Spider-Man 3 comes out on DVD this Tuesday, and I'm not saying you should go out and buy it, because frankly, it sucked. Instead I'll use this opportunity to show a cool animated video on how the movie should have gone. It's pretty funny, but it has some spoilers if you really care. I'm guessing you don't....
Here are my picks for best movie posters for 2007 so far. I am always paying extra attention to posters and how they attract attention. Sometimes, a well developed marketing campaign can make even a crappy movie look interesting, or a great one all that much better. The choices I picked have some films I've seen and some that I haven't. Though they all are memorable for some reason.
So here they are:
10. Aqua Teen Hunger Force The Movie:
Just the fact that it looks like more time and effort has gone into this poster than the movie itself gets it an A in my book. I haven't seen the movie and I'm not a huge fan of the show, but the art is quite incredible.
9. Gone Baby Gone:
Another film I have yet to see, but was able to get my attention from the poster alone. The idea is simple, but the subtle use of different font and layout, along with beautiful graphic, makes this one memorable for me.
8. Black Snake Moan:
This is one film I did see but did not enjoy. It is a testament to the power of advertising. I had high hopes for this film based almost solely on the poster alone. The old comic book style and B-Movie appeal is excellent.
7. Grindhouse:
Another poster with great use of deterioration technique to give it an aged retro look. Luckily, the film managed to live up to the poster's promise. The sexy gun-legged heroine is an unforgettable image to say the least. Who could walk by this poster on the street and not take a second look?
6. American Gangster:
This film hasn't even come out yet, but I'm liking the posters for it very much so far. I like the simple black and white colors and the cityscape adorning the center. This one just works for me.
5. Shoot Em' Up:
This movie was great and the posters released were just as good. This one, combining all the main characters in one, is just a great eye-catcher. I especially like the unconventional use of text, which makes for a unique piece.
4. Knocked-Up:
This poster continues the clever idea that the 40 Year Old Virgin employed in its posters by using the main star as the main focus and showing them an an awkward pose. This time it's Seth Rogan looking particularly un-movie star like, and it couldn't be any better.
3. Smokin' Aces:
I'm slightly biased towards this movie and the posters for it, but I really dig the style of this poster in general. I like the use of colors, the placement of the characters and how their not fully revealed, and the use of the sideways text.
2. 28 Weeks Later:
This poster is very effective, and if it weren't for the logo adorning it, you'd think you were in some sort of immediate danger for real. Ok maybe not, but it is certainly kick-ass. Another great use of the worn-out look.
1. 3:10 To Yuma:
I'm not sure why I always come back to this poster, but I just think it's one of the best I've seen in a long while. It was unfortunately replaced by a far more generic one in theaters though. I like the fact that despite the movie having some big stars, you don't see any of their faces in it. It also looks really dirty and grungy, just like a poster for a western should be.
A while back I found story about the upcoming comedy Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, from Jake Kasdan who directed Orange County, and
starring John C. Reilly. The movie looks like a spoof of recent biopics like Walk the Line, you can see the trailer here.
The story gave a link to an official site where you
could give them your address info and they would send you some free official "merchandise" from the movie. Being the curious type, I did it.
I all but forgot about it until the other day when I received a mysterious
package in the mail. You can see the contents of the package in the photo
below.
Needless to say, I think it's a clever marketing strategy. At the very least, it's amusing, Don't you think?
It looks as though my wish has finally been granted. Someone has made a movie about killer sheep. And it looks like they did a fine job too. I caught the trailer for the horror flick Black Sheep the other night, and I can't wait to check it out. It looks like some great B-Movie fun. The character creations look very well done, which are done by Peter Jackson's WETA special effects company. Black Sheep is released this Tuesday, October 9th on DVD. Take a look for yourselves at the trailer below:
This time, instead of doing an actual review I'm just going to list the films that this movie manages to rip off in it's short time...
Dawn of the Dead (remake)
George Romero's Land of the Dead
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Mad Max
28 Days Later
Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds
Slither
Reign Of Fire
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
Almost makes it sound good doesn't it? Well it isn't. Far from it. I'd suggest saving yourself some time and watching any of the above films instead.
The Showtime show Dexter starts it's second season tonight and I couldn't be more excited. I've been reading on some interesting promotional tactics today for the film involving fountains in many U.S. cities being dyed to look like blood. Look here for one such fountain, and go here to read more about it.
Eastern Promises is the new drama from director David Cronenberg, who last brought us A History of Violence. This film follows Anna (Naomi Watts), after she encounters a dying pregnant girl in the hospital she works. The girl leaves behind her newly-orphaned baby and a diary, to which Anna claims in order to gain some insight to her life and death. The diary is in a foreign language to her and she begins to have it translated. This curiosity gets her entangled in the seedy world of the Russian Mob, when she crosses paths with Nikolai played by Viggo Mortensen. Her live becomes increasingly endangered as she looks to uncover the truth of what's written in the diary.
Cronenberg did a great job of bringing brutal depictions of violence in a real world setting with his last film, and does so again here. I'm going to bet that David Cronenberg and Viggo Mortensen, who starred in A History Of Violence, will have a working relationship like that of Scorsese and Deniro. I can see here why he would choose to do so, as Mortensen gives one of his best performances as the mysterious gangster. His character is so layered, that you have no idea from one moment to the next what his real motivations are. Mortensen also does very well with his Russian accent, which could have proved distracting. 
The supporting cast is great as well, especially in the case of Vincent Cassel (Derailed), who gives a great performance as the psychotic Kirill. Of all of the characters, his was hardest to figure out where they were going to go. It seemed at any moment he could go on a murderous rampage, and it's that energy in the film itself that makes it so interesting. The tense fight scene in a sauna between Viggo Mortensen and some mobsters is worth the price of admission. It shows a realism rarely shown in today's overblown movie fight scenes, without any kung-fu wires or corny dialog.
I'd highly recommend this film to anyone who is a fan of good, tense dramas, or a fan of Cronenberg's work. I'm excited to see where he takes us next. And I'm sure he'll bring Viggo with him.
When you think about what movies have the best CGI, typically you'd never think of a drama like David Fincher's Zodiac. But after watching this short video on the film's CGI effects, I may have to consider it. The beauty lies in how subtle it all is, you never even notice that half of what you're watching is computer generated. The sheer amount of work that apparently went into this film makes me want to watch it all over again. It also makes me wonder what other films use this much subtle CGI. So take a look for yourself...
When The Fountain was released on DVD a few months back, I was disappointed that there were very few special features. If any movie warranted some deep explaining, it was this one. I thought The Fountain was quite incredible when I saw it, and I considered it one of the best films from last year. I still find it confusing though, and would have loved to have a director's commentary included to show some insight. Thankfully, we now have a free download from director Darren Aronofsky's website consisting of a complete commentary. You can go to the site here, or download it directly here, if you're interested. I highly suggest you rent The Fountain if you haven't seen it already.
Roger Ebert just recently reviewed it (I suppose he just got around to seeing it), and for the most part I agree with his take on it. He also mentions, this person's rational of the whole movie, which I found interesting. Don't bother reading if you haven't already seen the movie, as it will only confuse and frustrate you.
This week's featured band is Spoon, an indie rock band from Austin, Texas. They recently released the album "Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga", which debuted at #10 on the Billboard charts back in July. The band has been recording for well over a decade, slowly building a loyal following. Spoon was signed then dumped from Elektra Records around 1998, only to pull through with more and more successful albums. I had the opportunity to hear their latest release and I've enjoyed it quite a bit.
Here is a quote on their new album from Rolling Stone:
"spiky, painstakingly detailed songs that deliver indie-pop payloads in less than four minutes, with minor frills like Motown bass lines, barrelhouse piano and streamlined dance grooves. Britt Daniel employs his soulful, sandpaper-rough croon and jagged little hooks like a man on a mission, and you'll be glad to have killer cuts like sweet, funk-pumped "Finer Feelings" or the horn-laden sing-along "The Underdog" bouncing around your head."
And here is the video for their single "The Underdog"
