Archive for June, 2009
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Posted by Joel in Movie Review on June 25th, 2009
“I’m Standing Right Underneath It’s…..Scrotom”
Now before I start this review I thought I’d point out that I wasn’t raised on the G1 Transformers series but was raised on it’s counterpart/sequel Beast Wars, or Beasties as it was called here in Canada. I have watched some G1, and I understand the basis of the show: How the Autobots protect the earth from the Decepticon who plan to piledge the earth of Energon Cubes. If people don’t understand what G1 means: It is the first generation Transformers, the first series which was created in the mid 80’s. Onto the review. There is a spoiler warning…be WARNED.
WHAT I LOVED ABOUT REVENGE OF THE FALLEN
The Action: There are some really great action scenes displayed in this film, from Optimus Prime taking on FOUR DECEPTICONS to Bumblebee fighting Rampage and the huge climatic battle at the end, it sure pulls it’s punches backa fiew feet and let’s you have it. It’s really amazing some of the set pieces of this film. As you know Michael Bay is very highly regarded for his action movies, not one of his film’s doesn’t feature EXPLOSIONS. Really some cool stuff in this movie.
The Decepticons: They take over this movie like a bag full of hammers to a nerdy guys face, seriously how badass is it to feature not only Megatron, but Starscream, Soundwave, Ravage, Rampage, Demolisher, AND Constructicons all in the same movie. BONUS: Megatron and Starscream bickering between each other put a lot of love into this boy’s heart. Brings back sweet fond memories…
The base of the film: The film is pretty much the adaptation of the cartoon in live action. Autobots wage their battle to destroy the evil forces of the Decepticons. The Decepticons attempt to harvest Energon and also destroy humanity and it’s up to Optimus Prime and his fellow Autobots to stop them. It’s pretty cool to see it in Live Action for sure.
Robot Design: There are some really cool designs for theses vehicles…aside from Mudflap and Skids (but that will come later on) Soundwave is quite cool and a lot of the Decepticons look just intense.
Sound Effects: Once you hear the metallic sounds…your hooked in, and that’s only when the Dreamworks logo pops up, seriously you knew you were in for a treat once you heared thoses sounds…but sounds can be deceiving…
WHAT I HATED ABOUT REVENGE OF THE FALLEN
The absence of some details: So why is it again that only a Prime can destroy The Fallen…Why is Bumblebee’s voice gone again…How can a transformer replicate the human anatomy (Skynet hasn’t perfected it yet in the year 2009, i’m glad to know that Alien understand how)…Why is Tyrese’s teeth so white… next point is a SPOILER!!!!
(spoiler)
Why doesn’t the Fallen just wreck havok on earth once he discovers that Optimus is dead…
(spoiler ended)
All theses things could have been explained easily…but no, they weren’t.
Writting: Did someone seriously throw Bay like 200 million dollars and say GO NUTS! This movie is seriously one of the most immature films I have ever sat down and watched. Wheelie humps Megan Fox’s leg for way too long, Devastator has wrecking balls, Jetfire farts (and I mean it litteral) a parachute…was he high when he wrote this? Did he just decide, well they’ll spend their money anyways, might as well fuck with them…where are thoses boritos….
Mis-use of characters: Some new characters to the film series come off great (Wheelie, Ravage, Soundwave) but a lot of others are hardly even in the movie…so why feature them. Arcee, Ironhide, Ratchet, Sideswipe…even Bumblebee misses out on quite a bit compared to the Twin bots Mudflap and Skids (called Herp and Derp in the forums). DON’T EVEN GET ME STARTED ON THEM…they were alright at first, but after a while they get under you’re skin with their stupid one liners and mannerisms. It’s like they were raised into the same Neighborhood as Bebe’s kids (Reference here) They don’t use any of the cool characters at all, It would have been neat to see what a female Autobot could do, or even see more of Sideswipe and the rest of the Autobots…anything would be better then theses dumb ass twins…
Cinematography: fairly poor, during action scenes the camera is too close to the goddamn action you can hardly see it sometimes….and the action is great, really…Oh and a lot of the cliche Michael Bay stuff (panning around characters, moving from room to room in a circular motion, people running in slow motion, hot people everywhere) dominates this movie with a burning passion.
Score: It was alright, I didn’t hate it, but could have been way more triumphant when it needed to be and way more dark when it deserved to be…I expect more from Linkin Park….
Acting: Lackluster…a lot of the characters are terrible, besides four who will not be mentioned in this, The supporting cast (roomate, John Turturro and all other humans) are useless BESIDES my one and only savior….Rainn Wilson! He is really funny playing a college professor he is soo suave with the ladies, it’s unreal. First day of class he has a girl picking up an apple off the floor and treasuring it with all her lustful glory. Rainn Wilson is just a fun actor and it’s sad that he is hardly in it. Everyone else sucked…besides five ppl….Megan Fox, Shia LaBoeuf, the people who played the parents, and Rainn Freakin’ Wilson…
Michael Bay: This guy deserve an award for Douchebag of the Year. How can you possibly ruin something as good as Transformers…THEY ARE FREAKIN’ ROBOTS FIGHTING EACH OTHER TO DEATH, how simple is that? You have lost a lot of faith from an avid fan Mr. Bay, you really have. By making changes to further YOUR movie along, you went and alienated a lot of fans. By giving too much and adding stuff that are unnecessary you just created a really boring spectacle…and I can’t believe I actually type that thing about Transformers…LOOK WHAT YOU MADE ME DO!
OVERALL
I’m sorry to say, but it was just….meh….Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen suffers from Spider-Man 3 disease: Great beginning (enjoyable, fun and quite entertaining), good ending (intense action) but has a lot of terrible things happening in the middle…a lot. It’s really sad for me to say this but I actually contemplated walking out of the theatre…i’m not joking. It hurt too much. Beloved characters not getting the treatment they need is just appauling, especially to a movie buff like me. I know i’ll watch it again and again, attempting to get over stupid moments because all in all it’s a good nostalgic look on what was the past…but this story should have remained there…Save your money for Bruno or Harry Potter…
RATING: 1.5 OUT OF 5
I’m so sorry Optimus Prime, but as you’ve once said: “ONE SHALL STAND, ONE SHALL FALL”…and you’ve obviously fallen….RIP Prime…rip…
ENJOY BAYSPLOSIONS!
BREAKING NEWS JUNE 24TH 2009
Source: The Academy Motion Picture Arts and Sciences June 24, 2009
The 82nd Academy Awards, which will be presented on March 7, 2010, will have 10 feature films vying in the Best Picture category, Academy Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President Sid Ganis announced today (June 24) at a press conference in Beverly Hills.
“After more than six decades, the Academy is returning to some of its earlier roots, when a wider field competed for the top award of the year,” said Ganis. “The final outcome, of course, will be the same – one Best Picture winner – but the race to the finish line will feature 10, not just five, great movies from 2009.”
For more than a decade during the Academy’s earlier years, the Best Picture category welcomed more than five films; for nine years there were 10 nominees. The 16th Academy Awards (1943) was the last year to include a field of that size; Casablanca was named Best Picture. (In 1931/32, there were eight nominees and in 1934 and 1935 there were 12 nominees.)
Currently, the Academy is presenting a bicoastal screening series showcasing the 10 Best Picture nominees of 1939, arguably one of Hollywood’s greatest film years. Best Picture nominees of that year include such diverse classics as Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Stagecoach, The Wizard of Oz and Best Picture winner Gone with the Wind.
“Having 10 Best Picture nominees is going allow Academy voters to recognize and include some of the fantastic movies that often show up in the other Oscar categories, but have been squeezed out of the race for the top prize,” commented Ganis. “I can’t wait to see what that list of ten looks like when the nominees are announced in February.”
The 82nd Academy Awards nominations will be announced on Tuesday, February 2. The Oscar® ceremony honoring films for 2009 will again take place at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, and will be televised live by the ABC Television Network.
I Met The Walrus (short)
Posted by Joel in Short Films on June 24th, 2009
A Canadian short animated film makes it’s way to Youtube, which in fact means I can show you guys this remarkably great film about one of the last interviews John Lennon had done. Nominated for Best Animated Short a couple of years ago is I MET THE WALRUS
June 23rd DVD Releases
Posted by Joel in DVD and Blu-Ray on June 23rd, 2009
New Releases
Confessions of a Shopaholic
Inkheart
Phoebe in Wonderland
The Code
The Pink Panther 2
Waltz with Bashir
TV Box Set
Blood Ties: Season One
Reba: Season Six
The Girls Next Door: Season Five
The Monster Squad: Complete Collection
Tom and Jerry: The Chuck Jones Collection
Special Editions/Other Releases
A Casa de Alice
Bob Funk
Catlow
Choke Canyon
Diary of a Suicide
Dragon Hunters
He’s On My Mind
High Hopes
Home (2008)
Last Year at Marienbad: Criterion Collection
Love, Murder and Deceit
Mancora
Mr. Troop Mom
My Dinner with Andre
My Dinner with Jimi
Our City Dreams
Pick Up The Mic
Simon Says
Table for Three
The Bible Unearthed
The Black Cyclone
Trapped
I recommend:
Top Ten Films involving Robots
Soundwave
With the release of Terminator Salvation and Transformers:Revenge of the Fallen, I thought it would be appropriate to make a list of the best films involving Robots, whether they be centered around them or just have a random robot in the movie. So here’s the list! I apologize to everyone that Metropolis didn’t make the list, because I haven’t seen it yet! I’m so sorry! It’s on my to do list!!
10. A.I. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: An underrated film at best, the robots are just fun and imaginative in the film, Gigolo Joe has to be my favorite. Favorite Quote by robot:They ask for me by name. Gigolo Joe, What do you know?
9. ALIEN: I won’t say anything but watch the movie and the part where they reveal who’s a robot was a scene so vile and disgusting that people threw up all over the theatres. Also rumour that someone fainted, which wouldn’t surprise me! Favorite Quote by robot: Bring back life form. Priority One. All other priorities rescinded
8. IRON MAN: Tony Stark’s robots are HILARIOUS, truly brought a lot of charm to Tony’s work, really funny characters. Favorite quote by robot: Sign..(squirts fire extinguisher)
7. ROBOCOP: Robocop is half man/half machine and all around badass to the core. Everyone is afraid when Robocop is around!! Also the robot that destroys the crap out of a man in the beginning is intensly awesome! Good Ol’e ED209! Favorite Quote by robot: Four… three… two… one… I am now authorized to use physical force!
6. TRANSFORMERS: AUTOBOTS WAGE THEIR BATTLE TO DESTROY THE EVIL FORCES OF THE DECEPTICONS!! Enough said! Favorite Quote By a Robot: ONE SHALL STAND AND ONE SHALL FALL or AUTOBOTS, TRANSFORM AND ROLL OUT
5. STAR WARS: The quirky Droids from the Star Wars saga are as brilliant as they are humourous. Everyone knows who C3P0 and R2D2 are, and it’s because of their personalities that they flurished in the number 5 spot! Favorite Quote by a robot: Beep, Beep, Beep!
4. BLADE RUNNER: Robots who impersonized living entities…creepy. One of my favorite sci-fi films of all time about a renegade cop who hunts down Robots (Replicants) as his job, hits the number 4 spot! It’s still one of Ridley Scott’s Best Films! Favorite Quote by a Replicant: I’ve seen things you people wouldn’t believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate. All those moments will be lost in time… like tears in rain… Time to die.
3. WALL-E The story of a 800 year old robot who falls in love DESERVES A SPOT ON THE LIST. You know how much I love Pixar!!! Favorite Quote from Robot: WALLLL-EEEE
2. 2001: Stanley Kubrick’s vision of the future features a computer that is the basis of pure evil.. the way he talks. the way he responds just gives chills down my spine everytime. He is so emotionless… Favorite Quote by a Computer: Daisy…Daisy….Give Me Your Answer True….
1. TERMINATOR 2: JUDGEMENT DAY: Terminator was obviously in the top spot. Not only is it the best robot film franchise, it is probably one of the best franchises evar…James Cameron’s baby is truly deserving of a spot in a lot of my lists. They made Arnold Bad, then Good, then Good/Bad then ultimately BAD!!!! LOVE IT!!! Favorite Quote by Robot: I’ll Be Back or HASTA LA VISTA BABY
Terminator Salvation
Posted by Joel in Movie Review on June 22nd, 2009
“So that’s what death tastes like. “
A few years ago, I was talking to my friends about upcoming film franchises that producer’s should persue and one of the thoses remarks was: I wish there was a trilogy based on the wars that were talked about in the terminator movies. I wanna see John Connor become the leader of the resistance against the machines and he’s goal in destroying the machines that have plagued his entire life. So when I found out that they were finally making the trilogy, I got excited! The first film in the trilogy is McG’s Terminator Salvation, a film i’ve been anticipating for years, and the first of the robot movies coming this summer, the other Transformers:Revenge of the Fallen. So let’s see what I thought of Terminator Salvation.
WHAT I LOVED ABOUT TERMINATOR SALVATION
-Half of the Actors: What do I mean by this: There are four actors I really enjoyed in this film: Christian Bale, Sam Worthington, Anton Yelchin, and Helena Bohnam Carter. They were all exceptionally well in their roles, especially my bud YELCHIN, he’s on a role this year, first Star Trek and now Terminator. Bale did awesome as always, even thought he still sounds like Batman, but that can be expected. Sam Worthington was really great as well as Marcus Wright, a convict he get’s fried on the electric chair before the war. I won’t explain Carter’s role in this but it’s pretty neat!
-The Cameo’s and stuff referring to the old movies: You’ll have to watch the movie to find out what i’m talking about, let’s just say…He’s Back… and so is she? OHHHHHHH!!! plus a lot of cool things that they show and draw the film to the other trilogy
-The Terminators: They are designed amazingly. They are gritty and humongous. The harvester, T-600 and the bikes are creazily intense machines. They are truly the saving grace of this film, they really really are!
-The setting: It’s dark and dreary. The world is a hole. Devastation at it’s best and it is such a beautiful sight. Really really cool thing that they did with this.
-The Action: One of the best things about this film is it’s action, it’s seriously packed with robot goodness. People dying left and right and it’s completly intense as all hell. One of the best action films this year is going to this film for sure. Loved every minute the action was going on.
-The sound effects and score:They are reminiscent to Steven Spielberg’s War of the Worlds, which had some phenomenal sound effects. The robot sound ferocious in the metallicness…yes I made up a word. The score is quite triumphant and plays the main theme at the BEST PLACE!!!! Just wait for it….
WHAT I HATED ABOUT TERMINATOR SALVATION
-The other people’s acting: Moon Bloodgood was good but the rest of the cast falters to impress me. They hardly used Bryce Dallas Howard and she could have been great, the rest of the cast seemed like they were picked up off the street or are usually picked for B Movies. Seriously pathetic. You can’t just rely on Bale and Worthington to carry your movie, you need an entire supportive cast to carry the plot throught, which brings me to my next point…
- The plot: There is none…no plot…are you joking.. EVEN TERMINATOR 3 HAD A PLOT…man I miss the old days where terminator wasn’t all action and had some defining plot….I can’t explain plot points because there isn’t any so next point.
-Pokemon disease: You read that right….John Connor and Kyle Reese both suffer from a terrible disease called Pokemon’s disease, where they feel the need to call out there name every 5 minutes…I’M JOHN CONNOR, I’M KYLE REESE…give me a break….Thanks for Birdman Dodd and the TWIG guys for bringing that up on their podcast, I laughed my ass off and realized they were right about Pokemon bots. Here’s their site!
-The drama: Seems really underplayed, and really soap opera-y. Terminator could of brought out something a little more drastic, It’s not a happy movie for a reason.
OVERALL
It’s a good addition to an amazing series. I find this film better then the third film but I don’t think any movie in the series will be able to compete with the James Cameron films. Amazing for an action movie, crappy for a dramatic film. I think it’s a great popcorn flick overall, I sure do like it a lot more then some of the other popcorn flicks of the year like: Fast and Furious, DragonBall Evolution…etc. I found it Not Bad but could of been a hell of a lot better. Still can’t wait for part 5!!!
RATING: 3.5 OUT OF 5
Pixar…what would the world do without you…
Such a beautiful story…please read!
Colby Curtin, a 10-year-old with a rare form of cancer, was staying alive for one thing – a movie.
From the minute Colby saw the previews to the Disney-Pixar movie Up, she was desperate to see it. Colby had been diagnosed with vascular cancer about three years ago, said her mother, Lisa Curtin, and at the beginning of this month it became apparent that she would die soon and was too ill to be moved to a theater to see the film.
After a family friend made frantic calls to Pixar to help grant Colby her dying wish, Pixar came to the rescue. The company flew an employee with a DVD of Up, which is only in theaters, to the Curtins’ Huntington Beach home on June 10 for a private viewing of the movie.
Colby died about seven hours after seeing the film.
With her daughter’s vigil planned for Friday, Lisa Curtin reflected about how grateful she is that Pixar – and “Up” – were a part of her only child’s last day.
“When I watched it, I had really no idea about the content of the theme of the movie,” said Curtin, 46. “I just know that word ‘Up’ and all of the balloons and I swear to you, for me it meant that (Colby) was going to go up. Up to heaven.”
you can read the rest of the story here.
I have no words for this…no words at all. What Pixar has done for that little girl is just so sweet. I’m writing this while listening to the Up soundtrack so don’t mind the gushiness, but they’ve proven to me and I bet millions of other people that they are the most amazing group of individuals in this industry.
Top Ten Favorite Horror Films
Posted by Joel in Uncategorized on June 17th, 2009
Horror films have to be one of my favorite genres of all time: There intense, unsettling and theses are the films that’ll scare you sh@#less. A lot of horror films theses days focus mainly on Gore or just cheap jumps to get the audience going and half of the new films are just remakes of old movie. Don’t believe me? Go to this site and check out the upcoming Horror Movie remakes and then try and justify that they are not overdoing it. So I decided after that to create a list of my TOP TEN Favorite Horror movies, and here we go.
Read the rest of this entry »
My Bloody Valentine 3D….in 2D
Posted by Joel in Movie Review on June 17th, 2009
Ben Foley: Eloquent, Sheriff. You make us look like an inbred mining community.
Axel Palmer: We *are* an inbred mining community, Ben.
Thoses words couldn’t be any more true. This is the quinticential remake, filled with things that directors think will get audiences attention. Let’s take a beloved CANADIAN horror film and put a new spin on it. This film was presented in 3D in theatres and on DVD. I decided I wanted to experience this movie as a movie, not as a “experience” So here is my review of My Bloody Valentine 3D….in 2D
WHAT I LOVED ABOUT MY BLOODY VALENTINE
-The Look: The atmospheric look, the dreary, cold and wet nature of a mine. The clostrophibia which sets in being underground with a dark presence leering at every turn. Horror movie setting at it’s best.
-The Violence: The Violence in this film is actually refreshing, for such a dull kind of film, it’s actually kind of vicious. More vicious then I would have ever thought seeing this villain is human. In the beginning he goes ballistic and kill at least 15 people in a hospital; body parts every, man split in two, really gory stuff. Also what happens to a Dwarf lady is both intense and hilarious!
-The whole Valentine’s ordeal: LOVED IT, he takes out there hearts and writes stuff that are usually written on Candy Hearts. Just cruel as you can get!
WHAT I HATED ABOUT MY BLOODY VALENTINE
-The Acting and Writing: WOODEN…terribly terribly wooden, even when their angry. The dialog is bland and reminiscent of Teenage Soap Operas. Clinched to the max. Overly boring story and boring characters make for a very very crappy movie which should of went straight to DVD instead of theatres, it is that ridiculously dull. Did anyone read the script and realize this was crap? Jaime King, you can do better acting then this!!!!
Jaime King
-The directing: As wooden as the acting and writing, obviously seeing he didn’t put any effort in helping the actors or writers during their process. Pointless nudity, REALLY POINTLESS, and that’s saying a lot for a horror film. Girl gets stabbed in the stomach yet her blood flies across the room and hits a picture…that’s impossible…really really impossible.
-3D in 2D: You can tell where they tried for 3D, also the effects in the film suck. Sometimes it looks like someone is really good at Photoshop, truthfully. This film is full of stupid 3D effects, but when it comes to 2D u see it plain as day which shouldnt be the case. I saw UP in 2D and I couldn’t tell where something was suppose to be 3D. Maybe because they knew what they were doing.
-The Villain: This is not a big issue, a villain can be human (Scream, Halloween, Friday the 13th, Nightm….Freddy doesn’t count, nvm) but he seems too needy. First he kills people in the mine, then everyone at the hospital when he gets up, then he returns to the mine just to kill some more people. Is he seriously going through his needy stage where everything has to be his: MY MINE, PAY ATTENTION TO MEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It just seems pointless, at least the Scream guys had a reason, They Hated Sydney Campbell, Michael Myers wanted to kill whoever was remaining in his family, Jason wanted every sexually active teenager to die, and so on. So he really is pointless, even though he looks cool.
OVERALL
This film needed a better treatment truthfully. Theses days its a pity that they will revive anything out there just to make money. With this 3D Craze, it seems all we are up for is cheap thrills that will have us fork over 15 bucks to see something we wouldn’t spend our time on usually. Save your money and watch a good horror movie instead; I recommened John Carpenter’s The Thing, a movie that’s worth your buck and will scare the piss out of you.
RATING: 1.5 OUT OF 5
JOHN CARPENTER’S THE THING