At long last we get the 'Red Band Trailer' for 'Machete' and my God -- it is bloody awesome! After the subdued take on the last trailer what we are treated to this time is even more and extended footage of mostly full on action orientated sequences.
It makes the movie look like 'Planet Terror' on crack!
Seriously check it out for yourselves below...
Now if only the film can live up to its own expectations.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Saturday, July 10, 2010
PREDATORS
DIR: Nimród Antal
(2010)
(Spoilers)
Okay so the gist is as follows...
A moderate group of Earths best bad-ass' are literally dumped on an unknown planet used entirely and specifically as a hunting reserve for the 'Predator' species of alien. In that one sentence alone enter the first two problems with this film.
1. There are too many characters (all of them potentially awesome but implemented only to be killed).
2. It wasn't the 'Predators' home planet.
The movie seemed to try really hard to recreate the 'Assault On Precinct 13' theme of rivals bonding together to fight a common enemy. Which I would have guess Robert Rodriguez borrowed directly from his and Tarantino's 'From Dusk Till Dawn' franchise, though it turns out he wrote the 'Predators' early script before that film. Which leads me to another thing, I had forgotten all about the fact that this is a reworked version of Rodriguez's script (so much so that Rodriguez didn't even receive a writing credit), that to me explains a lot why it didn't have that "edge" I was expecting (such a shame).
I've heard in past unrelated reviews people describing "phoned in performances" (from well known actors) and I never really could grasp that concept as I would personally first blame the script & dialogue. But whilst watching this movie that term really hit home. ALL of the actors in 'Predators' I will say except Adrian Brody gave such boring and unconvincing performances of what should otherwise be kick ass characters. This comment especially becomes relevant regarding the humor; there were so many jokes put in throughout the 106 minutes and I think only one of them actually worked. I had no choice but to cringe every time there was silent reaction to badly delivered punchlines.
A major problem for me was the lighting, why did all of the Predator action scenes have to happen at night? Even after making a point about how long the day lasts on that planet. Many people have criticised the samurai sword fight (do modern day Yakuza outside of the Kill-Bill-Verse still use swordplay)? My problem with it was the choreography and horrendous lighting not the actual concept itself.
For a motion picture where it has been widely stated wanted nothing to do with the AVP films that unfortunately exist and came before, the ending similarly borrows from the final act of 'Alien Vs Predator' albeit with a wasted mud reference to 'Predator.' Working alongside an alien let alone a Predator is so stupid -- The only time this that concept has actually worked was in the brilliant 'District 9.' How the hell does the Predator understand the English language? Brody was barely audible in that scene and it understood him perfectly. I can grasp other higher up positioned of their race understanding (the ones responsible for kidnapping the Prey) but this was just a hunter and a low level bottom of the barrel hunter at that as it turns out the bigger Predators hunt the smaller ones. Stupid.
All of this review has been negative but that doesn't mean I hated the movie I just had very high expectations with Rodriguez's name attached. There was just so much wrong with it that its very hard to ignore. However a lot of the visuals were amazing, the fact that they showed another extra terrestrial species also being hunted was cool. Lawrence Fishburnes crazy character Noland was a nice twist even if his very Matrix-like acting [Matrix being code for sub par] almost ruined the role.
The first act was a 7.5, the second became a 7, then once the credits rolled I really couldn't give this film more than...
6.5/10
(2010)
(Spoilers)
Okay so the gist is as follows...
A moderate group of Earths best bad-ass' are literally dumped on an unknown planet used entirely and specifically as a hunting reserve for the 'Predator' species of alien. In that one sentence alone enter the first two problems with this film.
1. There are too many characters (all of them potentially awesome but implemented only to be killed).
2. It wasn't the 'Predators' home planet.
The movie seemed to try really hard to recreate the 'Assault On Precinct 13' theme of rivals bonding together to fight a common enemy. Which I would have guess Robert Rodriguez borrowed directly from his and Tarantino's 'From Dusk Till Dawn' franchise, though it turns out he wrote the 'Predators' early script before that film. Which leads me to another thing, I had forgotten all about the fact that this is a reworked version of Rodriguez's script (so much so that Rodriguez didn't even receive a writing credit), that to me explains a lot why it didn't have that "edge" I was expecting (such a shame).
I've heard in past unrelated reviews people describing "phoned in performances" (from well known actors) and I never really could grasp that concept as I would personally first blame the script & dialogue. But whilst watching this movie that term really hit home. ALL of the actors in 'Predators' I will say except Adrian Brody gave such boring and unconvincing performances of what should otherwise be kick ass characters. This comment especially becomes relevant regarding the humor; there were so many jokes put in throughout the 106 minutes and I think only one of them actually worked. I had no choice but to cringe every time there was silent reaction to badly delivered punchlines.
A major problem for me was the lighting, why did all of the Predator action scenes have to happen at night? Even after making a point about how long the day lasts on that planet. Many people have criticised the samurai sword fight (do modern day Yakuza outside of the Kill-Bill-Verse still use swordplay)? My problem with it was the choreography and horrendous lighting not the actual concept itself.
For a motion picture where it has been widely stated wanted nothing to do with the AVP films that unfortunately exist and came before, the ending similarly borrows from the final act of 'Alien Vs Predator' albeit with a wasted mud reference to 'Predator.' Working alongside an alien let alone a Predator is so stupid -- The only time this that concept has actually worked was in the brilliant 'District 9.' How the hell does the Predator understand the English language? Brody was barely audible in that scene and it understood him perfectly. I can grasp other higher up positioned of their race understanding (the ones responsible for kidnapping the Prey) but this was just a hunter and a low level bottom of the barrel hunter at that as it turns out the bigger Predators hunt the smaller ones. Stupid.
All of this review has been negative but that doesn't mean I hated the movie I just had very high expectations with Rodriguez's name attached. There was just so much wrong with it that its very hard to ignore. However a lot of the visuals were amazing, the fact that they showed another extra terrestrial species also being hunted was cool. Lawrence Fishburnes crazy character Noland was a nice twist even if his very Matrix-like acting [Matrix being code for sub par] almost ruined the role.
The first act was a 7.5, the second became a 7, then once the credits rolled I really couldn't give this film more than...
6.5/10
Friday, July 9, 2010
Machete Trailer V2 (or is it 3)
So yet again we are treated with another 'Machete' trailer.
I must say Rodriguez really knows his stuff and I have confidence in his name alone. Every time I come across a bit of news regarding this movie I become instantly enthralled in the project -- ever since 'Grindhouse.' The promotional posters matching the ones used for 'Planet Terror' are perfect... In fact take a look for yourselves:
The only thing that does worry me albeit not that much is the co-directing credit to his editing buddy Ethan Maniquis, but we shall wait and see. The trailer below isn't of the highest quality which is strange considering its an official release (granted not posted by 20th Century Fox), it has come under fire for its serious tone, after viewing I didn't really see a problem with it however I will note that the previous 'leaked' humour- filled trailer works better.
Decide...
P.S. Speaking of Rodriguez I plan to see 'Predators' this coming weekend, a film as previously blogged was penned and produced by him. Expect a review post screening.
EDIT: Turns out after viewing 'Predators' that its not his original script, I wonder how much of it they actually used as he doesn't even get a 'Story By' credit.
I must say Rodriguez really knows his stuff and I have confidence in his name alone. Every time I come across a bit of news regarding this movie I become instantly enthralled in the project -- ever since 'Grindhouse.' The promotional posters matching the ones used for 'Planet Terror' are perfect... In fact take a look for yourselves:
The only thing that does worry me albeit not that much is the co-directing credit to his editing buddy Ethan Maniquis, but we shall wait and see. The trailer below isn't of the highest quality which is strange considering its an official release (granted not posted by 20th Century Fox), it has come under fire for its serious tone, after viewing I didn't really see a problem with it however I will note that the previous 'leaked' humour- filled trailer works better.
Decide...
P.S. Speaking of Rodriguez I plan to see 'Predators' this coming weekend, a film as previously blogged was penned and produced by him. Expect a review post screening.
EDIT: Turns out after viewing 'Predators' that its not his original script, I wonder how much of it they actually used as he doesn't even get a 'Story By' credit.
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