Archive for 'movies' Category
2008.09.27
Join the Evil League of Evil!!!
Fans of Dr. Horrible rejoice! The Evil League of Evil is taking new applications. Make the Bad Horse gleeful!
- It should be no more than three minutes in length.
- There should be little to no swearing.
- Dialogue, logos, and music must be original.
- Songs are not required (singing is a bonus).
- You must be evil — it’s a plus to have a name.
- Your application video should be posted to YouTube or Vimeo.
- Email us a link to the video, with your contact information.
-October 11 is the last day to submit.
Of course there are some simple qualifications to those, too, like henchmen are not allowed to apply.
EVIL LEAGUE OF EVIL. Who wants to join with me?
1 Comment | Catergorized: geek movies2008.09.11
Lawrence and the Helmet
I recently learned, via The New Cafe (Racer) Society, that I sort of have the tragic death of T.E. Lawrence to thank for the fact that I’m made to wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle. This is a good thing, though it saddens me that it took the death of one of history’s more interesting personalities to bring this about. It turns out that Sir Hugh Cairns, one of the neurosurgeons who tried to save Lawrence’s life after a motorcycle crash, became very interested in how to prevent it from happening again. His research led to safety helmets for motorcycles and much of the legislation mandating their use.
It’s interesting to me because Lawrence has always been one of those larger than life characters for me, and I’ve seen the movie Lawrence of Arabia many times. I knew he died in a motorcycle accident, but I had no idea helmet and helmet laws were the result. As they say, The More You Know…
No Comments | Catergorized: motorcycle movies2008.07.16
Hellboy: The Golden Army
I went and saw Hellboy tonight with friends. I loved the first one and this one is just as good, though definitely different. More humor, more character, and a villain I could identify with. Lesson learned: never invite Red to karaoke…
No Comments | Catergorized: movies2008.04.30
Iron Man Rocks
I just got back from seeing Iron Man tonight with a bunch of friends from work. Aside from some pacing issues, this movie rocked. Robert Downey Jr. nailed Tony Stark, rich playboy tinkerer (I would love to travel with him on his private plane!) but the most impressive actor was Jeff Bridges playing Obadiah Stane. I didn’t even know it was him until the credits rolled. The effects were spot on and though it left some lose ends I feel quite certain we’ll be seeing another Iron Man movie.
No Marvel-based movie would be complete without Stan Lee in a cameo role. He appeared as a hot dog vendor in X-Men, a security guard in Ang Lee’s Hulk, and in a couple of the Spider Man movies. In this one he appears as a playboy. The ultimate playboy: Hugh Hefner!
Even if you aren’t a fan of the comic book (and, honestly, I’m not) this was a lot of fun. I’d venture to say it’s even better if you have no knowledge of the comic, which in my book means they (the writer and director) did a brilliant job. Summer movie season kicks off with a blast with Iron Man. I’d even go see this one again!
2 Comments | Catergorized: movies2008.03.20
Gran Torino
I don’t care what this movie is about… When it comes out I’m going to see it. Clint Eastwood is going to direct and star in a movie called Gran Torino.
We had a 1976 Ford Gran Torino when I was a kid. Four doors, silver, and built like a tank. When I could finally drive in high school that was the car my parents let me use. My friends dubbed it The Beast and the name stuck. We had all kinds of adventures in The Beast, from Jolt dropping to road trips to simply driving to and from school, which was never a direct route… There were always detours and visits along the way. I had The Beast in college, too, and put thousands upon thousands of miles on him. I wonder if my parents had any idea at the time just how far I’d gone.
The Beast was indestructible. We had it in Korea when we lived there the first time. A bus tried to cut into our lane and hit us instead. The bus was a wreck but The Beast had a little ding and paint scratches. The Beast would fix himself, too. Once he had a hole in his radiator and I’d have to fill it up after every trip. Then one day me and some friends were on a road trip to some obscure Ohio town and I was told to make a left turn LONG after it was safe to make a left turn. I slid in the gravel in the median and right into the pole holding up the “No U Turn” sign and flattened it. Afterwards the radiator never leaked again.
I loved The Beast but after college I was off to Prague. I left him in my parent’s care and, while I was on another continent and couldn’t do much about it, they donated The Beast to an auto repair school. Probably a fitting end though I think an escape like any of the chase scenes from Blues Brothers. My sister always complained that I destroyed him and he wouldn’t run (I think she wanted it once she was old enough) but I know he was running perfectly well -or at least well enough- when I left.
I miss that car. Every once in a while I see a Gran Torino on the road and get wistful and nostalgic. I’ve always liked the movie The Highlander and there is one scene, after the fight in the garage at Madison Square Garden and MacLeod is getting the guy’s power, where you can see the front of a Gran Torino in the background. Yes, the car affected me so much that I notice them in movies, even.
No word on what the movie is about, but it had best feature some shots of one of The Beast’s cousins or I’m gonna be pissed!
5 Comments | Catergorized: college family friends korea life memories movies2008.03.05
I Want to See The Fall
The Fall is a movie by Tarsem Singh who brought us the visually stunning but kinda slow paced The Cell. This new movie looks stunning, with comic book archetypes, crazy stylized action and a potentially awesome story of redemption. It has been showing around the world already and will come to America sometime this month. Check out the trailer; awesome, neh?
No Comments | Catergorized: movies2008.01.14
Stardust
StardustI just recently picked up Stardust on DVD. Brilliant.
Back in my high school days my friends and I watched a few movies probably far too much. The Princess Bride was one of those films. It appealed to our romantic sense of adventure. Plus girls liked it, too, so our female friends could hang out with us stinky boys while we guzzled Jolt and ate Oreo cookies. Highlander was another but I think that was more for the boys; it had blades and boobies both of which, as a teenager, were immensely more interesting than the girls who weren’t sharing their boobies and didn’t have swords.
That’s neither here nor there, though. If I were in high school today Stardust would be one of the movies we would watch again and again. It has adventure, romance, magic, and great humor. I’d heard that it was marketed horribly (stupid marketers) and that’s a shame because this really is a great film. I have a feeling that despite the fact I’m not in high school anymore I’ll see this many more times.
3 Comments | Catergorized: memories movies2007.12.08
The Golden Compass Movie
This will be quick as I’m typing this from my iPhone and sitting in Waikiki and should be having more fun on the beach and surfing rather than geeking out. Anyways, the movie The Golden Compass can be summed up thus: a jaw dropping experience. This phrase will have more meaning after you see the film. I really liked the adaption of Phillip Pullman’s book and though they dropped almost completely the theistic/gnostic aspects of the book, my single biggest complaint was the non-stop pacing. No breaks in the plot to take a breather and mentally digest what we experience on the screen!
That being said, I would love to see this movie again after reading the books to refresh my memory. My friends, who read the books more recently than I did kept reminding me of bits they left out which would have been great to include. Fantasy movies have traditionally not done well with most audiences but I think Peter Jackson helped create a formula that works pretty well and that The Golden Compass and the Narnia franchises would do well to emulate in their own ways. I hope that with the next movies in the series make the movies just a bit longer so we, the audience, can take in their vision.
3 Comments | Catergorized: movies2007.11.12
Battlestar Galactica: Razor
On November 24th, just a short ways away, SciFi Channel will be premiering Battlestar Galactica: Razor, a two hour movie that tells the story of the Battlestar Pegasus and her crew. This has been expected to be filler to tide everyone over until Season Four, the final season of the show, gets underway sometime in 2008.
However tonight I just got back from a movie theater showing of Razor with Banana Boy and let me tell you, it kicked some serious butt. Spoilers follow so stop now if you aren’t into it; just be satisfied that you will really enjoy the show!
1 Comment | Catergorized: geek movies san francisco tv2007.09.27
Resident Evil: Extinction
I meant to post this earlier since I saw it with friends over the weekend, but sad news at work put me off it. Now I’m ready.
Resident Evil: Extinction rocked. Yes, there were some dreadfully confusing bits but I didn’t really care. The action was solid, the creatures (like the ravens) were creepy, and it has Milla Jovovich in it. Really, the only thing I though lame was the ending… This wasn’t because of how it ended, but simply because it happened too fast. See it, you’ll know what I mean.
Redge and Hiromi had an interesting theory about the Resident Evil series they told us before the movie started. Thier theory is that at the end of every movie Milla will be shown naked. It turns out their theory was accurate! Also true to form, the ending is open enough that it could lead into another movie. Maybe after Milla has her first child.
Finally, a little note to the three Chinese guys who say next to me in the theater. SHUT THE FSCK UP. It’s a movie, not a place to hold long, loud conversations. Is it even possible to whisper in Chinese? I have to assume so but these twats couldn’t, even with half the theater telling the to shut up. People like that… there should be a way of getting them kicked out. Something combining an electric chair and an airplane ejection seat. Without a parachute.
But the movie was great! Go see it!
No Comments | Catergorized: friends movies
