Released back in 1979, this movie had been in production for well over five years and if you'd ever seen it, you'd wonder why they even bothered. The short answer is of course why dozens of other bruceploitation movies were made. Everyone loves Bruce Lee. And this was Bruce Lee's last movie.
Bruce Lee left the filming of Game of Death to film one of the most influential kung fu movies ever made: Enter the Dragon. Shortly after filming Enter the Dragon, Lee intended to come back and finish Game of Death, but tragically died before he could do that. So, unlike movies such as Exit the Dragon Enter the Tiger, The Clones of Bruce Lee, or Bruce Lee Fights Back From the Grave, Bruce Lee actually did star in the movie.
Really this movie is a mess of stock footage, horrible dubbing, and atrocious acting. In one truely tasteless scene of the movie, they used footage from Bruce Lee's real life funeral to further the plot. The best part of the movie is the movie's climax where, naturally, we have Bruce Lee doing what he does best: bone breaking kung fu. Bruce Lee vs Kareem Abdul Jabbar is actually satisfying; a testament to just how good an actor Bruce Lee truely was.
If you are in the mood for a great kung fu movie featuring the greatest martial artist ever on screen, watch Enter the Dragon or Fists of Fury before you ever attempt to sit through something like this.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Coming Soon: 1/20/12
One week and a nice little snow storm later it's time to see what's playing in the theaters.
1) Underworld Awakening: Humans have discovered that vampires and Lycans exist and try to kill both clans.
The Good: Kate Beckensale is sexy.
The Bad: Looking at Kate Beckensale in tight leather is the only reason to watch this movie.
Final Thoughts: If you want porn, look on the internet.
2) Haywire: A special agent is double crossed during a mission.
The Good: An amazing cast and a lot of action scenes.
The Bad: nothing. It looks like it'll be a big hit.
Final Thoughts: I felt that Stephen Soderbergh had the best movie of the year with Contagion. Hopefully this one goes as well.
3) Red Tails: The true story of the all black pilots during World War II.
The Good: I love true stories and this is one of those stories that is stranger than fiction.
The Bad: HBO did a similar movie called The Tuskegee Airmen in 1995. Also with Cuba Gooding, Jr.
Final Thoughts: I think this and Haywire are the movies to watch this month. If you don't know about this amazing story from World War II, you have to see this movie.
4) Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close: A boy searches for a secret message by his dead father he believes is out there in New York City.
The Good: Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock are amazing actors.
The Bad: Based on the trailers, I have no idea why I should watch this movie. I don't know what's happening. I don't know why this kid thinks there's a hidden message from his Dad. I don't know anything other than it's another fluff movie trying to make me cry.
Final Thoughts: If there's anything here, I don't see it. It might be good, but my initial response is to just wait and rent it at home.
5) Miss Bala: A beauty queen contestant sells out to a Mexican gang so she can win.
The Good: Sounds like a transformative story that will effect lots of people while giving a glimpse of the problems Mexico is going through today.
The Bad: nothing. It looks like a good movie.
Final Thoughts: If you like foreign films and want to do a little leg work to see a movie that might not necessarily be in the theaters in your area, this one is worth looking for.
See you at the movies.
1) Underworld Awakening: Humans have discovered that vampires and Lycans exist and try to kill both clans.
The Good: Kate Beckensale is sexy.
The Bad: Looking at Kate Beckensale in tight leather is the only reason to watch this movie.
Final Thoughts: If you want porn, look on the internet.
2) Haywire: A special agent is double crossed during a mission.
The Good: An amazing cast and a lot of action scenes.
The Bad: nothing. It looks like it'll be a big hit.
Final Thoughts: I felt that Stephen Soderbergh had the best movie of the year with Contagion. Hopefully this one goes as well.
3) Red Tails: The true story of the all black pilots during World War II.
The Good: I love true stories and this is one of those stories that is stranger than fiction.
The Bad: HBO did a similar movie called The Tuskegee Airmen in 1995. Also with Cuba Gooding, Jr.
Final Thoughts: I think this and Haywire are the movies to watch this month. If you don't know about this amazing story from World War II, you have to see this movie.
4) Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close: A boy searches for a secret message by his dead father he believes is out there in New York City.
The Good: Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock are amazing actors.
The Bad: Based on the trailers, I have no idea why I should watch this movie. I don't know what's happening. I don't know why this kid thinks there's a hidden message from his Dad. I don't know anything other than it's another fluff movie trying to make me cry.
Final Thoughts: If there's anything here, I don't see it. It might be good, but my initial response is to just wait and rent it at home.
5) Miss Bala: A beauty queen contestant sells out to a Mexican gang so she can win.
The Good: Sounds like a transformative story that will effect lots of people while giving a glimpse of the problems Mexico is going through today.
The Bad: nothing. It looks like a good movie.
Final Thoughts: If you like foreign films and want to do a little leg work to see a movie that might not necessarily be in the theaters in your area, this one is worth looking for.
See you at the movies.
Friday, January 13, 2012
From the Vault: Tron Legacy (2010)
Made fairly recently in 2010, Tron Legacy was the little anticipated sequel to the 1982 underground hit. Originally Tron didn't do perticularly well in box office sales so for Disney to make a sequel didn't seem wise. Disney instead tried to make more family friendly live action movies like Flight of the Navigator (1986), Return to Oz (1985), and Honey I Shrunk the Kids (1989).
Tron initially was praised for it's visuals and great acting, but heavily criticized for it's story. Over time, Tron had more than a second look and was praised as one of the best sci-fi movies of all time. Fast forward almost 30 years later and Disney surprised everyone with not remaking Tron using new visual techniques but a direct sequel; bringing back Jeff Bridges and Bruce Boxleitner from the original movie. (Both have gone on to great careers) Fans of the original Tron were chomping at the bit to see just where the story goes.
What we got was something with much more bright lights and far less depth. The original movie challenged the audience to think about God and technology in radically different ways. The only thing Tron Legacy inspired were video games and a great soundtrack.
Much like the original Tron Legacy had top notch visuals. The Lightcycles and disk throwing was beautiful to watch. They also took some interesting technological risks in digitally trying to de-age Jeff Bridges to make him look more like he did in 1982. But the problem with taking risks is that the effect could fall flat. The digital de-aging effect looked terrible. It never looked real enough and when Jeff Bridges is playing the villian, CLU it might be okay, but when we first see it in a flashback, it's just really bad. In some ways, doing the effect worse for CLU would've been better. By making him less humanlike, it could've made CLU more menacing and unworldly. In the 1982 movie, the grid was far from picture clear. It was blurry with this weird light thus making it clear that this isn't the normal world.
And then there's the story. Oh my God is it just dumb. Here's the story in a nutshell. Flynn (Jeff Bridges) had a son named Sam and when Sam was young, Flynn disappeared. He got stuck in the Grid when CLU turned nazi and began exterminating a new race of programs that were born inside the new Grid Flynn built. You might be thinking I'm taking a cheap shot by calling CLU a nazi, but when a mass extermination is called "the final solution" I make no apologies. So, Sam somehow ends up on the Grid, and must save the ISOs and his father.
While the first movie took great pride in the anthropomorphism of different computer programs, in Tron Legacy that concept is completely abandoned. And that's probably the worst problem with this movie. After almost 30 years, what a great time to update the series! Imagine all the great technical breakthroughs in computer science even in the last 10 years let alone the last 30! Can you imagine what a wi-fi telecommunications program would look like? How about a multi-core processor? Instead we get a prissy, blue tinged douche air guitaring with a cane.
The movie itself is like a disney theme park ride. It'll hit all the highs and lows of a standard action movie and does it with a kick ass soundtrack and beautiful scenery. But for me, this movie could've been so much more and just didn't want to be. It dumbed itself down in order to appeal to a larger audience and sell video games. The movie itself is satisfying as a popcorn flick but I was greatly disappointed.
Tron initially was praised for it's visuals and great acting, but heavily criticized for it's story. Over time, Tron had more than a second look and was praised as one of the best sci-fi movies of all time. Fast forward almost 30 years later and Disney surprised everyone with not remaking Tron using new visual techniques but a direct sequel; bringing back Jeff Bridges and Bruce Boxleitner from the original movie. (Both have gone on to great careers) Fans of the original Tron were chomping at the bit to see just where the story goes.
What we got was something with much more bright lights and far less depth. The original movie challenged the audience to think about God and technology in radically different ways. The only thing Tron Legacy inspired were video games and a great soundtrack.
Much like the original Tron Legacy had top notch visuals. The Lightcycles and disk throwing was beautiful to watch. They also took some interesting technological risks in digitally trying to de-age Jeff Bridges to make him look more like he did in 1982. But the problem with taking risks is that the effect could fall flat. The digital de-aging effect looked terrible. It never looked real enough and when Jeff Bridges is playing the villian, CLU it might be okay, but when we first see it in a flashback, it's just really bad. In some ways, doing the effect worse for CLU would've been better. By making him less humanlike, it could've made CLU more menacing and unworldly. In the 1982 movie, the grid was far from picture clear. It was blurry with this weird light thus making it clear that this isn't the normal world.
And then there's the story. Oh my God is it just dumb. Here's the story in a nutshell. Flynn (Jeff Bridges) had a son named Sam and when Sam was young, Flynn disappeared. He got stuck in the Grid when CLU turned nazi and began exterminating a new race of programs that were born inside the new Grid Flynn built. You might be thinking I'm taking a cheap shot by calling CLU a nazi, but when a mass extermination is called "the final solution" I make no apologies. So, Sam somehow ends up on the Grid, and must save the ISOs and his father.
While the first movie took great pride in the anthropomorphism of different computer programs, in Tron Legacy that concept is completely abandoned. And that's probably the worst problem with this movie. After almost 30 years, what a great time to update the series! Imagine all the great technical breakthroughs in computer science even in the last 10 years let alone the last 30! Can you imagine what a wi-fi telecommunications program would look like? How about a multi-core processor? Instead we get a prissy, blue tinged douche air guitaring with a cane.
The movie itself is like a disney theme park ride. It'll hit all the highs and lows of a standard action movie and does it with a kick ass soundtrack and beautiful scenery. But for me, this movie could've been so much more and just didn't want to be. It dumbed itself down in order to appeal to a larger audience and sell video games. The movie itself is satisfying as a popcorn flick but I was greatly disappointed.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Coming Soon: 1/13/12
Hello and happy Friday the 13th. Should be a lot of fun with all the undead killer zombies with machetes hanging around. Just warning, if you see someone walking around in a hockey mask, leave him be. How about we see what's playing in the theaters in case there's a need to hide.
1) Beauty and the Beast 3D. The beautiful Belle must live with the brutish Beast while the local hunk wants to marry Belle.
The Good: It's a re-release and not a remake. If you saw it back in the day, it's the same great movie.
The Bad: nothing. It's one of Disney's best movies.
Final Thoughts: I don't think the 3D gimmick is enough for me to buy a ticket but it is a good movie. If you choose to go see it, it'll be a great time.
2) Contraband: A smuggler comes out of retirement to help his friend.
The Good: Mark Wahlberg is a decent actor as long as he doesn't have to do comedy.
The Bad: the story isn't anything new and the cast is a bit on the weak side.
Final Thoughts: I'm excited to see it. Marky Mark can do action well. I plan to see it.
3) Joyful Noise: A church choir deals with the pressure of winning a singing contest and the egos of the two leading ladies.
The Good: There should be some good music. I guess.
The Bad: It's starring Dolly Parton and Queen Latifah in a church choir cat fight movie. How good can it be?
Final Thoughts: There isn't any way I could care at all about this movie in any way.
4) The Divide: People go ape s*** inside a building's basement after a nuclear attack.
The Good: Imagine all the money you'll save by not going to see it!
The Bad: This is a two hour long episode of the twilight zone. Full of gratuitous sex and violence. And I swear to God if they do the twist ending that was in the Twilight Zone episode, there will be riots.
Final Thoughts: Unimaginative, uninteresting, and from the same director that did Hitman. This is going to be painful.
See you at the movies
1) Beauty and the Beast 3D. The beautiful Belle must live with the brutish Beast while the local hunk wants to marry Belle.
The Good: It's a re-release and not a remake. If you saw it back in the day, it's the same great movie.
The Bad: nothing. It's one of Disney's best movies.
Final Thoughts: I don't think the 3D gimmick is enough for me to buy a ticket but it is a good movie. If you choose to go see it, it'll be a great time.
2) Contraband: A smuggler comes out of retirement to help his friend.
The Good: Mark Wahlberg is a decent actor as long as he doesn't have to do comedy.
The Bad: the story isn't anything new and the cast is a bit on the weak side.
Final Thoughts: I'm excited to see it. Marky Mark can do action well. I plan to see it.
3) Joyful Noise: A church choir deals with the pressure of winning a singing contest and the egos of the two leading ladies.
The Good: There should be some good music. I guess.
The Bad: It's starring Dolly Parton and Queen Latifah in a church choir cat fight movie. How good can it be?
Final Thoughts: There isn't any way I could care at all about this movie in any way.
4) The Divide: People go ape s*** inside a building's basement after a nuclear attack.
The Good: Imagine all the money you'll save by not going to see it!
The Bad: This is a two hour long episode of the twilight zone. Full of gratuitous sex and violence. And I swear to God if they do the twist ending that was in the Twilight Zone episode, there will be riots.
Final Thoughts: Unimaginative, uninteresting, and from the same director that did Hitman. This is going to be painful.
See you at the movies
Sunday, January 8, 2012
From the Vault: Tron (1982)
Made back in 1982, Tron was a landmark movie in computer graphics. While absolutely nothing special by today's standards, movies like this were never seen before. Back in the '80s, computers were nothing like we understand them today, the internet was in it's infancy, and even things like cellular telephones haven't become more than a novelty the size of a brick with only one function: making telephone calls.
Because the technology was still new and wonderous, it got computer geeks everywhere daydreaming: what if there was a digital world? And what would it be like if we were able to digitize ourselves and go into the computer world? That's the basis for this movie. Anthropomorphic lifeforms called "programs" are the living embodyment of computer programs we create to do tasks. For example: if you had a program to help with doing taxes, it would be represented by a guy in a business suit. Or if you had an anti-virus program it would be a soldier with a high powered rifle. Maybe a firewall program that really looked like a wall of fire. The possibilities for creativity were endless.
So, what would happen if you had a rouge program? That's where we see our villian. A program called "Master Control" along with a greedy businessman (Dillinger played by David Warner) try to gain control over the internet and taking over both worlds.
Standing in the way of world domination was Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges) and Alan Bradley (Bruce Boxleitner). Alan creates a program called Tron which is supposed to counteract Master Control. While trying to upload Tron, Flynn is digitized and put onto the grid by Master Control. While on the grid, he is the subject of a lot of awe and wonder. Think about it: people (users) in a world of computer programs would see users as God. How would you feel if you got a chance to meet a God? And then came to understand that God figure as simple and fallible as yourself. How would you feel? How would you accept this?
The story of Tron is far more than just a fun little romp through the computer. It plays with perception and visuals in a way not easily duplicated. It made people think about very heavy philosophical ideals from an interesting perspective. It challenged our way of thinking about science, technology, and daily life when nobody knew how much computers would impact the next thirty years.
The visuals of Tron really don't hold up to modern standards but I would still call it a sci-fi classic and well worth seeing.
Because the technology was still new and wonderous, it got computer geeks everywhere daydreaming: what if there was a digital world? And what would it be like if we were able to digitize ourselves and go into the computer world? That's the basis for this movie. Anthropomorphic lifeforms called "programs" are the living embodyment of computer programs we create to do tasks. For example: if you had a program to help with doing taxes, it would be represented by a guy in a business suit. Or if you had an anti-virus program it would be a soldier with a high powered rifle. Maybe a firewall program that really looked like a wall of fire. The possibilities for creativity were endless.
So, what would happen if you had a rouge program? That's where we see our villian. A program called "Master Control" along with a greedy businessman (Dillinger played by David Warner) try to gain control over the internet and taking over both worlds.
Standing in the way of world domination was Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges) and Alan Bradley (Bruce Boxleitner). Alan creates a program called Tron which is supposed to counteract Master Control. While trying to upload Tron, Flynn is digitized and put onto the grid by Master Control. While on the grid, he is the subject of a lot of awe and wonder. Think about it: people (users) in a world of computer programs would see users as God. How would you feel if you got a chance to meet a God? And then came to understand that God figure as simple and fallible as yourself. How would you feel? How would you accept this?
The story of Tron is far more than just a fun little romp through the computer. It plays with perception and visuals in a way not easily duplicated. It made people think about very heavy philosophical ideals from an interesting perspective. It challenged our way of thinking about science, technology, and daily life when nobody knew how much computers would impact the next thirty years.
The visuals of Tron really don't hold up to modern standards but I would still call it a sci-fi classic and well worth seeing.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Coming Soon: 1/6/12
Sorry for the lateness of this post. Lots of changes happening in my life but hey, better late than never. Let's see what is coming out this week.
1) The Devil Inside: A daughter believes her mother is possessed by demons.
The Good: It looks incredibly scary. Lots of big scares to be had.
The Bad: Excorcism movies are not in short supply.
Final Thoughts: Will it be as good as the other movies with the same story? My guess is yes. If you like these kinds of movies, it'll be a big hit.
2) Beneath The Darkness: Four boys discover a dark secret kept by the small town's mortician.
The Good: uhm.... it.... has.... dead bodies?
The Bad: Young, untested actors with a tier two leading man in a B movie script.
Final Thoughts: This could be one of those cult classics but I seriously doubt it. Don't expect anything special.
3) Roadie: After 20 years as a roadie for Blue Oyster Cult, Jimmy returns home.
The Good: It's a character piece about the sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll lifestyle.
The Bad: Not sure it has much of a story.
Final Thoughts: Looks like a good movie with some good acting. It's a story of what happens when it's time to wake up from the dream. I want to see it.
4) Once Upon A Time In Anatolia: A trip through the countryside looking for a dead body reveals much more than once realized.
The Good: It's a deep movie with a lot of symbolism.
The Bad: It's a long, plotting movie. You'll need to have some level of patience.
Final Thoughts: These kinds of movies are down my alley. I love deep movies with lots to think about. It might not be for everyone though. Don't expect a lot of action.
See you at the movies.
1) The Devil Inside: A daughter believes her mother is possessed by demons.
The Good: It looks incredibly scary. Lots of big scares to be had.
The Bad: Excorcism movies are not in short supply.
Final Thoughts: Will it be as good as the other movies with the same story? My guess is yes. If you like these kinds of movies, it'll be a big hit.
2) Beneath The Darkness: Four boys discover a dark secret kept by the small town's mortician.
The Good: uhm.... it.... has.... dead bodies?
The Bad: Young, untested actors with a tier two leading man in a B movie script.
Final Thoughts: This could be one of those cult classics but I seriously doubt it. Don't expect anything special.
3) Roadie: After 20 years as a roadie for Blue Oyster Cult, Jimmy returns home.
The Good: It's a character piece about the sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll lifestyle.
The Bad: Not sure it has much of a story.
Final Thoughts: Looks like a good movie with some good acting. It's a story of what happens when it's time to wake up from the dream. I want to see it.
4) Once Upon A Time In Anatolia: A trip through the countryside looking for a dead body reveals much more than once realized.
The Good: It's a deep movie with a lot of symbolism.
The Bad: It's a long, plotting movie. You'll need to have some level of patience.
Final Thoughts: These kinds of movies are down my alley. I love deep movies with lots to think about. It might not be for everyone though. Don't expect a lot of action.
See you at the movies.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Movies I want to see: January
Hello, and happy new year. My year has already started off with a few new difficulties. Mostly adjusting to living once again in the United States. Still looking for work and adjusting to the time zone differences. Anyway, here's the movies I want to see this month.
1) Contraband: I admit this is one just for me. Mark Wahlberg is just one of those guys that is just fun to laugh at. When he does comedy, he's terrible. But when he does action, he does a pretty good job. So, I'm less excited about Contraband but more curious. I'll go see it.
2) Red Tails: Another story about the famous black fighter pilots during WWII. It's such an amazing story. I really don't think it can be told enough. I saw Tuskegee Airmen and that also had Cuba Gooding, jr so I plan to eventually see this one as well.
3) Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos: I love FMA. I've read the manga, I've watched the anime. I'm not sure this will really add much to the story as a whole but it'll have what made the story great.
January isn't a very good time for movies. Well, to all I say have a great New Year.
See you at the movies.
1) Contraband: I admit this is one just for me. Mark Wahlberg is just one of those guys that is just fun to laugh at. When he does comedy, he's terrible. But when he does action, he does a pretty good job. So, I'm less excited about Contraband but more curious. I'll go see it.
2) Red Tails: Another story about the famous black fighter pilots during WWII. It's such an amazing story. I really don't think it can be told enough. I saw Tuskegee Airmen and that also had Cuba Gooding, jr so I plan to eventually see this one as well.
3) Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos: I love FMA. I've read the manga, I've watched the anime. I'm not sure this will really add much to the story as a whole but it'll have what made the story great.
January isn't a very good time for movies. Well, to all I say have a great New Year.
See you at the movies.
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