Blu-ray Round Up Volume 2!

Welcome to the second Blu-ray round up! I'm really excited to bring these latest catalog releases to you guys. We're going to be taking a look at four blu-rays this time. Three that have just been released and one that will available on May 19. We have a dark thriller/drama, a teen comedy, a musical, and a dance sort of coming of age drama.

So without further delay, here are our reviews of Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Grease, Saturday Night Fever, and The Machinist.






Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Written and Directed by: John Hughes
Starring: Matthew Broderick, Mia Sara, Alan Ruck, Jennifer Grey, Jeffrey Jones, Edie McClurg, and Ben Stein

Blu-ray specs:
1080p High Definition
English 5.1 DOLBY TrueHD
French 2.0 Dolby Surround, Spanish Mono
English/English SDH, French, Spanish, and Portuguese Subtitles

Bonus Features: Getting the Class Together: The Cast of Ferris Bueller's Day Off, The Making of Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Who Is Ferris Bueller?, The World According to Ben Stein, Vintage Ferris Bueller: The Lost Tapes, Class Album

It is certainly one of my favorite movies from the 80's. Who didn't want to be Ferris? Even to this day this movie has a special place in my heart. This is simply one of the greatest films of the decade and certainly one of my favorite John Hughes movies. It made Matthew Broderick a household name and has become a pop culture icon.

The film features the single best performance Jennifer Grey has ever done. She plays this part so perfectly that I almost forget she is acting at all.

The film if possible, is even better on blu-ray. It gives those of us who missed the chance at seeing this at a theater the chance to see the film as crystal clear and sharp as if it was on the big screen.

The problem with this release is that it doesn't offer anything new. It's just the hi-def version of the most recent "Bueller...Bueller... Edition" release on DVD.

The storage capacity for blu-ray would have certainly allowed for a lot more features if you ask me. Maybe a gag reel, deleted scenes, something more than what we got. They could easily have tagged the short lived Ferris Bueller TV series onto this set and made it a complete collectors edition with all things Ferris! Also missing is any commentary tracks for the film.

As for the features we do get, they're not much to write home about. It's basically a lot of behind the scenes stuff and interviews. Nothing too terribly interesting and if you've bought the previous release of this film than these are features you already have.

The film certainly deserves more in a blu-ray release that it has been given. But, in the absences of a better supplemented release, certainly pick up this version and check out Ferris Bueller's Day Off in it's 1080p High Definition glory.


Grease
Written by: Bronte Woodard
Adaptation by: Allan Carr
based on the musical by: Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey
Directed by: Randal Kleiser
Starring: Olivia Newton-John, John Travolta, Stockard Channing, Jeff Conaway, DiDi Conn, with Eve Arden, Sid Caeser, and Frankie Avalon.

Blu-ray Specs:
1080p High Definition
English 5.1 DOLBY TrueHD
French 2.0 Dolby Surround, Spanish Mono
English/English SDH, French, Spanish, and Portuguese Subtitles

Bonus Features: Rydell Sing-Along, 11 Deleted/Extended/Alternate Scenes, DVD Launch Party, Grease Memories from John and Olivia, The Moves Behind The Music, Thunder Roadsters, Theatrical Trailer

Ah Grease. The perfect musical. "Summer Lovin', "We Go Together," You're The One That I Want." The list goes on and on. Perfection. Who doesn't love Grease? It's a cultural icon and more than thirty years after its original release it's just as fresh as it ever was.

Especially, on blu-ray. The picture here is fantastic. I wouldn't expect a film thirty plus years old could look as pristine as this one does. It's gorgeous and bright. The colors explode off the screen.

The sound is mind blowing as well. The songs sound amazing and everything seems as though the film was released yesterday.

I'm not sure I could ask for a better transfer for this film. It's almost like seeing it for the first time.

That said, this release seems to have the same problem as the previously discussed Ferris Bueller. It's just a rehash of the previous DVD release, "The Rockin' Rydell Edition"

I can't understand why they wouldn't take advantage of a great format like blu-ray and release a comprehensive Grease set? Why not jam this thing full of new features instead of just slapping the old stuff on a pretty new disc. Sure the film looks and sounds beautiful but the supplements are stale. Give us something fresh to justify dropping the cash on a new version.

I can only guess that there are plans for a better edition to be released in the future. It just seems to me that Grease is getting much the same treatment now that it got back when it was first released in theaters. Just a sort of throwaway film. This is a pop culture monster. Give the fans something to get excited about!

Saturday Night Fever
Written by: Norman Wexler
Based on the magazine article by: Nik Cohn (Tribal Rites of the New Saturday Night)
Directed by: John Badham
Starring: John Travolta, Karen Lynn Gorney, Fran Drescher, Barry Miller, Joseph Cali, and Paul Pape

Blu-ray Specs:
1080p High Definition
English 5.1 DOLBY TrueHD
French 2.0 Dolby Surround, Spanish Mono
English/English SDH, French, Spanish, and Portuguese Subtitles

Bonus Features: Commentary by Director John Badham, Catching The Fever (A 30 Year Legacy, Making Soundtrack History, Platforms & Polyester, Deejay's & Disco, and Spotlight on Travolta), Back to Bay Ridge, Dance like John Travolta and John Cassese, Fever Challeng!, 70's Discopedia, and Deleted Scenes

I had never seen Saturday Night Fever before and to be honest had always figured it was just a throwaway cornball dance movie. That probably doesn't make me the most noble of movie fans but for some reason I had it stuck in my head that this movie wasn't worth the time to watch it.

I couldn't be happier to be wrong. Saturday Night Fever is a great film. My enjoyment of it may have something to do with my desire to educate myself in films from decades I am not really well versed in. I'm a child of the 80's and as a cinephile, I'm ashamed to say that most of my movie knowledge is from that decade and on. I have been trying my hardest to see more older films and classics (thankfully, this gig I have makes it easier to do so).

Anyway, that said, Saturday Night Fever is a prime example of the great film that came out of the 70's. John Travolta's Oscar nomination for his role as Tony Manero was well deserved. This is a great character and he is extremely relatable. A guy who wants to make himself a better life and get out of the poverty he lives in is something anyone can really relate to. I don't know about using disco dancing to do so but hey, whatever works.

The Blu-ray looks incredible. This movie is 32 years old and it looks clear as you could ever want. I'm shocking how well of a transfer we have here. Both in terms of picture and sound. I use the phrase a lot but it really looks like it was made yesterday.

The special features are pretty interesting for the most part. Deleted scenes are always great to have. I like to see what filmmakers have to sacrifice to get a film under a certain run time or to keep the pacing. There are several little featurettes about the making of the film. I found myself creeped out by the Dance Like Travolta feature though. John Cassese just set me on edge for some reason.

I'm glad I finally got over my snobbery and watched Saturday Night Fever. It turned out to be an extremely enjoyable film with some fantastic (oscar nominated) music. I would suggest anyone give it a shot, especially with the gorgeous looking picture on Blu-ray!

The Machinist
Written by: Scott Kosar
Directed by: Brad Anderson
Starring: Christian Bale, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Michael Ironside

Blu-ray Specs:
1080p High Definition
English 5.1 DOLBY TrueHD
French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital
English/English SDH, French, Spanish, and Portuguese Subtitles

Bonus Features: Audio Commentary by Director Brad Anderson, Manifesting The Machinist, The Machinist: Hiding in Plain Sight, The Machinist: Breaking The Rules, Deleted Scenes, Theatrical Trailer

The Machinst is a dark dramatic thriller about an industrial worker who feels he is going insane after not having slept for a year and his decent into paranoia and conspiracy. This is a small independent film that has achieved cult-like status mainly from the deeply effecting direction and story to the extremely dedicated performance of Christian Bale. Bale lost 63 pounds for this film, turning himself into a gaunt shadow of his former self (and making his physique in Batman Begins even that more impressive).

It is a dark, moody, and almost disturbing film that for me eliminated any doubts as to the abilities of its star. Christian Bale is incredibly in this film. His performance is a revelation.

We have a wildly original script from Scott Kosar with expert direction from Brad Anderson and it all adds up to a great film. A film made even better on Blu-ray. If it was hard to look at Christian Bale in this movie before wait till you see it in crystal clear 1080P high def. You'll find yourself extremely immersed in the madness (or lack there off) in the characters life.

As for features, we get an audio commentary and a few featurettes, two of which are presented in HD. We also have deleted scenes and a theatrical trailer. You'll learn a lot about the movie with these features but I would like a bit more. I'm finding myself wanting more features about the subject matter in the movies I'm watching. Just more to teach me about the ailments or events a character is experiencing.

Beyond that, it's a great release for The Machinist. The film is presented perfectly with pristine picture and incredible sound. It makes this cult film worth watching over and over, assuming you don't start going a little mad yourself.

That's it for this round up. We'll have another one up next month! In the meantime, check out the films we reviewed this time. They're all worth your time and money and only serve to make these four great films even better.

Grease, Saturday Night Fever, and Ferris Bueller's Day Off are all available on Blu-ray now.

The Machinist will be available on May 19.

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Between Two Ferns With Zach Galifianakis

Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis from Between Two Ferns

The new episode of Between Two Ferns With Zach Galifianakis is finally here. To celebrate, we're going to post all four episodes starting with the first above featuring Michael Cera.

Thanks to the folks over at Funny Or Die and Comedy Death Ray for bringing this hilarity to us.

Click the Rawr! for interviews with Jimmy Kimmel, John Hamm and Natalie Portman (warning these may not be work safe)!

Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis from Between Two Ferns

Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis from Between Two Ferns

Between Two Ferns With Zach Galifianakis from Between Two Ferns

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Trailer: The Quentin Tarantino Movie Mash-Up

I've heard great things about this and am glad to help support the project by spreading the word.

Feel free to do the same.

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A.I. Top 4 Performances

Kris, Adam, Danny, and Allison took the stage last night and with the mentoring of Slash, performed some huge classic rock hits.

Last night also marked the first time contestants performed duets together. This is an addition I enjoyed and hope it keeps up.

My take? Based on last night's performances, Danny should be going home.

For the complete performances you might have missed, click the Rawr!

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RIP Dom Deluise

Funny man Dom Deluise passed away yesterday. He was 75 years old.

I always loved him in the movies I saw him in. He never failed to make me laugh. I laugh like a fool every time I watch Haunted Honeymoon.

Reports say he died peacefully in his sleep.

Our thoughts go out to his friends and family.

Dom Deluise
August 1, 1933 - May 4, 2009

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Blu-ray Review: The Wrestler

The Wrestler
Written by: Robert D. Siegel
Directed by: Darren Aronofsky
Starring: Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei, and Evan Rachel Wood

Blu-ray Specs:
Widescreen 2.35:1
1080p High Definition
5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
5.1 Spanish Dolby Digital
AVS @28Mbps
English SDH and Spanish Subtitles

Special Features:
Within The Ring - A No-Holds Barred One-on-One with Wrestlers and Filmmakers, Wrestler Round Table - More Gritty Truth from Wrestling Hall-of-Famers, "The Wrester" Music Video - Written and Performed by Bruce Springsteen, Digital Copy for Portable Media Players

The Wrestler has received critical acclaim and is on numerous best of lists from countless critics. It is being hailed as a come-back film for Mickey Rourke and is receiving heaps and heaps of praise.

But is it worthy of all the positive reviews it's getting?

Click the Rawr! to find out.




The truth is, The Wrestler is just an okay movie with an extremely deep and touching performance at its core. Without the performance of Mickey Rourke, I doubt this movie would have made a bleep on anyone's radar.

The story surrounds Randy "The Ram", a former superstar wrestler who now wrestles on weekends in small matches. He dreams of getting back on top and when an opportunity to recapture the glory of one of his greatest matches presents itself he is eager to be involved. Unfortunately, his body decides otherwise as he discovers a serious health problem may just derail his plans completely. It is this concern that leads him to attempt reconciliation with his estranged daughter.

The movie isn't bad. I'm not saying that at all. It's just a movie that fails to live up to the hype that has surrounded it. It's a small indie film that harkens back to the real days of independent film. It's gritty and raw and dark but it's just missing something for me.

The performances from the actors are all great. Marisa Tomei, who I always love, gives a brave performance as a stripper who Randy is infatuated with. Evan Rachel Wood plays his daughter and does so with great effecting emotion.

The real story here, of course, is Mickey Rourke. He gives such a great performance here. It's staggering. He plays this part to a perfect tee. I know that people are likening his performance to his real life but it's clear that Rourke feels the same way because every word, every emotion is so heartbreakingly genuine that it boggles the mind he was overlooked for the Oscar.

Despite this, the film still fails to surpass the bar. It's a good film and well worth the watch but I don't think it will sustain repeat viewing. It's a decent film with an amazing performance.

The Blu-ray looks great. It still maintains that gritty and grainy feel while somehow looking pristine all the while. The special features are extremely interesting and give some great viewpoints from former wrestlers. These would be especially noteworthy for fans of the sport, which I haven't been for going on 15 years or so. We also get a music video for Bruce Springsteen's song for the film which was criminally overlooked at the Oscars. I really think there should be a rule that only one song for any movie is eligible for nominations. His song certainly had a shot at taking the trophy had it been given the much deserved nomination.

The truth is, The Wrestler is certainly a film worth watching, especially to witness one of the greatest performances of Mickey Rourke's career (another being the brilliant Sin City). I don't see myself rewatching it again any time soon unless I'm showing it to someone who hasn't seen it. That doesn't make it a film to skip by any means. While it isn't the brilliant film that some people claim it is, The Wrestler is certainly a film to see at least once, if only to witness one of the bravest and most heart felt performances of the year.

The Wrestler is available now on DVD and Blu-Ray.

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TV News: NBC Unveils New Shows!

NBC has announced it's fall schedule today and in doing so unveiled a slate of new shows to begin airing in the fall. We'll get to those in a moment but first I wanted to give people the relief of knowing which shows they can expect to return!

NBC is bringing back Heroes, Southland, and Parks and Recreation which will be joining the previously renewed The Office, 30 Rock, Law & Order: SVU, Friday Night Lights, Celebrity Apprentice, and The Biggest Loser.

Sadly, there is no news yet for fans of Chuck (that announcement has been delayed until May 19), Law & Order, Medium, Life, or My Name is Earl. I have heard that Earl and Life have been canceled but apparently no official statement has been made.

NBC of course announced the new series coming in the fall and they include four dramas and two comedies and the return of Weekend Update Thursdays!

Click the Rawr! for the titles and descriptions!

New Dramas:

Parenthood:
A contemporary re-imagining of the blockbuster film, depicting the Braverman family -- four grown siblings sharing the headaches, heartaches and joy of being parents. Starring Peter Krause, Maura Tierney, Craig T. Nelson, Dax Shepard, Bonnie Bedelia, Monica Potter, Erika Christensen and Sarah Ramos. Ron Howard and Brian Grazer executive produce.

Video here: http://www.nbc.com/upcoming-shows/video/clips/preview/1094629/
Web site here: http://www.nbc.com/parenthood/

Trauma:
Peter Berg (Friday Night Lights) executive produces "Trauma", a medical drama series that follows first-responder paramedics in the San Francisco Bay area. Stars Derek Luke ("Notorious"), Cliff Curtis ("10,000 B.C"), Anastasia Griffith ("Damages"), Aimee Garcia ("George Lopez"), Kevin Rankin ("Friday Night Lights") and Jamey Sheridan ("Law & Order: Criminal Intent").

Video here: http://www.nbc.com/upcoming-shows/video/clips/preview/1094570/
Web site here: http://www.nbc.com/trauma/

Mercy:
A new medical drama with a unique point of view, portrays the lives of the staff at Mercy Hospital as seen through the eyes of those who know it best -- its nurses. Stars Taylor Schilling ("Dark Matter"), Jamie Lee Kirchner ("Rescue Me") and Michelle Trachtenberg ("Gossip Girl"). Joining writer/executive producers Liz Heldens (NBC’s "Friday Night Lights") and Gretchen Berg & Aaron Harberts ("Pushing Daisies," "Pepper Dennis") are executive producers Gail Berman and Lloyd Braun. Emmy Award winner Adam Bernstein (NBC’s "30 Rock," "Rescue Me") is the director.

Video here: http://www.nbc.com/upcoming-shows/video/clips/preview/1094574/
Web site here: http://www.nbc.com/trauma/

Day One:
Executive producer/writer Jesse Alexander ("Heroes," "Lost," "Alias,") "Day One" tells the story of life on earth following a global catastrophe that has devastated the world's infrastructures. Beginning with the immediate aftermath of the cataclysmic event, "Day One" follows an eclectic band of survivors -- played by Adam Campbell ("Date Movie"), Catherine Dent ("The Shield"), Julie Gonzalo ("Eli Stone"), David Lyons ("ER"), Derek Mio ("Greek"), Carly Pope ("24"), Thekla Reuten ("Sleeper Cell") and Addison Timlin ("Cashmere Mafia")

Unfortunately, no video is available yet for Day One.
Web site here: http://www.nbc.com/day-one/

New Comedies:

100 Questions:
Charlotte Payne (Sophie Winkleman, "Peep Show") is looking for love and has rejected multiple marriage proposals -- but she has yet to meet Mr. Right. When she joins a popular online dating site, she gets a little help from her dating counselor Ravi (Amir Talai, "The Ex List") – who requires her to take a 100-question compatibility test. The questions aren’t easy for Charlotte to answer, and each one requires her to recount a poignant and humorous time in her life with friends Leslie (Elizabeth Ho, "Women’s Murder Club"), Jill (Joy Suprano, NBC’s "Law & Order"), Mike (Christopher Moynihan "For Your Consideration") and Wayne (David Walton "Quarterlife"). James Burrows ("Will & Grace," "Friends,") directs, and Christopher Moynihan ("For Your Consideration") executive produces.

Video here: http://www.nbc.com/upcoming-shows/video/clips/preview/1094628/
Web site here: http://www.nbc.com/100-questions/

Community:
Directors Joe and Anthony Russo ("Arrested Development") bring us "Community," a comedy series about Greendale Community College, whose student body is made up of high-school losers, newly divorced housewives, and old people who want to keep their minds active. "Community" focuses on a study group lead by a lawyer whose degree has been revoked. Starring Joel McHale, ("The Soup"), comedy legend Chevy Chase, Gillian Jacobs ("The Book of Daniel"); Yvette Nicole Brown ("Rules of Engagement"); Danny Pudi ("Greek"); and Alison Brie ("Mad Men").

Video here: http://www.nbc.com/upcoming-shows/video/clips/preview/1094573/
Web site here: http://www.nbc.com/community/

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TV News: The Cleveland Show!

It may not begin airing until this fall, but FOX has already ordered a second season for the Family Guy spin-off series, The Cleveland Show. This brings the total episode count up to 35. The second season will begin in fall of 2010.

The first season which debuts this fall will have 13 episodes.

I can't wait to see how this turns out.

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Music Video: Incubus - Black Heart Inertia

Incubus - New Music - More Music Videos

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Movie Trailer: Outrage

Check out the trailer from Kirby Dick's new documentary Outrage. Kirby Dick's most recent film is the absolutely brilliant This Film Is Not Yet Rated which I consider among the best documentaries of all time.

Outrage looks to be even more explosive and controversial.

Official Synopsis:

From Academy Award-nominated documentary filmmaker Kirby Dick (This Film Is Not Yet Rated) comes OUTRAGE, a searing indictment of the hypocrisy of closeted politicians with appalling gay rights voting records who actively campaign against the LGBT community they covertly belong to. Boldly revealing the hidden lives of some of the United States' most powerful policymakers, OUTRAGE takes a comprehensive look at the harm they've inflicted on millions of Americans, and examines the media's complicity in keeping their secrets.

With analysis from prominent members of the gay community such as Congressman Barney Frank, former NJ Governor Jim McGreevey, activist Larry Kramer, radio personality Michelangelo Signorile, and openly gay congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (Representative, Wisconsin 2nd district), OUTRAGE probes deeply into the psychology of this double lifestyle, the ethics of outing closeted politicians, the double standards that the media upholds in its coverage of the sex lives of gay public figures, and much more.

Outrage hits theaters on May 8.

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Joel McHale, The Next Big Thing

Joel McHale is going to conquer network television. This show looks great. I do hope he can do this new show and The Soup simultaneously...

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Hating Kate

Why can’t it ever be Kate? There have been a lot of casualties on “Lost,” but Kate is never one of them.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. She’s very attractive. I’m with you on that.

But Kate is my least favorite character. From the very beginning, the writers and producers of the show tried to make her seem interesting. They hinted at a sordid past, in which she did broke the law and lived life on the run.

Then came the day when an episode aired entitled “What Kate Did.” I’m sure, for some, the opportunity to finally get Kate’s backstory was an interesting prospect. I’ll admit, I was looking forward to it, but for different reasons. I was excited about it because, once it was revealed to us, the show would stop trying to intrigue me about an essentially bland character.

Then, when we finally saw what Kate did, my disinterest turned to frustration. Because, for the better part of a season, we were meant to view Kate as some kind of badass; a tough chick who could go round and round with any of the men on the island, because she’s got a dark side that we don’t even know about.

Turns out she killed her abusive stepfather to keep him from continuing to hurt her mother.
Could there possibly be a more sympathetic, more relatable, more noble crime than that? Had Kate actually killed an innocent in cold blood- perhaps to support a drug habit or something- then we would really have something here. We would have a hardened criminal trying to redeem herself by helping her fellow island dwellers. In short, an complex character.

But, no. Instead we got somebody who is basically a decent person. And she has failed to be interesting ever since. From then on, any time a Kate-centric episode airs, I roll my eyes and soldier through it, knowing that I’m going to be told that Kate is a world-weary loner trying to outrun her past and that she’s just as interesting as Locke or Sawyer or Said.

And, as more memorable characters die around her, I’ve resigned myself to the fact that
Kate is in it for the duration. And I’m told that this is a good thing.

Oh well. I guess it could be worse. Her crime could have been stealing a loaf of bread for her starving children.

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"State of Play" BBC miniseries

It’s amazing how much of a difference a few hours can make.
I watched the critically-acclaimed BBC miniseries “State of Play” mere days after watching the feature film adaptation. I found the film to be very frustrating; little more than a collection of clichés from other (better) films about journalism and political corruption. From the character shortcuts to the suspiciously reactionary themes, State of Play seemed like a waste of a capable director and talented cast.

My disappointment in the film grew exponentially when I watched the miniseries. The story of a murdered young woman and her relationship to an up-and-coming politician seems pretty run-of-the-mill, but, in the hands of writer Paul Abbott and director David Yates, the serpentine plot unfolds in a way that never feels manipulative; rather, everything feels organic and character-driven.

And what great characters they are. From the persistent journalist to the reluctant informant to the shady politician, these characters benefit greatly from the miniseries format. These characters aren’t genre conventions. They are real people, allowed room to breathe. From one episode to the next, a character can go from likable to despicable without feeling inconsistent. It feels contradictory, to be sure, but in that messy, sympathetic way that real people have. We spend six hours with these characters, getting to know their strengths and their flaws, knowing what they can withstand and what they can’t.

It helps that these characters are played by committed actors; performers willing to do whatever the character requires. They are not self conscious, trying to milk more out of a scene than is there.

This is also a strength of the director, whose instinct is not to over-explain things. In the film, Russell Crowe’s seasoned journalist eats Pop-Tarts on the way to work, as he drives a beat-up jalopy. He is generally unkempt and doesn’t care. He’s a journalist, dammit, and can’t be bothered with such trivial things as looking presentable!

In trying to show us “everything we need to know” about the character in what he drives, how he dresses, et cetera, director Kevin McDonald overdoes it and creates a character that we’ve seen a hundred times before in other films.

The same character in the miniseries, however, is just a guy like everybody else. His car isn’t great, but it’s not crappy, either. He dresses casual, but not like he just rolled out of bed. In allowing the character to seem average, rather than trying to represent the essence of “experienced journalist,” David Yates embraces the spirit of journalism itself, staying true to the facts and not embellishing more than he has to.

This commitment to reality permeates the whole miniseries, which comes in handy during the more fantastic moments. Scenes of violence or other sensationalism are handled with the same matter-of-fact attitude as everything else, which helps us to buy something that we might not otherwise.

I never believed any of what was happening in the film State of Play, and yet, in the miniseries, every sordid story element felt like it could happen in the world that we currently occupy. The plot points themselves are almost exactly the same, but the miniseries has the advantage of time; time to immerse the viewer in this world of intrigue and deception. Given enough time to get to know the characters and situations, even the most ludicrous story developments can seem perfectly plausible.

That is why the film State of Play never stood a chance at being as good as the miniseries. And that is why I recommend anybody who is a fan of journalism movies or political thrillers go out and rent “State of Play” as soon as they can.

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Movie Review: X-Men Origins: Wolverine

X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Written by: David Benioff and Skip Woods
Directed by: Gavin Hood
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Ryan Reynolds, Taylor Kitsch, Will.i.am., Kevin Durand, Dominic Monaghan, Danny Huston, Daniel Henney, Lynn Collins, and Liev Schreiber

Wolverine is finally here. It's one of the most anticipated films of the summer and is now in the wild for the rabid fans to devour. So how is it? That's why you're hear right? You want to know what I thought?

Well, It's tough to describe my feelings on the movie because I found it to be just kind of blah. I didn't feel like wasting the energy to hate it and I certainly didn't like it.

Click the rawr! to find out why.

Let's start with my feelings on X-Men 3. I loathed it. I was fuming mad while I watched it in the theater. I was watching one film destroy the legacy left by one of the single best comic book movies ever made be ripped apart bit by bit. There was nothing resembling X2 in X-Men 3. None of the heart, the spirit, nothing.

So imagine my concerns a few years later with X-Men Origins coming down the pipeline. I kept an open mind, I thought the trailers looked pretty cool and gradually my excitement began to build. The opportunities for a major action epic surrounding the life and times of Wolverine are endless. There is so much story to explore that it could easily be a 2-hour plus grand film. Instead, what we got was a ninety plus cliche.

The script is lazy. The directing is better fit for a lifetime movie event than a major tent pole comic book film. The acting for the most part is okay but nothing really worth mentioned outside of Hugh Jackman who continues to keep Wolverine fresh as a character.

The film is by and by extremely pointless. This is what happens when you put people in charge of a movie that have no real care or interest in the subject matter or the characters.

You put any first time writer or director who loves these characters and you will get a film 1000 times better than this.

It is a pointless film with no real reason to exist outside of taking peoples money (which I gladly handed over unfortunately).

The characters are a joke. There is no reason for any of the characters they put in this movie to be there outside of Wolverine. By the way, his origin lasts about ten minutes. Everything else is just events that take place before the first X-Men film. Events that are shoehorned in in a way that is baffling.

None of the characters are even worthy of discussion. With the exception of Wolverine and Sabertooth, they're barely more than cardboard cutouts. My biggest disappointment was Gambit. Sure Taylor Kitsch looks the part but that's about it. He doesn't have the gravitas it takes to play Gambit and worst of all there is NO Cajun accent to speak of. They stuck him in the movie just to get people's geek radar going and really didn't have him do anything else besides flip around and fling cards (which he barely did).

Despite all this, there is a little bit of fun to be had with this movie. The fight scenes for the most part are pretty cool, if not a little repetitive and over the top. There are some good one liners from Jackman as well.

Overall, Wolverine is just a run of the mill action movie that barely surpasses the nightmarish disaster that was X-Men 3. It is at times fun but for the most part is just not up to snuff. Especially, in light of recent comic book films like The Dark Knight and Iron Man.

I honestly think that X-Men 3 did such harm to the franchise that it will take a masterpiece to fix it and if I can say so there is only one man who can restore the X-Men franchise to it's former glory and that is Joss Whedon.

Stop these ridiculous X-Men Origins ideas, scrap the lame First Class ideas and put the franchise in his hands. It will be the second coming of the X-Men and it will be glorious.

As for Wolverine? Well, it's barely worth the price of a matinee so make your choice wisely. In this time of money woes, you're probably better off saving your cash for Star Trek.

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New GI Joe Rise of Cobra Trailer

Thanks to Myspace!

G.I. JOE trailer in HD

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Movie Photo: Iron Man 2

USA Today has scored the first photo from the upcoming Iron Man 2.

Is it just me or does it looks like a shot from the first film?

There should be plenty of Iron Man action at comic con this year so keep an eye out for that.

Rawr!

Roger Rabbit 2?

Movie Trailers - Movies Blog

Take a look at Robert Zemeckis dropping hints about a sequel to Who Framed Roger Rabbit?. I really don't want to see a 3-D Roger bouncing around. The film worked so perfectly with the 2-d cartoons. Then again, I really want to see a sequel to this...

I'm torn!

Rawr!