Not a flick for the kiddos...

I have a feeling Wander will be looking forward to this movie. I think the body count in the trailer alone was more than any whole movie I've seen all year. NSFW for violence:

Get More: Movie Trailers, Movies Blog

Does whatever a spider can...

The Tobey Maguire Spiderman movies set the bar pretty high, but the images released for the upcoming Spiderman reboot look pretty "amazing." They even went classic with the old-school mechanical web slingers. Awesome. The only negative? We have to wait till the summer of 2012.

Some day, Cyclops will get the love he deserves...

X-Men: First Class seems to imply a movie about the original five X-Men (Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Beast, Iceman, Angel) from the comics, so you can imagine my building disappointment as I read the emerging details of this movie over the past year. Happily, based on some new commentary by producer Bryan Singer, the name may be misleading. The trailer that came out today looks interesting. Let's hope they have some more twists in store to explain how Havoc can be in a movie without his big brother Cyclops existing in the same timeline.

Good to know that a new generation appreciates a good flick when he sees one...

I can just imagine this kid spitting out movie quotes left and right soon:

A perfect combination...

Tron + Daft Punk = Dangerously Cheesy anticipation:

Hey. You want to be a fahmah?...

As I was watching the previous video I posted, I found this collection of Arnold Schwarzenegger quotes. I so miss these kind of movies:

Green Lantern, starring cleavage and, uh, sorry, spaced out for a minute. What was I saying?

When you're a little kid, what would be cooler than getting to go to Comic Con? Getting into the Green Lantern panel? Yeah, pretty cool. Getting picked on to ask a question during the panel? Yup, much cooler. Getting Ryan Reynolds to recite the Green Lantern oath to you? Man, that's pretty cool. I don't know how you can top that. Telling all your friends that you got a clear live view of Blake Lively's boobs? Jackpot.

Seriously, that cleavage was like George Michael's butt. They're mesmerizing. You just can't quite take your eyes off them. The worst thing you can do is try to ignore them. They're a force to be reckoned with.

Yeah, this might be kinda cool...

The new trailer for Tron: Legacy was released at Comic-Con. I have a feeling that the crowd in San Diego erupted like a Yosemitebear choir watching double rainbows when this aired. Whoooooaaa!!! Oh my gah, oh my gah, oh my gahahahahaaaaa!!! What does this meeeeean?!



And for a little more of a tease, six tracks from the Tron: Legacy soundtrack by Daft Punk. This is like a geek's wet dream. Disney certainly knows how to build up some hype:

Daft Punk for Tron Legacy Soundtrack by Hypetrak

Iron Man 2

I have no background on Ironman other than the last movie and that Scratch had a collection. That being said the 2nd one looks pretty sweet.

Maybe Firecracker George should submit his work for the sequel...

Considering how much backstory has been created and is currently in print, you'd think they would have already made a Warhammer 40,000 movie by now. Better late than never, I guess. From their official website:

Codex Pictures revealed today the director and screenwriter for the forthcoming Warhammer 40,000 movie ULTRAMARINES.

The director is Martyn Pick, whose credits include the 2009 film The Age of Stupid, on which he was animation director; London 2012, the promotional film commissioned by Film London and the London Development Agency which was premiered at the Beijing Olympics; the 2001 US Budweiser NBA commercial; and the celebrated BBC promotional trailers for the Euro 2004 soccer tournament. Martyn was chosen to direct Ultramarines for his renowned and highly distinctive ability to fuse live action and animation and the fluid, rich painterly style of his film-making.

The screenplay has been written by someone who needs no introduction to Warhammer 40,000 fans – best-selling author Dan Abnett. Dan has penned more than 25 books for Games Workshop’s Black Library, with total sales in excess of 1.2 million copies. He also works regularly for 2000 AD, Marvel Comics and DC Comics and has recently seen publication of the first of three novels for HarperCollins' new sci-fi, fantasy and horror imprint, Angry Robot.

ULTRAMARINES, a sci-fi thriller employing CGI and state-of-the-art production techniques, is being produced by Codex Pictures in association with Good Story Productions Ltd. The Canadian co-producer is POP6 Studios.

Let's pour some salt into that wound...

I think Wander posted this trailer for Halo 3 awhile back. Obviously, this game has been out for quite some time, so this isn't the reason why I'm posting the video again. I'm really just putting it up to remind us how awesome a big-screen version of Halo might have been with Neill Blomkamp directing a full-on movie since he was in charge of this trailer. And when you see his movie District 9 this weekend, you'll probably be cursing Microsoft even more for screwing the potential movie deal up a couple of years ago. Oh, what could have been.

Never say die...

Saw a post about this on Pop Candy. As part of Empire magazine's 20th anniversary, they got the cast of The Goonies back together for a photo shoot.  I found this especially nostalgic considering all of us here at the Kool-Aid Gang were probably about the same age as the Goonies when this movie came out.  

And how is it that all the plump kids back in the day grow up to be lean and skinny?  That's "Chunk" sitting under Richard Donner on the right.  

Yo Joe! I guess there's no way to say that and feel cool...

My 11 year old nostalgic brain that had no sense of realism or physics is liking this trailer of the new G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra movie scheduled for release in August 2009. My 35 year old brain is thinking this is the biggest waste of a potentially lucrative film idea since Highlander II: The Quickening. Looking back on my old posts, I reminded myself that I owe everyone here in the Kool-Aid Gang a round of beers if this movie truly becomes the stinker film of the year.  I guess I may try saving up the money now.  Note the way both of the film titles above are worded--the need for colons in titles is never a reassuring sign of quality.  It's not the sure sign of a bad movie (e.g. Terminator 2: Judgement Day was, in some respects, a better film than Terminator), but G.I. Joe is already breaking out one for the first movie.  Uh oh.  

He's super cool and knows kung fu...

I was thinking Watchmen or Star Trek was my most anticipated movie for 2009, but after seeing this trailer for a low budget movie recently picked up by Sony Pictures at Sundance this month, I'm revising my list--BLACK DYNAMITE! A few seconds of NSFW nudity and occassional profanity:

My name is Deja Vu. Haven't we met somewhere before?

The Academy Awards nominees were announced today, and I guess it wasn't a surprise that The Curious Case of Benjamin Button got an Oscar nomination for Best Picture. And considering Forrest Gump won before, I figure Button must be a lock.  I still say David Fincher's movie was nice to watch, but didn't strike a deep chord with me.  What am I missing that everyone else seems to see?

And I can't believe The Dark Knight didn't pick up a Best Picture nod and Revolutionary Road was practically overlooked.  The Academy Awards suck.

The Curious Case of Forrest Gump - watch more funny videos

Swany's Top 10 Movies of 2008...

So this will be the third year in a row that the cinema has disappointed me.  Most of the movies that I thought would give me geeky glee (e.g. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, The X-Files: I Want to Believe) kind of fell flat, and it continues to be a long wait for that next masterpiece film that will be remembered for years and years to come.  That being said, there were some standout films that I enjoyed this year:

1. [Addendum] Slumdog Millionaire - When I initially put this list together, I hadn't seen this film.  Original plot, excellent score, moving romance, uplifting message.  Forget what I said about this being a horrible year for masterpiece films that I'll remember for years--this movie was wonderful.  It makes me wonder why people like Titanic so much when there's movies like this around that are so much better.
2. The Dark Knight - This has perhaps redefined what a comic-book movie can be.  Comic book geeks have always made the argument that certain comics and graphic novels could be considered great literature, and this film proves that they can be inspirations for great films.
   
3. Iron Man - Not only was this a spectacular film to watch, it was actually fun without being stupid.  This was almost on par with the great superhero movies like Superman, Spiderman, and The Dark Knight, except the final climactic battle was a bit of a letdown.
   
4. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly - The closest thing to art on film I've seen in awhile.  Very moving, and reminds us all not to take life for granted.
   
5. WALL*E - Another magical slamdunk from Pixar, and shows the power of the moving picture to evoke strong emotions without even needing dialogue.
   
6. There Will Be Blood - "I drink your milkshake!"  It's worth seeing again and again for Daniel Day-Lewis alone.
   
7. Definitely, Maybe - A sweet romantic comedy that didn't resort to the usual formula.
   
8. Body of Lies - Reinforces the impersonal nature the war on terror has become to most of us here in the United States, while it's a very personal and daily experience for those abroad in the Middle East.
   
9. In Bruges - Probably a movie you missed (and even one that I only saw because there wasn't anything else remotely interesting at the theaters at the time).  It's humorous, a little violent, and very entertaining--I highly recommending renting it.  
10. Tell No One - Everyone tries to emulate Hitchcock, but this actually got it right.  
    
11. The Reader - And not just because Kate Winslet is naked for half the film.  When you turn a blind eye to atrocities you know are happening, can you really claim innocence?  Some overriding questions that seem applicable not only to the Germans during World War II, but all of us who witness evil in the world and perhaps do nothing to stop it.

Potential movies that I didn't get a chance to see yet but might have cracked the Top 10:

Frost/Nixon

Slumdog Millionaire

The Wrestler

Worst movie (perhaps ever):  The Happening

Granted, I had just watched that SNL short "Mark Wahlberg Talks To Animals," and busted out laughing when Marky Mark uttered his first lines in the movie.  But when he starts actually talking TO A PLANT?!  

Biggest surprise:  Twilight

I wasn't dragged kicking and screaming to see this film, but I wasn't expecting much. Surprisingly, I thought the vampire angle was kind of clever for an abstinence/sex can wait message.

Biggest disappointment:  (Tie) Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull vs. Quantum of Solace vs. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Indiana Jones and James Bond are perhaps my favorite franchise film characters of all time.  I enjoyed both films, but neither seemed to live up to expectations.  In the case of Benjamin Button, it was a great looking film that was entertaining to watch, but never really moved me emotionally as much as I think it was trying to.  Whatever overriding message they were trying to convey was lost on me. 

What I'm looking forward to in 2009:

1. Watchmen - I watched a Japanese trailer on the internet recently, and was even more stoked.  Let's just hope 20th Century Fox doesn't muck it up and keep this from being released.
   
2. Star Trek - I'm so ready to come back to the Star Trek universe.
   
3. X-Men Origins: Wolverine - This will either be really good or really bad.  
   
4. Terminator Salvation - I'm usually not a big fan of these franchise sequels that I feel have run too long (I thought they should have stopped at Terminator 2), but truth be told, I think I sort of have a man-crush on Christian Bale.  Actually, I think my wife has a crush on the guy, too--is that weird?
   
5. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen - Giant f@$&'in robots!
   
6. Nottingham - Ridley Scott, Russell Crowe, Robin Hood.  'Nuff said.
   
7. Public Enemies - Michael Mann, Christian Bale, Johnny Depp, John Dillinger.  'Nuff said, part 2.  Can anyone think of a Michael Mann movie that wasn't good?

So what do you think? Agree? Disagree?

Is Christian Bale the new action hero?

I tend to think of Christian Bale as a serious dramatic actor for some reason, but when you think about his film resume, it's surprising that's he's been in so many action-oriented mainstream movies.  Batman Begins/The Dark Knight, 3:10 to Yuma, Reign of Fire, Equilibrium, and soon as John Conner in Terminator: Salvation.  It's like he's becoming a modern day Arnold Schwarzenegger or Sylvester Stallone, but with better acting skills.  Anywho, I thought making a Terminator 3 was a bit of overkill for the franchise, and wasn't thinking Terminator: Salvation would amount to much more (especially given that it's directed by McG), but this trailer looks pretty awesome:

Return of the Trekkies (or is that Trekkers?)

Anyone catch the trailer for the new Star Trek movie coming out next summer?  I've always thought Star Trek had the potential to overcome its nerdy reputation as a franchise only loved by supergeeks.  Then again, I think I'm still in denial as to how much of a dork I am.  Anywho, in this day and age when nerdy and geeky has become hip and cool, perhaps this is the perfect time for a Star Trek resurgence:

John Williams is the man...

Yeah, yeah.  This is kind of nerdy.  Lemon has been giving me the eye as I've watched this video like, "OMG.  My husband is a dork."  That's OK, 'cause I think it's pretty cool:

It's been a long time since I was excited about Star Trek...

Here are a couple of pics from J.J. Abrams' version of the early years of Star Trek that doesn't come out till May 2009. I was wondering how Karl Urban would work as Dr. McCoy, but damn if he doesn't look kind of like Bones.

I'm disappointed, though, that I see no Felicity alums nor any evidence that Greg Grunberg will make a cameo in this film.  Maybe J.J. has finally cut the cord.  More links to other pics here.