When filmmakers tell a story, the visual fantasy is only about as good as the auditory one. It seems the only way to move the story and the characters along with an engaging pace is to really take the audience along for the ride. Annnd how is that accomplished? By composing a score so amazing and moving but at the same time fun and catchy that it is has the ability to make you feel part of the film. But which of these really pulls that off?? Is it the return to Neverland, the long strides for the short legged Willow, the arduous travel from The Shire to Mount Doom, or the seemingly simple task…
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Off the Netflix Queue…’Taking Chance’
Now I just want to start off by saying this is going to be a little different from our traditional Off the Shelf write-ups. This movie was suggested to me by our good friend Castor after my write-up of The Messenger. Though before I start the write up, let me just say that this movie is very eye-opening. It’s a true story and has a way of making you feel more deeply about the war and our brave soldiers fighting for the freedoms we very nearly seem to take for granted. While not a single scene of the war is shown, it sufficiently pulled at my heartstrings. I believe it…
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G-S-T Quick 5 – Favorite Sylvester Stallone Roles
While I originally had this post in place to allow his latest film to take a spot here, sadly that’s not the case. While it wasn’t terrible, it wasn’t good either (check out my review here). So current blockbuster not withstanding, this is the list of Sly’s best roles. Some you know, some you might remember seeing and some just might have you saying “I thought I repressed that“. Anyway, I just love the guy and am willing to forgive a bad film knowing he’ll make up for it with the next one. Since he has just over 50 films on his resume, this is a look at the five…
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Sneak Peek…'The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo' Remake
Since the rampant success of the original adaptation of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, Hollywood got pretty eager to see how it would fare with a statside remake. Snagging big league talent like Daniel Craig, Stellan Skarsgård and director David Fincher, one last hurdle was the casting for Lisbeth Salander. While recently we found who would play the titular character, 25 year old Rooney Mara, here is a first look at what she’d look like… From Yahoo! Movies, we get these paltry photos… Not as intimidating as Noomi Rapace (especially with the second one looking like she got knocked off a tricycle) but I bet they cast her for a…
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Sweet Trailer…’Going the Distance’
Kind of funny that I would post the trailer for something that has just come out in theaters but this movie seems to be growing on me. The always likable everyman Justin Long and Drew Barrymore (hot off her directorial debut of the charming roller-derby film Whip It) star in this delightful looking romantic comedy. At first I cast this off as yet another avoidable Rom-Com but as the wife is into that kind of stuff I took a second look at the trailer and think this could be cute fun. Have a look for yourselves… In case that trailer didn’t tell you everything you needed to know, here’s a the full breakdown from the…
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The Hollywood Fantasy Draft – "Once Upon A Time in Z-West"
For any of you familiar with Fantasy Baseball/Football, Castor and Red over at Anomalous Material have come up with the Fantasy Hollywood Draft. In the past weeks there have been some awesome picks and some really intriguing casts. That said, it has come time to put the thespians I’ve chosen to work and below you’ll find the details of the script I’ve been concocting. Is is fun and brainless? Is it just terrible hog-wash? Is it Oscar-worthy? Or is this something you’d watch if it was on TV? Have a look and please let me know…good or bad. Like they always say, “No one sets out to make a bad movie“. If it does have…
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FourScore Match-Up #4: "Somewhere in Time"
Today we’re going back, way back. Back in time in fact, but no we’re not using a time machine; today we’re doing period pieces. Each of these is from a different time, a different place, have wildly different plots…but the one thing they share is that they are visually gorgeous and their scores are just fantastic. But with four standout and stellar scores, only one of these makes the trip worth the effort. But which one is it?? Find out after the jump…
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Sweet Podcast…The Matineecast (w/ G-S-T and The Mad Hatter)
Last weekend I had an awesome time shooting the cellophane breeze with one of the coolest bloggers around. And “who might that be?” you’d ask. Well if the banner above doesn’t ring any bells, I’ll tell you. I recorded a episode of The Matineecast with The Mad Hatter, owner/operator of The Dark of the Matinee. Definitly the kind of guy you’d want to have a beer with and the man who just so happens to be the 2010 Lammy Award Winner for “Best Podcast”. That said I felt very proud to be on his show. We went over everything from Citizen Kane to Star Trek II and of course our topic de jour…
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Sweet Trailer…'The Walking Dead'
Not many TV shows get my attention but this is one I really really want to see. AMC has been developing the adaptation of The Walking Dead comic series and the pilot episode has been helmed by Oscar Winner Frank Darabont (Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile). “What’s it with all the Zombies these days?” you might ask. Well, much like the demeanor of the walking dead themselves, Zombies never really went away (like Vampires did) and this looks to have WIN all over it. So if you haven’t seen this trailer for the new show (or weren’t at Comic-Con this year), sit back and enjoy… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yg46DWI_fCE For those of you…
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G-S-T Review…The Disappearance of Alice Creed
Kidnapping movies have more or less the same outcome; the kidnappers get what they want or they don’t. It’s one of the most basic sub-genre of movies which, at the same time, makes it tough to be original. That said Alice Creed does give us a ransom film that’s not entirely predictable. High points for the film abound but one thing to take close note of is writer/director J Blakeson has fully proven that the “less is more” formula still does and will always work. The Disappearance of Alice Creed is like a perfect, no nonsense “how to kidnap someone” movie…only thing they don’t tell us is how to get guts…
