Trailer Premiere: GREEN LANTERN

email: guysonthecouch@gmail.com or leave your reactions and comments below.


-stuntmanBob

Trailer Review: THE NEXT THREE DAYS

This is another movie trailer that basically shows and tells you more than you really need to know, cause if they did, which...OH THEY DID; they would be giving away everything and showing you the entire movie in the trailer.

Does he become the man who can leave his kid at a gas station? UHHH yea, its in the trailer.

Does he learn where the bullets go? UHHHH yea, its in the trailer.

This movie is written and directed by Paul Haggis who literally gave birth to Chuck Norris' return; Walker Texas Ranger. Alright, aside from that, the man is a great talent in the film industry, there is no getting around that. His writing credits include Million Dollar Baby, Crash, Casino Royale, In the Valley of Elah, and Quantum of Solace. His directing credits include Crash and In the Valley of Elah. I really got into Paul Haggis with his movie Crash, but really started to pay attention when he was part of the team that brought back Bond. I feel that's really where my comparison's lay with this movie; Bond vs. The Next Three Days.

I could be wrong, but if your a film geek, I'm sure you'll appreciate the mindless rambling. Both films seem to be about men who need to step out of themselves and become something else. Haggis' Bond is a cold hearted, take no prisoners assassin before he's thrown into having to be smooth, debonair and sometimes a bit controlled. Russell Crowe is a family man who must dip into something very dark in himself to do what it is he NEEDS to do. A feat like that is pretty massive, being able to sacrifice your son? Sacrificing you son's likely hood of ever growing up with no parents at all? Not cool DAD! At the end of Casino Royale, Bond loses something very dear to him and it changes him forever. I can only hope that a loss and for that matter a sense of reality is given at the end of this film.

I'm a big Russell Crowe and Elizabeth Banks fan and from the looks of the trailer they play a convincing couple and Crowe more-so a husband who decides he's going to break his wife out of jail.

When it comes down to it on the surface the movie looks like a good actioner and caper movie. But I'm just really upset that the whole story is all in the trailer. With Haggis at the helm, hopefully it brings something different.

As always the final review will be when credits roll and lights come up.

Dueces
StuntmanBob

RIP: Dino De Laurentis

Cinema loses one of its greatest producers today, so in honor of him I present to you the trailer to the 1980 classic a FLASH GORDON! Find this movie blu ray, buy its soundtrack; completely scored by none other than QUEEN and celebrate this mans life with one of the greatest Rock Opera's in sci-fi.




Dueces!
StuntmanBob

Trailer Review: FASTER

"He's Faster!"

REALLY!!! REALY!!!????

So Dwayne Johnson (The Rock) has been on a bit of a down slope as of late. A small role in this past summers The Other Guys brought us closer to the man we all know and love; you know the one from DOOM! His most recent movies were all Disney flicks the last one being about a hockey player who is known as the "tooth fairy" because he...oh well you get it. Long story short he becomes a tooth fairy. In tights. With Wings. (sighs)

But it looks as though Dwanye Johnson is starting an uphill battle to get back to the top of being an action star. Faster looks like the first stepping stone. I'm very torn right now about how I should feel about this movie. The story is a very familiar one and yet its being treated like a Michael Bay flick. I don't get a sense of urgency cause everything about this is just very formula, so it runs the risk of being boring. I mean we've all seen revenge flicks; a good one being Kill BIll, some formula yes, but even that had its little surprises here and there. Now, there is another movie coming out called Drive Angry with Nicholas Cage that looks like the exact same movie, with some supernatural elements loped in, but everyone in the movie seems to know the kind of movie they are making and they are just chewing up the material. (More on that movie in a future post).

Between the two I choose Drive Angry. However I not afraid to admit that I have been wrong. I once wrote about the A-Team and The Losers. I cited that The Losers looked like a far better movie in terms of action and just over all camaraderie, but in the end, when those house lights went up; The A-Team was the better flick. I'm hoping lighting doesn't strike twice here and my predictions are sound.

This movie is directed by George Tillman Jr. The man behind such movies as Men of Honor, Soul Food, and Notorious. He's also produced Roll Bounce, Barbershop 1 & 2, and Nothing like the Holidays for his production company State Street Pictures. As a director I really admire Tillman's work, for one he makes movies that are revolved around African Americans. Now its not all of his movies, but I point this out because as a Latino myself, I want to make movies that have minorities in the lead roles, mostly Latino. It also seems that everything he does is always something different, so he's versatile and always allowing himself to grow as an artist. As with Faster its a step into action movies. He's got a great eye for talent, comedy and drama. Its just kind of a shame that it doesn't quite mesh all together from the trailer.

The other surprising thing about this movie is that it is rated R. I'd imagine that just by the uneven feel of this movie it would be a PG-13 but I'd guess that it was Tillman Jr. who was all for sticking to a story that was true to its violent roots. Gotta give him props on that one. The R rating is one of the small highlights for me, for this movie.

Overall as an actor I like watching Dwanye Johnson, in a way he's like, but not up there with, Bruce Willis as being this very likeable, everyday man who is put into extraordinary situations. We like to watch him and see how he would handle a situation cause in a sense we'd do maybe the same thing? Aside from the uneven-ness, this movie definitely looks like it will deliver some pretty good action. I mean we've all seen revenge flicks and so seeing THE ROCK! walk into an office and just blow a guys head off is very promising. By this I mean that, we hopefully won't be treated to "please don't" speeches like the one that pastor gives towards the end of the trailer. Johnson is on a mission to kill 'em all and I'm glad at least that we are getting just that.

Also this is also means good things for its running time. I'm hoping for a short hour and half flick, which means that this movie will not overstay its welcome. My final review is always when the credits roll and the house lights go up.


FASTER walks into the theaters and attempts to blow your head off on November 24, 2010

Dueces!
StuntmanBob

TRAILER REVIEW: The Guardian's: The Owls of Ga'Hoole

The man behind the Dawn of the Dead remake, 300 and Watchmen is now heading for the skies in this new animated adventure that deals with owls. Everytime I see this trailer is makes me think of The Goonies. Now I'm not saying that it looks better than the Goonies; only that the sense of adventure and discovery that's in The Goonies, is in some ways, recreated in this trailer.

That being said...

Lately more and more fantasy type novels and stories are being adapted. The Harry Potter movie series is finishing up its run and studios I'm sure are clamoring for the next big thing! So far its been failure's all around; Percy Jackson and the Olympians and The Last Airbender.

I don't understand how the Harry Potter movie series, which is also based on a kids/young adult book if you've been living under a rock, can go on for two hours theatrically and have you hooked for the entire time and then you have two really great series' in your possession that have Harry Potter and even Star Wars like capabilities and you just short change the story completely!

I actually read a few of the books to Percy Jackson and was really looking forward to seeing the movie cause it brought the Gods into our generation in a new and exciting way. The book was filled with such history about all of the main characters interactions with the Gods and all we got was a cliff notes version of it. I saw The Last Airbender television series after seeing the movie and was immediately saddened that so much of the story was sacrificed to get to an ending that didn't mean anything, when it should. I know not every fantasy type novel or television cartoon has a history as rich as Harry Potter, but these two properties did, and more.

Here's hoping that Guardian's changes some of those things. The trailer opens with the legend of the Guardian's and their place in owls history. Being also based off a children's book, the trailer then shifts and has our young owl heroes out to find these legendary Guardian's, for help. For one, I really hope there is more of a history to these creatures than the voice over in the trailer.

Next we get this really horrific, inspirational, "you can make it to the finish line music", that I think completely shoots the trailer in its foot. The movie is directed by Zack Snyder which you would never known cause for some 'effed up reason his name isn't anywhere in the trailer. Even though Snyder is known for his very hard "R" movies, I think that this movie could benefit from his name being up there in bright lights. But then again, I could understand if the studios are like "we don't wanna give off that this movie is gonna have buckets of blood and action...sooo...take his name off"; fuckers. Aside from my Goonies nostalgia, I really feel or at least hope that Synder has crafted a much more serious and reality based movie than the trailer is showing off. What I mean by reality based is that while all the pretty lights and slow-mo is a Snyder trademark and exciting, I hope that real threats and consequences fall upon our heroes and their Champions.

This movie is also getting an IMAX release as well as a 3D release and the only reason I'm happy for that is because it will be getting Resident Evil: Afterlife out of there. THANK GOD! But I'm not sure yet if I will see it in either format yet. Perhaps the 3D, but IMAX is a little pushing it.

As always my final review will be when the credits roll and house lights go up!

Dueces!
StuntmanBob

Trailer Review: DEVIL

M. Night Shyamalan is back this time as an executive producer and "idea giver" in the new thriller/horror movie, DEVIL. This is the first installment under Shyamalan's self-titled "The Night Chronicles" series. The movie is directed by The Brothers Dowdle, whose most recent credit is the movie Quarantine. I know my fellow film geeks, as a whole, have a wonderful time comparing Shyamalan to George Lucas, but I really think he's super-ceded with this move. I'm sorry sir, I may be one of the few people who liked Lady in the Water, but I think you should concentrate more time on writing and directing, like you actually care about the people who sit down and pay to see your films. Not go throwing around the word Chronicle, every time you come up with an idea and just so happen to have two more that follow.

Its okay Chronicle, I promise to lead a campaign that will save you from having to be fucked by M. Nights title card on screen.

So the trailer opens up with these really striking images of what looks to be the New York City skyline upside down with taglines going across it. If you read my Catfish review you know how I feel about taglines, so we won't go there. It makes it seem like everything that's happening, the interactions and those who get in the elevator is all by chance. But the trailer still has to remind me that "everything happens for a reason"....

...fucking taglines....

Anyway the elevator stops, people start screaming and then we are given a series of images from the movie of all the crazy scenarios that will occur. This brings me to the second highlight of the trailer which is when all these images are happening the sound is drown out and there is this low monotone sound that screeches through the rest till we are given a jump scare. Now I really believe that if Shyamalan's name wasn't all over this movie, audiences would have less of a grudge against it. Yes, it looks like another hapless horror movie thriller, with an idea, that by the end could have more done with it, but doesn't change the fact that the trailer isn't all that bad looking. Its an interesting idea, simple enough, and put in a location that suits its claustrophobic and terrorizing needs; its just the filmmaker its associated with that gives it its bum rap right from the beginning.

In summation, I'm honestly curious to see how this entire movie plays out. Less for Shyamalan, but more for the writer and directors of this movie. See Mr. "Unbreakable" is only credited with a "story by" credit. For those of you who think that "screenplay by" and "story by" are the same thing...they are not, let me clarify.

Screenplay by means that they actually wrote an entire script out.

Story by means that Shyamalan could have done anything from walk into and office and say; "Yo...5 people...Elevator...feel the tension...mmmhmmm..can you feel it? AND THEN BAM ONE OF THE IS DEVIL. Package it, sell it, knick knack, patty whack, give a dog a bone!" Or he could have wrote an outline with some plots points and another writer flushed the rest of it out.

I think the latter is what happened but its fun to wonder.

I haven't seen Quarantine and even though I've heard bad things about it, doesn't change that the movie's main plug is that a news reporter is trapped inside a building and has to get out before horrible things happen to her. The writer of this movie is Brian Nelson, who wrote the script for 30 Days of Night and Hard Candy. Both films take place in one location, but do a whole hell of a lot to make you feel as uncomfortable as possible and bring as much tension to the idea of being trapped into its small, but simple story ideas. I'm going to try and go into this flick with the thought that Shyamalan did nothing more than give creative control over to other talented writers and filmmakers and let them do what he hasn't been able to since Unbreakable; and that is make an M. Night Shyamalan movie.

As always my final review will be when the credits roll and house like come up.


Dueces!
StuntmanBob

Trailer Review: CATFISH

Before you read, just know that this review has a spoiler for the movie District 9.

"Just True"

In recent years the docu-style of filmmaking has returned with movies like Cloverfield, Paranormal Activity, District 9, and in theaters now, The Last Exorcism. Catfish is the next installment in that style of filmmaking. The trailer does a good job at establishing this hapless guy that we are following who is having an online relationship with a girl whose voice, we think we hear and pictures from her Facebook, that we hope are also her.

After the swooning and dirty text messages, his friends who are documenting this series of events, and him decide to drive up to her farm in Michigan and once they get out of the car, the trailer shifts and I'm happy and kinda annoyed at the same time.

Annoyed

"The Final Forty Minutes of this Film will take you on an emotional roller-coaster ride that you won't be able to shake for days". - Chris BumBray Joblo.com

While this quote excited me when I first saw this trailer, it soon made me begin ask; are the last forty minutes of this film all I'm really going to be waiting for? Well... Yes! I think by adding quotes like these to trailers, the advertisement is literally telling me when things will get interesting in the movie! I think it sabotages the film in that your not letting the audience go on this journey and be surprised. I just wish the trailer did something with its already uneasy images to give it that same shift in tone. Instead it lazily relies on a quote.

Take a look at the trailer for District 9. Everyone I talked to said to me that it looked like another variation of a run-of-the-mill "alien invasion" movie; i.e. Independence Day. When in fact, sitting in the theater, you were rudely awakened. Discovering that the movie was more about a man who on the day of his promotion is infected in a way that would change his life forever and question his own treatment of the aliens.

Of course punch words like; "AMAZING", "OUT OF THIS WORLD", and "POWERFUL", were thrown around, as well they should be. But no where did it say in the trailer; "Just fucking wait till you see a scene where (SPOILER WARNING) they unwrap his hand and its an alien hand!, CRAZY!"

I just think for the sake of promotion, quotes like these should be chosen more carefully.

Also, while it won't deter my enjoyment of the movie, I highly question this film's validity in being "Just True". I don't know if any of you have seen the movie The Strangers, but that film was also based on a true story. However, it was later revealed that using that tagline, and I do think its more of a tagline now, was purely for advertisement. Although events depicted in the movie unfortunately do happen. The movie was just a look into those happenings. Which I think is what is happening in Catfish.

Happy

Aside from all that I will be definitely going to see Catfish. From the trailer alone I'm hooked. Get it? YucK YucK! It starts off as one thing, then shifts gears very quickly into something that we know is just bad. I like to see movies like this where the images are not all that clear, there is grain, you see people holding the camera; I just think it gives the movie more of a sense of realism and It will help establish the situation and actions more so.

Also with David Fincher's The Social Network coming to theaters a few weeks later, this movie I hope will crack open some interesting debate about social networking sites and meeting people over the internet.

As always my final review will be when the credits roll and the house lights go up!

Dueces!
StuntmanBob

Production Photos: Resident Evil: Rigor Mortis

A few production photos from the shooting of Resident Evil: Rigor Motis at the 2010 Chicago Comic Con.

Resident Evil: RIGOR MORTIS

While at the Chicago Comic Con, Dorian and I, came upon an epidemic that has slowly sucked the life out of rabid fans everywhere around the world. Here is that epidemic.

Why I liked the Ending of THE LAST EXORCISM

DISCLAIMER: Spoiler-filled!!!!! If you plan on seeing the movie, I'd advise not to read, cause I pretty much give away everything.

So last night my sister and I went to go see The Last Exorcism. I wasn't thinking this movie was going to be anything special so I went in with an open mind to see what I could get out of it. If I had any drive to see this movie at all it was because of the article sticky'd to the front of my Yahoo homepage about people being upset at the ending of this movie. You could say, whether or not I saw it in theaters, my interest was peaked.

The movie is a horror mockumentary about a pastor in Baton Rogue, by the name of Cotton Marcus. Cotton is having problems with his faith and has for a long time since his son was born. Cotton has performed over some 50 odd exorcisms, yet, he believes that demons do not exist and that possession is all in the head. So when Cotton has gone to perform an exorcism he actual rigs the room with effects that are controlled by him to create this elaborate ruse and make it seem like its something out of the movie THE EXORCIST. He does not consider himself a fraud, but that he's still doing a service to people to make them feel better.

For being a man of God. Cotton is kind of an asshole. At one point he bets the head of the doc crew ten bucks that he can preach about anything; that even includes his mothers delicious banana nut bread. And he does so amazingly! I gotta admit, I kinda like Cotton. I like him because even though he looks like Matthew McConaughey, he seems to generally be convinced that possessions and exorcisms are bullshit and he's completely out to debunked these events. He's real and he's willing to fuck with peoples beliefs.

This leads him to Ivanwood, Louisiana, where a young girl named Nell is being terrorized. Cotton does his thing, performs a fake exorcism and collects his money and then goes on his way. This is when the real shit starts happening. Nell has always done drawings which says she dreams about, well she has a drawing of a dead cat, a man with a cross going into the fire, a cameraman with his head cut off and a woman chopped into pieces. One night as they are watching over Nell, Cotton and the film crew that is, she awakens and walks around with a camera and proceeds to beat a cat to death with it. You see where this is going?

During the course of the movie its revealed that Nell is pregnant which leads Cotton to still believe that what is happening to her is still physiological, because she lies about a boy who supposedly is the one who got her pregnant. But then turns out to be gay. The local priest from that area is brought in and lends his help with everything. While leaving the house Cotton is pulled by a sense of curiosity to find out why Nell lied. Upon his return they discover that the local priest is the head of a devil worshiping cult, Nell is on an alter and a some sort of creature is being pulled from her body and then is thrown into the fire that is crackling near them. The fire erupts into the night sky.

The doc crew urges Cotton that they should leave. Cotton hold his cross firmly and really begins to start praying for the first time in the entire movie. Did he get his faith back? He walks out with his cross held high, towards the flame. Pic #1, check. The woman and camera man run into the forrest and then the other two pictures are fulfilled. As soon as the cameraman's neck is sliced the camera falls to the ground, we get a static image of a rock and then SCENE!!!!! BLACK. OVER. CREDITS. FINITO.

Really? Your upset at this Ending? I was fucking relieved when it went black. For a movie like this that looks like every other exorcism movie out there, expect for the Paul Greengrass effect, I think it was really ballsy and a breath of fresh air to end it without knowing what happens next. It ended on a high. And in a movie like this that's the real fear; what happens next. The act of not knowing has always beem more terrifying that actually knowing.

For those of you who have seen the movie, the fire erupting is a little CGI-ish and having the movie end literally minutes from that point is a sign of not being put through another half hour where they could have possibly shown a very horrible looking CGI looking demon. I mean c'mon, you people woulda been fine with that? I know I wouldn't. Now I'm not saying that the movie is great, its a small simply film that you will most likely forget once you've had a post movie talk about it in the car with your friends. But I will say that the ending was something I wasn't really expecting and for that I appreciated what I saw a lot more than I would have, had the movie given me some sort of finite ending.


Dueces!
StuntmanBob

Machete Movie Review...Ah Fuck it, it was GREAT!

I remember my cousin Chris coming over when I was small to babysit my sister and I. Or more like watch, not babysit, cause you know I was never a baby, just a little man. More often than not he'd bring a movie over with him and one night it was Robert Rodriguez's Desperado.

I remember the guitar case full of guns. How mysterious and just badass it must be to walk around with one. The cool gun fights, the bad language and wanting to see the part where Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek just got it on like they were the last two people on the planet! I also remember not being able to see that part either. Sucked being little. But anyway from here on in, this was start of what I knew what I wanted to aspire to do with my life. Make movies.

But that's a whole other topic. We are here to talk Machete!

Machete was born in '07, out of a faux trailer, of the same name, that was part of RR and QT's Grindhouse collaboration; Planet Terror and Death Proof. And for all of you who are gushing over how great Machete is and you didn't see Grindhouse...SHAME ON YOU! You deserved to be violated in unholy places on your body by the blade of Machete.

So now three years later we are treated to a feature length film of that trailer. The movie begins in Mexico where Machete is out to save a missing girl from drug lord numero uno, Torrez, played masterfully by Steven Seagal. Torrez then makes Machete watch as he massacres his entire family and thus the bloody revenge of Machete begins. The back drop of this movie is the immigration issue that, some would say, plague this nation of ours. Machete, being a man who is solely out to get even with the people who wronged him, inadvertently becomes the face of this revolution.

Along the way we meet a dirty Senator, played by Robert De Niro, a hick border patrol guard played by Don Johnson, Jessica Alba who plays a conflicted immigration agent and Michelle Rodriguez who plays Luz a taco vendor who has connections to "She", a person who "gives the people what they want and fills their belly with something more than hate". Sound familiar?

From our trailer review both Dorian and myself were kinda worried about how the movie would eventually look and play out, given that so much of the trailer was dedicated to making it look like Joseph and the Technicolor Dream Coat threw up on itself. But I must say that all that hesitation was laid to rest. Aside from having an exploitative look at how this whole immigration thing might turn out, I was surprised to see that everyone in their roles was perfect! EVEN LINDSEY LOHAN!!!

There were a few parts that I kinda laughed at, and those were seeing Jessica Alba take up this militant leader role near the end of the film and the more I thought it about it, her delivery of it was perfect and it was meant to make us, the audience just go "OH GOD! that was corny," cause its meant to be that.

Hints of Rodriguez's Desperado were sprinkled everywhere. A scene in particular where men come to ambush Machete while he lays in bed with Alba was very reminiscent of the scene with Banderas and Hayek after their porn scene together. But these scenes work in the context of the movie, its not like they are just lazy throw in's. While Banderas was memorable in his execution of certain baddies. Alba takes the gold in a duel with a Luchador-mask wearing assassin. Much like Grindhouse, we are also treated to massive amounts of blood, gore, nudity, beheadings, and homemade weaponery (a la the weed-whack machete) to make this movie a literal crowd pleaser!

While I think Rodriguez gets the right amount of cred for his action and low budgets. No one really comments on the people he picks for his villains! Did you know to fund his first film El Mariachi, Rodriguez subjected himself to experimental drug trials for three months? For a fee of course; and the villain in El Mariachi was a guy he met during those trials? Pretty crazy right? But anyway, you have Joaquim De Almeida in Desperado, Johnny Depp and Willem Dafoe in Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Bruce Willis in Planet Terror and now Robert De Niro, Don Johnson and Mr. Steven Seagal.

Seagal is at the top of his chessy self in Machete. Calling people puneta's at the start of each conversation and hearing him call other's carnal and speak with a spanish accent was just magical to behold. I really hope Seagal shows up in other future Machete movies or just other Rodriguez/Tarantino movies cause he has definitely opened up something that I'm not ready to close yet with Machete.

I don't think I have to tell you that I enjoyed this movie. So just go fucking see it!


Dueces!
StuntmanBob

The Couch Episode 3: MACHETE

Our 3rd episode sees Bobby and Dorian heading to the Chicago Comic Con to talk about the trailer to Robert Rodriguez's MACHETE!


Enjoy
StuntmanBob

Episode Tres Production Stills: Machete Trailer

Que Onda! Fellow movie lovers. Alright so Machete is out in theaters and our trailer review as well as a full movie review is up! Here are some Production stills from the making of our Machete episode from the Chicago Comic Con

Trailer Premiere: Darren Aronofsky's BLACK SWAN

Imagery!

My first Darren Aronofsky movie was The Fountain; a movie that starred Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz. The movie spanned the course of three time periods and dealt with life, death, and a possible afterlife. While it got mixed reviews, I thought it was a beautiful piece, visually and emotionally, of how we as people deal with wanting to live forever and what we would do, if we had the power to save the ones we love from death. I'll be honest when the credits rolled the night I saw the movie, everyone was just still in their seats as they all soaked in what we had just experienced. It's something about that movie that even though I couldn't fully come to an end in my mind about it; the visuals, the music, and the emotionality of it all struck a very hard chord with me. So resonant that I simply didn't mind the ambiguity of it all. Its these kinds of movies that I appreciate because they work so well upon multiple viewings!

This prompted me to learn and experience everything I could bout Darren Aronofsky, I proceeded to head out to Circuit City, yes you heard me right, and purchase a double disc of Requiem for a Dream and π (pi). Simply Amazing! I could write separate blogs on each!

Next, Aronofsky directed The Wrestler, which starred Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei. The Wrestler is about a beat up "WWE- like" wrestler who is still trying to keep the glory days alive. But after suffering a deadly match, he must come to terms with his own mortality and attempts to right wrongs he's committed in his life. A story of redemption and trying to find your place in this world after it seems its passed you by, really tugged at my heart strings. The striking imagery and reality of the pain this man puts himself through just to feel appreciated was painful to watch. But it brought Mickey Rourke back and made that character worth my feelings. This movie really taught me the sense of character. I had already known little things could go a long way, but just to pick up this guys life after such a successful run and then watch him try and piece it back together as best he can, really gave me an idea of the human spirit.

Which brings us to Black Swan, which stars Natalie Portman as a young ballet dancer who has just been cast as the lead in a new production of Swan Lake. After though, a new ballet dancer appears in the form of Mila Kunis and potentially threatens to take Portman from the limelight. Along the way it looks like our perception will be tested as the trailer looks to take a dip into the physiological. Or does it?

Natalie Portman has starred in the most recent Star Wars Trilogy's and V for Vendetta. Vincent Cassel has been in Ocean's 12 and 13, Brotherhood of the Wolf, and his new movie out is called Mesrine, which is based on a true story about French criminal Jacques Mesrine, and Mila Kunis who has been on That 70's Show, Extract, and most recently The Book of Eli. The person who is really surprising me here is Mila Kunis. I think I was one of those naive persons who could only see her as Jackie from That 70's Show. But with her work in The Book of Eli and from what I see from Black Swan; she's definitely spreading her wings....giggle.

I really hope that this is the ONLY trailer that comes out for Black Swan cause I don't want to know anymore than what it shows; and honestly why would you want to know more?! This trailer does its duty as a teaser because it merely gives us a basis for the story then shows us random images that are some how related to that story. Mission Accomplished. The images seem to invoke a great sense of loss of identity, pressure, perfection and a serious dose of a psychological break with reality. All this with what sounds like some original Clint Mansell and I smell hit!

With all of this building up in the trailer; Desire, Perfection in an imperfect world, and the grueling nature of dance and ballet; we are given the last scene of Portman's character pulling what seems to be the beginnings of a feather, out of scar on her back, that we see randomly worsen throughout the trailer. If this, isn't enough to make you want to see what the hell is happening on December 1st, you should seriously consult a physician.

This trailer is definitely a lesson in how much you can do, with so little. This write up is proof of that. The simple story and images given provide a plethora of speculation and excitement. I for one cannot wait to see this psychological ballet thriller; just listen to how that sounds, PSYCHOLOGICAL. BALLET. THRILLER. Where do I pre-order tickets from already!?


Dueces!
StuntmanBob

UPDATES: Chicago Comic Con. The Crew. The New Logo.

We are officially one week away from our Chicago Comic Con Debut! Dorian and Myself have a lot of treats in store for all of you who check into our site regularly, so stay tuned.

CHICAGO COMIC CON:

We've just secured our very first interview with Alexandre O. Philippe, the writer/director of the documentary The People vs. George Lucas. Alexandre as well as Neil Marshall (The Descent, Doomsday, and the upcoming Centurion), Drew and John Erick Dowdle (Devil), and Stuart Levy (Van Von Hunterr) will take part in a panel called "Moviemakers meet Moviegoers". The directors will lead various discussions about their work and other topics.

Also screening at the Con on Friday August 20th in Speaker Room A is The People vs. George Lucas . The doc will screen at 8:30pm, followed by a Q and A with writer/director Alexandre O. Philippe. This is just the tip of the ice berg for events at the Con.





THE CREW:

Aside from Dorian and Myself (Bobby Navia), I wanted to let you all know who will be our crew on this adventure of ours. This would not be happening if these individuals hadn't agreed to lend a hand.

As our DP/Cameraman is: Gregory Cozzi
As our on location audio tech is: Kieran Dennis
and
As our on location photographer: Tyler Crane

Guys you'll never know how much this means to me. Thank you.


THE LOGO:

This new logo, pictured above, which will be incorporated into our show from here on out is a Chicago Comic Con exclusive. The designer of this logo is a good friend of mine Mr. Dave Curbis




-See you at the Con
Bobby

New THOR COMIC CON TRAILER

If You Want a Solid Guarantee That I Will Not See Your Shitty Movie…

…use this as your tagline – “From the Mind of M. Night Shyamalan”. There’s…something about this particular combination of words that I cannot understand, mostly in regards to its currency as a market proposition. Let’s face it, that’s really all movies are – market propositions. Going to the movies presents, at its essence, the exact same consumer experience as just about any other place of business – the product just happens to be temporally limited. But other than that, you are going to a business that specializes in selling a thing (electronics, movies, religion, or whatever), and has many varieties of that thing for sale (products/genres), from which you must select the particular thing that matches your specifications and preferences. Perhaps an example would help illustrate how ridiculous this “From the Mind of M. Night Shyamalan” business really is. Let’s say I’m buying a…car. Sure. Here we go.

DORIAN walks into a car dealership. Smelling fresh meat, SALESMAN ASSHOLE shares a private moment with a shit-eating grin before approaching Dorian.

As he walks over, Salesman Asshole feels a rush of endorphins, the physical manifestation of his belief that making this sale will allow him to achieve orgasm tonight without punching his wife in the stomach mid-coitus. His mind quickly veers, scoffing at her silly notion that there is a correlation between his sexual proclivities and her inability to bear children.

SALESMAN ASSHOLE (to Dorian): Aren’t women stupid?

DORIAN: That’s a fucked up way to sell cars.

Salesman Asshole winces. This isn’t the first time he’s done this.

SA: Look, I’m really sorry—

D (interrupting): No need for that. I’m game – what d’you got?

SA: Let me introduce myself first. My name’s Asshole.

D: That’s unfortunate.

SA: Well, I make it work.

D: That’s very…big of you? Look, I don’t really care. I came here to buy a car.

SA: Ah yes. Here, take a look at this baby – it’s called, “Devil.”

D: Bitchin’ name. Who makes it?

SA: Oh, it’s from the mind of M. Night Shyamalan.

D: Who the fuck is that?

SA: A famous car designer. He released his first car in 1999, which came out of nowhere and took everyone by surprise. Sold like crazy. Not a bad vehicle, but nothing revolutionary enough to warrant the acclaim it was receiving if you ask me. Anyway, he released three more cars over the next five years, all of which were basically the same as the first, so naturally, sales started to decline. He came up with another design in 2005 that his manufacturer told him had serious structural defects, but his ego had gotten so big by this point that he told them to fuck off and found another manufacturer who was so smitten by his celebrity that they were willing to overlook the obvious problems within this design. So they went ahead and made it. That car is still regarded to this day as one of the worst cars ever made.

D: I can’t imagine why you would posit this as a reason to buy this car - I’m guessing he had some kind of heroic comeback recently?

SA: Well, he designed an off-road vehicle in 2008, but he hired a former rapper to be the head engineer, so the final result lacked the balls to do any true off-roading. And actually, he just released his most recent car a few weeks ago. It’s his most expensive design yet!

D: …and?

SA: Sales are terrible and Consumer Reports called driving it, “an agonizing experience in every category I can think of and others still waiting to be invented.”

D (pointing to the Devil): And he made this car?

SA: No, it just came from his mind.

D: What the fuck does that even mean? Did he just will this thing into existence?

SA: I think he came up with the concept and someone else made it.

D: So why would I ever want to buy this thing? This Shyamalan character sounds like a hack – don’t you have something else?

SA: Yeah, but to be honest, they’re all pretty much the same.

D: Oh. Well, is there somewhere around that I can get a thought-out, innovative car of sound structural integrity?

SA: There might be one or two places still in business, but they’re out in the middle of nowhere, and they usually only sell the good ones on Friday and Saturday at midnight.

D: Well that’s horribly inconvenient – I’ve got five kids to feed!

SA: Well, that’s why we’re here, all day, every day.

And so the tired analogy comes to an end, but I think the point is made – who the fuck would buy a car with this pedigree?

As an aside, I would like to note that I do not actually have five, or any, children – I just can’t pass up the opportunity for a Total Recall reference. This is probably a good thing for both me and my imaginary children, as I don’t believe they would last very long with me being one of their primary caregivers. I’m sorry, but I simply do not respect any living creature that is incapable of feeding itself. It’s inexcusable.

But let’s get back to Devil – its makers were clearly unsatisfied with presenting only one potent argument against seeing their movie in their poster, so they added a second, self-prophesying tagline – “Bad Things Happen for a Reason”. See if you can identify the bad thing and the reason in this statement – if you produce anything conceived by M. Night Shyamalan, you will end up with a shit movie. It seems a simple enough understanding, yet so many people have failed to grasp it, which baffles me because I was under the impression this was common knowledge as of a few years ago, even before Lady in the Water. Does this pompous motherfucker think he can just ejaculate his lack of versatility as a film maker and a storyteller right in our faces and expect us to swallow? The only thing more harrowing is the follow up question – if so, is it working?

I guess that’s enough about the poster. As for the trailer itself, I mean, it’s terrible. What the fuck did you think I was going to say?

-Dorian

Catch Up On Older Episodes!

So you say you've never seen an episode of The Couch? Well with our Comic Con debut coming up I think you should catch up. The Wolfman, directed by Joe Johnston was our first episode and Alice in Wonderland Directed by Tim Burton was our second both have recently been released on dvd and blu ray. Enjoy and leave comments.

Dueces!
StuntmanBob

The Couch. CHICAGO COMIC CON. Can you dig it?

A few days ago we got the go ahead to shoot an episode of The Couch at the 2010 Chicago Comic Con! This is really a dream for us as this was one of our goals when we first started our show. Dorian and myself would like to thank all of you who have been reading and supporting us. We are only going up from here!

The Comic Con takes place August 19th, 20th, 21st, and 22nd. Throughout those days we will hopefully get the opportunity to talk with some celebrities and comic scribes, get their thoughts on movie trailers and review a trailer for debut in September. Please try and come out and support the Comic Con and us. Check back as we will post who we will be interviewing and what trailer will get the royal treatment from Dorian and myself.

Ticket information for the con is here
http://www.wizardworld.com/home-ch.html

Thanks for reading and as always if you have any trailers you think we should check out, movie recommendations, or pointless bitching hit us up at guysonthecouch@gmail.com


Dueces!
StuntmanBob

"POKE ME" I think I'm in Heaven. Teaser Trailer: THE SOCIAL NETWORK

This is what TEASER TRAILER means!!! The Social Network is the new movie being directed by David Fincher. Fincher has directed Fight Club, Seven, Zodiac, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. It chronicles the start up and drama of "the social network" juggernaut know as Facebook.

This trailer just get me pumped. If this is all we got from this movie until October, when its released, I would be happy. Lately there have been a string of teasers and full length trailers that are actually doing a good job of teasing! Inception, Predators, and the 1st trailer to Wall Street Money 2: Money Never Sleeps and I'm happy to see that in a way the movie industry has still got it!

So much today is given away in the trailers that when you go to see the movie, all the best parts or a portion of them are ruined. The Social Network teaser is inventive, fresh, exciting, and does so much with very little. You can feel the weight of this film. It accomplishes so much and I eagerly await its release. Enjoy and feel free to comment or shoot us an email at guysonthecouch@gmail.com

dueces
StuntmanBob

"Its So UN-FLUFFY!!!" Despicable Me Trailer Review

Despicable Me comes from the Executive Producers of the Ice Age series which I'm a fan of and needless to say, I have a bone to pick with trailer(s) that advertise this movie.

Earlier in the week, I was listening to the Slashfilm Podcast in their after dark series. Which is the show after the show, and they were having a very interesting conversation about watching trailers. Now although I didn't agree with somethings that were being said, I appreciate the fact that they really got into talking about trailers as a whole. The conversation encompassed teaser trailers to full length trailers. How good they are. How much information they give away. How sometimes they don't do a movie justice. Etc.

This movie has so many trailers that its just confusing. I remember the first teaser for this movie had the main character, Gru, trying to get over this big ass wall. This was the home of his arch enemy, but his attempts were always being foiled by the extensive security system that was running. Nothing impressive, but it was what a teaser does; gives you a taste of what to expect. A clever battle of wits and technology between to evildoers seemed pretty awesome.

Next we were subjected to even smaller tv spot like teaser trailers with these little yellow thumb looking, overall wearing creatures as the advertisement for the movie. These..."things" literally looked design rejects for SpongeBob SquarePants. They were funny for a minute but just got real played out.

Coincidentally, on Father's Day weekend, a full trailer for the movie is finally released and we get an entirely different mood. One where Gru is trying to be bad but now has to assume a father-like role in taking care of three girls that are thrust upon him. This to me just felt like it came out of no where and it feels a little misplaced. Now this movie which started off looking like an interesting way to look into the world of villainy, care of some slick animation, has turned into a "Series of Unfortunate Events" for Gru, PUN INTENDED.

The cast for this as well as all animation films are very impressive, Steve Carell voices Gru and the supporting cast is Jason Segal, Russel Brand Kristen Wiig, Miranda cosgrove, Will Arnett, Danny McBride, Jack McBrayer, and Julie Andrews.

I like Steve Carrell, he always adds this sense of awkwardness that I think audiences can relate with. But why does Gru sound Russian? Is he Russian? He just sounds like a sober version of the Russian Cosmonaut in Armageddon. And what the hell is up with the Uncle Fester look? I might be knit picking but that's bugging me too. Are the filmmakers trying to make him sound like a terrorist type villain? I mean he is planning to steal the moon. So yea? Alright I feel if I go on I'll just get more picky so I'll finish up.

This movie, as with everything on the planet is being given the 3D treatment. (sigh). Looks like I'll be going to the 2D showing. The only saving grace for me is this trailer is the little girl who is gonna die cause "ITS SO FLUFFY!". Give me an entire movie about her, cause as of right now, I don't really care for anyone in this trailer other than her.

As always the final review will be when the credits roll and house lights come up.

Dueces!
StuntmanBob

"If It Bleeds, We Can Kill It". PREDATORS Trailer Review

"Fear is Reborn"

For the first time in a long time, I feel like a tagline rings true. Let me just get this out. FUCKING ROBERT RODRIGUEZ IS PRODUCING A PREDATOR MOVIE!!!!!!!!

Alright now that, that bit of fandom is out of the way, we can continue. The first image we are given with this trailer is of space, I get chills every time I see it. I'm hoping to see that alien craft fly past earth, but then we cross fade into trees to indicate that we are back in the jungle. We are off to a good start. The rest of the trailer as you've seen is a series of shots that are introducing all these killers/mercenaries and warriors as they realize the planet they are on is a "game preserve" and they are the game.

We all know that after Predator 2 with Danny Glover there was talk of a Alien vs. Predator movie and we eventually got two. AVP and AVP: Requiem are the movies that have unfortunately filled our Predator void. AvP was good enough for a PG-13 movie, but still not that good. AvP: Requiem attempted to get back to the hard R of the series making the Predator his lethal self again. In addition to that, the Predator was also made into this detective as he hunted a hybrid Alien/Predator (predalien) that was born at the end of the first AvP. It was cool to an extent but there is just one problem, since when did the Predator become fucking Sherlock Holmes!!

Enter Robert Rodriguez; director of El Mariachi, Desperado, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Spy Kids Trilogy, Sin City, Grindhouse: Planet Terror and the upcoming Machete. In 1994, Rodriguez had written a script for a new Predator movie which ended up going no where. Now on July 9, 2010 we will see what a Rodriguez produced Predator movie will look like. The movie is essentially his script/treatment of what he wrote in 1994 with a script by Alex Litvak & Michael Finch.

Unless you had been following that Rodriguez was producing a Predator movie, you would have never known from the trailer until 3/4 of the way through when its revealed to be a new chapter in the series. The timeline for this movie is that it happens after the events of the first Predator.

This trailer really tips its hat to the first Predator, not only because we are back in the jungle, but because there is fear re-established with the images in the trailer. The quick edits and high pitch sound work, give back the Predator his horror street cred. The daylight images of wreakage all around the jungle and closed spaces with only a lighter as our source of light also make it known that once again we are no longer safe in the daytime or in the evening.

Rodriguez chose Nimrod Antal, director of the movie Armored as the director, based on watching a cut of Armored. I was first puzzeled as to why Antal was chosen. Given that I had seen Armored and that I thought it was alright B-movie fun. But Armored had such a versatile group of actors working together and Antal's work as a director to make all those characters work and believable proved that he could handle assembling and directing the wide array of actors for Predators.

My finals thoughts are just everything looks and feels right for this trailer. I mean that final shot with all the targets all over Adrien Brody's body...that's got classic written all over it! My only wish is that they would come out with a more extended trailer. Then again I applaud Antal and Rodriquez for not wanting to spoil the goodies.

As always the final review will be when the house lights come up and the credits roll.

Predators hits theaters July 9th, 2010

Dueces,
StuntmanBob

SALT Trailer Review

If Pepper Potts and Evelyn Salt got into a fight, who would take that crown?

Salt, is the brand new or re-used story idea, starring Angelina Jolie. Before I begin the open heart surgery on this trailer, let me say that overall it feels like a big kid screaming at me; ( in annoying child taunting talk) "I have a secret and I won't tell you!!!". That shit is annoying. We get it, there is a possible twist somewhere in this movie. Way to give away the one thing you might have going for you!

The beginning of the trailer starts off with Ms. Jolie being hauled off by cops, a quick action sequence later and we are at yet another question; " You think everyone is who they say they are?" Well no, if your asking. There are so many questions in this movie trailer that I get the feeling that's what I'll be left with at the end of the movie. Questions.

The next few scenes look like episodes of the TNT show The Closer as we are informed by Liev Schreiber's character that no one can crack people faster in a room, than Salt. Angelina plays the title character: Evelyn Salt. A C.I.A agent who is "revealed" to be a Russian assassin set to kill the President of the United States. So... as any normal American would do, she goes rogue, jumps off a few expressways, turns herself into a Maxim model and attempts to prove her innocence, all in this rom-com of an action/spy thriller.

Its really a shame that nothing in this trailer looks original. There are hints of Mission Impossible 3 with her pulling a fake face off, walking along the edges of buildings and close shot chase sequences bring back memories of The Bourne Movies and the fact that she might be potentially framed for killing an important political figure is straight from the movie Shooter, with Mark Wahlberg. I cringe at the what future taglines of this movie might be. "Salt is the new Bourne!" or "Its Mission Impossible meets Bourne with a Shooter mixed in."

Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of action and spy movies, but from the trailer it just doesn't look like there is anything that sets it apart from the mentioned movies. The supporting cast consists of some top gents, who are always at the top of their game; Liev Schreiber and Chiwetel Ejiofor. Schreiber was recently seen in the disappointing X-Men Origins: Wolverine in which he played Wolverine's nemesis Sabertooth. Ejiofor has played memorable villains in Four Brothers and the sci-fi action pic Serenity.

I really like both these actors and after doing research on the movie I found out that the original incarnation of the script had the main character as a man. Beat! Perhaps Salt is really a man? It might have been more cliche but if the original script was the one being shot, how would Liev or Chiwetel faired as the agent with a questionable identity? I think both of them are of the caliber of actors to bring something new to a role like that, if done correctly. Much like what Matt Damon did with Jason Bourne.

The movie is directed by Phillip Noyce whose past work includes The Bone Collector (urg!) which also starred Angelina Jolie. Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger both starring Harrison Ford and both are notable films is the Jack Ryan series. So its clear that Mr. Noyce is no stranger to the spy game, but why does this movies look like SPAM. I wonder how the tone would have been if the trailer had more of a Jack Ryan feel.

The movie is written by Kurt Wimmer and I would say he is the only reason I'm curious about this movie. I was first exposed to Kurt Wimmer with a movie he wrote and directed called Equilibrium, that starred Christian Bale. AMAZING shit! Go out and find it now, if you haven't seen it. His next writing credits included The Recruit, Ultraviolet, The Thomas Crown Affair, and most recently Law Abiding Citizen, which starred Jamie Foxx and Gerard Butler. Each of these movies, except for perhaps Ultraviolet, were really good, watchable thrillers. The Thomas Crown Affair and Law Abiding Citizen especially. So its obvious the guy knows how to write, so I'm hoping that's what saves this trailer.

Aside from me picking apart this trailer, I do plan to see what its all about. Despite being overly cliche the trailer does do a good job of establishing tension, suspicion, and action. But as a fan of Kurt Wimmer in particular, I hope that he's thrown something in here that makes it worth my time at the movies.

Salt hits theaters July 23, 2010

Dueces!
StuntmanBob

The Last Airbender Trailer Review

Could this movie make M. Night Shymalan "Unbreakable" again?

The last time Shyamalan did a movie he and his kids where over the hill about was Lady in the Water. That movie got put through the ringer critically, but I personally enjoyed it. It was the first time that he was delving into something that was fantastical and if you looked at it with those eyes then I think it worked. This trailer looks like he's taking a bigger step into that world and it feels great to me! The whole trailer feels like Night is standing up before all of us and saying "I'm Back!"

This is the first time that Night hasn't originally created something that we are about to see on screen. Although he's written this movie as well, or adapted it, The Last Airbender is based of a popular nickelodeon cartoon. This series from what I gather is about these four nations that represent the four elements; Air, Fire, Earth, Water. The Air nation is said to be extinct for sometime until new-comer actor Noah Ringer who plans Aang comes along. Aang is said to be the last of the Airbenders and the one destined to save the other nations from the destructive force of the Fire nation and restore everything to a balance.

Has a certain Star Wars feel to it, No? ( I may have just committed blasphemy there, but don't tell me you didn't see the comparison in some aspect.)

Although there have been epic looking movies like this in the past, this is the first time since Lord of the Rings that it feels like something fresh and worth getting invested in, as opposed to the same 'ole thing. I think what helps is that this doesn't feel like an M.Night Shymalan movie. Its exciting in a way, cause I know that personally I wanna see him come back and wreck shit!

Some of his past works include The Sixth Sense, Signs, and Unbreakable. All of those movies have a certain pace to them and it showed in their trailers. I see Shymalan trying to break out of his comfort zone with this and bring us something that looks more mainstream, but with his new found signature on it.

The CGI effects look very impressive too and also looked used well in terms of telling the story and it doesn't feel like cool looking shit will be there just because ILM (Industrial Light and Magic) is at his disposal. The movie is produced by Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy who are no strangers to adventure, having produced the Indiana Jones trilogy and that 4th one too. This trailer instills in me the adventure, spectacle, and effects I wish Prince of Persia could have come closed too. Fuckin' Prince of Persia.. urg!!

Now enough with all this praising shit! lets get to the nitty gritty. 2 things. GO!

Speaking of trilogies this movie is said to be the first in a proposed trilogy. I think one challenge that Shymalan faces is the hope that his adaption of this property transfers well to screen to audiences that are not familiar with the subject matter like myself. Story and character wise, but with Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy aboard, it eases my fear a bit.

My second fear, beef, call it what you will, is that this movie is being up-converted to 3D. Oh Jesus, God, No. Seeing the rise of movie up-conversions to the 3D, post Avatar, is sickening. When movies are actually shot with 3D in mind and with 3D cameras it completely works and I'm for it. But if its to make a few extra bucks and help box office, its then that I'm feeling robbed!

Shymalan is said to be very strict with what is done with his movies, so when the news broke that The Last Airbender would be in 3D everyone was surprised he was okay with it. Apparently the producers had always intended to release in 3D, they had just been looking for a very good up-conversion company. And there you have it.

With the grand ness and effects 3D would certainly look to help deepen the world we are being introduced to but until I hear some news on how it looks in 3D, its 2D all the way for me! As always the final review of this trailer/movie will be when the lights come up and the credits roll.

The Last Airbender hits theaters July 1st. 2010

Dueces!
StuntmanBob

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse Trailer Review

(Disclaimer: I'm almost positive Dorian does not agree with any reasoning behind this review, so send all hate mail to me).

Eclipse, the third movie in the Twilight Saga stars the two most depressing people in the world, Abs, that guy from the show Fastlane, Dakota Fannings eyes, and a shit load of Vampires and Werewolves.

Now when we first started this little show/blog called The Couch, Dorian and Myself made sure to inform you all that we were filmmakers as well. Personally for me I believe that as a filmmaker you should LOVE movies. But you should also expose yourself to movies of all kinds. Good or bad. Again personally I try to find something redeeming in anything I see. The Twilight series so far, has had some good and bad.

When Twilight came out, I was simply fascinated by the already established audience. But when the movies were being released it was like a maelstrom. Theaters where selling out in advanced, midnight shows, Hot Topic store appearances, Cats and Dogs living together; MASS HYSTERIA! I'll admit I read the first two books and after the hype I died down, I dragged some of my close friends to see the first Twilight movie in theaters and while I could see the downfalls, and there were many, I also saw the attraction to this story.

Enter New Moon, the 2nd book and movie in the series. New Moon had a lot more going for it from the trailers alone. For one it had Chris Weitz, a new and I argue better director, and huge fucking dogs, to represent the Rise of the Lycans...sorry wrong movie, I meant Werewolves. The movie to me was just better directed, it still had the essence/emo-ness of the characters which was established in the first one, unfortunately, but overall it was a better paced and more watchable movie.

It also introduced us to the Volturi, the Vampire Royalty of the Twilight Universe. These guys are badass and the actors playing them knew exactly what kind of movie they were in and just had fun with their roles. Sadly it came only close to the end of the movie, but again I argue it was worth the wait. (Spoiler for New Moon coming NOW...) So New Moon ends with Edward asking Bella to marry him and then cut to black. Why couldn't she have just said "yes" and then cut to black? We know she's gonna say yes, that's all she's been crying about for two movies!

End of Prelude.

We come now to Eclipse the third movie in this sexually frustrated series and just from the trailer alone it looks like we're not going to be wasting any time, its prompt, fast paced, has a purpose, and it looks like we are going to get a Marvel Team-Up of sorts. So, Vampires in Seattle are angry cause Edward has a human pet/girlfriend and now someone is building an army of vampires to go and take care of them. Personally I think their all jealous cause they can't get hot, sexually frustrated girls like Bella, so like all jealous individuals do, they are going to upset the established order and introduce a little anarchy. Haters, man.

The other interesting aspect to this series of films is the caliber of directors its attracting. David Slade, whose past works include, Hard Candy and 30 Days of Night, directs this outing of the Twilighter's and the images of people being brutally hunted down and murdered and said army of Vampires walking from out of the water are very cool and chilling.

The reason I'm willing to admit to being interested in this movie is because I'm a fan of drama and I see these movies as very over the top soap operas. Summit Entertainment has tapped into a tone, style, and 15 year old girls hearts everywhere and they are very smart in keeping with this style and going out to get these notable directors to churn out the best kind of soap opera ever!

I'm not saying go and see this movie. But if your even remotely curious, then why not? Who cares what anyone says. My only advice if you are curious, is that you should go when all the hordes of small girls have had their time.

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse opens June 30th 2010

Dueces!
StuntmanBob

The Sorcerer's Apprentice Trailer Review

Ok has anyone else noticed that ever since The Dark Knight came out ever action trailer has that really hard bass/rumble sound? Just food for thought.

So Nicholas Cage has been on a bit of a hot streak lately, in Bad Leuitenant: Port of Call: New Orleans he played a pain pill popping, coke snorting detective.....BRILLIANTLY, I might add and in the comic book satire, Kick-Ass, he played Big Daddy, who I will just say is someone you don't want to fucks with. It was only a matter of time before he got back to the Jerry Bruckheimer spectacles.

If you don't know what Jerry Bruckheimer movies are, here is a short list; Pirates of the Caribbean 1-3 and the upcoming 4th installment, National Treasure 1-2, The Rock, Deja Vu, Armageddon, and most recently Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time.

Apprentice stars Nicholas Cage as Balthazar, a Scorcerer out to save the world, but not before he comes across Dave, a physics nerd with "great potential". Balthazar reveals to Dave that he will one day be a great Scorcerer but that for now, he's an Apprentice. The film also stars Alfred Molina as the villain and on a sidenote he was the best part of Prince of Persia.

Pause for a moment.....

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time....(sigh)Why? Ok, I ask "why" because I wasn't expecting for Persia to be amazing, it would have been awesome if it had some redeeming qualities to it, BUT the fact that there was nothing there at all!? Nothing in the script, the acting, the CGI effects, I could go on, but anyway.... The Scorcerers Apprentice looks sleek, cool, funny, and action packed, but so did Prince of Persia. Here in lies my apprehension to even giving this movie a chance. I'll admit I'm a fan of Jerry Bruckheimer films, and when they have Nic Cage in them, doubly so, but c'mon Jerry, why you gotta me like that SON! You may be thinking to yourself, what the hell does this have to do with Apprentice. Well EVERYTHING FOOL! What if the same thing happens here!(sorry, pent up anger from Prince of Persia).

Let's hope director Jon Turteltaub, who was behind National Treasure 1 and 2: Book of Secrets, which also starred Nic Cage, washes out the sand in our mouths and ass cracks from Prince of Persia. Now say what you will about the National Treasure movies, but I find them very entertaining to watch. Its clear Nic Cage and Turteltaub have a good working relationship and it shows on screen. It looks like they will again deliver a fun, fantasy-filled ride for the summer. The special and visual effects just looked they were used better here too.

Overall this movie looks like its going to be fun. I'm still very apprehensive, given that Prince of Persia was so shitty, but it has action, mythology, real life setting, a kinda relatable main character played by Jay Baruchel, and another quorky role by Nicolas Cage. What more can your really ask for?....Story...ah yes Story, here's hoping that the story is about as same as the first National Treasure, just enough to enjoy and not so confusing that my head will hurt.

The Scorcerer's Apprentice opens on July 14th, 2010


Dueces!
StuntmanBob