured are: Kristen Wiig, Will Arnett, Julie Andrews, Danny McBride, Jack McBrayer, and Russell Brand. It took me awhile to figure out what character Brand voiced because of his voice sounding so differently than I am used to. I won't tell you his character so you can figure it out for yourself, like a little game. Another huge plus is the light humor Gru's Minions provide. All of you have seen these nondescript yellow creatures in the film's promotions. In Despicable Me, these little Corn Nut creatures are hilarious. Even though you might not think it, the Minions instantly cause attachment to their cuteness like a new puppy.

Overall, Despicable Me is another animated film that ranks in the top movies of 2010. It has been awhile since I have truly enjoyed an animated film that didn't come from the minds at Pixar. This project has lovable characters, great talent voicing them, an easy to enjoy narrative, and laughs coming from all angles. Another thing I want to quickly mention is how wonderful the music in this film is. The score was composed by the great Hans Zimmer and Heitor Pereira, as well as Pharrell and Lupe Fiasco contributing with their own original music.

This was definitely the best movie this weekend, and the box office receipts show it. Don't hesitate to check this one out, just make sure not to forget about it once Inception hits theaters.

*

GOOD, BUT LACKING GREAT: PREDATORS REVIEW

2010-07-12T21:36:00.000-07:00

PREDATORS (B)

This review will be similar to my Nightmare on Elm Street critique in that I have seen the original, but don't remember the 1987 Predator well enough for comparison. Even with that said, the 2010 Predators played homage to the original in many aspects. The music, some of the dialogue, and of course the gritty looking alien creatures that thrive for the hunt. The story in Predators is much different than the original, but I think that helps put this movie in a class of its own.

This film was produced by Robert Rodriguez (Sin City) and directed adequately by Nimród Antal. I used adequately to describe his work because some shots were really well constructed and other shots just didn't work. The producers don't try to mimic the original Predator story-wise, but they seem to have an idea of what made the original a success. Pitting both alien and human elite killers against one another seems like a can't miss, but marketing to a new audience while also appeasing an established fan base is never an easy task. I think the producers found a decent mix between the two, and successfully created a fresh start to a possible new series of films.

The movie begins with Adrien Brody in free fall towards the ground. An advanced alien parachute opens just in time for him to land on the ground safely. He soon discovers he is not the only human trying to find his bearings in this unfamiliar territory. He crosses paths with other humans who seem to have one standout similarity like himself; they are hardened killers. Alice Braga plays the lone female among the group as a skilled shooter with her sniper rifle and Topher Grace plays his usual neurotic self. The movie picks up steam as the group realizes that the unknown terrain masks the presence of vicious hunters who see them as the prey.

The tension was established when the movie began. Brody dropping into an environment with no knowledge of what is going on or his location causes the audience to identify with his character off the bat and want to discover the answer to these questions with him. Knowing what is lurking in the jungle evokes anxiousness to viewers because the characters do not know what they are in for, but we do. As the movie progresses, the tension continues to rise as the group discovers why they are there and how much stronger and more advanced the Predators are.

All the characters in this movie seemed to bring something to the table, but some much less than others. Each character was given at least some screen time helping to create more tension when the audience senses danger for the group members they like or identify with. The humans discover defeating the enemy might be impossible making their effort to ward off these Predators that much more interesting.

That solid writing is partnered with some good action. The combat between the humans and Predators created a powerful sense of pride each of these sides had to defeat the other. I loved to see the "predator" mentality from each camp as the two tried to hunt each other down. The Predators put their malevolence on display as they gruesomely executed their victims.

One thing I did not particularly enjoy was the quick peaks into the point of view of the Predators. The story starts off from the human perspective and stays that way mostly throughout. Then deep into the movie the audience is thrust into the mind of the Predator. We are forced to try and interpret this perspective which seems little more than a peak into the Predators acute visionary tactics. What is the point here? We already know they are more advanced than humans, why change the point of view in the story? Though this element is used in the original, I thought it felt displaced here.

Overall, Predators had an old school feeling wrapped in a new package. The story, though very basic, had very strong characteristics of a well drawn out narrative. The tension especially was always being escalated by the actors, the situations, the setting, or most importantly the score. This movie was hurt drastically by two plot twists that came across as misses in my book. They hurt the simplicity of the narrative and personally I thought they were the worst parts of the movie.

This movie is worth the price of admission if you were a fan of the other Predator films or enjoy a decent action flick. Predators fared decently at the theaters this weekend taking in $25 million, but if you want to see the best movie over the weekend that would be the box office champion Despicable Me.

*

SO FAR, THE WORST OF 2010: KNIGHT AND DAY REVIEW

2010-07-09T14:07:00.000-07:00

KNIGHT AND DAY (D+)

This is a movie that I did not anticipate to be one of the better movies of the year, or even one that I would really enjoy. The previews alone left me skeptical. The aging stars Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz coupled with a ridiculous looking story gave me little reason to believe this movie could be high quality. Before walking in I was all for giving this movie a chance. It had received luke warm reviews meaning I could go either way from enjoying to hating Knight and Day. Walking out, it is laughable what this movie tried to pull on audiences. This movie, was not good.

Knight and Day begins at the airport as Cruise and Diaz have two chance meetings en route to their flights. It turns out they are on the same flight, and aboard the audience discovers it is filled with dangerous people trying to take Mr. Scientology down. He foils their attempts to kill him by taking them out with his "ninja" skills. With Diaz now being a witness to what happened, Cruise is decides he needs to protect her too. The movie from there on is a "night and day" of scenes going in this direction and that, never going out of the way to give the audience a strong grasp of what is going on.

The details to why bad men are chasing Cruise is anti-climatically explained with a drawling and boring monologue from Mr. Scientology himself. This is known as uncreative storytelling when writers tell us what to know instead of showing us. With all the names thrown around in the speech it is difficult to be fully on pace until the characters names are cemented in your head, which at that point they are not. Much of the storytelling in this movie is sub-par just like this, and that is why this movie bombed so much in my book. The characters get some elaboration as the movie progresses, but at that point the audience is dulled by the constant mindless action.

The second huge flaw in this movie is the over the top, mindless, non-stop action. There were actually points during the action sequences when my friend Dan and I were laughing almost hysterically at the ridiculous-ness taking place on screen. Tom Cruise surfs on a speeding car roof while chasing down Cameron Diaz who is steering a separate speeding car over 100 miles per hour from the back seat. Really?! Really. This movie is set in reality by the way. The writers never say, "Hey, suspend your disbelief. This is a movie, and we are about to bring some unrealistic to the table."

Another example is Cruise and Diaz being surrounded by an elite team of guerrilla soldiers who strangely cannot land a bullet in Diaz as she runs around like a chicken minus a head or Cruise as he pops out from cover and mows down several soldiers in higher fortified positions. My favorite piece of stupidity has to be the motorcycle chase late in the film. Just when you didn't think this movie could get anymore ridiculous, the two have to avoid the running of the bulls and their pursuers through the city streets (see the first picture). Seriously?! Seriously. That really happens in this movie. The timing is so perfectly manufactured that they actually have to evade a pack of bulls and the people running in this ridiculous event.

Overall, Knight and Day was the worst movie I have seen this year. While I have not seen the similar but much worse rated Killers, starring Ashton Kutcher and Katherine Heigl, I am sure this movie rivals Killers in terrible-ness. The action sequences in Knight and Day are so over the top and constant that I could never set myself into a state of enjoyment. My shaking head wouldn't stop as the overbearing, never ceasing action sequences kept piling up.

Instead of spending time trying to make sense of the story, the writers spent their time concocting wasteful unrealistic action sequences that are close to entertaining, but far from captivating. I actually ran into people who enjoyed this movie, but that is because they like Tom Cruise (and they are morons). If you do disregard my warning and check out Knight and Day, turn off your brain; that is the only way to make sense of it all.

*

WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT: THE LAST AIRBENDER

2010-07-05T19:09:00.000-07:00

THE LAST AIRBENDER (C-)

First off, I did not go and see this movie in 3D. It was converted to the third dimension by the controversial and horrid looking post production process and I was not about to give three more dollars to a movie studio. I will not support this price gouging via the post production conversion that lacks the quality of films shot in 3D, but cost the same. I was looking forward to this movie because it had potential to be a good film with a intriguing story set in a wonderfully creative world. Unfortunately, it was not a good movie and probably marks the end of M. Night Shyamalan's big budget movie career.

Personally, I blame Paramount Pictures for funding this project and green-lighting this script. How they read the screenplay and thought it was worthy of production baffles me. Of course, the script was written by Shyamalan himself who has plagued his own movies by doing just that. He is not a great writer. His inability to get help composing scripts almost destroys his movies before they begin. What I do not understand is how a studio that reads thousands of scripts a year could read The Last Airbender and not see the many flaws ingrained in the pages. The story had decent flow, but the characters were all flat and much of the dialogue was funnier that a Nick Swardson stand up bit (not good mind you).

One thing that particularly bothered me was the story being told from the point of view of a girl named Katara. I have never seen the cartoon series, but I am informed this is the perspective in which the original cartoon is told. For a movie, especially this movie, it did not work one bit. I think the narrative needs to be told from Aang's point of view so the audience knows whose story is being told. This is the tale of The Last Airbender, the title of the damn movie, and yet he isn't even the main character? It isn't like Shyamalan is a purist either as I am told the pronunciation of Aang in the movie is different from the cartoon. Aang needs to be the focal point of the narrative but this is sidetracked by the one dimensional supporting characters.

On top of the piss pour script, the acting was absolutely atrocious; even worse than the work from the cast in the Twilight Saga. I had such difficultly fully paying attention because I was shaking my head and even laughing at how bad the acting was. Bottom line, the casting director should be tarred, feathered, and never allowed to work in the business again. The project essentially cast unknown actors to play many of the main roles, but for some reason actors with almost no talent were chosen.

Again, I will reiterate my lack of understanding for how the production team could watch casting calls or screen tests and hire the actors who played Aang, Katara, Sokka, Princess Yue, and Prince Zuko. All these main roles were bombed by the actors which caused me pain to watch as opposed to the feeling of being lost in a fictional world created by the filmmakers. Zuko is played by Dev Patel, another mistake from the casting crew as Patel does not fit the bill as a slighted Fire Nation Prince who also possess elite martial arts skills. This role requires someone who looks threatening, not the happy go lucky dork from Slumdog Millionaire.

The only quality execution of their roles comes from the elders in the cast. Shaun Toub, Aasif Mandvi, and Cliff Curtis all do well in their supporting roles. The boy cast to play Aang is an unknown actor named Noah Ringer who won the part in an open casting call. So essentially, he displayed his "acting talent" in front of the filmmakers and won the role. How this can be, it truly is baffling. My guess is bribery was a part of the equation. He has to be towards the top of my list as worst actors I have ever seen. WORST. How he was chosen for this role, I will never fully understand. One thing is for sure, his career will be very very short.

The one thing that blew me away from The Last Airbender was the fight scenes and the visuals. The way the benders controlled the elements was some of the coolest on-screen visuals I have ever seen. I not only love the concept of someone being able to control the elements in this manner, but the way it was executed was also top notch. The methodical movements used to unlock the power of the environment looked awesome and seemed to fit with what the benders were manipulating the elements to do.

Watching Aang dissect through the enemy defenses was something to marvel at. While I was blown away by the execution of this facet of the movie, it suffered greatly from the PG rating. This movie definitely needed some hardcore violence; but the movie was geared for wider audiences. Yeah, I know, the source material is a children's program on Nickelodeon. All I am saying is with some actual violence, this movie would have been much better. Heck, minus Shyamalan this movie would have soared!

Overall, The Last Airbender had so much potential to succeed but does not possess the necessary essential elements to make it good. Bad writing and directing from the now Hollywood joke Shyamalan, some of the worst acting from most of the main characters, and a lack of feeling for what is really important all hurt this project. AangShyamalan wrote the script so he missed all those angles. Strangely enough, I would watch this movie again just to see the amazing visuals and exciting fight scenes; even though it entails having to cringe through the duration of the movie to do so. I cannot believe I am saying this, but Eclipse is actually a better movie than The Last Airbender.

If you like action movies, you will appreciate pieces of this project. The movie is not as bad as the reviews will lead you to believe, but Shyamalan proves once again his ineptitude as a filmmaker. Don't even think about wasting money on 3D.

*

MORE OF THE SAME: ECLIPSE REVIEW

2010-07-05T16:08:00.001-07:00

TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE (C+)

For the second straight Twilight film I have attended the midnight screening of the movie. I am not a Twilight fan or a reader of the books, so my knowledge on the subject is quite minimal. I do however, enjoy the midnight showings because it helps me gauge the audience's (experts obviously) reaction to the rushed movies this franchise pushes out. Eclipse marks the third movie in three years, and a rushed feeling can be sensed from the low overall quality these movies seem to reek of. While the cinematic versions are not near the caliber of the books I have heard (a very good thing by my account), this movie was the best of the three. Even with that considered, it still is not good quality cinema.

I do not find it necessary to jump into plot details because either you want to see this movie and already know what is going on, or you don't care and just want someone to tell you Eclipse is just another chapter to the sappy love story. For the most part, the narrative is again dominated by the love triangle. Either way, talking about the plot is a miss here. You are going to see it, or you aren't.

Eclipse was a difficult film for me to judge. I don't have a team (though I am sure if I had to choose, it would be Team Jacob), I do not adore any of these characters, and I have no strong sense of what is going on in the series from my lack of book knowledge. My perception is completely movie based, and that does not give me a real good chance to offer insight into a series I do not fully understand. The trio of movies have been rushed to capitalize and maximize profit from the three pretty faces (Pattinson, Lautner, Stewart) with the short attention span that is the American public. Think we would forget this series if Summit Entertainment spent some quality time developing this story and script to really work? I guarantee that answer is no. Most aren't that dumb.

I, of course am a huge Harry Potter fan and have read each book multiple times. The Potter movies, while always a slight disappointment to me because of my devotion to the books, actually stand alone from the literature as some pretty damn good movies. Some are better than others, but all have been crafted with more than a sense of "let's get these movies finished!" I grieve for fans of the Twilight series because the filmmakers want nothing more than to please the studio heads and quickly complete one project after another.

The first thing presented in Eclipse is a look into the world of the evil side of vampires. The dark scene features a young man being attacked at such a high speed we cannot catch a glimpse of the attacker. This scene is so poorly defined, especially for someone without Twilight knowledge, I thought, "Who is that guy, and what is going on here?" I wasn't scared or sympathetic towards this man being assaulted because I don't know who he is, or what is lurking in the darkness.

The opening scene is dialogue free, and devoid of purpose until much later we are presented with "people are disappearing all over the area." The threat again comes from a menacing vampire Victoria (Bryce Dallas Howard) who wants to kill Bella. The danger for Bella is presented, but never stressed or really felt by myself. The mission of destruction from Victoria is never reiterated or made pertinent in the story except with that misplaced opening scene, and others like it. Her presence is shown later in the story, but she is mostly behind the scenes throughout the movie. Her threat is looming, but it is often forgotten when the love portions dig in (pretty much the whole movie).

The acting in Eclipse was once again horrible by most respects, but not as bad as the previous two films (not saying much). The only actor I have really thought nailed his role in the series was Peter Facinelli who plays Dr. Carlisle Cullen, a very small (but important) role. Did you all know he plays the jock Mike in Can't Hardly Wait? It has been awhile since those days in 1998. The best actor in Eclipse, Anna Kendrick, was unfortunately shown for less than two minutes the whole film.

Even the performance from Dakota Fanning was laughable as she played Jane, a member of the threatening vampire hierarchy Volturi. Much worse than that was the tool standing next to her, Cameron Bright (Ultraviolet, X-Men 3), flatly delivering lines and destroying any credibility or fear created by these vampire elites. The Twilight casting director had to of seen the two movies I just mentioned above that Bright is absolutely a joke in. He is definitely one of the worst child actors I have ever seen, and here he is, failing more.

On top the rant above, the acting from the big three (not the Celtics trio) was just as bad as usual. Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson have officially type cast themselves for the rest of their careers as the characters Bella and Edward. Neither has any real acting chops anyway, but they will never be able to break out of the molds this series has given them. For the third straight movie, the connection or even chemistry between Bella and Edward is just not there. I don't feel the infatuation, the lust, or the desire between this couple. I can hear the sappy dialogue and can see these two try to act it out, but the feeling is just not there. If anything, I can feel more connection between Stewart and Taylor Lautner. (I still think Bella will chose Jacob in the end...fingers crossed!)

For the second consecutive movie, Lautner takes the cake for worst acting performance in the movie, and possibly the year. (Wait, have you seen The Last Airbender? The boy who plays Aang, now that kid is terrible!) It is hard for me to buy into a character driven story like Eclipse when I don't feel the characters meshing or sense the narrative is carried by the actors portraying these characters. Ok, I lied; the narrative is being driven by these three main actors, but think the old lady barely looking over the steering wheel traveling fifteen miles under the speed limit sort of drive.

Overall, this movie, like New Moon, had so much potential to be a success but suffers from the necessity of the studio to push these films out so quickly. I really enjoy many of the ideas from the story. The vampires, the werewolves, the Volturi, the setting, and the love triangle are all such magnetic concepts for audience to buy into. That is why the books have had so much success. I think the greatest asset to this franchise is the love a werewolf and a vampire share for a human, and their fight to win her heart. This asset is constantly presented, but still has not found its way into my emotions. The poor and speedy execution of these ideas by the filmmakers is what makes these movies mediocre.

The actors are given a chance to act, but the audience is made to guess what characters are thinking when shown unsatisfying close ups of forced expressions from the mostly talentless cast. Essentially, this movie is dragged down by the speed at which it was produced coupled with the lack of skill flowing from the production team (did I mention the bad acting?). Just like New Moon, the best part of Eclipse was the soundtrack (not good). I would say this was my favorite movie from the series, but is not much better than New Moon. These movies never deliver like I am sure the books do. Sadly, I have to say that this movie is actually better than The Last Airbender. (WTF!?) Even if you aren't a Twi-nerd, I could see a movie fan enjoying Eclipse.

*

PETER PARKER CAST FOR SPIDER-MAN REBOOT

2010-07-02T13:17:00.000-07:00

The word is now official. The second big screen Peter Parker has now been cast. Tobey Maguire, you are no longer the only nerdy web slinger. Colombia Pictures and Marvel Studios have finally made their decision on who will helm their rebooted franchise to be directed by Marc Webb (seen left). Most of you are looking for a name like Anton Yelchin, Aaron Johnson, Josh Hutcherson, or Jamie Bell to be chosen as the new Parker. In a surprise decision, the studio heads and Webb have chosen a little known British actor named Andrew Garfield. His best known work is alongside Heath Ledger in The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus, but also stars in David Fincher's upcoming The Social Network.

Though Garfield is relatively unknown, his work on other projects is highly regarded by movie connoisseurs. From what I remember about The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus, Garfield played his role very well. I remember being able to empathize with his character as he anxiously watches Heath Ledger's smooth talking persona catch the interest of the woman he loves. I personally think this casting decision could be a very good choice if Garfield envelopes himself in the role of the masked adolescent. Audiences have not seen him on screen very much, and will not associate his face with anything else but the role of the young webslinger.

While every person attached to the project is going to be saying great things about Garfield, I think director Marc Webb's comments are more than just forced enthusiasm.

“Though his name may be new to many, those who know this young actor’s work understand his extraordinary talents. He has a rare combination of intelligence, wit, and humanity. Mark my words, you will love Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker.”

My only concern comes from Garfield's age, which is 26. This Spider-Man film is of course a reboot, which is said to have Parker back in his high school days. Don't get me wrong, Garfield looks like a young 26 year-old, but a high school student? That is a stretch. The reboot is of course being presented in 3D, will be directed by Webb, and was written by James Vanderbilt (Zodiac, Basic). The film still has no official title, but now has its title character. Andrew Garfield... here is your chance. Don't let the web-heads down, otherwise we will never forgive you for it. The new franchise reboot will hit theaters July 3rd, 2012.

*

DEATHLY HALLOWS IS APPROACHING

2010-06-28T23:51:00.000-07:00

A new Harry Potter: Deathly Hallows trailer will be attached to Twilight Saga:Eclipse previews which hits theaters on Wednesday, but Potter fans are privileged to check the trailer out today online. Earlier in the day, Slashfilm had a layout of new stills from this trailer which I was going to create a post for, but decided to wait until 6 p.m. when the trailer itself was released which you can view after the jump to the full article.

The trailer shows more content than the teaser that debuted at the MTV Movie Awards of course, but I didn't think this trailer did as much to jack me up like the teaser did (a goose bump feeling). This trailer begins with menacing fashion but then is just a mess of images from all over the story bringing no justice to the plot or the huge task Harry is faced with. Not that most Potter fans don't know what is going on, but cut after cut after cut from scenes here and there is more disjointing than interesting. Don't get me wrong, I like to see many of these different elements from the story, but this is not a very good trailer in my opinion.

One particularly disconcerting piece from this trailer is the ending duel between Harry and Voldemort seen above. Why I do not like this stems from the book featuring this tension filled moment playing out in front of all the Potter supporters. This part is the perfect climax to not only the seventh book, but the entire series. Harry boldly instructs none of the bystanders to interfere with his duel against Voldemort, and then proceeds to show the dark wizard the error in his actions and magical understanding. Look above, there are no people but fallen warriors seen surrounding the two. I am not one to want the book and movie to be the same, but that is a crucial element to the scene in the book and writing it differently just seems ignorant. When seeing the final cut it could be different, I am not sure. Hopefully, this type of writing is not a theme of the seventh and eight movies.

Another head scratch-er comes from a short shot of Hermione without blood on her hands. This is strange because an initially released image shows her raised hands covered in blood as she casts protective enchantments over Harry tending to Ron's bloody injury. The first image looks real, gritty, and almost reflects the emotion of the moment better than the digitally remastered second one. Even with the blood possibly not subtracted from the final cut, the perfected image is not as good as the original.

This trailer shows audiences many images from the excess of jaw-dropping scenes constructed by J.K. Rowling in her final book to play out in the next two movies; but the trailer itself is far from great. It does just enough to grab Potter fans' attention until more trailers drop as the November release approaches. Plus, as the end of the trailer dutifully pronounces...its IN 3D!! (sigh)

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TWO NEW AIRBENDER CLIPS TO INCREASE ANTICIPATION

2010-06-28T16:15:00.000-07:00

With the release of The Last Airbender just days away now, the $130 million marketing campaign is obviously in full force. If any readers have been watching the World Cup, The Last Airbender name is plastered all over the screen during commercial breaks, post game coverage, and "Air Bending Goals of the Day, presented by The Last Airbender."

Without being able to escape the grasp of this huge blockbuster's marketing, people across the country like myself are made to wonder if the overall quality of the movie will match its amazing visuals. This film is led by the on and off M. Night Shyamalan, who has been off quite a bit lately (The Happening, The Village, Lady in the Water). Considering Shyamalan's history, he can either help a movie kill at the box office or kill a movie entirely... especially with the endings.

One thing Shyamalan does not have a whole lot of experience with is shooting large scale action sequences like the ones seen in the Airbender previews. On that thought, I think Shyamalan has proven he has the potential to succeed with this project as the slow motion epic looking fight scenes continue to flood our television sets. Two new clips were released from Paramount to stimulate anticipation for the release in three days which is trying to compete with the average but always banking Twilight series. The first shows the main character Aang fighting with some of the coolest, almost dreamlike domination moves over the Fire Nation minions. The second shows a battle between Zuko and Katara.

The Mash has been all over this movie as Barrett was able to sit down with some of the film's stars last week. If you have not checked out the interview, check it here. The release is only days away now, and it comes out of course in 3D!!! (but also in 2D as the previews subtly tell us)

Aang battles the Fire Nation

Zuko vs. Katara

*

A BELATED ARTICLE: IRON MAN 2 REVIEW

2010-06-26T00:56:00.000-07:00

IRON MAN 2 (A-)

It is funny to think that the picture I had as the banner for months on my site and one of my most anticipated movies of the summer took me this long to finally get around to writing a review for the movie. I got behind, and then I figured most had already seen this movie. My take wasn't as important anymore with so many seeing it, so I moved past it with reviews for other films audiences had not seen. Yeah, yeah, and I am lazy.

I have actually seen Iron Man 2 twice now and I think the second viewing was just as good as the first. For the first Iron Man movie, I think it gets better each time I watch it. The conclusion? Iron Man is better than Iron Man 2. I am not saying that to knock on the quality of Iron Man 2, it is just me saying how difficult it would be to top something as great as the first. Easiest way to put it, if you liked the first, you will truly enjoy like the sequel.

Real quick, here is an overview of the movie. Robert Downey Jr. = Tony Stark/Iron Man. Mickey Rourke = Ivan Vanko (he doesn't like Stark, wants to fight). Don Cheadle = new black guy replacing Terrance Howard. Scarlett Johansson = hot...errr, I mean the secret agent Black Widow. Vanko now possess Iron Man capabilities = conflict.

I have heard this movie put into comparison with Spider-Man 3, which is a complete joke. The critique has been that Iron Man 2 has too many characters all competing for screen time like the a fore mentioned super hero disaster. This is something I do not agree with one bit. Each character featured in Iron Man 2 played a purpose to the narrative overall and contributed something to the audience's viewing experience. Unlike Spider-Man 3 which uses so much time developing two different and very important villains, Iron Man 2 only spends time really developing Vanko. Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell), the other bad guy, plays off both Vanko and Stark, leaving less necessity to try and develop his character. He is summed up easily with his actions> He has a lust for power and to take the industry hierarchy from Stark.

Downey Jr. absolutely killed again in the role as Stark. The foils of being a super hero are superbly displayed by the repercussions wearing the Iron Man suit has on Stark's body. The first film seemed to display the joy of being the world's newest defense mechanism and how fun being a superhero could be. This film gets deeper into the Stark character, and shows how life is not always peachy for the young genius. Another humanizing factor in the story is how Stark is unable to express his true emotions for his long time assistant Pepper Pots. This shows that even with everything a man can possess, you can never have it all.

All the other performances by the cast were well done and seemed to pick up the pace where the first movie left off. While some new faces were featured, it felt like Favreau and Co. did not miss a beat between the two films. Each actor in this project delivered on the well written characters concocted in the script. The addition of Scarlett Johansson added a little bit a spice to the mix. She not only added sexual tension, but the force of her character being a trained killer as she worked as a double agent for S.H.I.E.L.D. drew the audience in, wanting to learn more about this shrouded persona.

Overall, Iron Man 2 is something I would recommend to anyone who enjoyed the first go around. While comparatively it is not as perfect as the first, it is definitely a good follow up. The action coupled with solid story arcs of characters you actually care about makes this movie a must see. Did I mention the funny and witty dialogue? Watching Tony Stark go off on an intelligent dry humored rant highlights this movie often. Even though most of you saw it months ago, a first or even a second viewing is nothing short of necessity.

*

NEW TRAILERS

2010-06-25T14:30:00.000-07:00

In this edition of the Trailer Trash MASH, we have two very different movies. One is the third installment of the comedy franchise Meet the Parents, the other is a shoot'em up style movie following retired CIA agents called Red.

First up we have Little Fockers, the sequel to Meet the Fockers. Some of the most quotable one liners come from Meet the Parents (I have nipples Greg, could you milk me?), and I hope Little Fockers has more of the same. The movie has all the main cast from the first two movies returning, and a few more faces to fill out new roles. Joining the crew are Jessica Alba, Laura Dern, and Harvey Keitel.

While Meet the Parents is one of my favorite comedies, I did not think Meet the Fockers was anywhere near the quality of the first. The franchise went from greatness to just above mediocrity in my book. Granted I enjoyed Meet the Fockers, but it was no where near the comedic juggernaut of the first. With that considered, will this sequel be more of the first, or the second? I hope the former.

The trailer has the same situational comedy that pins Gaylord (Stiller) against the wall as he tries to impress Jack (DeNiro) and navigate his way through family gatherings. The dynamite cast is another thing that gives this film value, especially all the returning cast members reprising their roles. Enough talk, check out the trailer below. Little Fockers hits the big screen December 22, 2010.

Like Little Fockers, this film too boasts a cast full of big name stars. Just hearing all the Hollywood heads involved in this project is enough to spark a movie buff's interest. Red features Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich, Karl Urban, Richard Dreyfus, and the star of one of my favorite shows Weeds, Mary Louise-Parker. I know right?!

The plot follows the ex-CIA agents as they try and phase into retirement. They soon discover they are not about to be left alone by their old employer and have to band together to survive against the government agency. The movie looks to contain a lot of action, and this many big names involved says that the script has to be above average. Especially considering Helen Mirren is in the film (see the picture above). She is not an action flick type of actress, so she must have saw something in the script besides great action sequences to get her to jump on board. Check out the trailer for Red which drops October 15, 2010.

*

ESTADIOS UNIDOS!

2010-06-25T12:01:00.000-07:00

The United States Soccer Program and its fans experienced jubilation on Wednesday across this great land. Just minutes away from not advancing past the group stage, Landon Donovan instilled hope in the faithful around the world by striking a gimmie goal into the back of the waiting net. With the victory, the US won Group C and advanced to the quarterfinals.

For some reason, the US players could not execute their chances on Wednesday to take the lead from the feisty nation Algeria, except for the one opportunity early in the game Dempsey put home. But wait, yet another bad call by an official in this 2010 competition. Not a phantom call this time pulling away a goal, but an offsides call. The two bad calls were similar in nature that they were both incorrect and both took away an earned goal from the US side.

After seeing the bad call to induce hair pulling and all the failed opportunities, I was beginning to swallow the difficult fate that this year was going to be plagued with more heartbreak to keep our side from advancing to the elimination rounds. The game grew older and closer to the end, and my hopes began fade as we missed more chances. My anger with the bad calls heightened as the game entered stoppage time. I thought maliciously, "Without that blown call against Slovenia we would have beat them! Then this game wouldn't matter if we tied! And the blown call in this game?! I can't believe I HAVE TO WAIT FOUR MORE YEARS! We deserve to move on!!"

Then Algeria had a great chance to score which caused me to cringe as they almost ended my last reserve of hope. SAVE by Tim Howard. He quickly advances the ball to Donovan with a perfect throw to start the counter attack. Donovan speeds through the Algeria lines and pass off to Altidore who centers it to Dempsey, but the Algerian keeper is all over it... but cannot control the rebound. Donovan, like all smart players knows to crash the net. GOOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLL!!! He is in the perfect place to pound the rebound into the twine and send the United States onward. How fitting to have the face of American soccer come through in such a big situation.

Now the United States will have a coveted rematch vs. a talented Ghana squad. If you remember, back in 2006 Ghana was the nail in the coffin for the United States hopes for advancing. A debatable foul gave Ghana a penalty kick to defeat the USA last time, but in 2010 I believe the USA squad has faced all the bad calls possible. The United States is playing some of their best futbol right now, and I expect them to take down Ghana and move onto the next round.

The video below is the reaction to the 91st minute goal against Algeria, which directly correlates with my emotions at the time. Still think futbol is dead in America?

*

PIXAR STRIKES GOLD... AGAIN: TOY STORY 3 REVIEW

2010-06-23T20:31:00.000-07:00

TOY STORY 3 (A)

Well, it is safe to say that the third installment profiling the very interesting lives of toys is the best movie I have seen halfway through the year of 2010. Last week, The Karate Kid held that title. But only a week later, Toy Story 3 takes hold of that top spot with yet another successful tale about the lives of Buzz and Woody.

With this huge success ($110 million opening weekend - 98% approval on RottenTomatoes), Pixar again proves that everything it touches turns to gold. Toy Story 3 marks the 11th straight hit for the computer animation company making it more and more difficult to choose a favorite amongst the gems this creative team has produced. I am stuck choosing between Finding Nemo, Monsters Inc., Wall-E, or any Toy Story movie. With those things considered, know that Toy Story 3, like all other Pixar products, is an upper deck home run.

This time around the toys in Andy's room are growing weary because of the neglect from their grown up seventeen year-old owner about to move away to college. Andy has to make the decision whether to store his toys in the attic or donate them to the Sunnyside Daycare Center. The toys end up finding a new home with the eager children at the daycare, but that does not stop Woody from trying to convince his friends to return back to Andy before he ventures off to college. Most the toys are happy to finally be played with again by children, but soon realize the play they are receiving is brutal when it comes from the hands of a toddler.

Even though many of us have grown up knowing these characters, Pixar somehow creates even more attachment to these deep and wonderful personas in Toy Story 3. The characters' friendship grows even more as they all band together as a family trying to survive life post-Andy. By the end of this movie, when Woody/Buzz & Co. are backed against the wall, I was choked up with emotion as their fate unraveled (even more than usual too). Pixar movies always reach deep down and tear at my heartstrings. It is because the Pixar filmmakers can personify feelings and emotion to a toy or even a garbage collecting robot. Toy Story 3 was loaded with emotion towards the characters which is why I think it has been such a raging success.

Throughout the story was an assortment of comedy coming from all angles. Who would have thought toys could be so funny? Of course the other movies also had the comedic relief in them, but Toy Story 3 had some of the funnier moments I can remember in the series. The introduction of the character Ken, Barbie's other half, brought some of the funniest pieces from the film. A game of toy roulette comes to mind and made me smile at the creativity of the Pixar people. And of course, who can not laugh at the one liners coming from Hamm, Mr. Potato Head, and Rex.

The best thing about this movie is the jail break scenario to escape the daycare facility. The filmmakers weaved classic story telling throughout, but this escape was the bees knees (A+). The storytelling kept the audience intrigued not knowing the details of the plan but watching the masterful escape designed by Woody unfold. Another huge plus is the many references to other movies and culture, bringing pure enjoyment to viewers who can catch them all. Woody hoovering just inches off the ground like Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible is a great example of this "culture jamming."

Overall, Toy Story 3 is a perfect compliment to the other two chapters in this series. Is it possible to pick a favorite amongst the three? I dare you to try. This film is not only great for kids, but one that anyone and everyone needs to see. Of course seeing the first two is necessary, but who hasn't seen the first two? Toy Story 3 is not only one of the best movies of the summer so far, but will go on to be one of the best of the year. I will put money on it competing for a golden statue come Oscar time. If you have been holding off on seeing this movie, take my official guarantee that it will bring you nothing but enjoyment. If my approval isn't enough, how about the other 172 critics calling this movie top notch?

If you don't like this movie, I wonder if you own a soul? Find the next showtime, and GO see Toy Story 3 now!

*

SURPRISE, SURPRISE: JONAH HEX REVIEW

2010-06-21T22:42:00.000-07:00

JONAH HEX (B-)

This movie is one that surprised me as I expected nothing more than to dislike it when buying my ticket. I am not a huge fan of Megan Fox's typical attempts at acting, especially trying to pull off a southern accent like this role required. Even with her being a vital piece to this project, she did a suitable job with her part and helped make Jonah Hex a decent movie. Considering I walked in expecting failure because of the atrocious ratings it has received (14% approval on RottenTomatoes), I walked out appreciating the movie as a success for what it was trying to achieve. Jonah Hex is a respectable western.

Jonah Hex is a comic book novel adaption to the big screen about an outlaw who lost everything and seeks revenge against the man who took everything from him. After watching his wife and child burned alive by his mortal enemy in the story Quentin Turnbull played by John Malkovich, his life is changed forever. The murder of Hex's family is at the very beginning of the story and quantifies the new "lifeless" cowboy who murders the scum of the earth to fill the void left by his dead family. Surprisingly, Malkovich's portrayal of his character was one of the worst pieces of this movie.

The narrative itself was nothing special, but it was elemental. By that I mean that the tale played out in a predictive manner, but featured all the elements of a reasonably well told story. While Jonah Hex is the only character the script really focuses in on, Turnbull and his thugs are despicable enough to create loathing for their gang and their plan of destruction for the growing United States. Every time I had a question in mind about the story, the script seemed to provide a competent explanation for my inquiry. Not always the best reasoning mind you, but enough to create understanding.

From some of my past reviews, many of you can garner that I am usually a cynic when it comes to cliché blockbuster movies or mindless comedies. For some reason, even though this movie is almost as much a cookie cutter product as The A-Team, I thought it had at least a beating heart with some emotion where The A-Team did not. Despite most of Jonah Hex fitting the blockbuster design, it had enough originality to give it distinction amongst the other common action movies.

Overall, Jonah Hex was not anything I would go out of my way to see again, but I would check it out for a second time if the opportunity presented itself. The action is solid and fun to watch, especially some of the gun fights. The story is easy to follow and interesting enough to keep the viewer entertained til the conclusion. And most of all, Josh Brolin pulls off his part as Hex almost masterfully. If you have already seen the gems Toy Story 3 and The Karate Kid, give this western a chance. Don't see this in place of either of those movies, but as far as entertainment goes, it is definitely an enjoyable flick.

*