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News just broke that Zack Snyder has been chosen as director for the new Superman movie (yes, the same one being produced by Christopher Nolan). Zack Snyder as Superman Director on /film Weirdness
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I don't think that this thread already exists, so here we go. (if it does exist, let me know) One simple rule. ROBOTECH is off limits. Just trying to save Azrael some time. You can slag off at a whole franchise, one branch of it or even just one season. So lets slaughter the sacred cows. A few dishonourable mentions first. GALACTICA 1980 - Words can't describe how bad this was. At least we knew that they weren't wasting any money on it. (Cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep) For a good read about how shabby the effort was, check out this wiki. EARTH 2 - One of the worst examples of poor SF from the 90's. The only saving grace was that there were at least a few good ideas in the show. To bad that nobody knew how to bring them to the small screen properly. STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE - Ok, ok, babes must be in catsuits, we get it.... AND THE ABSOLUTE WORST - SEAQUEST DSV A really, really poor effort at an SF series. Seems that the cast hated it about as much as the audiences. I think it was that tacked-on environmentalism crap that really hurt the show, and by the time they tried to drop it it was too late. And they made three seasons of the garbage. OMFG. Taksraven
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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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CG Captain Harlock Trailer -
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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So since we have threads for general discussion of sci-fi, anime, and other genres, I figure why not have a thread for martial arts movies? Come talk about any good asian martial arts movies, from hong kong, japan, korea, thailand, etc. Yesterday, i watched Azumi, a great samurai/assassin kinda movie set in japan in about the 1600's. Really cool sword fights, great choreography, good cinematography, and a super cute assassin girl. I would describe it as a live action anime. I've loved this movie since i first saw it a few years ago and developed a huge crush on Aya Ueto because of it. So, if you can find a copy of it i highly recommend it. For anyone just getting into hong kong action movies, I really have to suggest my favourite kung fu star, Donnie Yen. He's a guy that never gained the recognition in the west that his peer Jet Li has, but I believe that he is as good, if not better, than Jet. He has the skill (just as Jet does) to make the fighting style of each one of his characters different. Watch Flash point to see MMA inspired fight scenes and Ip Man for Wing Chun. He is also one of the best fight choreographers in HK cinema, working on the action scenes in Blade 2, the Princess Blade, and Highlander Endgame. Some good donnie yen movies: Sha Po Lang Ip Man 14 Blades Iron Monkey Flash Point Legend of the Wolf Hero (he has a great fight with Jet Li)
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Another possible movie in the IJ franchise: Harrison Ford Says an Agreement Is in Place for 'Indiana Jones 5' http://insidemovies.moviefone.com/2010/03/...nside-Movies) I wasn't impressed with Indy 4, but here we may go again ...
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(I don't know why the last thread was locked, but I'm sure people here still want to talk about Avatar. Remember to keep the discussion clean and leave any political, racial or inappropriate comments at the front door.) Now, for updates on Avatar: - The film bagged two awards for Best Picture and Best Director for a Drama (James Cameron) at the Golden Globe Awards. - Worldwide ticket sales have topped US$1.6 billion, which means it just needs US$200 million more to overtake Titanic. And, as expected, Cameron will be making at least two sequels. The first sequel will take place shortly after the first. Sam Worthington has signed on to reprise his role as Jake Sully in future sequels. Meanwhile, Stephen Lang had this to say about his character, Col. Miles Quaritch:
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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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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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OK, c'mon. Everybody has a guilty pleasure. Something that you enjoy but you know that if others knew about this pleasure you could very easily be mocked. It might be a TV show, film, a song, a musical artist, a certain type of toy, Emma Watson, whatever. Time fo 'fess up. MY guilty pleasure at the moment is La Roux (which I have previously admitted to, I know.) Strange music with backing instrumentation that sounds like it is coming out of a C64, but I think its great stuff anyway. So c'mon. What do you like that you shouldn't. ONE rule - No mocking or nastiness here. This is just a place to clear one's conscience. Taksraven
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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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Michael Jai White as...
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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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IT'S CONFIRMED !!! THE AKIRA LAM IS DEAD !!! From IGN website : "June 15, 2009 - If you were hoping to see that live-action, big screen version of the anime classic Akira, well, stop hoping. According to Bloody-Disgusting, director Ruairi Robinson has parted ways with the project. The site adds that they have heard the Leonardo DiCaprio-produced remake is "dead as a doornail."" LINK : http://movies.ign.com/articles/994/994717p1.html Robotech is next I tell you guys. And maybe Ghost in the Shell ?
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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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The Tomb Raider film franchise gets a reboot on March 16, 2018. Alicia Vikander (Ava in Ex Machina, Agent Lee in Jason Bourne) has been cast as Lara Croft. Also starring is Walton Goggins (Chris Mannix in The Hateful Eight, Billy Crash in Django Unchained) as the film's villain. Alicia Vikander's Tomb Raider Gets 2018 Release Date
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Since the 30th anniversary of Alien is this year, new video games are being developed and Dark Horse is coming out with new comics, I thought a thread like this would be appropriate. Did anybody check out the Free Comic Book Day Aliens/Predator preview issue? New Aliens and Predator comics; it's like I'm six all over again.
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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
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The Iron Giant Warner Bros. Pictures, 1999 Directed by Brad Bird (The Incredibles, Ratatouille) Executive Producer: Pete Townshend (the guy from The Who that used to destroy his guitars every night...) Based on the novel The Iron Man by the late Ted Hughes (1930-1998) Running Time: 86 minutes Rated PG for sci-fi violence. Cast Eli Marienthal (Stifler's brother in American Pie 1-2) as Hogarth Hughes Vin Diesel (Riddick, Dominic Toretto in The Fast and the Furious) as The Iron Giant Jennifer Aniston (Tory in Leprechaun, Joanna in Office Space) as Annie Hughes Harry Connick, Jr. (Narrator in My Dog Skip, Jimmy in Independence Day) as Dean McCoppin Christopher McDonald (Jor-El in Superman: The Animated Series, Superman in Batman Beyond) as Kent Mansley John Mahoney (Marty in Frasier) as Gen. Rogard Synopsis In 1957, a mysterious object from space crashes on a stormy night off the coast of Maine. The next night, in the small town of Rockwell, a boy named Hogarth discovers the object as a giant robotic being with an appetite for metal and the ability to repair itself. He befriends the robot after saving it when it clumsily traps itself between power lines. Shortly afterward, Hogarth has the Giant stay at a junkyard run by a Beatnik named Dean. At the same time, Hogarth must keep the Giant's existence a secret from Mansley, a nosy government agent sent to investigate strange anomalies in the town. Story: A+ It's such a shame that this film flopped at the box office due to Warner Bros.' inability to properly market it, as this is how an American animated story should be told. The Iron Giant is a classic tale of boy-meets-alien. The Cold War-era works perfectly with the story, as well as the Giant's interaction with its surroundings and its struggle to differentiate good from evil. In addition, outstanding performances are given by the main cast. Yes - even by Vin Diesel, who still has yet to outdo his role as the Giant. Despite the film failing at the box office, director Brad Bird went on to find greater success in 2004 with Disney/Pixar's The Incredibles. Animation: A+ This is how a great American story should be animated. The Iron Giant displays some of the best examples of different forms of animation - old-style rotoscoping (which is much better than the style Don Bluth used to kill his career in Titan A.E.) for the human characters mixed with cel-shaded CGI for the Giant and various military vehicles. Soundtrack: A The film score by the late Michael Kamen (1948-2003) (Metallica's S&M live album, Pink Floyd's The Wall) is not as loud as his other theatrical works, but it works really well and doesn't detract from the storytelling. The Bottom Line Probably the last great American 2D animated theatrical release and undoubtedly one of the best sci-fi stories ever told. DVD Extras: A The Special Edition DVD is loaded with extras such as additional scenes cut from the film (in animated storyboard form, with commentary by director Bird), the full "Duck and Cover" song, numerous behind-the-scenes footage that's accessible in the middle of the film, a motion gallery and some trailers. There's also a mini-documentary featuring Vin Diesel - not that anyone cares, anyway. In addition, the DVD-ROM has some bonuses that may probably crash your computer. Links The Iron Giant Official Site References The Internet Movie Database
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Crying Freeman ( クライングフリーマン ) August Entertainment, 1995 Not available in the U.S. (for reasons unknown) Directed by Christophe Gans (Silent Hill, Onimusha) Based on the manga by Kazuo Koike (Lone Wolf and Cub, Lady Snowblood) and Ryoichi Ikegami (Sanctuary, Mai the Psychic Girl) Running Time: 102 minutes Not Rated (suggested R). Contains graphic violence, nudity, sexual situations and profanity. Cast Mark Dacascos (The Crow: Stairway to Heaven, The Chairman in Iron Chef America) as Yo Hinomura/Crying Freeman Julie Condra (Mark's wife) as Emu O'Hara Byron Mann (Ryu in Street Fighter: The Movie, Detective Sung in Dark Angel) as Koh Tchéky Karyo (Bob in La Femme Nikita, Jean Villeneuve in The Patriot) as Detective Netah Rae Dawn Chong (Squeak in The Color Purple, Claudia in Highlander: The Series) as Detective Forge Masaya Kato as Ryuji Hanada Yoko Shimada (Mariko in Shogun, Mieko in The Hunted) as Lady Hanada Mako (1933-2006) (Kanemitsu in RoboCop 3, Nakano in Highlander III: The Sorcerer) as Shido Shimazaki Synopsis One morning, while painting the landscape on the hills of San Francisco, CA, a Canadian woman named Emu O'Hara witnesses the murder of a Yakuza member at the hands of a man who sheds tears after each kill. He introduces himself to her as "Yo." Because of this, Emu is marked by Chinese Mafia rule as Yo's next victim. When she returns to her hometown of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, members of the Shimazaki clan and an Interpol agent named Netah are on the scene in hopes of using Emu as bait to lure in Mr. Yo - infamously known in the crime world as "Crying Freeman." Yo's mission is further complicated when Emu reveals that she is in love with him. As a result, Yo must now protect Emu from both the Shimazaki Clan and "The Sons of the Dragons" - the Chinese Mafia that brainwashed him and trained him to be the perfect assassin. Lowdown Time and time again, it has been proven that manga and anime titles do not translate well in western cinema - especially during the manga/anime boom of the 1990s. During this time, Crying Freeman generated a cult following here in the U.S.; but in France, both the manga and anime were so popular, the people over there decided to adapt it into a live-action film. And so, with the cooperation of the city of Vancouver, BC, Canada, along with Tohokushinsha and Toei Co. Ltd., the French came up with this movie. And what a disappointment it was. First off, certain key characters had to be westernized to keep up with the limited budget while filming in Vancouver - namely Freeman's lover Emu (played by American actress Julie Condra) and the detective Nitta (now Netah, played by French actor Tchéky Karyo with a slurred American accent). Second, many of the actors delivered sub-par performances. Byron Mann, who already crippled his career in Street Fighter: The Movie, gave a really bland portrayal of Freeman's partner Koh. Julie Condra is really hot, but she just can't act. Veteran Japanese actors Yoko Shimada and Masaya Kato and the late Mako practically wasted their time on this film. As for the storyline, it's a disaster. It destroys everything Freeman is about. In the manga, Freeman is supposed to be an indispensable asset to the 108 Dragons, regardless of his mistakes. The movie, however, shows him as expendable to the Sons of the Dragons. In that case, why all the time spent on tattooing and training him in the first place? Is there at least anything good about this film? Actually, there is. The fight scenes are very well choreographed and filmed, and you get to see the potential of Mark Dacascos' martial arts skills outside Only the Strong and Only the Brave. The highlight is Freeman's final battle with the Hanada clan at his home. So overall, Crying Freeman is a disappointing adaptation, but surprisingly entertaining as a martial arts film. Rating: C- References The Internet Movie Database
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Jumper New Regency Productions/20th Century Fox, 2008 Directed by Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity, Mr. & Mrs. Smith) Based on the novel by Steven Gould Running Time: 90 minutes Rated PG-13 for violence, mature situations and strong language. Cast Hayden Christensen (the man who nearly destroyed Star Wars) as David Rice Rachel Bilson (Summer in The O.C.) as Millie Harris Jamie Bell (Billy Elliot) as Griffin Samuel L. Jackson (the most overused actor today) as Roland Cox Michael Rooker (Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer) as William Rice Diane Lane (Christopher Lambert's ex-wife) as Mary Rice "You think you can go on like this forever? Living like this without consequences? There's always consequences." - Roland Cox Synopsis David Rice is a Jumper - a person with the abilities to teleport anywhere from one side of a room to London, Egypt, or just about anywhere on a travel magazine. After years of using his abilities to rob banks and enjoy the great outdoors, he jumps back to his old hometown of Ann Arbor, MI, to reunite his childhood girlfriend Millie. When they travel to Rome, David finds out he's not alone when he bumps into another Jumper named Griffin. He also finds himself in the middle of a secret war with the Paladins - a group of religious fanatics who have been hunting down Jumpers for centuries. Lowdown Why is it that almost every movie year kicks off with an over-budgeted, overrated box-office stinker? This year, we have Jumper, a movie with absolutely no redeeming value. The concept is good, but like many Hollywood film adaptations, it's poorly executed. The storyline is flat and predictable, and the acting is just unbearably bad. And I haven't even talked about Hayden Christensen, who still can't act his way out of a paper bag after ruining the last two Star Wars films. Both Samuel L. Jackson and Diane Lane wasted their time on this film, as none of the characters were developed enough to peak anyone's interest in this movie. Visual effects were done by New Zealand-based Weta Workshop (The Lord of the Rings trilogy, King Kong), which are good, but wasted on this POS film. As a matter of fact, the only noticeable visual eye candy is Rachel Bilson. In short, don't even bother renting or torrenting Jumper at all. Rating: F DVD Extras: B The 2-disc Special Edition DVD includes a behind-the-scenes featurette, an alternate introduction sequence and an illustrated prequel feature (similar to the not-so-animated Transformers: Beginnings). Disc 2 is a digital copy of the film that you can transfer to your iPod or MP3 player. Links Official Jumper Homepage Reference The Internet Movie Database
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10,000 BC From director Roland Emmerich (Independence Day, Universal Soldier) comes 10,000 BC, an adventure that takes place during the Dawn of Man. The film stars Steven Strait (Caleb in The Covenant) as D'Leh, Camilla Belle (Jill in When a Stranger Calls) as Evolet and legendary actor Omar Sharif (Dr. Zhivago) as Old Baku. 10,000 BC premieres on March 7, and will be released by Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures.
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http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2007/12/18...obbit/ WOOT!!!
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0gj8xuc11w Flight of the Navigator Walt Disney Pictures, 1986 Directed by Randal Kleiser (Grease, Red Riding Hood) Based on a story by Mark H. Baker Running Time: 90 minutes Rated PG for mature situations and strong language. Cast Joey Cramer (Bobby in Runaway) as David Scott Freeman Paul "Pee Wee Herman" Reubens as Trimaxion/Max (voice) Veronica Cartwright as Helen Freeman Cliff De Young as Bill Freeman Sarah Jessica Parker (like anyone here doesn't know who she is...) as Carolyn McAdams Matt Adler as Jeff Freeman (16 years old) Howard Hesseman (Charlie in Head of the Class) as Dr. Faraday Albie Whitaker as Jeff Freeman (8 years old) Synopsis David Scott Freeman is an ordinary 12-year-old boy living in Fort Lauderdale, FL, in 1978. One night, on his way to pick up his younger brother Jeff, he falls into a ravine deep in a forest and is knocked unconscious. When he comes to, he finds out that he is in the year 1986 - eight years after his parents reported him missing. Everything and everyone around him has changed over the years, except for him. Overwhelmed by the events that just happened, David passes out and is taken to a hospital, where doctors perform tests on him to find out where he's been for the past eight years. Meanwhile, NASA officials arrive at a scene where an unidentified flying object just crashed through some power lines. They take the ship to their facilities to examine it. At the same time, while David is undergoing a test, his brainwaves transmit information directly related to the spacecraft. He is promptly taken in by NASA for 48 hours, where they discover that his brain contains alien navigational data and star charts. It doesn't take long before David leaves his room in the facility and makes contact with the ship, where he realizes he is its navigator. Together, David and the ship's pilot - nicknamed "Max" - leave the NASA base and embark on a journey to fulfill Max's mission. "Compliance!" Over the past 30 years, Disney's live-action films haven't usually been the memorable type. Most of them were fun to watch when you were younger, but nowadays, you'd steer clear of them. Some of them are just plain crap, such as Flubber, National Treasure, The Pacifier and the Jackie Chan version of Around the World in 80 Days. (I personally haven't seen The Black Hole, but if you have, and thought it was crap, feel free to tell us about it.) But among the pile of rubbish are some diamonds in the rough. Of course, you have your box office blockbusters such as Pirates of the Caribbean and The Chronicles of Narnia, but there are those rare gems that are unbelievably good. One such product is The Rocketeer, which I believe is still the last great Disney live-action film. And then, of course, there's Flight of the Navigator - a film that came and went at the box office at warp speed, collecting a mere $18 million. Watching this movie is like going back in time. Sure, it reeks of '80s cheesiness and the acting leaves much to be desired. But what makes this movie shine is its innovation in special effects. Universal's 1984 film The Last Starfighter may have been the first to use full-time CG animation, but Navigator was the first to feature environment mapping - over a decade before it was standard on video games. Five years before Terminator 2: Judgment Day came out, Navigator first gave viewers a look at what a moving chrome-colored object would look like on film. Even after 20 years, the flying piece of chrome still looks great. The aerial shots are also breathtaking. Max: "What are you doing?" David: "Can't I have a little privacy?" Max: "Do not know privacy." It's hard to believe that Alan Silvestri (Predator, Back to the Future) composed the score for Navigator, as it's primarily synthesizer music instead of orchestral. And because of this, it does make the film seem outdated. "Navigator, I do not leak. You leak. Remember?" Paul Reubens steals much of the film as the voice of the klutzy pilot Max. He starts out serious at first, but as soon as he scans David's brain, that's when his Pee Wee Herman persona kicks in. Other than that, a young Sarah Jessica Parker also has a bit role in the film. Not that anyone around here cares for her... "Hey, blimpo! Oink Oink! Too many Twinkies!" Overall, Flight of the Navigator is surprisingly enjoyable for a family film. Definitely a great rental at most, as the DVD has no extras at all (unless you really, really like this movie). Rating: B DVD Extras: F What extras? Looks like we're gonna have to wait a lifetime for a proper DVD release. Reference The Internet Movie Database Wikipedia "See you later, Navigator! Ha ha!"
