GRINDHOUSE: bunnies!

If you've seen Grindhouse, you'll enjoy this little short. It stars cute animated bunnies acting out both Planet Terror and Death Proof in less than 2 minutes. Click here to check it out.

Wolverine Casting!!

News on the X-Men spin-off had been incredibly scarce until just recently and this past week has seen some very interesting updates particularly in casting news. There's a lot to cover so I decided I'll just list things off as I go...

First off, an AWESOME first picture of Hugh Jackman as Wolverine surfaced last week. Click here for a hi-res version. My thoughts? Jackman should be the one testifying in front of Congress, not Roger Clemens. Just a thought.


It's also been announced that Liev Schreiber (Scream, The Painted Veil) isn't playing a young Colonel William Stryker, like reported before, he's playing Victor Creed a.k.a., Sabretooth!! I'll admit it's a strange fit, but I like it. If they pull it off, I'll love it.


So what about the young Stryker you ask? He's now being played by Danny Huston (30 Days of Night, The Proposition). Sounds good to me. Though I was very excited when there were talks of Michael C. Hall (Dexter) playing the role.


There had been a lot of speculation about the love interest, Silver Fox, and who would play her. Apparently, this girl is it. Here name is Lynn Collins and she was recently in The Number 23 and Bug. Maggie Q and Michelle Monaghan were both rumored for the role. So much for rumors.


Then there's the cameos. There was mention of some various mutants who would pop up in the official synopsis, and now there is some word on who that is...

The Blob: Otherwise known as Fred Dukes in the comics, is basically the mutant who is very fat. (insert crappy Rosie O'Donnell joke here). There is no word yet who will play him but they have been testing fat suits and producers apparently want him to look around 1200 lbs. I say yes.


John Wraith/Krestel: I'll admit, I have no idea who this character is except he is in the same Weapon X program as Wolverine. Bad news is he's apparently being played by Will.I.Am from the Black Eyed Peas. Which scares me. But I won't let that little snag slow me down.. oh no....



Gambit: I shit my pants over this one. Yes, finally we have the incredibly popular Cajun X-Man in a movie, only it doesn't make much sense. In the comics, he's much younger than Wolverine and therefore this doesn't work unless he's like 12 years old. I'm sure they've found a fantastic loophole and I don't care what that is as long as he's there. He's being played by Friday Night Lights actor Taylor Kitsch. I think he's too young looking really, but he at least kinda looks the part. Josh Halloway from LOST was offered the part for X3, but turned it down.




Deadpool: I shit my pants again. It was confirmed today that Ryan Reynolds (Van Wilder, Blade Trinity) has been cast as the "Merc with a mouth". He's been rumored to play Deadpool for years now, I just never really thought it would happen. I still don't. It's too perfect of casting. I'm a fan of Ryan Reynolds, and anyone who doesn't think this is awesome needs to go straight to hell. Period. Deadpool is one of those incredibly popular side characters that wound up getting his own title eventually and fans can't get enough of. He's a smart-ass just like Reynolds and I can't wait to see how this one works out.





X-Men Origins: Wolverine is now filming for a Summer 2009 release directed by Gavin Hood (Rendition, Tsotsi)

Arrested Development: The Movie?

Apparently, former Arrested Development star Jeffery Tambor has confirmed rumors of a big-screen return of Fox's short-lived TV show. The series was canceled after only 3 seasons due to poor ratings, despite being a hit with fans and critics alike. This is a strangely familiar scenario that happened with the Fox series Firefly that was canceled and then subsequently brought back with the theatrical movie Serenity. This isn't set in stone just yet but they had better get to it. I happened to really enjoy the show after recently catching it on DVD. For more on this story, visit filmjunk.com.

Mass Effect

This is the first time I've ever commented on anything video game related, but I thought this was pretty interesting and touches somewhat on the issue of censorship. There is apparently some "controversy" over a RPG video game titled Mass Effect, in which there is a moment in the game where the player can choose to engage in a sex act with what appears to be the blue chick from The Fifth Element. Below you'll see both a segment on Fox News where the reporter and a supposed expert try to make an issue out of nothing. It's interesting to see how some people view what they consider to be questionable material and how it should be dealt with. My opinion is to PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR OWN F***ING CHILDREN.




There is footage of the "sex scene" on YouTube currently, and I've seen steamier scenes in a Dunkin' Donuts commercial. There is also a pretty funny mock version of the same Fox News segment done by a couple of dweebs that's pretty spot-on. Check it out...

Juno Review

There's no doubt that by this time you've already heard plenty about this flick, it's already grossed almost 100 million and become one of 2007's biggest successes. So the question remains, "is it really as good as everyone says?" I guess that would depend on who you ask. While praise has been all over the place for Juno, there has also been a noticeable backlash against the movie. Most of the negative talk is in regards to the dialogue, which is drenched in pop-culture references aimed mostly at the indie-art crowd.

The movie is basically the story of 16 year old Juno played by Ellen Page (Hard Candy, X-Men: The Last Stand) who gets pregnant by a shy, awkward boy named Paulie Bleeker (Micheal Cera) and how she deals with the unplanned pregnancy. She winds up finding a couple to possibly adopt the baby in the Penny Saver classifieds of all places. The couple, played by Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman, are desperate to have a family and Juno is only more than happy to give them her baby.

I had an unusual experience in seeing Juno in the theater since the power went out about 30 minutes into the movie and we had to leave. Though the part I had seen was pretty funny and enjoyable. We returned the following night to see the movie again from the beginning. At that point, my opinion shifted somewhat towards the movie. At second viewing, the jokes weren't anywhere near as clever and became somewhat annoying. The feeling continued somewhat throughout the rest of the movie. I also found the inappropriate relationship between Bateman and Page to be incredibly uncomfortable to watch. This is also where some of Juno's charm started to wear off. The girl who is witty enough to lob insults and reference people I've never heard of should be smart enough to see what's going on and she clearly isn't. It doesn't completely ruin the movie, but it does make it hard to really care about or believe in her character.

What is good about the movie is its great supporting cast. In particular, Micheal Cera's (Arrested Development, Superbad) charcter and Juno's father, played by J.K. Simmons (Spider-Man, OZ) who both provide the movies' best characters and performances. Cera's "deer caught in headlights" look he often uses is absolutely hilarious.

Overall, the movie had me divided on whether or not I liked it as much as I was wanting to. I couldn't help but feel old and uncool watching someone who had seemingly unlimited amounts of cool at their disposal. Though, I guess it wouldn't be as interesting movie without it.

Heath Ledger 1979-2008

Very shocking and sad news today as Academy Award nominated actor Heath Ledger was found dead in his New York apartment at the age of 28. It's not entirely clear as to the cause of death at this time.


Ledger has most recently co-starred in "I'm Not There", along with a handful of other actors/actresses portraying Bob Dylan in different stages of his life.




I had been very excited to see Heath Ledger's portrayal of the Joker in this summer's "The Dark Knight". Judging from the trailer, it looks to be an outstanding performance. Most of the film has been finished with only some post production remaining, though it's hard to tell how this will affect the movie if any re-shoots are required.

Ledger was also filming a new movie with director Terry Gilliam and it's unknown at this point how that film will be affected.


For more detailed information on this story, read the New York Times article here. My condolences go out to his friends and family.

The BEST (and worst) of the YEAR

Here are my top 10 movies of 2007. I had a tough time narrowing it down to just ten since there were a lot of movies I really enjoyed this year. There are some movies that I've yet to see that if I had they may have made the list. Movies like "Gone Baby Gone", "The Nines" and "Juno" are examples of films I haven't seen as of yet, but I'm hoping I'll love. Most of the movies on my list are movies that kicked my ass, made me laugh or really made me think... But mostly kicked my ass. I'll leave brief descriptions on why I liked the movie and if I've reviewed it, I'll link to that story. Feel free to post your top 10 in the comments section.

10. Shoot Em' Up-
Definitely one for the ass-kicking category. This film was just pure fun. I think it didn't get the recognition it deserved, I think it will catch on once it's released on DVD. Read my original review here.


9. 3:10 To Yuma-
The movie that actually made westerns cool again. Christian Bale and Russell Crowe are awesome as usual, with a surprising performance by the unhinged Ben Foster. Read my original review here.


8. Sunshine-
One of the best Sci-Fi movies in years. Danny Boyle reminds me why he's one of the best directors working today. Read my original review here.


7. 300-
A beautiful adaptation of the Frank Miller graphic novel, this movie was a blast to see on the big screen. Say what you will about the film, but no one can deny it gave us some of the most memorable movie quotes of the year. "THIS IS SPARTA!!", "TONIGHT, WE DINE IN HELL!"


6. Superbad-
One of the funniest movies of the year. That's all.


5. Planet Terror-
Notice I didn't include Death Proof, which was paired with this in theaters as Grindhouse. That's because as far as entertainment goes, I feel this part was far superior. Great schlock horror moments and humor are all over this homage to crappy zombie flicks. The gun-legged heroine is also classic.


4. Smokin' Aces-
I think this movie was unfairly labeled as a Tarantino rip-off too soon. I thought it had a great mix of drama, action and humor. Jeremy Piven is awesome as Buddy "Aces" Israel, along with a strong supporting cast. And despite an over-dramatic climax, this was one of my favorites this year for sure.


3. Knocked Up-
A great comedy that also has a lot of heart. It nicely balances the brash humor and tender moments. This movie cements Judd Apatow and Seth Rogan as the current comedy heavyweights in Hollywood.


2. 28 Weeks Later-
An outstanding sequel to an already fantastic zombie flick. A no-holds-barred horror film that satisfies from beginning to end.


1. No Country For Old Men-
This movie is on every top 10 list for a reason. It was simply awesome.
Read my original review here.



I wanted to note a few movies that were released very late last year that deserve mention. I didn't include them because they were from last year technically, but I wasn't able to see them until this year.

Pan's Labyrinth-
Guillermo Del Toro's beautiful fairy tale for adults was a fantastic look at a small girl's imagination. When contrasted with the harsh realty of the outside world, her imagined one looked that much more staggering.


Children of Men-
An apocalyptic future without robots or androids, just a feeling of hopelessness amongst an infertile population. That's what makes this tale more realistic than most sci-fi thrillers. Utilizing some of the best, and subtle, special effects seen in film this year. This movie would have easily made the top of my list.


Honorable mentions: Eastern Promises, The Bourne Ultimatum, We Own The Night, Zodiac, Ratatouille, Sicko, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer






Then there's the rest. I thankfully couldn't think of 10 movies I wanted to kill myself after seeing, but there were a few. Whether they were major disappointments, or just bad to begin with, they made my naughty list this year. In no particular order...

The Mist- Just crappy. Period. Read my original review here.


Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium- Dustin Hoffman has fallen a long way hasn't he? And what the hell is Natalie Portman and Jason Bateman doing in this crap?


Mr. Brooks- I knew this would be bad, so shame on me for seeing it.


The Invasion-
Who knew a movie about alien body snatchers could be so incredibly boring?


Vacancy-
Scary only if you're completely delusional about how reality works. I was actually angry at how stupid this movie thinks you are.

Ghost Rider-
Nicolas Cage as a stuntman with a flaming head who fights demons with a chain, what could've gone wrong? Answer: everything.



Resident Evil: Extinction-
Hopefully this title is accurate. Read my original review here.


Spider-Man 3-
Disappointment of the year, hands down. This should have been an easy slam dunk. Instead we got the Sandman doing his best Stay-Puff Marshmallow Man impression and Tobey Maguire dancing like an idiot. One of the saddest days of the year.

Hellboy 2 Trailer and New Pics!

Here is the just released, new trailer for "Hellboy II: The Golden Army". It's pretty cool if you ask me. I like some of the new monsters they show in the trailer, and I'm very excited for this one.

Hellboy II: The Golden Army trailer

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Here is the official synopsis:

With a signature blend of action, humor and character-based spectacle, the saga of the world's toughest, kitten-loving hero from Hell continues to unfold in "Hellboy II: The Golden Army." Bigger muscle, badder weapons and more ungodly villains arrive in an epic vision of imagination from Oscar®-nominated director Guillermo del Toro ("Pan's Labyrinth," "Hellboy").

After an ancient truce existing between humankind and the invisible realm of the fantastic is broken, hell on Earth is ready to erupt. A ruthless leader who treads the world above and the one below defies his bloodline and awakens an unstoppable army of creatures. Now, it's up to the planet's toughest, roughest superhero to battle the merciless dictator and his marauders. He may be red. He may be horned. He may be misunderstood. But when you need the job done right, it's time to call in Hellboy (Ron Perlman).

Along with his expanding team in the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Development--pyrokinetic girlfriend Liz (Selma Blair), aquatic empath Abe (Doug Jones) and protoplasmic mystic Johann--the BPRD will travel between the surface strata and the unseen magical one, where creatures of fantasy become corporeal. And Hellboy, a creature of two worlds who's accepted by neither, must choose between the life he knows and an unknown destiny that beckons him.

They also released a ton of new photos that you can see here. I posted some of my favorite ones below.

Top 10 Viral Videos of 2007

Filmjunk.com has a great new list of the year's best Internet Viral Videos. These are videos most everyone has seen before, but it's cool to see them all in one place. There are a few maybe you haven't yet seen that are worth checking out. I posted my favorite one below, it was very clever and I had never seen it before. Believe it or not, I've had dreams much like this one. You can check out the entire list here.

I Am Legend Review

My first thought when I first saw the trailer for "I Am Legend" was, "great, another Will Smith blockbuster extravaganza, whoop-de-doo". Then I saw more on the movie and it looked a lot more interesting than I had originally thought. I got to see the movie recently and I was surprised that it really wasn't a typical, mind-numbing blockbuster at all. It had some very interesting ideas, too bad it was already covered in a much better movie.

Basically, "I Am Legend" is a lot like "28 Days Later" with some of the worst CGI since my last review. I'm having a really hard time lately with the crappy computer effects being used in movies. This movie really could have been good if it weren't for the cartoon-like characters.

The characters in question are a horde of vampire like humanoids that chase Will Smith and his trusty dog all around a barren, empty New York City. When a cancer cure brings disastrous side-effects in the form of a virus, the world is almost completely decimated by the outcome. The only person left on earth, or so he thinks, is Robert Neville (Smith), a scientist that helped manufacture the doomed cure. He is one of few people who were immune to the virus and spends his days hunting deer in his sports car and talking to mannequins. At night, he locks himself in his apartment outfitted with steel barricades to keep whatever lurks outside from getting in. It's quieter moments, like when he's walking through the empty streets of New York, that prove to be the best scenes in the movie. Once the action sets in and you get to see the monsters up close, the movie begins to lose any and all momentum. They're incredibly distracting to the point of taking you completely out of the movie. And in a movie in which the story revolves around only one character throughout, it's a fatal flaw. The infected creeps aren't even really scary, and the movie relies on cheap, loud noises in order to get it's thrills from the audience.

I tried to find things that were good in the movie, including the performance of Will Smith, but as much as he tries, he's still the same guy always punching aliens in the face come summertime to me. It's hard to see him as anything other than that.

Don't read on if you don't want to know anything about the ending...

The ending also left me very disappointed in that it takes the road you'd expect in a big-budget movie like this one. It would have been refreshing to see an ending that didn't tie everything up so neatly. Sometimes disasters don't have happy endings, and they're more entertaining that way. After all, isn't that why we see these type of movies? I personally like to feel that real sense of dread that goes with seeing major cities being destroyed by robots, volcanoes or by other supernatural means. And I don't need to have someone always save the day, I have reality to let me know it's all fiction.