Link's Popcorn Picks

"Hi, I'm Autumn"

2010-01-24T21:55:00.000-08:00

-I'm ending this blog, however I'll continue to post on the other blogs. I created this one for two reasons. My growing love of movies and analyzing them at the time and my anticipation for one of my favorite movies, The Dark Knight. I began writing reviews of the films I saw early 2008 when I saw Sweeney Todd. I wrote them on my myspace page, then my sister suggest I move to a real blog.
-Summer 2008 was a lot of fun. Me and my dad must have seen a new movie every week. That was a good year for summer movies...Indiana Jones, Speed Racer, Chronicles of Narnia, Hellboy, Iron Man, The Hulk, and of course, The Dark Knight. I saw a lot of great movies that year before I got sick again. This is what I believe that blog to be about. The goods times of 2008. It was a truly amazing year, both good and bad. We have different periods and phases. Right now I look back at this time in my life with a lot of admiration. But it's only a phase. We can't always live in the past. We have to look at what we once loved so much and kiss it goodbye. Its time to move on and create new memories. Summer is over.

"So, what if I'd gone to the movies? What if I had gone somewhere else for lunch? What if I'd gotten there 10 minutes later? It was - it was meant to be. And... I just kept thinking... Tom was right."-Summer, 500 Days of Summer

Movies to Look forward To...

2009-07-05T14:50:00.000-07:00

Here's a list of movies that should be good or at least somewhat interesting.

Kick-Ass-Kick-Ass is basically a world very much like our own where super-heroes don't exist until comic book geek Dave Lizewski gives it a try. What I think: I think this is a very fresh idea considering that comic books are a fad in the film industry right now. I've read some of the comics this is based on and they're great. If done right, this could be a winner.

Sherlock Holmes-I like the idea of Downey being cast as Holmes. Although from looking at the trailer it doesn't seem to hold true to any of the original Sherlock Holmes stories. It could be good, but I could see it going wrong.

Inception-The Director of "The Dark Knight" gets a $200 million dollar budget to direct "a psychological sci-fi thriller of the mind". Starring Leonardo Dicaprio. I trust this director and even though I have no idea what this is about I'm looking forward to it.

That's about it for now. If you have any suggestions then I'll add them on this list and give my commentary.

Depp's New Mopp

2009-06-28T17:59:00.000-07:00

And I thought Depp looked weird as Willy Wonka. That was nothing! Check out Depp's new dreads as the Mad Hatter in Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland".

Chris Nolan's "Inception" Budget

2009-06-24T15:09:00.000-07:00

Anyone hear about this recently? "The Dark Knight" film director was given a $200 million dollar budget to direct his new sci-fi psychological thriller starring Leonardo Dicaprio.

Wow, that's a lot of cash. He was given $180 million smackers to make "The Dark Knight". This is gonna be a big one.

Link's Popcorn Picks: The Day the Earth Stood Still

2009-04-26T12:29:00.000-07:00

-The new remake of "The Day the Earth Stood" was pretty pointless to make considering the original was much better and is actually a very good film in the first place. That hasn't kept Hollywood from remaking War of the Worlds, King Kong, and Journey to the Center of the Earth. Regardless of the point that this has been remade doesn't mean I regretted watching it. I was curious what the film was going to be like, as we all are when watching remakes.
-In this version, the galactic federation of planets has come to tell the world that human beings are destroying the world. Klaatu played by Keanu Reeves represents the federation. When he steps out of his ship, a nervous soldier shoots and the injured Klaatu is moved to a medical facility. Klaatu eventually escapes the facility with the help of Dr. Helen Bensen. Will Klaatu go forth with his plan to rid the world of humans to save the Earth or will he give them a second chance?
-While watching, I never really cared about any of the characters that much. Klaatu is creepy, the kid is a jerk, and Dr. Helen Bensen, while honest is kinda boring. So, the question is "If I don't care about any of these characters, do I care what happens at all?" The answer would be no. There should be one lead that has a charming or interesting personality that we care about enough. He or She needs to be the hero or the person that convinces Klaatu. In this film the heroism seems to be split between Dr. Helen Bensen and Klaatu.
-The special effects aren't much to gander at either. The giant orbs that take the place of spaceships aren't that interesting. The giant robot(whose name is Gort)that protects Klaatu looks too much like CGI. It is of course CGI, but it shouldn't look like CGI. It all looks rather cheesy to be honest.
-There is a scene in the film when Klaatu is talking to another alien that has lived there all his life to study Earth. Since the world will be soon rid of people, Klaatu is talking about preparing for departure soon. The alien replies "no I will not go. These people-they are violent, but there is another side. This has become my home and I love them." Or something like that. Its almost like Klaatu doesn't understand love and as the story progresses he becomes to know what the other alien was talking about. I think this was one of the only interesting things in this movie.
-"The Day the Earth Stood Still" fails from lack of a lead hero character that the audiences can actually care about. It's preaching and unimpressive effects don't help either. Don't rush out to the movie rentals, but I wouldn't regret watching it once. C+

New Reviews Coming Soon

2009-04-22T00:33:00.000-07:00

Hi guys, I know I haven't been around a lot lately, but I'm trying my best to bring you movie news and in time I will be reviewing The Spirit, Marley and Me, Doubt and maybe some others.

Link's Popcorn Picks: James Bond-Quantum of Solace

2009-04-10T22:13:00.000-07:00

I have not been able to go to the theaters for films, so I'm going to have to review them when they come to DVD.

-"James Bond-Quantum of Solace" takes place right after "Casino Royale". Seriously, were talking minutes after the first movie. Anyways, a large organization around the world altars the economy and raises chaos to take over countries. Mr. Greene is our main Bond villain, and he buys a large percentage of water in the countries he tries to take over. He then creates drought, then jacks up the price of water. He's meaner then than that though. Throughout the film Bond keeps killing all the leads out of revenge for his last girlfriend. Can Bond control himself or will he be lost in revenge?

-I've read other reviews saying that Daniel Craig's performance is ruined by that fact that Bond's character is in a constant rage of fury. I disagree. Bond can be pissy at times, but for the most part he's seems calm to me. This is also a good time to say I think that Craig's portrayal of Bond is once again fantastic. He's very collective, suave, and shows just enough emotion when he feels hurt. I hope that Craig comes back for the third because he may be the best Bond since Connery.

-Sorry for the short post. Lastly, people will enjoy many of the action sequences, especially my favorite part, the car chase in the beginning of the film.

A-

Unfinished Wolverine Film Leaked Online

2009-04-02T23:58:00.000-07:00

Just what the title says folks. I would think that the leaked version has all the footage, but perhaps some editing is missing and it might not even have the score attached. If you look around hard enough you could tell me more
(I don't suggest this). The real thing that sucks about the whole thing is that early reaction to the film says the movie sucks. Crap. I was looking forward to this.

April Fools for Batman 3? I Hope So

2009-04-01T19:25:00.000-07:00

Check out this...

Warner Brothers’ Batman franchise will take a third bow in the summer of 2012.

“Shadow of the Bat,” the sequel to 2008’s “The Dark Knight,” will introduce quiz-master villain the Riddler to audiences for a third time after the character appeared in the 1960s television series and 1995’s “Batman Forever.” Funny man Jim Carrey has been tapped to reprise the role in “Shadow,” while helmers Joel Schumacher and Tim Burton, the filmmakers behind the Caped Crusader’s first theatrical franchise, have been brought on as consultants to the production, which director Christopher Nolan says will be his final take on Gotham City.

“I felt it novel to tie this third and final chapter to the character’s roots on the screen,” Nolan said. “Tim and Joel had two completely different visions of the Batman, visions that contrast vastly with my own. But I don’t feel that negates the possibility of a creative convergence. Batman is more than the ideas of one person, of one team of artists. He is the result of seven decades of pop culture influence and innovation.”

This stuff is crazy. I pray this is an April Fools joke.

UPDATE-Thankfully this was indeed an April Fools joke. Haha...very funny. Personally I thought it was, but can never be too careful.

The Joker at the Oscars

2009-02-28T23:59:00.000-08:00

"You have nothing, nothing to threaten me with. Nothing to do with all your strength."

-This year at the Oscars Heath Ledger was recognized as Best Supporting Actor for his fantastic portrayal as The Joker. When an actor gets recognized the character also gets recognized. It freaks me out that The Joker was recognized at the Oscars. Heath's performance was amazing, incredibly deep, and layered.
-The terrifying part about the Joker is that he doesn't want anything. What he truly wants is to prove that everybody else is just as corrupt as he is. He's even willing to go to the level of self destruction to do so. The scars on himself also imply that he was once normal, but now he's kinda taking it out on people. If you noticed the the quote at the top and if you've seen the film, it makes sense. Like I said, he's willing to go to the level of of self destruction.
-Anyways, The Joker is a complex character brought to life by Heath Ledger.

-Thanks Heath

The Dark Knight and the Oscar Nominations

2009-01-28T12:35:00.000-08:00

-I have to say that I'm extremely dissappointed with the Academy this year. The Dark Knight didn't get a single nom for screenplay, direction, or picture. Thankfully it did get nominated 7 times for technical effort and 1 other time for Heath's performance as The Joker(which is the most important thing)for a total nof 8 noms. The academy has their opinion, but I felt many of the members were still afraid of the idea of a "comic book" movie. In such a refreshing time of change I thought the academy would go for it, but they didn't. I just wanted people to be able to recognize The Dark Knight as a film that could be taken seriously for its ideas and characters.

Speed Reviews: Fred Claus and Hancock

2008-12-25T17:35:00.000-08:00

I haven't seen any of the movies that have been released on DVD for awhile. So what I'll be reviewing are month old DVDs.

Fred Claus-This "Elfish" like film feels kinda mashed together at times and isn't sure what it wants to be outside of what it already is, which is a light drama/comedy. I have to say though, that I like Vince Vaugn and Paul Giamatti in their roles. Gimatti creates a Santa outside of the box who is nice yet mean and borderline creepy.
Vaughn is his usual self as Santa's older brother. He's generally good, but nothing new or groundbreaking. Regardless of my critiques, "Fred Claus" is a light and fun holiday treat. C+

HanCock-The more I learned about this film, the more excited I got. What a disappointment. The first half of the movie happens to be pretty good. As soon a the first half ends, the movie turns around completely. The second half begins with a muddily explained twist that the film cannot hold. Smith and Batemen do good, but the 2nd half is so terrible it really doesn't matter. Don't bother with this one. That or turn in off after the first 70 minutes or so. D

Will The Joker Win?

2008-12-07T22:57:00.000-08:00

I think he will, and TDK will take a few too...
Anyways, just enjoy this fan-made Oscar's poster.

Hello Friends...

2008-12-03T23:37:00.000-08:00

...if you are a regular blogger who checks out my blog every once in a while, feel free to comment. This is a community to share ideas, views, opinion, and the occasional hello. This way I'll be able to see your blog and pop my head in to see what you're doing every once in a while. Thanks...

Link

Dark Campaign

2008-12-03T19:27:00.000-08:00

Please check site this out! Help spread the word about this site! Post it on your own blogs to keep the word spreading! Okay...I'll settle down now. Just check this link out...http://www.darkcampaign.com/

Anyways, this site is helping to promote "The Dark Knight" for "Best Picture". Just because this is a summer blockbuster superhero movie doesn't mean it can't be artful or a great film. Here's to hoping TDK for as many Oscars as possible!

Link

Suck It!

2008-11-11T17:07:00.000-08:00

Suck my ectoplasmic Schwanzstücke!-Johann Krauss

Shattered Reality

2008-11-10T17:01:00.000-08:00

Well, I've wrestled with reality for 35 years, Doctor, and I'm happy to state I finally won out over it.-Jimmy Stewart

2008-11-10T16:55:00.000-08:00

The Dark Knight

2008-11-09T23:57:00.000-08:00

"You'll hunt me. You'll condemn me, you'll set the dogs on me. But that's what needs to happen. Sometimes, truth isn't good enough, sometimes people deserve more. Sometimes people deserve to have their faith rewarded."-Batman

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Extras

2008-11-08T23:35:00.000-08:00

-With all the action/adventure, sci-fi, and superhero films coming to theaters there's a great need for special effects. Stunts and technical effects are done live on set, then whats left are the sound effects and CGI.
-When we watch a film I think we tend to think a lot more things are CGI than they actually are. Me and my dad were watching the "making of" the new Indiana Jones and were shocked at how many stunts and effects were performed live.
-This leaves me to believe that we don't give enough credit to Hollywood for live effects these days.

I would post a video, but I couldn't find one. You're going to have to buy the 2 disker of the film to check it out.

Movies I Have a Problem With: Titanic

2008-11-07T23:44:00.000-08:00

I'm not saying that Titanic is a bad film by any means, but 11 Oscars? Come on.

-The performances are all solid and the story is good, but the screenplay can be incredibly cheesy sometimes(even for a chick flick).
-The dialogue can also be unrealistic, that also kind of fits in with the cheesiness.
-At the end of the film, our main character dies and goes to a heaven-like place that resembles the inside of the Titanic. The rest of the original Titanic guests are there waiting for her. What an awful ending. Didn't anyone in the academy think of this before voting best picture?

Link

Speed Reviews: The Incredible Hulk

2008-11-06T19:59:00.000-08:00

-As far as I'm concerned "The Incredible Hulk" is almost two movies in one, or at least it feels like it. One scene Ed Norton will be running from the government(that's the 1st movie), then The Hulk will appear in all his CGI glory(and that would be the 2nd movie). Most of the movie feels like your average government conspiracy film, while the rest of it feels like a sci-fi/superhero flick. It almost clashes, and it kind of does, but the movie still works well.
-The acting should also be noted. Ed Norton is a perfect and mopey Bruce Banner and his romance with Betty Ross, played by Liv Tyler, feels real. A rarity in movies. B+

Its Time For a Change

2008-11-05T22:02:00.000-08:00

You listen to me. You say you don't want to tell me how to live my life. So what do you think you've been doing? You tell me what rights I've got or haven't got, and what I owe to you for what you've done for me. Let me tell you something. I owe you nothing! If you carried that bag a million miles, you did what you're supposed to do! Because you brought me into this world. And from that day you owed me everything you could ever do for me like I will owe my son if I ever have another. But you don't own me! You can't tell me when or where I'm out of line, or try to get me to live my life according to your rules. You don't even know what I am, Dad, you don't know who I am. You don't know how I feel, what I think. And if I tried to explain it the rest of your life you will never understand. You are 30 years older than I am. You and your whole lousy generation believes the way it was for you is the way it's got to be. And not until your whole generation has lain down and died will the dead weight of you be off our backs! You understand, you've got to get off my back! Dad... Dad, you're my father. I'm your son. I love you. I always have and I always will. But you think of yourself as a colored man. I think of myself as a man. Now, I've got a decision to make, hm? And I've got to make it alone, and I gotta make it in a hurry. So would you go out there and see after my mother?-Dr. John Prentice

Let Your Voice Be Heard Today

2008-11-04T17:51:00.000-08:00

I guess this is just another lost cause, Mr. Paine. All you people don't know about lost causes. Mr. Paine does. He said once they were the only causes worth fighting for. And he fought for them once, for the only reason any man ever fights for them. Because of just one plain, simple rule: "Love thy neighbor."

And in this world today full of hatred, a man who knows that one rule has a great trust. You know that rule, Mr. Paine. And I loved you for it -- just as my father did. And you know that you fight for the lost causes harder than for any others. Yes, you even die for them -- like a man we both knew, Mr. Paine.

You think I'm licked. You all think I'm licked! Well, I'm not licked. And I'm going to stay right here and fight for this lost cause, even if this room gets filled with lies like these; and the Taylors and all their armies come marching into this place. Somebody will listen to me. -Mr. Smith

Movies I Have a Problem With: Batman (1989)

2008-11-03T18:14:00.000-08:00

"Batman" has a few problems that don't quite sit right with me.

-The lead is supposed to be Batman/Bruce Wayne, but it somehow manages to focus on The Joker more than it does Batman. The movie is more about the Joker and it shouldn't be.
-The people of Gotham are all jerks. It makes the film feel cold and it begs the question "Why would Batman protect these people?"
-Jack's performance of the Joker was "okay", but I don't think he took it seriously enough and it was just him playing a crazy version of himself.
-Spoiler. At the end of the movie, The Joker is killed at the hands of Batman. One of the things with Batman is that he won't kill. Its part of who he is. The fact that Batman let himself get revenge by killing the Joker is so out of character it makes me feel like the film makers never even opened a comic-book.

Link

Blogging Month!

2008-11-03T16:56:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends and fellow bloggers. We all know its National Blog Posting Month, so I'm going to try my best to do a blog a day. As you can see, I'm already a few days late, so I'm going to try and make up those blogs today. I'll mostly be doing "speed reviews" and "news", because I don't have the time and energy to do full size reviews. Wish me luck!

Link

Speed Reviews: Speed Racer

2008-09-17T12:27:00.000-07:00

This week the only DVD that I can recommend is Speed Racer

Speed Racer-This movie got a bad rap for no good reason. It's not perfect, but it shows a lot of merit. While some didn't like the Mario Kart esque effects, I thought they were appropriate for a movie based on an old goofy cartoon. The film also has some fine casting choices. B+

Speed Reviews: Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

2008-08-19T12:59:00.000-07:00

Only one DVD released this week that I've actually seen.

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day-Is a nice little tale during pre WorldWar2 in Britain. It focuses on poverty stricken Miss Pettigrew whose life is changed, being hired by Amy Adams. Its a pretty funny movie with some good acting all around. This film somehow manages to make sexual innuendos not sleazy but kind of charming. B+

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince Delay

2008-08-18T11:48:00.000-07:00

Lied.

This is old news as of a couple of days ago, but yes. The film is being delayed until summer 09. Warner Bros. has no movies to release but Watchmen for next summer, so the film is being delayed. Life sucks.

Link.

Technical Difficulties

2008-08-17T17:03:00.001-07:00

Right now life is a little busy. So my(already late)reviews on "Hellboy 2; The Golden Army", "Get Smart", and "Mummy; Tomb of The Dragon Emperor" will be very late. Future Reviews will probably take a while to take care of as well.

Thanks. Link.

Link's Popcorn Picks: Mummy-Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

2008-08-05T01:22:00.000-07:00

Terrible!

This review will be up when I can.

Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince Trailer

2008-07-29T17:46:00.000-07:00

Can be found here...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pa8N4wOPHrQ

Enjoy.

Speed Reviews: 21

2008-07-22T09:52:00.000-07:00

Or should I say speed "review". Anyways, only one theatrical release this week.

21-This movie is actually enjoyable. To be honest when I saw the trailers I thought it looked really boring. Its actually kinda fun, Kevin Spacey is good and the rest of the cast is pretty decent. The card counting is interesting to watch as well. It ain't great, but its still good entertainment. B

Thats it for now. Anything else good out?

At the Movies with Ebert and Roeper No More...

2008-07-21T16:44:00.001-07:00

After 33 years on the air, 23 of them with Disney, the studio has decided to take the program named "Siskel & Ebert" and then "Ebert & Roeper" in a new direction. I will no longer be associated with it.

A June 23, 2005 file photo shows Chicago Sun-Times columnist Richard Roeper, left, and film critic Roger Ebert posing for photographers following a ceremony in which Ebert was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles.

The show was a wonderful experience. It was a great loss to me when surgery in July 2006 made it impossible for me to appear on the air any longer. Although I remained active behind the scenes, I feel that Richard Roeper and several co-hosts, notably Michael Phillips and A.O. Scott, have excelled at carrying on the tradition Gene Siskel and I began in 1975 with "Sneak Previews" on PBS.

Gene and I felt the formula was simplicity itself: Two film critics, sitting across the aisle from each other in a movie balcony, debating the new films of the week. We developed an entirely new concept for TV. Few shows have been on the air so long and remained so popular. We made television history, and established the trademarked catch-phrase "Two thumbs up."

The trademark still belongs to me and Marlene Iglitzen, Gene's widow, and the thumbs will return. We are discussing possibilities, and plan to continue the show's tradition.

-- Roger Ebert

Movies to Look Forward to-Summer 2009

2008-07-18T21:53:00.000-07:00

Well, The Dark Knight was awesome, but now its over, so I need something else to look forward to. Heres just a few for summer 2009

Watchmen-Written by Alan Moore and considered one of the best graphic novels of all time. Will it live up to the hype? I sure hope so. It might be a long shot, but if its good, it should be a hit.

Terminator Salvation-With Christian Bale as the lead and a Cloverfield-esque trailer, it looks pretty sweet. I'm not sure if I'm totally on board, but I'm interested.

Wolverine; Origins-Spinoff and prequel to the X-Men series. Hugh Jackman is back, so thats good. I'm not super excited about this, but it should be at least a decent summer flick.

Transformers; Revenge of the Fallen-Looks promising. The first one was awesome. Rainn Wilson joins the cast on this one.

Thats all so far. Not much. Maybe a few more will pop over the course of Comic-Con.

Link's Popcorn Picks: The Dark Knight

2008-07-17T02:07:00.000-07:00

(Warning! Lots of Spoilers! Only read if you've seen the film!)

-Batman has leaped straight out of the comic book pages and into the real world. To compare "The Dark Knight" to say the "Spider-Man" franchise for example, is almost a joke. The reboot "Batman Begins" established Batman in the real world, and now the sequel takes that an entire step forward. "The Dark Knight" is more than just a great comic book movie, its a masterpiece.
-It's been a little over a day since I've seen "The Dark Knight". It really lingers in the mind after a while, even if you're not a big fan of Batman you will be of this future classic crime drama. As I've pondered over the film more and more, I've come to understand it's many complexities.
-Since the first film, the mob is getting more and more desperate to launder their cash. Why? Because Batman has been cleaning up the streets and cops and lawyers can no longer be bought. The Joker is employed by the mob to take down the Batman and bring corruption back to Gotham. Until Batman turns himself in, The Joker will continue to kill people. Is Batman a hero? Or just a vigilante looking for self righteousness?
-While re watching "The Prestige" the other day, knowing the twist ending, it was beautiful to see how well crafted it was. How much little things that may seem like padding are actually hints that apply to the symbolism of the entire film. The same goes for "The Dark Knight". Not only is it a good picture that stays true to the characters and stories of Batman, like "Batman Begins" did, but its really an artful film. Thats a lot to say for a movie based off of a comic book.
-As the credits started to roll I wondered what the plot twist was. I thought to myself "There must not be one in this film", little did I know how subtle it was. Upon further pondering I figured it out. Bale replies to Caine in one scene "Batman has no limits". That statement is both true and false. The Joker tempts Batman to "break his one rule".
-Another part of the film that has deep meaning is The Joker. We know from the film that The Joker was somehow abused in the past. So he has lost all faith in people. There is evil in everyone. Two sides one "coin". The Joker strives to create dramatic examples. By corrupting Batman, their White Knight, and themselves. "When it comes down to it, every man for himself, every person is evil" is his basic logic. The Joker acknowledges that he is morally wrong, but wants to prove it to Batman and everyone else in Gotham that they are not much different from himself (Thats a little Killing Joke for you).
-The films puts you into a an exciting roller coaster, and a rather abrupt, yet beautiful ending that will leave you stunned. The story is intelligent and action-packed, it is wonderfully well acted to create great characters, and it really speaks to you.
-Batman breaks the law for justice, the city who he protects hates him, and yet he still fights injustice for the right reasons. To keep an eight year old's parents from dying. He will only stop when the evil that created Batman is gone. Thats what a hero is. A+

"He's the hero that Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now. So we'll hunt him, because he can take it. Because he's not a hero. He's a silent guardian...A watchful protector...The Dark Knight."

Link's Popcorn Picks: Hellboy 2-The Golden Army

2008-07-14T01:31:00.001-07:00

One of my very favorites if not my current favorite movie this summer so far.

This review will be up when I can.

Link's Popcorn Picks: Batman Gotham Knight

2008-07-11T23:04:00.000-07:00

-Okay, so DC has released there 3rd movie in their line of DC animated movies. None have been "great" per se, but they're pretty decent. I have to say though, as far as "Gotham Knight" goes, I'm pretty disappointed.
-The film uses six interlocking stories that take place between "Batman Begins" and "The Dark Knight". Various anime styles and writers are were involved with each piece.
-The main problem with this film to me personally is that it doesn't have enough heart. Its just too gruesome and too violent. I know I know, its Batman right?! It should have those things, but it has them to an excess. Although there are a few moments at the end of the piece which has a little heart, which made for a good end. Another problem are that the film's shorts only last for about 12 minutes as well, so that by the end of the movie you don't quite feel that the movie actually pays off. Not to mention the film doesn't feel that its in continuity with "Batman Begins" and "The Dark Knight".
-One of the good things that definitely helped the film is that they were fortunate enough to have Kevin Conroy around to make the voice of our Dark Knight sound familiar. Otherwise an unknown probably would have been awkward and cold sounding. Conroy's Batman is to me the definitive Batman.

"Have I Got a Story for You"-Some pretty nice animation, although the story seriously lacks and some of the designs are too funky for me.

"Crossfire"-Some cool looking styles in here, the story is interesting, but still lacks.

"Field Test"-Not in love with the style, but Batman is not a total psycho, which is good. Some good ol Batman morals in there as well, which is also good.

"In Darkness Dwells"-Ties in the most with "Batman Begins" and "The Dark Knight". Stylistically speaking looks the most like "Batman Begins" and "The Dark Knight" as well. Really cool story, really cool visuals as well.

"Working Through Pain"-Good love interest. I'm not in love with the style, but its okay. Decent short.

"Deadshot"-One of the best if not the best. Really cool looking, nice animation, and solid writing. Explores why Bruce hates guns. Really nice Batman background.

-Overall, its kind of a mixed bag, but its still okay. For the most part some pretty impressive visuals with "decent" writing. B-

Joseph Barbera

2008-07-11T01:04:00.000-07:00

I learned long ago to accept the fact that not everything I create will see the light of day.-Joseph Barbera

Speed Reviews: Batman Week! Featuring "Batman; Gotham Knight", "Batman Begins", and "The Batman 5th Season"

2008-07-10T22:44:00.000-07:00

Yes friends, what a week! A lot of Batman goodies in preparation for "The Dark Knight".

Batman; Gotham Knight-Some really nice animation, and some fairly cool storytelling. The problem is that the movie needs more heart. Will get more into on my full review. B-

Batman Begins Special Collector's Edition-What a terrific film. Finally a version of Batman thats great on film. Very true to the comics, but they're also in OUR world. A+

The Batman 5th Season-Solid season featuring the Justice League and other heroes. Not the best season, but a solid one none-the-less. B

Speed Reveiws: Batman; The Movie

2008-07-03T01:39:00.000-07:00

Sorry I didn't get to this on Tuesday, not any "new" releases per say. However there is a release that I will recommend. The only one up this week...

-Batman;The Movie-Its a movie based from the 1966 tv show. Nuff said. If you liked the show like yours truly then go ahead and buy it. If you don't then there is no point. I recommend it. My grade...ehhh...lets give it a solid B

Countdown to The Dark Knight-Batman Goes Viral

2008-06-30T23:52:00.000-07:00

-As the movie biz has moved forward and evolved, so has its marketing. In a world with Tivo and a world that involves the computer more than say ten years ago, viral marketing has begun to push films. The Dark Knight is one of the very first films to use this type of marketing, but others such as Cloverfield and Hellboy 2 are also using this form of commercialism to create massive hype.
-The Dark Knight is now predicted to rake in more than Iron Man. Thats pretty freaking good. Why? You might ask. Well I think there are a few factors. 1)Batman Begins was a fresh reboot that redeemed everything that Batman and Robin and Batman Forever did wrong. People liked Batman again. 2) Heath Ledger's performance as The Joker. This will be one of Ledger's last performances in a film and people won't want to miss it, not to mention his portrayal of The Joker looks amazing. 3)The third and final reason for the predicted box office is the viral marketing. One of the most elaborate forms of marketing yet! Joker dollar bills, scavenger hunts, online games, riddles...the list goes on. They really went out of their way on this one. They marketers really made you feel all the current events of Batman universe, which makes the wait all the more worthwhile...

Countdown to The Dark Knight-Riddle Me This. Who is Mike Engel?

2008-06-28T12:51:00.000-07:00

(Possible Spoilers, I really don't know)

-Upon the release The Dark Knight, everyone is asking themselves the same question. "Who is Anthony Michael Hall(The Dead Zone)playing?" If you go to imdb you'll notice that the character he is playing is a reporter named Mike Engel. Apparently the character is supposed to be a classic Batman character. But who could he be? Many fans (including myself) speculate that he will be playing The Riddler. That would be so cool, and it seems that is the only character he could be. Even if he doesn't play The Riddler, I could still see him playing a good Riddler. I guess we'll just have to wait until July 18th.

Countdown to The Dark Knight-The Joker

2008-06-25T21:05:00.000-07:00

From this moment on we are only twenty two days away from "The Dark Knight". To think that this countdown has lasted for almost two years for me personally is amazing. After this film it'll be hard to find something else to look forward to. Anyways every once in a while I'll be writing about something involving "The Dark Knight" until the release of the film.

-I'm going to start this countdown the same way that The Dark Knight hype started. Lets talk about one of the main parts of The Dark Knight. The Joker. Heath Ledger in particular. When the word was first released that Heath Ledger would be The Joker everyone thought "Ugghh! What terrible casting!". But did yours truly ever think the same thing as The Batman Community? Sadly, yes. Now that we've seen Heath in several trailers and photos I can say that he will probably get an Oscar. Do I want this to happen? Of course I do. To be honest though, I am a biased fan boy. As a movie critic I believe from what I have seen that it deserves a nomination, but not a win just yet. I also believe that a win from a role of a "comic book" character could open doors to more comic book movies getting recognized. Not to mention this is pretty much Heath Ledger's last chance at an Oscar.
-So a little more than a year ago Warner Bros. released the first picture of the Clown Prince of Crime (shown above). Whether people liked it or not was a mixed bag, but it brought up a lot of debate. For many this is when the "real" countdown began. From this point the viral campaigning started and hype caught fire. "Heath looks too emo-gothic", "He doesn't look like The Joker!", but for me and many true Batman fans it was "Wow, thats what the Joker would look like". Its not like "Oh yeah, that Jack Nicholson doing the Joker character", its "Wow, Heath Ledger IS The Joker."

Why so serious?

Link's Popcorn Picks: Get Smart

2008-06-22T14:44:00.000-07:00

Shoe Phone! Haha... Anyways I'm feeling lazy right now.

This review will be up when I can.

Speed Reviews: Be Kind Rewind and The Sword in the Stone

2008-06-16T01:17:00.000-07:00

Excuse the late night blogging. I'm bored.

Again, not a lot this week...

Be Kind Rewind-You can check out my full review for this film on the blog archives if you wish, but heres my speed review since the DVD is hitting selves this week. A lot of character, just lots of good character in this film. Jack Black, Mos Def...just fantastic. Something that I find interesting is the fact that the location of the video store is stuck in the 80s while the film itself is set in modern day era is very cool. Very original ideas with a little whimsy goes along way...B+

The Sword in the Stone-In my opinion its no Disney classic, but its certainly a good film. It looks cool (again using xeroxed cells, instead of inks creates a different look) and its sweet(what Disney film isn't?). Good animation and so forth. I'll be honest though, I have not seen this film for a long time and will not give it a grade. It wouldn't be fair. I will recommend it though, whether to buy or rent. Check it out if you haven't seen it yet...

So, any other recommendations?

Link's Popcorn Picks: The Incredible Hulk

2008-06-14T19:29:00.000-07:00

I'm off to see "The Incredible Hulk" tonight and will have a new review soon. See you cool cats later!

Updated Review!(Mild Spoilers)

-Let me just begin this review by saying "I enjoyed it". Its definitely no "Iron Man", but its fun. The movie stars Edward Norton as "Bruce Banner", Liv Tyler as "Betty Ross", Tim Roth as "Emil Blonsky" aka "The Abomination", William Hurt as "General Thunderbolt", and of course Lou Ferrigno providing the voice of The Incredible Hulk.
-We all know that Bruce Banner was exposed to gamma radiation and so as a product of that became The Hulk. Instead of going through the origin again the film just dives into Bruce Banner hiding from the military since his body is technically "military property". The movie is kinda like a long chase sequence with a big fight at the end. That pretty much sums it up, but its better than it sounds. As the military searches for Banner, they decide to create another "super soldier" to combat The Hulk. This "super soldier" later becomes "The Abomination", which isn't good.
-While the script is very action packed, the acting is what I really like. Edward Norton plays Bruce Banner as a mopey, regretful, scientist. I also forgot to mention Liv Tyler's and Norton's relationship is rather well done, its feels very heartfelt. Tim Roth is a pretty good villain too, as he gets creepier as the film progresses and its always fun to hear Lou Ferrigno belt out "Hulk Smash!".
-One of the main problems that I have with the movie is they way the CGI was handled. While the first couple of scenes that featured The Hulk were dark and mysterious(well handled btw)the scenes that have him in open daylight are not particularly impressive, you can see all the contrasts of the CGI Hulk compared to the live-action sequences which clash a little bit. The CGI is fun to look at, but it can take you out of the film some when you see all this ridiculous stuff going down.
-If you are a fan of the old tv series you will see many little shout outs to the fans, I won't spoil them for you, but there are a lot of them in there. Overall "The Incredible Hulk" is a fun popcorn summer movie with some pretty good action and great acting. Recommended for sure. I'll give it a...B

Now, about that Captain America scene...

Speed Reviews: The Bucket List and Jumper

2008-06-12T19:02:00.000-07:00

This week on DVD...

The Bucket List-while the film's writing often goes into the "been there,done that" areas its still "decent" writing. What really makes this film into something is Morgan Freeman's and Jack Nicholson's chemistry with each other. There are some good laughs in there too along with some interesting character development. If you want you could buy it, but rent it first before spending twenty bucks. You can't miss out on these actors. B-

Jumper-Jumper has all the cool effects and action you could want, but the film seriously lacks in many areas. First off, I don't really care about what happens to Hayden Christensen one bit, he is very boring. The film also fails to fully explain why Samuel Jackson hates and kills Jumpers. Not to mention the extremely strange, just really strange end. The picture is just a long roller coaster of nothing. No character development, no story, just mindless action. If you are interested, rent first, although I don't recommend it. This movie gets a D+

Any recommendations?

Link's Popcorn Picks: Indiana Jones and the Kindom of the Crystal Skull

2008-05-23T01:44:00.001-07:00

Indy was lots of fun. Not as good as "Crusade" or "Raiders", but up to par with "Doom" if not better. I know some people haven't been liking it, but its got a generally good response from fans and critics. New review will be up soon!

Updated Review!(Spoilers, if you have not seen the movie DO NOT READ!)

-After a nineteen year hiatus Indiana Jones is finally back in "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull". The film stars Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones of course and brings back Karen Allen as Marion Ravenwood. The film also stars Shia LaBeouf as the spunky Mutt Williams, Ray Winstone as Indy's old wartime buddy aka Mac, John Hurt as Professor Oxley, and Cate Blanchett as the villainous Russian, Irina Spalko.
-The film opens up in Nevada, Area 51.The Russians break in and need a certain item from a warehouse(and I'm talking about, you guessed it, the warehouse!) and only Indy knows the location of the box that the Russians are looking for. As the movie continues, Indy escapes the Russians and eventually meets Mutt Williams. Mutt tells him that the Russians have have kidnapped his mother and his friend, Professor Oxley. Oxley leaves clues about a crystal skull. Indy and Mutt are on their way to the the jungles to find the crystal skull(before the Russians do)and rescue Mutt's mom and Professor Oxley.
-Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull begins with Elvis Presly singing "You Ain't Nothing like a Hound Dog", which is appropriate considering the 50s atmosphere. When watching this movie, you may think that the entire sci-fi portion may be too out there for Indiana Jones, but being a 50s film its sci-fi B movie theme fits surprisingly well. The film also reminisces the cold war with Indy surviving a nuclear explosion on a testing site by hiding in a lead lined refrigerator. Ridiculous yes, but very cool. They mention "Colonel" Henry Jones beating down the Nazis. And now, instead of the Nazis, we have the Soviets looking for the crystal skull to brainwash their enemies. Also the appearances of Marshall College and the old warehouse create a good bridge to the previous films.
-The acting was all good. By no means was I disappointed with the acting. Harrison Ford does a great job of bringing back the original attitude and personality of our hero. And with LaBeouf they create a surprisingly wonderful dynamic. Karen Allen is just like the Marion we knew from Raiders and John Hurt as Professor Oxley, while not the most memorable character of the film, plays a pretty good crazy man. Cate Blanchett is not the most ruthless villain of the Indiana Jones series, but plays a very creepy, obsessive, and psychological Russian colonel.
-The story revolves around many of the ideas during the 50s such as the cold war(as previously mentioned), the Russians, sitings of UFOs/aliens, and of course lead lined refrigerators. The first half sets up the Russians along with the shout outs to the original films with appearances of the college and warehouse, not to mention pictures Indy's dad, Sean Connery and Marcus Brody. The second delves a little more into the actual crystal skulls as Indiana and Mutt run across the jungles from the soviets. There are some good surprises about the crystal skulls and the second half really sets that up well.
-Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is a fine entry in the series. Indiana Jones has always been about having a fun adventure with memorable characters. This movie accomplishes just that. A-

Link's Popcorn Picks: The Chronicles of Narnia; Prince Caspian

2008-05-17T02:18:00.000-07:00

Great movie. Not as great as the first, but very solid, very fun. Review coming soon! I'm gonna have to sleep on the grade for this one.

Updated Review!

I have really put this review off for a long long time. Now its finally time to give it justice...

-The first film in the "Chronicles of Narnia" series was "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe". While the LOTR franchise had been finished for a few years at the time of the release, fanboys(for those who don't give a crap about Harry Potter) had been thirsting for a good fantasy adventure movie. The first "Chronicles of Narnia" film was a hit. It hit all the right notes. Well casted, really nice special effects, and especially a fantastic story to begin with. While this sequel is a fine film, it doesn't make the homerun that the original made.
-The Pevensie children return to Narnia. Why? Because Prince Caspian has called all the former kings and queens of Narnia to help him gain the throne from the evil Telemarines. The children have been gone for one year in the real world, which is 1300 years in Narnia time.
-The main problem with this film is that the book "Prince Caspian" cannot live up to it's predecessor. Its as simple as that. Its not that it wasn't as well executed or the adaption wasn't as faithful to the book. Its just that the story that the movie was based off wasn't as interesting as the first. The Christian themes aren't as strong in this film either, but upon further research I have found the main one which the film mostly focuses on. Since the film takes place 1300 years later everyone has lost faith that Aslan is with them any longer or that he ever existed in the first place. This theme falls in to "Does God exist?". In the film only Lucy believes that Aslan might still be around, but even she doubts.
-Besides the fact that "Prince Caspian" is not as magnificent a story than the first(still very good though) the film is solid. Its much darker than the first with more death and fighting. Something that both hurt and benefited the new film was the lack of magical creatures. With more human activity, the film definitely stands on its own. The magic is definitely a cool part of it though, and sometimes you wish that you could see more of it.
-Overall "Price Caspian" is a fine film, but isn't as great as the first. Its quite different from the first, which gives it its own originality to stand on. A-

Now, who exactly was that water figure...haha...

Link's Popcorn Picks: Speed Racer!

2008-05-11T23:35:00.000-07:00

Speed was pretty awesome! Its doesn't deserve the bad reviews that it's getting. Thats gonna change, a new review is coming soon!

Updated Review!

-Theres something thats been bothering me about the recent talk about "Speed Racer". Its has been getting panned like no tomorrow and it doesn't deserve the hideous reviews its been getting. By no means is it a perfect movie, it has its flaws. And its certainly no masterpiece, but thats not what it was designed to be. My theory with "Speed Racer" is that the critics don't understand the charm and tone of the movie. The problem is, is that they walk in expecting another movie and this one is simply not that movie. The movie that was made was faithfully reminiscent to the classic 60's "Speed Racer" cartoons. Most of the critics obviously never watched the cartoons.The film is just like the series. The action, the campy jokes, the cars, the villains, and especially the characters.
-When I first heard of a "Speed Racer" movie I thought it was a terrible idea. Its difficult to translate cartoons to live-action, but anime is another thing completely. The first thing that the Wachowskis do right to pull off this task is establish the world in which the film takes place. Its a very colorful, strange, futuristic setting. The film works better than a more realistic world given the ridiculousness of the cartoons. Its its own thing.
-Another thing worth noting is the casting. The cool thing about the actors in this flick is how each one of the characters matches the original characters from the series. I was afraid that they would just pick some random guy and call him Speed Racer or Pops. Movies like "UnderDog" do this. They create the character and give him or her JUST the title of the character and not the personality. Each actor both resembles and has the vibe of the particular person they are playing
-Okay, this is where the critics really start hating the movie. The mafia, the over-the-top villain, the cgi races. Its a racing movie, and thats all what they think it should be, perhaps with some form of an antagonist. Why is there a mafia in "Speed Racer? Why are the cars so futuristic and totally unrealistic? That my friends is the spirit of the old series. Sure, "Speed" might be a little longer than it should be, but the thing that concerned me the most was from early reviews that the film would have no heart. Story elements from flashbacks and the current time stream with the characters in the movie give the film the heart I wanted. Yup, Corny villains, violence, cool races, and sweet characters. Thats exactly what this movie is, and it doesn't need-no, strike that. It shouldn't be any more or any less. A very solid B+

Link's Popcorn Picks: Iron Man

2008-05-03T02:03:00.000-07:00

Can't say a lot now, but I will update this later. Iron Man is one of the greatest comic book movies I have ever seen. Not better than Batman Begins, but...Its awesome. Expect a good, a very good review coming soon.

Updated Review!

-So as a comics fan I just had to see "Iron Man" the first day it came out. My father and I came an hour before the showing just to get decent seating. We were pretty excited.
-The hype all started about a year ago when teaser posters of Iron Man's head starting popping up at all the cons. People started to get excited for the film, but hype caught fire when the first trailer for the film hit the internet. The trailer showcased a real, modern story and a character the people can relate to.
-"Iron man" is one of the top ten highest grossing films of all time. Is it due to the hype? Is it due to the massive marketing? Well, that certainly is a good part of it, but I don't feel that fully explains the film's success.
-Something that I've repeatedly run across in "Iron Man" talkbacks on various forums is that fans seem to be calling the film the "Batman Begins" of the Marvel Universe. After watching the film I would have to agree with that. Unlike the Spider-Man and X-Men films (which are all good :)) the story takes place in the real world which I can guess makes it The Batman Begins of the Marvel Universe.
-If you didn't already know, "Iron Man" covers the origin of the superhero. Tony Stark is presenting a demo of his new weaponry, the "Jericho", in Afghanistan. Eventually Stark is captured and taken hostage. For his life he must build another "Jericho" missile for the bad guys. Well, instead of building the missile he decides to make the pre-Iron Man suit to escape.
-Something that deserves to be noted(and has been noted a lot already!)is the chemistry between Gweneth Paltrow and Robert Downey Junior. What a dynamic! And a good one too. Most movies have some of the most boring romances, however this one never seems to fall short of entertaining.
-Now lets talk about Iron Man himself. Iron Man isn't exactly the most traditional superhero considering his day job is a weapons manufacturer. However that doesn't last forever. After his weapons are stolen by his captors, innocent civilians of Afghanistan are in danger and Tony Stark changes his ways. Robert Downey Junior shows such character development and is both heroic and humorous at the same time.
-This is the most entertaining movie I have reviewed yet and is one of the greatest comic book films I have ever seen. Iron Man is a truly amazing movie with a good story, great action, and and unforgettable characters. A+

P.S. What Marvel is doing with their new movies is very brave. Stick around after the credits and you'll see what I'm talking about. What they are doing could be HUGE.

Explanation of the Grading System

2008-04-20T23:49:00.000-07:00

My system has been bothering me for a while so here is how I grade things.

This movie is bad F
This movie isn't terrible, but not worth seeing D
This movie is decent, worth checking out C
This movie is pretty enjoyable, worth multiple viewings, possible DVD buy B
This movie is off the charts, a MUST for the DVD collection A

Thanks, hope this further expresses my feelings toward movies.

My City Screams. She is my Lover and I am Her Spirit

2008-04-20T18:10:00.000-07:00

Any thoughts on the new trailer? Will it stay true to the comics? Will it be enjoyable regardless?

Link's Popcorn Picks: The Forbidden Kingdom

2008-04-19T22:27:00.000-07:00

"The path is unsafe. The place is unknown. The journey is unbelievable."

-Today(as most weekends)I felt the urge to go to the movies. Me and my father contemplated as to which, there wasn't many winners out. But we both kinda wanted to see "Forbidden Kingdom" when the trailer came out. The trailer showed a lot of fun kungfoo stuff and corny gags. What a fun way to kill two hours.
-Jason(Michael Angarano), a nerdy kungfoo fan stumbles upon an old staff in a Chinatown pawnshop. After being shot, his friend and owner of the shop tells Jason to return the staff to it's rightful owner. After being tossed into another world Jason meets Lu(Jackie Chan)and the silent monk(Jet Li) where they journey to return the staff to the Monkey King.
-When I first saw the trailer I thought to myself "For a movie that doesn't look that fantastic with forgettable characters, its looks like a really fun way to kill two hours". Even though I had already decided that it would only be for entertainments sake with no themes and forgettable characters it would still be fun. It was. And more.
-The film is set up a bit differently than the way I expected it to be. Before seeing the movie I thought that we would be treated to two hours of kungfoo action and special effects with a half baked storyline. After seeing clips and the trailer I believed the story would take place in a totally foreign fantasy land that we would have no connection to and they would just do their kungfoo and we could move on with our lives. The film opens up in the real world(for the better imo)and introduces us to the fantasy land later.
-I thought that Jackie Chan would play his character, Lu like...well...Jackie Chan. He is Jackie Chan, but the character is a little more outside of that. He is a wise, moral, rebellious, kungfoo drunk. Jason(Michael Angarano) is charming and clumsy at the same time. He reminds me of a modest Shia LaBeouf. Jet Li plays the silent monk, who with Chan creates quite a dynamic. His character shows a man who is in constant analysis of his morals, but still likes to piss off Jackie Chan.
-As far as visuals go the movie is quite stunning. The fighting sequences are amazing, the effects are beautiful, and the setting epic. This doesn't mean that the film has no faults because it isn't fantastic. The writing and acting isn't the most groundbreaking, but it has spirit and it is fun and certainly a lot more memorable than I expected. If you're in the mood for a good action adventure summer movie before summer, then check out "The Forbidden Kingdom". Its definitely worth multiple watches. B

Link's Popcorn Picks: Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

2008-04-04T21:15:00.000-07:00

-Okay folks, so about a weekend or two ago I was extremely bored. Nothing, absolutely nothing to do. So what did I do? I asked the fam if they wanted to see a movie. There wasn't that much out. My choices were "Horton Hears a Who", "Juno",(I especially favored that one), and "Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day". I let my dad decide which film, because any of the three seemed fine. He chose "Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day". Although I was fine with the film it was my last choice. Everybody looks forward to certain movies and this one was one that I was not particularly interested in. Not that I believed that it would be a bad movie or anything, but I thought it would be a bore. I could not have been more wrong.
-This film is about Guinevere Pettigrew(Frances McDormand), a woman living(on the streets that is)in London during the late 1930s on the brink of WW2. She Constantly finds herself out of a job until she meets Delysia Lafosse(Amy Adams). Delysia Lafosse assigns her the job of "Social Secretary". Delysia doesn't know what that is, but all the other girls on Broadway have one, so she wants one as well. Miss Pettigrew finds herself off the streets and in the good life as Delysia Lafosse's social secretary.
-The first thing that surprised me about this movie is the amount of humor and innuendo. Sometimes too much innuendo in a movie makes it sleazy and unbearably tacky, not the case with this one. Its difficult to explain but the innuendo somehow adds a lot to the film. Its always funny and cleverly done. Now on to the humor in general. When I went in I wasn't expecting to laugh as much as I did. A lot of it deals with innuendos, Miss Pettigrew's luck(which is quite terrible), and Delysia's actions.
-I really liked the acting in this one. I truly wasn't expecting to care for Pettigrew, but her character grew on me. She has a clumsiness about her and a certain spunk that kind of relates you to her I suppose. And you really begin to want everything to work out for her. Amy Adams is also fantastic. She is somewhat over the top just like in "Enchanted", but it matches her constant excitement and mischievousness well. She does does a lot of immoral things in the film which might make you think that you would be turned off by the character, but you'll strangely find yourself rooting for her. Another key player is the film is Joe Blumfield(Ciarán Hinds), the fashion designer. He is suave, mysterious, and rather sweet. Love interest to Pettigrew.
-The film is written over the course of one day. Hence the name "Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day". It not an huge story, but a good one. Delysia finds herself in 3 relationships and each one has a perk. One can give her access to Broadway stardom, one can get her filthy rich, or one can give her true love. Which one will she pick? You're gonna have to see the film to find out. The other part of the film is that as social secretary, Pettigrew has to fix a relationship between Joe Blumfield and one of Delysia's acquaintances. If you are reading this review you know this can be a problem.
-I fell in love with "Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day". I didn't think that I would be saying that, but here I am. I highly recommend this film, go see it and when it comes out on DVD rent it if not buy it. B

DVD Discussion

2008-04-04T21:01:00.000-07:00

I know this one is really late, but I need to make my recommendations.

Sweeney Todd-This week Sweeney Todd was released and if you read my review you already know that I gave it high praises. Great singing, tragic story, fine acting...WITH LOTS OF BLOOD! What else could one ask for?

August Rush-Did not see this one, however a good chunk of critics said is was okay, not sure if you would want to buy it on DVD. Critics say that the film shows a genuine love of music and some good performances from Highmore and Williams, however the story can drag and is sometimes overly sappy.

Thats about it from me. You?

Roger Ebert Returns

2008-04-01T20:25:00.000-07:00

It may be a while, but Roger Ebert has announced that he is going to begin reviewing film again in the paper. Also his film festival is coming up so he'll be appearing there too. Ebert states though that it will take more surgery to get his voice back, and with no voice he obviously won't be on the show for a bit longer. But the awesome news is that he has been cancer free since January and nothings more important than that. For the whole story click on my link for "The Chicago Sun Time's Roger Ebert".

Link's Popcorn Picks: Sweeney Todd

2008-03-31T23:20:00.000-07:00

-Since the DVD release of Sweeney is out tomorrow, just thought I repost my original review.

-Okay folks, I've been eying a movie for a while and that movie was Sweeney Todd. This film is Depp's and Burton's 6th collaboration together, the others include "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", "Corpse Bride", "Sleepy Hallow", "Edward Scissorhands", and "Ed Wood". Burton's style is always wacky and imaginative, and honestly...sometimes fails, say for instance Planet of the Apes and the Batman films. Although I still have yet to see a Burton-Depp film that I haven't appreciated, including this one.
-Based on a Broadway play the film stars Johnny Depp as Sweeney Todd, Helena Bonham Carter as Mrs. Lovett, and Alan Rickman as Judge Turpin. The setup is this: A man by the name of Benjamen Barker has everything in the world including a wife and child. A jealous judge falsely accuses Ben and he is exiled to Austrailia for 15 years. When Ben returns 15 years later as Sweeney Todd he wants revenge on everyone involved by slitting their throats and hiding their bodies in meat pies to be sold by Mrs. Lovett.
-I quite enjoyed myself, but found Burton's style a little different.than usual. The film shows whimsy with a dark side, a really dark side. Even for a Burton film whose main character is a murderous barber bent on revenge, it can really creep you out. The songs are all really fun and charming, while the film itself carries a great storyline about how revenge effects one's life, a tragedy. Also Depp and Carter create quite a fun dynamic and Alan Rickman is a really messed up villian. Killing people is one thing, but the crap he does is just mean. If you don't mind pools of blood squirting everywhere, the fillm features fun songs with a great story. A dark (probably Burton's darkest) bordering charming and whimsical is a match made in heaven...or hell. Pick this one up on DVD the first day it comes out, definitely worth the twenty some bucks. A

Link's To Do List

2008-03-31T16:12:00.000-07:00

For some time I have been wanting to review the following movies, so I will make a note of it here.

1. Martian Child
2. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
3. The Rocketeer
4. Surfs Up
5. Meet the Robinsons

-There might be some others that I forgot, if there is I'll just add them on the list and review them when I get the time.

-As far as news goes, I've kinda stopped that as it always feels pointless and doesn't lead to many conversations.

Later Folks, Link

DVD Discussion

2008-03-25T15:58:00.000-07:00

Hmmm...What do you want this week?

Speed Reveiws: Enchanted and I Am Legend

2008-03-19T14:52:00.000-07:00

Hmm...a couple good ones this week. Much better than last week anyways. The two I would most recommend is "Enchanted" and "I Am Legend".

-"Enchanted" has really good animation and Amy Adams is perfect. Not to mention the great music and constant nods to Disney classics. B+

-"I Am Legend" is pretty good. I like Will Smith a lot in this. Some really good acting, you buy his isolation. The effects were pretty cool, but I wish that the zombie guys were a little more buyable. I also wish that the film had the guts to figure out a way to present the twist end of the novel. Still pretty good. B

Thats all I can really recommend, you? Any recommendations?

Link's Popcorn Picks: Be Kind Rewind

2008-03-18T20:57:00.000-07:00

I've been wanting to see this film ever since it came out to theaters, no strike that, ever since the trailer came out. So I've been waiting a good five of six months. It saddened me that I couldn't see it when it first came out, I was just too busy and me and my family were kind of broke. Although, my mother knew how much I wanted to see it (and she wanted to see it herself), so Sunday night we all went to finally see the anticipated film.

The film is about Mos Def who plays Mike, running a video store for a week while his boss, Mr. Fletcher is gone. The store is the supposed birth place of a jazz legend. Jack Black's character and Mike's best friend, Jerry suspects that the power plant is trying to hypnotize the community through electric waves. He breaks in, gets magnetized, and comes into the video store erasing all the video tapes. Together Jerry and Mike recreate the movies.

I apologize for the ridiculously long synopsis, but I wanted to get all the aspects of the film in. I have looked at a bunch of different synopsis's and none never mention the jazz legend, which is pretty much the heart of the film.

The thing that I love about this film is the spirit of Jersey, the town gives a real neat out of this world 80s tone. Also the idea of remaking a film with an authentic "youtube" feel is the most original idea for a comedy that I've heard of for a long time. All of the "sweded" or remade movies are hilarious. Probably my favorite remake was "Ghostbusters". Also Jerry being hit repeatedly and attracted by metal objects throughout the first half of the film is a good ongoing bit.

I cannot stress enough how much I loved the characters. First of all, we all love Jack Black in almost everything that he does. His stupidity and craziness is somehow charming just like the rest of the movie. Not to mention Mos Def who is really a sweet character, not the smartest, but sweet and funny nonetheless. The film also stars Melonie Diaz as Alma, the co-star of all the remakes and Mos Def's love interest.

I heard that this film is overly whimsical from critics. I could not disagree more. The film's charm comes from this whimsicalness. Take away the charm you probably still have a decent movie, but I feel it brings so much more to the characters and story. The whimsy is here to stay! I highly recommend this film. Buy it on DVD when it comes out. B+

DVD Suggestions...

2008-03-13T22:07:00.000-07:00

Sorry this is a wee late. Yet again, I got nothing. You? Any recommendations?

Dave Stevens R.I.P.

2008-03-11T16:33:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Rocketeer creator and movie collaborator, Dave Stevens passed away due to a long battle with leukemia. Rest In Peace Mr. Stevens

New Ground to Tread On. Critics, Why do You Hate the Ground?

2008-03-07T14:23:00.000-08:00

The other day I was searching for reviews on a fantastic film called "Neverwas". I saw the film a matter of months ago and never really read any reviews for it. So within 30 seconds or so I'm at "rotten tomatoes". I check what few reviews there were for the film(about ten maybe)and they all hated it! How could this be? Neverwas was one of the most interesting and involving movies I saw last year, and for it to have bad reviews? So I checked another source of reviews-imdb. Almost every review there gave the film a positive review, out of three pages of reviews there were only 3 negatives.
Sometimes I feel that with these(professional)critics is that they have their little check list of every element that needs to be included in every single film. Then when a good film lacks one thing, ONE unimportant thing, the whole movie seems to magically fall apart. However for viewer(for the most part)does not have this list in their heads. They simply watch the movie and if they enjoyed it they will recommend it to you. People for the most part are pretty good about figuring out what is a terrible film and what isn't. Sure, their analysis isn't as deep, but they don't have the roadblocks that critics have when it comes to enjoying a movie.
Imo, "Neverwas" is a great film that got a lot of ragging on, because it didn't contain everything on "the list." The reason that we create and watch movies is to escape reality and it's limitations. But when we categorize so much and look behind the curtain one too many times, then the limitations that we tried to escape are back again. True, there are terrible movies that deserve terrible reviews, but sometimes I feel that critics rag on movies they truly enjoy. We don't make movies to box ourselves in again, but we make them so that that we have new ground to tread when life says "stop here, not possible". "Neverwas" is a terrific example of new ground, where we can continue to explore ideas, stories,worlds, and freedom. We need to keep walking and for me the only way to do that is through movies.

101 Reasons to Get...

2008-03-04T15:42:00.000-08:00

This week a re-release of "Mrs. Doubtfire" is out as well as "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium". I don't know if I can recommend "Magorium" quite enough to buy on DVD, but I did like it quite a bit. Its definitely worth renting. Also I suppose the highlight of this week is Disney's first release of "101 Dalmatians" in the past decade. I'm actually not getting anything this week, because 1) I am totally broke and 2) Nothing that interest quite me enough. Maybe Magorium when it gets a little cheaper. So comments? Recommendations?

Link's Popcorn Picks: Justice League:The New Frontier

2008-03-02T10:15:00.000-08:00

-Well after a very long wait I finally got "Justice League:The New Frontier" in the mail the other day. I was very happy. I've also been waiting to receive the second volume to read first before I read the movie. However that did not happen, the book doesn't come for another week so I decided to just go ahead and watch it.
-For those of you who do not know what "Justice League:The New Frontier" is then I will explain. Its basically the Justice League's first adventure together amongst communism and post war. The story has multiple plot lines and characters that later intertwine.
-Like I said though in an earlier rant is that the style is not as unique as it was in the graphic novels. Its does feel kind of "Justice Leaguey", but the style still looks pretty good. Another criticism I have is the compression of the story. (If you've read the book) you'll notice that the entire opening credits is about one third of the book(such as the Justice Society quitting and Hourman's death). It contains stuff that couldn't be explained in the actual movie and this was a way that they could keep the material, very cool I might add. The opening credits are beautiful.
-The voices are pretty good. I think that David Boreanaz(Angel)did a pretty good job as the main character, Hal Jordan aka Green Lantern. I also felt that Jeremy Sisto(Batman), Neil Patrick Harris(The Flash), and Miguel Ferrer(John Jones)especially fit well as far as voices go.
-The story (as compressed as it was) is still very good. It talks a lot about diversity and having to put aside differences in time of war. Some examples of diversity are John Jones the Martian and John Henry the guy who helped take down the KKK. It also notes about the "New Frontier", meaning that we're not dealing with just army soldiers anymore, but about how we are transpiring into a time of super powered beings. The characters aren't just good and bad, black and white, but there are some gray areas in there where you're not sure what is moral and immoral. Theres even a moment in there when Superman and Wonderwoman are arguing about politics and ethics. Then the story goes into the mystery of tomorrow and how we all try our best to make a better future.
-Overall "Justice League:The New Frontier" suffers from it's lack of faith to the original style of the graphic novels and its compressed story, but those are just minor complaints. I really enjoyed it, I thought the story was great, the voices fit, and the graphics are still pretty darn good. This is a HUGE step up from "Superman Doomsday" in every way. Definitely pick this up and buy it on DVD. A-

Link's Popcorn Picks: A Knight's Tale

2008-03-01T00:19:00.000-08:00

Well as I'm writing this blog I notice that it's rather late. But with great power comes great responsibility and I cannot leave you reviewless as this late hour! Or maybe its just that fact that I'm a night owl that has nothing better to do. So review I will.
-The movie is about a guy named William Thatcher (Heath Ledger) who with the help of his buddies "changes his stars". In other words William, who is a peasant becomes a knight. Being stuck in a low social class this is unacceptable. But with courage and heart anything is possible! not to mention the phony document that claims that William is in the correct social class to be a knight...
-I'm sitting there as my mother is complaining about tonight's movie selection. "Ugghh...this look's so terrible, it's only a matter of time before Adam Sandler shows up". Soon enough "Queen" starts and my mother stops her rant. The first half of the film, entertaining as is be is fine and all, but is not nearly as good as the second half. The first half has some good humor, music, and action, but it's not until the halfway through the film that I invest a good chunk of my feelings in the characters, just feels a little heartless. The second half delves a little bit into both William's love interest story and also his past. This improves the story, because you know why he has the desire and motivation to be a knight. The other characters are funny and likable as you get to know them. You admire them for their loyalty and friendship to William.
-The other thing thats fun about this movie is the music. The film contains classic songs from "AC DC", "Queen", amongst other classic rock bands. These songs give the film a special tone and energy. It makes the movie feel like a classic story with a modern attitude.
-Overall I really liked "A Knight's Tale". If you haven't already seen it and like films such as "The Princess Bride" and "Stardust" then this is the movie for you. Its not a classic or anything, but has a strange ratio of humor, action/adventure, and drama that makes for a good film. Definitely pick it up, I might even go as far as recommending to buy it on DVD. B

I Believe in Harvey Dent

2008-02-29T12:09:00.000-08:00

The viral marketing for "The Dark Knight" has just started up again. Check this out: http://ibelieveinharveydent.com/

DC Movie News

2008-02-28T14:05:00.000-08:00

Hmm...Well, I've got some bad news. Justice League is supposedly back on. Its on, its off, well now its back on. Warner Bros. is nuts. Justice League is a terrible idea, especially right now when they have "Superman Returns" and the "Batman Begins" franchises going. The failure of "Justice League" could mean bad news for these franchises.

Also, "Teen Titans:The Judas Contract" is on hold. DC doesn't feel that the film has a strong enough fan base for a decent success. Right now the next DC animated movies will be "Batman:Gotham Knight" and "Wonder Woman". Only time will tell to see if "Judas Contract" will go.

What Do You Want To See?

2008-02-27T16:36:00.000-08:00

Watching the Oscars this year(and actually researching some of the films) made me want to actually see some of them. Not to mention an array of movies that have been out for a while still left unseen by the eyes of Spencer Brandt. These include some new releases and some classics that I've somehow managed to escape. Here are some movies that I'm rather eager to see, or just kinda wanna check out:

Currently in theaters
-Be Kind Rewind-Currently in theaters. Heard that it's a rather sweet film with an original comedy idea.
-There Will Be Blood-Basically a showcase for Daniel Day Lewis. Heard that it's an incredibly eerie performance.
-No Country for Old Men-I hear that the tone and feel of each scene really grabs you and makes for a really involving story.
-Juno-Still have to see this one, want to really bad. Richard Roeper calls it somewhere in the same vein of "Little Miss Sunshine".

DVD
-20,000 Leagues Under the Sea-The classic Disney film. I remember seeing small parts of this movie when I was litte, but never got to see it in it's entirety.
-Sunshine-I heard that this got bad reviews because it chose plot lines similar to classic sci-fi. If so, what a ridiculous critique. I can't speak for the film yet, but what film hasn't borrowed plot lines?! If anything the borrowed plot-lines must be an homage.
-Justice League:The New Frontier-Still can't wait for this one to get into the mail. Although I do have a fair amount of critiques for this film already I think it'll be pretty sweet. For more thoughts on this one check out my "analysis" for the film.

Right now, thats about it. I'll post more if I've missed anything. So here begs the question. What do you want to see?

Suggested DVD Releases

2008-02-26T16:07:00.000-08:00

Once again I haven't seen any of the releases this week...but for the most part critics liked "The Darjeeling Limited". I myself pre-ordered "Justice League:The New Frontier" and will write a review in the coming week or so. Feel free to make your recommendations.

Batman:Gotham Knight

2008-02-25T15:47:00.000-08:00

Hey guys, just thought I'd post some thoughts on "Batman:Gotham Knight". I'm feeling really lazy and don't want to explain what it is so...just copy and paste the link. http://www.batman-on-film.com/
wondercon-gotham-knight-preview_2-25-08.html
-Now that you know what "Batman:Gotham Knight" is, I say it's time for me to post my thoughts so far! Btw to know what I'm talking about, please do check out the link.
-First off, they have some AWESOME writers working on this. I'm shocked about the talent that is going into this writing-wise. Alan Burnett(DCAU writer), David S. Goyer(Batman Begins)among many other very special writers.
-As far as some of the styles go, I'm not quite sure. I saw some of the different takes and some of it looks really cool and action-packed, but I saw some parts that look kind of creepy. I noticed that a lot of the character designs are really detailed, perhaps too detailed. I fear that watching this will leave you feeling a bit cold, and it may be difficult to get into the story and characters if they are too unappealing.
-Although, I must admit that some of the action sequences looked really sweet on the preview. I also like the way they've designed the villains such as Scarecrow and Killer Croc. Even Batman looks cool for the most part, its just that when you see the human character designs that makes you feel a little creeped out. But you know what? I haven't seen any actual scenes play out so its extremely difficult to judge what it will be like. If I don't feel too weirded out, then I'm all for this. The writing seems promising, the animation looks awesome, and it'll just be fun to see what happens after "Batman Begins".
-One more subject that I haven't talked about is the voice talents. It hasn't been revealed who will voice Batman or any of the other characters yet, but their was a rumor saying that "Christian Bale" would be providing Batman's voice. Sadly this very convincing rumor(a lot of people confirmed it true!)is not one bit true. Since many of the "Batman Begins" actors did parts for the "Batman Begins Video Game" I bought the idea that Bale would also the voice the DTV as well. Sadly not. Only time will tell the identities of the voice actors.
-Overall, "Batman:Gotham Knight" feels like a mixed bag for me. I really want to like it, but if the character designs keep me from getting close to the characters then that is problem. I guess we'll just have to wait and see if it's any good.

The 80th Annual Academy Awards Talkback

2008-02-24T19:18:00.000-08:00

Some surprises and not so surprises so far. I'll post my thoughts after the ceremony. Feel free to comment on the Oscars so far.

Well, Heres to Hope...and Hoping...

2008-02-23T22:37:00.000-08:00

-In a few days(Tuesday, February 26th to be exact) "Justice League:The New Frontier will be released. "The New Frontier" is an animated movie based on Darwyn Cooke's graphic novels about the the worlds greatest heroes in the midst of communism and war. Lets call this my "pre-review"...
-In anticipation for this film I have seen various clips and exclusives. As I have been sharing these clips with animation experts (cough;dad;cough) I have been told that the style and look of the film is very "Justice Leaguey". I'm talking about the styles of the animated series such as Batman;The Animated Series, Superman;The Animated Series, Batman Beyond, Justice League, and Justice League Unlimited. While the style looks fine ,I agree that this opportunity could have been used much better. After my father said "It looks just like Justice League(the tv show)"I immediately went to my comics self and ran my fingers through "The New Frontier", only to realize that he is correct. The clips and trailers show the sharpness and simplicity of DCAU television shows and not the charming curvyness of Darwyn Cookes "The New Frontier" graphic novels. "New Frontier" is not part of the DCAU, and should be dealt with more uniquely.
-While "Superman Doomsday" is a decent film it didn't have much to start from. "The Death of Superman" storyline in the comics was a watered down and never ending stunt that turned a lot of people away from comic books for years. In order to make that film they had to start from scratch, and make a better story. Though the big thing about "Doomsday" is that as you're watching it you think of the DCAU styles. The character designs aren't unique or different enough to think of another Superman. New Frontier has really good material to begin with unlike Doomsday. Now while Cooke's style is very similar to Bruce Timm's (because he did work on DCAU shows), it carries a specialness to it that I had really hoped to be preserved in the animated "New Frontier".
-One other problem I fear is the length. The movie is 75 minutes while the graphic novels go into intricate plot details amongst multiple plots! The first half talks about different stories that later intertwine. I've already heard that Cooke had been griping about the run time and that chunks of the story have been taken out.
-Ultimately the film will suffer from its lack of faith to the original style and it's compression of the story. Although, I've already read some reviews and people seem to love the story. I think that the worst this movie will see is the similarities it has with the the DCAU. I can't judge yet, but I do believe this will still be a solid DC animated movie. Much better than Superman Doomsday. Besides, what is a perfect movie? I honestly cannot think of one. One of the themes in the books is hope, hope for a better tomorrow. Heres hoping to a fantastic film...

This Week's Movies

2008-02-23T00:37:00.000-08:00

I hope that this will create enough conversation so that I can hopefully make this a weekly delio, but we'll just give it a try... Basically we can discuss or comment the movies we have watched weekly. I myself watch a number of movies a week. Perhaps going to the theatre, a dvd rental, or just picking up an old movie you haven't seen in awhile.

You Know What Sucks?

2008-02-21T14:08:00.000-08:00

I'm behind this week as far as looking at the new DVD releases. I just checked and there isn't a single thing that I'm interested in getting. Then again I haven't seen most of the films released this week anyways, but still nothing that interests me. If you think any of the releases this week are decent, feel free to post a recommendation.

The Man of Steel?

2008-02-21T13:23:00.000-08:00

Apparently since Justice League is pretty much on its way out Warner Bros. is taking a lot of different pitches for the sequel of "Superman Returns" aka "The Man of Steel". I also heard that Bryan Singer is still on board as far as directors go. So good. Anyways they really want "TMOS" to get going fast. Yay.

The Future of the SuperHero Flick...

2008-02-18T19:36:00.003-08:00

Hey folks, we have a lot of new superhero films coming out, including "The Dark Knight", "The Watchmen", "The New Frontier", and "Batman:Gotham Knight"(I'm not sure about this one yet). Pretty good stuff coming out, but whats next?

Well for starters, lets talk about how happy we are that "Justice League" will not be happening. If it is then production starts 2010, so that is out of the way. The terrible thing about a "Justice League"film is that it jeopardizes other films such as a third Nolan directed Batman or a Superman sequel. I want to see all of those, but if Justice League fails, then its very possible that those other films would not go. Bad timing first of all. Second of all, "Justice League" sounded terrible, simply terrible! Insiders said that the script is mediocre at best and you could find the cast on Laguna Beach, plus the "Happy Feet" director (terrible movie!). Aren't we happy that a craptastic film like that will no longer be jeopardizing good films?

Now that thats done, let look into the future of the DC comic-book movies. Some films that I'm eager to see are "Wonder Woman", "Superman: The Man of Steel", "Super Max","Teen Titans","The Flash"and "Green Lantern". Right now I wouldn't worry about another Nolan directed Batman. The only thing that stands between fans and a new Nolan Batman Film is his choice to come back. I'm not saying "he's on board", I'm just saying there is nothing else we can do right now...

Anyways, they need to release "Wonder Woman" one of these days. Possibly the next summer after this one. I have heard about it so much, but haven't heard any real news. Its set in the 1940s during the war. Sounds neat. I also would really like to another Superman. Bryan Singer did such a good job on this first one I wish that he would come back for the sequel. Sadly that is not the case. I have no idea when its coming out, but Goyer(Batman Begins) is writing and directing a Green Arrow flick by the name of "Super Max". As for "Green Lantern", "The Flash" and "Teen Titans", those are years and years away in development hell so I wouldn't even get wound up about them quite yet...

Marvel has quite a few films lined up such as "Wolverine" and "Magneto", prequels to the X-Men trilogy. "The Incredible Hulk" sounds like it might be interesting since they are basically calling a "do-over" alas the terrible first Hulk movie. I also hear that since they are releasing "Iron Man", "The Hulk", "Thor" and others that it might add up to an "Avengers" film that stays within continuity of all of the films. Sounds like a lot of work, but if it works, cool! Btw Sin City 2 and 3 are on the way, just thought I'd make a note of that...

There is one last film I must talk about. Its "The Spirit". I have no idea how this film will turn out. I'm mostly afraid that Frank Miller's green screens will kill the film. I know it worked for "Sin City", but that was his own creation. I'm afraid he won't know how to handle the character properly, artistically speaking. He's also writing it, and his recent writing in the comics is just strange. Heres wishing "The Spirit" the best of luck.'

The future of comic-book films is quite thriving, although it will take a long time for many to see the light of day.

Link's Popcorn Picks: No Reservations

2008-02-17T13:56:00.000-08:00

(mild spoilers)
The other day my parents rented "No Reservations" so I finally got my chance to watch it.

The movie starts out with Kate, a short tempered chef running her own kitchen. Whenever a customer complains about the smallest thing Kate drags them out of the restaurant. When her sister and niece come to visit, they fall into a deadly car accident and her sister dies. After trying to recuperate after the death of her sister and the raising of her niece she returns to work a week later. Only to discover a new chef working there without her consent. Then things really heat up in the kitchen! The movie stars Catherine Zeta-Jones, Aaron Eckhart, and Abigail Breslin.
The movie in of itself is very sweet and well acted. Especially all the acting stuff between Eckhart and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Breslin is good too, she plays her character very much the same as in "The Ultimate Gift", except this movie is actually good. The other interesting thing is that the film really tries to help you understand the elements of food. It goes into intricate details to describe various foods. The story tries it best to really incorporate the foods. Not to mention the music, the music in this flick was very fancy-frenchish too, kinda reminded me of "Ratatouille" and really fits in well. Because this film isn't the most actiony or expensive you wouldn't expect the most original music, but there was some really good stuff in there. The story is not the most original or complex, yet it is still very sweet and fun. As short of a review as this is thats all I can really tell you. I say its worth a second watch. Pick it up. B

Batman: Gotham Knight DVD

2008-02-14T21:02:00.001-08:00

Check out this link for more: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oW71WB254M

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

2008-02-14T11:35:00.000-08:00

Today, the trailer for the new Indiana Jones film is out. You can check out the trailer here: http://www.indianajones.com/site/index.html

Star Wars:Clone Wars-The Movie

2008-02-13T13:09:00.000-08:00

George Lucas has been planning on releasing a new cgi Clone Wars series for the fall of 08. Now a press release reveals that before the series airs, a cgi animated movie will be released in theaters. After the movie airs the series will follow. Check out the latest news on Batman On Film for the full story.

Suggested DVD Releases

2008-02-13T00:35:00.000-08:00

Mostly a lot of live-action TV shows season releases this week. But I will suggest...

Batman Double Feature: This dvd has "Batman:Mask of the Phantasm" and "Batman"Sub Zero". Both films are good. "Batman:Mask of the Phantasm" is a fantastic film, second best Batman movie next to "Batman Begins". As a little kiddo I always liked "Sub Zero", but watching more recently, it leaves something to be desired, yet a solid Batman movie nonetheless.

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, 40th anniversary edition:This movie is really good. Its funny, charming, rather daring for its time, and heartfelt. Basically, a white women brings her finance to meet her family parents. Her finance however is a black man and the parents' fury ensues.

Those two you should get. Also "No Reservations" was released this week. I never got the opportunity to see it so I honestly cannot recommend it to you, although critics gave it high praises.

Thats about it, not a lot this week...

Just to Keep You Busy...

2008-02-11T12:21:00.000-08:00

Hey guys, if you're not already familiar with some of the original reviews that I've posted on my first blog, this should keep you busy...

The grading scale is the same, but instead of "pick" or "pan", its "thumbs up" or "thumbs down". The same grading scale that Roger Ebert, Richard Roeper, and Gene Siskel have been using for years.

Btw, know that the current grading scale is "pick" or "pan". These are old reviews and this is before I made a more original recommendation titles.

Enjoy...

Links Popcorn Pics: Cloverfield Saturday, January 05, 2008

*Possible Spoilers*
Yesterday I was able to see Cloverfield and I was expecting more, but nonetheless I enjoyed it quite a bit. The movie starts out at a surprise going away party for a guy named Rob. It starts a little slow, but eventually the monster starts tearing up buildings and the story ensues. Rob and co. decide not to evacuate and leave to rescue Rob's girl trapped at her apartment. There could have been a little more character development but aw well...
The film is taped by Rob's friend Hud who documents the entire thing on camcorder. Sometimes it's difficult to watch, because Hud has a difficult time keeping the camera still. I think that the "shaking camera" thing in this movie is effective, but is a little on overkill.
The monster is fun to watch and the and the lice things that fall from it are pretty creepy as well, but this movie is more than just a monster movie, its also a horror flick. They way those lice things tear up people it leaves you feeling that way. There were a few moments in there that left me feeling "ugghh...that was gross" or just made me feeling shocked.
The movie started out slow, got going and then by the end went a little down hill. I think they revealed the monster a little soon. And like "I Am Legend" I was expecting more of a twist ending or a more revealing end, where we learn something that might help explain things a little bit. Not the case. I really wanted to learn more about the situation, but it mostly lies in mystery. So despite the lack of character develoment, an annoyingly shaky camera, and a too soon revealed monster, I liked it. After viewing the entire thing, I think it should be looked at as a classic monster movie seen through the eyes of a camera lense. Thumbs up.

Links Popcorn Pics: National Treasure: Book of Secrets Monday, January 07, 2008

After watching the 1st National Treasure movie I was happy to hear of a sequel. I went a few weeks ago and am happy to finally get the review in. "National Treasure:Book of Secrets" in a nutshell is kind of crazy, but alot of fun. The first film is about Ben Gates hunting down an ancient treasure hidden away by the founding fathers. The next clue leads to the Declaration of Independance, the Declaration proves to be a map that holds the key to the treasure. Ben's rival threatens to steal the map, and the only way to keep it safe is for Ben to steal it himself. The movie also feautures the characters Riley Poole(Justin Bartha) the gadget guy, Abigail Chase(Diane Krueger) employee of the national archives, and Patrick Gates(John Voight) Ben Gate's father and treasure hunter.
This next installment is a little more of the same, but still good. Thankfully all the characters reprise their roles. But this time around the focus of the movie talks about whether of not Nic Cage's grandfather in the movie planned the assasination of Abe Lincoln. A certain document from John Wilkes Boothe's diary seems to confirm it. This time around, Ben has to find the treasure to prove that his great great grandfather didn't plan the assasination.
Of course all of the cast are great. Nic Cage, John Voight, to Helen Mirren and all the others. The story is crazy, none of it could ever be true, but nonetheless it's still fun. You can see how the writers would be able to put all these secret codes and messages that eventually lead to another historical document or landmark. I found the motivation of the adventure neat too. Trying their best to prove their grandfather's innocence is a pretty noble thing to do. Again some of the scenes are far-fetched and the story is ridiculous, but if you just go with it you'll find yourself having a good time enjoying familiar friends trying to find their treasure. Thumbs up.

Links Pocorn Pics: License to Wed(DVD)

So I finally got a chance to see a terrible movie. That doesn't happen often for me, but the fam was bored and decided to rent "License to Wed". I honestly didn't even want to see it, but I had nothing better to do. On the bright side, this film gives me the rare opportunity to give something a bad review. So here we go...
Heres a synopsis: Ben Murphy and Sadie Jones plan to get hitched, and Sadie wants to be married in the church that she went to as a little kiddo. In order to do so the couple must go through a course with Reverend Frank. The course consists of a series of ridiculous tasks that the couple must complete together. Ben Murphy is played by John Krasinski, Sadie Jones is played by Mandy Moore, and Reverend Frank is played by Robin Williams.
The main thing about the film is that I really don't give a rip about the characters. As the tasks continue the more paranoid Ben gets and he becomes kind of a jerk. Mandy Moore however has nothing to bring to the table, she is just the average character-thats all she is, there is nothing that truly defines her. If she is anything, she is a bad girlfriend who doesn't even listen to her boyfriend. At least Robin Williams is somewhat amusing and funny at times, but ultimately hes just a mean pastor trying to screw over Ben.
The other thing about the film is that it's not really that funny. Most jokes usually fall flat or are simply untasteful. Take a really good comedy for example. Lets says Anchorman, that has a lot of raunchy and kind of untasteful jokes, but you know what? They are funny. However in this case, the jokes are nothing but duds. I couldn't really find that much merit in here. The entire synopsis of the film is boring to begin with. I wish I could write more, but this film is just so terrible. Thumbs down.

Links Popcorn Pics: I Am Legend Sunday, January 06, 2008

I have to say that "I Am Legend" surprised me. Not in the fact that I thought it was a good film because I was expecting that. Rather the kind of film it was. Watching the trailer you automatically think it's the big action movie of the holiday season, and it kind of is, but it's also something more.
The movie is about a military scientist by the name of Robert Neville(Will Smith) who is supposedly the last man on earth, or at least the last to still walk the New York city streets. The movie is about how a "cure" for cancer goes wrong and, well everyone turns into zombie-like creatures. It's up to Neville to keep a log and find a cure for the "cure". Neville starts to slowly deteriorate into isolation and begins setting up manikins around town as he pretends to talk to them.
Thats the wonderful thing about the film, Smith's wonderful acting. He knows how to convey that he is in total isolation. I think this is Smith's best acting along with "Pursuit of Happiness". We don't see as much zombie-action as one may think, it's more about his isolation rather than the zombies. Isolation is probably more of an antogonist than the zombies.
Now, the zombies themselves were pretty cool as well, except for one critique. They look cool jumping around and being scarey, but when they do the close-ups on their faces, they look too cgi. The faces start to stretch too much when they scream. Personally I at that point I can't quite buy that those zombies were once people. They should have just taken a real persons face, done some major make-up on it and shoot it.
To finish this review off, Smith is excellent, although I would have wished for a better ending. Everyone was expecting a special twist and well...I don't want to spoil it. Thumbs up.

Links Popcorn Pics: Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium

Okay, when you see the trailer for this film you may very well ask yourself "What kind of movie is this?". Afterall, the tv trailers for this film were impossible to follow and all the cheesey special effects they were pushing didn't quite impress me. But I thought to myself "Why is Dustin Hoffman and Natalie Portman in this movie?". They are both terrific actors, why would they waste their time in a bad children's movie about a magic toy shop? Well perhaps they're in it because the film isn't as terrible like some think...
Dustin Hoffman stars as Mr. Magorium, the 243 year old owner of The Wonder Emporium, and Natalie Portman stars as Molly Mahoney, the manager who lacks confidence in running the store after Magorium's leave. The movie is set up like a book. A young boy named Eric Applebaum narrates explaining that Bellini the bookmaker that lives in the basement of the emporium, records all the activities and happenings of Magorium. He goes on to say that his story, like all stories must come to an end, but a new story can then begin. Molly must deal with his leave and figure out how to run the store by herself and begin her story.
It's quite a welll made story in my opinion. My one nitpick is that sometimes it feels like nothing bad will ever happen, it doesn't quite have enough antagonism as I would like. Mostly the good of the film is the Actors, the charm, and the range of feeling embedded in the film. Sometimes it will feel like you are in a cartoon, then the next second we are dealing with the real world. Most of the time a film cannot take that kind of strain, in which the movie's reality is constantly stretched and manipulated, but this one can. The movie is goofy at times, but can have a very serious meaning. Say for example Magorium's actual leaving. Zach Helm played that scene real. As "magical" as it looked, the emotion and feeling was true.
Now on to the acting. The characters like the movie are extremely charming. Dustin Hoffman plays his role as quirky as possible. His role relies on "cuteness" that keeps the audience happy, while revealing the occasional genius and mystery of the character. You will feel affectionate towards him. Now, Natalie Portman's role is usually upright happy with a certain spunk. She also shows a sense of defiance in that she defends the magic of the store with a short debate with the accountant(Jason Bateman). Jason Bateman doesn't believe in magic, so there is that sense of him being bonded and isolated to his own boring habits and beliefs. There is a sadness in that he does not believe, and we kind of share a sort of pity. Also there are other instances when he tries to help, but cannot properly express it, so to the othe characters he comes off wrong. But the idea of a someone not believing in magic and slowly maturing into it shows an interesing contrast and character change, which I really like.
Overall Magorium lacks a little story, but it's characters are interesting and shows a certain maturity and realisticness that most children's movies do not. Mild thumbs up.

Links Popcorn Pics:Sweeney Todd

Okay folks, I've been eying a movie for a while and that movie was Sweeney Todd. This film is Depp's and Burton's 6th collaboration together, the others include "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", "Corpse Bride", "Sleepy Hallow", "Edward Scissorhands", and "Ed Wood". Burton's style is always wacky and imaginative, and honestly...sometimes fails, say for instance Planet of the Apes and the Batman films. Although I still have yet to see a Burton-Depp film that I haven't appreciated, including this one.
Based on a Broadway play the film stars Johnny Depp as Sweeney Todd, Helena Bonham Carter as Mrs. Lovett, and Alan Rickman as Judge Turpin. The setup is this: A man by the name of Benjamen Barker has everything in the world including a wife and child. A jealous judge falsely accuses Ben and he is exiled to Austrailia for 15 years. When Ben returns 15 years later as Sweeney Todd he wants revenge on everyone involved by slitting their throats and hiding their bodies in meat pies to be sold by Mrs. Lovett.
I quite enjoyed myself, but found Burton's style a little different.than usual. The film shows whimsy with a dark side, a really dark side. Even for a Burton film whose main character is a murderous barber bent on revenge, it can really creep you out. The songs are all really fun and charming, while the film itself carries a great storyline about how revenge effects one's life, a tragedy. Also Depp and Carter create quite a fun dynamic and Alan Rickman is a really messed up villian. Killing people is one thing, but the crap he does is just mean. If you don't mind pools of blood squirting everywhere, the fillm features fun songs with a great story. A dark (probably Burton's darkest) bordering charming and whimsical is a match made in heaven...or hell. Thumbs up.

Most Anticipated Film of the Year: The Dark Knight

2008-02-10T22:19:00.000-08:00

Okay folks, I felt that since I have been following this film its important to address it. For starters I am a huge Batman fan. Not just in film history, but in comics, cartoon series, animated movies and so forth. Ever since I first saw Batman(89), Batman Returns, Batman Forever, and the dreaded Batman and Robin I have given up all hope for Batman on the silver screen. Even on my way to "Batman Begins" I wasn't expecting anything great. To my surprise this was a faithful adaption to the comics with a fresh start, and it created a realistic setting for Batman. Ever since that film my allegiance has been given to director Chris Nolan and his amazing cast. I trust this director. Not only is Batman Begins good, but his others are spectacular as well. One that I really liked was one called "The Prestige".

The Dark Knight to me personally, is the most anticipated film of the year. Nolan's brilliant vision of "Batman Begins" won me over and I've been following all the viral campaigns and production news. What does this have do with the current films that are out? Nothing. I simply wanted to tell you that I will be posting important news and updates every once in a while, just the important stuff though. If you want every detail go to a fantastic website called http://www.batman-on-film.com. If you are interested in following other productions involving sci-fi and superheros go here...http://www.superherohype.com/.

Btw, when you make comments involving The Dark Knight, or other movies not out yet, please do keep them spoiler-free. Me and other fans do not want to be spoiled. If you fail to comply, I will be forced to either hit/shank you with a heavy/sharp object.

Only 158 more days to go! Thanks and cheers!

The Beginning of a Beautiful Relationship....A Virtual One That Is...

2008-02-10T20:46:00.000-08:00

Hello friends, family, or strangers that happen to particularly interested in movies. I have a few different announcements to make, so sit tight.

-First of all this blog will cover my personal reviews and opinion of film. It will mostly cover reviews and film analysis, but from time to time I'll post movie news, updates and other miscellaneous junk.
-Second of all, lets talk about the links. If you haven't already seen my sisters blog, I suggest that you do. It revolves around English Literature. Although I'm not a big reader myself, I think I can appreciate it to a certain extent. Not only that, but If anything, English and American literature have had the biggest impact on movies since forever. Not to mention that my sister is a very great writer and extremely insightful. I myself dream of making a movie or working on a project with her someday. The other sites I highly recommend are imdb.com if you aren't already familiar. It is an excellent movie source for movie facts. You should also check out the site for "At the Movies with Ebert and Roeper". If anyone is the master of movie analysis, it's Roger Ebert . He knows the outs and ins of a film. Btw, please pray for him, right now he is undergoing treatment for cancer and his wife has asked for prayers.
-I will be reviewing movies, so lets talk about my grading scale. At the end of a review I will give the film the title a "Pick", which means that I recommend it, or a "Pan", which obviously means that it's terrible.

Thats about it for now, my background and love of movies is a another entry. I hope to meet new acquaintances, friends, and movie lovers over the course of this blog. Hopefully this will be the beginning of a beautiful relationship...