I have a confession to make, I love Sesame Street! During some forced time off, I recently became aquatinted Elmo, Grover and the rest of the gang on Sesame Street. Spending weekday morning with my two year old son, is most definitely awesome time. I only bring that up, because it lead me to ponder the current progress of the new Muppets film, announced in march of last year. I began to watch as much Muppet infused celluloid as possible to aid in the yearning for Muppets forgotten by this new generation.
As it stands, the films co-screen writers, Nick Stoller and Jason Segal have submitted five drafts to the studio heads at Disney, for review and approval. All the drafts, according to Segal, revolve around the same premise of globetrotting Muppets, in search of the rest of the bunch in an effort to save the Muppet Theater.
Personally, I think the concept is fantastic, what better way to introduce the Muppets to this new generation, then by introducing them in the same manner that was done originally. And on top of that, it will draw the old timers, such as myself, into the overpriced seats at the theater, for that little bit of nostalgia and relive some of those childhood memories. The only issue I have currently with this film is the pace of the development process. Why should we be subjected to the half assed, foolhardy, garbage that is G-Force, Beverly Hills Chihuahua and countless High School Musicals, while Muppet gold sits on the back burner, surely anything Muppet would be better exposure to our kids then these steaming piles of shit. I digress, my point is simply that Muppets should be at the forefront before anything else Disney is cranking out these days, they most definitely have earned that much.
And finally, one quick last thing, Muppet films are notorious for it celebrity cameos from stars of the day, this time around is no different. Though nothing is set in stone, and this is pure speculation at this point but there are already some celebrities tossing their hats in the ring. Names such as Christian Bale, Ben Stiller (who did a guest spot on the most recent season of Sesame Street), Jack Black, Steve Carrell, George Clooney, Vince Vaughn, Jon Favreau, Matt Damon, Mel Brooks, Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Seth Rogen and Charles Grodin, just to name a few.
Be sure to stay tuned here at GKS for your Muppet updates, as you know I will be keeping my eye and posting all I know and see directly to you.
Hey there fellow squidies, welcome to this weeks selected new releases for July 14 and July 21 2009. It is yet another lackluster selection for this edition, so without further delay, lets get to it.
New Releases for July 14, 2009
The Haunting in Connecticut (Unrated Special Edition) The consensus for this film was mixed, some highly praising while others were completely disappointed by it. Based on actual events, follows the tradition of other real life event horrors such as Amityville Horror and the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. If that’s your thing, definitely worth a gander.
Horsemen
Dennis Quaid has certainly been a busy man these days expanding hisating resume and lately he has ventured off into the realm of thriller/horror. Horsemen is no different as he plays a detective searching for a serial killer using the four horsemen predicted in the book of revelations as their rationale for these killings. I for one will be checking this one out, as a Quaid fan.
[Rec] This little Spanish horror film is truly awesome. A news team is trapped in a sealed off apartment building where all kinds of terror waitShot almost documentary style, [REC] is further proof that for the most part, us North Americans can’t make horror films worth shit. Chose this over Quarantine, the American remake of [REC].
Click the links below for the above DVD’s available from our friends at Amazon.com Pushing Daisies: The Complete Second Season
How this show survived and made it to a second season is beyond me, having watched a few episodes in the first season, being somewhat of a Chi McBride fan and a little curious. The concept of a pie maker with the abilty to bring individuals and animals back to life seemed like a stretch, was a bit of a stretch, give me Eli Stone over this any day.
Watchmen (Director’s Cut)
I will only touch briefly on this one, as Ryan has already done a post in regards to the release of this underrated flick. Giant blue members aside, Watchmen is a comic readers wet dream, a film solely made for the fans of the comic, a rarity among comic book based films. I HIGHLY recommend this one for your viewing pleasure.
So until next time, happy viewing and keep your remote handy.
As I was enjoying my current installment of Wipeout (mock me if you will), I happened to view a trailer for the upcoming comedy Old Dogs . The film stars Robin Williams and John Travolta, as two middle aged womanizers, who end up in charge if Travolta’s teenage twins.
Near as I can tell, it has sort of a Wedding Crashers meets Three men and Baby vibe to it, and since it is being put out by the masters of our universe, Disney, you can expect some good clean family fun similar to that of The Game Plan , The Pacifier or The Parent Trap. Though the trailer did give the impression that it would be more adult orientated then the aforementioned trio, and has comedic veterans Seth Green and Matt Dillion as some of the costars. This might be a wait and see it on DVD flick, but then again, some of the humor used in the trailer, indicate, to me anyways, that it may be worth my ten bucks.
I will say this though, if this comedy ends being a long the same lines as Robin Williams previous attempts to break back into comedy, I will be severely disappointed, being a big fan of his. As for Travolta, after fighting off the urge to tear out my eyes and burn them, watching Hairspray, I really have no high expectations for Travolta in this one, as he has lost a bit of that shine that once made him a box office draw a long time ago.
So check out the trailer below and let us know what you think, money maker or dud?
Welcome to the inaugural DVD FIX, where we cover all your current DVD releases, along with some food for thought on older (and sometimes forgotten) favorites and not so favorite.
NEW & NOTABLE RELEASES
June 16, 2009
-Fiday the 13th Killer Cut (2009)
-Transfomers Season 1 (G1)
-Ghosbusters (Blu-Ray)
- Burn Notice Season 2
-Famly Guy Vol. 7 -Dr Strangelove (Blu-Ray)
-Lost Season 1 (Blu-Ray)
June 23, 2009
-Inkheart
- Pink Panther 2
- Waltz with Bashir
DVD REWIND
In this part of DVD FIX, I take you back and review a DVD from past years. With the lackluster selection for this edition, as well as have not viewed the majority of these films, perhaps a dual trip down memory lane is on order…
Ghostbusters (1985)
Ghostbusters played a large part, of my childhood growing up, as with any other child that grew up in the 1980’s. I had numerous action figures, including my favorite Egon, my very own proton pack and of course the packaged slime that always seemed to get everywhere. They were iconic, their theme song to this day is tilled played in some form every Halloween and I am willing to bet that a majority of you readers out there have dressed up as one at some point in your life.
For those living under a rock and have no idea what I am talking about (which I find hard to believe), Ghostbusters stars Dan Akroyd (one of the brains behind the creation of the film), Bill Murray, Harold Ramis and Ernie Hudson, as the Ghostbusters with Sigourney Weaver and Rick Moranis co staring as well. The film details the origins of titular characters and the rise of paranormal activity in 1985 New York city.
Ultimately what makes this film such a classic, is the fantastic writing, the perfect comedic timing by all the actors, particularly Bill Murray and Dan Akroyd, and in the same token, the performances given by each performer. The writing was witty and well thought out. Ackroyd (Ray Stanz) and Murray (Peter Venkman), both SNL alumni, were spot on in their delivery with Murray stealing the show. Initially, Harold Ramis, one of the films writers, had wrote the part of Egon with no particular actor in mind and had no intention on playing the part. After no suitable actor was cast, he signed on the play him and due in part to knowing the character, pulled off a memorable display, nearly stealing the show, whenever Murray was off screen.
Hudson was a late edition, after Eddie Murphy, who the part was written for, turned the offer down in favor of Beverly Hill Cop. With Murphy out of the picture, the story was rewritten and reduced the role of Winston Zedemore. Hudson, though not in the film until the latter part, brought a more grounded character, this helped to balance out the wide spectrum of characters represented in the four protaginists and when your cast and characters are balanced, it leaves more room for the story to move forward, as was the case for Ghostbusters.
My personal recommendation, if you have not seen Ghostbusters, make time and see it, it is a worthwhile investment of your time and you will not walk away with disappointment.
Man of the Year (2006)
I believe that had this film been advertised properly and promoted more as a political dramedy with a little thriller thrown into the mix, rather then a full out comedy, it would have performed better. Given the false advertising and the horrible word of mouth that followed, Man of the Year was not seen for what it truly was, an incredible what if scenario played out, with stellar performance by every one involved.
Man of the Year also stars, political stand up comedian Lewis Black (one of my personal favorites), Christopher Walken, Jeff Golblum and Laura Linney. Robin Williams plays Tom Dobbs, a late night political talk show host, who is jokingly asked why he is not running as a presidential candidate in the upcoming election. After some serious thought, he decides to throw his hat in the ring and run for President. This is where a lot of the comedic context of the film takes place, is during his campaign trail, with his appearance at the debate being the pinnacle of the humor and then leads us into the more serious and dramatic tone. After the elction, it looks as though Tom Dobbs has won the elction and is set to become the next President.
Meanwhile, in diferent sub plot, during the election campaign, Eleanor Green (Laura Linney), a software programmer for Delacroy, stumbles upon a glitch that selects the same candidate, regardless of the number of votes cast, in the software being used in the upcoming election. When she approached the company head (Jeff Goldblum) with the news, she is ignored and then is pursued by company agents in an effort to silence and discredit her. She is able to meet with President Elect Tom Dobbs and explain to him that he is only in that position because of the glitch.
Even though I was disappointed that this was not another Robin Williams comedy, what kept me invested was some phenomenal acting by the supporting cast. And you would expect nothing less with the likes of Linney and Walken, surprisingly Black really stole it for me, not just because I am a fan of his, but how serious he can be, while still maintaining his comedic punch. I never thought I would live to see the day where Golblum played the villain, but he pulls it off with such ease, and played a real convincing prick.
If you decide to view Man of the Year with the expectation of a comedy, like it was advertised, then either change your expectations or prepare to be disappointed. It is a Dramatic-thriller with comedic impulses. If you go into it with that frame of mind, you should walk away with very little disappointment.
Good news for all you Futurama fans out there, it looks as though FOX has decided to finally resurrect the series. FOX gave its approval for 26 new episodes to be broadcast sometime in 2010. It should be noted that though FOX owns the rights to the show, they will not be airing the episodes on their networks, all new episodes will be brodacst on Comedy Centeral.
The show has had a turbulent ride in its history since debuting in 1999, and FOX never got behind the show, proven by the constant timeslot changes the show endured in its initial five season run. Oft times the show was replaced with sporting events, which was bitter sweet, since it allowed the writers more time to write future episodes but kept the viewers guessing when the next new episode would air. Finally after a continual decline in Neilson ratings, the show was dropped from the line up in 2003, though it was never officially canceled, no new episodes would be created.
Much like it’s fellow animated series Family Guy, strong DVD sales coupled with four new, direct to DVD movies, played a large part in bring the series back from the dead. Being a large fan myself, I am ecstatic that FOX finally succumbed, it will be thrilling to see my favorite characters back where they should not have left in the first place.
What do you guys think, is good news or bad news? What are your favorite Futurama moments/episodes?
A long Time Ago, in a galaxy far away……….Fanboys was released (FINALLY) in Canada! Star Wars Geeks nationwide were able to sit back and enjoy a comedy that was tailor made just for them. Finally, there would be a period where it would be acceptable to be deep into Star Wars. The debate on who shot first Han or Greedo could be addressed without repercussion. What was George Lucas on when he went forth created the abominable creature known as Jar Jar Binks, could be discussed in greater detail. Ok, so maybe nothing has changed , and it is still unacceptable to discuss such things with your close, non Star Wars friends. But as an immense fan that has taken his fair share of lumps for his fascination of Star Wars lore, it is hard to find any sincere film that rewards such dedication. Most of the time when a film references Star Wars or its fan base, they merely poke fun at the fans or the series and become the butt of the jokes. But here and now, we fanboys have a film to call our own, where we can come together and kick some Trekkie (sorry, Trekker) ass!
Back in 1998, there was an aura of mystery surrounding the Skywalker Ranch, as George Lucas was moving into post production on his new feature Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. Fans debated back and forth as to the caliber of such an endeavor, many expected, with the recent advances in technology, this new Star Wars film would blow its predecessors out of the water. Everyone, fan and non fan alike were curious to see how the story would play out. Security around the project was tight (oh how things have changed, Wolverine Origins anyone?) and very little was revealed. This brings us to Fanboys.
What do you do when your best friend is diagnosed with cancer and not expected to live to see the premiere of a film you all have been waiting to see since childhood? You take a plan you and your friends concocted and break into the Skywalker Ranch to steal yourselves a copy of the film. Enter the premise of Fanboys.
Fanboys is a fairly simplistic and predictable story and does not break any new ground, but that’s not why we watch the film. The development of each core character, Eric (Sam Huntington), Linus (Chris Marquette), Hutch (Dan Folger), Windows (Jay Baruchel) and Zoe (Kirsten Bell) and their journey throughout the film are what keeps us engaged and why we watch. Each character has a “Death Star” or obstacle they must overcome. Eric struggles with guilt and abandoning his friends for the “Real World”, while Linus battles cancer and only wishes to see all his friends talk and get along like they used to. Hutch, struggles with moving on and leaving Star Wars behind, Windows, your stereotypical dork, has trouble with the opposite sex and is complacent with internet dating. And finally Zoe has a hard time expressing her feelings to Windows, and just wants him to notice her as more then just a friend.. Really what the film breaks down to is moving on while still retaining those things that are important to you.
The journey itself, is quite funny as they encounter mishaps, much like any road trip movie does. What sets Fanboys road trip a part from similar cross country films, is the cameos. There are some great cameos from both Star Wars actors and gurus. As well as some from the Star Trek persuasion. The numerous Star Wars references are enough to keep your head spinning, tossed with a few Trek references and some subtle comic book tidbits. My personal favorite scene has to be the Trek and Star Wars showdown in the center of Captain Kirk’s birthplace in Iowa, classic! Even better was the cameo of Captain Kirk himself, William Shatner, later on.
There was not too much I could say I disliked about the film, but one aspect I still can’t quite wrap my head around was how they had planned on stealing the film since they were five years old. When Episode I was only announced a few years prior to the 1999 release date and I am assuming that the characters were in their early to mid twenties when the film takes place, which means that when they were five, sometime aroung Return of the Jedi theatrical release or VHS release, somewhere in that time frame. If anyone has any thoughts in this discrepancy, feel free to share them, as I still can get my math to work. And one other minor thing that would have made the film that much better, would have been a cameo by Lucas himself, I kept waiting for it and it never surfaced, to my disappointment.
All in all, Fanboys is a great film for those Star Wars aficionados and might be interesting to the rest, I won’t say it’s a strictly fanboy only film, because I don’t think it is, but having that title of Star Wars geek, will definitely enhance your viewing pleasure.
Welcome to this edition of The Vault, due to the crappy mailing system up here in Canada, this weeks offering was supposed to have been included in last weeks, but alas, here we are a week later and I will tell you, it was definitely worth the wait. So let us get down to it….
The Rock
Okay, I don’t want to know nothing. I never saw you throw that gentleman off the balcony. All I care about is: are you happy with your haircut?
-Paul (hotel barber)
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Sean Connery, Ed Harris.
Directed by: Michael Bay (Transformers, Armageddon, Bad Boys I & II, Pearl Harbor)
Where do you start with The Rock? It is probably on almost every mans list of top action films, it has James Bond himself, Sean Connery, at the time of its release, one of the top action stars, Nicolas Cage and the real star of the movie, Alcatraz itself. All this coupled with cheesy dialogue that populates many action films, a great story and adrenalin pumping soundtrack by Hans Zimmer. This had all the right ingredients for success.
I am a sucker when it comes to films that involve a villain that is redeemable or you sympathize with. General Hummel (Ed Harris) is one such villain. Right from the opening segment to the bitter end, you are aware of his intentions and what he is trying to achieve. He is not money hungry, or exacting revenge on anyone, but rather he seeking justice for wrongdoings of an apathetic bureaucratic government. What made him so relatable throughout the film is his hidden compassion, which slowly emerges to the surface near the end. He his not a bad man by any means, simply a man doing what he believes to be right.
I never fully appreciated the passion which Ed Harris poured into the character, until seeing the blooper reel. When he flubbed his lines, rather then laugh it off or simply ask for a re shoot, he was angered and frustrated by it, in some cases throwing props across the set. It is that type of passion you need to play a man who has felt screwed over and over by his own government.
Nicolas Cage is so consistently inconsistent with his roles. He will blow you away in one, and totally flatline in the next. Stanley Goodspeed is a role that really sits in the middle, there were a few scenes where Cage showed some of that moxie that earned him the Oscar that sits in his trophy room, while others are pure cheese. I for the most do enjoy Nicolas Cage, I think he can be a real talent when he wants to be.
Sean Connery really steals the show, as the wrongfully imprisoned John Patrick Mason, a former British secret service agent. This is not where the Bond references stop, throughout the film there are subtle and in your face nods to James Bond, watch it for yourself and see if you can spot them. I always felt that Connery needed to return to the Bond franchise in some form, however, given his retirement and unwillingness to “unretire”, this will have to do. Mason is a bit like a rough around the edges Bond, less the ladies man charisma, but a lot of his mannerisms and dialogue and even the way he fights is very reminiscent of James Bond of old. Connery is very enjoyable to watch as Mason. Connery was involved very heavily in the re tooling of the character during pre production, as the character was initially written with someone else in mind. So the incarnation that we see on screen is due in large to Connery and his understanding of the character.
There are no real expectations for The Rock, it is gunplay, car chases and explosions wrapped around a historical landmark and AWOL marines. Still more character driven and more thought plot then your average action film and there is something for everyone, and no one will come away disappointed
Versions:
Single Disk edition (WS only)
Two Disk Criterion Collection Edition (WS only) **This version is available online only, either directly through Criterion or other online stores such as Amazon**
Special Features:
Single Disk-
1) TV Spots and Trailers
Two Disc Criterion Collection Edition-
1) Audio Commentary
2) Video Interview with Jerry Bruckheimer
3) Analysis of the dive sequence
4) Episode of Movie Magic, showcasing the films special effects.
5) Dos and Don’ts of Hollywood Gunplay
6) Excerpts from Secrets of Alcatraz documentary
7) Storyboards
8 ) Theatrical Trailer and TV Spots
9) Outtakes selected by Michael Bay
10) The Rock world premier on Alcatraz
I love this movie, one of my favorites, I spent a good long time debating back and forth on whether or not to spend twice as much for the Criterion edition or settle on the bare bones. It really boiled down to how much I love this movie, and needless to say, I went all out, and sprung for the 2 disks. Was it a worthwhile investment? I would say hell yeah! I have watched numerous special features in my lifetime, and I have to say this is the first one that has features with excellent replay value and increased my appreciation for Bay even more.
Normally I don’t really get into the special effects side of things, however the Movie Magic episode and the Analysis of the dive sequence were entrancing and very enjoyable to watch. It awesome to see how they did some of the really cools shots, some of which I did not even notice were actual CGI shots. The outtakes were not your typical “woops I flubbed my line” outtakes, for the most part, especially with Ed Harris going of f on a profanity laced tirade, definetly gave a higher appreciation for Ed Harris and the intensity that he brings to the role. I really enjoyed the historical aspects that the Secrets of Alcatraz documentary offered in the segment, increased my appreciation for Alcatraz a little more. Perhaps the pinnacle of the features had to be the dos and don’ts of Hollywood gunplay, the feature is a tutorial with Harry Humphries and Marshal Teague, former Navy seals and a Navy seal consultants on the set. Humphries and Teague demonstrate some of Hollywood’s mishandling of firearms, and how ineffective they can be in real life. I actually found myself later on, watching a different film and critiquing how the character was holding their gun.
There were really only two features that really were ok, the video interview with the films producer Jerry Bruckheimer and The Rock world premier. The interview with Bruckheimer would have be more engaging had the focus been on the film rather then his working history with his partner, the late Don Simpson. The Rock world premier feature is really pointless, as it goes over the preparation for the premier of the film on Alcatraz island, nothing great about it.
Now before I sign off for the week, I feel the need to say something to all the Bay bashers out there reading. Though I will never fully understand why you bash Bay, he does not deserve it, after watching the features, I have a reformed opinion on the man, though he may never receive an Oscar for best director and Spielberg he is not. But the amount of work and the dedication he puts into his films should be warranted and respected. He showed up on set for a week with a real nasty flu bug, that would have kept any normal man home in bed, he also hired real Navy seals to ensure that his depiction was accurate and as realistic as possible. So all you Bay nay sayers, back off.
I am a little late, but I had to do a little bit of digging to bring you a comic infused gem for this week. This weeks offering is a little off based to what has been done previously in the Vault, but it should be good. Also I am changing the format slightly, rather then two films, I will focus one instead. Let me know what you guys think, and if you want me to bring back doing two. So without further hesitation…….
The Incredibles
“You didn’t save my life, you ruined my death!”
Oliver Sansweet
Staring: Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Samuel L. Jackson, Jason Lee.
Directed by: Brad Bird (Ratatouille, The Iron Giant and Episodes of The Simpsons)
Though technically not a comic book based film, there is no denying it’s obvious influence and homage to the comic genre. I choose to use The Incredibles for a couple reasons, its an animated film that I personally have not covered here in the Vault (though Ryan did cover one in his edition) and it happens to have a place in my heart and is among my favorite animated features of all time.
The Incredibles was created by Brad Bird as a tribute to the films from his childhood that had influenced him to become an animator and writer. Combined with his passion for comics and superheroes and his admiration for James Bond, he came up with a concept that was refreshing to the traditional family orientated animation. He plays on our imagination and places the viewers in a nostalgic 1960’s world and asks “What if superheroes existed?” and “What if they were forced to live out there lives normally?” Even going as far as addressing the possibility of a family of superheroes and how they interact as a family unit. You can’t really go wrong with a concept like that, but on the other side, it is a huge gamble, done incorrectly and it may blow up in your face. Obviously, Brad Bird nailed it.
The animation is superb and definitely one of Pixars finer works, and there best since their debut of Toy Story and a superb follow up to Finding Nemo. The story follows the story of the Parr family, a family of superheroes forced to live out their lives in suburban hell and their attempt to fit into the average family routine.
First and foremost you have the catalyst for many of the films events, Robert “Bob” Parr, AKA Mr. Incredible (voiced by Craig T. Nelson of TV’s Coach fame) a bit of a name play on Marvel’s Mr. Fantastic from the Fantastic Four, with powers reminiscent of Superman’s size (not Christopher Reeves incarnation, but the comics) and strength. The character comes off with a bit of arrogance and confidence in the beginning of the film. He is smug and he believes because he is a Superhero, nothing can go wrong because he is just doing his job. After the events that set things in motion in the beginning of the films, fast forward 15 years and we see sad and beaten man, Bob Parr, working for an Insurance company and loathing every minute of it, set in a mundane and redundant routine, yearning for the old days when Superheroes were revered and cherished. It is in this yearning and a mishandled rescue that sets up the remainder of the film.
Next you have Bob’s wife, Helen formerly Elastigirl (voiced by Multiple Oscar nominee and one time winner, Holly Hunter). One of the few female Superheroes mentioned and talked about in the beginning of the film. There is no name play (as far as I know) on her name, but her powers are the same as Mr. Fantastic. With Bob, they have three kids with super powers: Violet (Powers similar to Invisible Woman), Dashiell “Dash” Parr (Powers similar to The Flash) and Jack Jack (Powers unknown, and are currently being developed). At the beginning of the film, she is confident like her soon to be husband, but lacks the arrogance he has, and is replaced with a cool calmness and would rather demonstrate how good she is, rather then brag about it. Fifteen years later, she still maintains that confidence, but is reduced to being a housewife trying to make the best of it and has moved on from being a superhero into being a mother.
And finally, we get to the villain and side characters that make up The Incredibles. The films only villain is Buddy Pine AKA Syndrome (voiced by, Jason Lee of My Name is Earl fame), we are introduced to a young Buddy Pine early on, who idolizes Mr. Incredible and follows him around everywhere he goes. In his own attempts to become a superhero, shows off his inventions to Mr. Incredible and tries to assist him. When he is hurt (emotionally) by his idol, in his feelings of dejection he starts on a vengeful path, waiting for the day when he can outdo his superhero idol. In the end though he is met with an untimely incident.
Lucius Best, formerly Frozone (voiced by “he is in everything actor”, Samuel L. Jackson) plays a small part as long time friend of Bob, and reflects on the old days with Bob, but wants to move forward and away from the past, but gets caught up whenever he is around Bob. Frozone’s powers are similar to X-Men’s Iceman.
It is really hard to comment on the acting in an animation, since all of the work done is voice work, the only thing really left to comment on is the dialogue and writing. Both are great and well done, Brad Bird, the man behind it all is a talent and has a knack for comedic timing and wit. I find the best way to judge a films dialogue is by how many lines are quotable and memorable and The Incredibles is chalked full of them, with a few a I still quote every now and then.
The Writing centers around the character development and strives to make the viewers care about them, it is not reliant on sight gags or cheesy flash in the pan moments. Everything is well thought out and presented just the same, there seems to be very little that was over looked. As mentioned previous, Brad Bird’s knack for comedic timing is strongly evident here, as it was in his earlier film The Iron Giant (my personal fav), it is great thing to have a director and writer who is passionate about a project and is left with little interference by studios (Yes FOX, I am looking at you), because you end up with something great in the end.
Versions:
2 Disk Collectors set (Available in FS and WS Blueray will be available soon)
Special Features:
1) Trailers and TV spots
2) Audio Commentaries
3) “Jack-Jack Attack” short
4) Deleted Scenes
5) “The Making of The Incredibles” Documentary
6) More “Making of The Incredibles” Documentaries
7) Incredi-bluders
Vowellett- An Essay by Sarah Vowell
9) The Art gallery
10) Publicity
11) Mr. Incredible and Pals spoof short
12) NSA files
13) Boundin Music video
14) Easter Eggs
As with most Disney and Pixar releases, The Incredibles, as you can see, is jam packed with lots of features for your ever growing knowledge base. Personally I really enjoyed Jack-Jack attack short the best, makes me laugh every time, and if there was a spot to fit in the film, it would have been that much better. I would forgo the deleted scnes, since they are more or less just storyboards or hand drawn animation, with little finished product, though, there are a couple of different scenes that show a different take on the film, early in development. For the tech Sauvé, the Making Of Features goes into great detail on the process of making human CGI characters, and various other production stages. The Incredi-blunders is pretty entertaining to watch one time, after that, there is nothing exciting about it, but it will showcase that even animators in our high tech society can still screw up. By pass the Vowellett feature, save yourself some time and go take a nap, and utterly pointless waste of a feature.
The Art gallery is exactly that, with some shots from the film. The publicity feature is enjoyable, as it takes characters from the movie, and are interviewed by entertainment shows very much like any other publicity interview. The Mr Incredible and pals spoof short is worth viewing at least once, if not twice, a definite jab at Superman and friends, pretty funny. The NSA Files are good to look at, simply to look at NSA files on other superheroes mentioned in the film. I absolutely hated Boundin with a passion, hated it when I saw it in theater, and ignore it on my DVD, but if you must, go ahead and watch the lame ass video. And finally there is a butt load of easter eggs, that I myself have yet to uncover, but have found one or two, definitely worth tracking down if you ask me and based on what I read.
I loved this movie, I wish that Pixar would focus on a sequel for this one rather then Cars or Toy Story 3, as this one has the most potential to be turned into a series of films, or at the very least make it into a animated TV series, it deserves at least that much, but alas we are stuck with a lame video game as our sequel, oh well, can’t win them all. Let me know what you think, did you enjoy The Incredibles? Any beefs?
There was a period of time where I firmly believed that my favorite Star Trek film would be now and forever First Contact and until this evening that was the case. I went into the theater with no grand expectation, but rather a tense feeling of hesitation. How badly were they going to screw this up? Would these actors fill the huge vacant shoes of their predecessors? Will this be just another summer popcorn flick?
I had heard rumblings about the story, and reasons for the notable differences, it was apparent to me that J.J Abrams was playing with fire, and if he was not careful he may get burned severally, I would even go as far to say he would have trying to find work if Star Trek failed. It is with that sentiment that I make this statement, Abrams is to directing and storytelling what Captain Kirk is to the Enterprise, they both have taken gambles, and had them pay great dividends in success.
Abrams and his talented team of writers (Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman) managed to take a huge risk, by reinventing the Star Trek canon, and pull it off brilliantly and without much incident.
Moving onto the film itself, all I can say is WOW! The film was captivating, with enough nods to the original series to warrant the changes justifiable. Abrams accomplishes what he set out to do with this film, making a Star Trek film for everyone, while avoiding offending the current fan base. This is the first Every Man Star Trek. Even my non fan brother in-law who went with me, thoroughly enjoyed, even going as far to say he would see a sequel.
There were only two of issues I had with Star Trek. First and foremost, of all the actors cast in the crew of the Enterprise, John Cho was the only actor that seemed out of place and miscast, granted emulating George Takei would be a hard task, especially his deep signature voice. Cho comes across as mousy and quiet, perhaps after a few more films he will get it down.
And the second lies with the main antagonist, Nero. With a little more back story and character depth he would been more interesting, as I never really connected with him or his rational. Having said that, I don’t think anyone went to see this film for Eric Bana’s Nero, so this is a minor detail and could be easily overlooked.
There is plenty of good to go around. The actors seem to fill these iconic roles with ease and confidence, making the original actors an after thought. Christopher Pine as Kirk was probably the best portrayed, an impulsive, charismatic ladies man willing to go the length needed to get the job done. This is followed very closely by Zachary Quinto’s Spock who channels his cold and emotionless portrayal of Sylar from Heroes into Spock, and it works very well.
Star Trek’s first leading lady, Uhura (Zoe Saldenna), did not miss a beat, as she is still the sex symbol she was back in the 1960’s, she is even a little sexier this time around. Anton Yelchin as Pavel Chekov at times came off as annoying and grating, however, in the original he was just that, other than the curly hair, Yelchin managed to surprise me. Karl Urban was very reminiscent of Bones, everything about him was the late DeForrest Kelly, he never missed a beat with the character.
And finally, my favorite Star Trek character, Montgomery Scott, was the best part of the cast (outside Pine and Quinto), though he does not show up until half way through, in classic Simon Pegg style, he manages to steal the show. He truly felt like he was Scotty, there was nothing wrong here at all.
The story, albeit it tad predictable in spots, was still well rounded enough to warrant it pretty well written. There is a feeling of hard work and research that went into this film, it truly felt inspired and really well done. The franchise is now headed in the right direction with its new timeline to work with and a new young crew to work with. Good things are in store down the road, just keep fresh and original, with Abrams on board.
As I was perusing the internet on my lunch break, out of curiousity, I decided to check the status on the sequel to Marvel Ultimate Alliance, Marvel Ultimate Alliance II: Fusion, to discover that the game now has an official website, complete with everything you would come to expect from video game website, check it out here: http://marvelultimatealliance.marvel.com/#/Home/ . And since I have not seen very much buzz with regards to this sequel, allow me to shed what light I can.
What I know story wise, is that it follows the Marvel Civil War story arc depicted in the comics, in the same sort of realm of X-Men: The Last Stand and The Incredibles in the sense of mutant/superhero registration and the battle for and against it. Also, from what I can gather, there does not seem to be any particular tie in to its predecessor, it is a stand alone piece.
Playable characters and central villains was a little harder to track down, and I will keep you posted on further developments. The confirmed playable players so far are: Captain America, Daredevil, Deadpool, Elecktro (possibly one of the main villains), Hulk, Human Torch, Iron Fist, Iron Man, Invisible Woman, Lucia Von Bardas (another possible villain), Luke Cage, Mr. Fantastic, Songbird, Spider-Man, Storm, The Thing, The Vision, Thor and Wolverine. Altogether pretty much the same roster as in the first game, notable absentee’s Iceman, Ms. Marvel and Moon Knight and additions, Songbird, The Vision and Hulk (though Hulk was unlockable in the first game as a part of the hero pack for PS2 and Xbox).
Other rumored playable characters include: Bishop, Black Widow, Cable, Green Goblin, Hercules, Maria Hill, Multiple Man, Nick Fury (undoubtedly will take on the same role as the first as the leader of SHIELD), She-Hulk, Venom and War Machine. I would love to see Green Goblin and War Machine added to the roster and hope that it is more than just a rumor. On the official site, the characters have been listed, with some classified, giving the impression as the release date, some time in the fall of 2009, gets closer the more characters will be listed.
Since I am just a casual gamer, and do not really pay particular attention to graphics or game play, I will leave that up to my fellow squidy cohorts to fill in that information, if they feel the need to do cover that aspect. All I can say is that I am stoked and can’t wait for the release, I’ll be sure to be among the first to get my copy.
As I find out more, be sure to know that I will inform you as it comes to my attention. But in the meantime, what are your thoughts ont the sequel? Any cahracters you wish to be included thsi time around that weren’t in the first?
Welcome to the inaugural edition of What the Hell happened to….. where we focus on an actor or actress that had lived their fifteen of fame and then drifted into obscurity and direct to DVD release hell. So sit back and relax, as I take you back and bring you up to date with the has been stars of yesteryear.
Having spent my adolescent years growing up in the 90’s, I have heard and even quoted my share of lines and catchphrases anywhere from “Run, Forrest, Run” to “Sh-wing!”. One of these lines that really help define this time period had to be from Cuba Gooding, Jr’s role of Rod Tidwell in Jerry Maguire. Say it with me now, “Show Me The Money!”. So, what the hell happened to Cuba Gooding, Jr?
Prior to his Oscar winning role in Jerry Maguire, he was on the path to become one of Hollywood’s all round leading men with small roles in A Few Good Men, Outbreak and Losing Isaiah. He has even starred along side some of the best in the business with the likes of Jack Nicholson, Kevin Spacey, Demi Moore and Robin Williams. With all of this, how does one go from winning an Oscar to the depths of bad comedies and crappy straight to DVD action movies? Personally, I blame his agent, did he even read the script for Daddy Day Camp or Norbit before signing is John Henry on the dotted line? Perhaps if we start at the beginning we can trace where it all went wrong.
Pre Jerry Maguire (1984-1995)
Cuba’s big break came in the form of break dancing for singer, Lionel Richie at the closing ceremonies of the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics, after which he managed to land a few small roles on TV shows such as Hill Street Blues and MacGyver and in Eddie Murphy’s film Coming to America. It would not be until 1991 that Cuba would finally smash the barrier and breakout in Boyz n the Hood as Tre Styles, the film garnered plenty of praise and established Cuba as young talent ready to bust out and take Hollywood by storm. He followed that up in 1992, with a lesser known film called Gladiator (not the Russell Crowe film, I made that assumption too) and a small, yet powerful role in A Few Good Men.
Throughout 1993 and up to the early part of 1995, things looked substandard for Cuba, as he starred in four films and of those, Outbreak was the only one to receive favorable reviews. Daybreak, Judgment Night and Lightning Jack were either panned by critics or dismissed by the general public. The rest of 1995 was a step in the right direction, but still a far cry from Boyz n the Hood. He had a small role along side Laurence Fishburne for the second time in his young career in the HBO movie The Tuskegee Airmen. He would finish the year on a strong note, in the drama Losing Isaiah.
Jerry Maguire (1996)
Jerry Maguire should have had the title changed to Rod Tidwell, because Cuba stole the show and made this film it the only reason to watch it. Every time he was on screen with Tom Cruise he dominated, putting Cruise into the unfamiliar territory as secondary character. His Oscar win was well earned and deserved. Cuba showed a charisma unseen in any of roles since Boyz N the Hood. He showed potential and set forth a confident aura. What happened after Jerry Maguire is a mystery no one will ever fully be able to explain, but what we do know is that he has made some bad film choices after Jerry Maguire, of which he never fully recovered.
Post Jerry Maguire (1997-Present)
After Jerry Maguire, it looked as though Cuba would be joining the ranks of acclaimed stars such as Tom Hanks, Jack Nicholson and Kevin Spacey. He made a smart move in selecting As Good As it Gets as his lead off from Maguire, sadly though that would be his only smart career decision for the remainder of the decade. What followed was a seemingly endless pile of flop after flop to close out the decade. What Dreams May Come would be the closest he would come to showcasing his talent and why he was an Oscar winner.A Murder of Crows, Instinct and Chill factor never really brought him back to form nor did they perform well in theater or on DVD/VHS.
Typically with the closing out of a decade you hope to accomplish better things in the next ten years, though there were glimmers of hope, Cuba still has not been able to break out and do something he is much more capable of doing. This new decade he started out strong in Men of Honor, which performed poorly despite the performances of the films two leads Robert DeNiro and Cuba. This was followed by the retelling of the attack on Pearl Harbor in Michael Bay’s long winded, explosion spectacle, Pearl Harbor.
After taking a stab at action and drama’s, Cuba decided to take a try at comedy. This was perhaps this biggest mistake because it lead to some pretty bad comedies from 2001-2003. Rat Race, Snow Dogs, Boat Trip and the Fighting Temptations were all panned by critics and discarded just the same by viewing audiences. After this, he went back briefly to his dramatic roots and portrayed James Robert “Radio” Kennedy, a mentally challenged high school student, in 2003’s Radio. Cuba’s performance was praised, while the rest of the film was ripped apart by critics.
In 2004, Cuba did some voiceover work in the Disney feature Home on the Range, this would be the last Cub film released in theater until 2006, entering the straight to DVD realm with the releases of Dirty, Shadowboxer and End Game. He would show up on the big screen in Eddie Murphy’s crap fest, Norbit, which was not well received, to say the least. At the end of a dismal 2006 for Cuba, he starred in What love is, the film only made $19,000.00 in its theatrical run and only made it to forty two theaters world wide.
2007 would consist of the same choices, with the exception of a small role in Denzel Washington’s piece America Gangster. Daddy Day Camp and Land Before Time XIII: The Wisdom of Friends would be a low points in his already diminishing career. He returned to the straight DVD market with Hero Wanted, Harold and Linewatch all during 2008.
Currently he has been in a TV movie, Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story as the title character. Red Tails, another retelling of the Tuskangee Airmen being developed by George Lucas, it is not known if Cuba will be reprising the same role he played in the original, but he ahs confirmed that will be in the film.
In the end what it really boils down to is some poor choices. Had Cuba been more selective and persistent in getting those great roles he may not be in the void of obscurity. But in all fairness, even the greats make a terrible movie every now and then, no one is perfect. Here is hoping Cuba can bounce back and deliver something more then Land Before Time sequels.
In an effort to track down as much information as I could about the upcoming project, Phantasmagoria: The Visions of Lewis Carroll, I am afraid that I was unable to track down much, which is probably why no one has been reporting on it.
In a nutshell, Phantasmagoria is the artistic directorial debut of shock rocker Marilyn Manson and his interpretation on the visions he had while under duress writing the critically acclaimed masterpiece Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. It is widely believed that Lewis Carol suffered from migraines and epilepsy, in fact his condition was named after Alice in Wonderland, called the Alice in Wonderland syndrome. A person affected with this syndrome often perceive objects in an aura manner and see objects smaller then their actual size, as is the case in his book.
There is quite a bit of history about Mr. Carol, so much so that I cannot fit everything, save the material relating to the project, but if you are interested in this film, I encourage you do read up on Carol’s life, as I found it somewhat intriguing and very informative.
As I understand it, Phantasmagoria will be a piece of fiction involving actual events and people that inspired Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Manson has stated in interviews that Phantasmagoria will be “something people have not seen before and filmed in a way no one has done yet” and that his aim is to “redefine the horror genre”. So in short, this film should scare the crap out of its audience, as it won’t be your typical slasher suspense kill ‘em all horror film. It sounds as though it will be something refreshing and unique, but in a fickle market where the hordes are clamoring for gore porn flicks like Saw and Hostel, you have to really wonder if Phantasmagoria will be appreciated or appease the masses, the jury is still out on that one.
Phantasmagoria has been in development hell since its inception back in 2005, when Manson “retired” to focus on his artwork and pursue directing his first feature film. Manson sat down and hammered out a screen play, began setting up production and started casting roles, placing himself in the title role as Lewis Carol himself. I am not certain how much of the film has actually made it to celluloid, but there is enough footage to put together some production clips (which I can not track down, should anyone locate them let me know) and a theatrical poster designed.
In late 2006, Manson put the film production on hold to work on his album Eat Me, Drink and 2007 after the album was released he went on a world wide tour to promote the album and would not return to the production until late 2007 or early 2008. He began working on his pet project (Phantasmagoria) again, but only for a short while, as he headed back to the studio to work on and record his forthcoming album, High End of Low (Due out May 26 2009). Production has been currently been postponed until after Manson completes yet another world tour to promote High End Of Low.
No specific date has been set for release though IMDB has a release set for sometime in 2010, but given the roller coaster ride that the film has been on thus far, it would not surprise me to see it pushed back again and again, until it disappears into obscurity. A side note as well, Manson has stated that the release be non convential, meaning that he has plans on releasing the film directly from his website (www.marilynmanson.com) coinciding with the theatrical release, with the website containing additional content not found in the theatrical version as well as other goodies typically found on DVD’s. The specifics on what will be available are unknown at this point, but Manson looks as though he is trying leave another mark on the circus that makes up the Entertainment industry.
IF Phantasmagoria does end up being released in 2010 it would be very profitable and easy to market if it released around the same time as Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland feature. Think about, you go and see the family friendly Alice, and then you skip on down to the next theater to take in an artists interpretation of how Carol came up with his material, just some food for thought.
As things develop I will be sure to update you on the progress (if any).
Welcome to this weeks rendition of From The Vault. Here was what I managed to rummage for you guys this week.
Burn Notice Season 1
“You know spies… bunch of bitchy little girls”
-Sam Axe
Starring: Jeffery Donovan, Gabrielle Anwar, Bruce Campbell.
Director: As with any TV series episodes are director by different directors.
Typically I reserve this post for movie related items, however I could not resist the temptation to share with you all this wonderful piece of televised glory that was introduced to me by fellow writer here at GKS, Jon Stephens. Kudos to Jon for sharing this discovery, that I now pass on to you.
The tagline “Spies don’t get fired, they get burned” really sums up the series. In the pilot, we are introduced to spy, Michael Weston, currently in the midst of a covert operation when he attempts to complete hi mission, he is informed he has been blacklisted or to use spy terminology, he has been burned. He has received a Burn Notice, hence the title of the show. As Michael explains at the beginning of each episode, when a spy is blacklisted, all information, credit, cash and anything else tying back to the burned spy is relinquished, deleted or put on hold, they are left pretty much whatever is on their person and dumped wherever their agency decides to leave them. They become dependant on their wits and rely heavily on whoever is willing to assist them.
The series follows a basic formula, and does not delve into the realm of convoluted, over the top conspiracy. Pure and simple, it’s a show about a burned spy, searching for who burned him and his money making exploits in that endeavor. That is what makes the series function as well as it does, there is no hidden agenda. Also, what really makes Burn Notice appealing is the character relationships. You take Michael Weston, who abandoned everyone he knew and loved 10 years prior, and throw him back into a situation where he has to explain to everyone why he left, and on top of that, adapting to being a regular “civilian”. And the voiceover of Michael giving the viewers various spy tips (like how to make fake C4 out of cake icing) and sometimes delivered in a sarcastic, deadpan manner, adds to the shows appeal as well.
Outside of Michael, your supporting characters consist of Sam Axe (Bruce Campbell), Fiona “Fi” Glenanne (Gabrielle Anwar) and Michaels chain smoking, hypochondriac mother Madeline (Sharon Gless). Sam Axe, is a sarcastic smart ass, semi retired Navy seal and intelligence operative who reports to Michaels “handlers” (Agents assigned to watch and report on Michaels whereabouts and dealings) who also works with Michael on various jobs and even picks a couple of jobs for the crew. Michael even termed Sam as his own double agent, by giving Sam leads on himself to throw off the Handlers and in turn Sam reports on anything that that they do or say to Michael.
Perhaps the most complex character in the series has to be Fiona. Very little is known about Fiona and her past in season one, but we understand that her and Michael had a relationship, until he left her five years prior to the beginning of the series. She also has a gun fetish and is/was a spy for the IRA. There is defiantly some tension between the two until, shall we say, “are resolved” which then turns into a complicated mess, with both eventually revealing their feelings about why he left her.
And finally there is Madeline. Madeline really adds a touch of levity and compassion to the show. She is your typical Mother figure, trying to keep her family close together while trying to deal with her own issues. There is a great love for her sons that she exemplifies throughout. Although she struggles with having been shut out by Michael, she calls on him for help when she needs it and Michael bearing some sort of guilt, feels obligated to help her out.
Burn Notice is witty and well written, definitely worth a watch. It is one of those shows that you do not really need to have watched the entire series from the beginning, as it is not on any sort of serialized form other then the “who burned Michael” plot, but it is good to watch the show from the beginning, just to have the basic knowledge going into it. It is currently about to or already started season three, with the release of Season two on DVD June 16th 2009.
Versions:
Four Disc Set containing all 11 Episodes
Special Features:
1) Character Montage
2) Girls Gone Burn Notice
3) Action Monatge
4) Gag Reel
5) Audition Footage
6) Saving Grace TV show music video
When it comes to TV shows on DVD I rarely if ever partake in the special features, simply because there is very little to offer or entice me to do so. Having said that, in respect to Burn Notice Season One I have yet to view all the special feature, regrettably, however, I have checked out the gag reel, and it was pretty funny, especially to someone like me who loves watching actors flub their lines, why can’t they add those to the serious dramas features?? Hmmm.
In respect to the normal Comic book based offering this week, I must apologize, as I have had a pretty busy couple of days, and rather then cheap out and give you some film that has a limited number features and write something I would not be proud of, I will instead forgo this weeks comic flicks and it return I will dig hard and deep in the vault next week and do two Comic flicks for next weeks From the Vault.
So until next week I will return to the vault. Peace.
Welcome to the fifth installment of From The Vault, in this weeks edition, we cover it all laughs, drama, action and a twinge of romance. After a few weeks of leave I hope to return in full force and bring you your weekly dose of random DVD reviews and my thoughts on the special features that accompany them. So lets get this shin dig started shall we.
Get Smart
Maxwell Smart:
“Are you thinking what I am thinking?”
The Chief:
“I don’t know. Were you thinking Holy shit, holy shit, a swordfish almost went through my head? If so, then yes.”
Stars: Steve Carrell, Anne Hathaway, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Alan Arkin, Terrance Stamp.
Director: Peter Segal (The Longest Yard, My Fellow Americans, Tommy Boy)
In a world where Hollywood’s well of ideas has all but dried up, leaving studios to rehash or revisit past successes, it is a breath of fresh air when one of those types of film, comes along and pulls off the look and feel of being original. Get Smart is one such film. Though the story and plot are a little predictable, there is something that causes you to ignore that, simply because you are just happy to be there.
What sets Get Smart a part from other remakes/reboots or television show based films from the others is the approach to the source material. Rather than recycle the same plot or storyline used in the originals, it starts from scratch, while at the same time paying homage and respecting its roots. I would love to say that this was the first time that this was done, unfortunately, something similar was attempted in Bewitched with less then favorable results (side note, Steve Carrell who plays Maxwell Smart, had a small cameo role in Bewitched as Uncle Arthur). I am glad that it worked this time around however.
Get Smart is witty and enjoyable, I actually found it very surprising how the writers and Carrell approached the character of Maxwell Smart, from what I remember from the television series, Maxwell Smart was a bit of a bumbling, accident prone fool played very well by the late Don Adams. Though he remains accident prone, he does not come across as bumbling in the Carrell incarnation, but rather smart, resourceful and able to handle himself. Anne Hathaway as Agent 99 was really hit and miss with me, there are times where she plays off Carrell very well, while scenes that she did not share with him, seemed to be listless and dull to the point of forgetting about her entirely.
The casting of The Chief was fantastic, Alan Arkin stole virtually every scene he was in and at times more memorable then everyone else, in particular when he gets in a fight with the Vice President of the United States. I don’t recall if the orginal Chief was nearly as sarcastic and deadpan, but Arkin took The Chief and made him his own creation and it work very well within the films contexts. The biggest surprise for me had to be The Rock, (***Spoiler Alert***). We have seen him play the bad ass, the family man, a gay cowboy and even a villain of sorts. The Rock ends up playing the charismatic Agent 23, everyone reveres and looks up to him and want to be him. He mentors Maxwell and helps Maxwell get promoted from sound analyst to field Agent 86. It was good to see The Rock play a villain in a film less serious then Doom, where he can have fun with the role, and it shows.
If you enjoyed the original series, make some time for this one, as I am sure Don Adams would have been very proud of what was done, it never deviated from where it came from. If you have not seen the TV series, fear not, you can still enjoy it, since it fills in any blanks.
Versions:
Single Disk (FS and WS)
Two Disk Collectors Edition (WS only)
Special Features:
Single Disk:
1) Theatrical trailers, TV spots.
2) Play movie with Smart Takes. (throughout the course of the film the feature when turned on, allows the viewer to see not only alternate and deleted scenes where they were originally intended, but a gag reel of sorts, mostly actors flubbing their lines)
Two Disk Collectors Edition:
1) Theatrical trailers, TV spots.
2) Play movie with Smart Takes. (throughout the course of the film the feature when turned on, allows the viewer to see not only alternate and deleted scenes where they were originally intended, but a gag reel of sorts mostly actors flubbing their lines).
3) The right agent for the right job featurette. Goes over the casting process for the leads as well as a few glimpses of Anne Hathaways screen tests.
4) Max In Moscow Featureette. Cast and crew interviews on filming iin Moscow.
5) Language Lessons. Steve Carrell attempt to teach the world different languages based on his experience working on Get Smart.
6) The Making of Get Smarts Bruce and Llyod: Out of Control. A promotional on the spin off.
7) There is additional DVD Rom content however, the only available content I was able to find was the Digital Copy for my PC.
Another disappointing offering of special feature goodies from an otherwise enjoyable film. The featurettes are mundane and needless. They failed to delve into the areas of making the film that I enjoy, such as how they performed various stunts and the computer graphics. Also, with all the features, they relied heavily on Steve Carrell and Anne Hathaway, which is fine, since they are the leads but it would have been nice to see more of The Rock, Alan Arkin and Terrance Stamp, they were all much underused in the features, particularly Terrance Stamp, who got the shaft. A word of caution when using the Smart Takes during the film, it gets really irritating after the first half hour of watching, as it becomes more of an interruption then a really cool feature, had they done it in a less intrusive manner, it would have been more enjoyable to watch. And finally the one feature that was worthwhile, though not good enough to merit purchasing the two disk edition, was the Language Lessons, I actually enjoyed it and if I remember correctly it had the shortest running time of all.
Constantine
Angela Dodson:
“Well, this has been real educational, but I don’t believe in the devil”
John Constatine:
“You should. He believes in you.”
Stars: Keanu Reeves, Rachel Weisz, Shia Labouf, Tilda Swinton, Peter Stormare.
Director: Francis Lawrence (I Am Legend, Music Videos)
There is something about the portrayal of Catholicism/Christianity in film that really attracts me, especially if it’s done in a controversial and contradictory manner. Prior to viewing Constantine, I had no knowledge that it was actually based on the long running comic book series Hellblazer, and that lack in information enhanced my viewing experience, because after realizing it was comic book based, I read up on the history of the comic and some of its characters, and the writers of the film took a lot of liberties with the film, but that is for another post.
Constantine is one of those films that is rich with content, innuendos and symbolism which requires additional viewings to fully understand and appreciate it. I myself have viewed it three times and I discover something new every time I watch it. Also, because the story has such depth and can be convoluted taking the time to analyze it is recommended as well, there is more to Constantine then just some popcorn action flick.
The casting was well done, with perhaps the exception of the casting of John Constantine himself. The character required someone with more intensity, the likes Johny Depp, Christina Bale or a younger Gary Oldman, would have been better suited. That withstanding Reeves still manages to give us descent enough performance and breaks free from the typecast of dim wits or one dimensional action heroes. Rachel Weisz really steals the film. Weisz is a very talented actress with the ability to take all her roles to the next level, she does not just act the roles she is given, she becomes them. Constantine is no exception. She has a domineering presence whenever she appears on screen in the film, I found I was more focused on her then any other during the film.
Normally in other films, the supporting cast will sometimes be more entertaining then the leads, however, with Constantine, for the most part, they stay in the shadows of the Reeve and Weisz. This is a little surprising with the caliber of acting in the remaining cast of Shia Labouf, Peter Stormare and Tilda Swinton along with newcomer Gavin Rossdale of rock band Bush fame. With Labouf, there is a huge desire to see the character chew up the scenery and really walk away with the movie, but unfortunately due to a large feeling of restriction, Labouf’s role is reduced to a stereotypical sidekick role and give little to work with in terms of lines and screen time. So it is no entirely Labouf’s fault for the lack of scene stealing.
The shining lights for remaining cast have to be Swinton, Stormare and Rossdale. Swintons portrayal of an androgynous archangel Gabriel was perfect and engaging, and in the short time you see her on screen, you hang on every word she says and in the end you almost have pity on her character. Who ever cast Stormare as Satan knew what they were doing, they found someone who played the Devil with malice, apathy and ignorance. Satan is not someone I personally would like to ever meet myself nor do I ever want to like him or support him, Stormare manages to display those feelings up front and out in the open in the little moment he appears at the end of the film.
Normally I am against musicians becoming actors, because very few can ever pull it off or add any credibility to their name, Rossdale falls under the exception along with Cher and Will Smith. Why he has not pursued any further acting roles after this makes me wonder. He was outstanding as Balthazar, he added just the right amount of sleaze to give off a greasy and slimy vibe and yet still maintains a form of first class superiority.
Comic Book issues aside, Constantine has the right amount of everything to make it worth your time, though a bit heavy on content and had the tendency to lose you in all that, it really is enjoyable and gives new perspective on the enigma that is religion.
Versions:
Single Disk (WS and FS)
Two Disk Deluxe Edition (WS Only)
Special Features:
Single Disk:
1) Theatrical Trailers and TV Spots
2) Director Commentary
Two Disk Deluxe Edition:
1) Theatrical Trailers and TV Spots
2) Directors Commentary
3) Deleted Scenes and An Alternate Ending
4) Documentaries:
i) Directors confessional
ii) Collision with Evil
iii) Holy Relics
iv) Hellscape
v) Visulaizing Vermin
vi) Warrior Wings
vii) Unholy Abduction
viii) Demon Face (easter egg)
5) Passive by Perfect Circle Music Video
The special features for Constantine are very informative and provide some depth and understanding to the conceptualization and the transfer from paper to celluloid. From an artistic and story standpoint all these features are well worth the extra cash, I especially enjoyed Hellscape documentary, where they director and artists explain in great detail how they thought hell should look, the deleted scenes for the most part are bland and don’t add anything to what you have already seen, however the alternate ending is well worth a view, as its shows Constantine giving his final goodbyes to Chas (Labouf). A situation that happened with Frances Lawrence’s other film I Am Legend, the alternate ending was far better then the chosen ending.
All in all if you enjoy documentaries about your film and enjoy seeing the concepts being developed prior to the finished product, Constantine Two Disk Deluxe Edition is for you. They features are well thought out and presented and do not feel thrown together at the last second a very informative set.
What are some of your guys thoughts on this weeks From the Vault picks? Is there anything you wish to see in future installments let me know via the contact section of the website. Until next week, I’ll be in the vault.
This is a bit of an odd post to what I normally do, but I felt that it needed some attention, given that I have been a fan for quite sometime. 15 years ago this week, Kurt Cobain lead singer and founder for the band Nirvana died from a self inflicted gun shot wound (though there is much debate and conspiracy surrounding his death, but that’s for a different post). After I listened to part of a radio broadcast explaining the story of Nirvana their influence on a generation of musicians, it got me to thinking on how I could pay tribute to Cobain, I decided that I would review one of my favorite albums and in my opinion in one of the greatest live recordings. MTV Unplugged in New York: Nirvana. Or more often referred to as Nirvana: Unplugged.
The premise of MTV Unplugged has the band perform an entire set list using entirely acoustic instruments. While most bands would use their hits, this would not the case with Nirvana. Cobain preferred to do covers of other bands songs, that included David Bowie’s The Man Who Sold The World , along with some the bands lesser known tracks such as Penny Royal Tea and All Apologies , in fact Nirvana would only perform one of their hits Come as you are.
The album/recording is fantastic, it is made up right kind of mixture, a very quiet and smooth sound mixed with some traditional shrill and whiney Cobain vocals. Listening, you almost get the feeling that Cobain is saying his farewells. Unlike all Nirvana albums and performances where there is a lot of loudness and don’t take anything too serious attitude, Unplugged is all business and carries with it a very serious and ominous vibe.
With all the noise and commotion that plagued Cobain and the rest of the band up to the performance, it was really nice to see them stripped down to their emotional core, with tracks like About a Girl, Come as You Are and their cover of David Bowies The Man Who Sold The World. Cobain delivers theses songs in such a desperate and depressing manner, you can’t help not be fully captivated by it, you actually almost feel sorry for him, but you don’t know why. For fans of fast paced and heavy guitar riffs of Nirvana, the last track, Where Did You Sleep Last Night is sadly the only offering on this disc. But if you feel ripped off by that feel free to skip to Jesus Don’t Want Me For A Sunbeam, this should lighten your spirits, with sounds of an Irish medley you feel like you are sitting around the local pub with all your friends shooting the breeze and just having a good time. The remaining tracks are all worth a listen and assist in painting a tragic picture of the months that followed the performance and ultimately the harsh suicide of Cobain, in particular Dumb and Lake of Fire. The signs were there, and its sad that no one picked upon it, or they did and he refused help or they did nothing.
I would go so far as to call this Cobain’s Eulogy or Obituary, his final plea and amends with the world. Even if you don’t listen to Nirvana, give it a listen, if only to hear the unfortunate life tale of Kurt Cobain told in song from the man himself.
Ghostbusters played a large part, of my childhood growing up, as with any other child that grew up in the 1980’s. I had numerous action figures, including my favorite Egon, my very own proton pack and of course the packaged slime that always seemed to get everywhere. They were iconic, their theme song to this day is tilled played in some form every Halloween and I am willing to bet that a majority of you readers out there have dressed up as one at some point in your life.
I believe that had this film been advertised properly and promoted more as a political dramedy with a little thriller thrown into the mix, rather then a full out comedy, it would have performed better. Given the false advertising and the horrible word of mouth that followed, Man of the Year was not seen for what it truly was, an incredible what if scenario played out, with stellar performance by every one involved.
brings us to Fanboys.
There was not too much I could say I disliked about the film, but one aspect I still can’t quite wrap my head around was how they had planned on stealing the film since they were five years old. When Episode I was only announced a few years prior to the 1999 release date and I am assuming that the characters were in their early to mid twenties when the film takes place, which means that when they were five, sometime aroung Return of the Jedi theatrical release or VHS release, somewhere in that time frame. If anyone has any thoughts in this discrepancy, feel free to share them, as I still can get my math to work. And one other minor thing that would have made the film that much better, would have been a cameo by Lucas himself, I kept waiting for it and it never surfaced, to my disappointment.
Vowellett- An Essay by Sarah Vowell
