Author Archive
Oh Thank God! ‘World War Z’ Could be Back on Track
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It was recently reported via Slashfilm that A) the could be zombie movie World War Z could be out of money and hence out of luck and B) World War Z has been talked about by Paramount execs as a potential project. Basically, ignore A… Anyway, the story goes that the film, set to be directed by Marc Foster and starring Brad Pitt, has been set up to be made for some time but the logistics behind a massive, globe spanning story complete with epic zombie battles have proven a major hurdle. To make matters worse the funding needed may only be recouped after release if the rating is lowered to the dreaded PG-13, which, as referenced in the Slashfilm articles, has already been cleared.
Spielberg and Robots, Together Again — Soon Anyway
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A little while back I read a few articles talking about Steven Spielberg directing a project called Robopocalypse; my initial reaction (based purely on the title and the fact that I am not the biggest Spielberg fan) was to laugh and disregard the film as a flimsy excuse to make stuff blow up. However, not too long ago I was graced with an advanced copy of the Daniel H. Wilson novel on which the film will be based. Now I am very excited to see the film come alive. Like Max Brooks’ zombie novel World War Z, Wilson chronicles the events of the robot uprising after the birth of AI (artificial intelligence). As a robotic engineer he is able to construct a time line of events that makes much more sense than a brash all out brawl with humanity right off the bat. These indeed are thinking machines.
Sam’s Review: ‘Gnomeo and Juliet’ is an Enjoyable Adaptation
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GRADE: B
Mid-February, for some reason, is supposed to be all romantic. I get it, Valentine’s Day and all, but really? It’s cold, wet and grey and not very enjoyable outside! Basically, it’s perfect weather to retreat to a movie theater for a few hours. And if you have a honey to snuggle up with I’d recommend checking out the new 3D CGI comedy Gnomeo and Juliet. Yes, you could disregard my advice and go see the new Adam Sandler/Jennifer Aniston rom-com, but let’s be real here, why take that chance? Why not get exactly what you expect from a movie based on Romeo and Juliet but played out by different colored garden gnomes? James McAvoy and Emily Blunt bring the star crossed lovers to life with dignity and heart and the supporting cast is worth the price of admission as well. Ozzy Osbourne and Patrick Stewart both provide ample laughs playing a fawn and William Shakespeare respectively. Still don’t think it’s worth it? Hit the jump for three reasons why you should see this film.
Netflix This: ‘The X-Files — The Unnatural’
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Usually when we tell you to Netflix This on The Movie Mash, we tell you to watch a whole movie or recommend a series from the first episode, and trust me, you should listen to us, we know what we’re talking about. But this time I’m going to do things a little differently. Asking you to watch all of The X-Files is an admittedly tall order; it ran for 9 seasons (!) after all. So, to save you a bit of trouble I am going to recommend The Unnatural, in my opinion, the best episode of the entire series. It is the nineteenth episode of the sixth season and falls under the category of episodes known as a “Monster of the Week” so there is no fear of spoilers.
How to Watch Movies: Mise-en-scène Analysis and ‘The Fall’
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How to Watch Movies is a series of articles designed to help our readers get the most out of their movie watching experience. I find that I get the most enjoyment from films when I take the time to really appreciate the deeper levels of the movie. I hope the advice and methods that I give you can help you enjoy the movies you watch even more.
Tarsem and ‘Immortals’ is Set for Next Fall
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Finally! Collider reported an epic release date has been set for Tarsem Singh’s latest film Immortals. It will hit theaters on November 11, 2011 (11/11/11). The visionary director of The Cell and The Fall has taken on Greek myth in his tale of Theseus teaming up with the gods to battle the titans for the fate of mankind. This is a rather grandiose departure from his previous feature films as they both focused on the workings of unhealthy minds and were, for the most part, character studies. Regardless, Tarsem’s attention to detail and emphasis on breathtaking visuals should translate well to another boundless theater, that of mythology. Starring Mickey Rourke, John Hurt, Henry Cavill and Freida Pinto, Immortals seems on track to be Tarsem’s biggest film yet.
Frank Miller Working On ‘Xerxes,’ A Sequel to ‘300’
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Recently it was reported (via Collider) that Frank Miller (of Sin City and The Spirit fame) is working on his graphic novel follow up to 300 titled Xerxes. Where 300 followed Leonidas, King of Sparta, and his warriors as they held a superior force of Persians at bay, Xerxes will chronicle the life of the enemy warlord and tell the story of his campaign to conquer all of Greece. Don’t be worried though, we will have a Greek hero to root for, Themistocles. A great leader in his own right, Themistocles was responsible for building the navy that helped keep the Persians from flanking the Spartan defensive in 300, a historical fact that was all but ignored in the 2006 film. Per usual, movie news such as this has me both excited and apprehensive. First let’s look at the good stuff.
Netflix This: ‘Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog’
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Okay, I admit, I’ve been on a Joss Whedon kick recently. I just finished watching two of his best shows (Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Firefly) and started up Angel. Joss is a master of his craft. His stories are great, his characters are deep, and everything looks amazing. I really hope he comes back to television again because I’m running out of shows! But, if he decides to stick with movies, it would be nice if he gave us a few more web comics. Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog is some of the most fun you can have watching… anything.
Sam’s Blizzard Movie Survival Kit
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After the whole buried under the snow, dome collapse, winter nightmare, I got to thinking: what makes a good winter weather movie? A movie that you can watch when you really cannot leave the house. Should they be set in warm climates or cold ones? Do holiday movies make more sense? Should they be comedic and light-hearted in order to lift the sunless gloom or long and epic to draw you in so you leave the outside world behind? Saturday night, the night of the blizzard, I watched Harry and the Hendersons with my roommate and realized how much I missed that movie. Any Lord of the Rings films carry a certain winter feel for me, mostly because for three years those were my Christmas night movies. Really it comes down to personal preference and whatever your current mood may be, but I’m going to peruse my DVD collection and compile my Blizzard Survival Kit movies.
Joss Whedon’s ‘Firefly’: A Bright, Shining Gem
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A little while back I posted an article about television auteurs, visionary producer/writer/directors that create shows because they have their passion, even if the show doesn’t last. Talking about Bryan Fuller specifically, three of his brain children died young (Dead Like Me, Pushing Daisies and Wonderfalls) all amazing shows, all cancelled early. There is a much more successful example in Joss Whedon, creator of such amazing shows as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel and the web show of awesome, Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog. Each show has amazing writing, fantastic production values and more imagination than you could shake a stick at, and because of all of this, they were very well received. However, for this article, I will focus on one of Whedon’s “failure”, Firefly. Mind you, I use the term loosely, and only to describe the length of its run.
