Back in the Saddle?

Yeah, I doubt I'll update this as regular as I'd like, thus the question mark. My new schedule is a little chaotic, some days I work close to 16 hours. It's not that I've not watched some cool movies, it's just that I haven't had time to review them as well as I'd like. Let me give you a quick summary of movies I've seen lately, and a little blurb.

Captain America - Decent movie, but I liked Thor better. Probably because I dislike the character of Cap, not necessarily the acting, writing, or anything like that. It is a good set up for the Avengers, but that is all it really is. The ending and defeat of Red Skull is anti-climactic at best (read that as let down). The best part is the Avenger's teaser in the post credit slot. If you've watched the others (Iron Man, Thor, Hulk) watch this one, you don't want any plot holes.

Scream 4 - I loved the first three movies, even if they killed Jamie Kennedy. Wes Craven is a genius. The fourth installment was a faithful followup with enough tongue-in-cheek horror movie humor (multiple sequels, reboots, and all the staples of Hollywood today). There are some plot twists, and obvious red herrings. Unfortunately I figured out the killer (killers?) early on. Entertaining though.

Priest - Post-apocalyptic Vampire movie starring Paul Bettany. I'm sold. It was dark, gritty, and awesome visually. The plot is more than predictable, and that is the only bad thing I can say about it. If you are expecting Citizen Kane, you'll be disappointed it. If you want an action flick in a grisly Mad Max like world - then you should watch this.

Your Highness - I expected this to be stupid, and it was. But I liked it anyway. Being a table top RPG nerd, this reminded me of every D&D game my friends and I ever played.

Take me Home Tonight: Loved it! This is a great throwback to the 80s movies of John Hughes. Typical story of unrequited love, a party, lies to impress a girl, and the consequences. As where some movies would make fun of being an 80s movie, this one pays tribute to the 80s flicks I grew up loving (and still love today). The fashion is there, and the music is awesome! OH and a goth Michelle Trachtenberg

Stay tuned for more.

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Last Quote: Paper Man

Today's Quote: "We're all trying to be something that were not. But tonight all of that changes. Tonight, I'm not afraid. Tonight, I got one thing to say to all that bullshit. Fuck it. "

Weekend Update

Some of you may have noticed my absence lately. Life has been throwing me curve ball after curve ball and my head has been spinning as a result. It is now to a point where I can gather my thoughts and write something down again. I’m not saying it has been all bad, but it feels like the negative outweighs the positive lately. I don’t want to get into too much personal crap (I know, you are thinking that is what the Internet is all about). I’ll just say that my life has taken a turn I did not predict, and never would have. Don’t worry thought – I will pick myself up and keep moving forward because that is all I can do.

Speaking of moving forward I’ll mention a few of the better changes (I hope they are for the better). Next Saturday marks the end of my time at Target. That’s right! After almost six years I am changing jobs. Mostly due to the personal crap I do not want to get into, I had to reevaluate a few things and decided that I needed to find a better paying job so I could pay bills and eat. With that new job comes another step – moving into an apartment in the Evansville area. I am excited and nervous about this, but that will pass.

Anyone who knows me will attest to how well I handle change – I don’t. I like my routine and the comfort of that. Setting out into a new job, a new apartment, a new life – all within the span of about a week – sets my anxiety level up a little too high. I’m going to miss all of the friends I made at Target these past six years, but at least I will be living closer and will be more able to go hang out more often. Maybe we can organize a “crazy movie/tv show night.”

Moving forward is one thing. I can do that with my head down as I just barrel through the day. Moving on is a bit harder. I think that is a process that will vary with each individual. I’m just not sure what my process will be, or how long it will take. I am very grateful for all of my friends that have been there to let me vent, kept me distracted, and above all – kept me laughing.

Enough of that! The other positive thing – the one I am the most excited about – is that my book Valley Falls is completed and published. It has been selling fairly well, although it could stand to sell better. Reviews have been positive and those I have talked to really enjoyed it. That warms my heart. So, if you have read it – tell all of your friends to buy it and read it too, and then spread the word. If you haven’t read it – then you need to. It is available on Amazon.com and in eBook formats for the Kindle and the Nook.

Buy it here!

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Last Quote: Thor

Today’s Quote: “No, literally... Tell me what you want me to say! Because, frankly, at this point I got nothing.”

Son of Odin

If you are new to reading anything by me, I’ll be perfectly honest: I’m a comic book fan. That being said, I tend to have a love/hate relationship with comic book inspired movies (as most fans do). Over the past few years I’ve noticed that Marvel has become a movie powerhouse while DC can only manage to keep one franchise alive (Batman). Marvel is creating franchises that crossover and meld together in one unified universe. I love that. I just wish they could get the X-Men and Spiderman back so they could do a major crossover event. Now, while Marvel Films is a powerhouse, the journey has not been easy (how many Hulk reboots do we need?) What solidified their place in the summer blockbuster slot (in my opinion) was the first Iron Man. Favreau created a realistic, tech-based world that was true to the comics, and he followed it up with a solid sequel (that’s almost unheard of!)

Looming on the horizon is The Avengers, but first we have to introduce Captain America and Thor. Here is where I get a little critical. In the comics, Thor is the god of thunder. The reality of the Marvel Universe acknowledges the existence of the Asgardian pantheon of gods, as well as the Greek gods. How are we going to have a crossover into the realistic, science-based world of Tony Stark? So, to say I was skeptical would be an understatement. Let’s be honest, Thor has the potential to completely wreck everything Marvel has been doing with films thus far.

It’s a good thing that Kenneth Branagh had a hell of a vision for this film, and pulled it off beautifully. Thor has all the elements of an epic fantasy as well as the comic book moments (being hit by the same car more than once? Getting tasered? Funny stuff.) The scenes on Asgard and in Jotunheim are visually stunning and stylistic. I think they add to the movie and create a real sense of fantasy contrasted with the “reality” of Earth. Even the explanation of the Asgardians fits in with a tech-based world (although now we have to accept that aliens exist). There is, of course, the requisite setting up for the movie of the century (The Avengers) with some S.H.E.I.L.D. involvement, Nick Fury cameo, and a great cameo from Hawkeye, there is even a mention of Tony Stark. I have no complaints as far as performance goes, Hemsworth was a great Thor. What is Natalie Portman not great in? Anthony Hopkins? Absolutley no complaints there.

My only complaint is that if felt like it should have been two separate movies. The opening, which sets up the back-story and explains why Thor is on Earth, should have been a movie by itself. After his banishment, things felt a little rushed. Thor was sent to our planet to learn humility. This should not be as easily learned as it is in the movie. Ideally, everything after his banishment should have been a separate movie. Then the pacing could have been better and we might have a better feel for a few of the other characters. Why does Jane fall in love with Thor, aside from his obvious physique? Of course there is a romantic interest for Thor here, and we know it’s going to be Natalie Portman, but that shouldn’t mean the relationship should not have some development to it. Do we, the audience, have to do all the work filling in the blanks here?

Don’t let my lofty expectations throw you. The movie is fun, looks brilliant, and has enough cringe worthy moments in battle, and laughable moments to ease the tension to make a perfect Summer movie. I saw it in 3D, which took some adjusting, but I thought it looked really good. It added depth to a lot of the scenes. If that is not your thing, go see it on a regular screen, but whatever you do STAY FOR THE CREDITS. This is now part of the formula for most movies. The easter egg at the end of the credit sequence is partly what we pay for now (and it had better be way cooler than that damn dog from Pirates of the Caribbean). What are you waiting for? Go. Now.


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Last Quote: Red State

Today’s Quote: “You better call it Coulson, cause I'm starting to root for this guy.”

Seeing Red

I don’t often review movie’s I’ve seen in a theater – mainly because I hardly go to a theater anymore. There aren’t many movies I care to see on a big screen while sitting crowded in a tiny chair with a lot of inconsiderate douche-nozzles (that’s right Mr/Mrs I-have-to-text/tweet/talk-on-cell-phone-at-all-times, I’m talking about you). I prefer to wait until DVD where I can watch them at home where the only annoying jackass talking through it will be me.

Cut to yesterday at Clowe’s Memorial Hall at Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana at around 8:00. There I was crammed into a tiny damn seat in a room with no air circulation (this is a larger problem when there is a lot of body mass in a room, and I mean a lot of people.) preparing to watch Red State, the newest movie from my favorite writer/director, Kevin Smith.

Familiar with his work? Throw all of those notions the hell out the window because Red State in vastly different from anything he has ever done. First off, it is a horror movie. I agree with this classification while others online bicker about it. True, there is no real hero, or slasher, or definitive victory but it is still unsettling, uncomfortable, and down right terrifying.

Horror purists my decry this film and demand it be put into some lame category like “psychological thriller” or some such B.S. They look for the typical and the cliché when it comes to “real horror movies.” What they fail to realize is that in Red State the conventional aspects of horror movies have been turned on their head, and in some cases shot in the face. Let’s run down the list of what a horror movie should include: Sex crazed teens (check), creepy family of psychopaths (check) – everything else is just variation on that. Without spoiling the movie, because I do NOT want to do that, here is what is different about the flick.

First, there is no clear cut hero. Usually when you watch a horror movie (especially lately) you can pick out who will live and who will die within the first 10 minutes, maybe less. Forget all that nonsense. Second, there is no music telling you what is going to happen. No score in the background at all. That makes for one unsettling 90 minutes. Music cues tell us when to relax and when to tense up for a scare. None of that either.
Lastly, the movie allows the audience to form multiple opinions on characters. One second a character is deplorable, the next somewhat likeable, and so on. People are like that. We constantly have to assess our impressions of people we meet. Someone that we might click with at first may eventually become the bane of our existence. So, the characters are realistic in that way.

The ending I loved. It might not set well with others, but remember this is Kevin Smith. What the ending does is changes the focus from one character to another, thereby showing how insignificant that other character really was / is.

I’m going to stop now before me inadvertently spoil something. If you want spoilers, you can find them all over the internet, but not here. Instead go see the movie when it hits theaters in October.

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Last Quote: Easy A

Today's Quote: "I fear God. You better believe I fear God."

Not a typical teen movie

I have a list of movie’s I’d like to review; I just never get around to them. I fully intended on writing about Machete, but another movie came along that I enjoyed so much, that I just had to share it.

What movie is this that could make me scratch the plans to talk about a movie that is right up my alley? You’ll be shocked when I say that this movie is not full of gratuitous nudity, gore, absurd death scenes, and gallons of CGI blood.

Easy A is that movie.

Wait! Don’t run away yet! I promise this is worth it.

When I first saw trailers for this flick I was intrigued because it is obviously a modern twist of Nathanial Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter. They put it right there in the open – look at the title. Most of us remember having to read that in high school (some of us had to read it AGAIN in college) and who can forget the awful adaptation starring Demi Moore? So, my love of classic literature commanded that I watch this one.

On the surface it is just another teen movie focusing on high school drama and gossip. Where it differs from other teen movies of late is that this movie is smart. Emma Stone is a convincing wallflower of a girl (Olive) who wants nothing more than to skate through four years of torture unnoticed. Like all of us, she does fantasize about being the focus of attention, but she never really wants it. Then, the spotlight of the entire school is on her due to one lie leading to another lie that then spreads around school. Soon, she’s the school slut and the target of a laughable group of religious students.

Here is where the character wins me over. She embraces the gossip and decides to give them something to talk about. She embroiders large red “A”s on a new wardrobe consisting of provocative, lowcut tops. In typical teen movie fashion, things spiral out of her control and she longs to be the unknown she once was.

Blah blah blah, right? Wrong. I said this was a smart movie didn’t I? Here is where it shows it. The movie has no pretense of being anything more than it is. The writers were not above even mentioning this fact. Olive does this via her narration with witty segment titles that summarize what is going to happen. How many classic books have chapter titles the do that very thing? I’ve lost count. She lists movies that depict high school life falsely, and pines about how she wises they were true. They are all John Hughes films!

Here is a movie that is obviously following in the footsteps of Hughes and they make sure to point it out, complete with clips. Of course, the major punch line is at the end when all of those scenes are combined. I won’t go into too much detail but it involves a boom box (sort of), a lawnmower, and throwing a fist in the air (Judd Nelson did it before those Jersey Shore douches and their fist pumping shit).

All the while, the movie whips a little message at you. Just beneath the sarcasm, cynicism, angst, innuendo, and humor is some truth. Kids gossip. About anything. All the time. That aspect of the movie reminded me more of “Much Ado About Nothing”. Shakespeare and Hawthorne in one movie? Awesome in my book. This was the most enjoyable teen movie I’ve seen in a long time (going back to Can’t Hardly Wait and American Pie.) Hit it up on Netflix, Redbox, Blockbuster, or wherever you get movies and watch this one!

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Last Quote: A Team

Today’s Quote: “We've had nine classes together since Kindergarten... ten if you count Religion of Other Cultures, which you didn't because you called it science fiction and refused to go.”

A-Team

What child of the 80s is unfamiliar with the A-Team? Not a one, I hope. Mr. T was an ever-present character throughout my childhood what with cartoons, toys, movie appearances, tv shows, etc… When I first heard of an A-Team movie I was skeptical. Would they try to make it a serious movie (that didn’t work for Miami Vice) or go over-the-top with campiness (like, say, Starsky and Hutch). The entire fate of this film rested with that small decision. Thankfully the writers found some middle ground that made the movie entertaining and enjoyable. The nostalgia factor didn’t hurt either.

First thing people will notice is the cast. Liam Neeson and Bradley Cooper are two big names in movies. Neeson is always a draw and (I believe) can nail any performance. Cooper is more of a draw now they he was probably five years ago (thank you Hangover). These two carry the movie.

Supporting them is Sharlto Copley (District 9) as Howling Mad Murdoch, and Quinton Jackson as B.A. Murdoch is utterly insane and adds enough levity to the movie to keep people in stitches. Jackson (in my not-so-humble opinion) was dead on as B.A., Mohawk and all.

Like any remake the writers updated the story to today’s world and political climate. Instead of Vietnam, the war is in Iraq. The story is pretty much the back story of how this team of war heroes were disgraced, discharged, framed, and arrested. While those of us who watched the show remember them being a “guns for hire” team that helped people, there is none of that in the movie. Instead it focuses on Hannibal’s plans to clear their names and get reinstated in the army.

I don’t want to spoil it for anyone, so I’ll stop now. One cool thing they did was end the movie with the opening sequence and voice over from the original show. Do they plan a sequel? I hope so!

Don’t expect a great movie that will leave your brain hurting, this isn’t Inception. A-Team is just a good bit of mindless fun full of explosions and plot twists. Give it a chance, you might be surprised.



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Last Quote: Scott Pilgrim vs the World

Today's Quote: "I believe that no matter how random things may appear, there's still a plan. "