I have very high expectations for this upcoming HBO series. The premise of the show sounds most intriguing – a dark odyssey about the dawn of artificial consciousness and the future of sin. Just as my previous ‘rants’ may have come to suggest about the series, this has all the elements to succeed. Jonathan Nolan (co-writer of “Interstellar”, “Memento”) and Lisa Joy are the show creators with J.J. Abrams (“Star Wars: The Force Awakens”, “Star Trek”) executive producing.
The upcoming sci-fi drama series looks spectacular and will be a nice substitute while we wait for winter to come on HBO’s smash hit, “Game of Thrones”. Check out the just released trailer below!
The cast includes Sir Anthony Hopkins, Evan Rachel Wood, James Marsden, Ed ‘I’m great in just about everything’ Harris, Jeffrey Wright, and Thandie Newton. The HBO series is set to be released on October 2nd. I cannot wait!
The series is actually based upon a 1973 film (that starred Yul Brynner) that was written and directed by Michael Crichton (author of “Jurassic Park”, “Rising Sun”, “Disclosure”). The premise of that film is set in the near future where there is an adult amusement park called Delos, where there are three separate worlds – West World (American Old West), Medieval World (medieval Europe), and Roman World (pre-Christian Pompeii). Each world is populated with life like androids which are programmed for their environment. Park guests are able to pay an admission for an adventure or a sexual encounter (with an android). Things begin to get crazy when these androids begin ‘acting out of place’ and the park creators do not really know how they really work since they were designed by other computers and no one really knows how they work. These androids could be just as complex as humans.
Note: “Westworld” (1973) was followed up with a sequel in 1976 called “Futureworld” and a very short lived TV series in 1980 called “Beyond Westworld”. Source: Pop Culture Crunch, June, 21, 2016
You may have heard rumblings of the upcoming show, “Westworld”, coming to the premium cable network sometime in October. You also may have even seen the teaser trailer (which can be seen below) that was recently released and are just not quite sure what to make of it. Don’t be troubled. You are not the only one. The marketing department would rather play with the angle of keeping the new series a ‘mystery’ in order to bring forth more interest. I’m not sure that’s working out that great. However, if you understand what the essential story is about, you’ll likely want to check it out. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that you have a stellar cast that includes Sir Anthony Hopkins, Ed Harris, Evan Rachel Wood, Thandie Newton, Jeffrey Wright, and James Marsden.
The Source Material:
The series is actually based upon a 1973 film (that starred Yul Brynner) that was written and directed by Michael Crichton (author of “Jurassic Park”, “Rising Sun”, “Disclosure”). The premise of that film is set in the near future where there is an adult amusement park called Delos, where there are three separate worlds – West World (American Old West), Medieval World (medieval Europe), and Roman World (pre-Christian Pompeii). Each world is populated with life like androids which are programmed for their environment. Park guests are able to pay an admission for an adventure or a sexual encounter (with an android). Things begin to get crazy when these androids begin ‘acting out of place’ and the park creators do not really know how they really work since they were designed by other computers and no one really knows how they work. These androids could be just as complex as humans.
Note: “Westworld” (1973) was followed up with a sequel in 1976 called “Futureworld” and a very short lived TV series in 1980 called “Beyond Westworld”.
Reasons why you should be excited for the upcoming TV series:
Jonathan Nolan (co-writer on “Memento”, “Interstellar” and “The Dark Knight”) and Lisa Joy are the show creators and will executive produce along with J.J. Abrams (“Star Trek”, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”) and Bryan Burk (producer on “Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol”, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”).
The series was described in a Hollywood Reporter article in 2014 as a “dark odyssey about the dawn of artificial consciousness and the future of sin”. Takeaway:
This sounds a lot like “Total Recall” meets “Blade Runner”. The mysterious marketing for the new series now makes much more sense. Plus, you can bet that they likely modernized the concept from the film. I think this concept is an excellent one to re-visit, especially since not many people are familiar with the source material. I believe we (society) are ready to fully embrace the storyline as we continue to progress into the inevitable dawn of artificial intelligence.
This edition pits two movies that largely take place in prisons! We have “Tango and Cash”(1989), a movie that teamed Sylvester Stallone and Kurt Russell, and “Death Warrant”(1990), a movie that helped solidify Jean Claude Van Damme as an international action superstar. Other similarity is the fact that these are straight up action movies. It’s one-liners and high flying kicks in this showdown!
Round 1 – Story
As outlandish as both of these films are, you can’t help but admire that they are fun to watch. After all, the greatest thing about movies is the idea that it offers an escape. From that standpoint, both of these films succeed. The plot is almost always plain vanilla with action movies and that’s alright! Give me the one-liners and ‘splosions! However, there must be a victor in this round.
“Tango and Cash”
Well, my gun is bigger than yours!
Captain Schroeder: If you really wanted to stare death in the eye, you shoulda gotten married.
Two prominent cops in California are known for ceasing tons of drugs from reaching the streets. One of them is Lietenant Ray Tango (Stallone) from Beverly Hills, an uptight cop who also plays the stock market and Gabriel Cash (Russell) from Downtown L.A., who plays it loose and could really care less about how he’s perceived by the public. Of course, both Tango and Cash are set up for murder and end up being transferred to a maximum-security prison (which is where many of the criminals Cash and Tango put away in the past). As you can imagine, many of the criminals have it out for the former cops and make elaborate deals with the prison guards so that they can have their way with them. Cash remains determined to get out and works with Tango to do just that. Together, they go after the people that were instrumental in them being set up and, ultimately, the drug dealer (s) – Yves Perret (Jack Palance), Quan (James Hong – he’s Lopan in “Big Trouble Little China”) and Lopez (Marc Alaimo). Oh, and Teri Hatcher plays Tango’s sister/Cash’s love interest. Double oh, and Kurt Russell dresses up as a woman in this (it was meant to be ‘cheeky’ but just comes off really bizarre when re-watching).
After his partner was killed, Canadian Detective Burke (ah, so that explains the accent Van Damme) goes after the man responsible, Christian Naylor (aka ‘the Sandman’ –played by Patrick Kilpatrick). After barely surviving himself, Burke was able to subdue Sandman by shooting him several times (but not killing him). A year or so passes and Burke is on a different assignment in California– to go undercover at a prison for the unexplained deaths that are occurring there. Trying to investigate on the ‘outside’ is Beckett, who is also posing as Burke’s wife. This ‘posed’ marriage turns into something more as Burke and Beckett turn up the heat! Anyways, eventually Beckett finds that the deaths are to be blamed on the State Attorney General (George Dickerson). The mysterious killings were actually for organs to be sold to the most desperate bidder (for the highest price!). Not just that, the State Attorney General even finds time to transfer the Sandman to the Californian prison in order to kill Burke. This is what sets up the final showdown between the two men again. Of course, the Sandman gets Van Dammaged.
Who has the edge? Oddly “Death Warrant”. Although the acting was subpar, the more complex storyline wins out here. Characters are written so as to appear more believable and help bring the grittiness of prison life to the forefront. Also, this was David S. Goyer’s first screenplay that was bought by a major movie studio. To those not in the know, Goyer went on to write “The Dark Knight” trilogy, the “Blade” series, “Man of Steel”, etc.
Round 2 – Performances
“Tango and Cash”
Kurt Russell in drag.
Gabriel Cash: I don’t know about you, but I have an aversion to getting F.U.B.A.R…
Even outside of the fun banter that is had between Stallone and Russell, there are a lot of really great supporting actors as well that include Geoffrey Lewis (“Double Impact”) as Captain Schroeder, Michael J. Pollard (“Bonnie and Clyde”) as tech guru Owen, Michael Jeter (“The Green Mile”, “Jurassic Park III”) as Skinner (the audio expert) and Clint Howard (“Apollo 13”, brother of Ron Howard) as Slinky. And look, this movie (although it had production problems) is a lot of fun because of the performances. The story puts our main characters in dire situations but you always know that they’d find a way to triumph while slinging one-liners all over the place. I cannot see this movie working without Russell and Stallone reveling in their dialogue.
“Death Warrant”
Sandman playing with Van Damme….BIG mistake!
Shouldn’t Van Damme lose in every ‘acting’ category? He may have the charm but he’s not fooling anyone. His kicks do the talking! Well, thankfully he has enough supporting actors that are good enough to help him ‘blend’ in with the rest of em’. He’s supported by the likes of actors Robert Guillaume (Rafiki in “Lion King”) and Abdul Salaam El Razzac (“Terminator 2: Judgment Day”) as two of Van Damme’s prison friends. You may also recognize Joshua John Miller as the computer hacker. He’s that creepy looking guy that always seems to play a tormented spaz/d*ckhole in all of his other roles – “Near Dark” and “Teen Witch”.
Who has the edge? “Tango and Cash” simply has more memorable characters that standout. Plus, who can say no to Stallone and Russell talking sh*t to each other?
Round 3 – Money Talks
“Tango and Cash” (source: Box Office Mojo)
Domestic Gross: $63.4 million
Budget: $55 million
Profit: $8.4 million
“Death Warrant” (source: Box Office Mojo)
Domestic Gross: $16.5
Budget: $6 million
Profit: 10.5 million
Who has the edge?“Death Warrant” is more profitable but that doesn’t mean it was seen by more people. Just looking at the numbers, about 5 times as many people went to see “Tango and Cash”. From that perspective, it is highly likely that “Tango and Cash” did a lot more business once you account for VHS sales. Since we are only accounting for box office and profit resulting when factoring in the film’s budget, “Death Warrant” wins out here.
Round 4 – Rotten Tomatoes
“Tango and Cash” – Audience Score: 52%
“Death Warrant” – Audience Score: 35%
Note: Since these films are older, there wasn’t any ‘critic’ consensus.
Who has the edge? “Tango and Cash”
Round 5 – Legacy
“Tango and Cash”
Headline is in the newspaper! It’s got to be real!
Gabriel Cash: You don’t know anything about electricity, do you?
Are one-liners (well, successful ones) the key to a film’s legacy? You bet! Well, they are one of the keys! This has a bunch of them. Not just that but it is a man’s action movie. It wasn’t courting to any other demographic at all and that’s why it shines. That strange, synth induced music by Harold Faltermeyer also helps this stand out. Not just that, I wouldn’t mind re-watching this movie. It’s fun to watch and can easily serve as something to play in the background with friends over.
Chalk this up to something you’d watch when you can’t fall asleep or during your Sunday Morning Hangover ritual. Van Damme plays a bad ass as he tries to weed out criminal activity within a large population of criminals. Not just that, he’s gotta put up with everyone’s violent nature and survive. Also, I gotta say, the Sandman is a cool villain but he’s so gosh darn one-dimensional that when you think about it, you might say “huh, well, he just really wants to kill Van Damme and remind him that he can’t be killed while doing it”. I’m getting sidetracked. Perhaps I’m fonder of the fight scenes than everything else that was in this more serious film.
I know why these ‘types’ of movies went away – movies kept getting bigger and bigger and when studios have a lot of money involved they want to make sure they get the most ‘bang’ for their buck. You can also add that the ‘PC Police’ will shame you if something comes across even subliminally offensive. I seriously would not mind an action movie in the vein of the late 1980s/early 1990s. No, “The Expendables” doesn’t count. Stallone is tapping only into what stars made those movies great and not the kinds of movies that were back then.
Who has the edge? “Tango and Cash”. Why? Read above!
I’ve been waiting for nearly two years for this movie to come out. After all, this is the first time we see Batman and Superman (and Wonder Woman) together on the big screen for the first time. Needless to say, I was ‘super’ excited for this but instead I got a movie that decided to scratch the surface of what makes Batman (Ben Affleck) and Superman (Henry Cavill) so different in favor of having them duke it out.
The film begins with Batfleck’s perspective with the assault on Metropolis (the “Man of Steel” final act) as he rushes to save people that fall victim to the sheer amount of destruction left in Superman and Zod’s wake. Now, it is understandable that Bats has it out for Supes from the get go but as time goes by he becomes obsessed with taking down Superman. We bear witness to Bats’ hyper paranoid nightmares that show an evil Supes while parademons fly around (you can also see Darkseid’s Omega symbol in the distance). In the same dream, a ‘time traveler’ shows up trying to warn Batman of an impending threat as well. To most, people may be thinking ‘what the heck is this?’ This may explain where some critics would rush to call some of the scenes ‘incoherent’ and they’d be right. To a comic book fan, it is appreciated and understood although out of context. In this case, it doesn’t serve the purpose of the story but rather adds to the confusion. In fact, there are even scenes attempting to build the existence of other metahumans (like Flash, Cyborg, and Aquaman) through camera footage. With this, the movie felt a little forced to include other heroes, especially if they weren’t going to actually be in the movie outright.
So, while Bats is trying to plan for his eventual showdown, Supes is having a difficult time being accepted by the public. The public is divided by those that think the planet is worse off with him and those that worship him as their savior. The strange thing is that the writers (Chris Terrio and David S. Goyer) never really examine the feelings Supes must be carrying when being met with such backlash. What keeps him going? We need to understand Superman’s stance in relation to Batman’s (and not strictly Batman’s). Make no mistake, this incarnation of Batman is one that has him freely admitting that he is a criminal and he goes to great lengths in order to try to take Superman out.
You see, we understand why Batman has a problem with Superman and not really the reverse. The only thing Superman wanted to do was stop his vigilante ways and that’s really it. When it comes to the ‘fight’, Superman is put in an impossible situation and when he tries to explain this to Batman, he is met with deaf ears. With that, Batman is definitely more of the villain. He is so caught up with himself that he will not listen to anyone else, including Alfred.
Then there’s Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), who is more of a mysterious background character until the third act. She is most certainly a welcome character to this ‘universe’. Just as Batman stands for vengeance and Superman for hope, Wonder Woman stands for humanity. Unfortunately, we do not get enough of Wonder Woman in this to justify her existence in the film. I am a pretty big fan of Wonder Woman and to really only see her briefly fight was pretty disappointing.
Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg) is the one who is masterminding everything in this. He is a neurotic mess who cannot get over his shortcomings and finds that his ‘great intellect’ should be worthy of power. He is jealous of Superman’s power as he feels it would be better suited in his hands. He basically thinks of himself as a walking paradox. He wants to show the world that Superman is incapable of having the power that he does. Only Lex is deemed worthy, according to Lex. So, what does he do? He threatens Supes with what he holds dear in order to illicit a response.
The film left me with mixed emotions. The story only scratches the surface of Superman’s emotional turmoil and would rather embellish in Batman’s (because Bats is more popular now). When they both eventually meet, Batman finds himself ‘just’ in his position and Superman is simply there because he has to be. Even after they battle and take up to face Doomsday, Batman has an immediate understanding that Superman is much just like him and calls him ‘friend’ as if nothing happened moments before. This quick shift in sentiment was bothersome. It was as if the build up and fight never needed to happen in the first place.
Outside of the story (and my problems with it), I do have to credit the performances in the film. Affleck was perfectly cast as an aging, weary some Batman. It’s hard to imagine that a year ago people were very anti-Ben Affleck in this role. He definitely proved those people wrong. Henry Cavill was excellent as Superman but the problem is with the depth of the character and not the acting by any means. Wonder Woman isn’t really worth mentioning in regards to her acting as she only had a few lines to deliver. Eisenberg actually works here. Never really saw that coming. He plays a different Luthor than we’re accustomed to. I wanted to know more about his character and motivations. The film dances around what makes Lex Luthor but there wasn’t enough to chew on. The supporting cast was much better this time around. The ones that stood out most were Perry White (Laurence Fishburne) and Alfred (Jeremy Irons). They even cracked a few jokes from time to time believe it or not!
Now, the action in the film was beautiful to watch and with Zack Snyder’s knack for capturing excellent visuals, this is never short of breathtaking. I enjoyed the action scenes but couldn’t care less about big, dumb ole Doomsday. At that point, it was just demonstrating that they were together, working as a team.
The music was also a big factor in heightening the action scenes. The movie’s score was done by Hans Zimmer and Junkie XL. As you may know, Zimmer did the scores for Nolan’s Batman and the “Man of Steel” whereas Junkie XL most recently scored “Mad Max: Fury Road”. In this, every character has their own theme, including Wonder Woman’s, which really stood out upon her appearance (in costume). Would you expect anything less with such iconic characters?
With a production budget of $250 million and marketing budget of $150 million, the film will have to make at least $1 billion worldwide if it wants to be deemed financially successful. With the tracking (before the film’s release) showing big numbers, we may want to temper our expectations with the mixed to negative reviews sweeping the internet since the ‘review embargo’ was lifted. However, the film is a historical landmark (as I mentioned previously) and that alone may be enough to bring people to the theaters. It’ll be interesting to see just how successful the film is at the box office because Warner Brothers will be in a very interesting position regardless.
The movie studio has “Suicide Squad” coming out in August, is already in production on the solo “Wonder Woman” film and is two weeks away from filming the “Justice League” movie. With the critical response the way it is and the movie poised for big numbers, they will have to decide how to handle their future slate of films.
I’d say that the movie is still definitely worth checking out. If anything, it definitely has people talking. Overall, I am left with mixed emotions about the film, much like “Man of Steel”, but this is at least a step up from that.
The film is directed by Zack Snyder and runs over two and a half hours long. An R-rated version is going to be included upon the Blu-Ray release (and feature 30 more minutes of content).
Rotten Tomatoes currently has the film at a 31% approval rating with many panning the incoherent narrative.
Grade: C+
My personal ranking of the DC movies:
1. Superman: the movie (1978)
2. Batman Begins (2005)
3. Superman II (1980)
4. The Dark Knight (2008)
5. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
6. The Man of Steel (2013)
7. Batman Forever (1995)
8. Batman (1989)
9. Batman Returns (1992)
10. The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
11. Batman and Robin (1997)
12. Superman III (1983)
13. Superman IV: Quest for Peace (1987)
***SPOILERS!!! ***
Things that didn’t make much sense:
How does Lex Luthor know that Superman is Clark Kent and Bruce Wayne is Batman?
Why is Lois Lane (Amy Adams) always in harm’s way?
Does Batman have any reason to be fighting Doomsday other than to appear side by side with Superman and Wonder Woman?
How can Batman ‘feel’ that there’s someone coming to threaten Earth? Just because he dreamt it?
Sequels seem to be more and more ubiquitous these days but never really amounting to the first film in which they are based. In this edition, I’m attempting (not loosely) to point out the rare occurrences where a sequel does actually improve upon the original (or is just as good).
Franchises are built on solid foundations where it ‘should’ make sense to expand upon a story (love it or hate it but Hollywood is a business that needs to sustain itself). Whether you are the type of person that thinks Rocky is better than Rocky II (you’re wrong by the way) or the one who’ll fight that Terminator 2 is the ultimate sequel, this list should probably piss you off. (Sorry, you won’t find any Air Bud sequels here!)
14. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Hail HYDRA!!
I absolutely adore this film. So far, this is my favorite of the Marvel films (ok, tied with Guardians of the Galaxy) and a far cry from the crazy boring first installment, Captain America: The First Avenger. Steve Rogers tries to adjust to modern times and after an attack on a S.H.I.E.L.D. colleague, is forced to evade the government that once supported him. This event brings Rogers to try to expose a conspiracy while a new threat emerges with the Winter Soldier.
The film is full of action, cool supporting characters (Black Widow and The Falcon), and a bad ass villain in Robert Redford’s Alexander Pierce. A must see for any super hero movie aficionado.
13. Before Sunset
Celine: Memory is a wonderful thing if you don’t have to deal with the past.
Most are not aware of the insightful relationship drama, Before Sunrise. No, that’s not a fancy way of me saying ‘chick flick’. Actually, the films, which all three were directed by Richard Linklater (you may remember him for Boyhood and School Rock), chronicle two people with their chance encounter that would go on to define their future lives. I must admit that this film isn’t for everyone but it comes across as a very organic, very real exploration of life and love. The three films that comprise the series include: Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, and Before Midnight. The reason I mention this 2nd film in the series is because it involved a difficult decision between two people that loved each other but find it almost impossible to be together.
12. Evil Dead 2
Ash: ….Groovy.
I will say that this film is extremely similar to the original but with a bigger production and tighter story telling. Ash is again battling demons (not figuratively….well, maybe) at a secluded cabin as his girlfriend becomes possessed by evil spirits from the Book of the Dead. This is hilarious a lot of the time while also leaving room for you to be a little creeped out. Bruce Campbell (Ash) is perfectly cast and owns this movie (and the one that came after – Army of Darkness). Now that we’re on the topic, Bruce Campbell is set to reprise his role in the Ash vs. the Evil Dead TV series on the Starz Channel on Halloween this year.
11. Star Trek: The Wrath of Kahn
James T. Kirk: KHAN!!! (echo) KHAN!!! (echo)
Two of Starfleet’s officers are kidnapped by Kahn, an enemy Kirk never thought he’d never see again. This sets up an intergalactic battle that will have dire consequences. Khan, as you may know, is a genetically modified superman that blames Kirk for the death of his wife (as Kirk exiled Khan and his supermen 15 years prior for attempting to take control of the Enterprise). Kirk exiled Khan and company to the planet Ceti Alpha V but later its ecosystem collapsed. This sets up a battle that involves a Genesis device that reorganizes matter to create habitable worlds for colonization.
With most feeling that the first film in the franchise, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, was a letdown, filmmakers booted series creator, Gene Roddenberry, from production and built a new script (that was completed in 12 days) for the sequel. The rest, as they say, is history as ‘The Wrath of Kahn’ remains one of the most treasured of the film series.
10. Spider-Man 2
[man steps into elevator. Spider-man is in the elevator]
Elevator Passenger: Cool Spidey outfit.
Spider-Man: Thanks.
Elevator Passenger: Where did you get it?
Spider-Man: I made it.
[pause]
Elevator Passenger: Looks uncomfortable…
Spider-Man: Yeah, it’s kind of itchy…
[pause]
Spider-Man: …and it rides up in the crotch a little bit, too.
This sequel doesn’t seem to get enough credit. Everyone seems to be focused on the latest Spider-Man movie. In this outing, things seem to be on the up and up for Peter Parker until Dr. Otto Octavius has an experiment go horribly wrong, leaving him to blame Spidey for his shortcomings. Just as this begins to happen, Peter starts to have complications with his girlfriend, Mary Jane Watson, and best friend, Harry Osborn (who also blames Spidey for his father’s demise). Peter tries to hold onto his personal life (and his super powers) while fending off Doctor Octopus and his tentacles from causing havoc in the city.
9. The Road Warrior
Humungus: I am gravely disappointed. Again you have made me unleash my dogs of war.
Aka Mad Max 2 for all you unfamiliar with the popular franchise on which this last summer’s blockbuster quasi-sequel was based. After avenging the death of his family, Max heads out into the post-apocalyptic world where he comes across a peaceful group of people with oil that he plans to steal. Max ends up becoming their reluctant leader against a band of baddies led by Humungus. Full of action and a sweeping desolate environment to scope out, this remains one of the classics and definitely improves upon the original. This is my favorite in the series (that includes the newest one as well). Some complained that the newest, Mad Max: Fury Road, didn’t have much plot but they failed to remember the originals. The plot was bare as the emphasis was in the action for some straight up visceral entertainment.
8. Rocky II
Rocky Balboa: It’s Apollo.
Mickey: Who were you expecting?
Rocky Balboa: I was hoping he wouldn’t show
Yes, the first Rocky won Academy Awards for Best Film, Best Director and Best Film Editing but that doesn’t necessarily mean that it is better than its sequel. When people think of Rocky, they immediately think of either the elaborate training sequences and/or the inspirational sequences. All of these can be found in the sequels rather than the original. Remember Rocky running up the stairs with all of his followers jumping up and down? Remember him chasing the chicken as part of a training regime that Mickey incorporated? Let’s not forget that Rocky actually defeated Apollo this time around!
7. Superman II
Clark Kent: General, would you care to step outside?
General Zod: Come to me, son of Jor-El, kneel before Zod!
Although Superman: The Movie will forever be a classic, this sequel has all the charm of the first film plus a lot more action. Clark Kent reveals himself (his identity sickos!) to Lois Lane as Superman and even goes as far as throwing away his super powers and becoming human for her. Although not explicitly stated, one has to assume he did this so that he could make “the love” without killing her (with his super strength and speed) and so that he could procreate I guess? Getting sidetracked, the movie has some great and ridiculous scenes that include: a potentially fatal arm wrestling match, the storm on the White House, Superman throwing a giant ‘S’ shield at Non, a teleportation game, and the kneeling before Zod scene.
The film was already in the middle of shooting when Warner Bros. decided to play switcheroo with the Director’s chair and replaced legend Richard Donner (Superman: the Movie, Lethal Weapon series) with Richard Lester (Superman III, The Three Musketeers). Fortunately, the story was mostly finished and what was left just needed to be shot. If you’ve seen Superman III, the tone deviates from the first two greatly. You can thank Lester for that.
6. Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Luke: All right, I’ll give it a try.
Yoda: No. Try not. Do… or do not. There is no try.
After the destruction of the Death Star, Luke Skywalker, Leia and Han Solo continue to fight the Galactic Empire. Luke begins his training by Jedi Master Yoda (awesome!), while Vader captures Han Solo and Princess Leia. Luke must make a difficult decision and is eventually pitted in a duel with Darth Vader where he reveals (SPOILER ALERT!) that he is his father.
Not only does this space opera/western film raise the emotional stakes, it also has a ton of great one-liners and puts forth more interesting, supporting characters (Boba Fett, Lando, and Jabba the Hut).
5. Aliens
Ripley: Get away from her, you bitch!
Come on. Did you really think this wouldn’t make the list? It really is hard to improve on the masterpiece of Alien, but an early James Cameron would be the man to do it. Cameron was coming off the success of The Terminator at the time and even wrote the screenplay for Aliens. In this story, Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) is found by a group of marines and later comes to a spaceship that has all but one survivor left. It is high tech weapons against a colony of aliens. Bad assery and Lance Henricksen!
More recently, it was announced that a spin off from this film was being worked on by Neill Blomkamp. Don’t hold your breath though as that isn’t supposed to hit screens until 2018.
4. Terminator 2: Judgment Day
The Terminator: I need your clothes, your boots and your motorcycle.
Cigar Biker: You forgot to say please…
A considerable upgrade from the original, T2 takes us on a thrill ride that still leaves its mark today. Not only do we have great special effects but we also have excellent action sequences with an even more engaging storyline. A T800 machine (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is sent back in time to protect John Connor so that there can still be a resistance to the machines in the future. Meanwhile, a T1000 (Robert Patrick) machine is sent back in time to kill John Connor. This time around, we get more colorful, supporting characters that helps build the mythology of what the other, terrible sequels will later be based off of. T2 is a lot of great things but more than anything, it was a game changer.
3. The Dark Knight
Joker: You wanna know how I got these scars?!
A simple response to the deranged Joker would be “no”. This would likely be at the expense of your life though. Many tout (what a weird word) this as the ultimate Batman film and some may go as far to say this is the best sequel ever. I actually tend to like Batman Begins more so than I did this film. However, it isn’t by much. As ‘Begins’ is about Bruce overcoming his fears, the sequel challenges his morality (directly by The Joker). Don’t even pretend that The Dark Knight Rises stands shoulder to shoulder with these films.
You can’t deny the pure brilliance in The Dark Knight and even though I side with its predecessor (I’m more interested in how he became Batman), they are both on the same level in terms of story, performances and direction.
2. Godfather II
Michael Corleone: I knew it was you, Fredo! You broke my heart!
Yeah, yeah. You’ve likely heard of this movie as the best sequel of all time. It is almost inconceivable that a sequel to a masterpiece would be on par with its original but God gave us Godfather II. The two are about equal in my book. I actually liked Godfather III but it cannot be compared to the first two and definitely isn’t a masterpiece. Anyways, this time around we see the rise of a young Don Corleone (played by Bob Deniro – see how I call him Bob as if I have a personal relationship with him?) as a ‘righteous gangster’ and the fall of his son, Michael Corleone (played by Al “pre- Who ah!” Pacino).
The contrast between father and son is most interesting. Both are living in different times and were brought upon their worlds by different means – Don made himself in Hell’s Kitchen circa 1917 and Michael inherited his father’s ‘legitimate’ business upon his father and brother’s deaths. Both this and the original examine morality while in the mafia. As you are likely to guess, the mafia doesn’t exactly harbor the most noble of intentions.
1. Goldfinger
James Bond: Do you expect me to talk?
Auric Goldfinger: No, Mr. Bond, I expect you to die!
Ah yes, the quintessential Bond. There are a lot of good James Bond movies and a lot of bad. This film happens to be one of the very best and I’ve seen them all. Many of the stereotypes of Bond began in Goldfinger including pre-credit sequences that have nothing to do with the main storyline, peculiar henchmen, gadgets and a larger scope budget (taking Bond all over the world). Goldfinger saw James Bond take on Aurich Goldfinger and his gold smuggling business. He comes to find out that Goldfinger plans to contaminate Fort Knox and its gold so that his own gold would go up in value. Perhaps Sean Connery will forever be known as the best overall Bond but maybe it was also because the ‘formula’ to Bond started with him as well.
The reason this film is at the top of the list is because how influential it was, not just with its own series of films but other films that followed its formula (Mission Impossible series, Bourne Identity series). Even stereotypes of ‘spy’ films have much to thank for in the Bond franchise, particularly Goldfinger.
Fun fact: Goldfinger was the first Bond film to receive an Academy Award (Sound Effects Editing).
Honorable Mention
Back to the Future II
Doc: The time-traveling is just too dangerous. Better that I devote myself to study the other great mystery of the universe: women!
Look, I love this movie just like anyone else but feel that the movie does not live up to the original and definitely does not exceed it. Sure, it’s relevant this year because 2015 is the year Marty and Doc Brown traveled to in the sequel and we tend to do a lot of reflecting on what technology has sprouted in the film versus what has come forth in reality. This is a good film but not worthy of this list.
The Avengers 2: Age of Ultron – The box office smash sequel pits the Avengers against a one-dimensional villain. This has moments of awesome but mostly settles as a bloated super hero movie. Full review here.
October 6th
Magic Mike XXL – Channing Tatum and pals bare it all…again. McConaughey decided to focus on better movies and does not appear in this oversized sequel. Elizabeth Banks, Matt Bomer, Joe Manganiello, and Jada Pinkett Smith co-star.
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl – This is a movie about two aspiring, young filmmaker friends that end up making a film for a girl that has leukemia. They learn more about their friendship and the fragility of life. The cast includes Hugh “Wolverine” Jackman, Olivia Cooke, Nick Offerman (Parks & Recreation), Molly Shannon (SNL alum) and Jon Bernthal (The Walking Dead, upcoming 2nd season of Daredevil).
Manglehorn – A dramedy about a locksmith (Al Pacino) that has trouble living in the present. Can we just get a The Devil’s Advocate sequel already?! Pacino seems to be wasting time on these cutesy movies that have a limited audience. Anyways, the movie focuses on how this locksmith mopes through life in a small Texas town and lives in his tragic, lovelorn past when he desperately needs to change his present. The movie is directed by David Gordon Green (Pineapple Express, Your Highness) and co-stars Holly Hunter.
Insidious: Chapter 3 – In this prequel, a girl tries to contact her late mother so she recruits a reluctant psychic with grave results. For some reason Dermot Mulroney is in this. Why? Rotten Tomatoes: 53%.
Road Hard – This comedy follows a character named Bruce Madsen, a successful actor/comedian, who decides to change things up and go back to his roots and perform in the comedy club circuit. Things don’t turn out as expected which forces Bruce (played by Adam Carolla) to reevaluate his career. This sounds like an auto-biographical snooze fest! Anyways, the movie co-stars David Koechner (Anchorman, Waiting).
Batkid Begins – This follows a five year-old boy, suffering from leukemia that gets a chance to be Batman for a day via the Make a Wish foundation.
10,000 Saints – A group of smugglers learn the hard price of growing up and the value of family in the backdrop of 1980s New York City. The cast includes Ethan Hawke (Boyhood, Gattaca) , Asa Butterfield (Ender’s Game, Hugo) , Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit), Emile Hirsch (The Girl Next Door), and Emily Mortimer. There may be a reason this was released direct to video.
Dark Places – From the author of Gone Girl (Gillian Flynn) comes a story about a woman (Libby) trying to run away from her tragic past and her brother, who she blames for murdering the rest of her family. She is then contacted by a group that specializes in unsolved cases. Libby (played by Charlize Theron) must decide if she wants to accept the past or truly find the killer responsible. This movie came and went in theaters. The movie co-stars Chloe Grace Moretz (Kick-Ass), Nicholas Hoult (Mad Max: Fury Road), and Christina Hendricks (Mad Men). It holds a 39% on Rotten Tomatoes. Proceed with caution!
Escobar: Paradise Lost – Nick and his brother move from Canada to Colombia during the 1980s to set up a surf shop. There, Nick falls for Maria, who happens to be the niece of Pablo Escobar. Things get worse from there as Nick is recruited to stash away Escobar’s assets before he serves a jail sentence. I’m slightly interested in this but I have to say that Narcoson Netflix deals primarily with Escobar’s rise/fall and that seems a lot more interesting. This film features Benicio Del Toro (Traffic, upcoming Sicario) as Escobar and co-stars Josh Hutcherson (The Hunger Games).
Final Girl – Veronica is new in town and becomes a target for a group of boys who hunt and kill women in the woods for sport. The tables are turned when Veronica is actually a trained assassin. Abigail Breslin (Ender’s Game, Maggie) stars alongside Wes Bentley (that creepy video recorder dude from American Beauty, bearded weirdo in The Hunger Games).
Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief – This is a riveting documentary that chronicles the rise of the Church of Scientology and the followers and defectors that provide insight into the often shocking inner workings of the fastest growing church. Archival footage and interviews with current and former members (that include many Hollywood stars – Tom Cruise, John Travolta, Paul Haggis, etc.) make this a documentary worth catching. My full review is here.
People Places Things – Flight of the Concords alum, Jermaine Clement, stars in this comedy about a happily married professor with two kids that deals with the affair between his friend and his wife. He finds out that the single life with kids isn’t what he was expecting. I happen to enjoy Clement’s sense of humor and may give this a go.
Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! – Talk about beating a dead horse. That wasn’t a request. Ian Ziering (Beverly Hills 90210) and Tara Reid (American Pie) try to hold onto their careers in the popular, purposefully bad SyFy original movie. The outlandish, most once famous cast includes: Frankie Muniz, Bo Derek, David Hassehoff and Mark Cuban (as the President). You know what’s better than a purposefully bad movie? An unintentionally bad movie. See: The Room, Birdemic: Shock and Terror.
What We Did On Our Holiday – As Gordy nears his 75th Birthday, his son and his family decide to visit him in Scotland. Things go awry when his son’s kids are brutally honest and are unable to keep any secrets, which makes an already awkward family trip more awkward. The film stars David Tennant (Doctor Who), Billy Connolly, and Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl).
October 13th
San Andreas – Hey, what’s shakin’?! Well, the Rock of course! This is an epic destruction movie for people that enjoy flashy special effects and a sub-par story or…..they just go for the Rock. I don’t blame them. Believe it or not, the movie co-stars Carla Gugino (Watchmen) and Paul Giamatti (Sideways).
Tommorowland – This film probably had the most promise this summer but was an utter disappointment. The marketing was interesting and the director, Brad Bird, has had nothing but success with his earlier films: The Incredibles, Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, Iron Giant. Check out a full review here.
The Gallows – A group of high school students try to put on a play that failed twenty years earlier and resulted in the death of a student, Charlie. The event is meant to be cathartic for the town on the anniversary of Charlie’s death, but a group of students sabotage the production to help the lead actor avoid stage fright. The group’s actions have grave consequences as Charlie’s story isn’t finished. This story is actually more elaborate than more horror films but still sounds boring.
Dope – We follow a high school student named Butler (Blake Anderson) who tries to stay on the straight and narrow amongst a town (Inglewood, CA) that would rather get by on dealing drugs and making easy money. Butler has aspirations of going to Harvard and leaving the city behind but is tested one night at a party. Lenny Kravitz’s daughter, Zoe Kravitz, costars.
October 20th
Jurassic World – Doctor John Hammond’s future dinosaur world is realized twenty two years later in Jurassic World. Just as any company would do if public interest were waning, they need to innovate new ways to attract people across the world. Of course, if your company happens to be a giant dinosaur zoo, innovation can spell doom in the form of a genetically modified dinosaur, the Indominus Rex. The movie is a lot of fun if you don’t think too much about the story. Check out my full review here.The movie stars Chris Pratt (Parks and Recreation, Guardians of the Galaxy), Bryce Dallas Howard (The Village), and Jake Johnson (New Girl, Let’s Be Cops).
Paper Towns – A high school student, Quentin, has always pined for Margo his entire life and when she breaks into his house asking for his help in a revenge plot, he agrees. After their adventure, Margo has disappeared from their school but not without leaving clues for Quentin to follow that will end up changing how he really feels for her. This is based off the book of the same name by author John Green (who also wrote The Fault in Our Stars). The film stars up and comer, Cara Delevingne (upcoming Suicide Squad) and Nat Wolff. You’d have to drag me to see a movie like this. Quirky, romantic movies irritate me because they are highly unrealistic yet pretend they aren’t.
Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F’ – I don’t usually cover Japanese anime movies but I guess I’m always a little fond of the Dragon Ball Z tv show (when it aired on Cartoon Network back in the day). This details how big baddie, Frieza, is back after falling to Goku’s Super Saiyan years ago. Frieza is hell bent on revenge, even without an actual body. It’s up to Goku and Vegeta to work together. I’d probably save this for hung over Sunday mornings (before football of course).
The Vatican Tapes – Two Vatican priests are out to exorcise a woman believed to be possessed by the Anti-Christ. They must work to save her soul and for humanity…blah..blah…This uninspired movie stars Dougray Scott (MI: 2), Djimon Hounsou (Amistad) , and Michael Pena (Ant-Man). Rotten Tomatoes score: 13%.
Testament of Youth – Alicia Vikander (Ex-Machina) and Kit Harrington (Game of Thrones) star in this World War I drama. Vera Brittain (Vikander) postpones her studies to become a nurse as her loved ones, including Harrington head to war. Brittain later becomes a writer, feminist, and pacifist. The film doesn’t sound that interesting but is getting decent reviews. Rotten Tomatoes: 81%.
Z for Zachariah – This tale centers on a lone female survivor (Margot Robbie) of the apocalypse and the last two known men alive (Chiwetel Ejiofor and Chris Pine) who try to court for her affections. The three must find a way to work together in order to survive. So, it seems that this is about how two dudes wanna do it with Robbie. I don’t blame them. What if the movie casted Amy Schumer instead of Margot Robbie? I believe both men would rather roam the Earth looking for another lady.
I Spit on Your Grave 3: Vengeance is Mine – Jennifer is a girl that is just trying to overcome the torture she’s experienced and live a normal life. When one of Jennifer’s friends is murdered and those responsible escapes, she turns on revenge mode while the rest of the city erupts with rapists and serial killers. Pass!
The Wolfpack – This is a documentary that follows six brothers that live the majority of their lives in a New York apartment. They rely on movies in order to understand the real world. They all reenact scenes of their favorite movies. As the brothers get older, they desire interactions with the real world and everything begins to change when one of them runs away. Sounds like this may be worth checking out.
October 27th
Pixels – Adam Sandler is trying to fart on the box office again with this sad attempt at appealing to the thirty something group that relishes arcade games. The story involves how aliens receive golden age transmissions of video games being played, interpret the message as the real thing and declare war on Earth in the form of well-known classic games that include Donkey Kong and Pac Man. The President enlists his childhood friend, Sandler, to beat the aliens at their own game. He also enlists a rag tag group that includes Peter Dinklage, Josh Gad, and Kevin James. The film is directed by Chris Columbus (the 1st two Harry Potter movies).
Southpaw – Jake Gyllenhaal gains a ton of muscle to play a left handed boxer who must overcome the death of his wife. After much inner turmoil and with the fate of his relationship with his daughter at stake, he must climb out and be the best boxer he can be so he can be the best father he can be. The movie received mixed reviews but I wouldn’t mind renting this. I mean, it’s Gyllenhaal and after his performance in Nightcrawler, I expect a solid performance.
The Gift – A husband and wife (Simon and Robin) move into a new home and run into an old acquaintance, Gordo, of Simon’s from high school. The couple accepts a gift of wine and invites him to their house for dinner. Gordo begins to leave more gifts and starts to stalk Robin while she’s home alone. Simon tries to tell Gordo that he is not welcome only then to be threatened by a 25 year old secret about Simon. The movie stars Jason Bateman (Arrested Development), Rebecca Hall (The Town) and Joel Edgerton (The Great Gatsby, Exodus: Gods and Kings). The film is also the directorial debut of Joel Edgerton. I really wanted to see this film but had scheduling conflicts. The film has a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes. I’ll be sure to rent this.
Max – This is supposed to be an uplifting family drama/adventure that centers around a military dog named Max. After Max’s handler, Kyle, is killed, he is then returned to Kyle’s family and ends up helping them heal from their loss. Thomas Haden Church (Sideways), Lauren Graham (Bad Santa), and Robbie Amell (Flash) star.
The Human Centipede III: The Final Sequence – The outrageous idea of a singular digestive system through multiple people is expanded upon in this latest installment from the Dutch filmmaker, Tom Six. This time, they are attempting to utilize 500 people (which are being sewn together a$$ to mouth) to create the largest, singular digestive system the world has ever known. The creepy actor from the original film, Dieter Laser, reprises his role as the crazed doctor. The movie even co-stars Eric Roberts (Best of the Best, The Dark Knight). Not for the easily grossed out.
Insurgent – The movie cousin to The Hunger Games has a sequel. Based upon the YA(young adult) novel, this sequel focuses on the war between four factions (Amity, Abnegation, Erudite, and Dauntless). Tris is one of the divergents (having all 4 characteristics) as she helps lead the way in a fight for peace or something like that. Starring: Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Kate Winslet and the god awful Jai Courtney.
Do You Believe? – A religious movie about how a pastor influences another pastor to be more pastorly. Starring: Mira Sorvino, Sean Astin (Rudy), and Cybill Shepherd.
True Story – This is that James Franco and Jonah Hill movie that was based on a true story. It focuses on the relationship between a writer, Finkel (Hill) and a murderer, Longo (Franco), taking upon Finkel’s identity. Finkel was a writer for the New York Times Magazine and was actually fired for fabricating parts of a news story in 2002.
Child 44 – Tom Hardy plays a Russian Intelligence agent (in the Joseph Stalin era) who takes on a case involving multiple murders of children. Leo Demidov’s (Hardy) case leads to high authorities in the Russian government. Based upon the first in a trilogy of novels by Tom Rob Smith, the story follows Demidov’s exploits. Starring: Tom Hardy, Noomi Rapace (Prometheus), Gary Oldman (The Dark Knight, The Professional), Joel Kinnaman (The Killing, upcoming Suicide Squad), Jason Clarke (Dawn of the Planet of the Apes), Vincent Cassel (Trance), and Charles Dance (Game of Thrones, The Golden Child).An incredible cast doesn’t always spell box office success. Still, I am likely to rent this.
A Little Chaos – A movie about competitive garden designers that are tasked to create a one of a kind water fountain on the grounds of le chateau de Versailles. I’m not making this up. Starring: Kate Winslet (The Reader), Alan Rickman (Harry Potter), Stanley Tucci(Transformers 4: Age of Extinction), and Matthias Schoenaerts (Bullhead).
Adult Beginners – A drama about a businessman (Nick Kroll) that loses it all but while staying with his sister (Rose Byrne) learns valuable life lessons. Starring: Nick Kroll (The League), Rose Byrne (X-Men: First Class), Bobby Cannavale (Ant-Man), Joel McHale (Ted) and Jason Mantzoukas (The Dictator, The League).
The Salvation – Mads Mikkelsen stars as a vengeful settler in the American West circa 1870s after the murder of his family. After killing the man responsible, the leader of their gang also seeks revenge. Looks like a decent flick. Starring: Mads Mikkelsen (Casino Royale, Hannibal), Eva Green (Casino Royale), and Jeffrey Dean Morgan (Watchmen).
Barely Lethal – This movie follows a 16 year old teenager assassin after she fakes her own death and enrolls in a suburban high school. She quickly learns that school clicks and popularity come at a price. Starring: Jessica Alba (Sin City), Sophie Turner (Game of Thrones), and Samuel L. Jackson (every movie). Yawn!
Madame Bovary – A drama focusing on an adulterous wife as she tries to escape her boring lifestyle. Starring: Mia Wasikowska (In Treatment, Alice in Wonderland), Ezra Miller (Trainwreck, upcoming Flash), Paul Giamatti (Sideways) and Rhys Ifans (The Amazing Spider-Man).
Jackie & Ryan – Katherine Heigl still manages to headline movies, although this one looks straight to video. The story involves two musicians as they find themselves in love. Starring Katherine Heigl, Ben Barnes and Clea DuVall.
August 11th
Hot Pursuit – All of the previews for this mess looked like a rip off of The Heat with Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy. This is a ‘female buddy’ film that has a conservative cop (Reese Witherspoon) and the wife of a drug dealer (Sofia Vergara) that must team up against a drug cartel. If Sofia’s blabbering accent on Modern Family isn’t enough for you, then check this out!
Unfriended – A high school girl that killed herself due to a cruel prank now communicates via Skype in video group chats! Okay, it sounds lame but at least it’s a different way for the genre of horror to reach another generation of kids.
Robot Overlords – Humans are slaves to a race of robots that conquered the world. People are confined to their homes and must wear implants. I’m not sure how this escaped me as it stars Ben Kingsley (Ghandi, Tut) and Gillian Anderson (X-Files). I may watch if the SyFy Channel picks it up.
August 18th
Little Boy – A seven year old boy ventures off to bring his father back home from the World War II. The boy’s innocence incites those embedded in the war. Starring Emily Watson, Kevin James (you read that right), Michael Rapaport, Tom Wilkinson and Ali Landry (that hot Dorito’s commercial girl).
Lambert & Stamp – This documentary chronicles the journey of aspiring filmmakers, Christopher Stamp and Kit Lambert, as they try to produce a movie during the 1960’s underground music scene. The doc also features footage with famous people related to The Who, Richard Barnes, Roger Daltry, and Pete Townshend.
5 to 7 – This is a romantic comedy that follows a woman who writes about falling in love. Things get crazy when the person she is in love with is the French diplomat’s wife! Gasp! Caged Heat sounds better.
Strangerland – A family moves to the Australian outback when a dust storm results in the loss of their children. A search party forms to find the missing children amidst rumors and suspicion. Spooky! Starring: Nicole Kidman (Fur), Joseph Fiennes (Voldemort’s brother) and Hugo Weaving (The Matrix, Lord of the Rings).
The Riot Club – In this thriller, two freshman join an infamous club at Oxford. One day, all of the spoiled, rich students get in over their heads. Based upon the play, Posh. The movie,Skulls, is probably much better than this but that ain’t saying much!
Vendetta – Remember Dean Cain? Well, if you haven’t went out of your way to research where he’s been, you’d still only remember him for playing Superman in the TV series, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. Mr. Cain has been playing in direct to video movies for quite some time. In this movie, he plays a cop who must get revenge after his wife is murdered by The Big Show (Paul Wight or WWE fame). This looks like hung-over viewing.
August 25th
Aloha – An all-star cast surrounds this box office disappointment. Brian Gilcrest is a US weapons consultant that becomes disgraced, then later talks to a robot and then eventually heads to Hawaii to oversee the launch of a spy satellite. He must also get permission for the launch from the Hawaiian council as part of his assignment. Directed by fan-favorite Cameron Crowe (Almost Famous, Jerry Maguire) and starring: Bradley Cooper, Emma, Stone, Rachel McAdams, John Krasinski, Danny McBride, Alec Baldwin, and Bill Murray.
Citizenfour – This riveting looking documentary showcases how filmmaker, Laura Poitras (who focuses on gov’t surveillance of private citizens post 9/11) receives an encrypted email by “citizenfour” who claims to have inside knowledge of covert surveillance by intelligence agencies. “Citizenfour” ends up being Edward Snowden. The documentary focuses on key interviews with Snowden and Julian Assange. Looks very interesting.
Where Hope Grows – Holy 1980s! This movie stars Danica McKellar (The Wonder Years) and William Zabka (bad guy from The Karate Kid). The story focuses on a former professional baseball player who retires because of panic attacks. He eventually develops a relationship with a store clerk who has Downs Syndrome. His perspective on life changes and hope is learned…blah…blah…blah….I’ll pass.
Two Days, One Night – Marion Cotillard (Inception, La Vie en Rose) stars in this drama about how working class people who may have been disenfranchised from society. Sandra (Cotillard) tries to return to her job after an episode of depression only to find that her employer no longer needs her. She learns her fate is to be decided by her fellow employees in a vote.
Big Game – A teenager finds the President of the United States in a pod while hunting. Together they must make it through the woods alive as terrorists close in. Starring: Samuel L. Jackson (every movie) and Onni Tommila.
Skin Trade – Dolph Lundgren stars as a detective out for revenge after his family was slain by the mob. The mob is eventually connected to a human trafficking ring and Dolph must work with Tony Jaa (Ong Bak, The Defender), a Thai detective, to destroy them once and for all. Hung-over viewing.
Justice League: Gods and Monsters – Set in an alternate universe, DC’s trinity (Wonder Woman, Batman and Superman) find themselves framed for a bombing. DC’s main guns all have different origin stories and must decide whether they want to save the world or conquer it. Voice actors: Benjamin Bratt, Michael C. Hall, Tamara Taylor, Jason Isaacs and C. Thomas Howell. It’s a comic book animated movie! Count me in.
Lila & Eve – A drama/thriller surrounding a mother, Lila, who loses her son in a drive by shooting. Lila eventually meets Eve, another mother who lost her daughter the same night. Together they go after the criminals responsible. Starring: Viola Davis and Jennifer Lopez. Lifetime should starting making theatrical releases.
October Gale – This follows a doctor who tries to assist an injured man on an island from a man that is hunting him. Starring Patricia Clarkson, Scott Speedman, and Tim Roth.
The Runner – Nicolas Cage is back again as a once idealistic politician that must re-examine his life after a sex scandal destroys his career. Not to be confused with a good movie, this stars Nicolas Cage, Sarah Paulson (12 Years a Slave), Peter Fonda (Easy Rider) and Connie Nielsen (Gladiator). Will Nic Cage ever make a comeback from box office obscurity?
Ever since this series debuted on Netflix I’ve always been curious. After an initial barrage of negative reviews came for the show’s pilot, I decided I would focus my energies elsewhere. However, after a friend recommended the show, I thought I would give it a go. Oh, and I’m glad I did!
The story focuses on how Marco Polo came to be which emphasizes his time as a captive under the Mongol Empire. Most may know Marco Polo as the Italian merchant who was the first to chronicle his time in China (circa 1269). The game you played when you were a child stems from the idea that Polo never really had a clue as to where he was going (much like the person who had to be blind and rely solely on their sense of sound) In the show, Marco tries to come to terms with his captor situation while Kublai Kahn and Jia Sidao (chancellor of Song Dynasty China) dance around the idea of an impending war.
Let me preface by saying this much – the pilot episode isn’t the best but it gets progressively better as the series went on. So, why did the pilot suck so much? I almost certainly blame this on the lead star, Lorenzo Richelmy (Marco Polo). His choppy acting and watered down character origin story would make some turn away. The biggest reason to actually watch Marco Polo (which should actually be called Kahn) is for Benedict Wong’s performance as Kublai Kahn (the grandson of the great Genghis Kahn). Lorenzo Richelmy becomes a better, more average actor as the show develops and Benedict Wong has more screen time as the bold and thoughtful Kublai Kahn. It is almost as if the creators realized that the show wouldn’t succeed (like in the pilot) if they just followed Polo around and immediately deviated from that in the following episodes. We get important side stories from those that surround Kahn and Sidao (played by Chin Han – TheDark Knight) as well as the backdoor politics that comes as a result.
Let me also say that the acting in this show is great, minus that of Lorenzo Richelmy. You may even notice some of the Asian actors from other films – Chin Han (The Dark Knight), Joan Chen (The Last Emperor), Zhu Zhu (Cloud Atlas), and Tom Wu (Skyfall, Batman Begins).
The set production for this series almost rivals that of Game of Thrones and you can really tell. You couple this with 4K resolution and you have an easy winner of one of the best looking TV shows. Outside the visuals, there are some great action sequences (and some cool martial arts scenes), romance, and a strong emphasis on sex as the Kahn and his supporters took on many prostitutes and concubines.
As the series came down to the final three or four episodes, much emphasis was placed on war strategies and politics. Everyone has a specific desire and you root for them as they struggle and prevail. The show was predictable at points and is clever from time to time. Overall, this is a solid show that cannot be overlooked, even after a wobbly premiere.
The series was created by John Fusco (Young Guns, Hidalgo) and is produced by The Weinstein Company.
Grade: B+
*The series has been renewed for season 2 and will likely debut on Netflix in December 2015.
Movie music will sweep us off our feet and help us forget we’re sitting for two hours straight. Now, when I tasked myself in coming up with this list, I did not tread lightly. I have amassed decades upon decades of classic movies and their musical scores to come up with a justifiable list of the best of the best. For your information, I am not referring to movie soundtracks but to the music that helps create or lend to a particular world or genre in which the film is embedded.
Before I get into ‘the list to end all lists’, I will have you know that I really do notice the music in movies. I can even remember ‘when’ in a particular movie that a musical cue would occur or a theme would be playing. It’s a strange talent to have indeed. Oh, and yes, I do listen to scores to a bunch of movies in my free time. I nerd out this much!
Factors to consider:
Does the music lend to the world that is created?
Can I imagine different music being played instead of what was used?
Rocky (1976)
I bet you immediately remember this classic theme. “Gonna Fly Now” and “Going the Distance” are the defining songs here. This score went on to define the movie series and help solidify Sly Stallone as the Italian Stallion with the will to topple a mountain. The score was composed by Bill Conti, who you may also know from The Karate Kid and the James Bond film, For Your Eyes Only.
10. Star Wars (1977-2005)
This list wouldn’t be complete without mentioning John Williams’ other masterpiece of work. Evoking an epic, easily recognizable theme, his score also gave personal themes to particular characters – Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, and Yoda. Williams will also be featured in the new series December 2015. The fate of the ‘galaxy far far’ away is in good hands.
9. Superman (1978)
This looks like a job for…. John Williams in what is arguably his most famous work (minus those other sci-fi movies, Star Wars). This score helped define Superman as an awe-inspiring character in the public’s eyes but also helped create a partial formula for the many superhero movies to come after it. The musical cues fit the tone of Clark Kent whereas the strong overpowering (no pun intended) theme gives a sense of wonder and excitement.
8. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
One of the best movies of all time also has one of the best movie scores. This score won an Oscar for Best Score in 1962 and paved the way for a string of other hits by composer Maurice Jarre that included Doctor Zhivago (1965) and A Passage to India (1984) (both also had film scores that won Oscars as well). The best way to describe the music is sweeping, epic and nicely fits in with the desert landscape that you travel along with T.S. Eliott (played by Peter O’Toole) as he tries to liberate a country. True classic.
7. The Dark Knight (2008)
Hans Zimmer is a genius and strangely has only won one Oscar for Best Original Score (he won for The Lion King) even though he’s been nominated 8 times! This score (co-composed by James Newton Howard) resonated with fans as its foundation from Batman Begins was expanded upon and given chaotic, whimsical tones that trickled along the entirety of the film’s score. I am mainly referring to the Joker’s antics and the moral dilemma Batman finds himself in throughout the film.
This is an intense(so many adjectives!) listen while also adhering to the deeper reflective Batman themes that we’ve become accustomed to since Christopher Nolan’s take on the iconic character.
6. Tron: Legacy
In one of the most visually stunning films to come out in a while, we also got a taste of just how good Daft Punk can be at providing a musical score with their popular electronic background. The movie itself may leave one wanting more but it certainly is an audio and visual marvel. ‘The Grid’ (along with its dance clubs and action sequences) is a big, open virtual world inspired by a computer genius and the music reflects this. The music for this movie has been played in other forms of media as well.
5.The Mission (1986)
Although the movie itself may draw some criticism for its more serious themes, you cannot deny the mastery at work from the legendary Ennio Morricone (The Untouchables). The film is set in the 1750s near the border between Argentina and Brazil. It follows how a Jesuit priest tries to spread Christianity amidst much adversity. The music captures the film’s soul and underpins the very serious, although at the same time, beautiful ideas the film projects. Definitely check out the track “Gabriel’s Oboe”.
4. Braveheart (1995)
Composer James Horner really shined with his work in this film. He was actually nominated for an Oscar as well. The music reveled in building tension as battles were looming. Even the sweeping dramatic songs perfectly capture William Wallace’s love for his wife as he secretly marries her. Who can forget the music that was overlaid with his ‘what are we without freedom’ speech?
The score is simply powerful and iconic and helped cement Braveheart as one of the best films of all time.
3. Inception (2010)
To me, this is what solidified Hans Zimmer as the very best film composer out there. Although this score lost to The Social Network at the Oscars, it was by the slimmest of margins. Being a movie about dreams, this music captivates the feeling of being confounded, while at the same time revealing that anything is possible. The sheer scope of the movie matches with the giant ‘BRRAAHMM!’ horn noises that also seemed to catch on with other movies and their trailers. So, Zimmer inadvertently created something so unique that everyone was eager to copy off of him. That dang horn noise signifies EPIC!
2. Total Recall (1990)
This, obviously in my opinion, is the best sci-fi score (yes, better than Inception’s score). The ideas of dreams and Mars are perfectly captured with Jerry Goldsmith’s music. Goldsmith is one of the greats. He even did the score to Alien (which was perfectly haunting) and a slew of other movies (L.A. Confidential, Poltergeist). To put Total Recall’s movie score simply, it embodies curiosity, reflection and adventure and is a must for any movie score fan (there has to be a lot out there!).
1. The Social Network (2010)
No one really thought that Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails) would get into composing movie music but that is exactly what happened and he couldn’t be more successful. This was his debut and he went on to win an Oscar for Best Original Score, alongside frequent collaborator — Atticus Ross. To put this win in perspective, The Social Network beat out Hans Zimmer’s score for Inception (remember all those BAHMMS noises!!!??) that year at the Oscars.
The music perfectly gives way to the exciting drama. A scene that may jump out at you is one when Mark Zuckerberg is testing out a new idea after his girlfriend broke up with him at the beginning of the film. The song is titled “In Motion” and helps set a background into just how big and influential the social ideas Zuckerberg and company were toying with.
A lot of thought went into this one. The next time you see a movie, think about the music that helps immerse you into another world.
How can we escape previews to movies? They are not just on TV (between your favorite shows), before a movie in a theater (annoyingly so), but they are also online. With that being said, these previews create an idea of how we think a movie will be. More often than not, we are shown too much footage therefore taking away any element of surprise. Within all of this, we have an idea of how a movie will be. Sometimes films can be deemed failures because expectation did not meet reality.
Take for instance the film The Village by M. Night Shyamalan. The film was marketed as a horror film and people were left disappointed because their expectations were not met. Not only was the film not marketed properly, the name of the director himself (Shyamalan) was used to bring forth a particular audience. As a psychological thriller, the movie is actually pretty effective and we are given something we’ve become accustomed to with the director and that is his plot twists.
The Village is not alone in this mis-marketing. Remember the Clooney flick, Solaris? Solaris (2002) was a remake from a psychological sci-fi drama that came from Russia in 1972. I went to see the remake in theaters and was expecting a sci-fi movie in the vein of “Event Horizon” or something controversial and that simply was not the case. I left disappointed and almost shocked that the marketing of the film mislead me. Check out the TV spot below (not the best quality). This is what I thought of going in. I never did see the official trailer which actually touches on the themes in the film. Do not get me wrong; when I look back on Solaris, I actually really enjoyed the movie. It examined the idea of how we love one another and what lengths we allow ourselves to go in order to feel a certain way even if it defies logical understanding. But I should argue against myself here by postulating just ‘how’ do you market a movie like that?
A film’s marketing (trailer/tv spots) requires a lot of creativity to boost interest. You can say that there is an art to it. How do you sell a bad movie like Terminator: Salvation? Well, put on a narration from the film’s lead actor talking about the ‘war’, add some excellent Nine Inch Nails music and revel in the films already great visuals. That preview fooled a lot of people. Today, you cannot seem to escape movie previews. However, I could watch the Mad Max: Fury Road or Star Wars: The Force Awakens trailers over and over.
Check out the trailer for Terminator Salvation.
Trailers can be fun and controversial and get a fan base riled up. Actually, trailers are taken much more seriously nowadays. There’s even an awards show for trailers – The Golden Trailer Awards. The awards show has been around since 1999.
Golden Trailer Awards for Best in Show:
2014 – Gravity
2013 – Iron Man 3
2012 – Dark Knight Rises
2011 – The Social Network
2010 – The Cove
2009 – Star Trek
2008 – The Dark Knight
2007 – 300
2006 – Mission Impossible III
2005 – Saw
2004 – The Stepford Wives
2003 – About Schmidt
2002 – The Royal Tenenbaums
2001 – Requiem for a Dream
2000 – The Matrix
A marketing campaign should entice but it should also inform – to a degree. You can’t be a fan of 1960s Batman and just go to The Dark Knight without seeing any sort of preview. I mean, if you did, you’d be taken off guard. Though a film’s marketing campaign is ubiquitous and relentless, it is needed to help gauge a film’s credibility and build a targeted audience.
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