Talking about classic and current sci-fi, fantasy, action/adventure and horror films and shows. Superheroes galore. Also discussing comic books. Star Trek, Buffy, James Bond, X-Men, Star Wars, Lord Of The Rings, Spider-Man, Indiana Jones, Firefly, True Blood, Supernatural and lots more. Just a little hero worship.
Awesome movie. Sean Connery proves that he's still can kick some ass and Nic Cage is good in his first action role. Plus any movie with a line like "Losers always whine about their best. Winners go home and f**k the prom queen" has to be good. The plot has a former marine general (Ed Harris) holding several hostages at Alcatraz Prison until his demands are met. Sean Connery is a former prisoner who successfully escaped from the Alcatraz and goes in with a team of Navy Seals to help diffuse the situation. Nic Cage is on hand as an FBI chemical specialist to handle the bad guys lethal rockets. The Rock is balls to the walls action from the word go. B+ Ed Harris as General Hummel
Nicolas Cage trying to do the right thing...
Sean throwing down with some major firepower..
I always loved the trailer when the announcer hypes it up by saying.."This summer, Get ready to rock!" Awesome!
Well, well..if it isn't Gillian Anderson (aka Dana Scully from the X-Files) birthday. I miss that series and Gillian was amazing as the skeptical Scully. Here's hoping they do a third movie soon. Regardless, Happy Birthday Gillian!
Had to go back and watch the original after watching the newest one. And it is amazingly still awesome. In fact, better than I remember. Stallone is perfect as John Rambo, a Vietnam war vet who while traveling cross country gets on the wrong side of a small town sheriff (Brian Dennehy) and his deputies. When the law pushes him, Rambo pushes back--hard. There are so many reasons why this is the best one of the series. I know the new one has way more carnage and blood and all that. But First Blood actually has a good story with great characters. Dennehy is wonderful as Sheriff Will Teasle, a no-nonsense guy who refuses to back down; Richard Crenna as the stoic Colonel Trautman, who comes very close to the William Shatner style of acting, and of course Stallone who delivers all the required muscle and efficency at killing but also provides some good acting. And compared to the new one, he is positively Chatty Cathy for his debut as Rambo. And that terrific music score. One of the best action films ever made. First Blood is awesome. A classic. And has some of the best quotes ever.
Happy Birthday to South African actress Charlize Theron. The stunning beauty has appeared in such notable films such as The Devil's Advocate, The Italian Job, Mighty Joe Young, The Cider House Rules, Men Of Honor, Hancock, and her Academy Award winning role in Monster. And 2012 promises to be one of her best years with the films Snow White and the Huntsman and Ridley Scott's Prometheus.
When it was first announced that Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford would be teaming up for a sci-fi/western bybrid film, I was in geek heaven. I mean James Bond and Indiana Jones in the same movie. Hell Yeah! My expectations were high for this movie, and I was not disappointed. The movie opens in Arizona circa 1873 with Daniel Craig as a man named Jake Lonergan, who wakes up in the middle of the desert with no boots, hat, or horse. And no clue as to who he is. After being stumbled upon by three nefarious men, Jake quickly dispatches the trio and heads to the nearest town, which is called Absolution. Once there he meets a mysterious woman named Ella (played by Olivia Wilde) who may have a clue to his loss of memory. Jake also runs afoul of a drunk young man named Percy (played by Paul Dano) who happens to be the son of Colonel Dolarhyde (played by Harrison Ford). Jake slaps Percy around and both men are arrested by the sheriff (Keith Carradine). The Colonel gets wind of this and rides into town to get his boy and also get his revenge on Jake, who evidently stole money from him a while back. Once in town, some commotion occurs and lights fill up the skies. The lights turn out to be alien spaceships which attack the town and start snatching up the local townsfolk. Jake happens to have some type of alien weapon on his wrist and learns how to use it. This leads to a spectacular 15 minute sequence of cool and frenetic action. The town bands together to track down the ships that took their fellow townspeople. Lonergan and Dolarhyde put aside their differences to work together. This movie worked on several levels and the sci fi meets western angle worked pretty good. It got kind of too much sci-fi mumbo jumbo toward the end but things turn back to the western side and everything ends nicely. The cast is top notch. Daniel Craig once again shows he is a strong actor and even a stronger action star as he has several key scenes where he gets to flex his muscle. Harrison Ford is good too as Dolarhyde and gets a few emotional scenes that let us know why he is such a hardened man. And Olivia Wilde is more than just eye candy to look at. She is very pivotal in this movie and does not disappoint in her scenes where she to explain a lot to everyone else. So all in all Cowboys and Aliens is a cool movie. Perfect for summertime viewing. From the director of Iron Man, Jon Favreau. B
Harrison Ford as Rick Deckard looking for some replicants..
Awesome sci-fi film. I loved it from the first time I ever saw it. The story has our hero Rick Deckard, played by Harrison Ford, as a policeman who hunts down replicants in the year 2019. Replicants are human clones used to work in conditions too dangerous for normal people. Well, a crew of replicants escape from their ship and hide out in LA wanting to meet their creator to give them more life. Replicants are built with a specific time span of only 4 years. So Deckard is called back in to track them down. He's the best blade runner there is. This film will blow you away with innovative special effects, a great storyline, and terrific characters. Ford is solid as usual. But Rutger Hauer as head replicant Roy Batty is phenomenal. Also starring Sean Young, Daryl Hannah, Joanna Cassidy, Pat Hingle, Edward James Olmos and Brion James. Check out this movie if you haven't seen it. I just bought the recently released collector's edition DVD and it's a keeper. This is what you call a game changer. It showed that sci-fi could be smart, cool and exciting. And almost 30 years later, it is still quite impressive. Expertly directed by Ridley Scott. Watch out Deckard..that ain't no doll...
Memorable scenes include Deckard chasing down Zora through the streets of Los Angeles. Deckard being roughed up by Leon in a back alley. Deckard's first meeting with Rachael to give her a test to see if she is or isn't a replicant. Roy Batty finally meeting his maker/designer. Pris giving Deckard all he can handle with her amazing gymnastic moves. And of course the final showdown between Deckard and Batty in a huge mansion like complex. Talking about this movie has got me all excited to watch it again. Time to break out the DVD. A-
Roy Batty: I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain. Time to die. Deckard on the job, hunting down some bad replicants Los Angeles 2019...amazing visuals Sean Young as Racheal Rutger Hauer as Roy Batty Joanna Cassidy as Zora Daryl Hannah as Pris looking all so punk... Edward James Olmos as Gaff, Deckard's partner Brion James as Leon...Wake up! Time To Die! Zora on the run...hey at least we know they still have beer in the future.. Hey I told her to stop, but she didn't listen.. Deckard meets Zora with her pet snake...
With this intense heat wave that is going on, I was thinking of the one super power I would love to have the most. And while flying, super-speed, and super strength would be awesome, I would take the X-Man’s Iceman mutant power right about now. I would keep my body at a constant temperature of around 65 to 70 degrees while being in the heat. Being in total comfort. And I wouldn’t be selfish either as I would spread the cold around. Anyone could stand close to me and I would send them a little coolness as well. Compliments of Monty, the Iceman. Just a thought.
Last month, my star of the month was Diane Kruger. This month it's Diane's co-star from Troy and Wicker Park, Rose Byrne. The Australian actress has had one heck of a year in 2011 with three big hits: the thriller Insidious, the unexpected comedy smash Bridesmaids and X-Men: First Class. I will post pics and facts and reviews of her films all month long. Maybe my good friend Irene will lend a hand as well.
So here is my latest dream I had the other night. Let me set up the situation first. I had just watched Blade 2 the other night on cable (great movie, one of the rare sequels that is better than the original) and the newest episode of True Blood. So I had vampires on the brain, right. As most of my friends know most of my dreams usually place me in some horrific setting where I am fighting monsters or being chased by something. I've had dreams where I was chased by a coven of witches, battled the alien creature from the Alien movies (for some reason I dreamed I was Sigourney Weaver too...crazy right), and survived an alien attack of Earth. But my latest dream is really creepy. So here we go..
Me and my wife Stephanie get invited to friends of mine for a dinner party. I've known the guy and his wife for years now. My dream starts and we are already at their house. It's evening time and there are at least 2 other couples there as well. So we have dinner and some wine, and then start talking. Everything is normal right? Then I have to use the bathroom and the husband tells me the bathroom is upstairs as they don't have one downstairs. So I trot up the stairs and use it. I come out and there is this girl standing in the hallway. She has dark curly hair and is very pale. I recognize her but can't quite place her. She seems out of it as I ask what's her name. She doesn't say anything. And then the door to the attic slowly drops down. I'm thinking what the hell is going on? All I see is dark pant legs coming down and I'm waiting to see who it is when I'm waiting to see who it is when he finally steps into the light and it's freaking Nosferatu, the creepy looking vampire dude. He hisses and I grab the girl and haul ass down the stairs. I start telling my friend.."dude you have a vampire in your attic. We need to get the f@%k out of here."
That evidently goes over every one's head as the only question they have for me is.."Ummm Monty where did you find this girl?"
I was like she was upstairs wondering around and I grabbed her before the vampire got us. I started screaming we need to go now. And then someone says "You know we can't do that Monty. The curfew is in effect. We go outside and we will be shot on sight." I have no idea what they are talking about.."Curfew! Man if we don't leave now that vampire will be having us for dinner". Everyone seems relatively calm about the whole situation even Stephanie, who is scared to death of vampires. I can't figure out what's going on until my buddy says everything will be alright. My friend won't hurt us. He lives here with us and he feeds on my wife from time to time. The wife then shows me her neck bite marks. But the husband has no such marks. Then I think well that may be good for you but now he has us to feed on and probably kill us. Then I hear a creepy voice say Calm down Mr. Hawes. Everything will be OK. It's the vampire coming down the steps. Looks like a cross between Nosferatu and the vampire from Salem's Lot. Or the vampires from Blade 2. Creepy as hell. I'm looking all over for any kind of weapon to use and find nothing. When I realize I can make a weapon...a cross. So I break a night table legs off and plan to use them as a cross. I remember the vampire saying something like that won't work unless I believe in it. And I was like I grew up watching vampire movies and reading the books..Oh I believe. And I use the table legs as a makeshift cross and the vampire actually screams and starts backing away. Then that strange looking girl touches my arm and I go calm and just pass out or black out..Then I wake up. So I don't know how it turns out but once I wake I realize who the girl is..she's Death from the comic book series I used to read. I don't know what the hell she was doing there. But it was very weird. And why was there a curfew after dark. Was vampires overrunning the city or the world for that matter. I have no idea. I hate when my dreams don't finish all neat and tidy. But imagine being trapped in a house with a vampire for the night and you can't leave. Anyway that was my dream. Make of it what you will, I for one wish I knew how it ended. Was I already dead while being there? I don't know. And why couldn't I dream I was Blade and just ripping vampires to shred.
30 years ago a seminal film opened in movie theaters around the world. It was An American Werewolf In London and to this day, it is still the best werewolf movie I have ever seen. The story has two American tourists named David Kessler (relative newcomer David Naughton) and Jack Goodman (Griffin Dunne) in Britain who are attacked by a wild animal while walking on the moors one night. Said wild animal turns out to be a werewolf and after Jack is ripped to shreds and killed, David is bitten and will soon turn into a raging beast himself. Awesome transformation scene...
Damn Jack you really let yourself go...
He lucks up when at the hospital he is recovering from he meets Nurse Alex Price (the always beguiling Jenny Agutter (of Logan's Run and Walkabout fame) and the two immediately hit it off. Why aren't all nurses like Jenny Agutter, I swear.
David is soon having horrible nightmares and is visited by Jack's ghost, who every time you see him is decomposing worse and worse. He tells David that he must kill himself and be free of this curse or he will kill people. Of course David doesn't believe him. But once the first full moon happens, David changes into a werewolf and promptly goes on a rampage. The first werewolf transformation is a sight to behold. Done by master make up artist Rick Baker, that scene is realistic and painful. No CGI here folks, just good old makeup and prosthetics. Ah sweet Jenny Agutter....I don't even notice David in this pic..at all
We are so screwed it's not even funny...
Soon David realizes he knows what has to be done but can't quite do it. So when he takes in a movie and changes one more time, he is on the loose in Piccadily Square. That scene is cool as hell, as the people of Britain are terrified and running for their lives from this savage beast. The climax has Alex rushing to David's side after he is cornered in an alley ready to be taken out by Britain's finest. That's gotta hurt....
I loved this movie when it first came out and I love it still to this day. This is how you make a great horror movie with a lean and visceral feel that doesn't drag. The cast is top notch with solid direction by John Landis. Naughton and Dunne are perfect as the american tourists and Jenny Agutter is well Jenny Agutter. Nothing more needs to be said on that. She is awesome in every way. The music score is fantastic with some choice rocking tunes including Bad Moon Rising by Creedence Clearwater Revival. And like I said it is still the best werewolf movie that I have seen. Mainly because its old fashioned makeup effects and not computer generated. And it also has a lot of inspired humor, helped being directed by Landis (Stripes, Ghostbusters, Trading Places). What was that noise?
An American Werewolf In London is how you do it. Stay away from that god awful sequel An American Werewolf in Paris. It's bad. London is the one to go with. B+
