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Zombieland Movie Review

2010-08-14T06:19:00.000-04:00

So there I was laying in bed disgusted with the Yankees getting trounced by Kansas City and desperate for something to watch at around 10:00 at night. A search of the cable movie channels came up with one movie I thought I could endure. I had lucked out and caught Zombieland just as it had started. Staring me in the face was the latently insane puss of Woody Harreleson. Ok, I was hooked. I must admit, I have a soft spot in my heart for Zombies and Zombie movies. Perhaps this mild obsession started as a child watching Zacherly at night. Ghouls, goblins and zombies were part of my staple diet. I actually believe that zombies have gotten a bad rap most of the time but it's not nearly as bad as the plight of ghouls in Hollywood. But that's another story for another time.

Zombieland, starring Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin, is a well done, funny movie of interest. It's not as outrageously funny as Shaun of the Dead, nor is it as scary, but it demonstrates a tongue in cheek humor worthy of praise.

There are a few things that stood out for me about this movie. The first is Bill Murray. Murray's cameo role adds a touch of class to the middle transitional scenes. They are superbly done. The screenwriters shine as they integrate Murray so seamlessly but absurdly into the ongoing travels and travails of our antiheroes. BM, as he is known in the movie, plays himself in an understated, gem of a part. The movie is worth seeing just for this. He remains a master.

The second area of interest for me, and an area for which I am very grateful, is that the movie does not take itself seriously. Whenever it looks like the plot will turn to a traditional zombie motif, the Harrelson and Eisenberg characters through sheer stupidity stop that process in its tracks. But it is their endearing charm as characters that makes the pair stand out and worthy of our concern.

It's also the little things that perk things up throughout the movie: two arms attached to a steering wheel with no body, a zombie clown, a zombie killing nun, obese zombies, wedding zombies, etc., etc. I loved this. The writers took the time to imagine what a zombie epidemic might be like. Very funny.

Zombieland is not a perfect movie, it drags at times and a tad more scary stuff would have helped. The ending scenes could have had a greater sense of urgency. Harrelson saves the day with an outrageous Alamo like zombie, human stand off at a concession stand.

Zombieland is worth seeing. It's entertaining and different enough to sustain ongoing interest. By the way, the Yankees defeated Kansas City that night with a spectacular come from behind victory. I missed all of that because I was watching Zombieland. What could be the meaning of this?

Bruce Lee Says...

2009-11-05T22:38:00.002-05:00

“If you spend too much time thinking about a thing, you'll never get it done.”

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan Says...

2009-11-03T20:59:00.002-05:00

Bobby referring to Scary Sherri and Shawn Michaels:

Brain: She is in love with that man
Gorilla: Yeah, but is the feeling mutual?
Brain: Pardon?
Gorilla: Is the feeling mutual?
Brain: Oh, what do you think, she's there, isn't she? He doesn't allow any bim.... uh woman to be there
Gorilla: Bimbo? Did you say bimbo?
Brain: I didn't say that, I coughed. I said 'Buimmmh'.

Hogan is Back!

2009-10-29T21:06:00.002-04:00

Hulk Hogan is back in wrestling. He signed with TNA to wrestle and is also the creative director. Bischoff also joined the company. WWE could be in for serious competition now. Just from the names of these two people will increase the ratings. Hogan has yet to prove himself in his new position. I am not criticizing Hogan, I just do not know how much he knows how to express himself as a creative director. But I am sure he knows a lot about how to put on a show.

Hogan's offical press conference joining TNA (Credit: Spike TV):

Hulk Hogan Joins TNA | SpikeTV | SPIKE.com

Bruce Lee Says...

2009-10-28T19:57:00.003-04:00

I figured I will post some fantastic Bobby Heenan quotes I might as well post something more worthy...

“If you make an ass out of yourself, there will always be someone to ride you”

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan Says...

2009-10-28T19:51:00.002-04:00

I figure some humor once in a wheel will be good. I will post a new quote every week or so from Bobby Heenan.

"Tito Santana is like a cue-ball. The more you strike him, the more english you get out of him."

Ghostbusters Game Xbox 360 Part 2

2009-10-26T23:36:00.002-04:00

After the hotel, you are taken to the streets of New York City. The one problem is that the streets are a mess because the Stay Puft Marshmellow Man is roaming around. Stay Puft looks exactly like the movie and they did a pretty good job in the motion of the beast. As you follow Stay Puft, he throws marshmellow's at you that turn into these crawling critters that are very annoying. You finally arrive at the theatre where you have to fight opera ghosts, random ghosts, gargoyles and the marshmellow critters all at the same time. It took me twice to get a handle of the first real group attack on the Ghostbusters.

Catching one of the Opera Ghosts...

Stay tuned for the next post...

Ghostbusters Game Xbox 360

2009-10-25T22:47:00.014-04:00

I should've posted this much earlier but I will do the best I can to detail my Ghostbuster adventure on the Xbox 360. Firstly, I didn't know how this game was going to turn out. I pre-ordered the game a month before it came out. Even though it was a risk the game was worth the purchase.

First you go through training. The training is simple and not too thorough. The training informs and lets you practice the essential controls of the game. Then you get a call and you have to go to Hotel Sedgewick. Hotel Sedgewick is the same hotel where Slimer was in the original movie. And if you did not know, the Hotel Sedgewick is the The Algonquin which is located at 59 West 44th Street in Manhattan. You get to the hotel and objects move unexpectedly which is creepy especially if you are playing in a basement with the lights out at night. The PKE meter is used to find ghosts, slime, and artifacts. Catch Slimer in the ballroom and then as you are returning back to the elevators there is a flash flood on the hotel floor. You walk around fight some ghosts and until you run into the Fisherman, the first boss. He is a little hard at first but it was fun fighting him. Now it is off to Times Square where the next level begins...

The real Hotel Hedgewick in New York City...

Fighting random ghosts in Hotel Sedgewick...

Fighting the Fisherman ghost...

Stay tuned to the next post...

Knowing...Ambitious Scifi movie...or black eye for the genre?

2009-07-12T02:28:00.003-04:00

Knowing is a pretty strange film. Its from Director Alex Proyas, a pretty strange director. Alex’s work includes The Crow, Dark City and I Robot. Very dark films with gloomy yet opimistic storytelling.

Knowing, I have to say, is one of the first movies in a while where I am absolutely and utterly speechless. I’m not sure what to make of this movie, and this is not a good thing. It is hauntingly depressing and morbid. I understand where they were going with this and maybe what I’m feeling now is exactly what they wanted me to feel. So in that case they succeeded. I just absolutely did not expect it to happen the way it did. I think this really could have been an awesome movie but its reduced to something with bad acting and a very thought provoking storyline and twist that just felt tacked on at the end.

I’m usually a big fan of scifi movies with awesome twist endings like this but its just too morbid. But again, Proyas probably wanted me to feel exactly as I do right now. Although that touch of hope is there at the end, I just feel like its too forced. Knowing is not a bad movie its just way too morbid in an era of society where “terror” has been too prevalient on our minds.

But this movie is timely as 2012 is approaching, a year prophesized to be plagued by a cataclysm. Some say solar flares could be something we need to watch out for, something that plays a pivotal role in this film. My only advice is, after watching Knowing, watch a comedy, it’ll put you in better spirits. Out of 10 I give Knowing a 6.5.

Now that I know the big secrets of Knowing I’ll have to watch it again sometime in order to take it in again and appreciate it for what it is, a very ambitious scifi cautionary tale. Now that I think about it, Knowing really feels like a longer Twilight Zone or Outer Limits episode.

2009-07-06T00:28:00.004-04:00

STAR TREK IS REBORN!!!!!

I just watched the eleventh Star Trek film in the theaters. I was completely blown away and totally satisfied by what JJ Abrams has done. This truly was a successful reboot of the franchise. It was funny, exciting, thrilling, nostalgic and epic. This movie has brought new life to a series that has been dead for several years. Star Trek has always been a "geeks" only club for years and when it was announced that J.J. Abrams (Felicity, Alias, Mission Impossible III and Cloverfield) would be directing a reboot film where it would tackle the monumental task of satisfying the millions of fans as well as bring in new ones. Abrams succeeded as Star Trek is the best reviewed movie of the year and the highest grossing Trek film ever!

The cast was great, all of them were able to breathe in new life to their characters. The hook for long time fans was to see these classic characters at a younger age. What was Kirk, Spock and McCoy like during their academy years? What brought them all together? In this new and altered timeline, long time and new fans were able to see how this all came about. Secondary characters like Sulu, Uhura, Scotty and Chekov really stood out, especially with the addition of comedy to their roles. I am a firm believer that if an audience can laugh with or at the character, it builds upon the connections.

Karl Urban's take on "Bones" was especially good. He managed to channel Deforest Kelly with is mannerisms and speech patterns. The scenes with Urban's Bones are some of the funniest higlights in the film for me.

This movie really didn’t need the Nimoy cameo but it was the icing on the cake that really made this film more than just great…it made it fantastic. This truly is the first Star Trek for everyone. I know that I had said that Intellectual Trek died on Friday when this film came out but now that I’ve seen it, the heart and soul of the franchise is back again. This time in the capable hands of talented writers, actors and Abrams himself.

The Summer Movie Season!!

2009-06-15T01:03:00.003-04:00

Hello everyone!

After several months of downtime I've decided to return to writing entries about the entertainment biz. As of June 15th several movies have come out....some good....some bad. I'll review several of these films shortly. Below is a brief glimpse of what's worked and what hasn't this summer season.

Winners:
Star Trek - The best reviewed movie of year, a surprise success! Star Trek is fun, dramatic and action packed again!
The Hangover - Funniest movie of the year!

Disappointing?
X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Terminator Salvation

Fail:

Land of the Lost

Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles

2009-03-18T20:57:00.002-04:00

The show Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles does not get the justice it deserves. When I first watched the show in early 2008, the show was really good. There was great action, suspense and drama. I mean why wouldn't you want to see how the leader of the human race, John Connor, develop as a teenager?

I am guilty of not watching the show during the fall. I dvr'd all the shows and watched them all in two weeks. One of the problems is that the show is dragging on. There are a few characters that get annoying. Riley being the most annoying character. Another problem is that the show is focusing too much around Sarah Connor. I think the best shows revolved around John Connor. I know that sounds funny since the show is titled as the Sarah Connor Chronicles. Every episode Sarah Connor's gets more nuts, looney, and crazy that the show is weird and uninteresting to watch. I think the writers are trying to get somewhere but it is killing the show. What keeps me watching the show is the development of Skynet and the action scenes which has been occurring more in the recent episodes. And of course the weird things that is going on with Cameron (this must be leading to something).

I am waiting for something to happen in the later episodes that will be catastrophic. I have a feeling something like that will happen. If you have not seen the show yet, try to watch a few. Buy the first season on dvd and I will guarantee you will want to see what is going to happen in season two.

-djoliva

The Watchmen - Two Thumbs Up

2009-03-07T23:18:00.004-05:00

SPOILERRRRR

I saw The Watchmen yesterday just after work. I give the movie a 9 out of 10. I am not going to give a review, just some thoughts and comments about the movie. The movie just like the book, was sophisticated and set a point. The movie is about war, peace, ethics, mortality and politics. There is a lot of talk about the Russians threatening a nuclear attack on the United States when Nixon was elected for a fifth term. Dr. Manhattan is working on an alternate energy source meanwhile its the destruction of 1 million lives which will save billions. But will this idea only postpone saving lives? Is it a permanent solution? This is not the typical super hero movie. The characters are not supposed to have super hero powers like Spiderman or Superman. The movie also talks about the banning of superheroes. That idea sounds familiar...oh yea Civil War by Marvel. The movie is also involved in the dark sides of being a super hero. It's not easy being a super hero.

Friday the 13th Movie

2009-01-21T23:06:00.007-05:00

The new tv trailers came out for the Friday the 13th movie. I have to be honest that I think this movie will actually be pretty good, especially for a Friday the 13th movie. There has been many remakes and movies from the 80's. Most of them being really good such as Transformers. Here are a few reasons why I think the movie will do pretty good.

First, we have the main characters. Jared Padalecki is a decent actor. He stars in the show Supernatural. He knows how to act in a horror flick. Danielle Panabaker was nominated for the Best Young Artist award in 2006. She didn't win but just to be nominated means something special. Victor Miller is the writer wrote some of the original Friday the 13th movies. He has some good experience writing these type of movies. Michael Bay is the producer. He is really good and will definitely take the lead in this cast. He did such recent movies as Transformers and the Unborn. He is also working on a remake of A Nightmare On Elm Street movie which should be interesting.

Some cons are the directors and writers. None of the directors or writers with the exception of Victor Miller who wrote the original movies, have a whole lot of horror movie experience. There is also a short list of movies created by this team of writers and directors. I do not know how involved Victor Miller in this film. I hope he can set a good impression with the team of writers. The director is Marcus Nispel has more involved in direct music videos but did direct The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. He does have experience in the music industry so we will see how he will direct this movie.

I just have this feeling the actors and producer will make this movie. There does not have to be a lot of special effects. Acting will be key in this movie. I thought I would never say acting will make a horror/slasher movie. The video below is one of the recent tv trailers.

Djoliva's grade: B-

Heath Ledger wins the Golden Globe

2009-01-11T21:35:00.001-05:00

Heath Ledger has won the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor! The next step could be the nomination for Academy Award!

Tues. Jan. 20th Watchmen Judgement Day!

2009-01-07T21:46:00.003-05:00

According to The Los Angeles Times, lawyers for 20th Century Fox and Warner Bros. have agreed to let a federal judge decide whether Warner Bros. will be allowed to release Watchmen as scheduled on March 6.

U.S. District Judge Gary A. Feess will decide on Jan. 20 whether Fox can block Watchmen's theatrical distribution as part of Fox's copyright infringement.

On Dec. 24, Feess ruled that Fox has the distributions rights to the movie, not Warner Bros., and urged the studios to reach an agreement.

The ruling will not only impact the film's release, but also potentially programming for the New York Comic Con and WonderCon, as well as licensed materials based on the movie.

I'm hoping for the best but expecting the worst. This is especially upsetting for me on a selfish level because I was going to the NYC Comic Con dammit!!

Iron Man 2 villians

2009-01-07T21:10:00.005-05:00

Early reports show that "The Wrestler" Mickey Rourke is in talks to play the villian Crimson Dynamo in the Iron Man sequel. This is great news for Rourke as he's also in talk to be in Sylvester Stallone's new star studded action movie The Expendables. Rourke's comeback is indeed in full effect as he's becoming a very sought after commodity in Hollywood. Rourke would play a tattooed Russian heavy named Ivan who becomes a man with deadly, technologically enhanced coils. The Crimson Dynamo is considered to be an evil version of Iron Man because he battles the superhero in a nuclear-powered suit of armor.

But the threats to Iron Man don't end there. Sam Rockwell is rumored to play Justin Hammer, a multibillionaire businessman and a rival of industrialist Tony Stark.

Shazam movie is dead.

2009-01-07T19:44:00.005-05:00

At least for now. Apparently the powers that be want a darker kind of film for this second tier superhero. Black Adam, the major nemesis for Shazam, was heavily rumored to be played by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson; not a bad choice if you ask me.

But now the powers that be at Warner's wants a darker movie in light of the Dark Knight. These guys at Warner Brothers never learn. If the material isn't dark then it won't work. This goes with the recent Superman movie rumors where they wanted him to be darker. THAT'S NOT GOING TO WORK! SUPERMAN ISN'T DARK! BATMAN IS DARK! God, these guys don't learn. Iron Man wasn't dark it was realistic...maybe the brains over at WB should think about that for their properties instead of forcing certain properties to be something they're not. The Shazam script was more in the vein of being comedic. If they want dark they need to becareful to not step on the aspects of what makes Shazam and his world who and what it is.

Don't know who Shazam is? He's just as powerful as Superman and has been around just as long.

New Watchmen Japanese Trailer

2009-01-06T20:34:00.002-05:00

More never before seen footage here in this trailer. I hope the legal issues get sorted out because I really think this is going to be one of the best movies of the year. If you've never read the graphic novel, go out and buy it. I've even seen women reading graphic novels on the train! There's a slow women's revolution in the uber geek society lol! The two graphic novels I saw them reading were Anita Blake Vampire Hunter and the other novel was the Watchmen! Buy a copy now before it sells out.

Early 2009 Movie pics

2009-01-05T22:24:00.004-05:00

Here are some sneak peek pics for several 2009 movies.

Terminator Salvation. Not sure what to think of this movie. I can tell already that since the powers that be want this to be a trilogy, this film is going to end in a big twist. There have already been some spoilers released about the film so beware when you surf the net. And btw, if this movie is a success then I hope James Cameron and Governor Arnold will finally give McG and crew some credit.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Release Date: May 1st. Ya know, when they first cast this unknown actor by the name of Hugh Jackman in the role of Wolverine nearly ten years ago, I really worried about that first X-Men movie. Now, all these years later, I can't see anyone else playing this role. If this movie is successful I can almost definitely expect more films to come.

Land of the Lost

Release Date: June 5th. Based on the 70s cartoon series. I vaguely remember this series but remember as being great fun. With Will Ferrell in the lead role here one thinks will this be a goofy comedy like most of his work or will there be some serious scary stuff happening in this.

Exclusive Watchmen Video

2009-01-05T22:15:00.002-05:00

Last week a very revealing Watchmen video was posted on the Fox owned Myspace. Kinda interesting considering that Fox wants to hault the release of that movie. No word on what the recent status of that legal battle is just yet but enjoy the video...while we still have it.

Watchmen Exclusive

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

2009-01-05T21:46:00.006-05:00

During the Holiday season, pictures from Michael Bay's Transformers sequel hit the nets. I really enjoyed the first Transformers movie as it had everything, comedy, drama, action and giant freakin' robots. Apparently there will be 40 robots in this film not to mention a climactic battle at the Great Pyramids in Egypt. Which, btw, is the first time a major motion picture has ever filmed at the historic monuments. Feast your eyes at some of the pics.

The Dark Knight Nominated for Best Picture of 2008 by PGA

2009-01-05T21:31:00.003-05:00

Good news for the Dark Knight and comic book fans all over the world. The PGA, Producer's Guild of America, has just nominated the Dark Knight as being the Best Picture of 2008. The competition includes The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Frost/Nixon, Milk, and Slumdog Millionaire. Doubt and The Wrestler could sneak in there but at the moment the PGA's announcement is a good indication of where the Academy will go with. Batman fans keep your fingers crossed. If the Dark Knight wins, it will be the first comic book film to win an Academy Award for Best Picture.

djoliva's Top 3 Movies of 2008

2009-01-01T21:40:00.003-05:00

There were many movies this year that can be the number one movie of 2009. However, there can only be one winner. Of course my top picks will be a sci-fi or action movie. Here are my top three picks:

1. Iron Man - Very disputable as the number one movie of the year. I am a big Iron Man fan. Robert Downing was the best actor for the role of Tony Stark. I enjoyed the movie a lot!

2. Dark Knight - Batman is more popular than Iron Man which I believe is why this movie grossed a lot. The first Batman movie proved to be good and the Joker been out of action since 1989. But this movie was great! The Joker stole the show.

3. Wall-E - I did not want to see this movie in the theatre and I regret that decision. The movie was so cute and emotional. Wall-E was also funny. Everyone should see this movie if they want to have a good time.

- djoliva

20th Century Fox to kill the Watchmen movie

2008-12-30T20:34:00.003-05:00

There are big time legal woes over the Watchmen movie. U.S. District Court Judge Gary Feess last week agreed with Fox that Warner Bros. had infringed its copyright by developing and shooting the film, scheduled for release March 6. Feess said Monday he plans to hold a trial Jan. 20 to decide remaining issues.

Fox believes they still own some rights to the film as they had during the late 1980s. Now that the film has been made by Warner Bros. Fox has demanded distribution rights. Warner's does not believe they have any legal claim and has stated that a settlement will not happen. If they don't get this, they're looking to suspend the opening of movie which was slated in March.

This is terrible news as who knows how long it will take to resolve this. The Watchmen film was shaping up to be a great film, and dare I say and dream...an extraordinary film just like the comics were. If you're a fan of this film, keep your fingers crosssed because this doesn't look like its going to be easily resolved.

Eartha Kitt 1927-2008

2008-12-30T19:46:00.004-05:00

Eartha Kitt was an American actress, singer, and cabaret star. She was perhaps best known for her 1953 Christmas song "Santa Baby". She'll also be remember widely for taking over the role of Catwoman for the third season of the 1960s Batman TV series. Orson Welles is quoted as called her the "most exciting woman in the world. For those that grew up watching 60s television you know that African American women started to show off some more sex appeal and confidence. Want another example? How about Nichelle Nichols' Uhura from Star Trek? It must have been a groundbreaking type role for Kitt as Catwoman has always been a white female. Kitt's Catwoman was strong, fiesty and pppuurrrfect.

Unfortunately, Kitt died after a long battle against colon cancer on Christmas Day, 2008 in Weston, Connecticut at the age of 81. There's no question that she left a mark on several generations of people but now through the power of websites like youtube a new generation can enjoy her work both as a singer and as an actress.

Comics Syllabus

2008-12-28T01:29:00.004-05:00

Here is the second entry of the Comics Syllabus.

The Dark Knight Returns - A great Batman graphic novels the follows the exploits of hte Caped Crusader as he reaches old age and yet is still trying to carry on his "never ending" battle against Gotham's criminals. This is a very dark, brooding and violent book by the one and only Frank Miller who was the man for graphic novels during the 1980s. This is required reading if you want to see what a possible future for a run down Batman would be like. Not to spoil anything but the final battles with the Joker and Superman should peak your interest in reading.

Merry Christmas / Happy Holidays

2008-12-25T02:36:00.006-05:00

Merry Christmas everyone. Happy Holidays! I am currently watching It's a Wonderful Life, a great Frank Capra film from 1946. It stars Jimmy Stewart, Lionel Barrymore and Donna Reed. To me, this is the ultimate holiday movie. I know there are a lot of people that would like to contest that but if you think about it, the list for classic Christmas films is short but It's a Wonderful Life stands atop of that list.

For many, the holiday season is tough. Not everyone has a happy life, not everyone has what they want and there are many that are struggling through the hardships of life. The Christmas season is a highly emotional season, one that is supposed to be full of happiness and joy. Sometimes, because of life, this can be difficult. Watching It's a Wonderful Life really puts things in perspective. How so? Did you know that this movie deals with the idea of suicide? Bet ya didn't know that!

If you feel no pain during this season I hope you never have to. Some of us do. This movie puts things in perspective. It makes you think about how precious life is. We don't get a second chance in life unlike Jimmy Stewart in this film. Its a cautionary tale that almost begs us to make sure we're making the best of our lives and not squandering it away.

For those that refuse to watch an "old" movie but are willing to watch such a magnificent (sarcasm) youtube video...these are four pivitol scenes of the movie. Maybe, if you are willing and patient, might see the treasure in these scenes and opt to watch the film in its entirety. I for one cannot go by one holiday season without watching this film. If I do everything feels a bit empty. The point of this post? No matter what religion you celebrate during this time of year, It's a Wonderful Life personifies the heart and passion and joy for life that we have or for some; are desperately searching for. If you've never seen it, give it a chance. If you have seen it, enjoy it once again!

Happy Holidays everyone!!

Green Lantern Pre-Production Ratings

2008-12-22T21:23:00.008-05:00

There has been many discussions about the Green Lantern movie. Finally, they are getting ready for production. The third draft of the script was just finished. The writers of the film are Marc Guggenheim, Michael Green and Greg Berlanti. Donald De Line and Andrew Haas are the producers of the movie. My main concern is the quality of the movie. I am afraid of this movie failing. Movies that have disappointed me recently such as Ghost Rider, Hulk, Elektra, Catwoman and soon to be Punisher. The Daredevil movie was not bad but I believe Green Lantern sits in the same level of popularity. Lets take a look at the history of directors, writers and producers work:

Greg Berlanti: Eli Stone (writer and executive producer), Brothers & Sisters (executive producers, wrote three episodes) ,Dirty Sexy Money (executive producer), Everwood (writer and executive producer), The Prince (producer), Jack & Bobby (writer and executive producer), Dawson's Creek (co and executive producer for four episodes), and the only movie The Broken Hearts Club.

Djoliva's Grade: C+

Mike Green: Heroes (co-executive producer and wrote three episodes), Everwood (supervising producer, co-executive producer, producer and writer), Smallville (co-producer, producer and writer) and Sex and the City (wrote one episode).

Djoliva's Grade: B+

Marc Guggenheim: Eli Stone (writer and executive producer), Brothers & Sisters (consulting producer and wrote two episodes), In Justice (wrote one show), CSI: Miami (supervising producer and wrote three episodes), Law & Order (co-producer, producer, executive story editor and wrote eight episodes), L.A. Dragnet (wrote one episode), The Practice (wrote two episodes), Call of Duty 3 video game (writer)

Djoliva's Grade: B-

Donald De Line: Producer of Body of Lies, Fool's Gold, Without a Paddle, The Stepford Wives, The Italian Job and Domestic Disturbance.

Djoliva's Grade: C

There is a rumor that Nathan Fillion will play Hal Jordan in the film. If this is case lets see Nathan's filmography:

- Trucker, Waitress, White Noise 2, Slither, Serenity, Outing Riley, Water's Edge, Dracula 2000, Blast from the Past, Saving Private Ryan and Strange and Rich. Nathan has done many television shows. He is most know for the Firefly where he plays Captain Malcolm Reynolds.

Djoliva's Grade: C-

Djoliva's overall pre-production grade: C

From the looks of the movie in its early stages doesn't look out to be a great movie. I would consider this average and compare it to movie such as Ghost Rider and the Hulk. At this point I feel as if Daredevil is better. I am a huge fan of Green Lantern and I hope I am wrong. There are many characters and the story line can be broad. Green Lantern can come out with many movies if done correctly. They can bring characters in this movie and setup crossovers. There is a rumor that Superman might make a cameo. That will be hot! Below is a fan made trailer for Green Lantern.

-djoliva

James Cameron to direct Forbidden Planet?

2008-12-21T19:38:00.004-05:00

Forbidden Planet remains one of the best scifi movies of not only the 1950s but in the entire genre. It is the predecessor of the original Star Trek series as it merged sex, violence and adventure into one movie. A young Leslie Nielson (Naked Gun, Scary Movie) plays a starship captain that lands on Altair 4 and discover a father and daughter who are the only remnants of a crashed vessel. They've been living peacefully on the planet now with their robot servant Robbie. But with the arrival of Nielson and his men, a dark threat has reemerged to cause havoc for everyone.

Now the word is that James Cameron is interested in doing not only a remake but a prequel/trilogy type of story. This wouldn't be James Cameron's only trip into outer space as he directed what I believe is the quintessential scifi alien action movie: Aliens. Sorry Independence Day.

If this is indeed true and Cameron comes on board then this may very well be a good remake. However the only big criticism of Cameron's is that his Avatar film is still in production with a ballooned budget. When this remake will be made is anyone's guess but at least its a good start.

Here is the trailer for Forbidden Planet.

Here is the trailer for Aliens:

Frank Miller directing The Green Hornet and Buck Rogers

2008-12-19T20:23:00.005-05:00

Ok so some of you might know who Frank Miller is. He's the man behind classic graphic novels and most recently film adaptions of Sin City, 300 and now the Spirit. Early word is that the Spirit isn't going to live up to expectations but we'll have to wait and see when it comes out. Regardless of the bad early buzz Frank Miller is still the man about town in Hollywood. So you might be asking, who the hell is Buck Rogers and The Green Hornet?

Buck Rogers is actually one of the earliest cinematic science fiction heroes in history. We're talking the 1930s here! Rogers is best known from the long-running syndicated newspaper comic strip. He also appeared in a 1939 movie serial, a 1979television series, and several comic books. The adventures of Buck Rogers comic strips, movies, radio, and television became an important part of American pop culture as it helped pave the way for other space adventure properties such as Star Trek and Star Wars.

The Green Hornet is a lesser known hero who debuted back in the 1930s. Originally created by George W. Trendle and Fran Striker for an American old-time radio program in the 1930s, the character has appeared in other media as well, including film serials in the 1940s, a network television program in the 1960s, and multiple comic book series from the 1940s to the 1990s. Though various incarnations sometimes change details, in most incarnations the Green Hornet is Britt Reid, a newspaper publisher by day who by night goes out in his masked "Green Hornet" identity to fight crime as a vigilante, accompanied by his similarly masked Asian manservant Kato and driving a car, equipped with advanced technology, called "Black Beauty". Seth Rogan (Superbad, Knocked Up) and Stephen Chow (Kung Fu Hustle) have been tapped to play the duo for Sony Pictures with a 2010 release.

Even though both of these properties are pretty obscure and never made it to the pop culture forefront like Superman or Star Wars, if done right, these properties can find a new life. I haven't been much of a fan of remakes lately ie War of the Worlds and The Day the Earth Stood Still, but I still feel that you can take a dirty penny and shine it up. They just need the right people at the helm. Frank Miller? Let's see how the Spirit turns out.

Clint Eastwood's Grand Torino

2008-12-18T22:22:00.003-05:00

We've been covering a lot of science fiction on this site lately so I wanted to swith it up and post this trailer for Clint Eastwood's new movie. If there is ever an actor that has meant less to science fiction than anyone else its Clint! I honestly can't remember any scifi movies Eastwood has been in but it doesn't really matter. Eastwood is a great actor and a fantastic director. Eastwood IS Dirty Harry. He IS the embodiment of the Western genre. And he IS a great director bringing us movies such as Oscar winning films Unforgiven and Million Dollar Baby. The trailer for Grand Torino looks very promising. The aging and time worn Eastwood still has a lot to offer. Check it out.

Will there be another Dirty Harry? Get Clint's opinion on it.

And see what Arnold Schwartzenegger says about Dirty Harry.

Majel Barrett-Roddenberry has passed away

2008-12-18T21:52:00.004-05:00

Who is that? To science fiction and especially Star Trek fans she is truly a familar name. Majel was the wife of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry. She was also a key actress on several of the Trek series as she played numerous roles such as Dr. McKoy's nurse assistant in the original series, the voice of several Starfleet computers and the mother of Deanna Troia on Star Trek the Next Generation.

For those that are fans of Star Trek this is terrible news. For those that aren't into Star Trek I'm telling you that this is a terrible loss as this woman was a big advocate of science fiction and is one of the biggest reasons why Star Trek has been around for so long. For those that have never discovered Star Trek or for those that may rediscover it this May when the new J.J. Abrams Trek comes out, we all need to recognize that this is a loss and her story will always be remembered. Not only in Star Trek lore but in the whole world of science fiction.

Tron 2!!!

2008-12-18T00:41:00.004-05:00

I do not know much of Tron 2 at this point. I will update everybody when I have more information. For the mean time I have the best copy of the Tron 2 sneak peak video.

The Wrestler opens today!

2008-12-17T21:23:00.003-05:00

Mickey Rourke? Remember him? Many of you probably don't as his big shot at stardom came in the mid 1980s. What happened to him? From what I've read and heard, he squandered what could have been a fantastic career as he had become known as a "difficult to work with actor." Many believe that as a result, someone like Bruce Willis in Die Hard took the spot that Rourke could've had.

Now 20 years later, the much older and time worn Rourke returns to the big screen as the much older, time worn pro wrestler Randy "The Ram" Robinson. The similarities between both the actor and the character are so striking that many can see exactly why there is such strong Oscar buzz behind Rourke's performance. Its almost as if Rourke is exorcising his demons just as his character is. The Ram is a broken down 80s wrestler who refuses to hang up the boots. The days of wrestling in front of thousands in sold out arenas is long gone. Now he wrestles in front of crowds that are considerably less. Sounds familiar to Rourke's acting career which he completely left some time back to become a pro boxer, which too didn't last.

You can read about it everywhere, The Wrestler is getting rave reviews and Oscar buzz. This year's Oscars is shaping up to be very interesting so far. Two movies about wrestlers and comic books are in serious contention for awards. Who ever thought that such a thing was possible? What I would love to see is Rourke and Ledger win for their respective roles as they both churned out truly great perfomances. Keep your fingers crossed.

Legion of Superheroes on Smallville

2008-12-17T20:13:00.004-05:00

Smallville continues to be the only superhero series going strong on television today. No I'm not counting the struggling, boarderline and quite frankly pathetic Heroes on NBC. Smallville is actually bringing many of DC Comics' classic heroes to the small screen. Geoff Johns, DC's most popular writer is bringing the Legion of Superheroes to Smallville on Thursday, January 15th.

For years Smallville has been laughed at, scoffed and despised by many people for many different reasons. Too often using kryptonite in each episode as well as the dreaded love triangle between Clark, Lex and Lana. Thankfully with the departure of former producers Gough and Miles, the new producers have been able to shed the shackles of this beaten to death story arc in order to feature some of the most exciting characters of the DC Universe. For a show that has truly had many ups and downs over the last eight years it still remains a strongly rated show on Thursday nights.

The cast of characters that have appeared on the show includes Green Arrow, Aquaman, The Flash, Cyborg, Martian Manhunter, Black Canary, Maxima, Doomsday, Brainiac, Supergirl and now three Legion of Superheroes: Cosmic Boy, Lightening Lad and Saturn Girl. I know, not the most awesome of names but they're supposed to be teenagers. This version of the Legion depicts them as late teens and their superhero codenames probably won't be mentioned. This will be a great episode, which I hope will convince everyone involved with the show that a NINTH and more than likely final season needs to be ordered.

What if Smallville isn't renewed for next season? The producers have promised a heroic send off for Clark as he becomes the man we all know as Superman. As for spin offs, Aquaman and The Graysons have tried and failed in the past. Now, rumor has it, that a Martian Manhunter series can be created where DC's favorite martian will meet many more characters within its universe. I for one would love to see the small screen versions of Blue Beetle, Booster Gold (BOOSTER!!) and Guy Gardner. Check out the trailer for the Jan. 15th episode. Hey, its gotta be better than Heroes at this point right?

Terminator Salvation Thoughts

2008-12-17T18:53:00.011-05:00

The picture above is of John Connor (Christian Bale) in the Terminator Factory. This movie is scheduled to be released on May 22, 2009 with a lot of high hopes. At first I said to myself oh no another Terminator movie. Shortly after finding out about another Terminator movie I quickly went to research. I have been saying since the first movie came out that Hollywood should make a movie about the war. The timing of this movie is perfect. The Sarah Connor Chronicles is airing now and it is a really good show. If you watch the young John Connor on the show and then watch the movie you will feel like you grew up with John.

There are three doubts and concerns that pose a threat to the performance of the movie. First, the writer John Brancato. John has written recent movies such as Primeval, Net 2.0 and Catwoman. The best movie in the mix was Primeval. I think Primeval wasn't even that good. Next concern are the supporting actors. Many of which are new and young. The really good actor I see is Bale. We will see Anton Yelchin's performance in both Terminator and Star Trek. Anton will play Pavel Chekov in the new Star Trek movie set to release on May 8, 2009. The third concern is Bale. Do not get me wrong, I think he is a good actor. The only thing is his personality might not fit the role of John Connor. John Connor has a personality of someone who is very sensitive and shows emotion about the human race. Bale plays lots of dark roles such as Batman, American Pyscho and Shaft.

I really want this movie to be good. I love the Terminator franchise. I am predicting this movie to be a 7.5 out of 10. With James Cameron as a co writer I am sure he will bring positive components to the movie.

Trailer #2

- djoliva

The Women of The Spirit

2008-12-16T17:57:00.002-05:00

The Spirit comes out next week and here's a new feature on the Women of The Spirit.

Also check out John Broglia's artwork for the Spirit. Enjoy, its a Double Page Splash.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine

2008-12-15T21:11:00.003-05:00

The trailer for the newest installment to the big screen X-Men universe has hit the nets today. Wolverine is easily the most popular X-Men character and only takes a back seat to Spiderman in the Marvel Universe.

Hugh Jackman returns as Wolverine (thank god). The film will trace his origin which spans more than a century. Remember that crazy mutant healing thingie Wolverine has? This film will introduce other X-men favorites such as Gambit and Deadpool. Check it out.

The Day the Earth Stood Still remake....FAIL!

2008-12-13T19:38:00.002-05:00

My worst fears about this movie have come true. The Day the Earth Stood Still remake fails to live up to its classic predecessor. But is it a surprise? The concept and special effects are of course great but after I watched the trailers and saw Keanu's lifeless version of Klatuu, I knew that this movie wasn't going to measure up. Now that the reviews are in I feel totally insulted!

I'm insulted, not because of the actors its the direction of the characters. A lot of people give Keanu Reeves a hard time for being a bad actor, I don't think he's terrible as people say but he's no Brando, Stewart etc. Its the direction that they had Klatuu going in. The first movie showed us that an alien can have some compassion for us. This new Klatuu came off intimidating and menacing. By doing this they lost the compassion and relatability of the character. I'm sure during the movie this rigidness would have changed because of key people, ie Jennifer Connelly and Jayden Smith but I'm sure it feels tacked on.

I haven't seen the film but I'm going on what I've read and what I've heard. I'll try to watch it and compare the endings as well. Apparently there is a big difference in this version's ending.

So, who's at fault for this? Everyone in Hollywood wants those big tentpole films, the big franchise makers. So everyone has been digging into the past to dust off and remake classic films. This is fine but they are either deviating too far from the source material or are missing the point completely from the original that make them classics. I think there are people out there in Hollywood that are completely ignorant.

They really want these properties to work yet the pressure of making money, appealing to mass audiences and just being completely ignorant of what makes things work is what attributes to failures like this. The powers that be need to look at these classics and really try to learn what is the most important aspect about them. I'm not only talking about concept but what the emotional connectivity these films possess that connects with the audience. Maybe if someone took the time out to examine that instead of rushing into pre production maybe some of these remakes won't fall flat and suck.

If you want to see a good scifi film, there's nothing like the original.

Geoff Johns is leaving Justice Society of America!

2008-12-13T01:56:00.003-05:00

Earlier this week it was announced via Geoff John's blog that he was leaving the JSA comic book at issue #26. Although this is sad news as Johns has been a very intricate part of the JSA book since 1999, he will take this time to focus on his newest run on The Flash and the Darkest Night storyline.

I believe that wherever Johns goes so will his devoted fanbase...which includes myself. I can't wait to see what DC's top writer has in store for us. I for one will be looking forward to his Blackest Night Storyline!

To read all the news about his departure check out newsarama.com.

Five most influential superhero's - Part I

2008-12-11T21:07:00.004-05:00

Who is the most influential superhero? The word influential can mean many things. I will define influence as it is written in dictionary.com. Influence is "the capacity or power of persons or things to be a compelling force on or produce effects on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc., of others." With that definition I can't say any other superhero has had an effect on the pop culture in today's age than Superman. Superman was created in 1939 Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. Mort Weisinger improved on the characters background a few years later such as the reaction towards kryptonite.

Ok so, Superman was created by two Jewish people in 1939. Why is Superman so influential?Superman is thought of as an American Icon. The time period when Superman was created was during a time of world wars, poverty and financially hard times. There was World War One, followed by the roaring 20's, the great depression and World War Two. People needed a way out of the realities of life. The world needed a protector. Someone who would could help solve world peace and serve justice. At the time Superman was created, there was the great depression and the rising of Hitler in Germany. The Jews were being persecuted and did not have a home country. They were kicked out of many countries and in some killed. Look at Superman, he did not have a home country. His planet was destroyed. I feel the Jewish community was trying to live everyday life without persecution. America was one of the few places to accept the Jewish community with minimal persecution. Superman was faced with a similar dilemma. Superman is trying to be human and live a normal life in America.

Some of you are probably saying to yourself how does this all equate to Superman being the most influential superhero. Well, I believe that we all think this Superman really does exist. Superman fights for justice and the right reasons. In the comic books and movies, Superman is thought of as a savior or a God. He is the one watching above us. Making sure we are all doing well. The thought of someone watching us in human form is comforting for everybody. I sure go to sleep better knowing that we are safe, don't you?

-djoliva

The Dark Knight...Oscar Worthy?

2008-12-08T22:40:00.001-05:00

On the eve of The Dark Knight being released on dvd and with the Oscar nominations quickly going to be decided, many bat fans have wondered...is The Dark Knight Oscar worthy? This film easily goes down as one of the greatest, if not THE greatest sequel ever made. Its a bold statement but The Dark Knight is a bold movie. The late Heath Ledger's performance alone galvanized this movie in not only comic book fans but the overall public in general. Does Heath disappear in the role, is this movie the Godfather II of comic book movies? So many questions, many will have the same answer...yes!

Is the Dark Knight Best Picture of the Year? It sure looks like it. Its the highest grossing film of the year as its garnered $996,482,559 worldwide, just shy of a billion dollars and the coveted Titanic top spot.

Is the Dark Knight a great screenplay? This movie brought a realism to a comic book adaption that no other film in its genre has come close to achieving. It is due to this realism that I believe many people were able to relate to this film. They were able to put aside the seventy years of comic book bat history in order to sit back and immerse themselves in this world.

Is the Dark Knight the Godfather II of superhero movies? It certainly ranks as one of the greatest sequels ever. The Godfather II is notorious for being superior to its original film. Looking in terms of scifi films, The Dark Knight follows the classic Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan rule: add an enemy that matches or is superior to our hero, add a lot more action and top it with a major character death. The Dark Knight delivers on this rule in every way.

Does Heath Ledger deserve a postumous Oscar for Best Supporting Actor? Absolutely. Ledger, without question, disappeared in the psychotic Joker role and brought a new life to the character that we had never seen before. We've seen the Joker as a crazy comicial killer in the past but Ledger's Joker brought such a sinister and at times frightening Joker to the forefront. It's not often that a character in films becomes a pop cultural icon. No matter who plays the Joker, whether it be Jack Nicholson or Heath Ledger, the character always catches people's attention. In the cast of Ledger's Joker, he's up the ante on the madman and driven him to become a household name.

Below is a quick behind the scenes video done right before the movie opening in July:

I believe that this clip is a great example of why Heath is being considered for a Supporting Actor Nomination. Is it Ledger's Joker at his most intense? You be the judge.

In conclusion, I wouldn't be surprised at all if The Dark Knight were nominated for several Oscars. Will it win? If it does, The Dark Knight will go down in history as the first comic book adaption film to ever win an Academy Award. This would be historic for the comic book genre. Much hangs in the balance at this year's Oscars. If this film can garner any Oscars including an award for Ledger as well as a Best Picture award, then the future of the comic book genre will become brighter than its been since X-Men and Spiderman sparked its cinematic revolution years ago. The Dark Knight has my vote.

Fringe at Brooklyn College

2008-12-05T23:37:00.004-05:00

The new Fox scifi drama by J.J. Abrams (Star Trek)is called Fringe. Its basically the new X-Files for this decade and its been a pretty enjoyable series so far. Its coming up with new and innovative science gone amok ideas that parallels some of the original X-Files episodes but has an innovative voice of its own. Some of the segments on Fringe takes place at Harvard University but since this is their freshman season, Brooklyn College is substituting for that University. The cast and crew of Fringe have been filming on campus three times in the last few weeks and hopefully they will be back again.

The three people that run this blog, myself, David and Dr. Oliva were fortunate enough to be background extras on the set today! It was a lot of fun and I suggest that anyone with an interest in entertainment really look into the possibility of being an extra. Just being on a set really exposes you to the intricacies of this business and how it runs.

Below is a clip for the series just to give newcomers a taste of what this series is about:

And here is a more in depth behind the scenes look:

Comics Syllabus

2008-12-04T00:12:00.004-05:00

Here are three graphic novels from DC Comics that are Required Reading. These three novels are Epics. They are the most influential novels that literally changed the comic book world.

Kingdom Come - What happens when the children of our superheroes make their own rules? What happens when the world's governments want to take back control? Only a bitter Superman must come out of retirement to save the world...but whose world will he save? The world of the normal man or the world of the superheroes?

The Watchmen - The first main stream ultra raunchy and violent graphic novel. This is where the line between good and evil gets blurred this is where black and white ended and shades of gray becomes the new characterizations for characters.

Crisis on Infinite Earth - Without a doubt the most piviotal storyline in the history of the DC Universe. The scope of this maxi-series even spreads far beyond DC as it marked the official end to the Silver Age of Comic Books. This series is so influential that it prompted the Marvel Universe to start its own maxi-series that crossed over into their entire comic book line. This is the genesis of what we know today as the comic book "crossover" event.
Fifty years of DC Comics history came to a devastating end on its 5oth anniversary and a new universe was born, one that has struggled to survive for the last quarter century. More major comic book characters died in this series than any other comic book in history. Its more than just required reading, in comic book terms its holy grail of comic book epics.

Invincible Iron Man

2008-12-03T19:54:00.005-05:00

I have been reading the new Invisible Iron Man series. The series is up to the seventh comic book. I have to say that I am impressed with the way Marvel presents Iron Man and the story to the readers. This is not even mentioning the art work. The art work has been great. The book is written by Matt Fraction and drawn by Salvador Larroca. The Iron Man movie set this series up. The series so far is about Ezekiel Stane. Ezekiel is another name with a religious background. Ezekiel Stane is the son of the Iron Monger. The Iron Monger appeared in the Iron Man movie as the villian. Ezekiel Stane has a vendetta for Tony Stark after the death of his father, Obadiah Stane.

Ezekiel created a secret society to kill Tony Stark. Ezekiel supports the organization financially. Not only does Ezekiel have money, he also has intelligence. He bought some of Iron Man's materials from the black market and created his own Iron Man. Ezekiel attacks some super hero's and strategic locations using his Iron Man suit and weapons. Tony Stark is very upset because he knows that his technology is killing these people. Ezekiel attacked one building where Tony's not girlfriend but girlfriend Pepper was in attendance. Pepper had schrapnel in her chest. The only way she will survive is if Tony creates the device that saved his life which is on the Iron Man suit. This device costs lots of money to create. Pepper is upset that she has this device in her when Tony will not donate it to people who need it. Tony's reason is that the device costs too much money.

Ezekiel plans to attack all of Stark Industry locations around the world at the same time. As Ezekiel is planning his attacks, Iron Man is not sure who is behind the whole operation. Iron Man tracks down who is buying the Iron Man equipment and weapons. Tony Stark investigates and figures out that Ezekiel might plan an attack. Tony Stark says that someone will create a cheaper version of the Iron Man. Tony calls it the Iron Man 2.0. Iron Man 2.0 has not been developed yet. Tony Stark puts a tracking device on one of the black market Iron Man equipment. Tony can now track where the equipment is going. Tony Stark creates Iron Man bots and places them at all Stark Industry locations. Stark knows which building Ezekiel is going to attack. The bots will attack the other machines Ezekiel put together. Iron Man finds Ezekiel and they have a showdown with Iron Man winning and bringing Ezekiel to justice. In the process of their fight, Ezekiel manages to destroy the Stark Industries building located on Long Island.

Something tells me that Ezekiel is not finished. There can be more people involved in his secret society that can pull a stunt like Ezekiel did. The series did not focus on many people being involved in the secret society. I am sure there are more people that hate the capitalist pig Tony Stark. Book #8 should be out next week. We shall see what aftermath will be like. Please purchase the next few books. It will get interesting.

-djoliva

The Spirit tv spots

2008-12-01T21:07:00.002-05:00

I'm posting 2 tv spots for the new superhero movie called The Spirit. This movie is based on a classic comic book character by Will Eisner. Its in the style of 300 and Sin City but hardcore fans haven't taken to kindly to it as they don't see this character in that type of cinematic depiction. This movie didn't make my most anticipated list but the trailer and tv spots are showing potiential.

2 TV Clips of the Week!

2008-11-30T13:29:00.004-05:00

The first clip comes from the surprisingly long running Superman series Smallville. Over the last few seasons more and more superheroes and villians have made their way to Smallville. This time around its Doomsday, the monster Kryptonian creature that killed Superman back in 1992.

The next clip comes from Heroes. Sylar; once the scariest villian on television is now struggling to keep his humanity and Elle is the key.

The Day the Earth Stood Still x2

2008-11-30T02:04:00.008-05:00

It's Michael Rennie vs. Keanu Reeves for The Day the Earth Stood Still.

Rennie played Klaatu, an alien visitor that has a dire message for the people of the earth. He was a sympathetic character that, even though was alien, had a sense of humanity to him. He saw potential in the human race but acted sternly when he told the world that our petty wars would eventually lead to space...and if it did "the world would be reduced to a burned out cinder." This was a great socio-political conscience movie as the Cold War had begun and the threat of nuclear annihilation was real.

Fifty seven years later this epic movie that started the UFO movie revolution in the 1950s is now being remade. Keanu Reeves is filling the shoes of Rennie portraying Klaatu in a more emotionless way. From what we've seen in the trailers, Reeve's Klaatu is more alien, sinister and dangerous. I really can't critique this movie as it won't come out for the next two weeks but from what I've seen it can either be really good or really bad. I'm hoping for something really good but we all know, remakes are disappointing most of the time. Klaatu's robot Gort remains unchanged in this version although it does get the CGI treatment. The newest addition to the Day the Earth Stood Still is the cloud that disinegrates everything it touches. This is a new and far more menacing threat. I understand that the remake must up the ante and make things that much more dire than the original, but honestly, the original proved its point without losing the humanity it so richly displayed.

The Day the Earth Stood Still is one of my REQUIRED VIEWING films! If you have never seen the original now is the time to do so before the remake comes out. Once you see the original you can decide which was the more superior.

At this moment, on the eve of the remake's opening, I have Michael Rennie leading over Keanu Reeves. What do you think?

Finally, "Klaatu Barata Nikto" will have a new meaning for you after viewing the original and hopefully the remake.

Mike

The Super Hero Genre and Polytheism - Part I

2008-11-28T15:46:00.005-05:00

Super hero comics and films fill our culture. From the 1930s to the present super heroes and villains have become a mainstay in the cultural development of our society. Numerous popular and academic works have explored the role of the super hero in our lives. Graphic novels and high tech films are continuing this process at an accelerating clip. Batman, Superman, Spiderman, the Punisher, the Joker, etc. are ubiquitous.

Super heroes and super villains are a modern pantheon. They are a collection of figures that express deep and abiding characteristics of human culture and of the human psyche. The pantheon of heroes and villains mimics archaic religious belief. The Greeks, the Romans and many other ancient societies worshiped a plethora of divinities. Our monotheistic belief system, although dominant for nearly two thousand years, has lived side by side with more ancient polytheistic forms of religious experience. It is my contention that contemporary super hero genres are the expression of polytheistic cultural and psychic forms long thought extinct. They are the living expression of pre-modern religious tendencies that may be an inherent and necessary component of human religious practice. Even the saints of the Catholic Church are reminiscent of this tendency.

In future blogs I will explore the connections between the super hero/villain and polytheism in its modern or postmodern forms. Polytheism in this context will be explored as a psychic component of human experience and as a sub-narrative informing our social and cultural development. My interest is not in posing polytheism as an alternative to monotheism. Rather, I am offering polytheism as a psychological and sociological phenomenon that presently finds expression in the films and comic books of our age and provides a vessel for the religious longings of a secular society.

Robert M. Oliva, ND, LMSW, MA

Magog One Shot Special

2008-11-28T01:56:00.007-05:00

I just read the Magog one shot special book. I am impressed with the Kingdom Come series recently. This week Alex Ross did not do the art for the whole book. Last week for the Superman special, Alex Ross was the artist for the whole book! Anyway, in this book there is a river in Africa where villagers of this one town are dying because of the poisoned water. Just as Gog and the Justice Society are going to fix the river water problem , Magog gets a distress message from his old Marine team. The team is located in Congo. Magog has enough energy to run across all of Africa only to find the team where a few of his friends are dead and captured. Magog finds out where his captured friends are and unleashes a killing spree on the enemy. I think this is where we find out that Magog has some flaws. He likes to treat others and they are being treated. I understand the eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth philosophy. However, this leads to a few questions on how Magog will react to future events. Remember, the Kingdom Come Superman says that Gog caused war on his Earth (Earth 22).

2008-11-27T00:27:00.001-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

Just watched the last episode of Entourage Season Five. Its probably the best episodes of the whole series…and that’s saying a lot. There was the usual comedy but more drama than usual. E cursing out Vince after the blame was put on him for their return back to Queens New York. The dire desperation in Vince that we’ve never seen before in the series as his career may in fact already be over. It was a tough episode but the boys managed to pull through with the usual happy ending and a bright future for season six. If you've never seen Entourage you should. Watch all five seasons in a row and I guarantee that you'll laugh your ass off and admit you've found your new favorite show.

Most Anticipated Movies for the next Six Months!

2008-11-25T01:15:00.010-05:00

The Day the Earth Stood Still

I’m hoping that this remake of the first great alien invasion movie will turn out to be a big hit. I like Keanu Reeves but he’s no Michael Renne, the original actor in the 1951 classic. At least Gort hasn’t changed…even though its getting the full CGI treatment.

Trailer

The Watchmen

This is going to be fantastic. The first hard rated R superhero movie ever. The Watchmen is required reading for anyone who wants to know more about comics and graphic novels.

Trailer

The Wrestler

This is the wrestling movie that will erase the horrible taste that was left in everyone’s mouth after Ready to Rumble. This movie will put Mickie Rouke back on the map and will sound extremely similar to the turbulent story of Jake “the Snake” Roberts.

Trailer

Star Trek

The film franchise is reinvented! What had become cheesy and a geeks only club is now breaking out in the mainstream as a wide appealing action adventure movie. This is a prequel to the Star Trek Universe. We discover where Kirk, Spock and the others came from and what put together on the Enterprise. JJ Abrams is the man about town right now. He has done Alias, Cloverfield, Lost, Fringe and now Star Trek. Sky’s the limit for him. Maybe now Star Trek can finally get the respect its deserved for years.

Trailer

Terminator Salvation

The fourth in the Terminator franchise and the first in a trilogy that takes the war against Skynet to the future. The machines have taken over and John Connor must step up to liberate humanity. We finally see the war in the future and I’m hoping this movie will be groundbreaking...even though James Cameron has not given McG his absolute blessing.

Trailer

Transformers 2: Rise of the Fallen

The sequel to one of my favorite movies of this decade is finally coming out. The first movie had tons of action, drama and laughs. I can’t wait to see what Bay and his crew have lined up for us. Honestly, I want to see more robots as well as the comic and dramatic dynamic between Shia and Megan.

G.I. Joe

Another great cartoon series of the 80s is finally coming to the big screen. Following the success of Transformers, G.I. Joe will try to capture that same kind of success. I’m hoping it will be great but so far there has been absolutely no buzz on this film which is not a good sign. I’m hoping for the best.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine

The X-Men live on in the movies as their most popular character, Wolverine takes center stage in his origin story. I think this is going to be a great movie with lots of mutants we have not seen before.