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I few years ago I watched a lot of Akira Kurosawa movies. Recently i've realised that beyond some anime and samurai movies, I have not seen too many other Japanese movies. I saw this list here: http://japanverse.com/2013/03/which-japanese-films-are-a-must-see/ Does anyone have anything else to add, or their own opinions on this list? Most of these movies sound intriguing in their own way.
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Hey guys, I think this might be the first topic I've ever actually started on macrossworld. I've actually been contemplating to do a thread on Kaiju for a while especially since there really hasn't been one that I recall. I just couldn't decide on a way to kick it off. What changed? Well with Pacific Rim coming in a couple of months, and next year the american Godzilla reboot now is as good a time as any. That and thanks to Media Blasters, and Miramax releasing Godzilla Vs. Megalon and Godzilla Vs. Biolante respectively I now own all the Godzilla films on dvd.* Of the two I have to say I enjoyed Megalon more. Yeah its cheesy, but its entertaining as hell and Media blasters did one hell of a job on remastering it. Biolante while it has amazing special effects(the G suit is the best of the heisei era) the story isn't that great and I'm still trying to figure out why people over at tohokingdom.com think its one of the great G films of all time. Its still not as bad as the garbage that is Godzilla Vs King Ghidorah. What's the worst one to you guys? Aside from the 1998 american film? Speaking of the 98 film, its actually enjoyable as giant monster film, as long as you don't think of the monster as Godzilla himself which is what the Japanese have done with several of the millenium era films. Anybody else here like Giant Monster figures, toys, and etc? Feel free to discuss them. I've been buying the U.S. Bandai vinyls off and on since I think 2000, but lately it seems they've gone to crap. The latest run is a bunch of reissues with the exception of I think Showa Mechagodzilla. The paints are all wrong(spacegodzilla is black instead of blue) and each figure comes in both a normal version, and a lame gimicky version that feels softer and has sparkles. The only one I picked up was the GMK Godzilla since I missed it the first time around. *(All the films have been released in the United States on dvd with the exception of 1984's Return of Godzilla. I broke down and imported the original Japanese version because it was subbed, and is very different than the american Godzilla 1985 cut.) -
http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/sony_pictures/looper/ Bruce Willis traveling in time again, and it looks very promising.
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MGM and EON Productions have announced that the next James Bond 007 film will begin production later this year and will see a release on November 9, 2012 (in time to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the James Bond 007 film franchise). The new film, now titled Skyfall, will be directed by Academy Award winner Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Revolutionary Road), and Daniel Craig will return to the film franchise as James Bond. This is good news for moviegoers, as plans for a new Bond film were put on hold due to MGM's bankruptcy. Being released after Quantum of Solace (2008), Skyfall will mark the second longest gap between Bond films since the early 1990s, when GoldenEye (1995) came out six years after License to Kill (1989). New James Bond Film Starring Daniel Craig Approved
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I feel the need, the need... for speed! Oh wait - wrong movie. Best Guy (ベストガイ) is a 1990 film made by Toei in cooperation with the JASDF. Apparently, the title of "Best Guy" is a rank higher than "Top Gun" in Japan. From what I've read, the movie, to no surprise, flopped at the box office and received poor reviews. Still, it's cool to see the F-15J in action for a change. Just by watching this sample clip, one can't help but insert Maverick, Goose and Iceman's random one-liners in it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEt3CKfji0M
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The Bourne saga continues with The Bourne Legacy. However, unlike the previous trilogy, Matt Damon will not reprise his role as Jason Bourne in this installment, and despite its title, the film has nothing to do with the 2004 novel by Eric Von Lustbader. Instead, we have Jeremy Renner (Clint Barton/Hawkeye in Thor and The Avengers, Brandt in Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol) as Aaron Cross, a product of the top-secret "Operation Outcome." Also starring are Rachel Weisz (Evie in The Mummy and The Mummy Returns) and Edward Norton (like nobody here knows who he is...); reprising their roles from the Bourne trilogy are Joan Allen (Warden Hennessey in Death Race), David Strathairn (Edward Murrow in Good Night, and Good Luck.), Albert Finney (Daddy Warbucks in Annie, Kincade in Skyfall) and Scott Glenn (Capt. Colby in Apocalypse Now, Alan Shepard in The Right Stuff). The Bourne Legacy opens in U.S. theaters on August 10. Official Site
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There's not much to say about this, so I'll let this trailer do the talking.
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I'm surprised no one here is talking about this. Premiering today in most theaters worldwide (and on May 25 in the U.S.) is Men in Black 3, the follow-up to the 1997 masterpiece Men in Black and its disappointing 2002 sequel Men in Black II. Barry Sonnenfeld (The Addams Family, Get Shorty) returns to the director's chair while Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones reprise their roles as Agent J and Agent K, respectively. With the film's theme being time-travel, Josh Brolin (Jonah Hex, Dr. Block in Planet Terror) plays young Agent K in 1969. Also starring are Emma Thompson (Nanny McPhee, Queen Elinor in Brave) and Alice Eve (Molly in She's Out of My League) as Agent O, Nicole Scherzinger (of the Pussycat Dolls) as Lily, Jemaine Clement (of the musical duo Flight of the Conchords) as Boris the Animal, and David Rasche (Sledge Hammer!) as Agent X. Lady Gaga (the second most overrated pop singer today) makes a cameo appearance as well; to no surprise, she's being monitored by the MIB. Official Site
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The Muppets Walt Disney Pictures, 2011 Directed by James Bobin (Da Ali G Show, Flight of the Conchords) Based upon characters from The Muppet Show created by Jim Henson (1936-1990) Running Time: 103 minutes Rated PG for some crude humor. It's time to play the music, It's time to light the lights, It's time to meet the Muppets on The Muppet Show tonight... Cast Jason Segel (Jason in Knocked Up, Peter in Forgetting Sarah Marshall) as Gary Amy Adams (Lois Lane in Man of Steel, Charlene in The Fighter) as Mary Chris Cooper (Alexander Conklin in The Bourne Identity, John Larouche in Adaptation) as Tex Richman Rashida Jones (Karen in The Office, Marylin in The Social Network) as Veronica Jack Black (as if nobody here knows him...) as Himself (uncredited) Muppets Peter Linz as Walter Steve Whitmire as Kermit the Frog, Beaker, Statler, Rizzo the Rat, Link Hogthrob and The Muppet Newsman Eric Jacobson as Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, Sam the Eagle and Marvin Suggs Dave Goelz as Gonzo the Great, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, Beauregard, Waldorf and Kermoot the Frog Bill Barretta as The Swedish Chef, Rowlf the Dog, Dr. Teeth, Pepe the King Prawn, Bobo the Bear, Foozie Bear, Behemoth, Mahna Mahna, Whatnot Farmer and Gary's Muppet form David Rudman as Janice, Scooter and Miss Poogy Matt Vogel as Floyd Pepper, Camilla the Chicken, Sweetums, '80s Robot, Lew Zealand, Uncle Deadly, Roowlf the Dog, Janoose and Crazy Harry Tyler Bunch as Thog Alice Dinnean as Afghan Hound Cameos Alan Arkin (Bill in Edward Scissorhands, Peevy in The Rocketeer) as the Muppet Studios Tour Guide Emily Blunt (Emily in The Devil Wears Prada, Elise in The Adjustment Bureau) as Miss Piggy's Receptionist Bill Cobbs (Zachary Lamb in Demolition Man) as the Grandfather viewer Feist (Canadian singer/songwriter) as a Smalltown resident Zach Galifianakis (Alan in The Hangover I-II, Humpty Dumpty in Puss in Boots) as Hobo Joe Donald Glover (Troy in Community) as a CDE executive Whoopi Goldberg (like no one's heard of her...) as Herself Selena Gomez (Mikayla in Hannah Montana, Alex in Wizards of Waverly Place) as Herself Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters vocalist/band leader) as Animool Neil Patrick Harris (Doogie Howser, M.D., Himself in the Harold & Kumar series) as Himself Judd Hirsch (Julius in Independence Day) as Himself Ken Jeong (Leslie in The Hangover I- II, Jerry Wang in Transformers: Dark of the Moon) as the "Punch Teacher" host John Krasinski (Jim in The Office) as Himself Jim Parsons (Sheldon Cooper in The Big Bang Theory) as Walter's human form Rico Rodriguez (Manny in Modern Family) as Himself Mickey Rooney (I. Y. Yunioshi in Breakfast at Tiffany's) as a Smalltown resident Kristen Schaal (Mel in Flight of the Conchords) as the Anger Management group moderator Sarah Silverman (Saturday Night Live) as the Restaurant greeter It's time to put on make-up, It's time to dress up right, It's time to get things started, Why don't you get things started? It's time to get things started on the most sensational Inspirational, celebrational, Muppetational This is what we call our Muppet Show! Synopsis Walter fulfills his childhood dream when he, Gary and Mary travel to Los Angeles to visit the Muppet Studios, only to find it in a derelict condition. And when they find out that oil baron Tex Richman has purchased the studios with the intent of demolishing it and drilling for oil underneath, they must get Kermit the Frog to regroup the old gang and host a telethon to raise $10 million to save their home. Lowdown It's great to be a Muppet fan again. The Muppets is not only the first Muppet film in over 12 years, it celebrates the 35th anniversary of The Muppet Show. And what a triumphant return! Just about every Muppet you grew up with is back, and they're as wacky as ever. Many of their characteristics are still intact as if the last episode of The Muppet Show (which aired in 1981) was just yesterday. Even The Muppet Telethon opening number is spot-on to the original show's iconic sequence. And even though Walter is the newest Muppet, he really holds his ground as the film's lead Muppet. Another big plus is, as with all Muppet features, the music. You can't help but sing along to the musical numbers - even the ever-cheesy Starship song "We Built This City". And the Muppet Barbershop Quartet's rendition of Nirvana's "Smell's Like Teen Spirit" is priceless. Of course, this film wouldn't be complete without new performances of the landmark Muppet songs "Rainbow Connection" and "Mah Na Mah Na". But perhaps the main showstopper is the Oscar-winning song "Man or Muppet" by Gary and Walter. Yes, the Muppets are great as usual, but how about the human actors? Jason Segel and Amy Adams deliver a great performance, even though Adams is not as cute as she was in her previous films. Chris Cooper doesn't do much as the film's villain, but even for such a cheesy role, he is one villain you'd love to hate. Jack Black's uncredited appearance really brings down the house as the Muppets kidnap him and torture him with their skits. The cameo list is a who's who of stars from yesterday and today, including Sheldon Cooper as Walter's human form in the "Man or Muppet" segment. In short, The Muppets is not only a big love letter to long-time Muppet fans, but also one of the best family films of this century. Rating: A Links The Muppets Official Homepage References The Internet Movie Database
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Kate Beckinsale returns as Selene in Underworld: Awakening - the direct sequel to Underworld: Evolution (Underworld: Rise of the Lycans was the prequel to the first two films). And to no surprise, it will be in 3D when it hits theaters on January 20, 2012. Official Site
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The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn
areaseven posted a topic in Anime or Science Fiction
One of Europe's most beloved comic books gets the big-budget Hollywood treatment. The Adventures of Tintin stars Jamie Bell (Billy Elliot, Griffin in Jumper) as Tintin, Andy Serkis (King Kong, Gollum in The Lord of the Rings) as Captain Haddock, Simon Pegg (Shaun of the Dead, Nicholas in Hot Fuzz) and Nick Frost (Ed in Shaun of the Dead, Danny in Hot Fuzz) as Thompson & Thompson, Daniel Craig (the current James Bond 007) as Red Rackham, and Toby Jones (Arnim Zola in Captain America: The First Avenger) as Aristides Silk. Normally, one would think this movie will flop in the U.S., as practically nobody in America reads Tintin, but it is produced by Peter Jackson (with Weta Digital doing the special effects, of course) and directed by Steven Spielberg - which theoretically guarantees a box-office hit stateside. The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn premieres on October 26 in the UK and December 23 in the U.S. Official Site
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Shortly after the release of At World's End, the last (and weakest) of the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy, there have been talks of a possible fourth Pirates film. So far, here are the details gathered over the past year: * The new film will be a loose adaptation of the 1988 Tim Powers novel On Stranger Tides. Since the novel involves the Fountain of Youth, there should be no problem connecting it with the trilogy, as At World's End left off with Jack Sparrow and Barbossa venturing to search for the fabled fountain. * Geoffrey Rush will be reprising his role as Barbossa. * Keira Knightley is not interested in returning in the film as Elizabeth Swann-Turner. Same with Orlando Bloom, who played Will Turner in the trilogy. * Gore Verbinski was to have returned as the film's director, but he was busy planning out the film adaptation of the game Bioshock (which has been put on hold). Rob Marshall (Memoirs of a Geisha, Chicago) will take the director's chair instead. * Seeing that the Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise is nothing without Jack Sparrow, Disney announced that Johnny Depp will be paid $55.5 million to reprise his role. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is currently in pre-production and is expected to be released before Disney's remake of The Lone Ranger (which also stars Depp). Hopefully, it will be much better than At World's End.
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To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Xinhai Revolution and Jackie Chan's 100th film, 1911 Revolution premieres in Chinese theaters on September 23 and in Hong Kong on September 29. The film is directed by Chan, who stars as revolutionary leader Huang Xing. The film also stars Chan's son Jaycee Chan, Li Bingbing (Ni-chang in The Forbidden Kingdom), Hu Ge (Xiaoyao in Chinese Paladin), Joan Chen (Wan Jung in The Last Emperor) and Zhang Ziyi (Mulan, Karai in TMNT). Official 1911 Revolution Site
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This Summer, Disney/Pixar will release the sequel to their 2006 hit film Cars. Owen Wilson and Larry the Cable Guy will return as Lightning McQueen and Mater, respectively. Joining the cast will be Michael Caine as Finn McMissile, Emily Mortimer (Rachel in Shutter Island, Nicole in The Pink Panther) as Holly Shiftwell, Jason Isaacs (Lucius in the Harry Potter series) as Siddeley, Joe Mantegna (Joey in The Godfather Part III) as Grem and Peter Jacobson (Dworkin in Law & Order) as Acer. It is unknown, however, if certain characters from the first film will return; Paul Newman (Doc Hudson), George Carlin (Filmore) and Joe Ranft (Red and Peterbilt) have passed on since then. Still, it's Pixar. Who's not gonna go watch a Pixar film on the big screen? Official Site
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Golgo 13: Kuron no Kubi (ゴルゴ13 九竜の首) Toei Company, Ltd., 1977 BCI Eclipse, 2006 (Bundled with The Bullet Train and Virus in the Sonny Chiba Action Pack) Directed by Yukio Noda Based on the manga character by Takao Saito Running Time: 93 minutes Rated R for graphic violence, nudity, sexual situations and profanity. Cast Sonny Chiba (Takuma Tsurugi in The Street Fighter series, Hattori Hanzo in Kill Bill Vol. 1) as Duke Togo/Golgo 13 Callan Leung as Detective Smith Jerry Ito as Polansky Etsuko Shihomi (Li Koryu in Sister Street Fighter) as Lin Li Synopsis Golgo 13 is hired by an American crime syndicate to take down Chou Lei Fang, the leader of the syndicate's Hong Kong branch who has gone rogue by selling their drugs through his own channels. He also has to keep an eye out for Detective Smith, a hard-boiled Hong Kong detective who will stop at nothing to put Chou behind bars before Golgo 13 completes his mission. However, when someone else puts the hit on Chou before Golgo 13 pulls the trigger, the assassin must find the mastermind behind the incident. Lowdown For years, I had skipped this movie because I thought there was no way Golgo 13 could be properly adapted into live-action. Putting the character into anime was a hit-or-miss deal: Golgo 13: The Professional (1983) was so-so, Golgo 13: Queen Bee (1998) was absolute crap, and the 2008 TV series had its moments. So I got bored one night and decided to check out this movie. Damn, was I wrong. Sonny Chiba as Golgo 13 is like Robert Downey, Jr. as Iron Man - he fits the role like a glove. He already had that glassy stare made famous in The Street Fighter, so all he needed were the sideburns and bushy eyebrows to complete the look. And as a character with very few words, Chiba's performance will have you convinced he is Golgo 13. As for the storyline itself, it's much better than the anime storylines, but that's not saying much. Just about everything in a Golgo 13 story is here - sex, guns and Golgo 13 doing impossible shots from just about anywhere. Callan Leung as Detective Smith provides a good counterbalance as the other lead character. And though her role is very short, female martial artist Etsuko Shihomi delivers an excellent fight scene after the film's beginning. The music is also pretty good, especially the epic opening theme. Overall, until someone actually comes up with a better movie, this is the way a Golgo 13 movie should be. Rating: B+ References The Internet Movie Database
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Unknown Studio Babelsberg/Dark Castle Entertainment/Warner Bros. Pictures, 2011 Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra (Orphan, House of Wax) Based on the novel Out of My Head by Didier Van Cauwelaert Running Time: 113 minutes Rated PG-13 for violence, suggestive sexual situations and strong language Cast Liam Neeson (Aslan in The Chronicles of Narnia, tattoo artist in The Hangover: Part II) as Dr. Martin Harris Diane Kruger (Bridget in Inglorious Basterds, Abigail in National Treasure) as Gina January Jones (Emma Frost in X-Men: First Class, Betty in Mad Men) as Elizabeth Harris Frank Langella (Skeletor in Masters of the Universe, Perry White in Superman Returns) as Prof. Rodney Cole Aidan Quinn (President Grant in Jonah Hex, Benny in Benny & Joon) as Martin B Bruno Ganz (Hitler in Downfall and its countless parody videos online) as Ernst Jürgen Sebastian Koch as Prof. Bressler Mido Hamada as Prince Shada Synopsis Dr. Martin Harris and his wife Elizabeth arrive in Berlin, Germany, to attend a biotechnology summit. Then, when he realizes he forgot his briefcase at the airport, he takes a taxicab to go back and retrieve it - only to be involved in an accident that puts him in a coma for four days. When he wakes up, he discovers that he is not who he says he is, as somebody else has taken his name and identity while his wife does not know him. Lowdown It's Taken meets The Bourne Identity, as Liam Neeson proves he can deliver a powerful action/suspense performance in his late-50s. Unknown is a tale of mistaken identity, with Neeson as Martin Harris, a man struggling to prove to everyone who he is after surviving a horrific car crash. There are lots of unpredictable twists in the plot, right to the end. Despite being derivative of The Bourne Identity, the storyline is very well thought-of. Just like Taken, Neeson takes the Charles Bronson approach in no-nonsense action, despite some stunts that may seem implausible. Of course, January Jones is there mostly as eye candy. Diane Kruger delivers a remarkable performance as Gina, a Bosnian cabbie who tries to help Martin while avoiding possible risks of deportation. Also landing a solid role is Downfall Hitler himself, Bruno Ganz, as a private investigator who unravels the secrets behind Martin's stolen identity. If there are any flaws in this movie, one would be the pacing. Some parts of the middle of the film can seem bogged down by too much dialogue. Another general fault is the blatant product placement by Mercedes-Benz - from the older E-Class taxicabs to Prince Shada's SLS AMG. But that's just for nitpicking purposes, so don't mind it at all. In short, If you enjoyed Neeson's performance in Taken, you won't be disappointed with Unknown. Even though it gives you the feeling that you've seen this movie before, it's still an enjoyable thriller. Rating: B Links Official Unknown Homepage References The Internet Movie Database Wikipedia
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Mega Shark Versus Giant Octopus The Asylum, 2009 Directed by Ace Hannah (a.k.a. Jack Perez, who directed Wild Things 2) Running Time: 90 minutes Rated R for violence, mature situations, profanity and suggestive drug use on the part of The Asylum. Cast Deborah Gibson as Dr. Emma MacNeil Vic Chao as Prof. Seiji Shimada Sean Lawlor as Prof. Lamar Sanders Lorenzo Lamas as Allan Baxter Synopsis When oceanographer Emma MacNeil "borrows" a submarine to study whale migration off the coast of Alaska, a low-frequency sonar device is suddenly dropped by a military helicopter, causing the whales to go berserk and ram a nearby glacier. This incident unearths and awakens a Megalodon (a giant prehistoric shark) and a Giant Octopus from their 10-million-year suspended animation. All hell breaks loose, now that they're awake - whales are found mutilated everywhere, an oil rig in Japan is destroyed by the octopus in seconds and the shark defies physics by eating a 747 from 30,000 feet in the sky. After a failed attempt to corral both sea creatures in Tokyo Bay and San Francisco - resulting in the shark taking a bite out of the Golden Gate Bridge, Emma, along with her mentor Lamar Sanders and Japanese scientist Seiji Shimada, proposes to have the shark and octopus stage their "Thrilla in Manila" and kill each other off before they create any further damage. Lowdown I know what you're thinking: What the hell am I doing reviewing a crappy B-movie? It's not like I've never done that before; after all, I did sit through the sci-fi abomination that is Resiklo. So what could possibly be worse than that? Well, the first indication to this film is that it's produced by The Asylum - the same people who brought us low-budget "mockbusters" like Transmorphers, AVH: Alien vs. Hunter, Snakes on a Train and The Terminators. Not a good start at all, right? Then comes the second indication: the cast. We all know that former soap opera star Lorenzo Lamas is pretty much washed out, but former teen idol Deborah Gibson in the lead role? She must be desperate, as her Playboy stint years ago was a disaster, and I've read that she recently sold her house. In typical B-movie fashion, the acting is atrocious, the storyline is riddled with plot loopholes you can jump your car through, and the CG effects are downright cheesy. So why, then, is Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus not reviewed as a bad movie? Well, it's simple: it's a movie so bad, it's actually good. The scene where the shark eats a 747 alone saves the whole movie. This film makes a perfect party piece if you're in the mood to laugh at something - whether or not you're smoking a joint on the side. In a nutshell, Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus is a bad movie that you'd actually want to show your friends. As long as there's enough booze in the house. Rating: B+ (if you're stoned); D+ (for everyone else) Links Official Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus Homepage References The Internet Movie Database
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2009 Lost Memories ( 2009 로스트메모리즈 / ロスト・メモリーズ) indecom/E-Tube Entertainment/CJ Entertainment, 2002 ADV Films, 2004 Directed by Lee Si-Myung Running Time: 135 minutes Rated R for graphic violence. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df3BDkqtxzQ Cast Jang Dong-Gun as Masayuki Sakamoto Toru Nakamura as Shojiro Saigo Seo Jin-Ho as Oh Hye-Rin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPl940-9QH8 Synopsis In an alternate year 1909, the assassination of Japanese Prime Minister Hirobumi Ito by Korean nationalist An Jung-geun is thwarted. As a result, Japan's political stance worldwide changes dramatically. Over the course of the century, Japan allies with the U.S. in World War II, with the atomic bomb destroying Berlin instead of Hiroshima. In addition, Japan also becomes a permanent member of the UN Security Council in 1960, participates in the space race with the Sakura I satellite in 1965, hosts the 1988 Summer Olympics in Nagoya (instead of Seoul) and the 2002 FIFA World Cup (instead of splitting it with South Korea). More importantly, the peninsula of Korea remains part of Imperial Japan. Fast-forward to the year 2009 in the city of Keijo (Seoul). Japanese Bureau of Investigation (JBI) agent Masayuki Sakamoto and his partner Shojiro Saigo end a hostage crisis at a museum instigated by a terrorist group called Hureisenjin. Sakamoto continues to investigate the incident in search of the Hureisenjin's motives, which involves an organization created by former Governor-General Inoue. As he digs deeper for answers, he discovers that his late father was involved with the Hureisenjin, but his further findings make him a marked man by the JBI. Allying himself with the Hureisnjin, Sakamoto realizes that the current timeline should not exist, as history had been tampered with, and he must go back in time to restore history to bring Korean sovereignty back to existence. Lowdown 2009 Lost Memories is South Korea's answer to the film noir genre, with a hardly noticeable sci-fi element on the side. It also gives viewers an idea of how much the Japanese and Koreans hate each other. And that's the problem with this film. Sure, the cinematography is great and the shootouts are well-choreographed, but there are too many interludes that vaguely develop any of the characters, and there's the constant clashing of Japanese and Korean cultures. Plus, making this a time-travel film somehow doesn't seem to work. At least Mamoru Oshii's Kerberos saga is merely an alternate universe. And the running time - 135 minutes? The production team could have accomplished a better story at a shorter time. But perhaps my biggest gripe with this film is the same as Battle Royale II: Requiem: it promotes terrorism. It makes viewers believe that terrorism is the only solution to a country's problems. In short, 2009 Lost Memories is not a bad film. It's just too long with numerous plot holes and too much focus on anti-Japanese/anti-Korean sentiment. A rental at most. Rating: C+ Sub vs. Dub Don't know, don't care. I didn't realize ADV Films licensed this film several years ago until recently. Moreover, according to IMDb, the English dub was produced by none other than Carl Macek. References The Internet Movie Database
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Coming to cinemas on July 23 is Salt, directed by Phillip Noyce (Patriot Games, Clear and Present Danger), written by Kurt Wimmer (Equilibrium, Ultraviolet) and Brian Helgeland (L.A. Confidential, The Postman) and starring Angelina Jolie (like nobody here knows who she is...), Liev Schreiber (Sabretooth in X-Men Origins: Wolverine) and Chiwetel Ejiofor (Luke in Children of Men, Adrian in 2012). In the film, Jolie plays Evelyn Salt, a CIA operative who is on the run after a Russian defector tags her as a KGB sleeper agent plotting to assassinate the visiting Russian president.
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Coming to theaters on July 11, 2010 is 20th Century Fox's big-screen adaptation of The A-Team. Directed by Joe Carnahan (Smokin' Aces) and produced by brothers Ridley Scott (Gladiator, Alien) and Tony Scott (Top Gun, True Romance), the new film will star the following: Liam Neeson (as if nobody knows him already...) as Col. John "Hannibal" Smith Bradley Cooper (Phil in The Hangover) as Lt. Templeton "Faceman" Peck Quinton "Rampage" Jackson (ex-UFC Light Heavyweight Champion) as Sgt. B.A. Baracus Sharlto Copley (Wikus van de Merwe in District 9) as Capt. H.M. "Howling Mad" Murdock Jessica Biel (like no one here knows her...) as Carissa Sosa Patrick Wilson (Nite Owl II in Watchmen) as a Agent Lynch Brian Bloom as Brock Pike Dirk Benedict (the original Face) Dwight Schultz (the original Murdock) Stephen J. Cannell, who created the series, will also be producing the film. The storyline will supposedly have the A-Team as either Gulf War or Iraq War veterans instead of the Vietnam War in the original. You know what I think? No Mr. T = Not a good A-Team movie. I pity the fool that makes this movie! The A-Team @ IMDB
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The Kung Fu Kid Overbrook Entertainment/JW Productions/China Film Group/Columbia Pictures, 2010 Directed by Harald Zwart (Agent Cody Banks, The Pink Panther 2) Written by Robert Mark Kamen (The Karate Kid I-III, The Transporter trilogy) Running Time: 140 minutes Rated PG for martial arts violence. (Author's Note: I refuse to call this film The Karate Kid, as it has absolutely nothing to do with karate.) Cast Jaden Smith (Christopher Jr. in The Pursuit of Happyness) as "Shao Dre" Parker Jackie Chan (like nobody here knows who he is...) as Mr. Han Taraji P. Henson (Shug in Hustle & Flow, Queenie in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) as Sherry Parker Wen Wen Han as Mei Ying Zhenwei Wang as Cheng Yu Rongguang (Han De in Three Kingdoms, Po Kwang in My Father is a Hero) as Master Li Michelle Yeoh (like nobody here knows who she is...) as the Cobra Woman Synopsis Dre Parker and his mother move from Detroit, MI, to Beijing, China, to start a new life. There, Dre falls in love with a local girl named Mei Ying, but quickly becomes a victim of the local bully Cheng, who studies Master Li's merciless kung fu style. One day, when Cheng and his gang are about to kill Dre at his apartment, Dre is saved by Mr. Han, the maintenance man. Han has Master Li tell his students to leave Dre alone, but at the same time, he enters Dre in an upcoming kung fu tournament. And thus, until the day of the tournament, Han teaches Dre the ways of kung fu. Lowdown If this all sounds very familiar, it's a complete remake of the 1984 classic The Karate Kid - only with different characters and settings. Just replace "Cobra-kai" with "Red Dragons" and "wax-on, wax-off" with "jacket on, jacket off". Master Li's lines are, word-for-word, exactly the same as those of John Kreese; only that they're in Chinese. Aside from the martial arts, the only real difference is the main character. Jaden Smith's role of "Shao Dre" Parker has the same premise as that of Daniel Larusso in the original - he gets bullied, he hates where he's at, and he works hard to prove himself in the end. However, that's where the similarities end. Being the son of Will Smith, Jaden displays all of his father's on-screen mannerisms and antics all over this film to the point that you won't be able to take this film seriously. Jackie Chan is always entertaining in every movie he stars in (even the crappy films like Disney's Around the World in 80 Days and The Tuxedo), and his performance as Mr. Han is no exception. There really is no comparing between Mr. Han and the original's Mr. Miyagi, as both of those roles were played by exceptionally legendary actors. There are just two major problems with this film. The first is its title. I have no problem with the film using the same script, but calling it The Karate Kid is just blasphemy, as there's absolutely no karate in this film. Another problem is its running time. The training sequences and fight scenes are great, but the movie can do without some of these other character scenes. And this movie tries too hard to sell itself as a promotional tool for tourism in China, using the Great Wall and other key tourist attractions in the middle of the film. Despite the shortcomings, this film is surprisingly entertaining for the whole family. Still, it's always better to stick with the original. Rating: B- Links Official Site References The Internet Movie Database
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The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day, the much-anticipated sequel to the 1999 cult classic The Boondock Saints, hits theaters on October 30. Troy Duffy returns to the director's chair on this one, while Sean Patrick Flanery (The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles) and Norman Reedus (Detective Reilly in American Gangster) reprise their roles as Irish brothers Connor and Murray McManus, respectively. Also returning from the first film are Scottish comedian Billy Connolly as Noah "Il Duce" McManus, Bob Marley (the comedian, not the reggae singer) as Detective Greenly, David Ferry as Detective Dolly, Brian Mahoney as Detective Duffy and comedian David Della Rocco as "The Funny Man" Rocco (in a flashback scene, as he was killed in the first film). Willem Dafoe will not reprise his role as FBI Special Agent Paul Smecker due to various reasons. Joining the cast will be Julie Benz (Rita in Dexter, Sarah in Rambo) as FBI Agent Eunice Bloom, Clifton Collins, Jr. as Romeo, Peter Fonda (Wyatt in Easy Rider) as The Roman and Judd Nelson (Hot Rod/Rodimus Prime in Transformers: The Movie, John in The Breakfast Club) as Concezio Yakavetta. Apparently, a sub-plot of the film involves revenge, as the McManus Clan executed Mafia Don "Papa" Joe Yakavetta at the end of the first film. I don't know about you guys, but I definitely can't wait for this film. The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day Official Site
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Darkman Universal Pictures, 1990 Created and Directed by Sam Raimi (Evil Dead trilogy, Drag Me to Hell) Running Time: 96 minutes Rated R for graphic violence, profanity and mature situations. Cast Liam Neeson (Gawain in Excalibur, Kegan in Krull) as Dr. Peyton Westlake/Darkman Frances McDormand (Marge in Fargo, Handler in Aeon Flux) as Julie Hastings Colin Friels as Louis Strack, Jr. Larry Drake (Stulwicz in L.A. Law) as Robert G. Durant Bruce Campbell (because a Sam Raimi movie wouldn't be one without him) "What is it about the dark? What secret does it hold?" Synopsis Dr. Peyton Westlake is a scientist working on artificial skin technology to aid burn victims. Unfortunately, his creation is marred by the skin's molecular instability, which causes it to disintegrate within 99 minutes of direct light. His girlfriend, attorney Julie Hastings, stumbles upon a bribery scandal between construction tycoon Louis Strack, Jr. and mob boss Robert G. Durant. Searching for the bribery evidence, Durant and his men storm into Westlake's laboratory, killing Westlake's assistant and blowing up the lab. The explosion does not kill Westlake, but renders him physically disfigured. After being recovered by a local hospital, he is subjected to a treatment where his neural system is altered. Feeling no physical pain at all, the rage in his body results in an irregular flow of adrenalin and increases his physical abilities; yet adversely affects his mental state. After escaping from the hospital, Westlake salvages his laboratory equipment and moves into an abandoned factory to continue his experiments on artificial skin. Seeking revenge on those who scarred him for life, he becomes a master of disguise, using his artificial skin technology to masquerade as his enemies and destroy them. "Take the f*cking elephant!" Lowdown When Sam Raimi was unable to secure the rights to make film adaptations of The Shadow and Batman, he decided to make a superhero film of his own. Drawing inspiration from The Phantom of the Opera and The Elephant Man, as well as the classic Universal Pictures horror films of the '30s and '40s, Raimi came up with what would become nothing short of a masterpiece. Darkman combines superhero elements with Film Noir and Hitchcock-style suspense, combined with an excellent cast and outstanding makeup effects. Liam Neeson delivers a breakthrough performance as the tragic hero who has to deal with the horrors of his past to avenge himself and make his enemies feel his wrath. It's fundamentally twisted and uniquely provocative. Adding to the grim atmosphere is a haunting orchestral score by Danny Elfman (Dick Tracy, Beetlejuice). Not as epic as Batman, but still effective at keeping the viewers hooked. Overall, Darkman is one of the best superhero films ever made. Hell, to a certain extent, it's even better than Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy. Just make sure to ignore the direct-to-video sequels, though. Rating: A "I'm everyone - and no one. Everywhere - nowhere. Call me...Darkman." References The Internet Movie Database
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Just what we need: another sci-fi action flick with a chick in the lead role. Directed by Kurt Wimmer (Equilibrium), Ultraviolet stars Milla Jovovich (does this mean she's dumping Paul W.S. Anderson for Wimmer?) and a bunch of nobodies. Funny thing is that Wimmer directed it with a black eye because he asked Milla to punch him. That could be a good thing or a bad thing. But then again, when was the last time Milla starred in a decent film? Ultraviolet
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Cloak & Dagger Universal Pictures, 1984 Directed by Richard Franklin (1948-2007) (Roadgames, Psycho II) Based on the 1949 film The Window Running Time: 101 minutes Rated PG for violence and mature situations. Cast Henry Thomas (Elliott in E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, Samuel in Legends of the Fall) as Davey Osborne Dabney Coleman (Dr. McKittrick in WarGames) as Hal Osborne and Jack Flack Christina Nigra as Kim Gardener William Forsythe (Flattop in Dick Tracy) as Morris John McIntire (1907-1991) as George MacCready Jeanette Nolan (1911-1998) as Eunice MacCready Synopsis Davey Osborne is a kid trying to cope with his mother's death while his father Hal is too occupied in his job in military air traffic. This leaves Davey immersing himself into an espionage role-playing game called Cloak & Dagger, fantasizing himself living in an adventure with the game's hero Jack Flack. One day, while running an errand for his friend's video game store, Davey witnesses the murder of a scientist, who hands him an Atari 5200 cartridge of the Cloak & Dagger game. Inside the cartridge are top-secret documents pertaining to the SR-71 Blackbird. Davey fends for his life as spies all over town are after him, and no one believes him due to his fantasy play. Lowdown It was mentioned on a my film review thread for Flight of the Navigator that the '80s was filled with "kidsploitation" flicks that simply had kids as the main protagonists. It was also the decade where Hollywood first experimented with video game tie-ins. Cloak & Dagger was a result of Universal collaborating with Atari, when the latter company was developing a game titled Agent X. Hot off his role as Elliott in the 1982 blockbuster E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, Henry Thomas does a good job playing a kid nobody would believe. Dabney Coleman plays Davey's father, but it's his role as Davey's imaginary friend Jack Flack that steals most of the show. Everybody else is rather average on their performance. The story itself is rather dark for a kid-oriented film. Very few movies of this kind directly deal with on-screen death. And because of an elderly couple that "befriends" Davey - only to reveal themselves to him as spies, many kids probably developed nightmares about old people. The Cloak & Dagger video game is somewhat misleading, as screenshots are from the arcade unit. An Atari 5200 version was never made due to the great video game crash of 1983. Overall, Cloak & Dagger is an '80s kids film that doesn't age well like The Goonies, but it still holds its own with its plot twists and Davey's interaction with Jack Flack. Makes a great rental for you and the kids to watch. "Jack Flack always escapes." Rating: B+ DVD Extras Saw it on late-night TV, so I haven't seen the DVD release yet to judge on the extras. Reference The Internet Movie Database
