If film posters told the truth...

Underrated...

Continuing my viewing of the Alien films I watched Alien 3 very recently, although I did watch the Directors cut which is much superior to the theatrical cut. I think it every time I see it but it is extremely underrated, Alien 3 had to live up to two incredibly good an influential movies. Perhaps that’s the reason most people bring it down, well not today! Today I shall be singing its praises David Fincher was a perfect Director for this, his directing took Alien back to the one stalking Alien format of the first one. As a director who’s not afraid to spill a bit of blood and shock an audience he made it more visceral than its predecessors, showing a side of the Alien we hadn’t seen.

For me the only downfall is that the two characters who survived with Ripley for so long were taken from her, but then again having Newt dead is vital to one of the best scenes in the film; The Autopsy. As Ripley desperately try’s to find how she died, Sigourney Weaver does a top notch job of showing the fear of the thing and the fear of the truth not being believed. It’s scenes like that where the director also shines; his use of sound effects and shots of bloody utensils is dark and very effective.

The Better Half

No not my better half, the better half of Clint Eastwoods WW2 epics. Flags of our fathers wasn’t a bad movie but did seem to drag on a bit, the flashbacks seem convoluted and I think the message got lost. Sure try and deliver a message with these films but no one will be listening if you present them a film that is not entertaining, just look at titanic as much as I loathe it the romance caught everyone up in the story and by the end you could really understand everyone’s situation.

Letters from Iwo Jima on the other hand is a whole different affair; the flashbacks only show enough for you to understand the characters blight and position in the war. Also it’s very rare to see WW2 fought by someone other than Americans and this is a brilliant example. Though subtitled the dialogue is easy to follow and the actors show up their American counterparts something rotten. It was a tough job for Clint but he handles both halves with ease, it’s just that Iwo Jima is the much more effective of the two.

Clint Eastwoods next film is supernatural thriller Hereafter and after that he has Nelson Mandela Biopic lined up, busy man!

If film posters told the truth...

“It’s over man, game over!”

After a busy four days, full of quick little snippets of news to no entry at all on Sunday it’s time to bombard you with what I got up. Well I realised I few things, the first being that I should stop being so negative about Avatar and anticipate like everyone else. The reason for this change of heart is because I watched Aliens and realised the talent of Jim Cameron. My brother once said that you can’t pick any holes in Aliens, whiles I’m sure you could if you wanted to but then why would you want to!? Aliens is up there with one of the best examples of a perfectly executed sequel, it completely respected the original whilst changing the genre of the film making it Horror Action “this time its war”.

Aliens really sparks into life when the colonial marines enter the film and I defy any man who has watched this and didn’t want to be a colonial marine, though if you knew you were going to fight the “Xenomorphs” you may have had second thoughts. It’s that downfall that is most effective; the marines are built up to and though you know it must all go wrong you still route for them. Then they are set upon in what is the stand out Alien Attack of the quadrilogy, for me anyway. When you add to these great performances from everyone involved and the effects of which a vast majority still stand up to today’s standards you have one hell of a movie, not to mention one of the most quotable!

For some news on the prequel check out my blog from Friday.

Thor Casting news...

Anthony Hopkins is set to play Odin in Kenneth Brannaghs forthcoming adaptation that is pert of the set up for the Avengers movie.

One for the trekkies..

pics of the new Klingons...
Who appear in the deleted scenes of JJ Abrams Star Trek reboot.

Ridley Scott Speaks…

About the Alien prequal...

"It's a brand new box of ticks. We know what the road map is, and the screenplay is now being put on paper. The prequel will be a while ago. It's very difficult to put a year on 'Alien,' but [for example] if 'Alien' was towards the end of this century, then the prequel story will take place thirty years prior" he tells the magazine.

If movie posters told the truth...

Johnny 5 is Alive!!!

Oh yes Short Circuit is back, Directed by Steve (Paul Bart: Mall Cop) Carr and adapted by Dan (Robot Chicken) Milano, sounds ok. One of the few films that probably could do with a remake!

The New A Team!!!

If film posters told the truth...

A taste for human flesh

Origin stories; Are they ever really any good? Look at the Star Wars prequels which are largely ignored by the Star Wars fans elite, or this year’s Wolverine, what was the point in that? I think it depends on the motives of the film makers, if the idea is to explore the character or the story then it will more than likely pay some respect to the original material, if it is a shameless Hollywood plug in because they know people with part with the hard earned cash its more than likely going to be crap.

Hannibal Rising is stuck somewhere between, saved mostly by the performance of Gaspard Ulliel. He had a lot to live up to in Sir Ant but he just about pulls it off, showing just enough charming panache to show us what he will become. Though it must be said Hannibal “the cannibal” is actually quite likeable in the films’ despite being a monster! Whilst that can be attributed to Anthony Hopkins performance that is just too charming to not like, this film you root for the bad guy because of the story.

It’s not as well thought out and complex like the others but then I haven’t read the books, so this could be the film makers’ fault. You could also blame that on a younger Lecter, honing his skills for full on murder and consumption of said victims, with a fine Chianti.

If movie posters told the truth...

Avatar photos..

some nice promo shots from Avatar...