Updates Updates Updates!!!

Something which I haven't done for quite a while now, latest news on the cinematic / TV scene: 

a. "I'll Be Back" says Arnie. And hell yeah, he is with a new animated series called "The Governator". Too impossibly impossible to be true? Apparently not. Its all set and ready to go. Slated for release in 2012 with an accompanying comic series. Check it out at slashfilm.com here.

b. Speaking of the Arnie-nator, they're going to do a remake of Paul Verhoven's violent and highly entertaining 1990 sci-fi action flick Total Recall, where a construction worker discovers that he's on a secret mission to mars involving a Mars uprising against an evil corporation. Sound's good? You betcha.  Read an update from blastr.com here.

c.  Wonder Woman is back on the screen, the TV screen that is. And does the new non-Lynda Carter version do justice to millions of male fans? You be the judge, check out Harry Knowles aintitcool.com's pictures here for a gander. Personally, I'd bring back Carter. This one just don't fly with my sensitivities.

d. In the mood for seafood? Or to be seafood food? The you could be in the mood for Sharktopus a monster movie with Eric Roberts battling it out with a monster thats exactly a mix of an octopus and a shark. Joblo.com has the scoop.

e. Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter is going to be made into a movie. Shocktillyoudrop.com has the scoop here. So if you're a big fan of the series of mashing up existing characters, or famous classic literature with horrific back story involving vampires, zombies and the ilk, then this is your bloody cup of tea...

Scream 4 (2011)

I honestly don't understand the concept of sequels when it extends beyond the 3rd installment. Doesn't it get old after awhile? Can anyone remember what the original idea was? Does anyone care? Which brings us to the FOURTH chapter of the Scream series, happening TEN YEARS after the last Scream film. Wes Craven's on board. Why the hell for?

The Skinny: "Sidney Prescott, now the author of a self-help book, returns home to Woodsboro on the last stop of her book tour. There she reconnects with Sheriff Dewey and Gale, who are now married, as well as her cousin Jill and her Aunt Kate. Unfortunately, Sidney's appearance also brings about the return of Ghostface, putting Sidney, Gale, and Dewey, along with Jill, her friends, and the whole town of Woodsboro in danger." taken from www.imdb.com

The Helmer: Wes Craven - Scream 4 (2011), My Soul to Take (2010), Paris Je T'aime (segment) (2006), Red Eye (2005), Cursed (2005), Scream 3 (2000), Music of the Heart (1999), Scream 2 (1997), Scream (1996), Vampire in Brooklyn (1995), New Nightmare (1994), Nightmare Cafe (1992), The People Under the Stairs (1991), Night Visions (TV) (1990), Shocker (1989), The Serpent & the Rainbow (1998), The Twilight Zone (TV series) (1985 -86), Deadly Friend (1986), Case Busters (TV) (1986), The Hills have Eyes 2 (1985), Chiller (TV) (1985), A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), Invitation to Hell (TV) (1984), Swamp Thing (1982), Deadly Blessing (1981), Stranger in our House (1978), The Hills Have Eyes (1977), The Fireworks Woman (1975), The Last House on the Left (1972).

The Scribe: Kevin Williamson - The Bedroom Window (2012), Secret Circle (TV) (2012), The Vampire Diaries (TV series) (2009 - 2011), Scream 4 (2011), Hidden Palms (TV series) (2007), Cursed (2005), Dawsons Creek (TV series) (1998 - 2003), Glory Days (TV series) (2002), Wasteland (TV series) (1999), Teaching Mrs. Tingle (1999), The Faculty (1998), Scream 2 (1997), I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997), Scream (1996).

The Casts: David Arquette, Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox , Emma Roberts, Hayden Panettiere, Anthony Anderson

The Tagline: New Decade, New Rules

The Prediction: Will this fourth installment work? Will it thrill old and new viewers? Will it be clever and tongue-in-cheek like the original with its rules of horror? Will it open up to the fifth installment? Will the audience stay awake? Its sad to see horror legend Wes Craven re-hash a franchise that has trespassed into the 4th chapter, after 11 years, together with collaborator Kevin Williamson and expect something to happen. Maybe its just me, but I'd love to see Craven take on the challenge of creating something new and thrilling - possibly start a fresh new franchise. That would be deserving of the uber-ness of his position. This man created the Nightmare on Elm Street series, the Scream series, the Hills series and he was responsible for turning stomachs of many men and women in the 70s with his seminal debut Last House on the Left. So why this? Why now? Why? 

Trailer

Official Site 

The Lincoln Lawyer (2011)

Its been a while since we've been assailed by lawyer themed movies very prevalent back in the 90s. We had Tom Cruise as a brash legal upstart coming face to face with the mafia, in The Firm, we had Julia Roberts and Denzel Washington battling political bigwigs in the Pelican Brief, and we had Keanu Reeves fighting for his soul in The Devil's Advocate. And now, in the second decade of the millennium we have Matthew M, being a brash upstart lawyer battling monsters in the Lincoln Lawyer. Okay, maybe not monsters ... 

The Skinny: Mick Haller (Matthew M) is a confident, highly snazzy lawyer who operates from the back of his Lincoln, providing his lawyerly service to the denizens of Beverly Hills. This time around, his sweet talking, miraculous ability to achieve golden plea bargains is put to the test when his rich client (Ryan Phillips) refuses to admit to the assault and battery of a social escort claiming his innocence. Based on the character of the Michael Connelly legal thrillers.

The Helmer: Brad Furman - The Talk (2007), Buried Alive in the Blues (TV doc) (2005),

Unbroken (Short) (2003), The Stranger (Short) (2003), Fast Forward (Short) (2002).

The Scribe: John Romano - The Prodigy (2011), The Lincoln Lawyer (2011), The Beast (TV) (2009), Nights in Rodanthe (2008), Intolerable Cruelty (2003), American Dreams (TV) (2002), Monk (TV) (2002), Providence (TV) (2001), Third Watch (TV) (1999 - 2000), The Third Miracle (1999), Michael Hayes (TV) (1998), Early Edition (TV) (1996), Dark Angel (TV) (1996), Sweet Justice (TV) 1994), Class of 96 (TV) (2003), Knots Landing (TV) (1991 - 1992), Cop Rock (TV) (1990), LA Law (TV) (1990), Hill Street Blues (TV) (1986 - 87).

Michael Connelly - Novelist - The Lincoln Lawyer (novel) (2011), Blood Work (novel) (2002), Level 9 (TV) (2002).

The Casts: Matthew McConaughey, Marisa Tomei, Ryan Phillippe, William H. Macy, John Leguizamo, Michael Pare.

The Prediction: I'm looking forward to this movie because I know its going to be good and satisfying. Why? Let me count the ways .... Number One: Its not about aliens, demons, vampires, werewolves, cute creatures and their ilks; Number Two: Its based on a best selling legal thriller, which is always a good thing; Number Three: It has a very old (and steady) hand as screenplay writer / scriber writing the movie; Number Four: Marisa "Hot Mama" Tomei; Number Five: Michael Pare - superstar that almost made it, of the 80s, he of the Streets of Fire fame: and Number Six: Matthew M. All in all, this looks pretty decent and will prove to be an entertaining escape into Hollywood-dom. Its a no-brainer.

Official Site

Trailer

Fantasy Fanboy Films: Part 1 - Fight to the Death

This is just an idea I'm kinda formulating here - what if we were to have a series of Fantasry Fanboy Films where fanboys of the world draw up their fantasy films in the multitudes of genres: action, comedy, horror, romance etc. 

All you need to do is decide on a genre - then fill it up with fantasy plot, with fantasy actors, with fantasy scenes, and fantasy outcome. It'll be like Fantasy Football Club, but for movies. 

If you can dig it, lets start here today with Fantasy Fanboy Films: Action - Fight to the Deaths. The following makes up MY fantasy action film: 

Genre: Action

Fantasy title: Death Match 3000

Fantasy actors: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Vin Diesel

Fantasy plot: Two warriors from warring tribes in a post apocalyptic future face off in an ultimate fight to the death using only a bowie knife each, and a city to destroy each other in. 

Fantasy action: The Rock Vs Vin Diesel in a fight to the death!

Fantasy Tagline: Only One Will Survive.

Fantasy Ending: Vin Diesel gets his face obliterated with a series of super fast knife jabs. 

Get the idea? Give it a try - the good ones will end up in the next blog update. Good Luck! (Quoting Marko in "Taken").

Red Riding Hood (2011)

I'm surprised there aren't many hollywood productions coming out from fairy tales; instead we have the re-treading of old TV series and movies from 40 years back, sequels & prequels to lackluster summer so-so hits, and other abysmal attempts at entertainment. Fairy tales on the other hand has always been there; a pool of untapped tales of grim adventures and fatal lessons. Take aside Disney's attempts at envisioning the classic tales, you don't have many other effort undertaken by the major studios (except maybe the porn studios, but thats a whole other universe altogether with its own set of values, and erm, fans). So, its a nice surprise indeed to see something like this movie coming up, on a tale that is essentially very, very disturbing, interpretable on so many levels, dealing with so many issues.

The Skinny: Not so Little Red Riding Hood has to go to the granny's house but she has to be careful as there's a werewolf about. But who really is the werewolf? A mature take on a much loved horrific tale of innocence lost, cannibalism, hatchet death and dead grannies. Huzzah!

The Helmer: Catherine Hardwicke - Hamlet (2011), Freeheld (2011), Red Riding Hood (2011), Twilight (2008), The Nativity Story (2006), Lords of Dogtown (2005), Thirteen (2003).

The Casts: Amanda Seyfried, Gary Oldman, Billy Burke, Shiloh Fernandez, Max Irons, Virginia Madsen, Lukas Haas, Julie Christie, Shauna Kain.

Release Date: 21 August 2011 (Malaysia)

Tagline: Believe the Legend, Beware the Wolf

The Prediction: I'm not that familiar with the helmer except for the 2005 film Lords of Dogtown, the true story of the birth of skateboarding as an extreme sport. Impression of that movie was that it was okay, not bad. But then she went on ahead and did Twilight, the very unmanly movie of teen love with skinny paleface vampire, buff male-bimbo werewolf and a girl with fatal armpit smell. Based on that alone I'd give this movie a wide berth, drop it in the sink of hot magma, or have it trampled by an 18 wheeler truck bound for hell. But I like the look and feel of the trailer, and the mystery of the killer wolf running about killing the villagers. It has the distinct atmosphere of Neil Jordan's 1984 coming of age sexual awakening werewolf horror drama The Company of Wolves. That makes a slight difference. So maybe I'd recommend it. Only if it has lots of blood, where paleface vampire sissies and werewolf male bimbos are killed, butchered by real wolves. We can only hope.

Trailer

Official Site

Super (2011)

I like James Gunn. I like Rainn Wilson. I like to see them do a movie project together. I like to see "Super". Nuff said.

The Skinny: Everyday man Frank D'Arbo (Wilson) dons a cape and a cowl to fight crime, and to get back his beautiful wife from the smarmy git of a drug dealer Jacques (Bacon) who has successfully seduced her away from him. To aid him in his crime busting scheme, and to act as the other half of the dynamic duo'ism, you have Libby (Page), his female sidekick. 

The Helmer: James Gunn - Movie 43 (2011), Super ((2010), PG Porn (TV) (2008 - 2009), Humanzee (TV) (2008), Sparky & Mikaela (TV) (2008), Slither (2006), Troman's Edge TV (TV) (2000), Sgt Kubikiman Public Service Announcement (Short TV) (1997), Hamster PSA (Short) (TV) (1997), The Tromaville Cafe (1997), Tromeo & Juliet (1996).

The Casts: Rainn Wilson, Ellen Page, Liv Tyler, Kevin Bacon

The Tagline: Shut Up Crime!

The Prediction: This is a great combination of people coming together; you have cult-like helmer Gunn spewing forth his helming wisdom (if you've seen the 2006 skin crawling quivering alien comedy horror Slither  both written and directed by him, you know you're in for some gobsmacking sicking goodness), then you have veteran part-evil-part-twitchy-part-intense flinty Kevin Bacon as the bad guy facing off innocent, not-very-smart/completely-shameless Rainn Wilson who is assisted by very-smart Ellen Page (Inception (2010), Juno (2007). Mix it up, shake it about, then pour out the content - and whaddya have? Super hero mayhem with that extra edgy-ness.

Official SIte - The Crimson Bolt
Trailer 

Real Steel (2011)

Dreamworks SKG, a hollywood studio and distributor partly owned by spielberg, katsenberg and geffen AND Indian megladon Reliance coughs up an action fare for its post-summer release - Hugh Jackman putting up his dukes for a robot-versus-robot fight flick. Is the concept cool? Damn straight. 

The Skinny: In the near future sports fighting has changed - humans no longer enter the ring to knock each other out, but instead robots battle it out. Enter Charlie Kenton (Hugh Jackman), ex-boxer and wannabe promoter who tries to revive a discarded robot into a mean fighting machine at the same time create some meaning in his life through the wonderful thing called money ... 

The Helmer: Shawn Levy  - How to Talk to Girls (2012), Family Album (TV) (2011), Date Night (2010), Night at the Museum: Battle at the Smithsonian (2009), Night at the Museum (2006), Pepper Dennis (TV) (2006), The Pink Panther (2006), Joint Custody (TV) (2005), The Deerings (TV) (2004), Cheaper by the Dozen (2003), Just Married (2003), Birds of Prey (TV) (2002), Do Over (TV) (2002), Big Fat Liar (2002), The Famous Jett Jackson (TV) (1998 - 2001), Jett Jackson - The Movie (2001), In a Heartbeat (TV) (2000), So Weird (TV) (1999), Animorphs (TV) (1998 - 1999), Stray Dog (1999), The Secret Life of Alex Mack (TV) (1996 - 1997), Dead Man's Gun (TV) (1997), Address Unknown (1997), Just in Time (1997).

The Casts: Hugh Jackman, Kevin Durand , Evangeline Lilly, Hope Davis.

Release Date: 7th October 2011

The Prediction: Looking at the storyline you see potential hard action - ex-boxer, fight robots, the future ... you mix them up and you get an ex-boxer duking it out with robots in the ring set in the future. Thats what I'd think. But then you check out the trailer, and you read the synopsis and what you get is: ex-boxer, robots, the future - ex-boxer teaching robots how to fight in the future. Does not exactly scream full action does it? It doesnt. And ... theres a little lost son who appears in Charlie's life out of the blues. And there you have the drama element. Added to that you have a helmer who does mainly comedy. So you sit back and think: what the fork? Do I see humans battling robots or do I see robots battling robots, in the ring, like a miniscule version of Transformers? Having said all that however, I am still keen to catch this one. Because the whole set-up does look pretty interesting. What I'm thinking - the could've milked it and pushed it more towards a robot-on-man action flick with a red-hot burning revenge motive. Thats what I'd push for. Damn straight. 

Trailer 

Official Site 

Wiki on Real Steel 

 

Dylan Dog: Dead of Night

Brandon Routh does not fare well in my books only because of the abysmal Superman Returns; and he didn't leave that much of an impression on Scott Pilgrim Versus the World. At the end of the day, he appears to be another himbo. But is he really? This new film seems to suggest not ...

The Skinny: Private Eye Dylan Dog investigates supernatural matters in the swamps of Louisiana for his werewolf, zombie and vampire clients.

The Adjustment Bureau (2011)

Matt Damon's taking time off from kicking ass and karate-chopping necks to star in this romantic bizarre sci-fi thriller with beauty Emily Blunt. What can go wrong? Possibly nothing?

The Skinny: Politician Dave Norris (Matt Damon) accidentally bumps into the love of his life Elise Sellas (Emily Blunt) and falls madly in love, only to be informed by mysterious men that they cannot be together. Why? Because these mysterious men represent the force that guides and manipulate fate and destiny of humans. So what does Jason Bourne oops! I mean politician Dave Norris do? He kicks ass! Tthats what he does! Or, he resist the powers that be to be with the woman he loves and runs all over the place with a light fedora. Understandable because Emily Blunt is kinda hot and she is a keeper.  Based on Philip K.Dick's short story "The Adjustment Team".

The Helmer: George Nolfi- The Adjustment Bureau (2011)

The Casts: Matt Damon, Emily Blunt

Release Date: 3rd March 2011 (Malaysia)

The Prediction: Matt Damon in a romantic movie? Noooo!! But he kicks ass! Yesss!! Okay maybe not, but he does a bit of running about in a light fedora, and fights the mysterious men in suits whilst holding hands with hottie Emily Blunt. The trailer suggests a very decent sci-fi thriller with a weird-like overcast hue of blue and grey; everything looks cold and detached but in a good way. I'm looking forward to this, only because I know Damon delivers and his choice of movies over the years have been spot on. The man rarely misses as he chooses his projects well. So chances are this movie is going to be good. There you go. 

Trailer

Official Site

Rango (2011)

I don't normally do review/predictions on cartoons (or computer generated squiggles) but how can I not do one when Johnny Depp is in it? Far from an action star, he is however, still a relentlessly cool cinematic person. And, I kinda like the look of Rango - a lizard with a hat. How cool is that?

The Skinny: Dreamer chameleon Rango who dreams of heroism, ends up as a sheriff in the dangerous town of Dirt. Can he take on the bad elements and remain alive? Creature catastrophe ensues in this strange and fantastical western.

The Helmer: Gore Verbinski - Pirates of the Caribbean:At World's End (2007), Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006), The Weather Man (2005), Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl (2003), The Ring (2002), The Mexican (2001), Mousehunt (1997), The Ritual (Short) (1996).

The Cast: Johnny Depp, Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin, Ned Beatty, Alfred Molina, Bill Nighy, Stephen Root,

Harry Dean Stanton, Timothy Olyphant, Ray Winstone.

Release Date: 10th March 2011 (Malaysia)

The Prediction: I have to admit I'm looking forward to this movie. I just like the look and feel of the whole project, the creatures and the main star himself, Rango. I mean, its so cool that you have a skinny lizard as a hero gunslinger going against nature's monsters all by his lonesome. This is set to be a fish-out-of-water meets Highnoon with a cast from what? Disney's daydream ensemble? Yeah, why not?Anyways, I love westerns. This movie rocks.

Official Site

Trailer

Source Code (2011)

Jake Gyllenhaal is on the up and up at the moment. With the moderately successful Prince of Persia and the recent critically acclaimed Love and Other Drugs with the sweet-on-the-tongue-chewy-in-the-mouth Anne Hathaway, his career is well plotted. And now we have this action thriller; just so we can decide whether he has the action chops of other manly man of Hollywood.

The Skinny: A soldier is sent into the body of a train commuter who was witness to a bombing - only problem is that he has 8 minutes replayed over and over again to find out who is responsible. Action stuff ensues, with hot chick in tow.

The Helmer: Duncan Jones - Moon (2009), Whistler (2002).

Casts: Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monoghan, Vera Farmiga, Jeffrey Wright, Russel Peters, James A Woods, Michael Arden, Cos Anvar, Joe Cobden, Craig Thomas.

Tagline: Make Every Second Count

Release Date: 21st April 2011 (Malaysia)

Prediction: This project seems quite water proof - Jake Gyllenhaal the current It dude, and British director Duncan Jones who directed the critically acclaimed Moon (2009) mixing it up in an edge of the seat race against time action thriller.Good to see that time-conscious action films are still alive and kicking as it does effectively leave you on the edge of your seat as seen with The Next Three Days. Anyways, if it looks good, and sounds good, then chances are its probably good. So yeah, knock yourself out.

Wikipedia on Source Code (2011)

Official Website

Trailer

Limitless (2011)

Yet another superhero movie ... or is it? 

The Skinny: A copywriter Eddie Mora (Bradley Cooper) takes special drugs which provides him with superhuman thinking capabilities. However, it comes with a price, as a group of assassins are hot on his trail. Where did the drugs come from and why do they want him dead? 

The Helmer: Neil Burger - The Lucky Ones (2008), The Illusionist (2006), Interview with the Assassin (2002).

The Casts: Bradley Cooper (The Hangover, A-Team), Robert De Niro, Abbie Cornish, Andrew Howard, Anna Friel, Johnny Whitworth, Tomas Arana, Robert John Burk.

Tagline: What if a pill could make you rich and powerful?

Release Date: 18 March 2011 (USA)

Prediction: I like Bradley Cooper - he's the kind of guy you can practically squeeze into any genre of movies: action, comedy, romantic, others. Why? Because he's generic but personable with the right degree of darkness when its called upon (remember The Hangover?). Pit him against De Niro in a superhero-without-costume actioneer, helmed by the guy who handled small gems such as the Illusionist then you may have something going on which is worth seeing. Honestly, I don't like superhero movies, especially costumed ones, or ones with obvious bright light powers coming out from your hands. They're generally lame; a substitute for good acting and good scripting. But this one seems a tad different, the superpowers in this instance is super-intelligence; the ability to super-think super-fast in making super amounts of money. My kind of super powers (apart from instant teleportation). Add to all this superness, a pursuing bunch of killers - which enables you to have brains versus brawns (and guns) face-off. Which should make for good entertainment all around.  

Official Trailer
 Official Site

The Mechanic (2011)

Jason Statham is perfect in this Charlese Bronson remake of a 70s action film with a double plotline that sizzles across the screen like a released fuse.

The Skinny: Elite hit man Arthur Bishop (Stathom) mistakenly assassinates mentor/boss/friend and aspires for atonement by allowing the unbeknowing son (Ben Foster) of the assassinated man to be his protege in the high stakes world of hired killers. Along the way the truth is revealed and the path to vengeance is carved open with a couple automatics and grenades.

The Helmer: Simon West - Con Air (1997), The General's Daughter (1999), Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001), Keen Eddie (TV) (2003), Closer to Home (TV) (2005), Under Pressuer (TV) (2006), When A Stranger Calls (2006), Split Decision (TV movie) (2006), The Man (TV movie) 2007), Purple Mountain (2008), Human Target (TV) (2010), The Cape (TV) (2011), The Mechanic (2011). 

The Casts: Jason Statham (Arthur Bishop), Ben Foster (Steve McKenna), Donald Sutherland (Harry McKenna), Tony Goldwyn (Dean), Mini Anden  (Sarah).

The Verdict: This is a great actioneer old school style. I was expecting the typical Transporter type of fare, but was pleasantly surprised that this movie surpassed that franchise by coupla thousand feet. The whole feel of the movie is grainy and golden-hued, strongly reminiscent of 70s spy movies, and to some extent it is. Statham is his silent brooding self, but it is Ben Foster who shines as the reckless and totally unpredictable protege who is very much human in action and reaction. This is a solid film, currently occupying the upper echelons of good action films. Go ahead, enjoy.