A Stab in the dark leads to a Scream in the light

Okay when I first heard about this project last year a lot of nostalgia hit me. Wes Craven has finally officially announced 'Scream 4.' With it comes all the original surviving characters.




My one hope is that Craven is able to bring the franchise out of its comedic direction. There was something so sinister about the first movie that was lacking in the two follow-ups. By the time of it's release (April 15, 2011) it will be 15 years since Scream and 11 years since Scream 3. This is a huge amount of time to pass between sequels but at least to me a fortunate time frame that the franchise should hopefully benefit from.

Writer of the first two Kevin Williamson is back behind the scriptwriting, which is either a curse or a blessing, but I guess since it is his baby it seems only right for him to continue what he started.

But the biggest question still remains.... Will Deputy 'Dewey' Riley still have a limp?

For your consideration... SCREAM 4.

Too soon, or not soon enough?

Rodriquez answers the call (though I really wish he would stop these side projects and make Sin City 2).

The official 'Predators' trailer has been released, and what we get is an eclectic group of varying actors thrown into the jungle landscape of the Predator home world.

The first thing I thought when originally coming across the production of this film is the title immediately reminded me of 'Aliens.' I know this is said to be a 'reboot' but I feel from everything I've seen and read (including this trailer) that it serves better as a sequel. So right off the bat it has at least to me a James Cameron homage.

Secondly I've always been a fan of Robert Rodriguez ever since his collaboration with Tarantino on 'From Dusk Till Dawn.' Originally he was meant to direct, but I think we still have a good chance of success due in part for the use of his original screenplay (even if it has been modified) and his watchful eye with him serving as executive producer.

The only thing I'm disappointed about is the jungle landscape. Don't get me wrong it looks cool and all and defiantly worked in the first film, albeit on Earth. What I mean is that as awful as Aliens vs. Predators was (and boy was it shit) they briefly showed an interesting look at a civilized city; a concrete jungle that I can only hope they will include in this feature film (though I doubt).

Have a look below.

WTF?

Okay, so I'm not entirely sure what to say about this post.

Lady Gaga's video clip for 'Telephone' is so strange and yet refreshing at the same time. I'm not sure if its the Tarantino-esque nature including the resurfaced cameo of the 'Pussy Wagon' (after Kill Bill and it's reincarnation in Death Proof), the inside jokes or, the blink-and-you'll-miss-it Michael Jackson homage but this 9 minute epic comes together so well.

Be warned though, it seems they had a casting call for the ugliest people in North America, and the unfortunate appearance of dancing 'tree trunks.' But hey! That's why it's called art. LOL.

Bit O' Fun

You know I was just discussing this very scene last night and now I've randomly come across it which is odd, but I feel the urge to post it.

All you pencil pushers enjoy.

EDIT: Well no longer can we all enjoy this (what must have been all of say 8 sec clip) 20th Century Fox has claimed copyright to its usage. No, really!



EDIT II: I have come across another "extended" version of the clip. So enjoy before its gone (again)!

THE MAN OF IRON part deux

Okay so the second Iron Man 2 trailer came out a couple of days ago, but I just now got around to looking it up. And boy does it look amazing.

Whiplash, Black Widow, War Machine are all present and oh of course the man who is contractually obliged to appear in everything Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury (who had been previously shown speaking with Tony Stark after the end credits of 'Iron Man').

Anyway check it out below if you haven't already and enjoy...

The Prince of Creed

The second 'Prince Of Persia' trailer is out.

Based on the video game franchise of the same name what we get is what looks to me as a giant cut scene from Assassins Creed. The shot of him as a young child made me cringe and think of that awful flashback storyline in 'G.I. Joe.'

Although we all know how trailers can be misleading and I still hold out for some hope with the noticeable positive of the two lead actors, Jake Gyllenhaal and Gemma Arterton.

Here it is...

TRANSFORMERS

DIR: Michael Bay
(2007)

You know there was a lot of high hopes when Steven Spielberg announced the live action adaptation of Hasbro's much loved cartoon and toy-line 'Transformers.' Little by little we got new information. some good, some bad, some different. Global outrage was heard when Michael Bay was picked to direct, myself included; I thought there and then this project was doomed. Then they started changing the appearance and voices of certain Transformers to geld into this modern world of ours. What was becoming of our hopes?

As it turns out I wouldn't have wanted anyone else to have made the movie, except maybe Spielberg himself. Bay was given a near perfect script, that not even he could stuff up, the visuals were outstanding his action orientated mindset really helped give the audience exactly what they were paying for.

Shia Labeouf plays Sam Witwicky a fast talking, hormone driven teenager who lives only for himself and the hope of getting the girl of his dreams. His dad has just bought him his first car, a completely run down old yellow Camaro, but Sam couldn't be happier as he now has acquired the first step to getting the girl, a ride. Unbeknownst to him however is this isn't any ordinary vehicle, no not even close, you see this car happens to be Bumblebee, an Autobot from Cybertron.

The Autobots (lead by the ever almighty Optimus Prime) and the Decepticons (headed by the evil Megatron) have been at war on their distant home planet for eons and now both have traveled a long way to Earth each trying to find and covet the Allspark, an energized matrix cube able to give it possessor ultimate power being able to create an endless army of Transformers out of inanimate electrical objects. But where the story really comes into its own is with Sam's interaction with not only these sentient aliens but also with Mikaela Banes (the High School love interest) played by the ever so beautiful Megan Fox; their chemistry together onscreen was perfectly expressed.



Sam's parents were absolutely terrifically cast and Josh Duhamels Capt. Lennox character was a nice added perspective to the warring chaos. Having also shown the story from the side of the "hackers" helped to bring the storyline together and blessed us with some nice eye candy in the form of Australian actress Rachael Taylor.

I'm aware a lot of people or 'fanboys' if you will, were upset and/or disappointed with the outcome due to so many details being changed but I just feel that what the writers came up with did the (at the time - dying) franchise justice. Some complaints of my own would involve comments regarding how many of the fast paced action scenes seemed to blur, especially in the final battle where if you were to blink you may miss out on seeing a characters demise. Also too many of the Transformers were silver/chrome which at times becomes annoying in following who's who. Lastly I would have liked to have seen more of Sam's best friend Miles, a character shown extremely briefly and whom gets ditched way too soon IMO.

8/10

Déjà vu on Elm St.

So that image from Hollywood's latest remake may look cool to some people but not so much to us faithful to Wes Craven's original masterpiece 'A Nightmare on Elm Street.' After the uninspiring Freddy Vs. Jason I thought doing this remake couldn't really hurt and having not seen the remake of Friday the 13th still held out hope for this movie. That is until I saw the trailer and what I got is literal scene for scene shots from the original.

Perhaps this idea could have never worked out, though what I will mention is Fred Krueger's burnt flesh looks a helluva lot better than the old prosthetic mask. And speaking of his name I really hope he is referred to as 'Fred' as was done so in the original and not the sequels comedic 'Freddy.'

The tagline is 'Don't Fall Asleep' - I just really hope I don't ;)

Check out the trailer for yourself below...

Bring me the head of Sam Raimi

Why won't Sam Raimi just die already? He has never made a good film to date and probably never will. And just now when I hear Hollywood may be resurrecting 'The Shadow' - Raimi's name is mentioned. I can't explain 'what evil lurks in the hearts of men today,' but I can tell you what evil lurks in Sam Raimi's heart: SHIT FILMS.





You know 'Drag Me To Hell' was actually looking to be his only good film, up until that God awful seance scene that would make even Casper blush with embarrassment sent the remainder tumbling uncontrollably down a landslide.

Kirsten Dunst is 'Turning Japanese'

That's right, well this is actually pretty old news now, but I feel it still deserves a mention... So enjoy this 'WTF?' moment brought to you by none other than Hollywood putz McG.

Note: Not sure how long this video will be available due to copyright, many have been pulled offline thus far.

THE ROAD

DIR: John Hillcoat
(2009)

'The Road' is just that; a bleak and endless road, a journey for self preservation in the midst of the uncontrollable breakdown of civility and civilisation. The post-apocalyptic world in which we're unfairly presented offers little to no redemption for the 'good people.' Between the destructive nature of what can only be described as a literal Hell on Earth are the survivors, specifically a young boy and his ever endearing protective father who offers up this to say of his only son: "If he is not the word of God, then God never spoke."

Adapted from the novel of the same title by the author of 'No Country For Old Men' Cormac McCarthy, we are shown at least to me realistically what would happen if there was no food, little shelter, and all wildlife and crops had been wiped completely from the world. What is one left to do, it all seems to come down to instinct: survive. But why? Why bother living in such a ridiculous existence? Many did give up, and what was the biggest emotional impact for me, an exact and pure example of this is shown midway in the film. Heading south the father and his son are determined to reach the coast just in the hope of some sort of salvation being there. But along the way all the find is hardship, they are constantly watching their backs. Many have turned to cannibalism to survive, gangs of 'bad people' roam the landscape looking for people to murder, rape and devour. It is shown many times that suicide is the preferred option over capture.

'The Road' features two of the best actors in Hollywood, Viggo Mortensen and Charlize Theron. Mortensen's performance is outstanding, whereas Charlize Theron's role was way to short for any real praise. This is the kind of film that should have been made 10 - 15 years ago but luckily provides a refreshing experience amongst the backwards step Hollywood has seemed to have taken in recent years. Though, that's not to say there isn't an abundance of good films being released just that I should be able to sit back and enjoy a 2 hour slow moving drama about the day to day struggle of survival and this is exactly what I got.

Before viewing this film I was made aware of a lot of religious elements. It fits really well within the context and in my opinion is not overdone as I was lead to believe, and actually challenges the ideas of spirituality. It shows us that man's belief in God and an afterlife is all he has left when faced with death and destruction. And without such hope there is nothing, a justification the 'bad people' would surely need.

Many times during the screening I couldn't help but feel correlations between this and M. Night Shyamalan's 'The Happening' which I am aware many despise. But I guess what appears to be the main difference is that instead of nature being intent on killing humans, 'The Road' offers us a movie in which nature is killing itself.

There isn't much to take away from this movie, but that's not a bad thing considering the subject matter. What we are given is an accurate portrayal of what would happen if you were to wake up early, look out your window and witnessed Armageddon.

7/10

LEON (THE PROFESSIONAL)

DIR: Luc Besson
(1994)

Every once and a while a little piece of perfection comes along, a single dose of immaculate creativity mixed in with some sort of archaic yet neo-realism which only exists in the smile or teardrop or even to sound contradictory, lifeless existence that is presented onscreen (yes, even the positioning of a dead body should be correctly mastered). Luc Besson has evidently provided us with a unique undertaking that is delivered with a no holds barred approach.

Cinematic magic, awesome storytelling and last but not least the most brilliant acting I have ever seen coming from a young Natalie Portman. All three have been gracefully given to the world in this poetic French effort better known internationally outside of Europe as 'The Professional.'

I am aware that alot of people like to criticise this masterpiece for a number of obscene reasons... for example Gary Oldman's "overacting" and disbelief regarding any given circumstances the movie may rely on. I personally believe his performance to be spot on for the character in which he plays; unfortunately I'll choose not to go into it as to not give away a crucial spoiler that presents itself early on in the film.

Now... onto some criticism of my own. Oh wait I have none. The only movie in my opinion next to Terminator 2 to have been made so amazingly well that every department technical or otherwise is complete, absolute and flawless.

As briefly mentioned above, it is a French production however the film is set in New York City. Leon an immigrant from Italy inadvertently becomes the protector and mentor of Mathilda, a naive yet highly intelligent young girl who loses everything in the span of about 10 minutes. He himself is a professional "cleaner" and lone wolf who assassinates targets for money and has no interest in caring for this child when she reaches out to him for help, yet through a short period of time somehow becomes her saviour and greatest hero. Mathilda looks up to Leon, he is the family she never felt she had, he is everything to her and slowly she becomes very close to him also.

'Leon' is essentially greatly inspired thematically by Besson's former masterpiece 'Nikita.' It replaces the young chaotic adult with a child, but offers us the opportunity to witness how far someone is willing to go once they have lost absolutely everything. Mathilda isn't old enough to fully understand the concept of love and yet she wants to learn to kill.

This is the kind of film Hollywood could never conceptually pull off even in their wildest efforts. The screenplay is unmatched; the dialogue and depth within the main characters is outstanding, and the directing beautifully compliments it all. I can honestly say that if 'Leon' were to have been an American production it would definitely have had so much importance and depth removed and/or replaced with less controversial elements. The fact that it was cut for an American audience is proof enough that it could never (as is) have been a successful Hollywood production with results on the same level.

The casting in this film is superb. The movie no doubt will have come out alot differently if it were not for the three key principal actors; the unmatched Jean Reno, the unforgivable Gary Oldman and the everlasting important grace of Natalie Portman. Lastly, Eric Serra's music fits superbly well within context and greatly compliments the displayed emotions throughout as it always does in Besson's films.

Every time you watch this film you will most certainly discover something new. Perfectly clocking in at over 2 hours you will find it impossible to find any better in the genre.

10/10