You Should Keep Your Eyes On These Movies: April Edition
Hardcore Henry (April 8th)
Let’s face it, folks: we aren’t getting Crank 3. I am sad about that fact, but we must have faith that such a kinetic style of action filmmaking will be carried on by others. And behold, we have been blessed with Hardcore Henry. It’s a film that takes place entirely from the perspective of the protagonist, Henry, as he punches, shoots and parkours his way through a bunch of guys ready for the meat grinder. Sharlto Copley plays your hype man and brother-in-arms, which I’m hoping will bring a freshness to the proceedings that might seem tiresome over the course of ninety minutes. And I have a feeling I will be exhausted by the end of this roller coaster. Just make sure you’re not the queasy type.
The Jungle Book (April 15th)
You know what? I don’t think I have ever seen the animated The Jungle Book. Yes, mock me, but I think it’s a testament to the marketing, effects and directing of this live-action adaptation that intrigues me. Jon Favreau has had success before with Elf, Zathura and Iron Man (less-so with Iron Man 2) which aimed to entertain the entire family and I am here to say THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT. As much as I praise dumb action movies or grotesque horror fare, there is something very comforting about a well-directed family film. Sometimes you need to escape the escapism. Um. Uh. Can we be real for a second? The talking animals freak me out. I can’t do this anymore.
Elvis & Nixon (April 22nd)
From animated animals (*shutters*) to Michael Shannon (and I’m better!), we have a weird one: Elvis & Nixon. The film apparently chronicles the meeting between Elvis Presley and President Richard Nixon in which “the King” requests that he be sworn in as an undercover agent in the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs. If that’s not weird enough, the casting is odd. Shannon is a strange choice for Presley and Kevin Spacey doesn’t seem to be doing a Nixon impression. There seems to be enough material here for an SNL skit. The trailer lacks a certain push for me to see this movie. However, Michael Shannon is in this film. As Elvis Presley. And his head of security is played by Johnny Knoxville. That’s enough for me.
Green Room (April 29th) (Limited Release: April 15th)
Yeah, Scotty versus Captain Picard! That’s right, if Scotty was a punk rocker, Captain Picard was a white supremacist and they were trapped in the holodeck with You’re Next playing cranked up to eleven, that is what Green Room would be. And that’s nice, because the rest of the films releasing this month just don’t give you that pit in your stomach. So don’t go to this movie expecting a happy time, because you ain’t going to get it. I had to drag Star Trek into my description so that I didn’t feel like hating myself for the rest of the night just thinking about watching it. But dang it, it’s probably going to be pretty good. *sigh*
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How much do you know about Dolph Lundgren? How much of the six-and-a-half foot tall Swede’s filmography have you seen? Is it just Rocky IV? Did you know he was film’s first Punisher? Did you know he was in a buddy cop film with Brandon Lee? And could you imagine that he portrayed He-Man in the Masters of the Universe adaptation? Well, buckle up because we (myself) will be watching every film (some are very shitty) that has Mr. Lundgren as a credit, even if they are just cameos.
The first film will be A View to a Kill (1985), which has Dolph Lundgren appearing in a very minor role as a KGB henchmen beside Roger Moore’s James Bond. I will review the film as is and then look at the “Lundgren” factor. I will figure out if his inclusion helps or hinders the film, what kind of place his career was in, notable trivia involving the man, etc. Ultimately, I want to experience his film career in as linear fashion as possible, warts and all. So be sure to keep your eyes here, watch along if you are curious and read my reactions to what is sure to be a bumpy ride through this man’s lengthy career.
Terrence Malick does what he want and that what he do in Knight of Cups. It stars Christian Bale alongside Cate Blanchett, Natalie Portman, Antonio Banderas and Brian Dennehy. The film seems to follow the goings-on of a screenwriter as he interacts with various characters in his life. Some of these relationships are good and some of these relationships are bad, resulting in an awakening of sorts for the main character to find his place in the world. Seem vague? Well, that’s because I’ve always felt like Malick makes films that should feel personal but not necessarily to the audience. I would be doing him a disservice by explaining the plot in any further detail, because that doesn’t seem to be what this film is about. Just go out expecting to see a talented cast in the hands of a director that may or may not have your viewing pleasure in mind.
10 Cloverfield Lane (March 11th)
Over the very short time between its reveal and its upcoming release, there has been some concern growing about this film. The main one being the fact that 10 Cloverfield Lane might not even be a sequel to 2008′s Cloverfield. Now, we aren’t going to know for sure until the film releases, but I’m becoming more open to the idea of it as a “blood relative”, as J.J. Abrams has described it. The idea of the Cloverfield name becoming a connective tissue for a series of Twilight Zone-like features is worrisome. However, if they were to do a straightforward sequel to Cloverfield, it would most likely be dull.
Cloverfield was a self-contained story that combined found footage, kaiju monsters and rich yuppies. 10 Cloverfield Lane seems to be none of that. You get John Goodman shaking his butt, Mary Elizabeth Winstead being all worried like she does best and a mysterious entity or disaster that may or may not have left the outside world a horrible, nightmarish place. Yet why does my sense of anticipation and need for answers feel so familiar for both? Here’s to hoping they stick the landing.
Midnight Special (March 18th)
Michael Shannon is a cool m***erf***er. You could put him into any movie or television show and immediately give it a sense of caged intensity that you’re not sure you feel comfortable with, but you are nonetheless intrigued by. His eyes are crazy but his voice is calm. He’s a man who seems to have it together and could blow up at any given moment. It’s almost as if he is contradiction personified. All this and he’ll make you laugh harder than you have ever laughed in your entire life. This isn’t a recommendation of Midnight Special so much as my complete endorsement that you watch everything that Michael Shannon is in. It just so happens that he is in Midnight Special.
Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice (March 25th)
Michael Shannon can also be seen in Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, which already makes it a win in my book. If you need more convincing, perhaps Jesse Eisenberg’s eccentric Lex Luthor will lure you to the theater? Maybe a droll Jeremy Irons as Alfred Pennyworth? Why have I yet to mention an Amazonian princess, a dark knight and a god among men, you say? If the trailers are anything to be believed, they seem to have no life to them.
On the flip side, I’ve heard the film is getting solid early reactions. Apparently, Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman steals the show away from the man in blue and the man in black. We get to see Batman and Superman (in one fashion or another) finally square off. The fanboy in me wants to be happy with this, even if certain characters and events surrounding that conflict make me nervous. At the very least, I hope I’m not bored for long during its two-and-a-half hour runtime. Oh, and it’s probably a good idea to use the bathroom beforehand. You’re welcome.
Countdown to Ultron: Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Captain America: The Winter Soldier is a film that promised to shake up the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It promised not only to shake up the MCU story-wise, but to change the way superhero films are perceived by the masses. Marvel doubled down on the political thriller aspect for this film, and for the most part, they succeed.
The gist of the story is as follows: Steve Rogers slips back into the role of soldier as he leads covert operations for S.H.I.E.L.D., but he starts to notice things that don’t add up about his latest mission. When he finds himself on the run because of a conspiracy that tears the security organization apart, he is hunted down by an assassin that no one believes exists and is tied to Rogers’ past. He is only known as the Winter Soldier.
The Winter Soldier is an action movie first and foremost. This is one of its biggest strengths. Without the godly powers of Thor, Iron Man’s powersuits or Hulk’s brute strength, things seem oddly grounded for a film about a super soldier versus a super assassin. Captain America dishes out the beatings with his trusty vibranium shield, which I’m still not sure works with any kind of consistency besides it hurts a lot. The Winter Soldier proves himself such a badass at times, I forget that he’s the bad guy and I probably shouldn’t be rooting for him. Everybody, on both sides, gets a nice hero moment and it’s great.
The film’s biggest weakness lies in Steve Rogers’ connection with the Winter Soldier. Now, at this point, if you don’t know the Winter Soldier’s true identity, you were either very good at avoiding this movie’s marketing campaign or you just hadn’t watched The First Avenger. The Winter Soldier is Cap’s old friend, Bucky Barnes, brought back from the dead after GETTING THROWN OUT OF A SPEEDING TRAIN AND FALLING DOWN A MOUNTAIN. His memory was erased and has been tasked with hunting down his former ally.
What is wrong with this is not the emotional connection between the two soldiers, but the lack of screen time given to making this plotline effective. They throw in one flashback scene where Bucky says a line so that Steve can say it back to him at the climax of the film. The performances are nice, but it feels cheap. It almost makes me feel like there was an earlier draft of the script with more flashback scenes between the two that would have allowed this film to stand alone as a story. But I can only imagine there was a studio note where they said this film needed to stay in the present as much as possible. I mean, the film is called The Winter Soldier, so maybe we could be given a better reason why the movie was given this title?
Besides some missed opportunities with the titular characters, the supporting cast is well-represented. Sam Jackson does his Sam Jackson thing, providing a consistent backbone to the proceedings. Anthony Mackie as the Falcon brings some fresh air into the room, playing well off Chris Evans as a fellow soldier and friend. Robert Redford does a serviceable job in his villainous role, but he’s not going to stick in your mind once the credits roll. Scarlett Johansson’s acting ranges wildly from a smarmy, sexy charm to awkward dork to blankly staring into the void. It looks like she completely forgets what she should be doing in a scene and has to reboot. It’s a little odd. But we find some dirty gum stuck to the bottom of our shoe in the form of Maximiliano Hernandez’s annoying Jasper Sitwell and Garry Shandling’s gross Senator Stern. These characters could have been left out and we would have all been better off for it.
If you are looking for a blockbuster action film to watch on a Friday night, you could do a lot worse than Captain America: The Winter Soldier. It brings a nice comfortable feeling that any movie from Marvel will give you. There are some things that won’t make sense to you and lines that are so cheesy that you will feel like you’ve died and gone to cinema hell. Don’t worry, though; that next explosion or well-choreographed fistfight will make you forget all about it.
Thor: The Dark World reunites us with some of our favorite cosmic Marvel characters: Thor, the loveable hunk of a god who yearns for true love; Loki, the tragic trickster who is as charming as he is deceitful; and Odin, the All-Father that rules with a tough, but fair, hand. They face a foe that threatens to throw existence back into darkness. This foe, however, also threatens your enjoyment of this film.
The original Thor had a simple premise that worked well and that was a fish-out-of-water story about a god that learns humility. Add to that a brother that feels (rightly) betrayed about his birthright and a human lady that can’t help but fall in love with an attractive god from another plane of existence and you got a surprisingly good summer blockbuster. It was a bridge to the cosmic side of the universe, one which paved the way for the excellent Guardians of the Galaxy.
To boil it down even further, it was about relationships. Thor is banished by his father because he’s too brash and drawn to war. Loki can’t stand that Thor would become king over him and cannot believe that Odin would keep such an important secret such as the truth about his birth away from him. And the brotherly bond that the two would-be future kings of Asgard have torn apart in the process. But with this tragedy, Thor makes meaningful connections with the people of Midgard, specifically Earth, that he thought he never would have. There’s a rewarding emotional arc with the characters that makes Thor a great summer film.
A sequel should amplify what made the first film great and move the story along, as long as that story is worth telling. It’s at this point I should probably say I didn’t much care for the romance between Jane Foster and Thor. It’s pleasant enough, but I never thought they had good chemistry onscreen. Natalie Portman doesn’t give a bad performance by any means. However, you can’t force something like that. With the way that their relationship ties into the villain’s scheme in The Dark World, it is emphasized that maybe Thor SHOULD be with Lady Sif.
There’s no meaningful connection to the villain in this movie. He is simply a means of moving our main characters from Point A to Point B. His minions wouldn’t be too far off from something that you would see in Star Wars. They have energy blasters and wormhole grenades. They fly around in spaceships. It all strikes a weird tone for the look of the movie. Anything that deals with them alone for any portion of the film drags down the pacing. At its best, it makes the movie feel like a monster-of-the-week TV show.
There are shining moments in the darkness, however. Zachary Levi replaces Joshua Dallas as Fandral and makes wonderful use of very little screen time. Stellan Skarsgard finds some quirky energy as Erik Selvig after being mentally unstable in the aftermath of The Avengers. Tom Hiddleston still finds ways to make you feel that there’s still good in Loki and bounces well off Chris Hemsworth. And what can I say about Hemsworth? He easily slips back into the role and makes you believe he’s still worthy of being a god.
It’s unfortunate that Thor: The Dark World was saddled with a wet blanket of a villain. It’s a blow that the movie can’t quite recover from and that’s a shame. Some nice character work does rear its head, making the movie not a complete waste of time. It also ends on a nice note that makes sense for everyone involved. As of now, though, it is the weakest installment of the Phase 2.
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Iron Man 3 had a lot to prove when it came out two years ago. The first solo film after the monumental Avengers, it was tough to deny that the bar had been raised and Phase 2 had its work cut out for it. So to kick off this new phase with an Iron Man film seems appropriate. What we got was something just left of center and I would say the film is better for it.
Robert Downey Jr. has been able to craft exactly what makes the character of Tony Stark interesting; he has a loud mouth and louder actions. In this movie, his toys are taken away for a chunk of the film and forces him to be creative when battling baddies. This was a smart move, because if the whole film was just him fighting enemies wearing his suit, it would get old. His interactions with the other characters in the film also enlighten facets of his personality: he warmly bickers with Pepper, gets irritating little brother vibes from a spunky kid and is annoyingly chummy with Rhodey. There’s a lot for RDJ to do here and he makes it look easy. For all we know, it probably is.
The supporting cast is a great compliment to the Iron Man himself. Gwyneth Paltrow shows a patient warmth like always, but she’s given some time in the suit and some anger issues to work through at the end of the film that help her from falling into the damsel-in-distress routine. Don Cheadle plays matter-of-fact military type well with a little snark that is bound to happen from being friends with a smarmy billionaire. It feels like he has made himself more comfortable in this installment.
As the newcomers are introduced, everybody finds a place and settles in. Guy Pearce is a strange mirror of Downey Jr.’s performance that has all of the wit without the heart. But in a good way. Rebecca Hall is given little to do here in the grand scheme of things and, unfortunately, there’s not a lot you are going to remember about her once the film is over. Hell, even the characters don’t seem to remember her at the end. Last but not least, Ben Kingsley as the Mandarin is played as elaborate window dressing, but it’s very intentional. Even though the movie has been out for almost two years now, I won’t spoil the twist concerning the character, but you will either love it or hate it. I have fallen on the side of “Love it!” because taking the film as a whole, it would be weird if they had played it out to its obvious conclusion. This film is a little too quirky for that to be the case.
If you came to a Marvel film for the action, you will not be disappointed. IM3 upholds this tradition with some inventive uses of the suit and some creative situations outside of the suit. The important thing the film doesn’t forget is that it is an extension of the main character. There is rarely a scene in the movie that is completely serious. The film always finds a way to add a touch of humor to the proceedings, no matter what the stakes are. Without this humor, it wouldn’t feel like an Iron Man film.
The story of Iron Man 3 is... not really there. There’s a scheme by a rich guy to take revenge on another rich guy because assholes beget assholes. Oh, and world domination. Tony Stark has some anxiety issues from The Avengers that he gets over. Is that really a character arc? The whole “What is Iron Man without the suit?” is a nice question to ask, but it doesn’t play out to any satisfaction. Ultimately, it’s a summer blockbuster with a loud mouth and louder actions. That’s what I think I like about it. Also, this will be a great addition to Die Hard and Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang for your Christmas movie marathons. You’re welcome.
It Follows is a horror film that preys on fears of intimacy and anxiety. So you can imagine my trepidation when I found myself the sole patron of the screening that I attended. But I had committed, paid the price both figuratively and literally to be there. And so the lights went down and the sound was turned up. The film started. In intervals of ten minutes, I would look behind me to make sure there was no one else in the theater with me. I was alone. There was nothing to do but watch the film.
And you know what? It was one of the best experiences that I’ve had in a theater in a long time. It’s not the tent-pole blockbuster that punches you in the face with its spectacle, but the sneaking devil that comes from behind and stabs you in the heart. Figuratively, of course. And, at the risk of sounding like someone who has no life (SPOILERS: It’s true), I didn’t want anyone else there to unload my fear off onto about what the film was trying to tell me, even if what I was being told wasn’t pleasant.
The film concerns Jay, a college student that is seeing a guy she likes. After a strange interaction, they have sex. Then the guy drugs Jay and ties her to a wheelchair in an abandoned parking structure. This is to prove to Jay that the curse that he has passed on to her is real and very dangerous. But the thing is, he doesn’t lose it; he’s just “shared” it with her. He drops her off at her home and apologizes. The rest of the film follows Jay trying to rid herself of this curse, but finds it is not as simple as it seems.
From a technical perspective, this film is great. The film invokes the work of John Carpenter in both its use of wide lenses and the synthesizer. There’s something about the synthesizer that works extremely well for horror because of its artificial nature and its sharp tones. More than once, the soundtrack will completely envelope the film and let you stew in your own little hell for a moment before throwing you into the tense situation at hand.
As for the actors, I feel that they all play the parts they are given well. The standout being, of course, Maika Monroe as Jay. At the beginning of the film, we see that she is a fairly laid-back girl that seems happy, but as the movie progresses, her eyes show the exhausting terror that weighs on her mind. She is definitely befitting of the title “scream queen” of anyone else who has popularized that term.
It Follows is a horror film that I think transcends its genre while being very true to what has come before. The stark contrast of rebooted horror franchises that had trailers before this film moving to jump scares and disturbing imagery when It Follows is a modern reconstruction of old horror techniques on something I find very personal is incredible. It is a film that has stuck with me since I watched it and I don’t feel like it’s going anywhere any time soon.
This week on The Outer Frame Podcast, Jason and Donny lament Josh's absence, but the show must go on! We discuss Mallrats 2: Die Hard in a Mall, 7 Fast 7 Furious, what we watched, what film protagonist we would like to see turn evil and, finally, John Ford's The Quiet Man. We had fun recording it, so we hope you have fun listening!
This week on The Outer Frame Podcast, we try to make sense of all this Neill Blomkamp business and discuss the Oscars, Eddie Redmayne, House of Cards and Crossroads(?!). Throwing fear of sounding sexist to the wind, we discuss strong female roles and what they can bring to film that men can't. Thankfully, these three white dudes are joined by friend of the show, Alex Wride, who shares her thoughts on the film of the week, Kingsman: The Secret Service. We hope you enjoy it!
I have to give credit to the marketing department at Marvel. From the Avengers: AoU trailers, I don't really know how the movie will be structured or the finer points of the character arcs. The action seems okay, but the trailers have jumbled up the scenes in such a way that doesn't let you create a clear picture in your mind after the fact. Set pieces, aside from one that involves Metal Man and the Gentle Green Giant (I could literally be talking about any of the action scenes now that I've read that back), are not completely ruined by giving away the punchline. At least, I hope not.
With the latest trailer releasing just a day ago, which I hear shows off a lot, it's a good time to decide which path you will take. Are you going to block out everything Avengers: Age of Ultron or are you going to hide under a rock? Do you want to be a part of the conversation or the person who covers their eyes and ears every time someone walks into the room wearing a Marvel shirt?
What's the point? It's coming out in less than two months. It'll be here before you know it. Even if you have watched everything up to now, stop. Go cold turkey. Free your mind of a film that you are probably going to enjoy. Over-saturation will not do you any good, especially if you are one of the crazy people who are going to attend the 29-hour marathon that will be happening at certain theater chains around the country. I say "crazy" because I can't imagine wanting to watch Avengers after watching a marathon of mostly boring movies. THERE, I SAID IT. Actually, the idea of doing a double feature of the first Avengers and Age of Ultron sounds very interesting, just to see if they even work independently from the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
I hope that you and I have a fun time watching Avengers: Age of Ultron. I really do. You can't take back the first time you experience a film and I'm going to try to keep my experience pure. Because if there's one thing I hate more than anything while I'm in the theater, it's waiting for the next cool scene that has been spoiled in the trailer.
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Here are the news stories that I found to be the most fascinating this week. Warning: The last story involves me ranting about Fifty Shades and how stupid I think it is.
Neill Blomkamp To Direct Alien 5
Well, it's official: we have two pretentious filmmakers making Alien-related films. Now, sometimes, pretentious isn't always bad. In fact, if you know that something or someone is pretentious before you encounter them, it can be quite entertaining. However, if that pretentious nature spills into a beloved franchise, such as the Alien series, it can sour the mood. And between Ridley Scott and Neill Blomkamp, there is enough hot air to fill a balloon suitable for transportation.
Considering I believe Elysium and Prometheus are on the same level of messy blockbuster, I don't know what Blomkamp can bring with a new Alien film. The concept art that he intentionally leaked doesn't fill me with too much hope, even if Sigourney Weaver is involved. And I love me some Sigourney Weaver. All I can say is if this is the way we can get Sharlto Copley to play the new android or company man, I'm willing to make sacrifices.
New Friday The 13th Film Will Not Be Found Footage
I am not a Friday The 13th fan. I can, however, appreciate what they do and what they do is have a man in a hockey mask walk around and kill stupid teenagers. Now, what they don't do is have a character hold a camcorder the entire time that they are being chased by Jason, the series' hero/villain. And thankfully, after some false reports, that tradition will continue to remain non-shaky. Whether or not this new film will shed new light on the Jason Voorhees character is still up in the air. Also, it is unclear if this will be a follow-up to the 2009 reboot. Personally, I think they should go full-Jason X and do the most ridiculous shit they can think of. Because as bad as Jason X was, at least it had some heart...and wasn't set at a summer camp.
Kodi Smit-McPhee Will Play Young Nightcrawler In X-Men: Apocalypse
Fox's Marvel Cinematic Universe kicked into high gear with the release of X-Men: Days of Future Past last year. Whereas Sony gambled and lost with their attempt to establish a film universe WITH ONE CHARACTER, we now have a bevy of X-Men films on the way that will (supposedly) cross over with the upcoming Fantastic Four crew.
And now with a new youthful cast, Fox can sign on actors for a lifetime of comic book films. The latest victor/victim of this blessing/curse: Kodi Smit-McPhee. The actor, last seen in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, will play the German-born mutant, Nightcrawler. It is unclear if the character will retain his heritage for Apocalypse, but with the recasting of Colossus, there seems to be hope that the series will be more diverse going forward. Regarding the actor himself, I am not excited nor disappointed. Kodi is like the Sam Worthington of kid actors to me, but with some direction, I'm sure a good performance can be coaxed out of him.
Jared Leto Will Gain Weight To Play The Joker In Suicide Squad
Gaining or losing weight for a role is nothing out of the ordinary. Christian Bale lost almost a third of his body weight for The Machinist, rendering himself a living skeleton. Chris Pratt got unfat and quite muscular for his star-making role as Star Lord for Guardians of the Galaxy (even though we now know that he could have easily NOT have lost the weight and still landed the role). And now, Jared Leto is going to transform himself for his new role.
Jared Leto's role as The Joker for the upcoming Suicide Squad film, which will release in Fall 2016, has him taking actions that would seem strange for the Clown Prince of Crime. Leto is trying to GAIN weight. The Joker has been portrayed as a gangly mess most of the time in the comic books and I haven't seen him as a burly bruiser (outside of some very strange situations), so I'm a little confused. Are we getting a fat Joker? Will he just be pudgy, perhaps a clown that indulges from time to time with his ill-gotten riches? We'll have plenty of time to learn what this interpretation will bring us, but I can only hope that Leto's description of The Joker as a "beautiful disaster" lives up to the quality of great depictions of the character from the past.
Fifty Shades Writer E.L. James Wants to Pen Next Film In Franchise
Alright, I'll be honest: I'm not really an expert on this franchise. A mysterious rich and handsome man. A timid but curious college girl. BDSM. Oh and let's not forget that it's BASED OFF TWILIGHT FAN FICTION! Sorry for the outburst, but let's face it, that's not stated nearly enough for how popular this series has gotten. Essentially, I have no place for either Twilight or Fifty Shades in my head because I already have Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Secretary, respectively. Also, this is a good time for me to pose this question: If you are a fan of Fifty Shades, have you seen Secretary? If you have, why are you still a Fifty Shades fan?
Obviously, I'm trying to prod at something that's very popular and I just don't get it. That's clear and people can like what they like. However you want to get your hardcore erotica is none of my business. But by that measure, shouldn't you be watching actual porn instead of this film adaptation? On second thought, don't answer that.
This week, it was reported that E.L. James, the author of the Fifty Shades Trilogy, was discussing with the studio the possibility of writing the script for the two follow-up film adaptations. This sounds sensible considering the books are so popular and it would mean the films would, in theory, be more faithful to the source material. But why? The first movie was written by Kelly Marcel, someone who has done uncredited rewrites for 2009's Bronson. Bronson is one of my favorite movies, so anyone who had something to do with that is alright in my book. So, cool, let her keep writing these. The point of a film adaptation is that you form it for that particular medium, mold the story to suit the needs of the presentation. And any degree of separation from TWILIGHT FAN FICTION that you can get is better than the actual person who has gotten rich off writing TWILIGHT FAN FICTION adapt the screenplay. Let the movies do their own thing, whatever that may be. And I'll continue to be befuddled by why it has made a quarter-million more than its budget. Also, just go watch Secretary.
Disclaimer: This author has written fan fiction before and has lived in shame every day since then.
Matthew Vaughn has a pretty spectacular track record so I had high hopes going into Kingsman: The Secret Service and I wasn't totally disappointed. The film is a mixture of spy comedy and violence that works for the most. Unfortunately the two hour run time could be cut down and the film doesn't run quite as far as I was hoping. Overall Kingsman is an enjoyable fun riff on the James Bond formula.
The plot follows Eggsy (Taron Egerton) as a young drop out who is drafted into a Bond-like spy agency. Harry Hart (Colin Firth) is his instructor who helps him learn the ways of the gentleman spy. Richmond Valentine (Samuel L. Jackson) is the over the top villain who wants to destroy the world. This tongue in cheek origin story is fun enough. Sadly the plot created in this world isn't worthy of it's environment. The secret service agency gets set up in the first half of the film but the second half isn't quite up to par.
The highlight of the film for me was Samuel L. Jackson. He embodies the ridiculousness of the "bond villain." He's demented, over the top, and hilarious. Watching a mass murderer who can't stand the sight of blood brings a great sense of comedy to the role. Firth and Egerton are both fun to watch and have great chemistry together. Unfortunately too much of the plot and acting revolve around "look at what crazy thing Firth and Jackson will do next!" Cutting down on the origin story and taking away a lot of Egerton's training montage would've helped the film's pace and made the comedic beats more entertaining.
The action and fast paced camera work are one of the film's biggest advantages. One scene in particular involving Firth is full of amazing stunt work and flashy shots to satisfy any action junkie. Unfortunately the action isn't frequent enough although when it is happening it's HAPPENING. For a film called The Secret Service too much of the film is spent showing Egerton getting into the secret service and not enough of him doing cool spy things.
All in all Kingsman works. While it's a little slow and not quite extreme enough for someone like me who was expecting the Kick-Ass of spy movies it's a little light. The films runs a little long and is dry in parts however over all the cast and action make Kingsman worthwhile. It's a smart, funny, action packed send up of the bond film.
The second installment of The Outer Frame Podcast is here!!! This week we discuss the latest news on the upcoming Evil Dead TV series, Spider-Man joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the Saturday Night Live documentary Live From New York! We also dish about which two movie characters would make the best buddy cop duo. Then, once we express our feelings on what we watched since last podcast (Spoiler: John Wick is pretty good and you should watch it.), we delve into the 1997 B-movie Cube, which inspires a spectrum of opinions from the three of us. Enjoy!
In case you missed it, Jason, Josh and myself have recorded and released our first podcast! Listen to us jabber on about our favorite news stories from last week, what we've watched recently, our thoughts on the best use of CGI in film and a discussion on Richard Linklater's School of Rock. We hope you enjoy!
Time Stamps:
0:00 - Intro
0:47 - Fantastic Four Trailer Discussion (Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxIldZcUuCk)
5:30 - Mission: Impossible 5 Gets Moved Up to Summer 2015 (Link: http://screenrant.com/mission-impossible-5-new-release-date-2015/)
11:58 - What We Watched This Week
24:10 - Question of the Week: What is the best use of CGI in a live-action film?
Now, before you start to weep (or come after me with your internet knives), know that this had to happen. Probably about four movies ago. As much sarcasm that I have laid upon the paragraph above, I will defend the first Resident Evil film as something interesting. Paul W.S. Anderson knows what his niche is (Horror, Science Fiction, Action, VIDEO GAMES) and delivers what the audience he is aiming for wants. I have no sympathy for people who keep going to his films and come out disappointed. Make informed decisions, people.
According to Milla Jovovich's Facebook page, Resident Evil: The Final Chapter will begin filming this August, presumably for a Fall 2016 release. Jovovich, who will reprise her role as Alice, returns to the big screen with her husband/director, Paul W.S. Anderson. Let's see how this all ends, huh?
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Before I get into the point of this post, let me extrapolate on my comments about Expendables 3. I was expecting to hate Expendables 3. I actually enjoyed it a lot. The banter is brief and not as painfully on-the-nose, the action is good B-movie fare and everybody was likeable. Most of the newcomers are welcome additions. Antonio Banderas is a wonderful lunatic. Wesley Snipes brings a simmering manic charm. Kelsey Grammer is a lovely jackass. The younger group of Expendables that are introduced here are a little underwhelming, but serve their purpose and have potential. And Mel Gibson is here, snuggling even tighter into his villain blanket that he found in Machete Kills. There are some issues I have with the core group this time around, especially Randy Couture and the refusal to use Terry Crews to his full potential, but they pulled back on the self-referential nature that drowned my enjoyment of the second movie. It's just a fun action film.
The stories of each of these movies are the weakest part. The first was a mission-isn't-quite-what-it-seems-now-we-have-to-defy-our-employers plotline. Groan. The second is a straight-up revenge story. Super. The third is Sylvester Stallone's Barney Ross facing an old friend who is now a new enemy and the reality of what his line of work entails. Not really Shakespeare, but it seemed like they actually tried in Expendables 3. But within the world that these movies are set, you can only do so much. So why not change up the setting?
The appeal of this series is seeing these actors pick up roles that they are famous for. Roles, not specific characters. Besides that, you come to these movies (loosely) for the action. That action doesn't have to take place on Earth. That action doesn't have to take place in modern times. The action movie genre can be paired with other genres very well. Expendables 4 (or future(?) installments) can take place in a Demolition Man future, a Conan-esque swords and sandals past, or be a Western. As much as the widening and universe-izing of movie franchises sickens me at times, these ideas can just be off-shoots of the main series. I just believe that this cast is not being utilized when confined to just these characters, even though I like their chemistry.
I am looking forward to Expendables 4. Expendables 3 really helped the series in my eyes, but I see the limitation of the setting and characters. If the next film is a rehash of another old action movie trope, I would be very disappointed considering how much I think they got right in this one. They need to throw something crazy in the mix. Ironically, the best thing for the series might be letting go of the past and start looking to the future.
Post-Crank, Neveldine/Taylor went on to make Gamer. This film brought the action directors' unconventional style into a more conventional movie script. The story revolves around prisoners offering themselves up to be "controlled" by video-gamers in arena death matches for reduced prison sentences. The action was top-notch and, while the writing was something to be desired, touched on contemporary themes of technology and emotional detachment.
Next, the two filmmakers gave the superhero genre a go. Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance is the second film in the series, but carries over little besides Nicholas Cage himself in the titular role. While both films are not looked upon fondly by critics, something meshed well between Neveldine/Taylor's frenetic filming style and Cage's unhinged lunacy that made it pop. The film wouldn't feel out of place at a sleazy midnight double feature.
As of this moment, Neveldine/Taylor are no more. Mark Neveldine is directing a found-footage horror film for Lionsgate. What?! Brian Taylor is, as of this writing, set to write and direct the film adaptation of the video game, Twisted Metal. This makes considerably more sense as the video game deals with various psychopaths competing in a vehicle combat contest. These two have stated that they will continue to work together in the future. Well...
Where's my Crank 3? I understand that with the new year, we are suppose to make resolutions for ourselves. But why demand something of ourselves when we can demand something of others? My New Year's DEMAND is that Neveldine/Taylor begin serious production of the next installment this year. Neveldine is wrapping up production on The Vatican Tapes and as far as I know, Twisted Metal is dead in the water over at Sony. These guys need to get back to basics and get their hands dirty again. Jason Statham's up for it, Amy Smart needs more work, Dwight Yoakam is still alive. While High Voltage didn't quite do well financially, these movies are made on the cheap and made better when the filmmakers have to think creatively within that budget. I just enjoy this series so much and it would be a shame if there wasn't a nice way to round out Chev Chelios' crazy shenanigans. So, if I had my way...
IN THE SUMMER OF 2016, GRINDHOUSE 2!!! MACHETE KILLS AGAIN...IN SPACE! AND CRANK 3: CHELIOS' END!!!...?
