Saturday, October 30, 2010

Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (2010)

In the wonderful world of 'what-ifs', also known as movieland, we have a new entrant. What if santa clause was actually a vicious evil creature who fed on the flesh of innocent children? What if his happy helping elves were actually dark soldiers of his evil army? I give you then, ladies and germs... Rare Exports!

The Skinny: Swedish scientists unearth the 'real' santa clause who is not really a rotund bearded ginormous-bellied ho-ho'ing man of mirth, but is instead a violent ruthless evil creature who eats little children, only to have the helper elves go medieval on their asses ... read imdb.com's synopsis:
"In the depths of the Korvatunturi mountains, 486 metres deep, lies the closest ever guarded secret of Christmas. The time has come to dig it up! This Christmas everyone will believe in Santa Claus."

 
The Casts: Tommi Korpela,

The Prediction: This is a Finnish movie from Finland. Doesnt exactly scream Hollywood does it? But looking at the trailer, it looks very, very interesting. And promising.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Sanctum (2010)

James Cameron is today, what Steven Spielberg was yesterday and Walt Disney was the day before. Their names alone can draw in the punters like ball bearings to magnet, mice to cheese, mozzies to blood and the average male to playboy bunnies. You just can't go wrong with movies directed, made and produced by these dudes. And its all worth it because their films are pretty much put together; you will be entertained, and you will voluntarily pay money for it. Which brings us to the next movie tagged under Cameron's behemoth-like name. From the outset it looks like a "The Abyss" all over again. And if it is true, then its a good thing because "The Abyss" kicked 90s movie ass back in the day. 

The Skinny: Taken from imd.com: "An underwater cave diving team experiences a life-threatening crisis during an expedition to the unexplored and least accessible cave system in the world."

The Helmer: Alister Grierson


The Prediction: This looks pretty good actually, even though its not directed by Cameron himself it is in fact produced by him. Which good be a better thing, when you think about it. Especially in light of the commencement of Avatar 2 and 3 in the works. So is this going to be another Abyss? It can be, and if it is then we're in for a treat. Plus, its going to be in 3D. Surprise surprise. Not. So yeah, watch it when it comes out because like all bees to honey, we just can say no to Cameron can we?

Monday, October 25, 2010

Paul (2011)

Dude-ness is always a popular genre amongst men and their first dates. It kinda makes their dates value their dude-ness without all the negative element of being a dude. Which is why this movie, from the shape and look of the trailer, is a great looking dude movie with the all the necessary ingredients: best dude friends, car chases, high comedy, explosions, and an alien called Paul.

The Skinny: 2 comic-crazy dudes with overly layered elements of geek-ness from the UK embark on a once in a lifetime trip to the US, only to encounter an alien called Paul. Hijinks ensues. Chortle!

The Helmer: Greg Mottola - Adventureland (2009), Superbad (2007)


Release Date:18 March 2011

The Prediction: From the guy who directed the very funny, very realistic rites of passage for late teen boys, Superbad (2007), we have an alien comedy actioneer with Britain's very NOW personages Simon Pegg and Nick Frost of Shaun of the Dead (2004), and Hot Fuzz (2007). Just where can it go wrong? Nowhere, thats where. So yeah, go watch it when it comes out. Bring a hot date. Act real cool. Hot date will dig you. 

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

The Horde / La Horde (France) (2009)

This looks to be an awesome zombie movie from France. It has gangsters, dirty cops and zombies all in one place trying to survive and kill. Brilliant. 

The Skinny: A group of cops engage with a Nigerian gang with the sole objective of avenging the death of one of their brother cop. Unknown to them the location of this confrontation also doubles as a site for zombie infestation. What ensues is an insane mix of guns, axes, full-contact combat. 



The Prediction: I know that the French make kick-ass action gangster films, but i had no idea they also indulge in heavy-hitting kick-ass zombie movies as well. I thought their other cinematic imports comprised of great sweeping vistas, epic tales of urban romantic meltdown, weeping men, trains and intelligent small animals. Which is why this particular movie grabs my short and curlies and refuses to let go. Why? Simply because the storyline screams greatness. Gangsters versus dirty cops? 10 outta 10. Gangsters versus dirty cops versus zombies? 20 outta 10. I am so going to catch this audio visual mayhem at my next visit to the DVD stores. Yes I am. Nuff said. 

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

True Grit (2010)

Westerns basically made movies great. Who can ever forget early childhood watching men in hats shoot other men in feathers? Or racing across railway lines playing catch with a locomotive whilst riding a horse and shooting people and shit? Which is why the 3rd coming of the western wave is very much welcomed. Like the never-gonna-happen re-awakening of vietname war movies ...

The Skinny: 14 yeard girl seeks out one-eyed retired, grizzled US Marshall tracker/hunter/killer to track/hunt/kill the man who killed her pa. Based on a 1968 novel by John Portis, which was released in 1969 starring John Wayne by John Ford. Wayne won best actor award for his effort in this movie. Now we have one-eyed retired, grizzled Jeff Bridges in place. Nice. 

The Helmer: The Coen Brothers. 

2006 Paris, je t'aime
(segment "Tuileries")
2003 Intolerable Cruelty
(uncredited)
2001 The Man Who Wasn't There
(uncredited)
2000 O Brother, Where Art Thou?
(uncredited)
1998 The Big Lebowski
(uncredited)
1996 Fargo
(uncredited)
1994 The Hudsucker Proxy
(uncredited)
1991 Barton Fink
(uncredited)
1990 Miller's Crossing
(uncredited)
1987 Raising Arizona
(uncredited)
1984 Blood Simple.
(uncredited)

The Casts: Matt Damon, Jeff Bridges, Josh Brolin.

Release Date: 17th February 2011

The Prediction: Looks like the Coen brothers are back in form after their very successful and succint No Country for Old Men. Just check out the trailer and I dare you to tell me you don't want to watch this movie. The last great action packed western was the very fun 3:10 to Yuma, which kicked ass. Now we have this. How incredible is it when we have the Dude himself, Bridges, Matt I'm-gonna-kick-yo'-ass Damon and Josh Don't-FAck-Wi'-Me Brolin shooting guns and kicking ass? Its like the perfect ending to pretty decent year of movies, you know? So yes, please watch this movie because if you don't crap movies like the Twilight series will conquer all, and you don't want a legion of Biebers running the world now do you? No you don't. 

Monday, September 27, 2010

The Social Network (2010)

If you're reading this, chances are you were directed to this blog page via facebook, as I use it to notifiy my entire collection of readers (all 6.3 of them) to this movie site. But have you ever wondered how and why the superstructure social network known as facebook came into being? What the founder mark zuckerberg is all about? What kind of perso he is? And how he came up with the concept? Short of actually googling the information and finding out yourself, this movie attempts to dramatize it on the big screen. 

The Skinny: Biopic of the founder of the world's biggest (and getting bigger) online social network known as facebook, Mark Zuckerberg. 

The Helmer:David Fincher
  1. The Killer (2013) (pre-production)
  2. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011) (filming)
  3. The Social Network (2010)
  4. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
    ... aka "The Curious Case" - International (English title) (informal short title)
  5. Zodiac (2007/I)
  6. George Michael: Twenty Five (2006) (V)
  7. Video Hits: Paula Abdul (2005) (V) (videos "Straight Up", "Forever Your Girl" and "Cold Hearted")
  8. Panic Room (2002)
  9. Madonna: The Video Collection 93:99 (1999) (V) (video "Bad Girl")
  10. Fight Club (1999)
  11. Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael (1999) (V) (video "Freedom '90")
  12. The Game (1997)
  13. Se7en (1995)
    ... aka "Seven" - UK (video title), USA (alternative spelling), USA (video title), USA (DVD title)
  14. The Best of Sting: Fields of Gold 1984-1994 (1994) (V) (video "Englishman In New York")
  15. Aerosmith: Big Ones You Can Look at (1994) (V)
  16. Dangerous: The Short Films (1993) (V) (video "Who Is It")
    ... aka "Michael Jackson - Dangerous: The Short Films" - USA (alternative title)
  17. Alien³ (1992)
    ... aka "Alien 3" - International (English title), USA (alternative spelling)
  18. Madonna: The Immaculate Collection (1990) (V) (videos "Express Yourself", "Oh Father" and "Vogue")
  19. Now That's What I Call Music 7 (1986) (V) (video "We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off")
  20. The Beat of the Live Drum (1985) 
The Tagline: You Don't Get to 500 Million Friends Without Making a Few Enemies
Release Date: 11 November 2010


The Prediction: Biopics are generally good for two things: it serves to answer questions about the celebrated subject matter, and it creates a story albeit, a legend of the person him/herself. Justifying, answering, pondering, exploring a life. Whether good or bad, sweet or ugly, inspiring or despairing, the effect of a decent biopic should leave the viewer with a better understanding of the person him/hersel. Which is why a biopic as this one, on a living giant for the very young Zuckerberg, was helmed by the David Fincher; the man who gave you Fightclub, and Se7en. You know it just can't go wrong. However, there have been debates on the accuracy of the depiction of the life and time of Zuckerberg because the facebook team have denied the actual storyline. Which in itself, if you look at it, is an epic dispute. But honestly, the first thing that came to my mind when I heard about this movie was that hey, facebook is still so new. We still have no idea how this whole thing will end. Maybe it should be done, say, 10 years from now? After the dust has settled? Having said that, it is still something I'd want to watch because I'm an FB addict and it is interesting how the movie adaptation of this latest craze is depicted on the big screen. 


Tuesday, September 21, 2010

22 Bullets (2010) (L'immortel)



Do you, like me, find it rather odd that the French makes excellent action movies? With Luc Besson punching the cinema world with his trademark violent action films with such artistic flair? Its odd because we tend to equate the French with love stories, erotica and general delicateness. Apparently not so. They kick ass. Which is good news for action addicts, with this new film coming under his wing.

The Skinny: Amazingly based on a true story 22 Bullets tells the story of  retired mobster left for dead with 22 bullets pumped into his body. But he doesnt die. And now he wants revenge. Manic destructive mayhem ensues.

The Helmer: Richard Berry 
- 22 Bullets (2010).. aka "L'immortel" - France (original title) 
- The Black Box (2005)... aka "La boîte noire" - France (original title)
I, Cesar (2003)... aka "Moi César, 10 ans 1/2, 1m39" - France (original title)

Release Date: 24th March 2010 (Belgium)
Tagline: Shedded Blood Never Dries 


The Prediction: Jean Reno is as French as they come, in the world of Hollywood films, having done his time doing mainly action/comedy flicks over the ages. Which is why us Hollywood movie goes tend to forget that this is one serious guy with serious acting chops. And to finally see him in a heavy crime drama is indeed a welcomed change, especially since his last notable collaboration with Luc Besson was in the very watchable The Professional (1994) way back in the 90s. Which is long overdue. So yeah, this looks good, very good. 

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