Movie Preview: Pelham 123 and G-Force

The year starts off with an interesting take of a couple of films. On one hand we have a film that is a remake, and on the other we have a film that sounds like it's a conversion of a classic cartoon. Let's start with the remake.

The Taking of Pelham 123 is a film from 1974. It was well acted, with the leads being Robert Shaw (some may recall him best from The Sting) and Walter Matthau (maybe best know for the film version of the Odd Couple). It dealt with a subject that was foreign in America in 1974, but today is a constant thought in the backs of minds of New York City subway riders everyday. It's not often that a film could hit a subject so well decades before it becomes a national focal point.

Suffice to say that they story is about a hijacking, of a NYC subway car. Sounds odd? Perhaps too incredible? Not really, and even more of a question in these post 9/11 days.



The question you face in the film are:

Can they really do this
Can they get away with it
What can the various departments of New York City do about this

These questions were real in 1974, and today are even more pressing. So the task for Denzel Washington and John Travolta are daunting. They need to make this feel real, scary even, yet not so much as to cause people to give up on the subway. They both have to live up to the performances of the original film, while new scenes of explosions and car chases inevitably will be thrown in for modern audiences. Maybe even overcome some CGI too.

I believe that Travolta will be the bad guy. The character is kind of a mix of roles he took in Broken Arrow and Face/Off. For Denzel as the good guy we will probably get a mix of his characters from Training Day, Inside Man, and perhaps a bit of Virtuosity.

Done on location, I think this remake only has to fear one thing. The tendency of Hollywood writers and studios to revision a great film and lose the meaning and intensity of the original.

On the other spectrum of the films we will see later in the year is G-Force. This is not a conversion of the Japanese cartoon Battle of the Planets. If it were I definitely would want to see that. Instead we have a CGI film from Disney. Prepare to get more depressed.



Yes this is another cute animals film. Guinea Pigs (a mole and a fly) are our heroes in this film. It seems that an animated hamster, cat, dog, and pigeons demanded a one-up by Disney. While these kinds of films can be cute, occasionally, Disney feels the need to grab the kids with cute animals as opposed to a storyline.

I for one am getting bored with all these films with cute animals that can talk and do stunts. I have never really been a big fan of CGI. And I think this is just a cheap tactic as opposed to really original films that might be done. Then again, the film is not targeting single male intellectuals in their 40's.

I'm sure it will bring in a slew of kids, make tons of money, and guarantee a sequel - with even more furry critters than the first. And I don't doubt that this will be a decent choice for parents that don't want their kids exposed to the violence of Terminator:Salvation or the glorification of drugs, violence, and degrading of women this is Notorious. But for the adults out there, don't expect this film to be the Incredibles. You will likely be the least entertained in your family.

List of 25 thoughts on 2008 in review

In a year where the general mantra was change, 2008 lived up to the hype. Yes it's time to look back at the year and reflect on what surprised us, amazed us, disappointed, and angered. Here are some of the best and worst that I have noted about the year.

1. Senator Obama wins the Presidency - After facing rampant rumors and internet smear emails about his race, religion and plans for the nation, not to mention direct insults and racial attacks from the campaign of his now proposed Secretary of State, Senator Obama defied all the pundits and pollsters. With almost 10% of the nation admitting they would never vote for a Presidential candidate that was not White, and a mere 40 years after the Civil Rights Movement, Senator Obama broke through one of the highest and hardest glass ceilings in the nation. Many never expected to see the day a Black man became President. Nothing else could take first place in this year.

2. Amy Winehouse - She is still alive. I am incredibly amazed. She has been in more rehab and hospitals than Britney Spears, and that says a lot this year. I am sure there were odds in Vegas running almost 50/50 on her dying this year. It is merely the miracle of the human body in youth that seems to keep her going, not that she isn't pushing the limits.

3. The mortgage crisis - It started the year depressing the financial industry, raising up gold and commodities, and took out Bear Stearns. This of course gave us the quick action of Treasury Secretary Paulson, Barney Frank, and Fed chairman Bernanke. Thus it got much worse. As oil peaked at $160/barrel, gold topped $1100, mortgage foreclosures hit all-time highs, and home prices dropped across the nation the overseers just mentioned promised more action and the security of our institutions. Then Freddie Mac and Fannie Mac failed on cue. And as the scramble to fix the fix became more important it became an election issue. But not before we were told the sky was about to fall; it didn't but the stock market did. This then became...

4. The credit crisis - Money for everyone got scarce. New home purchases bogged down as banks said no to even highly qualified borrowers. Big businesses couldn't get loans, including Mc Donald's. The stock market continued down in a crash not seen in 2 generations. Banks failed at an unprecedented rate, brokerages became banks to get in on a bailout that HAD to happen. And the Government scooped up positions in private business, for our good, as they poured a trillion dollars into the economy. Which still has not stopped the overall downturn in the economy.

5. Heath Ledger, Bernie Mac, Isaac Hayes, Buddy Dial, Jerry Groom, Janet Kagan, John Bliss, Julian Rathbone, Mike Smith, William F. Buckley, Jr., David Edwards, Buddy Miles, Genoa Keawe, Larry Norman, Richard Baer, Eagle Day, Dennis Letts, Stephen Marlowe, Steve Whitaker, Ben Chapman, Robin Moore, Bobby Lee Trammell, Jim Jones, Benigno G. Tabora, Jerry Karl, Bobby Lord, Johnny Weaver, Thurlow Cooper, Perry Lopez, Lionel Mark Smith, Roger Voisin, John Brunious, Preston Hanson, Freddie Bell, Steve Gerber, Roy Scheider, Robert DoQui, John Alvin, John Grimsley, Schoolboy Cleve, Kenny Konz, Winston Walls, Ken Hunt, Christopher Allport, Lance Clemons, Suzanne Pleshette, Bobby Fischer, Ernie Holmes, Allan Melvin, Brad Renfro, Johnny Grant, Brandi Borr, O.G. Style, Sean Levert, Heath Benedict, Chalmers Alford, Richard Widmark, Al Hofmann, Wayne Davis, G. David Low, Martin Fierro, Rafael Tufiño, Chuck Day, Gary Gygax, Ivan Caesar, Will Robinson, Paul Davis, Al Wilson, Orish Grinstead, VL Mike, John Marzano, Danny Federici, Sean Costello, Stanley Kamel, James Barrier, Gib Shanley, Charlton Heston, Ray Poole, Harvey Korman, Sydney Pollack, Tom McHale, Mitch Mullany, Camu Tao, Dick Martin, Michelle Meldrum, Zelma Henderson, Lloyd Moore, John Phillip Law, Heather Stohler, Dick Sutcliffe, Curtis Whitley, Eddy Arnold, Mildred Loving, Jim Hager, Don S. Davis, Dave Carpenter, Charles Dryden, John Furlong, George Carlin, Scott Kalitta, Mel Agee, Johnathan Goddard, Stan Winston, Mitch Frerotte, Jim McKay, Robert J. Anderson, Bo Diddley, Mel Ferrer, Luther Davis, Bruce Adler, Michael J. Daly, Joe Beck, Estelle Getty, Anastasia Blue, Paul Sorensen, Sherman Maxwell, Luke Kruytbosch, Bobby Murcer, Terrence Kiel, Larry Harmon, Phil Hill, Ed Vega, Kevin Duckworth, Steve Foley, Frank Cornish, Jeff MacKay, Jerry Finn, Julius Carry, LeRoi Moore, Pervis Jackson, Jack Kamen, Gary Mooney, Fujio Akatsuka, Paul Newman, Nappy Brown, Norman Whitfield, Joan Winston, Joey Giardello, Bill Meléndez, John Ripley, Estelle Reiner, Merl Saunders, Richard Blackwell, Dave McKenna, Chris Mims, Kevin Foster, Gidget Gein, DeWayne McKinney, Johnny "J", Robert Arthur, Doris Dungey, Derek Scott, MC Breed, Abraham Woods, Michael Crichton, Chris Thurston, Nathaniel Mayer, Tiffany Sloan, Shakir Stewart, Paul Benedict, Donna Stewart-Hardaway, Steve Bradley, Jimmy Anderson.

All passed away in 2008. Only Heath Ledger has been spoken about in any lasting and referential way.

6. The Shield ended is run on cable television. And so has The Riches in a move of network television cowardice (in my opinion). Leaving a serious void of realistic and/or quality programming.

7. American Idol continues to be on television. Creating a lasting void in the minds of viewers.

8. Top movies of the year starts with Batman: The Dark Knight. Which proves that hype and bad writing can make money. This is followed by Iron Man (a massively better movie), Indiana Jones 4, Hancock, Wall-E, Kung Fu Panda, Madagascar 2, Horton Hears a Who, Sex in the City, and Quantum of Solace.

Considering the top 10 grossing films, you would think the nation loves kid films that are animated or movies based on long-running comic book characters. The exception being sluts and a guy with an accent and lots of violence. And you would be right.

9. The continuous flood of television shows that were successful (and better) on the BBC, that have now been Americanized and appear on U.S. channels (notably NBC). Generally these converted shows fail within a few episodes.

10. The massive blogosphere controversy over Ben Stiller's film Tropic Thunder failed to ignite onto the streets when the film came out in theaters. This is likely due to the failure of the film as anything watchable. But the controversy continues to this day.

11. The massive number of films that are 'revisioned' copies of comic books, television shows, and books astounds the mind. 70 % of the top 10 movies are either a sequel, comic book conversion, television show and/or a combination of these. The sheer number of copies for the entire year is to high to count, especially if you add in video game conversions to the mix. Witting in Hollywood seems to be completely dead.

12. The absolute joy of the media and many White Americans at the thought, and then celebration of the OJ Simpson Las Vegas trial and conviction. Never mind the dubious nature of how the crime was setup, nor the quirky way the trial went. It could only be justice if OJ went to jail for a long time, which was a given the day he was arrested. Not to mention the guy where justice just evaporated and the media just passed it over.

13. The unmitigated bias and propaganda of the news media in promoting President-elect Obama throughout the election cycle. Never before has the media so blatantly given up its obligation to provide the truth without bias to the public. It wasn't yellow journalism, but it wasn't beneficial either.

14. The amazement of how the media continues to depict video games as inciting violence in children, while playing down events like the collapse of a boy because his father could not bother to check in on him for 20 hours. It's not the games any more than it's music or movies or cartoons. It's the lack of parents doing their jobs.

15. The belief of some that racism has ended because President-elect Obama won. This flies in the face of police actions this year, stereotypes in the media, events in the nation, and long-held views that were reflected in polls. Or did we forget Lindsey Lohan already (which is understandable).

16. Guns n' Roses Chinese Democracy finally made it out to fans. Considering it took well over a decade to get done you might have expected it to be a masterpiece - it isn't. Still it did get it's share of media attention mostly due to Dr. Pepper.

17. Hanoi Jane Fonda announced she is again trying to forget what she did in the past.

18. Even amid all the economic chaos many continued to make charitable donations. Some from the most unexpected sources. And sometimes the media just wants to throw garbage at such actions. Still giving is a great thing and especially in these difficult times.

19. Internet scams continue to be on the internet, and many are gaining steam. From fake IRS stimulus checks to going after the grandparents little is left to chance. Considering the information on the net you would expect these frauds to fail completely. Yet they are still out their. And more than a few are snake oil salesmen that do to well with incredible claims that only harm those they claim to help.

20. We all continue to remember Sept 11, 2001. And I hope we never forget or diminish what happened that day. Or how we came together as a nation in the weeks afterward.

21. The Olympics were a time of great unity in the world. And at the same time some nation chose this moment to show how backwards they can still be in the 21st century.

22. And the media continued to seek out ways to portray African Americans as poorly as possible. While at the same time ignoring the obvious racially motivated actions of institutions against Blacks.

23. Several black celebrities were able to get some extra media this year though. Some were for accidents that occurred (and the media sought to mine controversy out of tragedy). Some were for their rising stars as they continued to gain acclaim they deserved. And a few were just selling out just a bit more before their media inspired hype ends.

24. We had a moment where the Government almost did something important. But instead settled for something notable and that went unreported. Because how important could an apology for slavery really be? Besides important enough that no one wanted their names on it, yea or nea.

25. There were many cotroversies throughout the year. Some for silly items and some were quite serious.

26. And along the way some learned a few new things about this nation that they never knew before.

These are just some of the things in the year that I noticed. I am sure I missed a few things, or had an interpertation some disagreed with. There were events I didn't mention, or didn't convey in this list. And I really haven't mentioned one thing that I find personally quite important.

One of the most important things in 2008 was the continued and growing attention you my visitors have provided to my blogs and sites. Without the attention and input from all your voices in over 125 nations each month, I would be working in vain. And for that I want to thank you.

I continue my promise to let you know my thoughts on issues and events that I believe are important, and sometimes just silly, that catch my eye. I will work hard to respond to each comment and email that comes from you. I will endeavour to provide the quality of writing and attention to detail you have come to expect.

2008 has been a good year for the growth of my blogs and sites, but I realize that it only happens because of you.

So I end this review of 2008 with this thought. No matter the economic environment, the events of the day, we all can achieve success if we work hard and maintain a high level of quality. You have proven that for me, and if I can do it I am sure you my readers can do even more.

Upcoming films to avoid like the plague

So we know some of the upcoming movies that I would recommend (based on the trailers, actors, and plots as far as I can tell). But perhaps as critical is to know what to avoid in the theaters. Nothing is as painful as the thought that you just spent $30 a person to see a film that made you understand how a rat feels as it flees a sinking ship.

In the past couple of years Hollywood has flooded the theaters with these substandard, cheap, not-worthy-of–DVD purchase films. I suppose Hollywood exes expect that the law of numbers says they should make enough money on at least one of these films in the first week to justify making them all.


My advice, just avoid them. Unless you happen to be stuck on a sinking ship without a life raft in the middle of the ocean in shorts, in the middle of winter, can’t swim, sharks in the water, at midnight on a moonless night, and are paralyzed from the neck down. Otr am I being too subtle?

Pink Panther 2


The perfect example of what I mean. Please, someone in Hollywood, stop whomever is greenlighting these movies. Peter Sellers is dying all over again. Steve Martin is not funny, his accent is insulting, his physicality is like watching a 6 year old do Swan Lake. Didn’t the first film flop bad enough? I had thought so but it seems I am wrong. Why does Hollywood want to punish the public?

Really readers, go rent a copy of any of the older and far superior Peter Sellers Pink Panther movies. You’ll feel better for it and save money too.

I hate to say this next one but

Star Trek (XI)


I am a fan of the original series. I loved watching James Tiberius Kirk, Spock, ‘Bones’ McCoy and the rest. So I was anticipating this film since I heard about it. I wasn’t even put off when I heard that the kid from Harold & Kumar was going to be Sulu. But the first trailer I see now (bootleg as it is) does not inspire me.

I don’t get the thrill of Kirk, not the intellect and dedication of Spock. McCoy looks interesting. Who knows about Uhura, Sulu, and Checkov. Scotty is far too giddy.

It’s too soon to say this is a complete mess. But from what I can gather off this trailer, they may have ruined the franchise. Which really sucks. Until I see a better trailer, this movie is on my don’t watch unless in interrogation list. A real shame.

The Spirit


Every reason that made Sin City work, fails in this film. I like Samuel Jackson but his character in this film just doesn’t catch. The focus on women is a distraction. It makes me believe that the movie studio knows that this film won’t work on it’s own merits, thus go with the sex always sells tactic. A very bad sign.

I’m not drawn into the movie, not enticed. Not that I every liked The Spirit. This may well be one graphic novel too much. The transition from comic graphic novel to film isn’t making it. I just hope it doesn’t affect the Watchmen in a negative manner.

So the good news is that there are more films coming up to watch than not. Though I tend to ignore most of the garbage, it generally doesn't deserve the attention my blogs provide. But the final verdicts are far from in.

Upcoming movies for 2008 holiday season and 2009

Now that the election is over, and while we are still learning how our money is being spent in ways we never considered (thank you Paulson), the need for a distraction is eminent. This holiday season, as unemployment rises and stock market hopes fall, we all need to get away. Escaping to a vacation that we all can afford. A good movie.

The big question though is if Hollywood has anything to offer us. In recent years the obsession of Hollywood in electing a liberal a President as possible consumed the silver screen. Millions of dollars and huge amounts of time were wasted on political statements that were poorly written, and wouldn’t be worth watching if they were on broadcast television with American Idol and Dancing with the Stars on before and afterwards.

To put it bluntly, if you’ve seen more than 3 movies in a theater this year you wasted money and left thinking that you were once smarter than after the movie experience. But can Christmas bring us all what we have been wishing for, entertainment?

Well the answer is yes and no. There are a couple of movies that might compel you to leave the comfort of your own home. Of course these movies are surrounded by crap that you are probably seeing trailers for right now.

Let’s start with what may be worth your groceries for a day or 2.

Seven Pounds


Will Smith is on a roll (like he stopped). You watch this trailer and you get a couple of thoughts. Why is he doing this? What is the secret? Will this be uplifting? I don’t know the answers but I am very sure of the ability of this actor to make it worth the time for find out. This movie will make money, but more importantly it will entertain you. It will let you share an emotional response with everyone in the theater, and that’s why we see movies.

Transporter 3


Jason Statham tends to always deliver. He is the man of action films these days, and with good reason. His characters tend to be intelligent, the plots tend to make some kind of sense, and the action is not filled with CGI or stunt doubles. Generally the more sequels you have the worse the movies get, but the Transporter series has done well to date. This should easily be worth the price of admission, because he can drive!

Valkyrie


Tom Cruise has finally gotten this movie ready for theaters. I mentioned this earlier when this was planned for the summer. I’m looking forward to the film. But I must admit that with reflection, and seeing additional trailers I have one problem. Cruise. He seems to boyishly happy and young to be a Nazi Colonel that is going to try to kill Hitler. While it’s a true story, I would expect the look of the real schemers to be a tad bit grim. But I will see if all the brightness in the film hinders or benefits the plot.

My Name is Bruce


Ok, I admit I am a Bruce Campbell fan. I just love his movies (and television shows most don’t recall). He is funny. So this film sending up his celebrity and still focusing on what made him famous is spot on. The trailer got me chuckling. Will I see it, yep. Will it win an Oscar, nope. Will it be entertaining? More likely than not. Bruce Campbell may not be Will Smith (on many levels) but one thing they both do well is pick movies that they can excel in. Now where is that boomstick?

Underworld: Rise of the Lycans


I thought this movie had been made a while ago (like Vin Diesel’s Chronicles of Riddick – which supposedly has the 3rd film done years ago) so I’m not surprised it’s coming out. The first film was well worth the price of admission. The second not as much. But redemption seems at hand. This 3rd film is more of a prequel though. And a good thing too, because I really wanted to see more of the Lycan-Vampire war. Mythical creatures, medieval setting, swords, warfare on massive scale. Yep this should be good. And I like the lead actors too! Bonus.

Not Easily Broken


Morris Chestnut is definitely the go to guy in Black films. He has done very well in taking roles that are uplifting, and afrocentric. This is another of those films. I like this personally because, besides the quality acting and plot, it is an example that being African American does not mean being in a pigeonhole of stereotypes the media loves to display us as. This will actually be out in January 2009 (in time for the inauguration – how interesting), so thankfully it will give the Black community a choice besides seeing Notorious – which I do not recommend.

Watchmen - the clock is running

There are some things in life you just can’t miss out on. Your first kiss, turning 21, reading a great novel, and on and on. These are experiences you can’t live without, or if you do then your life just feels all that much more shallow and empty. And there are movies that fall into this group as well. In 2009 I expect that a film will be released that will be in that category.

Watchmen

If you have never read a comic book or graphic novel, you need to read this. If you have never seen a movie based on a graphic novel or comic book you need to see this (and what rock have you been under the last 2 decades?). This should be bigger than Spiderman, bigger than The Dark Knight, bigger than all of them.

I’m heaping a lot of praise in advance of this movie which is not normal for me. But if this is done right, you will never question why.

Here is the video that just came out.



The story is too big, and complex to explain in a single post. In fact if you were told about the movie or novel it would be a crime. The pleasure is going on the cruise.

I will say this. Rorschach is the man. And Ozymandus (I always spell it wrong) is smarter than Batman (if you understand that Bruce Wayne is the greatest detective ever – not that the movies show it).

Let me give you a taste of the man that would tell the world …



This is unlike any hero movie you’ve ever seen. This is a story 95% will never figure out ahead of time. Unless they completely screw it up, it’s a movie that will stand out from virtually every story you’ve ever watched.

The clock is running, the joke is on you. 2009 is not too far.

Even more 2008 summer film previews

I’ve been writing about the summer movies of 2008 for some time now. I’ve covered everything from The Andromeda Strain remake on A&E, to Iron Man, to The Incredible Hulk. I’ve given previews of movies I’m looking forward to like Hancock and Wanted and movies that I think are, or will be, dreadful like Batman: The Dark Knight, What happens in Vegas, and Speed Racer. But there are a few films that I have failed to mention. So here I go.

Get Smart is a remake of a television show that first ran in the 1960’s. Don Adams, a former Marine, took a more comedic and slapstick approach to the suave spy theme in this show and made it work well. It’s a funny show that is known for its wacky and partially functional secret weapons as the leads instantly recognizable voice (used for equal success in the children’s cartoon Inspector Gadget).

This movie looks to have none of these sparks. Yes it is more flashy, with explosions and special effects that the original television program could only dream of. But the focus on all the glitz will detract from the actual comedy that is the Clouseau-esque lead. Lots of popular stars, big budget, and not a single reason not to wait for this to hit cable. Yet another movie version of a great television show that reveals Hollywood has no idea what makes a show work, or that they ever watched the program in the first place.



The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. And you thought all the mummies were done. This is the 3rd film of the series and lives in the same continuity. Our favorite mummy fighting dad, Brendan Frasier is back again alongside his son (now grown up) and his nar-do-well Brother-in-law.

Put the blame of the latest threat on the son this time as he releases Jet Li from his slumbers. The CGI looks to be good, and the clips give good reason to believe the unique blend of humor and action that made the first 2 films work well are still in place. If it’s half as good as previous movies in the series then this is worth going to the theatre.



Hellboy 2 has gotten a boost in the form of the director of Pan’s Labyrinth, Guillermo Del Toro. And its obvious that he had a major influence on the movie. The characters are right out of his mind to the screen. Which may help give more credibility to the story. The first film lacked believability, even for the subject it was dealing with. This one looks far more committed to the otherworldly essence that is the base of the story. Now if they can plug up the plot holes that plagued the first film it could be quite good. Either way it should be a better experience than Batman or Get Smart. If you have the extra cash it could be worth the money.



War, Inc. has several good things working for it. John Cusack is sort of reprising his role as an assassin that he played in Grosse Point Blank, along with his sister as his secretary. The film is absurd, dealing with a war that is farmed out to a corporation. That absurdity works with the way the film seems to be portrayed. And for the far-left there is a healthy dose of anti-war meaning that Hollywood seems to want to flood the theaters with.

At least this film seems to present that concept with a laugh instead of the usual sledgehammer seen in prior big budget flops (that deserved to never be seen).



Meet Dave, Space Chimps, Step Brothers, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2, and Mamma Mia all seem like great films for the discount DVD bin. If I were to be paid to see them I’d still just stick with an edited trailer instead.

Could I be wrong? Sure, and the Dukes of Hazzard was a film worthy of an Oscar. Honestly I’m sure some would like any of the films I don’t, just as some people think huffing paint is worth the holes in the brain it causes.

The only really big question in the near future is Batman. From what I’ve seen the Joker is horrible, and if he is the film fails. Not to worry though, there will be another Batman, likely a Hellboy 3, and several other superhero and videogame movies to come. They might even make a movie about Good Times or All in the Family. But that will be another post.

Prepare for Doomsday - 3.2.2008.1

So what do you do if you are in Hollywood, you don’t have a remake available, no ‘revisioned’ classic television shows on the table, and nary a comic book (even an unpopular one) in site? You make up a movie with bits of other films, no name actors, and a low budget.

That is how I would describe the previews of Doomsday. A bit of several good money-making clips with a pro-feminist twist for good measure. I mean the while thing reminds me of 5 sci-fi films (not counting low budget films). Those movies are Escape from New York, 28 Days Later, Mad Max, Transporter (ok, not a sci-fi but action), and Alien.

From what I can tell we start with 28 Days Later, because some virus is released killing a good part of the world, or threatens to. A last bastion of humanity is secluded in a walled off city (Day of the Dead/Aeon Flux/Waterworld/Resident Evil). Out in the badlands surrounding the city is a crazy chaotic new society of (probably) post-apocalyptic mutants/survivors. So an adventurer/loner that travels the wasteland (Mad Max) is given a mission because a cure was identified and lost or otherwise unattainable. The Loner/adventurer needs to get whatever it is and bring it back. The loner has a souped up vehicle (Transporter/Knight Rider/Ghost Rider) to help do this. Of course the Item is held in the stronghold of the mutant/survivors (Escape from New York) that have their own barbaric society based on brutality. I’m sure they throw a timeframe ticking away too.

Oh. Where does Alien come in? Like in that movie we have a heroine, because that sells really well these days.

Seriously, this all does not bode well for the film. Besides being formulaic, when was the last time you saw a film that blatantly stole ideas from better films well? Excluding, in fact, including spoofs. The low budget aspect virtually ensures that the below-the-line costs of the film were spent on the special effects. Probably a good bit of the above-the-line too.

So the net of it all is what? A less than entertaining mash-up of ideas done better previously. My suggestion is to skip spending the $20 or so per person to see this in the theater. Wait 6 months and get the DVD for $10 - 15 and watch it on a rainy/snowy night when the car is busted.

Could I be wrong? Sure, but the odds of this being good are about the same as television suddenly realizing the world is made up of more than just White people. I’d sooner bet on Britney Spears making a comeback and/or being named mother of the year than this movie being a hit. The only real positive for it is that the female lead is good looking, and there isn’t another action or sci-fi film out to compete with it. [Jumper is so bad as to not count.]

If you are masochistic enough to see this film in theaters, do let me know how close I’ve come.

Teaser film clip for May 22nd opening - 2.18.2008.1

So here is something that will perk up movie fans hopes for this year. Amid the dreary and less than stellar choices coming to a movie theater near you there is yet one more spark of creativity and enjoyment.

Of course this is a sequel, actually the 4th movie in a series that has covered decades. But the title character is a favorite among fans. The producers are legendary and the budget matches the grandeur that one would imagine to be attached to such a film.

It’s targeted for May, right in the start of the summer holiday season. And I’ll just give you this hint before you might click on the video clip: Harrison Ford.

I’m looking forward to this, and if the video is any indication there is reason to want to.

2008 films of note - 1.31.2008.1

So Rambo has come out along with Cloverfield. 2 of the more anticipated movies of 2008 are now out and everyone is looking forward to see what will be coming up next. The choices seem slim to me, and I’d expect the box office numbers to be lower than in 2007.

As I have mentioned in the past, Star Trek fans can look forward to the latest installment of the series that delves into the earliest days of James T. Kirk, Spock, Bones McCoy and the rest of the original crew. The cast is mostly unknown or little known, which can be good or bad. But the teaser trailer that is out, is just a waste of time.



Notice the snub to William Shatner, the original Kirk, in that his friend and original Spock, Leonard Nimoy, speaks the ever so famous intro lines. Hopefully this will be a good movie, and has none of the writers from Star Trek: Enterprise.

I’ve discussed Iron Man, Batman: The Dark Knight, Speed Racer (a while ago – I don’t like the trailers I’ve seen so far), and WANTED previously.

In the world of sequels expect to revisit HellBoy 2 to do well.



It’s a bit over the top, but at least it’s honest about that. The first was entertaining, and the Dark Elf looking villain in this film could be of interest.

For more original fare we have what will undoubtably become a hit film Kung Fu Panda. I mean how can it go wrong. It’s animated, has Jack Black’s voice, a comedy, and has martial arts fighting. This will clear $200 million easy.



Of course that looks like it has far more laughs and interest that the latest film by Adam Sandler. He’s been very hit and miss of late, more miss than hit. Don’t Mess with Zohan seems to be on that miss list, even though it’s sure to make $100 million. Perhaps it’s just me but this film just doesn’t hit the mark. At best it’s just a DVD film, but I won’t spend $20 to see it in a movie theater.



The real winner in comedy is probably the anti-super hero film Hancock. Will Smith takes the concept of a superhero and Superman in particular and twists the concept. It’s a superhero with issues and problems, some especially entertainers and celebrities tend to have. It looks good, and may be a sleeper hit (or at least a sleeper for a Will Smith lead film).



In the line of over the top, silly, action filled comedy there is Postal. This film doesn’t look to have a single serious moment. Of course that does not count what is the opening scenes of the film. Guaranteed to piss off Muslims, and highly likely to anger many New Yorkers (and anyone who lost someone in 9/11) just because of the start of the film. I’ve seen several trailers that look good. The opening isn’t one of them. You can see the other clips at many places, but this is the start, which is not funny to me.



Perhaps it will be worth the time, after this opening, but the question will be can anyone get past that. Sure to gain a lot of protests, who knows how it will go.

What I will go see is some of the following.

Jackie Chan and Jet Li in the same film. Do I need to say more? Forbidden Kingdom



Wanted, Iron Man, Vantage Point



I’ll give you more as the year progresses.

Previews of 2008 films - 11.30.2007.1

Recently I was in the movies watching the Hitman movie and of course before the film there were several trailers. One of the trailers was for the new Will Smith film I Am Legend. I think that will be a good remake, this is the 4th reiteration of the film. I’ve spoken about this film before.

But there were 2 other trailers that also caught my attention. Both have A-list stars in them, and in each one of those stars is also African American. Both are Sci-fi films, and as longtime readers know I love comic books, video games and scifi. (Yes I’m a bit of a geek) But the big differences in the 2 films are the date they will be coming out and the quality of the films. One will bomb almost assuredly, the other should do well as long as it’s not up against Iron Man.

I’ll start with the worst and go to the best.

Jumper is trash. Not only did I get that impression from the trailer, but it is confirmed when the trailer states the movie will be out in mid-February. The worst of films almost always start off the year and appear between the middle of January thru February. It’s a dead time, with only a slight break for romance movies targeting the Valentine’s Day holiday. But romance movies don’t bring in the money.

This film has several fatal flaws. They are so big even Mr. Samuel Jackson can’t save the film with his presence. The big problem? They went for CGI heavy effects and forgot about the plot, and you can’t blame this on the writers strike. As you can see in the clip, the main character is a X-men-esque type with the power to jump from anyplace in the world to any other. Ok. Anything he holds onto goes with him. OK. So when he jumps to some other place in the world how can a rope catch him half a world away and pull him back? The rope was after the fact, and once it went through shouldn’t Mr. Jackson be pulled to the kid? Sci-fi films that rip off good ideas for quick bucks on a gimmick tend to fail. So will this I bet. See for yourself.



On the other end of the spectrum we have a more action based film with sci fi elements. WANTED looks to do quite well. It has Mr. Morgan Freeman (as a headmaster assassin – a bit different if he really is a bad guy), and the lovely Mrs. Angelina Jolie. It a movie about top assassins, so good that the laws of physics fail. [Yes a Matrix rip off, but it looks like they paid for a plot too] Our everyday guy, turned super killer looks plain vanilla enough. The chance for massive gunfights with really hi-tech guns seems excellent. And Mrs. Jolie looks great in those outfits.



Neither film will win an Oscar, granted. But my money says that WANTED is a winner, and Jumper will only look like a strong film when compared to Redacted or Lions for Lambs (the theme of both I hate, and happy to see them burning up in red tape).

Well you know what I think, what do you think of them. Which does better? And I still say Iron Man is the early leader for best blockbuster, and overall best film, of the year 2008.

Winning Awards in 2008? - 6.11.2007.2

There were 2 very interesting movie previews that can be seen before Ocean’s 13, and I’m looking forward to both. Not much has been said about either of these movies, but I expect a lot more buzz to arrive as their release time approaches. One film stars Mr. Will Smith, the other Mr. Don Cheadle.

The film with Mr. Don Cheadle is Talk To Me. It’s a film based on the real life of Mr. Ralph “Petey” Greene. From the clip we can quickly see that the film takes place around the late 60’s to early 70’s. It’s a volatile time in America, the Viet Nam war and riots over race and equality are leading the change in everyday life. Mr. Greene is an ex-con, who gets to work as a radio DJ.


In a way he is similar to the character played by Mr. Robin Williams in Good Morning Viet Nam, that is he is direct, humorous, and anything but the status quo. There are 2 great lines from the theatrical trailer that stick in my mind. The first is the character Mr. Greene telling the listening audience,

“I am a recovering alcoholic. I’ve been sober… 5 hours…”

The other line is even better. Mr. Cheadle as Petey states,

“I am about to introduce a pimp that I wouldn’t let was my car, but you [N-word] saw fit to elect him your mayor.”

[For those who are to young to know, being called a pimp in the 70’s was not a compliment. It meant its actual meaning, an unsavory and untrustworthy individual. Suffice to say, the statement was not a compliment.] These lines may not catch you, but when you see the trailer you will understand why they stand out. Expect to hear a great deal about Mr. Cheadle’s performance in this.


The other film, coming out later in the year, is I Am Legend. Its star is Mr. Will Smith and the film is a remake. Actually this is the 3rd version of the film, which is derived from a book by Mr. Richard Matheson. The depiction of the trauma in New York City reflects the somber story and images from its predecessor films.

For those film buffs out there you may recall [potential spoiler alert – the links may give away the plot of the new film] The Last Man on Earth with the remarkable Mr. Vincent Price. A classic film, in black and white, that doesn’t get enough attention these days. Others may be more familiar with the cult film The Omega Man with Mr. Charlton Heston. Both films are based on the same storyline as the up-coming version.

There is little I can say about the film without giving away vital elements. What I will say is that there are many compelling elements to this story, depending on how it is developed. There is a stark harshness, and reality in the film that did not exist when the first 2 versions were made some 30+ years ago. The theatrical trailer fills you with a deep sense of loneliness, loss and painful change. That is the heart of the films.

I can only hope that several elements of the Mr. Vincent Price original, particularly the last 15 minutes, are incorporated in this latest version. There is no question that aspects of the Mr. Charlton Heston remake will carry through, conveying more of a chance for special effects. Given what may be a sparse first half of the film, I expect Mr. Smith’s acting ability to shine brightly.

As many know I generally don’t like the trend of remakes and re-visioning that has enveloped Hollywood. Most films that have been re-done are virtually absent any of the qualities that made the original films worth watching. Often the original remains far superior to the remake. One example would be the re-make of Halloween, the original had scares and intensity without ever showing a drop of blood. I severely doubt its remake will capture the same qualities and will have lavish amounts of blood, much to its loss. Considering the quality of Mr. Smith, and the nature of the prior films, I think this will be an exception to the rule of how bad Hollywood does re-makes these days.

As I mentioned above, the trailers caught my attention as well as all in the theaters. Both leading men are known for their ability and choice of quality films. I’ll even go so far as to say that critical nods will probably go to both performances, based on what I have seen. I’m going out on a limb but mark my words, one or both films will be up for an award. Now that I’ve said that, see the films and see if I’m right. If I am wrong I will mention it, I hope though that my first impression is correct.

This is what I think, what do you think?