Looking at some of the blog statistics for Go,See,Talk, I’ve noticed that this post has gotten some recent attention. While a Schwarzenegger film is never far from my thoughts (because he’s done so many great ones) I realize that I hadn’t seen this one in a while decided and I needed to revisit it. Thinking back on Total Recall, having first seen it when I was 12, it was the greatest and most outrageous action flick I had ever seen at the time. Having grown up with the likes of Predator, Aliens and other big action films that were full of explosions, fantastic creatures and wild plots, this was the…
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Off the Shelf…’The Game’
Let me just start off by saying that this write-up has been a long time coming. Ever since the post I wrote last year, I have been looking for the chance to evaluate this film again. The Game is one of my very favorite “twist-endings” of all time and a damn fine picture all around. Acting, direction, patented “Fincher” visuals, this movie has it all. So why don’t more people know about it? It’s true if you say “David Fincher” to most film fans, you’ll hear them immediately respond with “Se7en” or Fight Club“…or maybe The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (which I just LOVE). Yet, only a certain number of…
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Off the Shelf…’Carlito’s Way’
I have always been a big fan of Al Pacino. He has a style, a look and an intensity that is all his own. He has been an important part of American Cinema in the last 30 years and played such famous (and near legendary) roles like Michael Corleone, Frank Serpico, Sonny Wortzik, and my personal favorite…a tie between Ricky Roma and Big Boy Caprice. No one will ever be able to replace him and he is just compelling to watch on-screen. I believe that, although his efforts in the last decade have been nowhere the talent he is capable of, Pacino, none-the-less, is one of my all-time favorite actors. …
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Off the Shelf…'The Island'
From the successful multi-blog event headed up by Fandango Groovers, I have found that one of the participants has a similar quasi-fondness for this film. That said, I figured this was the perfect inspiration to take yet another look at the film and re-evaluate it. Now everyone knows that Michael Bay has been accused of over-the-top action and effects. Further, his films are replete with some stupid dialog/sequences and hot actresses but he just keeps making them. But above all, they’re popcorn films and I actually enjoy a handful of them. To me, no other film on his resume screams “over-the-top” than his futuristic flick The Island (yes even more so than Transformers).
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Off the Shelf…'Leon' (The Professional)
Before I begin any of this little praise fest for one of my favorite movies, I’d just like to say that the world needs more Luc Besson films. In my own opinion I think that if George Lucas had been friends with Luc Besson we would have been treated to Star Wars prequel films that were 1). worthy of the name Star Wars and 2). just unbelievably great film making that would inspire young filmmakers for generations. There, that felt good to say. Luc Besson, whether, writing directing or producing just makes some great films bar none. I still can’t decide which is my favorite as it comes down to…
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Off the Netflix Queue…'The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day'
Being a huge fan of the original cult classic, I should have been excited to see the loooong rumored and even longer in-development sequel. Since the fallout of Troy Duffy, as depicted in Overnight (which is somewhat of a smear campaign), it seemed like no one would take a chance on Duffy and without significant funding the sequel would never have happened. But like the little engine that could, Duffy got the sequel that no one thought would see the light of day made. And the outcome? In short it was sooo much better than I was expecting from the dreadful looking trailers. Well I’d say I’m eating my words.
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Off the Netflix Queue…'TRON'
Let’s just get past the fact that I haven’t seen TRON before now. I know, I know, it’s a staple, it’s a classic, it’s a (insert any number of nostalgia driven praises) but I just hadn’t seen it before. So there we are. Now despite seeing some glimpses of it while channel surfing over the years and the references to it in both The Simpsons (sorry couldn’t find the English clip) and The Family Guy (or this one – also in a foreign language) I was none the wiser to “Flynn’s Arcade” and those awesome “light cycles”. Some would say I was missing out, but I had my own movies to keep my…
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Off the Netflix Queue…'The Cove'
Seems like every year a documentary film comes out telling us how messed up the world is and how everything we’re doing is wrong or is going to kill us. Although the subject matter of The Cove is far from preachy, its message is really a shocking call to action. World famous (and later infamous) dolphin trainer Ric O’Barry’s work on the 1964 TV hit “Flipper” inspired future generations of dolphin lovers. However the more in demand dolphins became, the more their capture is considered a cold hard money game. Yet, The Cove’s intent was not to focus solely on the “Dolphin Trade” (which in itself is a problem worthy…
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Off the Shelf…’They Live’
I have always been a big fan of anything John Carpenter. Be it Big Trouble in Little China, The Thing, Escape From New York, hell, even In the Mouth of Madness was umm, interesting but watchable. But in the halls of everything JC (John Carpenter, not Jesus Christ) this is one of his more fun fares and is a definite quirky sci-fi 80’s staple.
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Off the Shelf…’Lucky Number Slevin’
Certain films out there have twist endings that really make your jaw drop. However to be a successful “twist ending” usually the film will be able to perform and amaze on repeat viewings. Lucky Number Slevin isn’t one of them. However it still has quite a lot going for it and a fairly impressive “twist ending” despite being directed by virtually unknown Paul McGuigan and scripted by multiple cancelled show script-writer Jason Smilovic. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30EeGDiI7MA