Monthly Archives: April 2012

Alien: The Return of Ripley Part 4

Posted on by

Ripley passed the days in relative seclusion aboard the ship as she opted not to take advantage of Cryosleep. With the new drive technology, the Sulaco was expected to be at their destination in less than two weeks and with more than adequate supplies on board, it seemed a far better option to stay awake and prepare for what might lay ahead months deal with the nightmares that could possibly be waiting for her.

As they grew closer and closer to their destination, what little sleep Ripley could get was marred by horrific images and nightmares that seem to grow more intense and frequent with each passing day. Hicks have also opted not to use Cryosleep and visited her daily in order to go about their plan. Ripley was surprised to see that Bishop had accompanied them on that mission.

Hicks had stated that he wanted someone familiar along when he took command of the vessel and made sure to have Bishop repaired and upgraded as aside from Ripley, he believed in drugs the only person to which he could trust fully. It seemed odd at first think of the mechanical being as a person but Bishop had shown a range of loyalty and dedication that surpassed any flesh and blood being he had ever served with and in light of what may lay ahead he wanted every available option at his disposal.

Bishop informed them that inside the sector that they were quickly approaching lay a vast complex that through various covert means he was able to ascertain that it was a high level prison facility. Hicks found this to be very odd as did Ripley who thought it seemed like a lot of expense to ship and house criminals in such a remote location when there were maximum-security prisons much closer.

Bishop also informed them of a massive structure that lay just beyond the detainment facilities which would likely be the point of origin for the transmission that Ripley received.

Since they weren’t exactly coming in with an open invitation, Hicks plans to tell the crew that they were on a top-secret surveillance mission where their objective was to gather any and all data related to their surroundings and to return without detection at all costs. They’ve told not to initiate hostilities but protect themselves at all costs and at all possible to eliminate the use of deadly force against any civilians that they might encounter.

Hicks opted to send one drop ship down with Ripley and himself as well as small band troopers with the remainder the battalion and Bishop on board the ship.

They were instructed to check in every two hours and that should contact be lost for any reason their attempt to survey the situation and take whatever actions are deemed appropriate but first and foremost set themselves in the ship at all costs.

As she secured herself into her seat, Ripley recalled her last descent and a Marine transport and as she looked around the assembled group she thought back with a touch of sadness to Vasquez, Dietrich, Frost, Crowe, and even Hudson and the others who accompanied her and how full of confidence they had been despite her warnings of what lay in wait.
As the ship descended, a massive facility came into view. Had it not been for the advanced optics aboard the ship it could easily have been missed by the blind eye as the dark construction seem to fit perfectly to the background making it for all intents invisible unless you are standing within a block of instruction.

The team sent down the other side of a ridge and began donning their EVA suits for the journey to and from the facility. Should anyone on the ground question their arrival Hicks was prepared to call it a routine check of a possible distress signal. It seemed to be the easiest explanation for an appearance of their Marine unit and one that could give them a bit of deniability at least until someone attempted to verify their orders with a higher up in the chain of command.

Hicks was a risk that since Ripley had risked her life to save Hicks and his fellow Marines in the past he felt jeopardizing his career was a small price to pay.

Upon entering an access port, Hicks had his comtech Anderson attempt to open the door and bypass any alarms. The youthful tech was extremely good with electronics so much so that he quickly rose to the top of the class and it was considered a bit of a coup when he was assigned to help test and maintain the new systems on ship.

Anderson commented on the extremely high level of encryption that was well above even the most secure facilities yet he was as good as his reputation and in a few moments he had door opened.

Cautiously the team entered unsure of what to expect. Anderson and his fellow Marines flanked Ripley and as was this fashion, Hicks took point.

They made their way into a larger facility which appeared to be little more than a storage chamber. The dimly lit area gave the impression of the warehouse and didn’t seem anything out of the ordinary.

As teamwork toward the back room they passed racks of supplies ranging from foodstuffs to power cells, certainly nothing out of the way for a facility much less prison. An extremely thick steel door blocked their way and once again Anderson with his technical expertise was able to open the door which led to a much larger chamber. Although dark, but Ripley and Hicks saw immediately set them on edge. Hicks made a mental note to write commendations for the assembled members of his team is not one of them broke ranks or lost it in the face of what they saw.

Racks and racks of horrific looking creatures lined the walls in secure confinement.
A closer examination showed what appeared to be a horrific hybrid between humans and the Xenomorphs. If Anderson was able to patch into a terminal after several minutes of deep research discovered a file deeply encoded named “The Darwin Project”.

Further examination of the file indicated the company directive to infuse maximum-security prisoners with augmented DNA in an attempt to create a new breed of soldiers capable of combat missions in the most hostile environments.

Has Ripley and Hicks began to process information, their thoughts were disturbed by a blaster rifle fire which quickly took down three of the members of their team and force the three remaining Marines to return fire blindly amongst the dark and racks. Laying down suppressing fire they quickly made their way to another sealed door to which Anderson deftly did his magic. The intensity of the gunfire was getting closer and thankfully gigantic doors opened just in time. Upon entering the room, Hicks had Anderson sealed doors with the complex encryption that should allow them to buy some time.

Just when they thought they were safe for a moment, a bloodcurdling hiss originated from the far side of the room. Quickly on guard the team raised their weapons, Ripley included, and prepared to face what lay ahead. Hicks toggled the light switch to see secured before him gigantic creature, one that raised its swept head toward the team and upon seeing Ripley let out a long and fierce scream of pure anger and hatred as this was not the first time that the Queen had encountered Ripley and she had a score to settle.

….To be continued.

Kevin Smith: Live From Behind

Posted on by

On Thursday, February 2nd, master entertainer Kevin Smith (of Jay and Silent Bob fame) hosted a three-hour special event, broadcast into theaters all across the country. Smith is a unique and unconventional celebrity in that his indie films have all become cult classics, catapulting him to stardom. For those who know him, there are few filmmakers who can match his talent. For those who don’t know him, he’s just another wacky fat man.

Live from a theater in Toronto, this show featured the first one-and-a-half hours as his regular podcast, “Jay and Silent Bob Get Old.” As expected, Jason Mews (Jay) accompanied him on stage.

This segment was nothing more than a conversation between two old friends, about anything and everything under the sun; they never seemed to be working off any prompts, instead simply focusing on the discussion. They discussed pets, oral sex noises, first sexual encounters, wins, losses, hopes and dreams. There may also have been a rather long stint regarding tortoise gay sex.

The second portion of the show was the Q&A session, where Jason Mews was much less involved. They alternated between questions from the auditorium and questions from Twitter, read by Mews and answered by Smith.

Many of the in-house questions were accompanied by gifts such as glasses, flags, money, etc. The live guests typically had robust and dynamic questions, whereas the ones from Twitter tended to be much less engaging. This is presumably due to the fact that the live audience was not limited to 140 characters.

Perhaps my favorite part of the evening was when one of the live guests asked Kevin Smith which question he most commonly received. Kevin’s response was that there was no one question, but more to the point that he was asked strange questions people like Martin Scorsese would never get. I won’t spoil the surprise, but it had my theater rolling with laughter.

Kevin also spoke, in response to a query from Twitter, about “Hit Somebody,” his upcoming film about hockey (Smith’s second love). The most significant statement he made regarding this film was his claim that it would be his last.

The only real lackluster part of the event was the pre-show entertainment, which was an older Q&A session with just Kevin Smith in an auditorium. My lack of enjoyment from this portion was due to the profanity-censoring bleeps. The all-too-familiar tone was so frequent that it was more out of place and disturbing than any of the inevitable harsh language. It should also be noted that there was no censorship during the event itself, which was good. Had there been, viewers would likely have heard a single, three-hour-long bleep.

All in all, this was a very enjoyable event for any Kevin Smith fan, and it is highly recommended by this reviewer.

4 of 5 stars.

Edited by: Jeff Boehm

Pirates! A Band of Misfits

Posted on by

The Movie begins with two pirates fighting in the dining hall, then enters the not so famous Captain Pirate with his long wavy beard filled with curls. The pirates were fighting over what the best part of being a pirate was, the looting, no the booty, no Captain Pirate says its ” HAM NIGHT” followed by a cherry song! Captain Pirate is a friendly man of the sea with his crew filled of pirates just as friendly and a “parrot” named Polly.

The Captain decides to enter the Pirate of the Year contest and docks at port to sign up. With voices of Salma Hayek and Jeremy Piven as his main competitors to be the one with the most treasure, the Captain must up his game if he wants to get more booty to win the Pirate of the year award so the Captain sets sail on a quest to take over ships and get his treasure. Running in to nothing but disappointment along the way he finally comes upon the ship of the scientist Charles Darwin on a quest of his own. Charles wants to find the most rarest of creatures to bring back to Queen Victoria for the top scientist to have a private audience with the Queen.

When he meets the Captain Pirate he sees that Polly is not a parrot but a dodo bird, the rarest find of all. The Captain goes back with Charles to enter the contest in hopes of winning and getting the biggest treasure.

Filled with surprises, catchy songs and a monkey that speaks through cards this movie is not only fun for the whole family but well worth seeing in 3D The colors pop on screen and guarantee laughs. Good Family Fun.

3 out of 5 stars.

SAFE

Posted on by

Greetings & Salutations Fellow Movie Connoisseurs!

I’ve returned with another movie review for y’all and it should certainly come as no surprise Whatsoever that my review covers the latest edition to Jason Statham’s growing resume of action Movies. After 3 delays for its U.S. release, “SAFE” has finally arrived.
“Safe” is first and foremost an action film as one would expect from Statham
But somehow he always seems to up his game with even better actions scenes which are brilliantly Choreographed.

Some of which will have you laughing at the ineptness of his enemies
Or to the point where you’ll cringe at the very thought of the pain the characters might be going through. But as always, it’s worth it. This time, they’ve even thrown in more of a storyline and a plot twist or two that would peak Tarentino’s interest.

From writer/director by Boaz Yakin and executive producer Kevin Spacey and producer Lawrence Bender (Of Pulp Fiction and Inglorious Bastards fame), Jason Statham stars as Luke Wright. A garbage man turned second-rate cage fighter and former NYPD officer. Upon leaving the NYPD after testifying against corrupt NYPD detectives, Luke drifts from garbage man to Mixed Martial Arts fighter.

In order to support his pregnant wife. Upon winning a fight that he was supposed to lose the bad guys decides to make an example of him by brutally murdering his wife and unborn child. If this was not bad enough, the bad guys then tell Luke that they will murder anyone he comes into contact with as is illustrated when they later kill a homeless man Luke gave his shoes to.

Meanwhile, Mei (Catherine Chan) a young math prodigy, is forced to be a ‘counter’ for a Chinese triad (in essence instead of using computers, the triad forces her to memorize everything from money for drug transactions to police payoffs etc.), in order to keep the triad from killing her mother.

Upon learning of the death of her mother, Mei escapes but with the knowledge of the entire organization retained in her memory the triad hunts her down through the streets of New York City while also trying to avoid the same thugs who terrorize Luke as they have discovered who she is and want to use everything she knows to bring down their competitors.

Luke, mourning the loss of his wife and unborn child nearly commits suicide by jumping in front of a subway when he witness Mei being chased through the subway by the same goons who killed his wife.

After realizing that he is the only one who can protect Mei, Luke begins a brutal rampage through New York City battling all who stand in the way and pose a threat to Mei.

To sum up the movie briefly it is Grand Theft Auto meets “The Transporter” in New York City
minus the sex, drugs, and the modified Audi with the V-12 rocket engine.

There are plenty of shootouts, fight scenes, car chases, in even some intrigue to keep you thinking. A most excellent movie if you’re looking to take a break from the sunny weather and take refuge in a cool air-conditioned movie theater as the film is more than worth spending your hard earned cash on.

4 stars out of 5

The Raven

Posted on by

In this dark thriller, Edgar Allan Poe (John Cusack) is forced to assist a young detective to track down a mad serial killer when it becomes obvious that the inspiration for the murders are Poe’s own literary works.

This fictionalized account of the last days of Edgar Allan Poe’s life begins with the brutal murder of a mother and daughter. Inspector Emmett Fields (Luke Evans) finds something oddly familiar about the crime scene and his research leads him to a story written by Poe. A struggling writer on his way to becoming the local drunkard, Poe is brought in for questioning just as another murder is discovered, again one that mirrors one of the author’s grisly stories.

Because it’s his stories that the murderer’s recreating, Poe becomes Field’s reluctant assistant in hunting down the serial killer. But when it appears Poe’s fiancee (Alice Eve) may become the murderer’s next victim, the stakes become even greater, and now it’s the murderer who’s inspiring the writer and inventor of the detective story genre to do some of his best sleuthing work.

While the cat-and-mouse element of the movie kept me in suspense, the movie itself was void of the dark drama one would expect of a movie about Edgar Allen Poe, even a fictionalized account. Even with the detailed attention to the look of 19th century Baltimore, it wasn’t enough to help Cusack’s lightweight portrayal of Poe. Many times I wondered if Evans would have been better cast as the grim, moody writer.

What I actually appreciated most about the movie was the lyrical dialogue, the clever, poetic word usage of yesteryear. Although, there were some minor slips that made me wonder if the scriptwriter or actor forgot which century they were in. I did not have high expectations for this movie, so it truly did not disappoint. With a 111 minute runtime, “The Raven” has just enough mystery to keep one guessing, however it felt a bit rushed at the end. Up against more lively competition this weekend, this may be one to save for a DVD rental.

2.5 out of 5

The Five Year Engagement

Posted on by

Based upon my past experiences with Judd Apatow movies, I knew what I was in for: witty banter, great “one-liners”, and lots of “oh dear god” moments. And, as with all of Apatow’s movies, I wasn’t disappointed.

The movie follows the love story of Tom (Jason Segel) and Violet (Emily Blunt). Tom is your typical Jewish geeky guy while Violet is your educated British ideal. Both meet at a New Year’s Eve party dressed as their respective made-up superheros and an unlikely romance blossoms forth. Where the movie set forth with the sweet set up of their engagement, from there it follows an utterly unique and random path. For one reason or another, their wedding is postponed and delayed. Family deaths ensue, hunting escapes and knitted sweaters happen, toes are lost, but, as with all romantic-comedies, the happy ending prevails.

Segel and Chris Pratt provide for excellent witty banter and dramatics while Blunt and Alison Brie make for a fantastic sisterly pair. Regardless if you cry from the cheesy sweetness of it all or from the hilarity of Segel’s antics, this movie provides for great entertainment all around.

I give it 4 out of 5 stars and yes, I will be using many of the movie’s quotes as part of my daily repertoire.

Interview with Comedian Rex Navarrete

Posted on by

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Rex Navarrete about his careeer and his upcoming shows, one of which will bring him to Stand Up Live in Phoenix. I have caught Rex twice prior and have always loved his unique and honest look at the Filipino culture. I want to thank Rex for taking the time to answer some questions for us.

What inspired you to go into comedy and what reaction did your family have when you told them?

I’ve always been a comedy fan since I was very young. Shows like Saturday Night Live, Monty Python’s Flying Circus and Sanford and Son were some of my favorite shows on television. I loved them more than cartoons on Saturday morning. I didn’t discover standup comedy until much later. I just knew that I loved this medium that made everyone laugh. Then I got into Eddie Murphy, that got the ball rolling.

The family never knew that I’d take this seriously. I started dabbling in it in college and took it seriously in a comedy competition in 1991 called “The Color of Funny”. There was my picture in the article on the front of the style section of the SF Chronicle. That made it real. The family was shocked and worried. They still haven’t gotten over it.

We’re curious to know what makes a comedian laugh. Any particular show, movie, or other comedians who make you laugh?

These days, I’m not watching a whole lot of comedy on TV or in the movies. I’m a big Bill Burr and Louis CK. fan. My kids make me laugh and that’s enough.

Last year you mentioned to us about making stand-up comedy grow in the P.I. What would you say is the state of comedy there, compared to a few years ago?

I’m actually doing this interview with you from Manila for a gig I have here at a casino showroom at Resorts World’s 1,400 seater. Standup is big here now. I’m glad to have paved some of the way for local Manila comics to get where they’re at. It’s all over town now. The Philippines has always had a deep and long comedy tradition. Everyone’s funny here.

What does your family think of being in your act and have any not taken kindly to a joke about them?

They are all pretty cool about it. I never put details into the work but they know which bits borrow from them. Even though I say my mother character isn’t my real mother, she thinks she is. I’m just trying to keep her off my stage. That’s one funny lady.

When you are in a writing mode, where do you draw your inspiration from and how long would you say it takes to create enough material for a show?

That’s the challenge we deal with always. I’ve written hours and hours of my own original material since 1989 and I still wonder where the next gems are coming from. It takes forever to feel at peace with a routine you think needs more work. Each one matures as I do. I just go with a premise and run with it from there. All my shows have to have a lot of the fan favorites. Just like singers, the fans wanna hear the hits and newer hits.

What would you say are the biggest differences between performing now and when you first started out?

I’m feeling more at ease with the whole process and the industry. I’m not anxious of breaking it big in the industry. I’m happy that I’ve got good work under my belt and that new fans are discovering me everyday. It’s the journey that I love now. Having a family of my own has tempered me in my later years.

Where do you get your inspiration for new material and do you test it prior to performing it with family and friends?

I never test it new stuff in front of friends or family. I’ll let it take its chances onstage.

If you were not in comedy what would you be doing?

I would have been in the Army full-time I believe. I put off enlisting to give college a try first. I hope it’s not too late to join now.

What is the hardest thing about being on the road and what do you do in your free time when you travel?

It’s tough being away from the family and having the wife take care of all the duties I love doing. I’m a homebody and being on the road gives me the time to get out there for the act. I like to check out a new city if there’s time. Otherwise, I’m at the movies.

For your upcoming show at Stand Up Live in Phoenix, what can the audience look forward to and how much new material will be included compared to your past tour?

This will be my first time in Phoenix at the Stand Up Live, so I’d say I’m gonna mix it up real nice. I’m as excited as my Arizona fans are to be in Phoenix for this one night.

As a follow up, that must be tough as some classics like Manny, Joke of Jokes, etc are expected by the audience so how do you decide which jokes to use before you go on stage each night?

Those routines make me laugh too, so I try to keep them on the list. It’s still fun when I’m having fun doing the act. The fans enjoy the work even more.

You can check out Rex and all the shows at Stand Up Live
Stand Up Live

Catch Rex in Action, Check his Tour Dates, and More at his official Site.

Sony Report at Cinemacon Day 3

Posted on by

Sony was up at day 3 of Cinemacon in Vegas and we were there to get the details.

There are some exiting movies coming up in the summer and fall of 2012 from Sony. Action packed films many are anticipating are “Men in Black 3″ and “The Amazing Spiderman”, but another one to get exited for will be a remake of “Total Recall” (August) starring Colin Farrell, Jessica Biel, and Kate Beckinsale.

There will be two more action flicks coming up both starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt. One is about a bike messenger coming out in August called “Premium Rush”. The other, a bit more thrilling, with a time traveling science fiction twist due in September is “Looper”, co-starring none other that Mr. Die Hard himself, Bruce Willis. Raccoon City fans, your girl is back, this time in 3D and IMAX in “Resident Evil Retribution”, but you’ll have to wait till mid September.

Don’t worry about the kids though, Sony didn’t forget about them. The Pirates! Band of Misfits will be opening on Friday the 27th. Look for it in 3D.

Another kid flick to look forward to is “Hotel Transylvania” due out at the end of September. Dracula, voiced by Adam Sandler, runs a hotel for monsters and ghouls, things go awry when a human stumbles upon the scene. Even further down the line in October look out for an inspirational comedy, “Here Comes the Boom”. More appropriate for the tweens and teens starring Kevin James and Salma Hayek. A high school teacher fights to keep the music program, literally. Kevin James’ character starts fighting MMA style to raise money.

Other honorable mentions go to “Think Like a Man” which blew away the competition in it’s opening week. Also look forward to the late Whitney Houston starring in “Sparkle”, with Jordan Sparks and Cee-Lo due in August. “Ladies”, the only Rom-Com from Sony this summer will Hope Springs starring the lovely and talented Meryl Streep. Streep plays the wife of a couple married over thirty years struggling to put the spark back into their love.

Co-starring Tommy Lee Jones and Steve Carell. It may be the only Rom-Com from Sony this summer but it’s in a league of its own, so guys grab your girl in early August and have a laugh or two. If you’re looking for a not-so-clean laugh this June be sure to watch Adam Sandler in That’s My Boy. Look out for SNL alum Ana Gasteyer and Vanilla Ice as himself.

As for the most exiting news of all from Sony, look forward to Bond in “Skyfall”. Daniel Craig is back as the world’s most beloved spy and it’s hitting the box office near you in November. The executives at Sony also spoke of some films to look forward to in 2013 such as; “Smurfs 2″ in 3D, “Grown ups 2″, “After Earth” with father/son duo Will and Jaden Smith, “The Evil Dead”, and a remake of “Robocop”.

by Laura DeGuzman

Cinemacon: Day 2. Iron Man 3, The Avengers, The Lone Ranger, Captain America 2 and all Things Disney

Posted on by

It started off with a 15 minute clip of the Avengers, which showed the fight scene between Iron Man and Thor with Captain America trying to stop it. Once the clip ended, it went onto discussion about Thor 2, not into details about it but talks about Thor’s character and that its coming out in 2013.

A discussion on “Captain America 2″ followed, which will be a continuation of where Avengers leaves off, “Captain America 2” will carry on from his point of view with him still working with S.H.I.E.L.D. and exploring himself more. But that won’t be release till 2014.
“Iron Man 3” is set for 2013. I believe this one will be co produced in China. In the video presentation, Black dubbed the movie a “technological thriller” and a “crisis movie” set in the world of “international war, arms and terror” saying that they will “put Tony Stark through the wringer” as they explore the trials of being Tony Stark. Although no villain has been revealed for the film, he said the villain will be one that will “frighten in today’s world

Moving onto an animated movie, “FRANKENWEENIE”, Tim Burton was on hand, where he discuss a personal relation to the movie as well as discussion the original version. How he thinks it would be cool to make an animated movie in the old black and white format, like the original, and make it 3D. It was very interesting how he made the character blend in together and a bit interesting to watch.

Another Disney movie is “The Odd Life of Timothy Green” about a family trying to have a kid, but facing the facts that they are not able to do so. The family as a way of moving on writes their “ideal” kid on paper, put it in a box, and burying it, and for some odd magical reason, it starts raining and out grows a kid, in the garden. The story from there does get interesting and saw a good 10 minute clip. Jennifer Gardner was also the one who was on stage introducing it.

One movie I found interesting, is the Prequel of the Wonderful Wizard of OZ. Titled “OZ the Great and Powerful”. James Franco and Mila Kunis were on hand to introduce the picture. It basically goes into, how the Great and Powerful OZ came about. How he was a magician in a world like Dorothy’s world. Starting it off in black and white, and showing how Oscar (OZ) was just an average person. He was swept away in a air balloon into a whole new dimension where he falls in love with Mila Kunis’s character, a witch called Theodora. You also have Glinda and Evenora as the other witches. In this prequel, they show them as normal people and the movie unfolds on how OZ became the great and powerful and how the witches become the way they become as we know it today.

A discussion of “The Lone Ranger” followed and the Lone Ranger music started playing. Out comes Kermit the Frog on a horse (plywood horse) who stated that he wanted to play the Lone Ranger but unfortunately the movie was already in post production. Kermit said he tried out for the Hulk, since he was green, he thought he had a shoe in, but, unfortunately that didn’t fly either. Then out comes Miss Piggy all decked out in a glittery white outfit and a castle behind her stating that she wanted to be the good witch of the North. Since both rolls that Kermit and Miss Piggy desired were taken, they disclosed that That they plan to star in “The Muppets 2”.

So exit Kermit and Miss Piggy, and back to the actual Lone Ranger which was discussed that the movie is being viewed by Tonto’s eyes. Who else can explain the craziness of Tonto’s character, is of course the one and only Johnny Depp. Who came out with a confused look on his face and asked the audience if he actually saw a talking frog on a horse. Johnny Depp didn’t say much about Tonto, except for the fact that it was from Tonto’s point of view and have to go see it. It was nice to see Johnny Depp, but didn’t really explain much about the movie.

John Lasseter, the mastermind of Pixar, went into the movie that is coming out “Wreck it Ralph”. Which focus on a video game that was so 8 bits ago. Mainly 30 years in the movie. Ralph plays a bad guy in a video game. Same thing over and over again, and nothing changes. Ralph starts thinking to himself, what would it be like to be the good guy and John C. Reilly who explained how he got into character.

John Lasseter also introduced Finding Nemo in 3D and showed a clip on how the 3D looks. From my perspective it is pretty awesome. Doesn’t look converted and something I would approve to see. He also mentioned Monster Inc in 3D. Not only that, he also introduced “Monster University”, which focused on Sully and Mike going thru college and how they met. They had a clip where John Goodman and Billy Crystal introduced Monster University and showed a clip.

Last clip was cool. It started out with actual Scottish Bag Pipers coming on stage and John Lasseter in a Kilt. John made a joke, about why he doesn’t come out with a Kilt that was made with Hawaiian Print, since he’s known for his Hawaiian shirts. He said, wearing a Kilt with a Hawaiian Print, is called a Moo moo and john doesn’t wear moo moo.

The film had the crew working with Scotland and using Scottish actors and it being more of an international project. He was proud to introduce “Brave” and we saw a good 30 minutes of it. The action and the detail in the animation, is really good but the accents were hard to follow for me.

Cinemacon: Day 1Looks at New Offerings from Tom Cruise, The Expendables 2, The Dictator, and More.

Posted on by

Mark and Laura are on hand at Cinecon in Las Vegas getting us all the latest on what Hollywood has is store.

Dwayne Johnson was there to accept an award (I will get into details later). But also a few of his GI Joe co-stars were there. Adrianne Palicki and DJ Catrona was on stage with Dwayne and I Got a chance to see a few clips of GI Joe, about a good 15 minutes and it looked solid.

Two animated movies that they expect to be a hit this summer is Madagascar 3 and Rise of the Gaurdian. Chris Rock was on hand to introduce Madagascar and how the 3rd one is way better that 1 and 2. He compared it to be the Toy Story 3 of Madagascar. In the 25 minute clip, it was pretty hilarious. Rise of the Gaurdian was presented by Chris Pines. I’m not feeling it, this seems to be more of a young movie for me. But then again, its probably those who probably read the book. Chris Pine’s, is the voice of Jack Frost who’s a 300 year old boy. I guess my imagination kind of got lost in this one. Since some of the film wasn’t finished, it kind of threw me in a loop on how I feel about it.

Next up was a 15 minute clip of the Dictator and that got me peeing in my pants (not literally). But it got me on the edge my seat holding my gut, because it made me laugh so hard my stomach hurt. By the end of the clip, the lights went up and the dictator himself walks thru the crowd. Sasha Cohen Baron in Dictator Character makes his way thru the crowd and continues making the crowd laugh.

Another movie that might be interesting is the new Tom Cruise movie, which I think is called Oblivion. It turned out to be interesting. Funny and action packed. It was still in production but they had Tom Cruise on video to introduce 3 different clips.

Expendables 2. So this is what I got for now. Bruce Willis Character has another job for Stallone and his team. Bad things happen and revenge becomes the answer. Then stallone adds backup in the form of Arnold. The film is pretty much the same as the first, but more intense and has far more characters. I would go into more detail, but don’t want to spoil it.

Sam Upton Talks “GONE”

Posted on by

Recently I got to speak with Sam Upton about his career and his new film “Gone” with Amanda Seyfried. I want to thank Sam and his team for taking care of us with this great interview.

What attracted you to the roles and where did you get your inspiration for your roles?

I think its every kids dream to be a cop. Once I had that uniform on, I wanted to leave the set and shake some fools down! HAHHA Yes, it would be a felony. But that would be the bomb.

What were some of your memorable moments from filming?

Getting a chance to take my daughter and my wife to Portland for 2 weeks was amazing. We loved the city. Not to mention getting the opportunity to work as an actor — I never take it for granted.

What do you look for from a director to help you give your best performance?

Well, I have an athletic background, and I respond really well to positive feedback. I think the same holds true for me in my approach to relating with a director. Its like a coach to an athlete.

What sort of characters are you drawn to?

All of them. Every role is difficult and challenging no matter what.

When you consider a script or a potential TV or film project, what elements tend to draw you in and make you want to work on that film?

I just want to work. I’ll take it any way I can get it at the moment. I’m still trying to build the empire.


What inspired you to choose a career in film/TV; do you have any advice for people who are looking to get into the television and or film industry and what was your big break?

I dont think one chooses this career. It chooses you. I’ve been acting like a fool since I was in kindergarten — I was blessed to have my parents send me to a private school (Waldorf) that focused heavily on the arts. My teachers were incredible in their outrageous support of each child’s individual voice in life. I was surrounded by people who constantly told me I could do anything in life. I only hope I can offer my children the same gift.




Who are your favorite actors?

Brando. Of course. Montgomery Clift. He’s a genius. I just recently watched his performance in “A PLACE IN THE SUN” — its almost too good. I kind of get depressed its so good.

I LOVE Daniel Day Lewis. He is a god among men.

Any funny or memorable moments that stand out?

To be quite honest… every single moment I get to be on a movie set is a memorable moment. I LOVE movies. I have every since I was a little munchkin.

What do you do in your free time?

Free time? I have a 21-month year old, and another kid on the way… Free time does not exist any more. LOL But to answer your question, I’m an avid CrossFit athlete; and I also bleed music. Drums are a HUGE part of my life.

What do you have upcoming?

This week I get to do scenes with AL PACINO and CHRISTOPHER WALKEN in the film “STAND UP GUYS” for Lakeshore Ent. I can barely sleep I’m so excited!!!

Images below are taken by

Bobby Quillard

Sam Upton 004


Sam Upton 002

Alien: The Return of Ripley Part 3

Posted on by

While Ripley’s mind filled with numerous questions about what she’d seen and heard, her hands were ready deftly moving across the console in an attempt to get any piece of information she could about the mysterious and disturbing transmission. Since it was a relatively slow evening she was alone in the control center and thus was able to work undisturbed for several hours.

Despite multiple layers encryption Ripley was able to locate the source of the transmission. It had originated from a supposedly empty sector of space that was off the normal trade routes and military traffic lanes. Sensor shift was getting near Anand Ripley made a mental note of the location and by the time the morning shift came to relieve her she was more than ready to get back to her apartment and process all that she taken in during the eventful evening.

Unsure who she could turn to Ripley decided to wait until her next shift and send Hicks a secure transmission is the last thing she needed was the company becoming aware of what she had seen and heard.

Ripley was unable to sleep and was startled when her videocom chimes with an incoming message. Donald Burke was calling and although he appeared to be a polar opposite of his brother, she still couldn’t get used to seeing his face without the hairs on her arms standing on edge.

Burke was calling to check in and see how she was doing, and surprisingly offered to meet her for lunch as he had something he wanted share with her.

In a few hours Ripley and Donald were in an executive dining room enjoying gorgeous view of Earth. The food was first-rate as it was all real and not the synthetic re-creations that many in space have been forced to live with for decades.

The conversation and pleasant but Donald had seemed a little restless. As they were enjoying their desert, Donald abruptly excused himself citing an important meeting before leaving, he produced an ornately wrapped gift for Ripley stating that it was long overdue and she should open it in private. Before she could answer, Donald hurried from the room leaving Ripley for once in her life silent.

Ripley heard back to her apartment and helped the gift and noticed is extremely nice designer jacket. At first confused by the gift Ripley decides to try it on and found that it fit perfectly. As she went to inspect the tag, she noticed surprise bulging and stiffness to it on closer examination, located a data card hidden within the folds of the tag.

Intrigued Ripley placed the data card in her computer and saw that the information was text-only. It revealed a set of coordinates that did not correspond to any known system, but seem to be in the area where the mysterious transmission originated. The message then concluded with “you are being watched, be careful”. It was signed simply “A friend”.
Ripley was going to bet her next few paychecks that Burke was the person who sent the mysterious message but that could simply be setup by the company. While she was unsure their motivations she has learned over the years that the more darker and sinister theory, closer to the actual truth one gets when dealing with the company and secret agendas.
Ripley decided to tempt fate and sent Donald a thank you message and upon reaching his assistant, was informed that he had been sent away unexpectedly on urgent company business and that there was not a definite timetable for his return.

Upon signing off Ripley immediately put in a message for Hicks stating that she had urgent business and needed to speak with him immediately.

As the days passed, Ripley had heard from neither Burke or Hicks, and the radio traffic remained especially silent from the region where the mysterious signal had originated.
Unsure where to turn, Ripley dutifully went about her business and work responsibilities and was shocked when approximately 3 weeks later she was surprised, pleasantly surprised, when Hicks showed up unexpectedly to surprise her.

He looks good and seem to have suffered no lasting physical effects from his encounter with the aliens. Hicks had been on an officer training patrol getting used to his new unit and ship and is part of the maneuvers had been under a strict communications blackout with all but HQ. Upon his return, you taken the first shuttle to the station.

Ripley disclosed which she had seen and heard and played the hidden message that she had been given. Ripley could tell that Hicks was deeply disturbed by what he had seen and heard, and paced the room like a caged animal.

He specified that those coordinates were in an area that had been deemed off limits for all traffic commercial and military. Most interstellar vessels don’t even come anywhere near that sector of space and the few that do not want off by military satellites. Hicks had recently become aware of this during his officer cruise when his ship had received what appeared to be a distress signal from a ship a few light-years from the coordinates given to Ripley.

Hicks had been allowed to break radio silence to contact HQ about their planned rescue and was surprised when he was told to violate space-time law and not provide any assistance but that HQ would deal with the matter.

It became clear to both of them something very strange was going on in that mysterious sector of space and that they must find out at all costs.

Hicks noted that they were supposed to ship out for patrol in the next few days, and made arrangements to discreetly sequester Ripley aboard the ship. Hicks had thought about going without her but knowing her nature, he decided that it was better to move heaven and earth to bring her along then try to go it alone.

Ripley had arranged some time off, as her psychologist had been asking her to take an extended leave and even suggested that she visit one of the outer colonies in an effort to get her used to interstellar travel again.

Ripley was not surprised to see the Sulaco was the ship to which Hicks had been given command, was happy to see that it has been greatly upgraded since her last visit. She’d been informed that not only have the weapons and propulsion systems and greatly enhanced but the ship had also been equipped with a prototype stealth system which was the reason for their current mission. Ripley had been described as a consultant to the crewmembers who saw her, but aside from Hicks, Ripley kept her interactions to a minimum.
As the ship headed to the outer colonies, Ripley knew that they would soon divert toward the mysterious coordinates and whatever unknown horrors awaited them.

to be continued……

Lockout

Posted on by

In the later part of the 21st-century the worst criminals the planet has to offer are kept safely away from public in stasis aboard an orbiting prison known as MS: One. Although it is never explained in the film, it does not take a rocket scientist to guess that “MS” stands for Maximum Security and much like the rest of the movie “Lockout”, this is a film that does not aspire to be more than the sum of its heavily borrowed parts.

The film stars Guy Pearce as Snow, a special agent who has been wrongly accused in the killing of a high-ranking operative. Railroaded through the system, Snow is looking at a lengthy sentence.

At the same time, the presidents daughter Emily (Maggie Grace), has visited MS: One on a goodwill tour. One of her special causes is to confirm the truth that long-term stasis has damaging psychological and neurological effects for the prisoners. Since the prison is funded by a deep space research development she definitely sees conflict of interest in how prisoners are being treated.

Things take a turn for the worse when a violent prisoner goes off during his interview and proceeds to release pent-up inmate population and take the crew hostage. The prisoners run amok and for the time being are unaware that they had president’s daughter in their midst. Snow was given an ultimatum that the successful retrieval of the first daughter will help him avoid becoming a future resident of the orbiting prison.

Despite his misgivings, Snow accepts the assignment as he learns that one of his friends is incarcerated on board. This friend holds valuable information that can exonerates Snow from his charges. Once on board the station, Snow must battle mobs of psychopaths as he attempts to locate and rescue Emily.

While one would think this premise would hold plenty of excitement, thrills, and suspense, the film is essentially undone by its inability to sustain any real momentum for any developed and real tension.

While the prisoners do a great job of appearing menacing, torturing and killing the hostages, we really never learn of their true objective. At no time do they really make any serious demands for freedom, material goods, and so on which basically leaves them vulnerable to an all-out attack from the amassing forces around the prison.

One would think they would’ve asked for something as simple as pardons but they seem more interested in glaring threats to the president and the authorities via videoconference, not truly grasping the magnitude of their situation.

Pearce does a good job as the gruff Snow but sadly the script gives him very little to do other than smug one-liners and occasionally shoot the bad guys. Smith does show some spark and personality in her performance but she is given little to do aside from playing the damsel in distress although she doesn infuse the role with some strength and humor.

What really surprised me about the movie was even though it borrowed very heavily from Fortress 1 & 2 as well as an escape from New York, and have surprisingly little new to offer. It was clear that the intention was to create a diehard style film in space but unfortunately it fell relatively flat.

This was a huge surprise to me as one would think that Luc Besson and many of the creative talents that made “Taken” such a thrilling smash would have been able to come up with a better action film.

This is not to say that “Lockout” is a bad film more than it is a disappointment considering the premise, cast, and the potential that it had going for it.

I can certainly overlook plot holes, thinly crafted stock characters, and run-of-the-mill action sequences in my action films as long as they can get me some solid entertainment.

Sadly this is not the case and it plays out more like a direct to DVD release that’s certainly would be extremely welcome us and Netflix are red box rental but for my taste thanks to the lo-res and dated special effects did not warrant a major theatrical release.

2.5 stars out of 5

The Cabin in the Woods

Posted on by

Joss Whedon (of Buffy/Firefly/Avengers fame) has written one of the most interestingly confusing scripts in recent history (with the help of co-writer Drew Goddard, who also directed the film). Starring Chris Hemsworth (Thor) as “the jock,” and a cast of other young folk, The Cabin in the Woods tackles what’s best described as an entirely new genre of filmmaking. This became obvious to me immediately after experiencing the last 30 seconds of the film.

The movie starts off with two disjointed storylines. In one plot thread, you have five college kids heading out for a weekend at a cabin on a lake. In the other, you have two professionally dressed desk jockeys going to work in what seems to be a mission control center. It becomes evident very early on that the organization for which these two men work is tracking the five vacationers.

The college group is comprised of the usual roles: the Jock, the Stoner, the Attractive Nerd, the Other Attractive Nerd, and the Slut. The five find themselves in a stereotypical horror film cabin. As the plot thickens, confusion sets in, and it becomes evident that their actions and fates are being controlled to some degree.

The most important observation I can share with you is that this movie was nothing like what I expected. It kept getting stranger and more unique the longer it went. Aside from the cheesy use of word graphics when the title was displayed, the cinematography is great. The acting is only decent, but the writing is entertaining. The film didn’t follow the normal conventions of a horror movie, but instead seemed to be an amalgamation of fantasy, horror and comedy; it was strongly reminiscent of the Evil Dead series.

I recommend watching The Cabin in the Woods purely for its unique and interesting take on a familiar story. You will be entertained.

3.5/5

Reviewer: Christopher Daniels
Editor: Jeff Boehm

We Interview Three Stooges Expert David J. Hogan about the Upcoming Movie and all Things Stooges

Posted on by

Recently I spoke with David J. Hogan about the upcoming Three Stooges movie and all things Stooges. David is a Stooges expert and author of Three Stooges FAQ: Everything Left to Know About the Eye-Poking, Face-Slapping, Head-Thumping Geniuses.

I want to thank him for answering our questions and to Jaime for arranging the interview for us.

How did you get into the Stooges and become an expert on them?

Like a lot of Baby Boomers, I became a second-generation Stooges fan when the boys’ shorts (two-reelers) were sold to television by Columbia in the very late 1950s. Over the years, my interest in film grew. I’ve worked in Los Angeles as an entertainment journalist (spent many hours on film sets and locations), and have written three other film-related books besides THREE STOOGES FAQ.

(I’m at work now on another.) Published hundreds of film reviews and articles in various magazines for more than 35 years. Along with all of that, I guess my interest in the Stooges, and in the finer points of comedy, continued to grow and evolve.I struck up correspondences with Moe Howard and Larry Fine in the early ’70s, and began to watch their films very closely, from a fan’s perspective, and from that of a film & cultural historian.

What are your thoughts on the new film as well as the casting choices?

The very idea that the Farrelly Bros. would even attempt a new-version Stooges film is ballsy–and I give them credit for it. From what I can judge after seeing the trailers, the principal casting looks pretty inspired. I like the fact that none of the actors are established stars. Audiences will be better able to buy them as the Stooges than if some earlier casting notions, such as Sean Penn, had been pursued.

Since slapstick is considered a faded form of comedy, to what to you attribute the continued appeal of the Stooges?

I disagree that slapstick has faded. The term itself is a little antiquated, but there’s been no lack of outlandish physical humor in movies of the past 30 years. The Stooges’ continued appeal has to do with a lot of things: the boys’ impeccable professionalism (I never saw any of them turn in a lazy performance), their wonderfully individuated personas, the contributions of hugely experienced comedy writers and directors, the boys’ physicality and sheer enthusiasm, the slickness provided by Columbia, a large studio–and the fact that we still call these comics, who reached their peak as middle-aged men, and who continued to work into their golden years, the boys!

Who is your favorite Stooge, your least favorite, and why?

Larry is my favorite. He had that great look, of course, and although he seldom instigated action or was the center of attention, he was a great reactive comic who knew how to keep a scene moving. He never purposely stole a scene but he was always doing something amusing, often the middle-ground or background: leaning asleep on a piano, arranging Shemp’s hair (for no good reason), or just making horrified faces as the other boys are going at each other. I also get a kick out of the way Larry could put on a look of injured indignation when he felt Moe had done him wrong.

I have no least- favorite Stooge from the two-reel years of 1934-57. Moe, Larry, Curly, Shemp, Joe Besser–each was unique and came to the act after many years of stage experience. I will put in special plugs for Shemp, who was one of screen comedy’s greatest ad libbers, and for Joe, whose mastery of the “priss” character never fails to put me on the floor.

The feature films of the late 1950s and ’60s aren’t up to the standard of the shorts. Joe DeRita was the “third stooge” in those, and although he came into the act at the eleventh hour, and had to work with inferior material, his experience and physicality helped pull him through. Kids certainly enjoyed him.

Who and what makes you laugh amongst modern comedians, films, and shows?Today I laugh at comedy that offers something fresh and unexpected. TV’s Big Bang Theory delivers on that account. I also get a kick out of the Christopher Guest satires (Best in Show, etc.) and a comedy like Anchorman, which defies audience expectations, goes a step further than you’d think possible, and gets away with it. And sharp wit counts for a lot, too, as on Tina Fey’s amazing 30 Rock.

What would you say are some of the least know facts about the Stooges on and off screen?

The Stooges always had a professional manager, but Moe was the de facto day to day manager, and was keenly interested in the business side of the act. Not surprisingly, he ended up with a mansion that overlooked Sunset Boulevard.

Larry was an incurable clothes horse and loved to play the ponies. For decades, he and his wife lived in L.A.’s beautiful Knickerbocker Hotel, where they allowed themselves to be pampered with room service and other amenities.

Curly’s greatest enthusiasms were dogs and women. Before he joined brother Moe in the Stooges, Curly did a stage act as the comic conductor–with a mustache and full head of hair–of a full orchestra.

Shemp was one of the original Stooges but left to pursue a solo career. He was hugely successful, and co-starred opposite such giants as W.C. Fields and Abbott & Costello. Shemp didn’t return to the act until 1947, after brother Curly fell ill.

Joe Besser also had a very successful solo career, before and after his two-year tenure as a Stooge. He became a big hit as Stinky, the rotten little kid, on Abbott & Costello’s TV show in the early ’50s.After leaving the Stooges, Joe continued on as a solo, and even did dramatic parts, such as a show business manager opposite Marilyn Monroe in the 1961 romantic drama, Let’s Make Love. (No, Joe wasn’t involved in the romance.)

Joe De Rita, like Shemp and Joe Besser, starred in his own series of Columbia two-reelers before becoming a Stooge.

Finally, some general stuff: The boys filmed their shorts during about 40 weeks of every year. The rest of the year belonged to them, and they used it to go on tour across the country. They were well paid for their shorts but made their real money while touring. And after the shorts went to TV and the Stooges picked up a whole new generation of fans, their personal-appearance fees went through the roof. In the early 1960s, for instance, a supermarket promoter paid them $25,000 for an afternoon’s work.

If you could be any Stooge for a week, who would it be and why?If I could be a Stooge for a week, I think I’d like to be Shemp, because everybody would think I was incredibly clever.

Shemp was such a great storyteller that big stars who saw him in restaurants demanded to be seated near him, so they could listen in to his stories.

What are your favorite Stooge films and shorts?
Favorite short with Curly: Hoi Polloi (1935), in which a professor wagers that he can take “three men from the lowest strata of society” and teach them to be gentlemen. Uh oh.

With Shemp: Brideless Groom (1947), in which Shemp is besieged by former girlfriends who discover he has to get married within hours or lose a fat inheritance.

With Joe: Outer Space Jitters (1957), in which the Stooges accompany a scientist to the planet Sunev, where they discover electrically charged schemers who want to take over Earth with atomic zombies.

I’m less fond of the boys’ feature-length comedies, but the one I like best is Have Rocket, Will Travel (1959), a cute sci-fi spoof that doesn’t have one of those inane and bothersome romantic sub-plots that cluttered up the later features.

What are your expectations for the film and future Stooge projects?

I love the Stooges as much as anybody, but I’ll say this: When I saw the trailers for the new film, I laughed. A lot. I expect to be entertained. If the film is a hit, we’ll surely see more. In the meantime, all the boys’ original shorts and features are available on DVD.

Check out David’s book here.

Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus

Posted on by

Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus has arrived on the PlayStation Vita portable gaming system. The game is the latest in the long-running popular series that basically casts players as a ninja who uses an arsenal of devastating moves and weapons to lay waste to all the enemies that crosses his path. With the advanced abilities, PlayStation Vita players will be able to do such unique moves as tilt the system to aim their bows and use the tactile touchscreen on back of the system to access the Ninpro, a special attack technique.

Graphically the game is amazing and rivals anything that you will find on consoles. It provides seamless action that is not for the faint of heart. Take note this is an M rated game for good reason as the blades and blood flies frequently in the game. Mercy is definitely absent from this game.

The enemies give as good as they get and you will need to use every weapon and trick in your arsenal to overcome them as this is definitely a challenging game. The control system will take some getting used to as being a new platform. Despite the dual analog six motion control touchscreen in the back and the familiar buttons for any PlayStation user there is still a bit of a learning curve. But that being said, within a short amount gameplay I was slashing away like there was no tomorrow.

There are multiple gameplay modes for difficulty and I highly suggest utilizing them as some of the levels can be exceedingly difficult and for newcomers the challenge may be too great and frustration levels can rise. That being said if you’re looking for the console action in a pocket-sized platform than this is definitely a game for you and signifies yet another strong title the PlayStation Vita.

Street Fighter X Tekken

Posted on by

Two fighters facing one another in a time honored test of strength, endurance, and skill has long been a staple of the movie and gaming industry. “Raging Bull”, “Rocky”, “Mortal “Kombat” and “Street Fighter” have become part of the lexicon, and have even spawned into multiple media formats which include movies and games.

The latest trend has been the cross-over where gamers have enjoyed pitting DC and Mortal Kombat characters against one another as well as Marvel versus Capcom characters. Thankfully the grandmasters, Street Fighters and Tekken, have combined to create a martial arts tour de force, complete with favorite characters, dazzling moves, power ups, and unrelenting action.

Tag team is a big part of the game as players can switch between members of their team when one is not doing so well, or when a special skillset is desired. The Gem and Pandora boost is a great way to increase your skill sets: attack, defense, speed, vitality, assist, and cross gauge can be added. Cross gauge allows players to link super moves into one devastating straight on attack. Nothing will drive your opponent crazier then coming back from the edge of defeat to an array of well-placed combos that leaves them on the floor.

It was such a delight to see the beloved Street Fighter characters as well as the Tekken clan be joined by some special guests, but the real joy for me was being able to mix up players from both franchises on my team and to not have to learn a new control scheme. The developers wisely used a control scheme that was very familiar to fans of both franchises so you could really hit the ground running and not have to spend time learning a collection of new commands. There are also numerous other modes and features for those who like online play such as Briefing Room where players can train up, a Scramble Mode which featured an all-out 4 person battle royale, and many more.

Graphically the game is solid and while it will not set new standards for graphics, there is not much to fault and the sound takes you into the heart of the action and brings back fond memories of playing the original Street Fighters on your Super Nintendo.

Some may say that the game is basically a fighting game that blends the franchises but does not offer the next generation leap that people may have expected. There is a basic limitation to fighting games in that, beyond graphics, sound, and moves, there is only so much you can do, as the core of the game is 2-4 people squaring off and beating the stuffing out of one another.

Capcom is to be commended in my opinion as they have pushed the current fighting game model to the limits and have added a few nice twists that will serve them well for future games.

The PC version of the game is fast and ultra smooth. I would strongly suggest using a gamepad as this is the best way to get into the action. On a Windows 7 system, it shines with a flury of colors and motion. Even though it is a conole port, it has taken advantage of stronger CPU and graphic card abilities of high end systems to push the action to the next level.

4 stars out of 5.