Ridley Scott is Directing ALIEN Prequel

The man who launched the Alien series will be returning to direct the upcoming prequel.

Fantastic news!

Matt Helm remake? By Spielberg?

I've just read on Cinematical that Steven Spielberg might be making a 'Matt Helm' film.

I've previously reviewed The Silencers and Murderers' Row, and have been meaning to cover the last two films that, well were pretty forgettable and very awful.

I am under the assumption that a remake will remain a campy, comedic spoof like the Dean Martin films were like. While I haven't read the books, I know that the films were nothing like the books. They were serious, not "silly."

The films were even less like a James Bond adaptation, where at least a Bond film would use some plot points and many of the characters - albeit used in a largely different capacity.

The only way to restart the franchise would be to start over and stick close to the source material. There are 27 published books to choose from, it can't be that hard. Do it right and you have a viable franchise that could last years.

A Saturday Night Can't Get Much Better Than This

Dumb and Dumber

If I know Mary as well as I think I do, she'll invite us right in for tea and strumpets.

This 1994 comedy got me through the 90s.

Jim Carrey plays Lloyd Christmas and Jeff Daniels plays Harry Dunne, two losers who can barely hold down their jobs – that is if they can even do that. The film opens with Lloyd, who at the time is a limo driver, taking Mary Swanson (Lauren Holly) to the Airport. He instantly falls in love with her. After dropping her off he notices she left her suitcase behind. Determined to get it back to her he decides to travel all the way to Aspen, the land of "milk and honey." Unknown to our two moronic fearless duo, the suitcase was supposed to be left there – as it was a ransom. Now Nicholas Andre (Charles Rocket) is not happy. With two hit men on their tail (their van is a dog), can the two bumbling heroes make it to Aspen?

Who thought such a stupid film would ever be so popular? This could be considered either a spark of genius or the work of the Devil – as it spawned a whole range of "stupid” comedies that has now evolved into the garbage that we get thrown in the theaters.

Though I don’t know how a "Merry Christmas" joke never made it into the movie.

Verdict: ***/*****

The Weekend

Weekends. The time to relax, and what better way to relax than during a nice cool Virginia summer's evening.

Rustico, how I love thee. For those unfamiliar, Rustico is a wonderful restaurant in Alexandria Virginia that serves up a wonderful gourmet menu and one of the best and most extensive selections of beer in the greater Washington DC area. The place is wonderful. Hidden away at the edge of Alexandria, the place is out of this world. It's large, the seating is comfortable, though during the dinner rush it is quite busy. The best beer selection I could compare it to (from memory) is RFD's, which I have last been to over 2 years ago, so the comparison may not be apt anymore. 30 taps, some great finds in there. Bottle selection is very good, and quite a few of them can be viewed from the bar area. The real nice touch is the pre-created beer samplers.

This past Friday I went there with my buddy Seth. We were able to sit at the chef's counter and watch all the pizza be prepared. Cool. Surprisingly I only had one beer while there - Stone Levitation. Levitation pours a copper color with a small white head. Aroma is a nice amount of malts, sweet fruits, and hops. Flavor is a well balanced beer of malts and hops, but contains an unexpected hop kick, which I was not expecting considering that this is a "light" beer. One of the best session beers I've had this year.

I was able to crack into one of the beers made by my co-worker's husband - a wonderful winter brew that I would liken to Anchor's Our Christmas Ale. If they sold their beer commercially I would purchase it. All the time.

Saturday I cracked into a collaboration beer, Alesmith Mikkeller Stone Belgian Style Tripel Ale which I found to be nice, mellow and quite approachable. Not over-the-top like so many "special" beers out there - that try to include mass quantities of alcohol in them to push some kind of envelope.

My weekend rounded itself out with a trip to Nationals Park, to see the Cubbies decimate the Nationals. Since there were more Cubs fans there it probably felt like a "home" game for them.

I've spent a LOT of time on Hulu lately, watching a lot of shows I've been missing and catching quite a few interesting things I've missed over the years. It certainly doesn't have the same quantity of instant view films that Netflix delivers, but it's entirely free - and quite nice.

Dead Snow

Quite possibly the best looking zombie movie of the last few years:

Cronkite dead at 92

Harry Potter 6 conjures Record $22.2M From Midnight showing

As reported here, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince has earned an estimated $22.2 million from just its midnight showings.

This beats the previous record set by The Dark Knight, which was $18.5 million.

Amazing. Expect more records to be broken by Sunday.

Webshow: Ctrl

Interesting.

Marvel at the news: Portman cast in 'Thor' film

Natalie Portman has been cast as the character Jane Foster. Chris Hemsworth, who appeared in a short scene as George Kirk at the start of Star Trek, was previously cast as the title character.

Kenneth Branagh is attached to direct.

Tropic Thunder

Tropic Thunder is a 2008 comedy film directed and starring Ben Stiller.

The film is about a crew filming a Vietnam-war movie. The film has just started shooting – but has taken a huge hit already and is bleeding money. An idea is concocted to bring the crew together and really make them “feel” like they’re in the film. Little do they know they have stumbled into a real gang of local drug lords. Hilarity ensues.

Well, I didn’t see this film when it first came out – I haven’t seen that many films since my brother moved away and even before that I used to see films pretty regularly with my buddy Matt back in 2006 and 2007. I believe I went to the movies about once a month – now I go about 4 times a year. I’ve only seen one film in the theaters by myself – Superman Returns – and I refuse to do that again for quite some time.

I hadn’t personally heard any of my friends and colleagues talk about this film but I had heard through the grapevine online that the movie was funny. I also heard that it was horrible, so I didn’t actually get around to seeing it until now. I ended up picking up the “director’s cut” which happens to be 13 minutes longer. I don’t know how much better the theatrical version is because I’ve seen the vast majority of people say that the extended version is nowhere near as good (as I’ve also heard about The 40 Year Old Virgin).

I’ve never really been a huge fan of Ben Stiller. I see some comedy genius there from time to time, but for the most part he plays basically two characters – the nervous, high-strung one from “Meet the Parents” and the idiot one from “Zoolander” or “Dodgeball.” The rest I’ve seen are variations on those basic archetypes. I’m also not a huge fan of Jack Black, for reasons too long to list at the moment – I just find him annoying. With that said, I liked both of their performances in this film. Stiller was still pretty brain-dead, but wasn’t as aware of his stupidity in this film. I still don’t like Matthew McConaughey.

Robert Downey is in top form in this film, and Nick Nolte plays a wonderful supporting part in this film. Tom Cruise’s role was a shocker, and played the role perfectly.

The film starts off with fake commercials and trailers, which are wonderful – not that movies should start doing such things more frequently – but I loved their inclusion here.

The movie is more than a film within a film, and more than a parody of modern action and war films, but it’s an attack directly on Hollywood itself. The ridiculousness of actors, the money behind films, and the politics of the industry (no, not ‘Washingtion politics’ but politics of getting a film made).

I’d suggest this film for a pretty decent number of meaningful laughs.

*** 1/2 out of *****

Ryan Reynolds as The Green Lantern?

Back in February I blogged on my initial thoughts on a Green Lantern film.

Well, they got a director, Martin Campbell (Casino Royale, GoldenEye) - now they have their Hal Jordan. Ryan Reynolds, most recently in the comedy The Proposal and X-Men Origins: Wolverine (and will be in the follow up film, Deadpool), has been cast as the Silver Age hero.

Apollo 13

This 1995 film is the story of the the Apollo 13 mission directed by Ron Howard.

The film stars Tom Hanks as Commander Jim Lovell, Bill Paxton as Lunar Module Pilot Fred Haise, Kevin Bacon as Command Module Pilot Jack Swigert, Gary Sinise as original Command Module Pilot Ken Mattingly, and Ed Harris as NASA Flight Director Gene Kranz.

This was a well cast, well filmed, and well written film. The cast, while looking little like their real counterparts, is fantastic. Tom Hanks does a wonderful job as Jim Lovell. The supporting cast of Bill Paxton, Gary Sinise, Ed Harris and Kevin Bacon are wonderful and hit every mark thrown at them. One degree of Kevin Bacon! With my brother “in the Biz” now, I can’t wait to figure out where he falls in that game. But it’s time to get back to the movie. Being a Ron Howard film, it’s only fitting that you play the game of “who is a Howard” while watching the film. His father is cast as well as his brother – who my friend Chad charmingly calls, “the little squirrely guy who is in every one of his films.”

It is an exciting and enthralling film, and it doesn’t even have any real action pieces (though it does have at least one ‘splosion).

The best part of this film is how true to history it stayed. Of course, there is some dramatic license taken. But hey, “historians” came out of the woodwork to bash films like 300 for not being 100% historic. Sure thing “professors”.

This is Ron Howard’s best project he’s been involved in. Sorry Matt, Arrested Development comes a close second.

**** out of *****

The Final Sacrifice

The Final Sacrifice is a 1990 Canadian adventure film.

The film stars Christian Malcolm as Troy McGreggor, Bruce J. Mitchell as Zap Rowsdower, Shane Marceau as Satoris, and Ron Anderson as Mike Pipper. And a whole lot of other Canadians. The film was directed by Tjardus Greidanus (no joke).

Bumbling Troy McGreggor (Malcolm), uncovers a number of documents of his long dead father (who looks pretty much exactly like 70’s football player Larry Csonka as refrenced by Mike and the Bots on MST3k's treatment of the film). These documents uncover something like a "hidden civilization" called the "Ziox", which apparently was one of the most powerful civilizations on the planet. Troy soon is in way over his head, and a cult leader, Satoris (Marceau), is hot on his trail. Luckily for Troy, he hitches a ride with Zap Rosdower (Mitchell), a perpetually inebriated character with a shady past an a chip on his shoulder.

The film only gets more ridiculous as the seconds tick on. From the silly names, to the silly plot, this film could be a case study as to exactly how you don't want to have a movie end up like. So the "Ziox" were so powerful, huh? Why did they just disappear, and why would one of their cities buried underground in the CANADIAN ROCKIES? Perhaps they just moved to a better climate.

By the end of the film you can just tell they're trying to figure out a way to end the thing. So that's exactly what they do. Zap. It's over.

However, I have to give them credit - the film was shot for less than 2000 dollars (I'm not sure if that's US or Canadian). I do feel bad for the actors as they didn't get paid - since their contracts stipulated that they'd make money if the movie was a success.

* 1/2 out of *****

City of Lost Children (La cité des enfants perdus)

This movie is weird. I mean bizarrely weird.

City of Lost Children is a French fantasy film that fits into the "steampunk" sub-genre. What's "steampunk" you may ask? Well the film takes characteristics of a more advanced society, but more closely resembles a late-Victorian and Edwardian era in terms of architecture and intricate designs. If that escapes you, just think H. G. Wells and Jules Verne. If that doesn't get you - maybe you've played the game Bioshock.

The world created in this film is entirely unique and unlike anything I had ever seen before. The story loosely revolves around a city bathed in darkness which (for those who pay attention to such things in this city) is experiencing a wave of child kidnappings. Just a note, the city is not bathed in darkness like the film Dark City has its city bathed in darkness, this is just a decision by the filmmakers to set the mood. This sets the film in a completely fantasy world, as it can't possibly be set at the turn of the century, and would not likely take place anytime in the future.

The film stars Ron Perlman as One, Daniel Emilfork as Krank, Judith Vittet as Miette, Dominique Pinon as "le scaphandrier" and The Clones, Jean-Claude Dreyfus as Marcello, Geneviève Brunet and Odile Mallet as "The Octopus," and Jean-Louis Trintignant as the voice of Irvin.

The story take a turn when the character, One (Perlman) witnesses his "father" being stabbed and soon afterward has his younger "brother" Denrée stolen away from him. His search eventually has him cross paths with a bank of children theves. The young ringleader of this group is Miette (Vittet) wants One to beat it, but One is persistent. He finds that these young theseve are forced to steal by their Orphanage, run by the Octopus (Geneviève Brunet and Odile Mallet), Siamese twins. Due to One's strength, he's perfect for their next job they have planned for the children to steal.

A series of events spur on One and Miette to uncover a greater mystery and conspiracy that threatens all the youth of their city. On an old oil rig out in the sea, lives Krank (Emilfork) a man unable to dream. He kidnaps children in the hopes that their innocence will allow him to understand dreams and have some himself. He lives on this island with a woman, multiple clones, and an intelligent brain that is housed in a tank.

This film is really like a surreal dream (or nightmare). It is one of the most visually interesting films I've ever seen in my entire life. The character interaction is wonderful, Perlman does a fantastic job and Vittet does a wonderful job in the role of Miette, I can't say I've seen anything else she's been in but she's one of the better child actors out there. I am fully aware that this is film will not be everyone's cup of tea - but for me the attention to detail sells it. Astounding, absolutely astounding.

**** out of *****

Burn After Reading

Burn After Reading is another entry into the bizarre and twisted world of the Cohen Brother. Unlike No Country For Old Men, this film is more in line with the dark humor present in Fargo and Barton Fink. However, with that said, this film is not the hilarious, "funny" film that they advertised it as. Don't get me wrong, there are funny moments - but it just goes to show how well a film can be edited down to when they're coming up with a trailer.

The movie is dark. The situations are absurd, silly and much larger than life would allow them to be in reality.

The characters are really what sell the film. The interaction they have between each other is complex, intricate. The mundane existences they exist in is turned into something outrageous and over the top.

The film stars John Malkovich as CIA analyst Osbourne Cox, George Clooney as Harry Pfarrer, Frances McDormand as Linda Litzke, Brad Pitt as Chad Feldheimer, Tilda Swinton as Katie Cox, and Richard Jenkins as Ted Treffon.

The plot revolves around Osbourne Cox (Malkovich) who quits his job at the CIA in the first few moments of the movie, his wife Katie (Swinton) who is having an affair with Harry Pfarrer (Clooney), who is also dating people on the side. Linda Litzke (McDormand)is one of those people. Linda works with Chad Feldheimer (Pitt) who both are trying to blackmail Osbourne with "top secret" files that they found at the gym they both work at.

I thought the film was pretty enjoyable and had a wonderful time trying to figure out what would happen next. The cast did a wonderful job in their roles and appeared to have a wonderful time making the film. And as someone who lives in the DC area, they did a relatively good job with the geography of the area - far better than 24's dartboard attempt.

*** 1/2 out of *****