tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11440973308277892042024-03-06T02:15:56.415-05:00Who brings a hand gun on a roadtrip?Lights, camera, check one two.chapsmccollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04987996753599958552noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1144097330827789204.post-61179361311932715012010-02-08T05:58:00.000-05:002010-02-08T05:58:44.133-05:00Up In the Air<a href="http://media.sbs.com.au/films/upload_media/site_28_rand_554690853_up_in_the_air_pub_627.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="222" src="http://media.sbs.com.au/films/upload_media/site_28_rand_554690853_up_in_the_air_pub_627.jpg" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;" width="400" /></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As you read this do me a favor, hit this big <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnS3fLyRZDs">BUTTON</a> and listen to this in a new tab as you read this joint.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The first time I saw the trailer for this film it gave me goosebumps. The dialogue that they were willing to give up and the shots paired to it had me wondering what this film had left. Not only did it have some seasoned greats, Mr. Clooney, Danny McBride and the hot-cross buns of Vera Farmiga, but Jason Reitman also directed <i>Juno </i>and <i>Thank You for Smoking</i>. <i>Thank You for Smoking</i> is a great film in itself so as I heard more and more hype over <i>Up in the Air</i> I figured it was well placed. Well to be honest, the only reason that I find all this hype over <i>Up in the Air</i> and we didn't hear any nominations for <i>Smoking</i> is the Cloone-miester. In fact I will compare films here, throw them up head to head, <i>Smoking</i> was the better more original film.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Both films have great, witty scripts, with perfectly timed cuts and pacing and great front men. <i>Air</i> however lacked the story that I thought it's predecessor contained.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It's greatest flaw was its story arch, they paint these great relationships between all of the main players, but they fail to bring it together in good fashion by the end. After the first hour and a half your wondering when things are going to cease to be so hunky-doree. You can feel it under your skin and then wham-bam thank-you ma'am the climax happens and the film ends. There's no build up and no last supper moments leaving one feeling like they just went on a date with great food, conversation and drinks, but the the night cap resulted in 12 seconds of sweaty motions between the sheets leaving only one person happy with the finish.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As much beef as I had with this lacking story arch I have to say the shots were great and so were the cuts between them. The ariel cinematography even made parts of the US such as Nebraska (super flat and smells like cat food) look intriguing and beautiful. On top of the visual stimulation, this film had a whomping soundtrack. Actually whomping doesn't do it a justice, just listen to it, NOW!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I will confess I did not watch this in the theatre but was able to watch an early release of a friends copy they received through SAG *coughs and polishes nails on shirt collar*. Would I pay for the theatre though, yes, I do support this film and what it has to offer. Do I think it deserves the Oscar, nah probably not, there are better films (that doesn't mean AVATAR, back off jackals). Ok it's late, and this blogger needs to get to bed before the sun comes up, see you cool cats on the other-side.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Bananas-meter: 8.3/10 Bananas</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Oh and Sam Elliot is in this film, and yes, the dude does abide.</span>chapsmccollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04987996753599958552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1144097330827789204.post-10011706753392630192010-02-05T15:12:00.000-05:002010-02-05T15:12:40.742-05:00Cashback<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img1.immage.de/17079h0e9pefz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="http://img1.immage.de/17079h0e9pefz.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Yeah yeah, I know this isn't a recent theatrical release, in fact this film is from 2006 so its not even new. However, as much as I couldn't let that rotting pile of celluloid <i><a href="http://mcfellon-benzo.blogspot.com/2010/02/smokin-aces-2-assassins-ball.html">Smokin' Aces 2</a></i> get away with being watched, I can't let you folks live your lives without at-least checking out this film, <i>Cashback</i>.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Sometimes you throw on a movie you have never seen, for reasons no greater than it just looks good from the cover. This films face had some of those goofy vines on it surrounding text talking about some silly festival it won and a half naked woman, copy my attention.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Since the film was on Netflix it was really a no lose situation here: </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A.) It's not bad and I watch it without having to spend a dime. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">B.) I hate it and turn it off and play video-games.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">C.) I fall <a href="http://www.nicefunnyjokes.com/images/visual-jokes/animal/funny-cats-pictures/never-fall-asleep-at-a-party-cefjhjkojlmqbdgi.jpg">asleep</a>.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">What I hadn't counted on was D.) I love the film, and it does that thing I think all great films do, change your life in the just the tiniest way.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Within the first 5 minutes of this movie I knew something great was about to be dished out, and I was hungry. This film is like eating <a href="http://www.avclub.com/articles/kfcs-double-down-sandwich,32804/">KFC</a> on the worlds most exquisite china dinner set. The film has rough moments and overtones, but these are all overshadowed by a base of elegance. Everything about this film comes off smooth, the acting, the plot, the shots and the editing. Even the soundtrack is a solid piece of work.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The other day I was talking with a close friend of mine about connecting with characters in films and finding myself at a loss, I really couldn't find a character where I felt myself fully wrapped up in. That was before I heard Ben Willis (Sean Biggerstaff) talk about things he loves. I can dig where this guy is coming from both in the way he lives his life and the things he finds within his reality. Now I am not saying I am this guy, thats right all you <a href="http://filmdrunk.uproxx.com/2009/12/the-10-most-depressing-my-life-is-twilight-entries">twihards</a> stay back, just because you think you're Bella doesn't mean you are, it means you're <a href="http://theoatmeal.com/story/twilight">crazzzzzzzzzzzy</a>. All I mean by this is I really felt where this dude (yes he is just a written character) was coming from, and it was cool.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This is also beautifully shot, did I mention that? Yes, well thats fine, they did a great job of making this film look grim and dull when it needed to and brought it up to fantasy level when it was ready. The cuts and editing were spot on too, perfect timing to leave you just the right amount of time to absorb what was taking place and then make moves onto the next moment.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The acting all around was superb and I think the casting director deserves a high-five. The actors know their roles and seems to stick to their guns throughout the film, not stepping out of line like some <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0479471/">people</a>. Being a "romantic comedy" (although I disagree with this genre pick) it is often easy to fill films with cheese lines, cheese moments and cheese actors *Enter Bullock as her blackberry gets taken by an eagle*. <i>Cashback</i> keeps the chedda to itself and keeps it real throughout. All this keeping it real has a good deal to do with great direction by Sean Ellis, the guy is <a href="http://www.mstnkd.com/images/monthly/09/august/killinit.jpg">killin' it</a>. Ellis knew what he wanted, you can tell, and he got it. A fun fact!!!! <i>Cashback</i> is a remake of a short film he made back in 2004. Ah the glory of being able to go back and visit an old friend and make a beautiful relationship bloom later on.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Anywho lets close this shop up, because this boy-oh needs to get some time outside today. Do whatever you can to see this film in my opinion. It's on Netflix instant watch so if you have your Netflix set up I suggest you go on it sometime this weekend and enjoy yourself for two hours. I started watching this film with an good day ahead of me, and ended it knowing I would have a great day. NOW THATS WHAT I CALL CINEMA! Lator gaters.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Banana-meter: 9.4/10 Bananas*</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">*All rights and use of the title: Bananas, Johnny Bananas, Johnny B, and J-Bananas are in affiliation and protected by the Terrence S. Foundation and to not be copied or used in any sort of unlawful or illegal manner.</span>chapsmccollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04987996753599958552noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1144097330827789204.post-44214037950196214482010-02-01T16:31:00.001-05:002010-02-01T16:58:38.829-05:00Smokin' Aces 2: Assassins Ball<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/5545/sa2j.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/5545/sa2j.jpg" width="282" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Some people smoke rocks, others prefer gorging on copious amounts of <a href="http://theoatmeal.com/comics/bacon_love">bacon</a>. Me, I like silly cinema. This my friends is not just a goof ball film, it is a despicable and ruthless piece of HD (Hateful Definition) junk, and I am here to put it out of its misery, and I tend to oblige it.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>Smokin' Aces</i> was not a great film, but it was a fun film. It knew what it was doing and used an interesting stable of actors in some strange roles: <a href="http://brightcove.vo.llnwd.net/d7/unsecured/media/429149625/429149625_9942326001_chris-pine-lost-video.jpg">ChrisPy</a> is this <a href="http://images2.fanpop.com/image/photos/8500000/Chris-Pine-in-Smokin-Aces-chris-pine-8580514-599-337.jpg">dude</a>, <a href="http://adayinthalifeof.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/alicia_keys_1-102407.jpg">Miss Keys</a> as a <a href="http://images.allmoviephoto.com/2007_Smokin%27_Aces/2007_smokin_aces_018.jpg">hooker</a>/<a href="http://l.yimg.com/eb/ymv/us/img/hv/photo/movie_pix/universal_pictures/smokin__aces/_group_photos/alicia_keys7.jpg">lesbian</a>/<a href="http://thecia.com.au/reviews/s/images/smokin-aces-2.jpg">assassin</a>, and <a href="http://www.thecinemasource.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/jeremy_piven_smokin_aces_2.jpg">Jeremy Piven</a> as a high strung, whacked out, <a href="http://www.zap2it.com/media/photo/2007-01/27523275.jpg">ass</a> (oh wait, last one was a bad example).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Thanks to the first (<i>Smokin Aces) </i>and my affinity for fun movies and their sequels (<a href="http://mcfellon-benzo.blogspot.com/2009/06/crank-2-high-voltage.html">Crank 2</a>, <a href="http://mobilefascination.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/duh-bush-784283.jpg">Duh</a>). I figured <i>Smokin' Aces 2: Assassins Ball</i> would be fun too.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">False.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I won't go into much but instead just hit the bad poi-err bullet poin... Ok I meant bad points. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The story tried to be cool and packed with plot twists, but just came off predictable and boring, much like that economics <a href="http://www.boom2bust.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/ben-stein.jpg">teacher</a> that tried to make a boring subject cool and just tanked miserably. Sorry Professor PJ Pesce, I'm dropping this class, on the account that you're <a href="http://rlv.zcache.com/me_so_corny_tshirt-p235516226990249087qrja_400.jpg">corny</a>.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The acting was pretty much all around awful. A few of the repeat offenders return and hold up their end of the bargain, but the new crop, <a href="http://lolabrigada.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/horse-yuck-copy.jpg">yuck</a>. Clayne Crawford as Agent Baker has an acting career waiting for him, in the WWE, tossing lines with this <a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/102604/macho-man-randy-savage.jpg">guy</a>. Tom Berenger why? I can't comprehend why you would do this film, but I guess you have to pay your bookie sometime eh. (Sorry spent the last week in <a href="http://alharv.blogspot.com/2010/02/when-i-refer-to-this-side-by-side.html">Canada</a>). As for our silver-screen harlots, spend some more time in the bull-pen(TELEVISION), then do a Maxim cover, and then head up to the <a href="http://midwestswing.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/kennypowers.jpg">majors</a>.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Even the cinematography in this puppy was <a href="http://patblansh.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/sick_puppy-600x3191.jpg">sick</a>, (not the cool, surfer style sick, but the dying, painful kind). There were a few brief moments that I was pulled in but for the most part this film looked like it was soap opera'd the hell out. I have seen better lighting and depth-of-field in most sham-wow commercials.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Ok, so its time to say something nice. The <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1319743/soundtrack">soundtrack</a> for this film was actually pretty rocking. They chose some great songs and put them in the right places, I would definitely look it up and if you don't have some of these tunes try them out.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Do not buy/rent/download/steal this film. It's not worth it kids, take this from a guy who has spent many hours enduring bad cinema (<a href="http://www.horreur.net/img/affiche-Les-Guerriers-du-soleil-Solarbabies-1986.jpg">SOLARBABIES</a>), this is one of <a href="http://dinosaursinouterspace.blogspot.com/search/label/My%20Worst">the worst</a>. Save yourself some time and brain cells and play it safe with this baby. However I don't want to end on a negative note so on the other side of the spectrum I suggest everyone check out <i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1262981/">World's Greatest Dad</a></i>, it's a little off but in a good way and is worth netflixxxing, or however you kooky kids watch movie films these days.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Banana-meter: 0.8/10 Bananas</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">P.S. I know this wasn't a theatrical release film, but it's one that I couldn't let slip away without giving it a piece of my mind. Lo siento.</span></div>chapsmccollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04987996753599958552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1144097330827789204.post-22870166044816256212010-01-31T20:22:00.000-05:002010-01-31T20:22:21.561-05:00Book Of Eli<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://scifiwire.com/assets_c/2009/07/Denzel_Washington_Book_of_Eli-thumb-550x365-21296.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://scifiwire.com/assets_c/2009/07/Denzel_Washington_Book_of_Eli-thumb-550x365-21296.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This is my first post-avatar film. Is it even worth it to see movies that James Cameron hasn't worked on? Yes. Was <i>Book of Eli</i> worth it? Newp. In fact if you live anywhere else outside of fairy-tale lands where films are only 6 bones to go see, then I wouldn't suggest dropping the <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=cheddar">cheddar</a> to see this <a href="http://www.rich.durge.org/pics1/photos/cheesy3.jpg">cheese</a>.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The plot was kind of like most high school relationships, you're content and somewhat comfortable thanks to a slow and steady pace until for some reason the end is near and you make some rash decisions on prom night that leave at-least you (in this case its a room full of theatre goers) quite confused.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Although the cinematography was great at points, you can kill yourself softly with stylization. The CGI clouds moving overhead and the slow-mo cuts tend to get a bit heavy after the first 20 minutes, leading me to find my <a href="http://www.mopo.ca/uploaded_images/slurpee-717503.jpg">slushy</a> more interesting then what was happening on the screen. After getting to the ending the stylization made more sense, but I think that it was quite of a stretch. If you are going to use your shots to help hint at what is really going on, you need more than what this film hands out.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The sound design was pretty solid, they did an excellent job at hitting the beats, which to me helps immensely in films that lack tension in their shooting style. Earbuds off to you maestro of the <a href="http://www.idealaunch.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/fatso_keyboard_cat.gif">soundboard</a>.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As for the script, this film really lacked dialogue, as most post apocalyptic films normally do, which is fine. This leaves much more room for the actors to make their own decisions and act outside the bun(sorry couldn't help myself, oh heres <a href="http://neatorama.cachefly.net/images/2008-06/taco-bell-puppy.jpg">something</a> cute and Taco Bell related too). Denzel does a generally good job at being the soft-spoken savior and Mila Kunis does a great job of looking attractive. I have to say this here, it's really hard to break from earlier characters, just ask <a href="http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/music/billandted460.jpg">Keanu</a>, and as for Mila she still has a ways to go before she breaks away from "Jackie." However Gary Oldman does yet another stellar job, tricking the audience into liking and then disliking his character several times, talk about a flop.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I would love to tell you about the ending, but I refuse to be <a href="http://www.volusion.com/demo/37408/upload/uploadedFiles/that%20guy.jpg">that guy</a>; no matter how badly I want to be. Oh and the "book," don't even get me started on what book everyone wants to possess, its not "<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61K67KBNQVL.jpg">Clifford the Big Red Dog</a>," but it might as well be.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Overall it was worth it for a Sunday movie outing with a couple of my buds. Also going to this movie on Sunday made up for me not going to church, if you see it you will understand, remember I am not being that guy. If its cheap/free/rentable then I would think of checking it out, it has some good spots, but not enough to spend more than the price of a slushy on. By the way slushys are 6.50 at the theater and much cheaper at <a href="http://montclairoak.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/7-eleven-1969.jpg">7-11</a>, so stop reading and get to 7-11!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Banana-meter: 7.3/10 Bananas</span>chapsmccollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04987996753599958552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1144097330827789204.post-14329498738687304892010-01-13T13:33:00.004-05:002010-02-07T22:12:52.144-05:00Avatar<a href="http://screenrant.com/wp-content/uploads/avatar-box-office-numbers.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="252" src="http://screenrant.com/wp-content/uploads/avatar-box-office-numbers.jpg" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;" width="400" /></a><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><a href="http://www.solarnavigator.net/films_movies_actors/directors/directors_images/James_Cameron_think_big_on_set_hollywood.jpg">James Cameron</a> you crazy SOB, you have done it again! It's number two in the world. Go see it in 3-D. Yes it is amazing looking and yes it will remind you of Pocahontas and Fern Gully. Oh and yes blue-cat people do fight helicopters while riding sauropods(pterodactyls). I would go more into this but <a href="http://www.weeklyreader.com/readandwriting/content/binary/grandpa.jpg">Zach</a> has put in the man hours and research, and has basically <a href="https://bundaberg.qld.gov.au/arts/images/Seth_boom.jpg">Bradshawed</a> the hell out of this film so far. So don't take my word for it, take a <a href="http://advicefromthewolf.blogspot.com/2009/12/avatar.html">wolfs</a>.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Bananas-meter: 1.2 billion/10 bananas</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">P.S. <a href="http://imgsrv.todaysbestmix.com/image/kezrx/UserFiles/Image/Bill_and_Marla/michelle_rodriguez_cleanup4.jpg">Michelle Rodriguez</a> dies in this movie! * applause*</span></div>chapsmccollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04987996753599958552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1144097330827789204.post-7726936520731602872009-12-16T02:18:00.005-05:002010-02-07T22:11:45.650-05:00Inglorious Basterds/My Oscar Nominee<a href="http://www.movie-moron.com/wp-content/gallery/review/inglourious-basterds-review-2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="265" src="http://www.movie-moron.com/wp-content/gallery/review/inglourious-basterds-review-2.jpg" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;" width="400" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Yes Inglorious Basterds came out this summer. Yes I am behind on this one. Yes it is such a good film that I think it still deserves a review. No its likelihood as a great film is not the only reason that I am revisiting this gem.</span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Basterds came out on DVD today and as my roommate loves having great cinema pancaked into tiny laser readable discs we now own it, thus giving me a chance to confirm something. Usually when I watch a film I try to look at everything, from the cinematography to the directing, even down to the sound design. However awhile back I said I wanted to mix things up, and I think its time I do that (yes that time is at 2:30AM on a Wednesday, WHAT?). </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br />
</span></div><div><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0910607/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Christoph Waltz</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> deserves the Oscar for best supporting role.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Who? The guy who plays Colonel Landa "the Jew Hunter" in Basterds. I dare you to watch this film and not be amazed by this man. Now watching Christian Bale act out an American accent is one thing(He hales from Wales), but the Waltz acts out 3 different languages and more than one accent, top that. Normally when I watch a foreign language film, which I think for the most part Inglorious can be described as, I just read the captions and I am over it. This guy, oh this dude-and-a-half, nah he makes me actually watch and listen, and this suckers in GERMAN & FRENCH. He is able to make me believe the delivery even when I don't speak a lick of the language he is belting. I caught myself smiling during the first scene, which is perhaps one of the tensest moments of the film, and here I am with the dumbest smile on my face, a grin that only occurs when yours truly is amazed. This character moves me, and its not the words coming out of his mouth, its the way he spits it.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Well Mr. Waltz, my hat comes off to you, this was indeed one of the best performances I have ever seen on the silver screen. In fact his acting is so fun to watch it is a shame that one has to read the captions, I am hoping someone out there with a better grasp of French and German will watch this and comment on my blog about how believable he is in the native tongues, I guarantee he is amazing, Champs Stamp of Approval.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Well it's time for this little blogger to say auf wiedersehen (see I'm learning Ma). Peace out cub scouts.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Oh and this film is great: awesome shots, beautiful dialogue, amazing directing and the sound is Tarantino to a T(HA!). </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Banana-meter: 9.8/10 Bananas.</span></div>chapsmccollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04987996753599958552noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1144097330827789204.post-10815209429246422922009-12-14T19:56:00.005-05:002010-02-07T22:19:08.893-05:00The Beginning<a href="http://media.nscdn.com/uploads/cache/images/1225190661-646106-600x398-1196989646wallisch_seqns.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="265" src="http://media.nscdn.com/uploads/cache/images/1225190661-646106-600x398-1196989646wallisch_seqns.jpg" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;" width="400" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br />
Yeah so I have been doing a pretty bad job at blogging. I know I know, a 'pretty bad job' is an understatement. Yes lots of movies have come out, and just because I haven't been blogging, does not mean I have been avoiding the silver screen, in fact I have seen several films during my hiatus. Now your probably wondering why "the incident" of my long term step away from blogging. Well its quite the mix drink of excuses: 1 part laziness, 2 spoonfuls of distractions poured over an ice cold job of PA work, shake and pour.</span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">No I am not writing this as a resignation speech, I left that in my other pants and they went through the wash, so </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">that's</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> out. This is also not a comeback spiel, those are over-rated and I am pretty sure <a href="http://someloosethoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/brett-favre-crying.jpg">Brett </a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><a href="http://someloosethoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/brett-favre-crying.jpg">Favre</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> ate all of those up this year. Nah folks, this is just me letting everyone know that I am still breathing, and yes still sipping down red </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">ICEEs</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> while letting my mind melt into the big screen.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Ok</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> enough of the sappy stuff, back to business. The other night as I waited freezing on a street corner in my beloved new home of New York City, it finally hit me that winter was fast approaching from the west, on cold fronts filled with the white stuff. With the arrival of snow soon, my oldest friend returns, skiing, and there is no better way to prepare for ski season than by watching some excellent ski/snowboard films.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">I owe a lot to the ski film industry, the first time I ever threw in Match Stick Productions: High Society was the budding of the my need to put images on celluloid. The first films I ever made were ski films, the first time I ever had an audience was a ski film. So it's time to pay some respect to my beginnings as I come off my first Hollywood film.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Most people know about Warren Miller, the pioneer of the snow sports film, but I got started with </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><a href="http://www.skimovie.com/">MSP</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">, and new school skiing. So that is why I suggest you all to check out </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEOwRWe2_cc&feature=related"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">"Refresh"</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> from Level 1.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Refresh starts at the beginning of the Freestyle/</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">newschool</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> movement, the one that got me moving. It helps to show how much the sport has progressed, and how far we have come with the ways it is shot. Also, the soundtrack is nasty and the tricks are pretty rad too.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Snow snow snow, its </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">sooooooo</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> dope.</span></div>chapsmccollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04987996753599958552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1144097330827789204.post-26620725374511794812009-09-04T10:52:00.010-04:002009-09-04T13:51:16.680-04:00Mayer Hawthorne - A Strange Arrangement<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.brokencool.com/.a/6a010536846743970c0115714d5c6c970c-800wi"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 441px; height: 438px;" src="http://www.brokencool.com/.a/6a010536846743970c0115714d5c6c970c-800wi" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />With popular music these days being cranked out at speeds that would make <a href="http://mklasing.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/wileecoyote.jpg">Wile E. Coyote</a> cringe, quality has reached an all-time low. Industry execs are beating a dead horse looking for the "<a href="http://media.photobucket.com/image/young%20money%20ent/skateboardme/l_1a282a9bcd1097c70bd62f9f0013453b.jpg">new thing</a>", but it all comes out the same - <a href="http://beattrend.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/lil-wayne-busted.jpg">stale</a>.<br /><br />Well, as luck would have it, <a href="http://www.stonesthrow.com/">Stones Throw</a> has their shit together. Ladies and Gentlemen, allow me to introduce a breath of fresh air - Mayer Hawthorne.<br /><br />The Ann Arbor native's debut is obviously heavily influenced by the music of his home state - the classic, Detroit sound...but there's something new in the mix. Think Smokey Robinson and J Dilla had a whiteboy lovechild.<br /><br />Mayer <a href="http://www.ccc.tas.gov.au/webdata/resources/images/george-with-nstruments.jpg">plays all of the instruments</a> heard on his album. Yeah, I'll say it again. He plays ALL of the instruments, AND sings. Originality just seeps from this dude's pores. While there is a backbone of throwback soul to his records, listening to it, it's not so much paying homage to the greats as it is a progression of sorts.<br /><br />Infectious hooks and upbeat breaks remind you of a time when things were a little more <a href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1275/539602516_6db61b4f23.jpg">pleasant</a> in the USA. I usually have to throw on some old Smokey, Curtis, or Cooke to get that nostalgic feeling, but now there's a modern artist who manages to squeeze that emotion out of me. Feel how you may, but I think it's amazing.<br /><br />A few favorites:<br /><br />1. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBKx8PyE5qQ"><span style="font-style: italic;">Just Ain't Gonna Work Out</span></a> - Heavy, dirty breaks that sound like they could have fit easily into a Tribe jam support Hawthorne's tightrope vocals over a bobbing bassline on this apologetic breakup song that still manages to score high on my nod factor.<br /><br />2. <span style="font-style: italic;">The Ills</span> - A great example of Curtis Mayfield's impression on Mayer. Uptempo drums (sounding a bit like <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ivhcgskr4Yc">Pusher Man</a>) over a busy bee bassline and big brass/sax stabs really grab your attention and keep it (an amazing feat to maintain MY attention).<br /><br />3<span style="font-style: italic;">. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfpJmbF1NSc">I Wish It Would Rain</a></span> - The saddest "miss you, girl" slow jam ever, but he pulls it off. This dude really makes you feel the pain in his lyrics. Give it a listen.<br /><br />Bottom line, this album is listenable the whole way through, which is becoming a rarity these days. <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span>A Strange Arrangement</span> is available on iTunes now, and you can snag it <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=325250582&s=143441">HERE</a>.<br /><br />do-Buy meter: 8/10 dBBenzohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08516927565011659087noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1144097330827789204.post-81689185412948565932009-08-18T22:19:00.004-04:002010-02-07T22:18:36.439-05:00Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen<a href="http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/showbiz/images/attachement/jpg/site1/20090629/0023ae606f170bb27e8b44.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/showbiz/images/attachement/jpg/site1/20090629/0023ae606f170bb27e8b44.jpg" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;" width="444" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As I write my next </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">installment</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> I want to try to take you to where I am. Its very dark, with lots of loud noises, </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">accompanied</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> by bright strobes of lights and </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">guttural</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> bass </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">coursing</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> through my body. It seems as if everything is awry and nothing is going to according to plan, chaos is afoot. I will give you three guesses on where I am.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">No, not in the guy's bathroom of a </span><a href="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.slashfood.com/media/2007/11/chichis.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Chi-Chi's</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> restaurant on All-you-can eat Taco Tuesdays.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">False, not starting the </span><a href="http://i638.photobucket.com/albums/uu110/Asa311_2009/ItsLikeTheAmericanRevolutionButAwes.jpg?t=1250649469"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">REVOLUTION!</span></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Wrong, not watching </span><a href="http://www.demotivateus.com/posters/masturbation-transformer-prime-demotivational-posters.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen.</span></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Well, good try everyone. Actually I am sitting through one hell of a thunderstorm. Which unlike your third guess, is actually pretty wicked. Also might I mention that this thunderstorm is free and I get to watch it from my </span><a href="http://livvit.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/lovesac.jpg"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">LoveSac</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">. So with that out of the way...</span><br />
<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Ok</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> so yeah, I saw Trans 2 awhile ago. I know, I know. But just like an evil villain can't get away in the end of most action films (which my life is) neither can Michael Bay. It's time to pay the piper Mr. Bay, and here I come.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Yes, a thunderstorm is taking place outside of my </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">apartment</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Yes, the thunderstorm is free.</span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Yes, I would have rather paid 21 </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">dolla</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">dolla</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> bills for the thunderstorm and gotten more excitement, loud noises, and explosions than Transformers 2 in </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">IMAX</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This post is actually quite old so I am going to wrap it up quickly here, get it in the bag. Things you should know about Transformers 2. This film does have a reason for existing, I will defend it in one sense. The </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">CGI</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> and Digital Effects in this film alone have helped to push the industry along to amazing heights. Yes although the story is awful (</span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Egypt</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> and the pyramids and primitive </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">cromagnon</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">-man overthrowing powerful robots) and horrible acting (No Megan Fox's bust size does not save the words that come out of her mouth), ahem, the Special Effects and digital </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">FX</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> that go into this film still give me goosebumps. So thank you Michael for making yet another money pit of a film, but in all seriousness, thanks for helping the next good film in need of amazing digital </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">FX</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> to have the access to them thanks to your </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">raucous</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> budget.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Banana-meter: 3.2/10 Bananas</span></div>chapsmccollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04987996753599958552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1144097330827789204.post-82559431286957661202009-08-17T16:16:00.003-04:002009-08-17T16:47:40.683-04:0035mm to 1080p<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.rad-dudes.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/9v7p8crijkfz6zwux63rqadyo1_400.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 259px;" src="http://www.rad-dudes.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/9v7p8crijkfz6zwux63rqadyo1_400.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />In the next few months something incredible is going to happen. No not the end of the recession and definitely not the <a href="http://baseballnewsreels.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/pirates_win_1960.1592302_std.jpg">Bucs</a> winning the World Series. What Chaps could it possibly be? Well, simple, the film world is going to explode. And it is all thanks to this, the <a href="http://www.red.com/epic_scarlet/">Red Scarlet</a>. With the release of this camera the digital phase will finally catch up to film, and for the price half that of current HD cameras. So with this concept of change at the doorstep, it was time for me to look at myself and the changes I needed to make. I realized after some helpful insight from a good friend of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGDwScgb_Y0">mine</a> that sometimes you need to keep on going no matter what hits you take or changes are taking place, and thanks to this advice, I am fine today. I also looked at my blog, myself, other blogs, and my lack of motivation. Sure I have been seeing some excellent films and some horrific ones, but one this the same no matter what I watch, I give the same reviews. Well Not exactly the same reviews, but they are all the same layout/form/fashion/dudes.<br />So after this moment of zen I decided that its time to switch, make the move into something a little more free form, not reinvent the idea of film, but just change the format, so here it is, blog 2.0, or maybe 3K.<br />But whatever you all do, don't call it a comeback.chapsmccollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04987996753599958552noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1144097330827789204.post-14754046857693129452009-07-03T12:48:00.003-04:002009-07-07T01:27:54.998-04:00Moon<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://boingboing.net/images/x09/sam_and_gerty_arm.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 433px; height: 589px;" src="http://boingboing.net/images/x09/sam_and_gerty_arm.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>One of the benefits of living in NYC besides, well, everything that makes New York, New York, is the fact that limited release films are now much more accessible. As someone who strongly dislikes watching amazing cinema through the second camera it was filmed on (the one in the theater camming the film) and streaming perfectly good shots, there can finally be a sigh of relief on this end. *sigh*<br />Moon is a film I watched the trailer for so many months ago and was instantly hooked. Think 2001 a Space Odyssey but for the here and now. The film revolves around an employee on a lunar mining base who is about to finish up his 3 year contract when he discovers that he is not alone on the surface by finding himself in a wrecked lunar buggy.<br />Duncan Jones must have been watching Kubrick since popped out of his Mom many years ago. The guy does clean Sci-Fi so clean it will have you saying "oh my science!" Not only does he does he make the film look beautiful with his use of shots and framing and well, its all freaking stellar. Seriously though on to his actual directing of our good friend Sam Bell (Rockwell). This is a true actors film, meaning that the film has to be carried by just one person for the most part. Sam Rockwell as Bell has to entertain us throughout. He is our weather vane, our guide, our eyes into this strange and complex story. Guess what, he kills it too.<br />Rockwell gives an outstanding performance in this film. He has to confront himself and take himself way inside to tiny places I am sure he never wanted to go, and then come back out again. It isn't supposed to be scary, but it is. It's scary how much he makes us believe this is happening, he pulls you out of your seat and into his shoes in the film.<br />As for the other actors, well Kevin Spacey plays our 2009 version of Hal as GERTIE. Even though his voice is semi-digi and he is a robot, its really hard to believe that the little microchips and gears don't care about Bell throughout the film. So if they nominate Mr. Spacey for the best supporting role as a robot, I'll let him have it, he made it work.<br />How do you film a movie about a place only a handful of people have ever visited, well I don't know, but Gary Shaw did as cinematographer. I hope this movie makes a billion dollars so he can get some of that money and fly to the moon, because he needs to see it for real and then tell us all "i told you so." He does a great job of showing the loneliness and desolate traits of such a large and mystical place. Whether drama he adds through the lighting inside the base or the coldness he brings to the barren landscapes, Shaw nails it. Thumbs up.<br />I want to kick it out to the Special FX guys here. THIS WAS ALL IN CAMERA! Yes models, yes like star wars, yes like little plastic stop animation. This stuff has been around forever and forgotten, but not here and not today. It looks so good that it is better than CGI, you know the little vehicle is a model sometimes, but that makes it real. Hats and hair off to Cinesite for delivering excellent special FX.<br />The soundtrack was good but not very expansive for this film. I wasn't sure if the composer Clint Mansell did this on purpose or if he just didn't know where else to go with this. I mean we never leave the same character or location, so why switch up the soundtrack. In my honest opinion I would have liked to heard more variety from the soundtrack but for what is played it is beautiful and fits great.<br />Overall this is a wonderful film. The acting, directing, look, and feel of this film are all enchanting or as the french would say <a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/enchant%C3%A9">enchante</a>. Should everyone rush out to see it, no. This is a limited release film and I am blessed to be in a city that carries such films, but for those of my dear readers that are not blessed with the convenience of this, don't rush hundreds of miles to see it, BUT PLEASE RENT IT! This a great film to watch at home so please do whatever you can to get your hands on it when it is released. On that note I am going to hit up some Sinatra, can you guess the song?<br /><br />Banana-meter: 9.3/10 Bananaschapsmccollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04987996753599958552noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1144097330827789204.post-15976960975633103202009-06-18T10:54:00.003-04:002010-02-07T22:17:31.879-05:00Strange Wilderness<a href="http://www.collider.com/uploads/imageGallery/Strange_Wilderness/strange_wilderness_movie_image.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" src="http://www.collider.com/uploads/imageGallery/Strange_Wilderness/strange_wilderness_movie_image.jpg" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;" width="400" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I am only posting this because I want to say how awesome this movie is, and by awesome I mean dumb. I rented this because I thought that the </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YwHc8ge3fg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">trailer</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> looked funny. Well guess what, that was it, just watch that clip for 90 minutes and it will be better than this piece of rubbish. I write this as a warning for all of you out there, this film should be played in Guantanamo Bay in place of water-boarding it is that bad. Hell I can't even write the review because I think that if I did the actors/directors/crew might actually go to hell because of the rapture I would bring down on them. So on that note:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Banana-meter: 1.2/10 Bananas</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">PS. I just watched </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDQxc9yLH3A"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Space Camp</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">, and it was a whole hell of a lot better than this. Even </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UY0xwRIGOdc"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">this</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> is better than Strange Wilderness.</span>chapsmccollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04987996753599958552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1144097330827789204.post-51993641042355063742009-06-09T12:24:00.008-04:002010-02-07T22:17:05.048-05:00The Hangover<a href="http://screencrave.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/the-hangover-01.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="266" src="http://screencrave.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/the-hangover-01.jpg" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;" width="400" /></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I can only rate 90 minutes of 100 minutes of this little nugget of fun thanks to some poor planning by a hooch named Terry. But for 90 minutes, wow. I need to see the other 10 minutes because I feel like my life may be made a little more funnier if I do. Judd </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Apatow</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> and his little pose better look out, cause there is a new crew in town, and they have bastard babies, </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">ruffalin</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> pills and bearded men that will light you up.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">From the get go this film is packed with funny, in fact I don't know if this film has a line in it that isn't </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">qouteable</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">, seriously. Director Todd Philips takes a very cliche premise and moves it to such zany extents that he is able to make the old "what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas" credo and bump it up to "what happens in Vegas is fudging awesome, like Jesus is awesome awesome, YEAH!" The plot revolves around 4 guys going to the </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">sinnest</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> of cities to get weird for their friends bachelor party, upon blacking out they must find where their friend, the groom has gone missing, and make it back in time for the wedding.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The film has so many plot twists and turns that your in the same boat that these guys are the entire time. I normally like to think I can see through to the end of a movie within the first 10 minutes, but no, not the Hangover, I really didn't know where Dougy was. Philips keeps all of these players in check throughout the movie and does not let one out play the other, they are all one big ball of hilarity.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">If you have a bladder condition wear a diaper, cause the acting will make you want to relieve yourself right there on those oh so absorbent theater seats, goo. Justin </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Bartha</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> (Doug) has the smallest of roles but his time on the screen is great, I for one am very happy to see him be making this instead of National Treasure 4: the Search for </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Curly's</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Gold in Abraham Lincolns Porn Drawer. Bradley Cooper (Phil) does a great job at playing the underlying ringleader of the crew and keeps it fresh with a serious yet "holy-shit we did that?" kind of attitude. I feel like if this film did happen, this guy would have to actually exist in real life. I am a huge fan of the Office and was worried when I saw Ed Helms (Stu) following in </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Rainn</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Wilson's footsteps to </span><a href="http://image34.webshots.com/35/0/92/3/257409203jvUFte_fs.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">turd-city</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> of acting roles (except 5 minutes of JUNO, that was off the chain). Helm's has so much to deal with in the film that he easily could try to express too many emotions and lose his central character role as the guy who plays it safe, but he doesn't, he sticks to his character like Harry does to the </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Hendersons</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">, and the guy is funny.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Zach </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Galifianakis</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> needs his own space in this. First because you probably never remember the guy from any other movie/TV show since he is always overshadowed and given crap roles. Secondly because he is a </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">bona</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">-</span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">fide</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> funny dude. He plays such an interesting character in this film and does it so well, that to even look away from the screen for a second to sneeze is a big </span><a href="http://gingerchris.co.uk/wp-content/home-alone.png"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">mistake</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">. He plays such a solid role in this film that it would be just another typical zany </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Vegas</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> experience without this guy...and by this guy, I mean this </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSpCf8-AE94"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">GUY</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As for the </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">gangle</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> of people that support this </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">mischieve</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> bunch of rascals, Mike </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Eps</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> was able to make it out of Compton for the other 6 days of the week and was able to give a hilarious performance as Black Doug. Ken </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Jeong</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> as Mr. Chow gives yet a more over the top delivery, this guy is coming up so look out, I am excited to see him as a main role here in the next several films. Mike Tyson gives a knock out performance as himself, yeah pun intended. Actually I take that back, I just said it for the pun but whatever, he was good enough for the role.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The cinematography was pretty typical Vegas-</span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">esque</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> stuff, delivered by Lawrence Sher. I mean the thing is, if you have seen most Vegas movies, you have seen mostly everything shot from every angle there is out there, so it can be hard to top it, but he does a solid job as DP to stay on the same level as his predecessors.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The soundtrack for this film was pretty much the perfect homemade mix tape of Vegas music for our ages (that is people who listen to pop music of today). All the right songs were jammed together and everything went together like a good P.B & J </span><a href="http://www.blisstree.com/healthbolt/files/2008/01/dsp_luvsandwich_awwww.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">sandwich</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">. Literally if you were going to Vegas this is probably the same exact soundtrack you would listen too, at least that is if your not Danny Ocean, he would probably be more into </span><a href="http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoID=2031556565"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">this</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So yes goes see this movie in the theaters. The ability to be able to </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">quote</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> it with you friends at the bar alone makes it awesome. Not many comedies are worth watching in the theaters these days, but this one definitely is. But make sure you don't make your plans with any </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">hoochs</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> and definitely go for the medium soda, not the </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">collosa</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">-gulp, cause getting up to take bathroom breaks would be a shame.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Banana-meter: 9.0/10 Bananas</span>chapsmccollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04987996753599958552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1144097330827789204.post-9211782977500402312009-06-04T16:09:00.005-04:002009-06-04T16:18:17.320-04:00McBirthday<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/funny-pictures-cat-is-hanging-up-banner-for-your-birthday.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 363px; height: 544px;" src="http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/funny-pictures-cat-is-hanging-up-banner-for-your-birthday.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />A very happy birthday goes out to the founder and better half of this blog...you may know him by many names: McFelon, McSmellin, McSummaryOffense, MacGruber (?), or Chaps McColon. Either way, if you're fortunate enough to see this clown today, buy him a drink, give him a few birthday punches, and tell him he has entirely way too many <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHkytq7p6gYX_6n5bYfqT6vC_EXDI6s4nF9PUQaN_QTf2w6kHj2ZbC6eBOrMtvz5iTJgIryQ1vUSHw9vJetCQkgepQkBMOQ_G0Sjnt55-UuzLGydoFl0dVbssjEk5kDjjfYHLCeLTC_-qN/s320/recycled_plastic_bracelets_on-arm_418x280_80.jpg">bracelets</a> on his arm. Happy Birthday jmac, you <a href="http://www.comecorrect.net/img/odb.jpg">old dirty bastard</a>, you.Benzohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08516927565011659087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1144097330827789204.post-87085931769072280062009-06-04T14:48:00.005-04:002009-06-04T16:17:33.908-04:00311 - Uplifter (Deluxe Edition)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPyldJz-E6kVscTgmba6kxdN9X28SJaym5HUd6AfWuO58Sh2wzDeOKgW7c-DoGA_HamBQNeKIaUH4KO0pvF7R-aYNWVFaU4ldqD01VLddZ5lmoTHvOBM5rQlloQLucgRZ2YnvCMV5y87Qx/s1600-h/311+uplifter.jpeg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPyldJz-E6kVscTgmba6kxdN9X28SJaym5HUd6AfWuO58Sh2wzDeOKgW7c-DoGA_HamBQNeKIaUH4KO0pvF7R-aYNWVFaU4ldqD01VLddZ5lmoTHvOBM5rQlloQLucgRZ2YnvCMV5y87Qx/s320/311+uplifter.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343546278127327682" border="0" /></a><br />The four dudes from Omaha known as 311 Come Original once again with their 9th album, <span style="font-style: italic;">Uplifter.</span> I snagged the Deluxe Edition (2 bonus tracks, which imho should have made it to the regular tracklisting). Ask any fan what 311 album they are into the most, and chances are they'll respond with a record that's over 8 years old. Sound like 311 heard the fan's voices and returned to what they do best. That being said, I'll touch on a few songs that really stuck out to me, in good or bad ways.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Jackpot</span> leads off and kicks you square in the nutsack. Energetic as all get-out and loaded with big drums and chugs galore, Nick and SA ride the groove at their best - spitting a la rap/rock while providing those sweet ass harmonies on the chorus...(no pitch correction detected...yet). I could have done without the collective band, "JACKPOT...who-o-o-oa!" though. A wee bit o' cheese for my liking.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">My Heart Sings</span> starts off a bit <span style="font-style: italic;">Amber</span>-ish due to its simple bassline and the scale that the phased-out, reverb for days lead guitar plays. However, once the chorus kicks in, this song gains an identity of its own. Great movement between the vocal harmonies and the instrumentation - an instant favorite of mine. Definitely a great jam to chill out to, I don't know, say, with, a layyyydayyyyy © Leon Phelps.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Never Ending Summer</span> - Again with band chants...I'm not down (three-eleven, three-three-eleven...maybe it will work live, but for me? not on a studio album). Not much to say here - decent jam, fairly simplistic...apart from Chad's always excellent drumming and Tim's face-melting guitar solo at 2:40.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Two Drops In The Ocean</span> - I'm a sucker for downtempo 311...they just do the reggae vibe so well. Great lyrics, great harmonies, P-Nut playing well in the pocket, just great stuff. Sounds like a new addition to the daily rotation for me.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">India Ink - </span>Heavy riffs, fat drums, soaring vocals on the chorus, and a sprinkle of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erLZ-zW9Ti4&feature=fvw">sitar</a> = recipe for success.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Too Much Too Fast</span> - <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></span></span>Bouncing, happy vibe throughout this track. Some nice sidestick action in the intro leading to a striding pace keeps your head bobbing. Good stuff.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Hey You</span> - Another track that hits hard, the first single sounds like it will be extremely successful. <span style="font-style: italic;">Hey You</span> comes out as a sort of love ballad to music (a successful <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y12YgEIFcAY">formula</a>). A well-balanced mix of chunky riffs and laid-back breaks, it demands attention. Check the video out <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvHzxbt_DiE">here</a>.<br /><br />Produced by Bob Rock of Metallica fame, this album is well-rounded. I dig it. It sounds like a mix of <span style="font-style: italic;">Grassroots</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Music, </span>and a little bit of <span style="font-style: italic;">Transistor</span>. Put simply, it sounds like good old 311 (No "Don't Tread On Me" here...woof). Don't get me wrong - there are still glimpses of tacky lyrics and repetitive riffs, but the sound that 311 fans have become accustomed to are all present once again.<br /><br />The drums are compressed very well, giving them a deep, warm, and full-bodied pop, the silky vocals sit nicely atop of the mix, the bass provides a strong backbone, and Tim's guitar tones, as always, are excellent throughout the album.<br /><br />do-Buy meter: 8.0/10 dBBenzohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08516927565011659087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1144097330827789204.post-16461523525197485942009-06-03T20:14:00.006-04:002010-02-07T22:16:38.797-05:00Crank 2: High Voltage<a href="http://www.la-story.com/upload/2009/03/crank_high_voltage_increases_the_electricity_with/Crank2_Still1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.la-story.com/upload/2009/03/crank_high_voltage_increases_the_electricity_with/Crank2_Still1.jpg" style="display: block; height: 243px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 432px;" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Wow. So many feelings, so many questions, so many "</span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">manys</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">" that my mind feels like it just got blown into </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">pieces</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> of mush that I don't think it could be put back together. BUT luckily after watching this film, I have learned the secret of eternal life, be JASON </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">STRATHAM</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">, DUH!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Your first question is </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">probably</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">, "Chaps what is the best thing about Crank 2?" Well let me answer that simply by waxing a little intellect and changing the wording of your silly silly question: "What isn't the best thing about Crank 2?" The answer is: NOTHING!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I don't know if you can get much better than this film right here, both directors </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Neveldine</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> and Taylor need to be falsely worshipped for taking this script (that they wrote) out to a cheap dinner and then back to their parents house for a trip to </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">poundtown</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">. Maybe the only thing that could top it would be if </span><a href="http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.raptorjesus.com/img/upload/RaptorJesus1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.raptorjesus.com/&usg=__SLIH6yT241ocuzNvvSkqbpsXqcY=&h=355&w=250&sz=35&hl=en&start=4&sig2=s54NpeetZzWjWhqbfSuBFA&um=1&tbnid=1OMYvftU283txM:&tbnh=121&tbnw=85&prev=/images%3Fq%3Draptor%2Bjesus%26imgsz%3Dsmall%257Cmedium%257Clarge%257Cxlarge%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DG%26um%3D1&ei=WRMnSpvDMOqDlAeW143gBw"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Raptor</span></a><a href="http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.raptorjesus.com/img/upload/RaptorJesus1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.raptorjesus.com/&usg=__SLIH6yT241ocuzNvvSkqbpsXqcY=&h=355&w=250&sz=35&hl=en&start=4&sig2=s54NpeetZzWjWhqbfSuBFA&um=1&tbnid=1OMYvftU283txM:&tbnh=121&tbnw=85&prev=/images%3Fq%3Draptor%2Bjesus%26imgsz%3Dsmall%257Cmedium%257Clarge%257Cxlarge%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DG%26um%3D1&ei=WRMnSpvDMOqDlAeW143gBw"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Jesus</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> and </span><a href="http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/juice/chris%20hansen.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Chris Hanson</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> teamed up and directed a </span><a href="http://mirror.servut.us/kuvat/motivation/admit-it.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Sex Tape</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">. Seriously this thing is more fun that the first time you learned about masturbation.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Now your </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">probably</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> thinking, "Chaps your being a little crude here." Well guess what kids, Disneyland just burnt to the ground because Mickey Mouse started the flames freebasing behind Cinderellas Castle, The Hate Train just pulled into town, can't you hear it? Chug-a Chug-a HATE! HATE!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This masterpiece crosses all boundaries and thus I must keep with its spirit in writing this review. WARNING! Do not watch this film without the right supplies. Those being as follows: time to waste, enough </span><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2403/2498946906_92dfce9dba.jpg?v=0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Redbull</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> to kill, and a suspension of all belief.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ0TnCm5gCUV3bYTcrCFffWH01RCoEUS1gRaw0T6y84BjnLYvuQMXGpNBBFlZms-QCjRbFgzGgh3LYVzJ8jaFfkEGZrg-ZEFmk83JGDEjRs2MUcRWAQBH_KN4pnzw8QeqcpMShoy_jVQE/s1600-h/IMG00144-20090603-1857.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343266246076723506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ0TnCm5gCUV3bYTcrCFffWH01RCoEUS1gRaw0T6y84BjnLYvuQMXGpNBBFlZms-QCjRbFgzGgh3LYVzJ8jaFfkEGZrg-ZEFmk83JGDEjRs2MUcRWAQBH_KN4pnzw8QeqcpMShoy_jVQE/s400/IMG00144-20090603-1857.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So now that we are on the same page, blog, website, line; I'll get back to it. First, visually, this film makes your eyes tingle and you will find yourself with a grin that I thought only </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">methadone</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> could induce. There are so many more zany things in this film than in first the Crank that it is hard to put them down here, but here is a quick run through, </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Godzilla</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> fighting+grandma humping+naked Amy Smart+gay biker gangs+saline boob shooting+strippers and blow=crank 2. I mean the writers/directors needed </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">at least</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> a shoebox full of coke and more strippers than the likes of </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">shamwow</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> guy can even comprehend in the creative process for this film. All i can say is this is a Disney Movie for adults, yeah the kind where you get to see what Princess Jasmine is really rocking with the Genie shooting Latinos and that little monkey, yeah hes down on the corner slinging </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">meth</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> to some lady named Wanda.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As for the performances, Jason </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Stratham</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> needs to father my kids. Just watching this dude kick, shoot, and pound the </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">existence</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> out of everything in this film is mind numbing. Chev </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Chelios</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> (</span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Stratham</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">) is the new Superman, the dude can't die. You can throw the Latin Kings, The Bloods, the Crypts, Chuck Norris, an Asteroid, hell even 1000 monkeys from that movie </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVGwylaeEDtx2sl6dgJlVZj0Srr4C_YB9nK3Tgrrhf5Qc1xSgC4j0qSDhTEblIJEuwOkYylRxiw2dpU0S0dWmayU9xJ-wXFuJUNpd74wiKulqxFHAnBla63hKJona41b-mziHkuhDzvX0/s320/angry-monkey-739979%20with%20ear%20infection.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Outbreak</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">, and Jason </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Stratham</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> would still be in one piece, I mean the guy has an English accent, those things are like bulletproof and make him sound smart as hell too.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Amy Smart as Eve in this film is </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">amazzzzzzzing</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">. Eve from Crank is the kind of </span><a href="http://wallpaperbase.com/wallpapers/celebs/hilaryduff/hilary_duff_72.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">girl</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> that you take home to meet your parents. Eve in Crank 2 is the </span><a href="http://www.makemeheal.com/news/images/lindsay-lohan-breast-implants.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">girl</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> which you cheat on her with while she is in the </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">living room</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> meeting your parents. She takes all previous roles and throws all caution to the wind with this part, and holy shit is it intense. As for the rest of the cast, Doc Miles (Dwight </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Yoakam</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">) delivers a wicked performance with such great lines as "is doc miles gonna have to choke a bitch." It was so natural i like to think that he gets up every morning and tells his kids that to get them out of bed. Venus (Ramirez) is back in one of the cheapest character introductions as </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Kaylo's</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> identical brother from Crank. All of the bad guys are too numerous to name but they are all huge scum bags and </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">every time</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Chevy kills one its pretty gruesome and involves a lot of red tinted corn starch mixed with water.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The cinematography for this film delivered by DP Brandon </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Trost</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> is the reason there is rehabilitation clinics and shows such as </span><a href="http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b141/HedoBreceda/cristy.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Intervention</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">. I am full phased addicted to this guys work, they should include surgical tubing when you enter the theater when </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Trost</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> works on something.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As I pound my 6</span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">th</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> consecutive </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Redbull</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> I want to buy a round of hand and foot stuff for the Special </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">FX</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> and Sound Design teams down at Mustang </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Sallys</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">. There were more explosions, more google maps and more crazy stunts than even Jackie Chan could dream up, on weed. Talk about </span><a href="http://www.tankchair.com/DSCF0065crop.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">PUSHING THE ENVELOPE</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Soundtrack, I didn't know where the guitar riffs and breaking bone sounds stop and began. The whole movie was a melody of complete mayhem and destruction. The music was campy and spunky at the same time, it fit together like wrestling </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">coaches</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> and team relations at a Catholic boys school. The soundtrack will get you so amped that you will break something while watching this film, keep all pets out off the room or you might punt the cat.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So how do I wrap something of this magnitude up, how about go fucking see this movie. You need this movie more than Paris Hilton's parents needed a condom. I would seriously urge the distribution houses to start selling this movie with an 8-ball of snow and a booklet containing 1-900 numbers. SO stop reading, rent, buy, bootleg, I don't care, go now.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Banana-meter: 11/10 Bananas</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">PS. Corey </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Haim</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> is in this movie, with a mullet, yum.</span>chapsmccollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04987996753599958552noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1144097330827789204.post-89082928017435416422009-06-02T00:32:00.005-04:002010-02-07T22:16:12.031-05:00Observe and Report<a href="http://udothedishes.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/observe-and-report-security-guards.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://udothedishes.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/observe-and-report-security-guards.jpg" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">No slushy, $1 Tickets, post-wide release films, </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">pre</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">-stadium style seating: Cinema 6. Yes for all of you young guns of the Centre County who remember this being the "nice" theater in town, I tell you I just revisited that magical place where I saw </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">cineMAGIC</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> such as </span><a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x54krn_titanic-sweded-movie_shortfilms"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Titanic</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">, </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zA9ZIJt1E5c"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Independence Day</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">, and </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pM8PrqY5Rg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Pearl Harbor</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> (Titanic part </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Deux</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> sans Boat). As with my previous post, nothing of interest has been in the theater and since I missed this little </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Rogen</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> vehicle several weeks ago I was looking forward to catching it. So I know this is not a brand spanking, still covered in membrane release and crying release, but if you see it in the theater it's still a release to me </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">heres</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> what I have to observe and report on Observe and Report.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">First off, not what I expected at all. Not that I </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">necessarily</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> disliked it, but just wasn't what I had planned on seeing. I guess I went in looking for more of a Seth </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Rogen</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> from </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Pineapple</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Express meets and clone babies of Seth </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Rogen</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> in Super Bad. </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Saddly</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> this is not the character that turns out. Instead there is some strange depression and the character actually plays out extremely odd and not funny. As for his co-stars, Ray </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Liotta</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> really doesn't bring anything at all to the table, not funny or mean, just reading lines to me. It was exciting to see Anna </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Faris</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> in a role outside of Scary Movie, then I realized although the movie wasn't in that realm, her acting still was. As for his fellow security guards, Michael Pena, </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Yuen</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Brothers and Jesse </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Plemons</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">, all deliver a good show and really helped to keep me distracted from the creepiness of </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Rogen's</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> character as Ronny. </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Aziz</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Ansari</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> is really coming up in the world and could be the new big thing in character funny in Hollywood, he is the token Indian guy now, and he is nailing it. For the best performance though, I have to hand it to Collette Wolfe as Nell, I actually felt for her character and she made me want to jump on screen and punch Ronny for not seeing her signals, which means she had my attention throughout the film.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As for this strange creepiness, I don't know if maybe he wasn't casted correctly, just didn't bring it to the table, or if Jody Hill just lost it as a director. I will say in Hill's offense that some of the shots were great and the montages in the beginning were solid. Not to mention the ending of the film wrapped up well, and I especially liked the use of the slow motion in the end that really helped to close out the film. Although </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Rogen</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> did not show his best skills in this film for the most part, I will say in the last 10 minutes of the film, he may have his best screen time yet, a new character emerges and it really is believable and new for even </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Rogen</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Nothing too crazy in the </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">special</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">FX</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> or Cinematography </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">department</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">, all pretty simple stuff I thought that Tim Orr as DP kept the camera and crew on an even keel. As for the soundtrack though, I thought it was excellent for the film. All of the songs seemed to fit great and helped to add that extra element to each scene, so hats off to Joseph Stephens for a solid </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">OST</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">All in all I am glad I only paid a buck to watch this film, I mean it was cheaper than renting it, and Cinema 6 isn't that bad when it's not packed with teeny </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">boppers</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> and families with crying kids. As for the film, I think besides </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Rogen's</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> off-the-mark acting it also comes down to the idea of a director/writer being able to "kill their babies." This concept of cutting certain things seemed to leave Hill when it hit the cutting rooms, and hopefully Jody learned that sometimes you have to pull the trigger and get rid of some things maybe just "you" find funny. So if I was you, watch this movie on cable when it comes out, but don't go out of your way for it.</span><br />
<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Banan-a</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">-meter: 4.3/10 Bananas</span>chapsmccollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04987996753599958552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1144097330827789204.post-18767645361495023062009-06-01T13:41:00.005-04:002010-02-07T22:15:48.604-05:00When the well runs dry...<a href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/153/404366159_2a2bf28259.jpg?v=0" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="169" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/153/404366159_2a2bf28259.jpg?v=0" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;" width="400" /></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">These past two weeks have been quite dismal as far as film releases go and since nothing have coaxed me out to the box office I have had to rely on our good friend the DVD. Yes you know that disc that contains the image file of the movies which you download off of your torrent, remember those dinosaurs, I barely do.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Last week I was blessed to hang out with a good friend of mine on the longest of islands while partaking in some </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">wakeboarding</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> and rich living during a visit to New York. On a rainy down day we were able to catch some time indoors, the perfect time for a little cinema. Thankfully the little cinema included a 47 inch </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">HD</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> 1080p Plasma with a PS3 </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Blu</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Ray player and Bose Surround sound. If you can't make it to the theatre to see a film, make it to </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Durso's</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> house.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">To my amazement and surprise </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Durso</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> had in his possession a copy of </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0448134/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Sunshine</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> on </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Blu</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Ray disc. Many of you are probably making cartoon "?" in your minds right now, which is good, because this is a true sleeper film to me. Beautiful cinematography, excellent acting, spot on soundtrack and superb direction. Not to mention a great story line. Sunshine released but not to great accord and thus has fallen to the back of other great blockbusters of that year. If you are a fan of great cinema though, please do yourself a favor and rent/buy this film, you will not regret it.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Banan-a-meter: 9.6/10 Bananas</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz8GFcmMJWWnQRziKhCUrhjD2Xw0psZ0MdY4x3ODrkxwT8t99sZ8_cJNQJGgX8WSa8yuZt2sa8JvZw2LRsqelZZZdNOSMXVGb5DZKiF6aaHmVgbiwnYc3uUItWglfFTSAPXLjID0sLFV3J/s400/Man+on+Wire+World+Trade+Center+Oscar+New+York+City+Philippe+Petit.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz8GFcmMJWWnQRziKhCUrhjD2Xw0psZ0MdY4x3ODrkxwT8t99sZ8_cJNQJGgX8WSa8yuZt2sa8JvZw2LRsqelZZZdNOSMXVGb5DZKiF6aaHmVgbiwnYc3uUItWglfFTSAPXLjID0sLFV3J/s400/Man+on+Wire+World+Trade+Center+Oscar+New+York+City+Philippe+Petit.png" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 372px;" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">After my stint in NY I traveled back to the happiest of valleys. To no avail, yet again nothing worth noting was released so I reverted back to the couch. After talking up a little documentary about a great feat that I had the pleasure of viewing several months ago, my tastes were finally put to the test.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I sat down for the second time and watched perhaps one of the best documentaries of our time, a fairy tale played out in real life and on a wire in, </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1155592/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Man On Wire</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">. To this day this film gives me goosebumps and brings my face to a </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">perma</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">-grin* (copyrighted </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">ABL</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">). Movies should be something that moves you, and makes you feel, this film does that in so many motions that it is almost hard to sit still at times. If you are having a down day, a day that you feel like you are stuck, then rent this. If you are having an excellent day, and nothing could be better, buy this. Watch this film in whatever way possible, period.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Banan-a-meter: 9.8/10 Bananas</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I would write reviews on both of these movies, but alas that would be breaking away from my true purpose as a blogger of new releases so I will just tell you that it would be a mistake to not grace your minds and eyes with these films. So until my next screening (hopefully </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1119646/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The Hangover</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> release later this week) I will be posting then. Peace out cub scouts.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">P.S. this blogger is officially interning in NYC and making moves to the land of Limited releases and Indie Films, so expect things to get a little more outside of the screening room.</span>chapsmccollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04987996753599958552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1144097330827789204.post-54147858966245840322009-05-28T17:00:00.002-04:002009-05-28T17:04:29.070-04:00Stay Cool...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS-8aEP6FzXGcGjrHKiWKCUFLPtbmM05dadHkXG3WAqIkjeVJO7s60SFVv7oCeCtCg8ICWS8DkBXEN3f0AGIKiBjaGEQo1xGNcozbUfpJFwP3wbi-CQI-Arz5_MRZEcuuxnWVepq0ZyGtm/s1600-h/9_funny_stay_cool.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 223px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS-8aEP6FzXGcGjrHKiWKCUFLPtbmM05dadHkXG3WAqIkjeVJO7s60SFVv7oCeCtCg8ICWS8DkBXEN3f0AGIKiBjaGEQo1xGNcozbUfpJFwP3wbi-CQI-Arz5_MRZEcuuxnWVepq0ZyGtm/s320/9_funny_stay_cool.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340983636032367122" border="0" /></a><br />Since the interweb has just arrived here in Cashville, posts are on their way...sit tight.Benzohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08516927565011659087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1144097330827789204.post-59910568639038111802009-05-21T13:42:00.009-04:002010-02-07T22:15:03.024-05:00Terminator Salvation<a href="http://10friends.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/terminator_salvation1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="223" src="http://10friends.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/terminator_salvation1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;" width="400" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">At this point of the film John Connor (Bale) is questioning Marcus (Worthington) loudly about whether he thinks "is this professional?!" No I lied, but if you do want to see some of Christian Bale's best yelling feats, then check out this film.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Terminator Salvation revolves around the beginning before the first terminator film, involving Connor's learning his destiny to send back his father in time, and the invention of the T-800 serious Terminator (that's the type of terminator the Gov. plays). In all seriousness the plot is pretty simple if not for some sappy love stories dropped here and there but beyond that it follows a straight line.</span><br />
<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">McG</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> had a big project to tackle here, I mean it's T-4, the script itself might as well have been self aware. I would like to see the behind-the-scenes of him and Bale interacting, because personally, I don't think he brought anything from Christian that we haven't seen before. However, Worthington attempts a star performance in this </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">blogger's</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">opinion</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">. He comes out of the gates very strong with a good set of deep emotional undertones, he was feeling his character I believe, and doing a damn good job at keeping it. I did drop the "attempt" for reason though, when the going got tough, and the tough got to yelling, the Mick Dundee in this Aussie came out. Let's not hold this against him though, he may lose it every now and then, and yes Bale is good at dropping his Scottish accent no matter the vocal range, but the dude could still act his way out of a box, so lets get a golf clap. As for the other major players, Moon </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Bloodgood</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> as Blair, gives an enticing performance, which counter acts Helena Carter as Dr. </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Kogan</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">. I would think as Connors mother-to-be she would be a little more emotionally involved, but alas it is not, and Carter is not making me believe she is actually </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Kogan</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> in the film.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I need a whole other paragraph for Common as Barnes, because here comes the dilemma. Is it the writer, actor, or director's fault in this situation. I couldn't tell if it was just bad lines "don't worry he will make it." or if it was bad acting "beautiful." or just bad directing "Blair said you needed to see me." Even simple one liners from this guy hurt. I am going to have to go with part writer and part Common, bad lines+bad delivery=</span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">UnCommonly</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> bad </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">screen-time</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> (uncommonly was inspired by a John </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Tussey</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Dubosky</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">convo</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">. I had previously today).</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As for </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Sharie</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Hurlbut</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> as the DP. The cinematography was pretty simple and nothing really jumped out at me so I will give her a strong handshake and say, good job. The </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">CGI</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> and Effects teams though, KUDOS! They pushed their boundaries this time on a series of films that has been known to push the Special </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">FX</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> and Digital </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">FX</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> boundaries since T-1000 and beads of mercury on a table with hair driers. The machines somewhat resembled those from Transformers, which is perfectly fine, and I think they did a great job with their creation and execution.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Soundtrack didn't really jump off the screen this time, except for the use of a classic 90's alternative rock song used at one part, that was an nice move. The Sound </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">FX</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> were awesome I just have to say, everything fit perfectly. I think it's really hard to make something that doesn't exist sound authentic, and they pulled it off completely.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So it's time to get off of here before my mac book becomes self-aware and starts shooting at me. Would I go see this film in the theaters your </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">probably</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> wondering, yes. The sound and </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">CGI</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> are great and it is a very intense story line, so it was definitely enjoyable. Would I see it again, </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">probably</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> not unless it was free, nothing beats the old Terminator and T-2, but its worth its weight in liquid metal. Oh and look for some throw back lines in the film, they are masked a little by off note acting, but they peak their heads out.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Banan-a-meter: 6.6/10 Bananas</span>chapsmccollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04987996753599958552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1144097330827789204.post-79894193674105886352009-05-20T01:17:00.001-04:002010-02-07T22:14:22.347-05:00Angels and Demons<a href="http://media.entertainment.sky.com/image/unscaled/2008/12/9/Angels-and-Demons-04.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="224" src="http://media.entertainment.sky.com/image/unscaled/2008/12/9/Angels-and-Demons-04.jpg" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;" width="400" /></a>If you have read the book(s) then please raise your hands. Now hands down, to this film. I walked into the theatre thinking, damn I sure hope this was <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Davinci</span> Code Part <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Duex</span>, and it wasn't this was a new movie, with one common link, Tom Hanks. YEAH!<br />
Now I will make my attempt at a synopsis: Angels and Demons is about the Vatican, pope dies, then a bunch of zany stuff happens, and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Professor</span> Robert <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Langdon</span>(Hanks) saves the day with his uncanny knowledge of lots of weird church stuff, even though he is an <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">atheist</span>. There. Seriously too many crazy things happen in this movie to even note. However, although it is crazy, it is smart. They took another Dan Brown novel and were able to adapt it very well to the screen, not too much unbelievable stuff to make it <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">ridiculous</span>, but just enough to keep you wondering what is coming next. For someone who has <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">already</span> read the book, I was still <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">caught</span> up in the suspense of this film.<br />
Ron Howard knows how to direct, and he nails it with Tom Hanks in this film. He could have easily had Hanks do a repeat of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Davinci</span> Code, but no, they went a lot deeper. Hanks is Robert <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Langdon</span>, I felt that every crazy connection he made, he <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">actually</span> did in his head on screen, he <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">literally</span> looked as if he was caught up in the film himself. Ewan <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">McGregor</span> also gives a stellar performance as the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Carmengello</span>, he tricked me again, even though I knew the plot, that he was on the outside loop with what was happening. As for Vittoria (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Ayelet</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Zurer</span>), she seemed to be overshadowed easily in this film, even at times I forgot all about her.<br />
The cinematography was on par with the last film I thought, nothing too crazy and nothing very new. Salvatore <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Totino</span> tried to stick to what he knew I think, so maybe next time Sal can you get a little more wild. However for all you <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">filmies</span> out there, please do pay attention to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">eyelights</span> on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Langdon</span> and the lack of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">eyelights</span> on everyone else, made me think he might have a twinkle of brilliance in those little eyes.<br />
The soundtrack for this was so-so, nothing too hair-raising or wild, something I would consider standard for what the film was covering. My only real gripe is that it was a little too heavy on the foreshadowing of events and too regular, you knew everything was coming and with a movie with so many twists why ruin their timing with early notes.<br />
Lets get technical finally. First off, HOORAY they shot a good bit of this film on the One Camera from Red. If you don't know what this is, get on it <a href="http://www.red.com/">pronto</a>! This technology is breaking us poor indie kids out into the pro world of Hollywood, look out here we come. Also the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">CGI</span> and Special <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">FX</span> team did a stellar job. I have seen the Sistine Chapel in person and I know you can't film or shoot anything in there, or <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">probably</span> most of Vatican, but they recreated everything to a T.<br />
My friend Dan tonight suggested I start giving things a bananas rating on everything since I do hail from another nickname of Johnny Bananas, and I think I will start with this. This is a film that if you read the book, you should go rent, if you DIDN'T read the book, you should go see on the big screen.<br />
<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Banan</span>-a-meter: 7.6/10 Bananaschapsmccollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04987996753599958552noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1144097330827789204.post-14929742141810778612009-05-19T14:02:00.001-04:002010-02-07T22:13:59.718-05:00The Soloist<a href="http://chud.com/articles/content_images/24/soloist_1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><img alt="" border="0" height="266" src="http://chud.com/articles/content_images/24/soloist_1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">When i first saw the preview for this movie I remember turning to my friend at the theatre and saying "</span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Oscar</span><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> in the bag." After seeing this film though, I will have to tone down my previous remark to "</span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Oscar</span><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> in the bag, maybe." The story of a LA Times reporter (Mr. Lopez) who befriends a mentally ill homeless </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">cellist</span><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> (Mr. Ayers). On screen we get to see the darkness of the human mind and the workings of what can drive a man to be living on the streets. However to counter this darkness we see the bright love of music and the warm caring of two friends. Based on a true story, this film captures a unique friendship with skill. The film only lacks but one thing, a distinct ending, I am willing to let this slide though, since it is based on friendship, and one thing can be said for certain, a real friendship lasts eternal and has no ending.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Director Joe Wright did a solid job taking two of the top working actors in </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Hollywood</span><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> and getting them to sing and dance for us on the screen. Hands down Mr. </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Downey</span><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> had the best performance for this film. He shows such subtle tones with his character, even with such sarcastic lines he is able to apply a deeper emotion showing that he really does feel and want to help Mr. Ayers (Mr. Fox). As for the role of Mr. Lopez's (Mr. </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Downey</span><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">) ex-wife and boss (Catherin Keener), I found her acting a little pushed and over the top. You could tell she still had feelings for Mr. Lopez straight from the beginning of film, there was no real character development there throughout the story.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">As the cinematography, wow. Hats off sir, to you Mr. Seamus </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">McGarvy</span><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">. The movie is filled with beautiful shots such as the one above, one of my personal favorites, myself being a sucker for </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">wide shots</span><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> that capture a strong personal emotion between two people. Please pay close attention to the scene with the symphony when this movie is watched, it will make the hair on the back of your neck stand up. The color montage scene is perfect to say the least, after watching what </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">McGarvy</span><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> captures I was able to see into the brain of Mr. Ayers for a few moments, and it was beautiful.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Now to the part that ties it all together, the soundtrack. Superb. I am listening to it as I type this and enjoying every lick of the string. The soundtrack of this film is the third character, every note a line and every </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">crescendo</span><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> a cut. If I had to say one bad thing, and I must, yes it's killing me, the soundtrack did a little too good of a job of foreshadowing for me. It came in just moments too early and gave away that something was about to happen. That being said, the work done by Dario </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Marianelli</span><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> is outstanding.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">So I </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">believe</span><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> its time for me to come to my </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">crescendo</span><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">, overall I really enjoyed this film. In most cases I would allow someone to rent a movie of this caliber, but you must see this in a theater to get the full sound. Listening to this in surround theatre audio is like getting a warm hug. So if your looking for a bear hug, and no ones around, just go buy a ticket for The Soloist.</span>chapsmccollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04987996753599958552noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1144097330827789204.post-18178565684130994422009-05-19T12:25:00.001-04:002010-02-07T22:13:27.963-05:00Getting this party started...<a href="http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v80/220/18/19604310/n19604310_31182250_7490.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="299" src="http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v80/220/18/19604310/n19604310_31182250_7490.jpg" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Benzo and I have decided to pull the trigger and get zany on the internet. He does music, and I do movies, so needless to say, we will be diving into the areas we know and have mild obsessions with. The grammar and spelling may not be superb at times but the content will be there, a diamond is still a diamond even if it is unpolished. Although our creative minds are separated by the mason dixon line phyiscally, our mental collaborative capabilities have never been stronger. Heres our two cents. Word.</span> <span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br />
<br />
PS. for all those wondering about the title, it's a qoute from a roadtrip between four amigos; a hippy, a skateboarder, a frat boy, and a kid with a lot of bracelets on his arm.</span>chapsmccollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04987996753599958552noreply@blogger.com0