I'm not normally a Ben Stiller fan, but I have to say Tropic Thunder was well written and produced. It beats out GET SMART for the best action comedy of the year so far.
However, with that said, this is mostly a guy film. Not to many women are going to like it.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Friday, August 15, 2008
Summer Action Movie Ratings
The summer action movies are rapidly coming to a close with the release of Tropic Thunder this week. The new Mummy movie was good, but not no-where good enough to knock The Dark Knight off the top spot, or the next five. I rate that movie just after Get Smart, knocking Hellboy II down to the eighth spot.
Although I don’t want to get ahead of myself, I would say that Batman and Iron Man are safe bets at the first and second spot. However, its wide open after that with Tropic Thunder and Bangkok Dangerous the only real competition.
Death race and Babylon A.D. will probably finish above last place, but probably not by much.
Here’s how I rate them. (This is my rating, not how they did at the boxoffice)
1. The Dark Knight
2. Iron Man
3. Wanted
4. The Incredible Hulk
5. Hancock
6. Get Smart
7. The Mummy: Dragon Emperor
8. Hellboy II: The Golden Army
9. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
10. The Forbidden Kingdom
11. Speed Racer
12. Journey to the Center of the Earth
Yet to be rated are: Tropic Thunder, Bangkok Dangerous, Death Race, Babylon A.D.
Although I don’t want to get ahead of myself, I would say that Batman and Iron Man are safe bets at the first and second spot. However, its wide open after that with Tropic Thunder and Bangkok Dangerous the only real competition.
Death race and Babylon A.D. will probably finish above last place, but probably not by much.
Here’s how I rate them. (This is my rating, not how they did at the boxoffice)
1. The Dark Knight
2. Iron Man
3. Wanted
4. The Incredible Hulk
5. Hancock
6. Get Smart
7. The Mummy: Dragon Emperor
8. Hellboy II: The Golden Army
9. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
10. The Forbidden Kingdom
11. Speed Racer
12. Journey to the Center of the Earth
Yet to be rated are: Tropic Thunder, Bangkok Dangerous, Death Race, Babylon A.D.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Golden age of superhero movies arrives
When “Iron Man” opened last month, it helped cement an era started by “X-Men” and “Spiderman” - the dawn of the golden age of comic book movies.
“Iron man” grossed more than $100 million in its opening weekend domestically and was the top grossing film for two straight weeks. Since its opening 13 weeks ago, it has made more than $314 million and is still playing at more than 200 theaters. You can expect that margin to more than double when the DVD comes out, which will most likely be near the holidays.
The “Dark Knight” is doing even better and breaking many financial box office records.
Why?
To get the answer, you have to travel back to 1978 to the father of modern super hero movies – “Superman,” staring Christopher Reeve. When the movie first came out, the caption read, “You will believe a man can fly,” and we did.
“Superman” grossed more than $300 million world wide. A nice tidy sum back then, as it is now.
Up until “Superman,” comic book fans were subjected to “Howard the Duck,” “Punisher,” Conan” and the 1966 adaptation of “Batman” starring Adam West. Television adaptations were no better. The special effects were horrendous and the plots were worse.
The biggest problem with most superhero movies until “Superman” was that Hollywood believed special effects were more important than story, even through they had evidence to the contrary.
The one exception to the bad superhero TV adaptations was “The Hulk” starring Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno. In “The Hulk,” special effects amounted to giving Bixby green contacts and painting Lou Ferrigno green. Still, the show endured.
Why? Because “The Hulk” stories dealt with emotions, something they forgot in the 2003 movie version. In this year’s do-over, they got it right.
“Superman,” also dealt with human emotion. “Superman,” has always been a hard superhero to write for. How do you make an invincible man engaging and likeable? How do you keep him from taking over the world?
Answer: You humanize him and the movie did an effective job of giving superman human frailties.
With the superb acting of Christopher Reeve, “Superman” set the bar for superhero movies that no others were able to achieve until the 2000 release of “X-Men,” which grossed $296 million world wide by the time it was done. In 2002, “Spiderman” did exactly what “Superman” and “X-Men” did, deal with human emotion. The special effects were there, but they took a back seat to the story. That’s not to say the special effects were not top notch, but they didn’t dominate. Instead, they helped advance the story.
“Iron Man” and the “Dark Knight” used the same formula, good acting, good story and good special effects.
“Iron Man” was the classic story of redemption. Can a man who has caused so much pain in the world ever be forgiven or forgive himself? The movie does a good job of answering that question.
In “The Dark Knight” there are several questions. “How far can you push a man, what are your limits and can people do the right thing under extreme circumstances?
The “Dark Knight,” isn’t the last of the superhero movies this year. We still have “Punisher: War Zone” starring Ray Stevenson and “The Spirit” starring Samuel L. Jackson.
That is only the tip of the iceberg. There are plenty of other movies coming up in the next couple of years including, from D.C. Comics, “The Watchmen” (2009), “Wonder Woman,” (2009), “The Man of Steel” (2010), The Green Lantern” (2010), “The Flash” (TBA) and “The Justice League” (TBA).
From Marvel Comics we have the much anticipated “Wolverine” (2009), “Magneto” (2009), “Luke Cage” (2009), “Iron Man 2” (2010), “Thor” (2010), “Spiderman 4” (2010), “Ant-Man” (2010), “Nick Fury” (2010) “Captain America” (2011) and “The Avengers (2011).
Also in development is “Witch Blade,” “The Black Panther,” “Dr. Strange,” “Ghost Rider 2,” “Deathlok,” “Venom” and the “Silver Surfer.” I’ve also heard rumors that Deadpool and possibly Cable are also in development.
I have a feeling that the comic book industry is going to run out of heros before Hollywood and the public run out of superhero gas, especially if the industry keeps highlighting emotions over special effects.
Based on the above list, there is no doubt Hollywood is going to beat the dead horse until we get sick of it, but as long as they keep pumping out story lines in keeping with the original “Superman” and “Spiderman” the next 20 years should be a true golden age of superheroes.
“Iron man” grossed more than $100 million in its opening weekend domestically and was the top grossing film for two straight weeks. Since its opening 13 weeks ago, it has made more than $314 million and is still playing at more than 200 theaters. You can expect that margin to more than double when the DVD comes out, which will most likely be near the holidays.
The “Dark Knight” is doing even better and breaking many financial box office records.
Why?
To get the answer, you have to travel back to 1978 to the father of modern super hero movies – “Superman,” staring Christopher Reeve. When the movie first came out, the caption read, “You will believe a man can fly,” and we did.
“Superman” grossed more than $300 million world wide. A nice tidy sum back then, as it is now.
Up until “Superman,” comic book fans were subjected to “Howard the Duck,” “Punisher,” Conan” and the 1966 adaptation of “Batman” starring Adam West. Television adaptations were no better. The special effects were horrendous and the plots were worse.
The biggest problem with most superhero movies until “Superman” was that Hollywood believed special effects were more important than story, even through they had evidence to the contrary.
The one exception to the bad superhero TV adaptations was “The Hulk” starring Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno. In “The Hulk,” special effects amounted to giving Bixby green contacts and painting Lou Ferrigno green. Still, the show endured.
Why? Because “The Hulk” stories dealt with emotions, something they forgot in the 2003 movie version. In this year’s do-over, they got it right.
“Superman,” also dealt with human emotion. “Superman,” has always been a hard superhero to write for. How do you make an invincible man engaging and likeable? How do you keep him from taking over the world?
Answer: You humanize him and the movie did an effective job of giving superman human frailties.
With the superb acting of Christopher Reeve, “Superman” set the bar for superhero movies that no others were able to achieve until the 2000 release of “X-Men,” which grossed $296 million world wide by the time it was done. In 2002, “Spiderman” did exactly what “Superman” and “X-Men” did, deal with human emotion. The special effects were there, but they took a back seat to the story. That’s not to say the special effects were not top notch, but they didn’t dominate. Instead, they helped advance the story.
“Iron Man” and the “Dark Knight” used the same formula, good acting, good story and good special effects.
“Iron Man” was the classic story of redemption. Can a man who has caused so much pain in the world ever be forgiven or forgive himself? The movie does a good job of answering that question.
In “The Dark Knight” there are several questions. “How far can you push a man, what are your limits and can people do the right thing under extreme circumstances?
The “Dark Knight,” isn’t the last of the superhero movies this year. We still have “Punisher: War Zone” starring Ray Stevenson and “The Spirit” starring Samuel L. Jackson.
That is only the tip of the iceberg. There are plenty of other movies coming up in the next couple of years including, from D.C. Comics, “The Watchmen” (2009), “Wonder Woman,” (2009), “The Man of Steel” (2010), The Green Lantern” (2010), “The Flash” (TBA) and “The Justice League” (TBA).
From Marvel Comics we have the much anticipated “Wolverine” (2009), “Magneto” (2009), “Luke Cage” (2009), “Iron Man 2” (2010), “Thor” (2010), “Spiderman 4” (2010), “Ant-Man” (2010), “Nick Fury” (2010) “Captain America” (2011) and “The Avengers (2011).
Also in development is “Witch Blade,” “The Black Panther,” “Dr. Strange,” “Ghost Rider 2,” “Deathlok,” “Venom” and the “Silver Surfer.” I’ve also heard rumors that Deadpool and possibly Cable are also in development.
I have a feeling that the comic book industry is going to run out of heros before Hollywood and the public run out of superhero gas, especially if the industry keeps highlighting emotions over special effects.
Based on the above list, there is no doubt Hollywood is going to beat the dead horse until we get sick of it, but as long as they keep pumping out story lines in keeping with the original “Superman” and “Spiderman” the next 20 years should be a true golden age of superheroes.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Wolverines!!!
Wolverines!
The war cry made famous by the 1984 film “Red Dawn” is about to be heard again. Earlier this month, MGM announced that they planned on remaking the patriotic cult hit. They’ve already hired writer Carl Ellsworth and director Dan Bradley for the project.
Written by John Milius and Kevin Reynolds, the original plot was simple and centered on a group of high school students (Patrick Swayze, Charlie Sheen, Lea Thompson, Jennifer Gray) that banded together in the mountains of Colorado to fight a communist block invasion led by Russia and Cuba.
The movie, with a budget of about 4 million and considered a mild hit, played upon the fears of Americans prevalent since the Soviet Union exploded its first Nuclear Weapon in the 1950s – a communist takeover.
The problem with the remake is now that the Cold War is over and Russia is our friend, who might invade the United States that will invoke the same reaction as “Red Dawn” did.
During the announcement, Ellsworth said, “The tone is going to be very intense, very much keeping in mind the post-9/11 world that we’re in. As “Red Dawn” scared the heck out of people in 1984, we feel that the world is kind of already filled with a lot of paranoia and unease, so why not scare the hell out of people again.”
In coming up with the original premise, Milius consulted government and military officials to develop a plausible scenario that required only a little public suspension of disbelief. If Ellsworth and Bradley consult the same sources, they’ll discover there is no one on the pointy end of the sword ready to parachute in and change American values.
So who will invade the United States?
Ellsworth statement seems to point to an Arab connection.
Hopefully he’s not suggesting Mid-East countries or worse, terrorists? Even set in a distant future, both would require a suspension of disbelief so large that elementary students would have problems believing.
It would also be irresponsible.
American’s have enough Arab prejudices and fears without adding another, especially an implausible one. Arabs are too fractured to be of any real threat. If Ellsworth does any kind of research he will discover they don’t even have the means to get here. Besides, if they really wanted to mess with us, all they would have to do is cut off our oil supply.
China?
China would have problems taking and holding Taiwan, let alone part of the United States, but at least it’s more plausible and in the future doable.
However, there is one scenario that if written properly, Ellsworth could strike fear into the hearts of men and elementary students alike and would be in keeping with his statement – a war in which America invades itself.
With the Patriot Act and the United States security forces now falling under one entity – The Department of Homeland Security – it would not have to be a stretch for a series of terrorist related attacks to lead to martial law.
Getting a taste of ultimate power and we know that ultimate power corrupts absolutely; it might lead to a small group of individuals banding together to fight the powers of corruption.
Hopefully, Ellsworth, the man who wrote Disturbia and is in the process of adapting “Y: The Last Man” for the big screen and Dan Bradley, who has worked on “Spiderman 2,” “Spiderman 3,” “The Bourne Ultimatum” and the upcoming “James Bond” film “Quantum of Solace” can take a movie that was once reviled as being the most violent film ever and not trash it’s memory, but instead, leave us with a more potent and timely one.
The war cry made famous by the 1984 film “Red Dawn” is about to be heard again. Earlier this month, MGM announced that they planned on remaking the patriotic cult hit. They’ve already hired writer Carl Ellsworth and director Dan Bradley for the project.
Written by John Milius and Kevin Reynolds, the original plot was simple and centered on a group of high school students (Patrick Swayze, Charlie Sheen, Lea Thompson, Jennifer Gray) that banded together in the mountains of Colorado to fight a communist block invasion led by Russia and Cuba.
The movie, with a budget of about 4 million and considered a mild hit, played upon the fears of Americans prevalent since the Soviet Union exploded its first Nuclear Weapon in the 1950s – a communist takeover.
The problem with the remake is now that the Cold War is over and Russia is our friend, who might invade the United States that will invoke the same reaction as “Red Dawn” did.
During the announcement, Ellsworth said, “The tone is going to be very intense, very much keeping in mind the post-9/11 world that we’re in. As “Red Dawn” scared the heck out of people in 1984, we feel that the world is kind of already filled with a lot of paranoia and unease, so why not scare the hell out of people again.”
In coming up with the original premise, Milius consulted government and military officials to develop a plausible scenario that required only a little public suspension of disbelief. If Ellsworth and Bradley consult the same sources, they’ll discover there is no one on the pointy end of the sword ready to parachute in and change American values.
So who will invade the United States?
Ellsworth statement seems to point to an Arab connection.
Hopefully he’s not suggesting Mid-East countries or worse, terrorists? Even set in a distant future, both would require a suspension of disbelief so large that elementary students would have problems believing.
It would also be irresponsible.
American’s have enough Arab prejudices and fears without adding another, especially an implausible one. Arabs are too fractured to be of any real threat. If Ellsworth does any kind of research he will discover they don’t even have the means to get here. Besides, if they really wanted to mess with us, all they would have to do is cut off our oil supply.
China?
China would have problems taking and holding Taiwan, let alone part of the United States, but at least it’s more plausible and in the future doable.
However, there is one scenario that if written properly, Ellsworth could strike fear into the hearts of men and elementary students alike and would be in keeping with his statement – a war in which America invades itself.
With the Patriot Act and the United States security forces now falling under one entity – The Department of Homeland Security – it would not have to be a stretch for a series of terrorist related attacks to lead to martial law.
Getting a taste of ultimate power and we know that ultimate power corrupts absolutely; it might lead to a small group of individuals banding together to fight the powers of corruption.
Hopefully, Ellsworth, the man who wrote Disturbia and is in the process of adapting “Y: The Last Man” for the big screen and Dan Bradley, who has worked on “Spiderman 2,” “Spiderman 3,” “The Bourne Ultimatum” and the upcoming “James Bond” film “Quantum of Solace” can take a movie that was once reviled as being the most violent film ever and not trash it’s memory, but instead, leave us with a more potent and timely one.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Rating the summer movies
With the release of “The Dark Knight” the summer action/blockbusters are coming to a close. However, fear not, the fall action movies are just around the corner (more about those later). If you haven’t seen “The Dark Knight” you’re probably one of the only few. There have been plenty of reviews, so no need to hash it all. Let’s just say “Knight” lives up to its hype and more and yes Heath Ledger steals the spotlight. The only thing negative I can say about it was that it was too long. So make sure you hit the bathroom before you enter.
With the summer action flicks coming to a close how do that rate?
Here’s how. (This is my rating, not how they did at the boxoffice)
1. The Dark Knight
2. Iron Man
3. Wanted
4. The Incredible Hulk
5. Hancock
6. Get Smart
7. Hellboy II: The Golden Army
8. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
9. The Forbidden Kingdom
10. Speed Racer
11. Journey to the Center of the Earth
Yet to be rated are: The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, Tropic Thunder, Bangkok Dangerous, Death Race, Babylon A.D.
With the summer action flicks coming to a close how do that rate?
Here’s how. (This is my rating, not how they did at the boxoffice)
1. The Dark Knight
2. Iron Man
3. Wanted
4. The Incredible Hulk
5. Hancock
6. Get Smart
7. Hellboy II: The Golden Army
8. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
9. The Forbidden Kingdom
10. Speed Racer
11. Journey to the Center of the Earth
Yet to be rated are: The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, Tropic Thunder, Bangkok Dangerous, Death Race, Babylon A.D.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Looking for something special?
Every now and then on the internet you come across something special. This musical video produced by Joss Whedon (Buffy, Angel, Firefly) is one of those special finds. You have to watch it fast. It’s being produced in three parts. Part I and II are up with part III scheduled for release Saturday. It will only be up for a few more days after that.
http://www.drhorrible.com/
http://www.drhorrible.com/
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Horror flicks are just torture
If you’re a fan of horror movies, then next month you should get a small fix. There are two horror films scheduled for release, The Midnight Meat Train (Aug 1) and Mirror (Aug 15).
In Meat Train, which pretty much sums up the plot, a serial killer stalks late-night subway commuters, butchering them in different – but always bloody – ways. In Mirrors, the only description available says that a mall security guard becomes wrapped up in a mystery involving a particular department store’s mirrors, which seems to bring out the worst in people.
I’m not a big fan of horror movies. In this area, the professional critics and I usually agree.
The movies Prom Night, Shutter and The Ruins were terrible.
Alex Markerson from E! Online called Prom Night “…an embarrassment to everyone involved.” My personal favorite came from Matt Paris of the Chicago Sun Tribune, who called it “A murderous rampage, less stress inducing than a yearbook signing.”I, of course, use the phrase horror movie loosely. Today’s generation of horror flicks should more aptly called “torture films.” That’s because these low-budget cookie-cutter movies torture the actors – and us.
Torture flicks don’t get much praise from critics.
Can you blame them?
Every torture film is the same.
You take a group of kids and put them in a normal situation – for the sake of today’s lesson, let’s make it a church.
Preferable, you want an equal number of men and women to make for better pairing and possible sexual encounters.
The men are mostly good looking and the women are always beautiful with large breasts.
Additionally, they’re nearly always college-aged kids, and of course, dumb as a rock.
Let’s face it; after the second person is hacked to death, if you’re not fleeing down the nearest highway at 120 mph, you deserve the Darwin Award.
So our 10 victims visit a local church on a field trip. The first to go will be the teacher. They usually are the oldest, ugliest, have the most common sense, but on one wants to see them naked.
Suddenly, for no reason, everyone decides to split up and go exploring in pairs, because with the teacher gone – it’s party time!
This all happens within the first couple of minutes so that the director can squeeze every minute of the 90-minute flick showing breasts and ripping apart bodies in ways he thinks we’ve never seen before, but by now, most adults have seen it all, thanks to several hundred torture flicks before his.
Back to the church.
By now, all the kids are lost in some ancient ruins below the church – never mind the church was built last Wednesday. Several people are snuffed in different imaginative ways and the lack of available people begins to become noticeable.
So of course, they begin to split up to begin searching for the missing.
“I’ll check over here in this lighted room. You go in that dark scary room where the lights don’t work and check to see if anyone’s in there.”
OK, let’s wrap this up before this missive becomes torture.
Eventually, they’ll discover everyone is murdered because the bodies begin falling out of the ceiling.
Now, everyone’s screaming nonstop for the rest of the movie until one or two people are left.
If one, it’s usually a girl.
If two, it’s usually a combination.
Now we come to the final sequence.
Have you ever noticed, no matter how fast the victim runs, runs, runs and the killer walks, walks, walks, the killer always seems to be right behind them or suddenly appears right in front of them?
Obviously, directors are not required to take physics class.
Now we come to the climax.
The victim is tired of screaming and being hunted. After a 15-minute not-so-terrifying climatic scene, the victim turns the table and dispatches the killer – but not really.
In the final seconds, the killer, suddenly, but not surprisingly, because they do this in every torture film, wakes up and finishes the job he’s started even though he’s been shot 12 times, stabbed eight and electrocuted twice.
This is really where I have the most problem with torture movies.
I sit through a never-changing plot; endure bad acting and long-winded screams only to know I’m going to have to do it again in the sequel.
Die already – please.
In Meat Train, which pretty much sums up the plot, a serial killer stalks late-night subway commuters, butchering them in different – but always bloody – ways. In Mirrors, the only description available says that a mall security guard becomes wrapped up in a mystery involving a particular department store’s mirrors, which seems to bring out the worst in people.
I’m not a big fan of horror movies. In this area, the professional critics and I usually agree.
The movies Prom Night, Shutter and The Ruins were terrible.
Alex Markerson from E! Online called Prom Night “…an embarrassment to everyone involved.” My personal favorite came from Matt Paris of the Chicago Sun Tribune, who called it “A murderous rampage, less stress inducing than a yearbook signing.”I, of course, use the phrase horror movie loosely. Today’s generation of horror flicks should more aptly called “torture films.” That’s because these low-budget cookie-cutter movies torture the actors – and us.
Torture flicks don’t get much praise from critics.
Can you blame them?
Every torture film is the same.
You take a group of kids and put them in a normal situation – for the sake of today’s lesson, let’s make it a church.
Preferable, you want an equal number of men and women to make for better pairing and possible sexual encounters.
The men are mostly good looking and the women are always beautiful with large breasts.
Additionally, they’re nearly always college-aged kids, and of course, dumb as a rock.
Let’s face it; after the second person is hacked to death, if you’re not fleeing down the nearest highway at 120 mph, you deserve the Darwin Award.
So our 10 victims visit a local church on a field trip. The first to go will be the teacher. They usually are the oldest, ugliest, have the most common sense, but on one wants to see them naked.
Suddenly, for no reason, everyone decides to split up and go exploring in pairs, because with the teacher gone – it’s party time!
This all happens within the first couple of minutes so that the director can squeeze every minute of the 90-minute flick showing breasts and ripping apart bodies in ways he thinks we’ve never seen before, but by now, most adults have seen it all, thanks to several hundred torture flicks before his.
Back to the church.
By now, all the kids are lost in some ancient ruins below the church – never mind the church was built last Wednesday. Several people are snuffed in different imaginative ways and the lack of available people begins to become noticeable.
So of course, they begin to split up to begin searching for the missing.
“I’ll check over here in this lighted room. You go in that dark scary room where the lights don’t work and check to see if anyone’s in there.”
OK, let’s wrap this up before this missive becomes torture.
Eventually, they’ll discover everyone is murdered because the bodies begin falling out of the ceiling.
Now, everyone’s screaming nonstop for the rest of the movie until one or two people are left.
If one, it’s usually a girl.
If two, it’s usually a combination.
Now we come to the final sequence.
Have you ever noticed, no matter how fast the victim runs, runs, runs and the killer walks, walks, walks, the killer always seems to be right behind them or suddenly appears right in front of them?
Obviously, directors are not required to take physics class.
Now we come to the climax.
The victim is tired of screaming and being hunted. After a 15-minute not-so-terrifying climatic scene, the victim turns the table and dispatches the killer – but not really.
In the final seconds, the killer, suddenly, but not surprisingly, because they do this in every torture film, wakes up and finishes the job he’s started even though he’s been shot 12 times, stabbed eight and electrocuted twice.
This is really where I have the most problem with torture movies.
I sit through a never-changing plot; endure bad acting and long-winded screams only to know I’m going to have to do it again in the sequel.
Die already – please.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Journey not worth the travel
Journey to the Center of the Earth proves once again they need to leave mainstream 3D film making where it belongs – in the past. Journey was short, boring and not worth the price of a small soda.
It’s the same story with 3D films. Throughout the film, you have to go through 100’s of little stupid tricks to prove you’re a 3D film, such as an arm slowly moving toward you. In this one, they could have used those hundreds of wasted seconds to shore up the plot.
Not even Brandon Fraser’s usual good acting could save this film from itself.
The only thing this film had going for it was its surprisingly honest title.
Journey was exactly what this movie was about. Fraser and his two companions spent more time traveling to the “Center” then actually being there.
Once there, about the only thing they did was build a raft, fly a kite, do a little batting practice, run from a T-Rex and fly up a hole.
If you have to go see Journey, because your kids wont give you any peace until you do, at least make sure its one of the discounted times so you don’t end up depressed with the amount of money you spent to on gas to watch it.
It’s the same story with 3D films. Throughout the film, you have to go through 100’s of little stupid tricks to prove you’re a 3D film, such as an arm slowly moving toward you. In this one, they could have used those hundreds of wasted seconds to shore up the plot.
Not even Brandon Fraser’s usual good acting could save this film from itself.
The only thing this film had going for it was its surprisingly honest title.
Journey was exactly what this movie was about. Fraser and his two companions spent more time traveling to the “Center” then actually being there.
Once there, about the only thing they did was build a raft, fly a kite, do a little batting practice, run from a T-Rex and fly up a hole.
If you have to go see Journey, because your kids wont give you any peace until you do, at least make sure its one of the discounted times so you don’t end up depressed with the amount of money you spent to on gas to watch it.
Done
The photo was taken on July 1, 2008 at Smith Island in Prince William Sound.
Yep, Looks done to me.Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Top 5 Movies to watch in August
The summer movie blockbusters are still in full bloom with, “Hancock,” “Wanted,” “Iron Man” and the “Hulk” almost a memory, until the DVDs come out, but there are plenty more coming out in August.
Here are my top 5 movies to see this August, in order of release.
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
(Opening Aug. 1)
With the opening of “They Mummy” two actors, Jet Li and Brandon Fraser, are making their second appearance in summer actions films. Jet Li stared in “The Forbidden Kingdom,” which unofficially started the summer blockbuster season and Fraser will star in “Journey to the Center of the Earth” opening later this month.
The “The Mummy” will do better than both.
The original mummy, staring Fraser, which premiered in 1999, took a fourth-rate slow-moving, foot-dragging, bandaged horror creature joke and propelled it into a mainstream horror icon.
This time the mummy series moves from Egypt to Asia when Rick O’Connell’s (Fraser) son Alex (played by newcomer Luke Ford) once again gets in trouble and needs mum and dad’s help.
Also joining the action are Michelle Yeoh (Memoirs of a Geisha, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), Maria Bello (World Trade Center, Payback) and the series popular funny man John Hannah (Four Weddings and a Funeral, The Last Legion).
Swing Vote
(Opening Aug. 1)
Let’s face it, two months before the November Elections this movie has “preaching” written all over it. Apparently, in “Swing Vote” the citizens of the United States are completely divided on who to vote for in the presidential election. Earnest “Bud” Johnson’s (Kevin Costner) vote, however, isn’t counted because of a glitch, so now he is being courted by both presidential candidates for his vote. Whoever gets his vote wins the election.
Yep, it’s a bit of a stretch, a tall-tale (insert appropriate unbelievable metaphor here), but it still has feel-good movie written all over it, especially with performances by Kelsey Grammer, Dennis Hopper and Kevin Costner.
Maybe we could do with some additional preaching before the elections.
The Perfect Game
(Opening Aug. 8)
You’re not going to recognize many names headlining this movie, but that will be a plus. On the surface, this movie seems just another movie about baseball. What happens when a former Pro baseball coach is roped into coaching a Mexican little league baseball team? – they become the first foreign team to win the Little League World Series of course. The movie, based on true events, is more than that, though. It’s the story of what happens after the game that will truly make this one of the year’s best feel-good movie to watch this summer.
Tropic Thunder
(Opens Aug. 15)
If I were to rank my top 20 actors Ben Stiller would probably rank somewhere around 45. Every couple of years, however, he makes a good movie. His last passable movie was two years ago with “Night at the Museum.”
It’s that time again.
This time, Stiller teams up with Robert Downey Jr, Jay Baruchel, Jack Black and Nick Nolte to being us Tropic Thunder – sort of a Rambo meets the Five Stooges. In this movie, a group of actors are filming a Vietnam movie when the director decides to drop them off in the middle of a war-torn jungle. It won’t win any Oscars, but with Downey playing a white man playing a black man, it should fill you with plenty of laughs
Bangkok Dangerous
(Opens Aug. 22)
Nicolas Cage may not always get the big-hit material, but that does not keep him from always delivering the big-hit performance. In Bangkok Dangerous, he looks to do both. In this movie, Cage plays a lonely anonymous assassin who finds love, and you know what that means – plenty of action in one of the summer’s last potential blockbusters.
Here are my top 5 movies to see this August, in order of release.
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
(Opening Aug. 1)
With the opening of “They Mummy” two actors, Jet Li and Brandon Fraser, are making their second appearance in summer actions films. Jet Li stared in “The Forbidden Kingdom,” which unofficially started the summer blockbuster season and Fraser will star in “Journey to the Center of the Earth” opening later this month.
The “The Mummy” will do better than both.
The original mummy, staring Fraser, which premiered in 1999, took a fourth-rate slow-moving, foot-dragging, bandaged horror creature joke and propelled it into a mainstream horror icon.
This time the mummy series moves from Egypt to Asia when Rick O’Connell’s (Fraser) son Alex (played by newcomer Luke Ford) once again gets in trouble and needs mum and dad’s help.
Also joining the action are Michelle Yeoh (Memoirs of a Geisha, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), Maria Bello (World Trade Center, Payback) and the series popular funny man John Hannah (Four Weddings and a Funeral, The Last Legion).
Swing Vote
(Opening Aug. 1)
Let’s face it, two months before the November Elections this movie has “preaching” written all over it. Apparently, in “Swing Vote” the citizens of the United States are completely divided on who to vote for in the presidential election. Earnest “Bud” Johnson’s (Kevin Costner) vote, however, isn’t counted because of a glitch, so now he is being courted by both presidential candidates for his vote. Whoever gets his vote wins the election.
Yep, it’s a bit of a stretch, a tall-tale (insert appropriate unbelievable metaphor here), but it still has feel-good movie written all over it, especially with performances by Kelsey Grammer, Dennis Hopper and Kevin Costner.
Maybe we could do with some additional preaching before the elections.
The Perfect Game
(Opening Aug. 8)
You’re not going to recognize many names headlining this movie, but that will be a plus. On the surface, this movie seems just another movie about baseball. What happens when a former Pro baseball coach is roped into coaching a Mexican little league baseball team? – they become the first foreign team to win the Little League World Series of course. The movie, based on true events, is more than that, though. It’s the story of what happens after the game that will truly make this one of the year’s best feel-good movie to watch this summer.
Tropic Thunder
(Opens Aug. 15)
If I were to rank my top 20 actors Ben Stiller would probably rank somewhere around 45. Every couple of years, however, he makes a good movie. His last passable movie was two years ago with “Night at the Museum.”
It’s that time again.
This time, Stiller teams up with Robert Downey Jr, Jay Baruchel, Jack Black and Nick Nolte to being us Tropic Thunder – sort of a Rambo meets the Five Stooges. In this movie, a group of actors are filming a Vietnam movie when the director decides to drop them off in the middle of a war-torn jungle. It won’t win any Oscars, but with Downey playing a white man playing a black man, it should fill you with plenty of laughs
Bangkok Dangerous
(Opens Aug. 22)
Nicolas Cage may not always get the big-hit material, but that does not keep him from always delivering the big-hit performance. In Bangkok Dangerous, he looks to do both. In this movie, Cage plays a lonely anonymous assassin who finds love, and you know what that means – plenty of action in one of the summer’s last potential blockbusters.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Stand clear religious types
Yesterday I went out and bought me a bible.
Now, you might be saying to your self, “So what?”
We’ll you see, I’m a devoted atheist.
I’ve been an atheist just about all my life.
I used to be an agnostic when I was younger, but fell off the fence about 10 years ago.
In all that time I’ve never read the bible.
I’ve read portions at time, but never the whole kit-and-caboodle.
So I thought I would give it a try.
After I’m done with the bible, I might also read the Koran and the Mormon bible, although I’m not too sure about the last one.
Of all the religions in the world Mormon is by far (to me) the stupidest.
Mormonism is the snobbish American religion.
But that is a future post.
Stand back and be ready to be offended as I read through and post my comments.
Hopefully, the Shaw of Iran won’t put a hit out on me.
#I forgot to mention the reason for my sudden interest. They had a speicl on the Discovery Channel the other day about the stories banned from the bible. So I'll be reading them in conjunction with the standard version.
Not sure if it makes a difference, but I'm reading the ESV Standard English version.
Now, you might be saying to your self, “So what?”
We’ll you see, I’m a devoted atheist.
I’ve been an atheist just about all my life.
I used to be an agnostic when I was younger, but fell off the fence about 10 years ago.
In all that time I’ve never read the bible.
I’ve read portions at time, but never the whole kit-and-caboodle.
So I thought I would give it a try.
After I’m done with the bible, I might also read the Koran and the Mormon bible, although I’m not too sure about the last one.
Of all the religions in the world Mormon is by far (to me) the stupidest.
Mormonism is the snobbish American religion.
But that is a future post.
Stand back and be ready to be offended as I read through and post my comments.
Hopefully, the Shaw of Iran won’t put a hit out on me.
#I forgot to mention the reason for my sudden interest. They had a speicl on the Discovery Channel the other day about the stories banned from the bible. So I'll be reading them in conjunction with the standard version.
Not sure if it makes a difference, but I'm reading the ESV Standard English version.
Living through others
I ran across this blog the other day and thought I might share this with you.
I’ve always wanted to hike the Appalachian Trail.
When I retired from the military I thought I might do it; just take six months off from life.
Instead, I had to get a job so that I could eat.
When I was doing my fantasy research for hiking the trail I run across several Web sites that talk about dogs. Just about everyone said not to take dogs, but this couple has and he seems to be doing well.
http://travelingwithandrewandjen.blogspot.com/
I’ve always wanted to hike the Appalachian Trail.
When I retired from the military I thought I might do it; just take six months off from life.
Instead, I had to get a job so that I could eat.
When I was doing my fantasy research for hiking the trail I run across several Web sites that talk about dogs. Just about everyone said not to take dogs, but this couple has and he seems to be doing well.
http://travelingwithandrewandjen.blogspot.com/
Happy 4th, think election
I hope all of you had a truly wonderful Independence Day.
Recently, I watched an HBO special on John Adams, so this year’s Independence Day I was a little more knowledgeable about the hardships our forefathers faced in bringing about our independence from England.
I’m aware that “historical” shows try to make it a little more dramatic, but the essence was there about what they had to go through to gain our independence.
It wasn’t easy to win our freedom and a lot of good men and women died to make it happen.
In fact, a lot of good men and women died throughout the last several hundred years to make it happen.
This year take that into consideration when you visit the polls.
I’m not here to take sides at the moment because Bush isn’t running, which surprises me considering how much he’s trampled over the constitution.
McCain isn’t Bush.
At the moment, I’m not even sure who I will vote for come Election Day.
On both sides of the isle are two very good men.
I never have and never will vote exclusively republican or democrat; I’ve always voted for whom I think will be the best man or women.
You must do the same.
I am “leaning” democrat slightly because I would like to see us gain a lot of our freedoms back that our men and women in the armed forces fought to give us and I’m not sure McCain will make that a priority.
No matter what happens this year, it can only get better – I hope.
Recently, I watched an HBO special on John Adams, so this year’s Independence Day I was a little more knowledgeable about the hardships our forefathers faced in bringing about our independence from England.
I’m aware that “historical” shows try to make it a little more dramatic, but the essence was there about what they had to go through to gain our independence.
It wasn’t easy to win our freedom and a lot of good men and women died to make it happen.
In fact, a lot of good men and women died throughout the last several hundred years to make it happen.
This year take that into consideration when you visit the polls.
I’m not here to take sides at the moment because Bush isn’t running, which surprises me considering how much he’s trampled over the constitution.
McCain isn’t Bush.
At the moment, I’m not even sure who I will vote for come Election Day.
On both sides of the isle are two very good men.
I never have and never will vote exclusively republican or democrat; I’ve always voted for whom I think will be the best man or women.
You must do the same.
I am “leaning” democrat slightly because I would like to see us gain a lot of our freedoms back that our men and women in the armed forces fought to give us and I’m not sure McCain will make that a priority.
No matter what happens this year, it can only get better – I hope.
Saturday, July 5, 2008
What is peak oil
Doom, gloom and murderous biker gangs killing and pillaging their way down deserted highways is what awaits a world without oil, at least according to the most memorable post-apocalypse movie, “Mad Max.”
Murderous biker gangs may be a stretch, but something not so rosy does wait for us at the end of the oil road unless we can come up with an alternate source(s) of fuel.
So what is peak oil?
Peak oil is that unknown point in time when we reach a midway point in oil production or the point when we can no longer produce enough oil to meet world demands.
For example, some scientists estimate that the world has 2 trillion barrels of oil in the earth and that we’ve already reached the midway point. They also believe that even though it took us 125 years to reach the midway point, it will probably take us only another 30 to use the rest.
The problem is that no one will know when we’ve reached the mid point until analysts are studying the problem historically.
The other aspect of peak oil is the point in energy production when the maximum global oil production rate is reached and the world faces oil shortages and higher prices.
As much of the world begins to modernize the demand for oil is going to increase ten-fold. As we are already seeing, the demand for oil is already out-stripping production capability and that demand is only going to increase.
In my mind, peak oil has already been reached.
Hopefully, the next president, whoever he is, will begin to address these concerns.
This is only the tip of peak oil and there is a whole lot more written about it on the Web.
I suggest you look it up for yourself.
Murderous biker gangs may be a stretch, but something not so rosy does wait for us at the end of the oil road unless we can come up with an alternate source(s) of fuel.
So what is peak oil?
Peak oil is that unknown point in time when we reach a midway point in oil production or the point when we can no longer produce enough oil to meet world demands.
For example, some scientists estimate that the world has 2 trillion barrels of oil in the earth and that we’ve already reached the midway point. They also believe that even though it took us 125 years to reach the midway point, it will probably take us only another 30 to use the rest.
The problem is that no one will know when we’ve reached the mid point until analysts are studying the problem historically.
The other aspect of peak oil is the point in energy production when the maximum global oil production rate is reached and the world faces oil shortages and higher prices.
As much of the world begins to modernize the demand for oil is going to increase ten-fold. As we are already seeing, the demand for oil is already out-stripping production capability and that demand is only going to increase.
In my mind, peak oil has already been reached.
Hopefully, the next president, whoever he is, will begin to address these concerns.
This is only the tip of peak oil and there is a whole lot more written about it on the Web.
I suggest you look it up for yourself.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Tips for saving gas
1. Turn your air conditioning off
Yep, trying to stay cool as you cruise around town on useless errands by yourself is draining your gas tank. Feel free to use your heater this summer, though. It doesn’t take extra gas to run. Runing your heater may also help you with No. 2.
2. Reducing the weight in your car
For many of you that is going to mean going on a diet, but since you’re spending all your extra food-money on gas it shouldn’t be too much of a problem. If you own one of those mucho big-ass ford trucks, try removing that tool chest full of tools you have back there to prove you’re a real man/women (see, I'm not sexist).
3. Car Pooling
That means riding with someone else to work or school, even if you don’t like them, not going to the local pub to play a round of 9-ball.
4. Buy a more fuel efficient car you dork
5. Stop driving for the hell of it
6. Buy a scooter/bike/pair of shoes (and use them)
Yep, trying to stay cool as you cruise around town on useless errands by yourself is draining your gas tank. Feel free to use your heater this summer, though. It doesn’t take extra gas to run. Runing your heater may also help you with No. 2.
2. Reducing the weight in your car
For many of you that is going to mean going on a diet, but since you’re spending all your extra food-money on gas it shouldn’t be too much of a problem. If you own one of those mucho big-ass ford trucks, try removing that tool chest full of tools you have back there to prove you’re a real man/women (see, I'm not sexist).
3. Car Pooling
That means riding with someone else to work or school, even if you don’t like them, not going to the local pub to play a round of 9-ball.
4. Buy a more fuel efficient car you dork
5. Stop driving for the hell of it
6. Buy a scooter/bike/pair of shoes (and use them)
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