"Peace Was Never An Option" My X-MEN: FIRST CLASS Movie Review

"Peace was never an option"

The last X-Men movie I saw, if you can call it that, was X-Men Origins: Wolverine; and it was horrible. It sadly set the franchise back a few millennia. For a while there it seemed that all hope was lost and we might never see another good X-Men movie again. Around the same time that X-Men Origins: Wolverine was being prepped there was another origins movie being prepared; Magneto's. The return of Bryan Singer and Matthew Vaughn saw idea of expanding Magneto's solo origin story into an origin story of both Erik Lensherr and Charles Xavier.

There are a few recognizable mutants in this story but I was delighted to see that there were no "name" mutants. No Cyclops, No Storm, No Iceman. While I see the appeal to have these mutants in an X-Men movie, given that they are such staples by this point, it would purely be to sell tickets and make money. First Class, is a story about Magneto and Professor X.

Michael Fassbender (HUNGER, Inglorious Basterds) has the meatiest character arc as Erik Lensherr a.k.a Magneto. His journey from lethal bounty hunter to one of the most powerful mutants of all time is truly a great sight to behold. Also many of his journeys are very reminiscent of James Bond movies, being that the movie is set in the 60's its actually very fitting.

I put my vote in for Michael Fassbender as James Bond when Daniel Craig retires from the role; Make it happen HOLLYWOOD!

James McAvoy (WANTED, Atonementt) brings a breath of fresh air to the younger version of Charles Xavier; most notably using his intelligence and the explanation of the evolution of Mutants as a pick up line to loose women in bars; I like this Xavier. Fassbender and McAvoy's characters are simply defined by the iconic chess games they have together throughout the film. They make their characters more relatable and down to earth in addition to paying homage to the older versions of the characters already established by Sir Ian McKellan and Patrick Stewart.

Another duo story line I was pleased with was the story between Dr. Hank McCoy a.k.a BEAST and Raven Darkholme a.k.a Mystique. Hank McCoy is played by Nicholas Hoult who was most recently in Tom Ford's directorial debut A Single Man. Raven is played with great dimension by Academy Award Nominee Jennifer Lawrence, who was last seen in Winter's Bone and will soon be see in the big screen adaption of The Hunger Games; she plays Katniss. Their relationship is what truly defines the yearn to be accepted that is so universal in the X-Men series. We got a taste of it with Anna Paquin's Rogue in the original series, but it aside from Erik and Charles, its nice to see two younger characters battle with their own acceptance together.

I have to give credit to Kevin Bacon, whose played villain Sebastian Shaw very cool. It could have been very easy to see him "twisting his mustache" in every scene but Bacon held a great balance of villain and "freedom fighter".

Bryan Singer returns to his comic book roots to co-write and produce this origin story. Director Matthew Vaughn finally gets his crack at a Marvel film after X3 and THOR fell through for him. What Vaughn brings to this story that didn't even show up in X-Men Origins: Wolverine is a sense of the time period. For all of you who are reading this, did you know that X-Men Origins: Wolverine takes place in the late 70's? Yea that's right THE 'EFFIN 70'S!!! Sure doesn't feel like it right?

First Class puts the 60's right in your face! The Wardrobe, the music, the score, and the dialogue. The dialogue at times seemed a little corny but then you had to check yourself and say "wait, this is how they talked in the 60's". Matthew Vaughn got to make is Marvel Comics X-Men movie and James Bond movie all in one. Massive credit and thanks to Matthew Vaughn for giving us an actually period piece superhero movie.

X-Men First Class is a really intelligent comic book movie, that aims to show us the TRUE ORIGINS of Mutants during the 1960's during the Kennedy era and also gives some background to the "hidden" reasons that sparked the Cuban Missile Crisis. This I feel is the most mature of all the X-Men movies. X2 is still number one in my book, but X-Men First Class is right underneath it. The James Bond-like globe trotting, the involvement of the CIA, the politics, the betrayal and world being in peril, gives this series the jolt of lighting it needed to become relevant again!

Deuces!
StuntmanBob

Extra "Couch" Time

Hey Everyone, hope your seeing some great movies this weekend. Briefly, every time we shoot an episode there always ends up being some extra conversation that doesn't always make it in the cut. Well from here on out we will be releasing these bits as their own small informative video pieces called "Extras". Keep checking back for all the updates.

In the meantime if you haven't gotten the chance to see our newest episode on the trailer to THOR then enjoy now!

Trailer Premiere: TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON

Here it is folks! From the great Teaser Trailer that got us curious with the first Moon landing tie in, to that crazy :30spot of Chicago being torn to shit. Today the Official Theatrical Trailer to Transformers: Dark of the Moon is online.




Watch it again in all its HD glory at Apple.com


StuntmanBob

Trailer Review: PROM

No one's PROM is like this. Seriously. Here I'll prove it.

My Prom was started off good; got the school to pay for the ticket of my date and I, was rocking a stone cold zoot suit, danced, she won Prom Queen, I didn't win Prom King (awkward). THEN on the way home I get locked in a gas station because some guy is arguing over ten cents and gupta behind the counter gets all freaked out, electronically locks the door and calls the cops. Finally I got out, jump the expressway and as I'm paying a toll the toll booth guy asks if I just got married. Why not right? So I told him yea and he let me go for free through the toll. Went home and went to bed.

SEE!!

When I see trailers like this that are released by Disney I often wonder if the execs get handed the script, look at it and say, "well its not great, but we have Cars 2 coming out this summer and we really need some extra cash cause we are remodeling the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. OH! also that Star Tours revamp wasn't cheap either. You know what greenlight it. Pixar will keep us on track". This is by far one of the laziest movies that Disney has put out. This looks like it would have faired better on the actual Disney channel as a made for TV movie.

PROM looks like a feel good movie and the time its being released is perfect because it is around the actual Prom season, so I'm sure a lot of suburban high schools can relate. I think the trailer tries to follow to many characters, the dialogue is a clear sign of that. Its very flat, obvious and uninventive. Also there is nothing new being done with this concept. I argue that the movie 10 Things I Hate About You which is based off of Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew is a far better representation of the ritual of Prom, than, well the PROM TRAILER.

Disney also likes to live in this fantasy world that is oh so tiring. The hotties are still blond. The bad boys are the people with long hair, some scruff and wear leather jackets. The nerds have no confidence and are slightly big 'round the midsection and sweat profusely. And there also has to be this "Bring it on" tension between the white hottie and the black girl. ENOUGH!!!! This is 2011, why is there no sign of it in here?

SIDENOTE: Ok so half way through the trailer the white girl tells the black girl that they crown the Prom King and Queen at as certain time, so don't be late. Was that some racial profiling insinuating that black people are always late? Yea I knew you caught that. #CPT

The movie is directed by Joe Nussbaum, whose last movies were Sydney White and American Pie Presents: The Naked Mile. I haven't seen either of those movies for obvious reasons but Mr. Nussbaum is most famous for, in my book, directing the short George Lucas in Love. If you have not seen this short, you are not a true Star Wars fan. There is a wit and cleverness within this short that is amazing! However those same traits are absent from this trailer.

Now there was a show on ABC, which is owned by Disney, called My Generation. This show had a documentary crew following a group of high schoolers through prom, graduation, etc. Then catches up with them ten years later to see what's changed and so forth. Sounds like an interesting drama right? While it did get cancelled, I would have challenged executives to go back to the drawing board, find the holes in why the show didn't work and taylor a movie about Prom using the documentary style. I know it might not have helped anymore than what we have now, but in terms of caring for the characters, it could have made somewhat of a difference.

I would personally stay away from PROM, yes it looks cute and cuddly, but I predict a lot of eye rolling and sigh's while watching this movie. Oh and someone needs to let the studio's know that they are really over using "Firework" by Katy Perry. It has to stop.

Well the final review of this movie will happen when someone (not me) sees the credits roll and house lights go up.

Prom asks you to Prom April 29th, 2011

If you curious in seeing George Lucas in Love, I've embedded it below

Dueces!
StuntmanBob

Trailer Review: FAST FIVE

This movie looks crazy, ridiculous, but dammit if I'm not ready to blow 15 bucks on an IMAX ticket to see it!

The Fast and Furious franchise has had it's ups and downs (2Fast,2Furious), but had a slight resurgence with it's third installment Tokyo Drift, mostly because it abandoned the title characters and followed an entirely different group of characters and style of driving. At the end of that movie Vin Diesel makes a cameo that brought us the fourth film, simply titled Fast and Furious and now, Fast Five.

FF4 brought back all the original characters from the first movie and was by far the strongest of the series. Although it had a cliche villain in the form of a drug trafficker, the story was solid based on the characters history with each other and the loss of a key player, Michelle Rodriguez's "Letty". A moment of silence please.

Director Justin Lin has definitely pumped some much needed NOS back into the series that started with FF:Tokyo Drift. Much like what Len Wiseman accomplished with the 4th Die Hard, Lin has gone the route of good ol' fashion stunt work in complex action sequences, which has made the series more fun to watch in my opinion. He's also made this potentially one-time cast into a modern day Magnificent Seven-esque group of sorts. Not to mention giving us the coolest edition to the group into the form of Han, a drifter in Tokyo Drift.

I know it's been nothing but a constant praise for the series and Fast Five, but here are my bones that need a pickin'.

Fast Five collects characters from all four movies before it, to give us a Marvel-team up kind of adventure. The trailer was rockin' until I saw Tyrese and Ludacris.

Tyrese returns as Roman Pierce, whose wanna-be gangster attitude from 2Fast2Furious was one of the most annoying additions to the series. Perhaps under the care of Justin Lin that will change but I'm not holding my breath. Also, Ludacris, who was in the same basterd movie, made mention that his character doesn't even race anymore because of a previous accident. So why is he here?

I honestly would have loved to have seen Lucas Black and Bow Wow from Tokyo Drift.

We now come to the paradox of the character Han who sadly died in Tokyo Drift. But was in the opening action sequence in FF4 which in the FF timeline was revealed to be a prequel to Drift, so it made sense that he was there and now is part of Fast Five. I cringe at what the explanation will be for his resurrection but I hope it's not a lame one.

Another pitfall this trailer falls into is simply showing us way to much in the form of action. It looks like there are two different action sequences that we get too much of a preview of. A movie franchise as successful as this one could most definitely have gotten away with a teaser trailer. One of those scenes has Paul Walker and Vin Diesel going "car diving", which looks so 'effin cool, but should have cut away sooner from going off the cliff. I hope there is something even bigger than that sequence in this movie cause if thats it, then it blows that I've already seen it.

Second to last, the title of this movie sounds like a porno. No one can argue how terrible this title is. Some personal suggestions of mine are; FURIOUS, FURIOUSLY FAST, VROOOM!!, FAST to the 5th POWER, or FAST AND FURIOUS 5.

Lastly, the wild card;THE ROCK! I simply love that he's in this and that we are going to see a throw down between him and the Diesel. It's kinda nuts and a little corny that he's in this movie but what are the FF movies but nuts and corny fun.

Overall, Fast Five looks like the fun, over the top, tagline spewing, car crashing, money stealing, half naked girl wearing action movie that sometimes you just need to see. This is definitely an opening weekend movie for me. I've heard rumblings of a 6th and 7th movie, and although these are fun movies; how long can this really go on for?

The final review will be when the credits roll and the house lights go up.

Fast Five runs the red light to IMAX and regular theaters near you on April 29th, 2011

Deuces,
StuntmanBob






- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Trailer Review: ARTHUR

To preface I have not see the original movie that this remake is based off.


So lets break this trailer down. At its core its a movie about a guy not wanting to have an arranged marriage and trying to prove to his family and potentially himself that he can have a life separate from his wealthy lifestyle and be happy. This is obviously a plot line we are familiar with. Arthur looks funny, but more and more it looks very tiring. I like Russell Brand, he's unpredictable and funny, but only in small doses. The potential upside to this movies is that it ends up like the other Brand vehicle Get Him to the Greek. Greek was received well critically because it was more of a dissection of his character, Aldous Snow, than just a big, sex, party and drug movie. I mean it was "that movie" at times but the story, in the best way, was definitely more the main focus.

The supporting cast consists of Jennifer Garner as Arthur's arranged wife, who looks like she's trying really hard to be Isla Fischer from the movie Wedding Crashers. Fischer does a better job, for now. Luis Guzman plays the limo driver, which seems like a really reserved character for him. Guzman is usually seen as a more loud and punch line character but I'm hoping that his subtle comedy gets to due time in the spotlight. Lastly, we have Helen Mirren who gives this movie its biggest credibility. Mirren, who is Arthur's nanny and naturally the only one who believes in him I'm sure will make the most of the scenes between her and Arthur. I'm hoping she brings a very sweet and deeper subtext to said scenes.

Arthur seems like it will just be gags, massive amounts of pop culture references and crazy antics all the way through, then about halfway through he'll meet a girl he really cares for, lose her at some point, win her back and then his mom will let him be with whoever he wants cause she's seen a great change in lifestyle. Movies done, I just saved you $10 bucks.

I don't think this is an opening weekend movie for me, personally I'm hoping Hanna wins the weekend.

As always the final review of this movie will be when the credits roll and the house lights go up.

Arthur tries to prove to you that he's worth our time on April 8th, 2011

Dueces!
StuntmanBob

Trailer Review: HANNA

"Once Upon A Time"

Director Joe Wright whose past work includes Pride and Prejudice, Atonement, and The Soloist; directs this story about a small girl trained by her father to be an assassin and from the looks of it go after a CIA agent played by Cate Blanchett. The juxtaposition in the opening words, the lullaby-like music and scenes of actress Saoirse Ronan as Hanna screaming like a viking and viciously attacking Eric Bana, her father, are just surreal. There's also a really nice color palette that go throughout the trailer. For example, those opening scenes start out in the snow; the stark, white, dream-like environment represents an innocence and the purity that we the audience should feel for the young girl. Which then shifts to very vast colors of blues, reds, and grays. Even Cate Blanchett's hair, RED, makes her more a villain. Aside from the action, drama, CGI and "entertainment" in movies trailers; colors, play a huge part.

What I find most interesting about this movie is its similarities to the movie Kick-Ass, directed by Matthew Vaughn. When Vaughn was shopping around the script for Kick-Ass there was an 11 year old girl who was cutting off people's arms and legs with samurai swords and brutally murdering bad guys. Studios only request was that they up the age of the girl to 19 or 20. Long story short, Vaughn didn't cave and Kick-Ass became a huge hit because of that young assassin.

Hanna, while it looks really good, is Hollywood's answer to Kick-Ass; A PG-13 movie with a small child assassin. PG-13, in a movie that looks this visceral really turns me off, because I get the feeling that the movie will be restricted by its rating and not reach its fully crazy, assassin like potential. Granted there are movies rated PG-13, like Taken, with Liam Neeson that still "bring the pain" as it were. But then there are movies like the Angelina Jolie vehicle Salt, that was really affected by its PG-13 rating and turn out to be very unoriginal as a result.

I'm not really a fan of Hollywood doing such things because once again we reach the reality of Hollywood not having anymore any original ideas. But at the same time all movies are inspired by something else. It shouldn't impair your judgement of a movie but its definitely something to look at when you see movies.

Personally, I'm going to be there opening weekend to see Hanna, I think Saoirse Ronan looks fantastic as the title character and I'm really curious at what the McGuffin in this movie, which is some sort of DNA revelation about Hanna. Test tube baby? Alien? Perhaps she was created from the DNA of the finest Judges in Megacity...oh wait sorry that was Judge Dredd.

Anyway the final review of this movie will be when the credits roll and the house lights go up.

Hanna screams its way into theaters on April 8th 2011.

Dueces,
StuntmanBob


oops almost forgot to mention, the score is done by the Chemical Brothers!!! Oh yea!

Trailer Review: THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU

Do we control our own lives?

This is often something that I think about, being a writer, having an interest in various conspiracy theories, and of course the big kahuna; Aliens; why not, think that I'm not control of my own life. Movies that try to make this the main plot of their story are always very appealing to me, good or bad, because there are so many movies that are similar, that its interesting to see what new features can be added to the already established canon.

Director George Nolfi directs Matt Damon and Emily Blunt in a story about a congressman who falls for a ballerina. But that supposed to happen or was it? This is Nolfi's first directing credit he's written movies such as Ocean's Tweleve, The Bourne Ultimatum, The Sentinel, and Timeline. So obviously Nolfi has experience writing such thrillers, make sense that his directorial debut would be one as well. The movie is based off a Philip K. Dick short story called "Adjustment Team". Yes I like Bureau better too.

We all know Matt Damon pulls a good performance in ANYTHING we see him in and I'm really happy the world is getting more and more Emily Blunt; she's awesome. I think the parring of these two fits well and the on screen chemistry looks very believable. The movie co-stars John Slattery and Terence Stamp as two men of the Adjustment Bureau. These characters also bear a certain but more sophisticated resemblence to the tall, top hat wearing "adjusters" in Alex Proyas' Dark City. Who if I'm correct were aliens of some sort, the joy of that movie is part of me is still figuring it out. Also the idea of adjusting and even changing an event for the better or possibly worse has also been explored in another Philip K. Dick adaption; Steven Speilberg's Minority Report.

I know its kinda terrible to compare movies but with even similar looking characters is very difficult not to. The all around look and feel of the movie has a gritty undertone to it, there's texture and it adds to the environment we are in. While the chemistry looks great between Damon and Blunt, my only fear is that the movie will be hijacked by their fight to be and love one another. From the trailer, obviously it looks like the entire plot of the movie and I hope that the stakes to be together are very high. So high that it possibly makes their efforts completely futile by the end of the movie. That sense of never escaping and that realism would be great and I hope it goes somewhat in that direction.

As mentioned before I'm definitely going to see this movie. It appeals to the theorist in me and just looks like a really good Twilight Zone-esque thriller.

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

The Adjustment Bureau tries to secretly alter out lives on March 4th 2011


Dueces!
StuntmanBob

PLAY BY PLAY

Well the super bowl has just finished up and I've decided to introduce a new featured post that will pop up occasionally; aptly title "Play by Play".

If your as hyped about all the upcoming movies and their trailers as I am, I'm sure you go through the trailers with a fine tip comb, well that's exactly what play by play is. I'm gonna go through the entire trailer wether its :30 sec or 2min and just dissect the shit out of it.

Look for Play by Play's of some of the Super Bowl spots, such as, Captain America, Thor, Rango, Fast Five, and Transformers: The Dark of the Moon, this week.

Dueces!
StuntmanBob

The Other Woman Trailer Review

Natalie Portman is everywhere and I'm loving it.

I like the trailer to this movie. When it first starts I honestly thought that it was going to sway into that same old cliche of a movie where the husband tries to have his cake and eat it too, but was pleasantly surprised when he actually marries the other woman. You'd think; maybe the ex-wife goes psycho and tries to kill them! But again, its about the other woman trying to figure out how to fit in. She sees it in the new life her and her husband have created and then sadly that is taken away from her. I've known people who have lost a child and I cannot imagine the feeling.

The trailer most reminds me of the Julia Roberts movie Stepmom. Only in the fact that Natalie Portman is trying to gain acceptance with her new husbands son. This feels like an un-official independent sequel to Stepmom. Aside from that interest, the authenticity of Portman's journey is truly poignant in the trailer. Here is woman who thinks that after she has a child of her own that everything is just right and her position as a the new wife and now, new mother solidifies her being there. But upon losing the child she delves into a mentality of there being no hope and that isn't true. She's now gotta do what she should have done in the first place and that is establish a common ground with the already established family she is now apart of.

Natalie Portman is again, everywhere and she's really blowing everything she does out of the water. While I didn't write a review for it, she was definitely the saving grace of the movie No Strings Attached. Having never been in a cliche movie like that before, she really showed her comedic talents to fullest.

In addition to the tears that will come from such an emotional movie, I fully recommend checking out this movie when it opens. There will be ups and there will be downs, but movies like this always show the hope at the end of that deep dark tunnel and sometimes you need a movie like that. Of course the final review will be when the credits roll and the house lights go up.

The Other Woman comes into your life February 4th, 2011

Dueces
StuntmanBob

The Eagle Movie Trailer Review

The Eagle is directed by Kevin Macdonald whose past movies are the American adaption of the BBC original State of Play and The Last King of Scotland. Both movies I highly recommend. My real beef is not with this movies director but with tone and feel of the trailer itself. There are so many same shot references to other swords and sandals movies, in this trailer, that you might as well put on those; i.e. Gladiator, King Arthur, Centurion, etc. I mean the opening shot is of our main character sitting in a tented area praying to a clay figure. That is a scene right out of Gladiator! C'mon now! We've all seen this movie before and nothing is really setting it apart from the other movies. The bit of history explained in the beginning might peak my interest a bit, but that's not saying much either.

On top of the tone and un-originality, the casting of Channing Tatum is a bit of a double edged sword. The first movie I can remember seeing Mr. Tatum in was Step-Up; yes I saw it, get over it. Now he went on to do other work in some romantic movies and such like She's the Man and Dear John. However the movies that really made him stand out to me were A Guide to Recognizing Your Saint's and Stop-Loss. I think Tatum is a really good actor he brings a visceral and authentic rawness to his roles. Well at least the ones where he's got to be and its a treat to see, for me at least.

A Guide to Recognizing Your Saint's and Fighting, both directed by Dito Montiel, really show this energy. I can only imagine this is one of the reasons he was chosen for this role. But sadly, the authenticity of the film will lay on his shoulders and in the few scenes he does speak he sounds like he's really trying to have this roman accent but his "twang" or whatever keeps getting in the way. That in itself really just takes me out of the entire world the movie is trying to build. Hopefully the energy I like is enough to keep me interested but I doubt it.

Jamie Bell and Donald Sutherland round out the supporting cast and I think Jamie Bell is going really shine here. Bell has been seen in Billy Elliot, Jumper, and Defiance. Each of these movies are really good and entertaining and Bell has stepped up his game in each one. Be sure to look out for him in the future. He'll next been seen in Steven Spielberg's The Adventures of TinTin

Overall I'm thinking this movie will get some moderate attention when its released. My advice if you have seen all the movies nominated for a Best Picture already then go ahead and check this out. It might be some harmless fun or it could end up being the worst movie in the world, which will then convince you to go home, put on Gladiator, and reclaim your sanity.

As always the final review of the movie happens when the credits roll and the house lights are up.

The Eagle, does a spread, on February 11th, 2011

Dueces
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

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.

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

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

New THOR COMIC CON TRAILER