I saw some very good movies this month. Abraham Lincoln - Vampire Hunter while won't win any awards, sure was a lot of fun to watch. I've also seen some very disappointing movies like Prometheus. Prometheus really is one of those movies that the more I think about it, the less it holds up. It really isn't that memorable anyway and I was in a discussion about it with my friend and the theories floating around about the meaning behind the movie are just sad. Basically the message of Prometheus is that we don't matter. I might get into these philosophical discussions in other articles but right now we need to look into the future and see what I think is worth watching next month.
1) THE AMAZING SPIDERMAN: Yeah it's another comic book movie and I really show my geek colors every time I choose movies like this, but honestly, a reboot is desperately needed for Spiderman. The success of the Avengers and other Marvel movies aside, Spiderman is the poster child of Marvel comics and Spiderman 2 and 3 were beyond a disappointment. It'll be interesting to see what they do with our friendly neighborhood webslinger.
2) SAVAGES: Initially I was a little leery of this movie. But the more I see the previews for this movie, the more I am starting to come around. It's all about drugs and the drug lifestyle. In perticular marijuana. There's a lot of discussion about legalization of marijuana and the "drug war" in general so it is important to explore what it is people seem so urgently trying to either fight or support. If nothing else, it should spark some conversation.
3) RED LIGHTS: It's all about paranormal phenomena and the debunkers who don't believe. I personally don't believe in mediums, psychics, ghosts, or whatever. I'm a Christian but I've yet to see anyone other than con men and stage performers say they were "psychic." This is a psychological thriller playing with the idea of what if this one guy was the real deal? And what if he isn't? Again it's something to inspire conversation.
4) THE DARK KNIGHT RISES: Other than the Avengers, I've never seen a movie with more hype and higher expectations. Will it live up to The Dark Knight? I'm not sure. I'm expecting a great movie to finish off this Batman Trilogy.
5) THE WATCH: I'm loving the previews and this looks like one of those Ben Stiller movies with a lot of talent and some very amusing ideas. That's when Ben Stiller is at his best. Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn together again in a movie written by Seth Rogan. Throw in a promising young talent in Jonah Hill? I'm in. The only way this could be better would be to add in the guys from Flight of the Conchords.
See you at the movies
Friday, June 29, 2012
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Coming Soon: 6/29/12
The hype machine surrounding certain movies never ceases to amaze me. I had a discussion with a guy online about this: the movie with the most commercials trying to promote it, are usually the more disappointing movie. Just food for thought. Let's see what is coming out this week.
1) BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD: A little girl in an isolated Louisiana community goes on an adventure to save her father and bring balance to nature.
The Good: This is a love letter to Louisiana after it's been torn apart by natural and man-made disasters. To see a nieve little girl trying desperately to rage against something she doesn't understand is heartwarming.
The Bad: The depth of the message might be lost on less discerning audiences.
Final Thoughts: This is bound to be an Oscar caliber movie. I'd check it out.
2) TED: A boy wishes that his teddy bear would come to life and be his best friend. When it does, they stay friends well into the boy's 30s. And hilarity ensues.
The Good: Marky Mark and Seth McFarland in what amounts to a live action version of Family Guy. Complete with Mila Kunis.
The Bad: This is Drop Dead Fred with a teddy bear. How good do you really think it'll be?
Final Thoughts: The comedy of Seth McFarland can and will probably carry this movie into the watchable category, but I'm really not a huge fan of this kind of comedy. At least not enough to pay ticket prices to see it.
3) PEOPLE LIKE US: When a saleman's father dies, it forces him to reconnect with his family and learns that he has an older sister he never knew.
The Good: A dramatic family movie and surprisingly deep and soul searching.
The Bad: It's a lot like any other soap opera type movie.
Final Thoughts: It will be a good show but I'd still wait for a Friday night rental with the significant other.
4) MAGIC MIKE: A male exotic dancer takes a young buck under his wing.
The Good: If you're into sexy men dancing, this movie has that.
The Bad: I think Cinemax had a tv series with the same story.
Final Thoughts: Not even on a dare. This movie has nothing for me. And frankly women should be offended by this because again it assumes there's a sure fire way for sexy/immoral guys to manipulate women.
5) MADEA'S WITNESS PROTECTION: An investment bank manager runs afoul of the mob and is put into protective custody at a federal prosecutor's Aunt's house.
The Good: It might not suck?
The Bad: Another lazy Tyler Perry comedy ripping off another failed comedy called Big Momma's House.
Final Thoughts: Somebody has to clue Tyler Perry in that he really isn't as funny as he thinks he is. How many of these "Madea" movies is he going to make? It wasn't funny the first time. Why would the 6th or 7th? ENOUGH! The horse is already dead!
See you at the movies
1) BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD: A little girl in an isolated Louisiana community goes on an adventure to save her father and bring balance to nature.
The Good: This is a love letter to Louisiana after it's been torn apart by natural and man-made disasters. To see a nieve little girl trying desperately to rage against something she doesn't understand is heartwarming.
The Bad: The depth of the message might be lost on less discerning audiences.
Final Thoughts: This is bound to be an Oscar caliber movie. I'd check it out.
2) TED: A boy wishes that his teddy bear would come to life and be his best friend. When it does, they stay friends well into the boy's 30s. And hilarity ensues.
The Good: Marky Mark and Seth McFarland in what amounts to a live action version of Family Guy. Complete with Mila Kunis.
The Bad: This is Drop Dead Fred with a teddy bear. How good do you really think it'll be?
Final Thoughts: The comedy of Seth McFarland can and will probably carry this movie into the watchable category, but I'm really not a huge fan of this kind of comedy. At least not enough to pay ticket prices to see it.
3) PEOPLE LIKE US: When a saleman's father dies, it forces him to reconnect with his family and learns that he has an older sister he never knew.
The Good: A dramatic family movie and surprisingly deep and soul searching.
The Bad: It's a lot like any other soap opera type movie.
Final Thoughts: It will be a good show but I'd still wait for a Friday night rental with the significant other.
4) MAGIC MIKE: A male exotic dancer takes a young buck under his wing.
The Good: If you're into sexy men dancing, this movie has that.
The Bad: I think Cinemax had a tv series with the same story.
Final Thoughts: Not even on a dare. This movie has nothing for me. And frankly women should be offended by this because again it assumes there's a sure fire way for sexy/immoral guys to manipulate women.
5) MADEA'S WITNESS PROTECTION: An investment bank manager runs afoul of the mob and is put into protective custody at a federal prosecutor's Aunt's house.
The Good: It might not suck?
The Bad: Another lazy Tyler Perry comedy ripping off another failed comedy called Big Momma's House.
Final Thoughts: Somebody has to clue Tyler Perry in that he really isn't as funny as he thinks he is. How many of these "Madea" movies is he going to make? It wasn't funny the first time. Why would the 6th or 7th? ENOUGH! The horse is already dead!
See you at the movies
Friday, June 22, 2012
Abraham Lincoln - Vampire Hunter review: It defies review
This might be the most brief review I've ever had to write. Because this is a movie that defies any kind of critical look. It's Abraham Lincoln fighting Confederate vampires. The idea is just too silly to take it seriously. But I had a really great time.
There were some times that the movie really tried to take itself seriously. They tried to crank up the drama at a few points but those are offset by a vampire throwing a horse or a powersliding carriage. If these kinds of things appeal to you, it's worth seeing.
Some of the things I appreciated were the complete lack of shaky cam and the many Civil War refrences sprinkled through the movie.
I say give it a try.
There were some times that the movie really tried to take itself seriously. They tried to crank up the drama at a few points but those are offset by a vampire throwing a horse or a powersliding carriage. If these kinds of things appeal to you, it's worth seeing.
Some of the things I appreciated were the complete lack of shaky cam and the many Civil War refrences sprinkled through the movie.
I say give it a try.
From the Vault: The Wrestler (2008)
Made back in 2008, this movie made quite the splash. This was a movie that had ramifications for not only movies, but also sparked some controversy in the world of professional wrestling. So much so, that professional wrestler Chris Jericho and The Wrestler star Mickey Rourke had an on air feud in a televised interview.
The world of professional wrestling for many years had a cloak of anynomity around it. That was not only for many of the shady dealings professional wrestlers did, but also a necessary element of storytelling. In the wrestling business they call it kayfabe. The rest of us know it as the "suspension of disbelief". It's with kayfabe we believe a guy can be lifted up by the neck and slammed down or another could be hit with a chair and not have his brains scrambled.
Perticularly in the '90s but more so in the 2000s, professional wrestling has largely eroded the idea of kayfabe. In the '90s there was the rise of "hardcore" or "extreme" wrestling. Now wrestlers were using barbed wire or thumbtacks to really injure each other, but most of the audience had become wise to this ultra violence. Wrestling's dirty little secret was out. It's all a show. It wasn't "real." And in the 2000s, reality tv was huge.
With the rise of "extreme" wrestling came some very real consequences. In the 1980s, drugs and steroids were everywhere. And later on in the 2000s the drugs were still there but so were mounting "real" injuries from taking too many chair shots to the head or flying through flimsy tables from 30 foot ladders.
A large string of wrestlers suddenly started dying in their early 40s. Stars like Eddie Guerrero, Chris Kanyon, Davey Boy Smith, Lance Cade, Curt Hennig, and Brian Pillman just to name a few. Probably no deaths more high profile than those of Owen Hart and Chris Benoit.
For those unaware, in the 90s high spots were used to dazzle audiences. Owen Hart ended up falling from the rafters after an equipment malfunction. The story goes that his harness took too long to take off after propelling down to the ring. And they wanted Owen to do a prat fall from the harness to emphasize his bafoonish superhero character, The Blue Blazer. So, it was rigged to release with a button. And that's what happened to Owen about 78 feet above the ring... on live PPV.
The tragedy of Chris Benoit comes not only from his death, but from the others that died with him. Chris Benoit had severe brain damage from many years in the business and one day he flipped out and killed his wife, his 7 year-old son, and then himself.
This movie plays into those kinds of tragedies. Randy "The Ram" is a broken down, washed up wrestler who really has no other skills, abilities, or outlet in life other than wrestling. He has an estranged daughter, a drug habit, and just can't seem to realize his time in the spotlight is over. He has constant money issues and puts his body through these horrible "extreme" matches or nickel and dime events paying him a couple hundred bucks a night.
The Wrestler is a dramatic look at the pitfalls of being a professional performer. Once Randy's time at the top was done, he just couldn't let go of the lifestyle. Others like Randy's wrestling rival "The Ayatollah" went on to have some sucess in business and seemed happy being away from the ring. This all leads to the climax of the movie where Randy throws away everything in his life outside of wrestling and had one more match.
The ending of the movie is a bit open-ended. It cuts to black just as Randy goes off the top rope to finish the match. Leading the audience to decide for themselves if he died or not. My personal opinion is that the movie is much stronger if he did die. This was a guy that despite his best efforts always found a way to screw up his life. But the one thing he was supremely good at was wrestling. He ruined things with his daughter, he often tried to begin a relationship with a stripper only to be shot down, he tried to work a normal 9 to 5 job and he just couldn't take the embarrassment of being that guy at the deli counter when he used to sell out Madison Square Garden. So, he finally just said to hell with it all and he was going to get in the ring despite a weakened heart. He went in to that ring because he just didn't have or want anything else in his life. He wanted to die. He went into that match trying to kill himself.
I feel that this movie is very powerful, tragic, and loaded with acting talent. Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei were just sensational. Every time they were on stage they were magnetic. If you haven't seen it yet, I recommend it. But be warned, this isn't for anyone looking to feel happy or have a sense of hope.
The world of professional wrestling for many years had a cloak of anynomity around it. That was not only for many of the shady dealings professional wrestlers did, but also a necessary element of storytelling. In the wrestling business they call it kayfabe. The rest of us know it as the "suspension of disbelief". It's with kayfabe we believe a guy can be lifted up by the neck and slammed down or another could be hit with a chair and not have his brains scrambled.
Perticularly in the '90s but more so in the 2000s, professional wrestling has largely eroded the idea of kayfabe. In the '90s there was the rise of "hardcore" or "extreme" wrestling. Now wrestlers were using barbed wire or thumbtacks to really injure each other, but most of the audience had become wise to this ultra violence. Wrestling's dirty little secret was out. It's all a show. It wasn't "real." And in the 2000s, reality tv was huge.
With the rise of "extreme" wrestling came some very real consequences. In the 1980s, drugs and steroids were everywhere. And later on in the 2000s the drugs were still there but so were mounting "real" injuries from taking too many chair shots to the head or flying through flimsy tables from 30 foot ladders.
A large string of wrestlers suddenly started dying in their early 40s. Stars like Eddie Guerrero, Chris Kanyon, Davey Boy Smith, Lance Cade, Curt Hennig, and Brian Pillman just to name a few. Probably no deaths more high profile than those of Owen Hart and Chris Benoit.
For those unaware, in the 90s high spots were used to dazzle audiences. Owen Hart ended up falling from the rafters after an equipment malfunction. The story goes that his harness took too long to take off after propelling down to the ring. And they wanted Owen to do a prat fall from the harness to emphasize his bafoonish superhero character, The Blue Blazer. So, it was rigged to release with a button. And that's what happened to Owen about 78 feet above the ring... on live PPV.
The tragedy of Chris Benoit comes not only from his death, but from the others that died with him. Chris Benoit had severe brain damage from many years in the business and one day he flipped out and killed his wife, his 7 year-old son, and then himself.
This movie plays into those kinds of tragedies. Randy "The Ram" is a broken down, washed up wrestler who really has no other skills, abilities, or outlet in life other than wrestling. He has an estranged daughter, a drug habit, and just can't seem to realize his time in the spotlight is over. He has constant money issues and puts his body through these horrible "extreme" matches or nickel and dime events paying him a couple hundred bucks a night.
The Wrestler is a dramatic look at the pitfalls of being a professional performer. Once Randy's time at the top was done, he just couldn't let go of the lifestyle. Others like Randy's wrestling rival "The Ayatollah" went on to have some sucess in business and seemed happy being away from the ring. This all leads to the climax of the movie where Randy throws away everything in his life outside of wrestling and had one more match.
The ending of the movie is a bit open-ended. It cuts to black just as Randy goes off the top rope to finish the match. Leading the audience to decide for themselves if he died or not. My personal opinion is that the movie is much stronger if he did die. This was a guy that despite his best efforts always found a way to screw up his life. But the one thing he was supremely good at was wrestling. He ruined things with his daughter, he often tried to begin a relationship with a stripper only to be shot down, he tried to work a normal 9 to 5 job and he just couldn't take the embarrassment of being that guy at the deli counter when he used to sell out Madison Square Garden. So, he finally just said to hell with it all and he was going to get in the ring despite a weakened heart. He went in to that ring because he just didn't have or want anything else in his life. He wanted to die. He went into that match trying to kill himself.
I feel that this movie is very powerful, tragic, and loaded with acting talent. Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei were just sensational. Every time they were on stage they were magnetic. If you haven't seen it yet, I recommend it. But be warned, this isn't for anyone looking to feel happy or have a sense of hope.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Coming Soon: 6/22/12
Lots of bad ones last week. This week at least appears to have some very interesting movies. Let's see.
1) ABRAHAM LINCOLN - VAMPIRE HUNTER: The secret life of the 16th President of the United States. As a vampire hunter.
The Good: The title alone is enough to get me in the theater. It screams of awesome fun.
The Bad: Sorry, any argument against it is invalid. It's Abraham Lincoln fighting vampires. It's too rediculous to be thought of critically.
Final Thoughts: First the Asylum made Abraham Lincoln vs Zombies and now the main attraction. I can't wait.
2) BRAVE: A girl looking to make her own future rather than succomb to ancient customs.
The Good: A strong female hero fighting against the established order of things and decide her own fate. Beautiful.
The Bad: I'm not sure how this is different from The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Pocahontas, Mulan, Cinderella, Snow White, or Aladdin.
Final Thoughts: what the story lacks in originality it makes up for in comedy, visual effects, and memorable characters. It's worth seeing.
3) SEEKING A FRIEND FOR THE END OF THE WORLD: A man and a woman do what their heart desires as the world comes to an end.
The Good: If you're a fan of Steve Carell... he's in it.
The Bad: There really is very little here. It has exactly one joke and that is a cynical one that people will act insane if they know they are going to die.
Final Thoughts: I'd rent it, but not pay movie prices for it.
4) TO ROME WITH LOVE: A collection of stories featuring one of the most spectacular cities in the world.
The Good: It's Woody Allen. At the very least it won't be normal or poorly directed.
The Bad: It's a love letter to a city. Don't expect a whole lot of depth.
Final Thoughts: Might be worth a rental. Not much more.
See you at the movies
1) ABRAHAM LINCOLN - VAMPIRE HUNTER: The secret life of the 16th President of the United States. As a vampire hunter.
The Good: The title alone is enough to get me in the theater. It screams of awesome fun.
The Bad: Sorry, any argument against it is invalid. It's Abraham Lincoln fighting vampires. It's too rediculous to be thought of critically.
Final Thoughts: First the Asylum made Abraham Lincoln vs Zombies and now the main attraction. I can't wait.
2) BRAVE: A girl looking to make her own future rather than succomb to ancient customs.
The Good: A strong female hero fighting against the established order of things and decide her own fate. Beautiful.
The Bad: I'm not sure how this is different from The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Pocahontas, Mulan, Cinderella, Snow White, or Aladdin.
Final Thoughts: what the story lacks in originality it makes up for in comedy, visual effects, and memorable characters. It's worth seeing.
3) SEEKING A FRIEND FOR THE END OF THE WORLD: A man and a woman do what their heart desires as the world comes to an end.
The Good: If you're a fan of Steve Carell... he's in it.
The Bad: There really is very little here. It has exactly one joke and that is a cynical one that people will act insane if they know they are going to die.
Final Thoughts: I'd rent it, but not pay movie prices for it.
4) TO ROME WITH LOVE: A collection of stories featuring one of the most spectacular cities in the world.
The Good: It's Woody Allen. At the very least it won't be normal or poorly directed.
The Bad: It's a love letter to a city. Don't expect a whole lot of depth.
Final Thoughts: Might be worth a rental. Not much more.
See you at the movies
Friday, June 15, 2012
From the Vault: Enter The Ninja (1981)
Made back in 1981, this is a movie that is truely a product of the times. Right down to starring actor Franco Nero with cheesy pornstache, lame fakey fighting scenes, and cliche story. And boy does it have it's glorious moments.
Cole (Nero), ex-soldier and full-time white ninja, goes to visit his old Vietnam War buddy, Frank (Alex Courtney). But unknown to him, a greedy/evil industrialist named Vanarius (Christopher George) wants Frank's land because there is a fortune of oil to be discovered. After strong arm tactics by Vanarius were defeated by Cole, he hires another ninja, Hasagawa (Sho Kosugi), to kill Cole.
The movie really does follow the 80's action story formula. Irredeemable villians, heroic super human good guys, a smoking hot love interest, and it all leads up to ninja vs ninja action.
Overall the biggest selling point of martial arts movies are the action scenes and even for a movie 30 years old the fight scenes are just terrible. It's clear the only person with any fighting experience was Sho Kosugi. The man who later went on to be in many more 80's martial arts movies. He then took a hiatus from movies and made a short lived comeback in Ninja Assassin.
In fact many of the actors in this movie went on to sub-par careers. The only one who had much success was Franco Nero who had a bit part in Die Hard 2.
I wouldn't necessarily recommend this movie as a "good" movie. Instead I'd say if you're feeling nostalgic for a cheesy 80's martial arts movie and just can't find China O'Brien, then maybe it's worth a watch... If only to see Franco Nero and his glorious moustache.
Cole (Nero), ex-soldier and full-time white ninja, goes to visit his old Vietnam War buddy, Frank (Alex Courtney). But unknown to him, a greedy/evil industrialist named Vanarius (Christopher George) wants Frank's land because there is a fortune of oil to be discovered. After strong arm tactics by Vanarius were defeated by Cole, he hires another ninja, Hasagawa (Sho Kosugi), to kill Cole.
The movie really does follow the 80's action story formula. Irredeemable villians, heroic super human good guys, a smoking hot love interest, and it all leads up to ninja vs ninja action.
Overall the biggest selling point of martial arts movies are the action scenes and even for a movie 30 years old the fight scenes are just terrible. It's clear the only person with any fighting experience was Sho Kosugi. The man who later went on to be in many more 80's martial arts movies. He then took a hiatus from movies and made a short lived comeback in Ninja Assassin.
In fact many of the actors in this movie went on to sub-par careers. The only one who had much success was Franco Nero who had a bit part in Die Hard 2.
I wouldn't necessarily recommend this movie as a "good" movie. Instead I'd say if you're feeling nostalgic for a cheesy 80's martial arts movie and just can't find China O'Brien, then maybe it's worth a watch... If only to see Franco Nero and his glorious moustache.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Coming Soon: 6/15/12
Hmm... Prometheus... It's been a while since I've seen such a divisive movie. I've heard from people, many with opinions I hold in high regard, really slam that movie. I thought it was okay. Disappointing yes. But still okay. Anyway, there's new movies coming out. Let's see what they are.
1) ROCK OF AGES: An 80's style musical about a rural girl and a city boy falling in love.
The Good: The best music of the 80's sung by some of the biggest celebrities of the 90's.
The Bad: This is Moulin Rouge minus the whimsy. And I'm not much of a fan of Tom Cruise these days.
Final Thoughts: I'm a child of the 80's. I love 80's hair band rock music. But I didn't like Moulin Rouge. This one is a toss up. I'll probably end up going to see it.
2) THAT'S MY BOY: A father tries to reconnect with his son before his son gets married.
The Good: If you like Adam Sandler, it has Adam Sandler doing what Adam Sandler does in just about all his movies.
The Bad: Adam Sandler movies have become so tired, dirivitive, and cliche that, literally, if you've seen one, you've seen them all.
Final Thoughts: Vanilla Ice is in the movie. Enough said.
3) YOUR SISTER'S SISTER: A guy dealing with the loss of his brother goes to a secluded cabin and has an affair with his best friend's sister.
The Good: An emotional comedy filled with amazing actors.
The Bad: Movies like this very often become less grounded and just become silly and more soap opera than real drama.
Final Thoughts: If there were any movie out this week worth taking a chance on, this is it.
See you at the movies
1) ROCK OF AGES: An 80's style musical about a rural girl and a city boy falling in love.
The Good: The best music of the 80's sung by some of the biggest celebrities of the 90's.
The Bad: This is Moulin Rouge minus the whimsy. And I'm not much of a fan of Tom Cruise these days.
Final Thoughts: I'm a child of the 80's. I love 80's hair band rock music. But I didn't like Moulin Rouge. This one is a toss up. I'll probably end up going to see it.
2) THAT'S MY BOY: A father tries to reconnect with his son before his son gets married.
The Good: If you like Adam Sandler, it has Adam Sandler doing what Adam Sandler does in just about all his movies.
The Bad: Adam Sandler movies have become so tired, dirivitive, and cliche that, literally, if you've seen one, you've seen them all.
Final Thoughts: Vanilla Ice is in the movie. Enough said.
3) YOUR SISTER'S SISTER: A guy dealing with the loss of his brother goes to a secluded cabin and has an affair with his best friend's sister.
The Good: An emotional comedy filled with amazing actors.
The Bad: Movies like this very often become less grounded and just become silly and more soap opera than real drama.
Final Thoughts: If there were any movie out this week worth taking a chance on, this is it.
See you at the movies
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Prometheus Review: Alien or X-Files?
This is the movie I've been looking forward to for some time. I'm dieing to see a new Alien movie. I love the Alien series. I think it is some of the best sci-fi/horror out there. Even 30 years later, watching Ridley Scott's Alien is something to behold. And then it only got better with Aliens. But it's around Alien 3 that the series really lost all steam. And then there was Alien Resurrection and by that time nobody could've predicted that the series would be smashed together with the Predator series and spawn two horrible VS movies. This series needed new blood. Badly. Or it very well could be just another movie series remembered by an older generation and slowly forgotten.
There needs to be a movie that does for Alien what Predators did for the Predator series.
And this is not it.
Before anyone starts going nuts on me, this is NOT a BAD movie. But it is also NOT an ALIEN movie.
The original Alien was equal parts sci-fi and horror. The tagline of the movie was, "In space, nobody can hear you scream." It's the horror of being stuck on a spaceship with a xenomorphic entity that bleeds acid and kills relentlessly. And then add in the idea that it can lay eggs in your body and have it burst out of your chest...
Go watch that original chest bursting scene one more time. Remember that guy was in a coma. Then he was fine. He was cracking jokes along with the rest of the crew. They were having fun after a very stressful ordeal that they all believed was over. Then all of a sudden something entirely new literally bursts out of his chest and runs off. In other words, S*** just got real all over again.
There was some real horror in that movie. A lot of real suspense.
This movie is actually very low on the horror and suspense. Instead it is a more thoughtful and thought provoking look into the origins of mankind and what implications having an extraterrestrial origin would have on things like faith, life, and our role in the universe. What if Aliens out there somewhere created us. Why? What do they what? Would they be interested in seeing the results of their efforts? How would we be precieved? What could we learn from them? What if they don't like us? What about our religious beliefs that we were created by God in his image? There's a lot here in this movie. But it's not an Alien movie.
There are a lot of similarities of course. There's an android, the characters are quirky, and there is an alien threat trying to kill them all with a shadowy force trying to stop them for their own gain. On a surface level it is very similar, but it's not an Alien movie. There aren't any chest bursters. There aren't any face huggers. There aren't even any xenomorphic aliens! At least not until the very end when it is revealed in the ending sequel teaser.
Instead of the Alien, honestly, if I were told that this was an X-files sequel, I'd say it's a very good movie. All the elements are there too. Alien origins of humanity, the black oil, and a human extermination scheme hatched out by visiters from another planet.
This really is a brilliantly done movie. The visuals are amazing, the story is pretty good, and the acting is pretty good. It's clear a lot of the movie was cut down for time because even though it was 2 hours long, there were times it felt very rushed. I'd be interested in seeing the Director's Cut. It's a good movie just so long as you don't go in to it thinking this is an Alien movie.
There needs to be a movie that does for Alien what Predators did for the Predator series.
And this is not it.
Before anyone starts going nuts on me, this is NOT a BAD movie. But it is also NOT an ALIEN movie.
The original Alien was equal parts sci-fi and horror. The tagline of the movie was, "In space, nobody can hear you scream." It's the horror of being stuck on a spaceship with a xenomorphic entity that bleeds acid and kills relentlessly. And then add in the idea that it can lay eggs in your body and have it burst out of your chest...
Go watch that original chest bursting scene one more time. Remember that guy was in a coma. Then he was fine. He was cracking jokes along with the rest of the crew. They were having fun after a very stressful ordeal that they all believed was over. Then all of a sudden something entirely new literally bursts out of his chest and runs off. In other words, S*** just got real all over again.
There was some real horror in that movie. A lot of real suspense.
This movie is actually very low on the horror and suspense. Instead it is a more thoughtful and thought provoking look into the origins of mankind and what implications having an extraterrestrial origin would have on things like faith, life, and our role in the universe. What if Aliens out there somewhere created us. Why? What do they what? Would they be interested in seeing the results of their efforts? How would we be precieved? What could we learn from them? What if they don't like us? What about our religious beliefs that we were created by God in his image? There's a lot here in this movie. But it's not an Alien movie.
There are a lot of similarities of course. There's an android, the characters are quirky, and there is an alien threat trying to kill them all with a shadowy force trying to stop them for their own gain. On a surface level it is very similar, but it's not an Alien movie. There aren't any chest bursters. There aren't any face huggers. There aren't even any xenomorphic aliens! At least not until the very end when it is revealed in the ending sequel teaser.
Instead of the Alien, honestly, if I were told that this was an X-files sequel, I'd say it's a very good movie. All the elements are there too. Alien origins of humanity, the black oil, and a human extermination scheme hatched out by visiters from another planet.
This really is a brilliantly done movie. The visuals are amazing, the story is pretty good, and the acting is pretty good. It's clear a lot of the movie was cut down for time because even though it was 2 hours long, there were times it felt very rushed. I'd be interested in seeing the Director's Cut. It's a good movie just so long as you don't go in to it thinking this is an Alien movie.
Monday, June 4, 2012
Coming Soon: 6/8/12
Yeah last week wasn't so great moviewise. But this week is sure to be better. There's some great ones that I'm personally excited to see.
1) PROMETHEUS: Clues to the beginning of life on Earth leads them to some very dangerous surprises.
The Good: It's Ridley Scott doing an Alien franchise prequel. This is going to be awesome.
The Bad: It has a high standard to live up to; namely Alien.
Final Thoughts: I can't wait to see this. I love the Alien movies (except Resurrection) and some new blood is exactly what this franchise needs.
2) MADAGASCAR 3 EUROPE'S MOST WANTED: The gang is still trying to get home to New York and their travels lead them through Europe and a traveling circus.
The Good: It's a kid's animated movie that keeps getting better.
The Bad: It doesn't offer much to old guys like me.
Final Thoughts: Take your kids to see it. I'm sure they'll have a lovely time. They might even eat their vegetables.
3) LOLA VERSUS: A 29-year-old woman is dumped by her boyfriend just before the wedding and she goes on a journey of self discovery as a woman about to turn 30.
The Good: I think Bill Pullman is in it. He was good in Independence Day.
The Bad: Another insulting rom/com about a woman that doesn't know how to live without a man.
Final Thoughts: Speaking as someone who is older than 30, it's not a big deal. I find movies like this shallow because this woman loses her entire reason for being because she isn't married by age 30. I'm 31, I'm not married, and yet I find a way to go on. Somehow. In other words, I won't be seeing this.
4) DARK HORSE: A mentally retarded guy meets a mentally retarded girl and things happen.
The Good: The cast is an amazing collection of unheralded comedians. Plus CHRISTOPHER WALKEN!!!
The Bad: Bad? What bad? CHRISTOPHER WALKEN!!!!
Final Thoughts: If Christopher Walken is in it, he's going to bring the funny. Even if he didn't mean to.
See you at the movies.
1) PROMETHEUS: Clues to the beginning of life on Earth leads them to some very dangerous surprises.
The Good: It's Ridley Scott doing an Alien franchise prequel. This is going to be awesome.
The Bad: It has a high standard to live up to; namely Alien.
Final Thoughts: I can't wait to see this. I love the Alien movies (except Resurrection) and some new blood is exactly what this franchise needs.
2) MADAGASCAR 3 EUROPE'S MOST WANTED: The gang is still trying to get home to New York and their travels lead them through Europe and a traveling circus.
The Good: It's a kid's animated movie that keeps getting better.
The Bad: It doesn't offer much to old guys like me.
Final Thoughts: Take your kids to see it. I'm sure they'll have a lovely time. They might even eat their vegetables.
3) LOLA VERSUS: A 29-year-old woman is dumped by her boyfriend just before the wedding and she goes on a journey of self discovery as a woman about to turn 30.
The Good: I think Bill Pullman is in it. He was good in Independence Day.
The Bad: Another insulting rom/com about a woman that doesn't know how to live without a man.
Final Thoughts: Speaking as someone who is older than 30, it's not a big deal. I find movies like this shallow because this woman loses her entire reason for being because she isn't married by age 30. I'm 31, I'm not married, and yet I find a way to go on. Somehow. In other words, I won't be seeing this.
4) DARK HORSE: A mentally retarded guy meets a mentally retarded girl and things happen.
The Good: The cast is an amazing collection of unheralded comedians. Plus CHRISTOPHER WALKEN!!!
The Bad: Bad? What bad? CHRISTOPHER WALKEN!!!!
Final Thoughts: If Christopher Walken is in it, he's going to bring the funny. Even if he didn't mean to.
See you at the movies.
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