Smug Comic Nerd Takes Down A Doubter....

So a friend of mine, Mary Claire, from the bar I work in decided to share an awesome story about a friend of hers named Joe. Joe is an above average comic nerd, who collects many titles on both a monthly and graphic novel basis. So imagine his shock when he met some girl who claimed to be a comic fan too... and instead of recognizing how diesel Joe's ability as a comic collector was, she decided to mock him by saying he could feel free to borrow any books he wanted from her paltry collection. Hmmmmphhhh!!! So Joe did what any self-respecting, just insulted comic book nerd would do... he went home and created a 3 minute Youtube video detailing his EXTENSIVE comic book collection, complete with graphics and everything!!!!! Don't ever mess with a comic nerd and question his collection... LOL. Here is the video in its entirety after the jump. Enjoy....

The Hangover 3: Could This Be The Death of The Sequel As We Know It ??? - A Rant By Mike CCD

Last night was setting up to be one of the best nights I had planned in a while. It started out with L & B pizza for dinner. Any night that includes L & B is a great night... but it was set up to get even better. Tara and I had tickets to go see The Hangover 3... and we couldn't be more excited! I was a huge fan of the first film in the series and is one of Tara & I's earliest movie memories. We laughed so hard in that film that I almost choked to death... literally. So when the second movie came out last year,  we were there opening night... and were promptly disappointed. We both really didn't like the second film. It was a complete re-hash of the first film in every which way: They got drugged again? The baby replaced by the monkey? Chow in the freezer instead of the trunk? Teddy missing instead of Doug? Paul Giamatti giving the gang deadlines instead of Chow? It was a complete re-do, and not nearly done as well. Now I will say that upon further viewings of  The Hangover II I have come to appreciate it. It is still unoriginal and kinda dumb... but it does have some funny parts. I can watch it and smile. Not nearly as good as the original, but a decent comedy. But The Hangover 3? Pure shit. I have never seen a more unfunny film in my life... especially one that was poised to be so great. So is this the death of the sequel craze as we know it???

Please read more after the jump... *** No real spoilers for the Hangover 3, I promise****



Listen, I am a realist. I know Hollywood is not going to stop making sequels. They are cash cows. Instant money on a proven product. The demand is created by the fans who love the original. But they should be saved for action, sci fi & comic book type movies... not comedies and dramas. No fucking reason for it at all. Why you ask? here are a few reasons:

What a sequel is needed for...

1) Action, Sci Fi & Comic Book movies are telling sweeping , multi-part stories that may require more than one movie to tell. Especially if they are adapting a written work. Think of Star Wars... it is such a life long tale of characters (the prequels take Anakin from 5 year old to adult, the original trilogy take Luke from cornball teen to full fledged Jedi Knight). They couldn't be boxed into a 2.5 hour film. The Marvel films come to mind as well. Think of all the layers of the story that culminated in Avengers. Sequels are necessary to tell the full story. But a comedy? No... no fucking reason. Usually comedies are tied up nicely in a little bow... just like Hangover 1 was. why do we need to see more? What can it add?

One of the best scenes ever...

2) Shock & surprise are what makes for the best moments of a comedy. so how do you capture magic in a bottle again? You really can't. My favorite moment of the first Hangover is when they first wake up from the blackout. The chicken roaming around the room. Alan falling all over the place. Stew face down on the marble floor. The tiger in the bathroom. The chaos of the room and them having no fucking idea what happened. And then the baby crying out... it was a perfect 4 minutes, and set up the whole fucking movie by saying "how can it have gotten this bad in just one night?". A perfect moment created by Todd Phillips. But when it happened in the second film, it was like "yeah.. really?". Alan's head was shaved, Stew had the face tattoo... it was amped up a notch and a bit darker, but really it was nowhere near as moving as the first scene. It is a played out joke... and has no such effect. Does it do the job and get the movie started? Yeah, sure... but it does nothing to build momentum. So why bother?

Oh look, we are in an elevator for the third straight movie...

3) After a while people just aren't funny when you know their shtick. In the first movie I was blown away by Alan's stupidity and childlike behavior. He was hysterical for me. By the third movie, it becomes stupid. The movie opens with him driving down the freeway with a giraffe in a trailer. It wasn't shocking or funny... just kinda dumb. Leslie Chow was one of the funniest cameo characters ever created in the history of cinema. But by the third film he is a caricature of himself, which was originally an over the top caricature. How many times is Ed Helms going to screech in terror? We get it, your a dentist and easy scared because your the timid one. And how many times is Bradley Cooper going to get hit and scream out "Awww, what the fuck?". He is always getting the physical brunt of the gang's nonsense and always says the same fucking thing. You gotta be a bit more creative in writing dialogue than a simple catch phrase like that, no? And how many times is Doug going to be missing/out of the action? It is just dumb at this point. And could you waste anymore fantastic actors in cameos? Paul Giamatti in the second one and John Goodman in the third are both the exact same character, both of whom are nothing compared to the hysterical Chow of the the first film that they are supposed to be emulating. It is lazy, unoriginal, and a clear cash grab by the studio and the filmmaker/writers/actors. And frankly, it sucks.

The Emperor is not impressed, and neither were we...

I was sitting there as the film opened and I was super excited. The prison break sequence had me on the edge of my seat and I was ready for something hysterical. All I got was a melodrama that provided me with a few chuckles at best. To call this a comedy is an insult to any comedy ever written. It was plain unfunny, wack, and killed any good will that the characters gained in the first two films. It is not even close to the second film... and the second film is a shell of the first film. So how do you even compare the first film to the third one. You can't. I hope Hollywood takes a good hard look at this and realizes that the sequel should be used only in certain circumstances. Comedies should never be one of them. I saw Iron Man 3 last week and I loved it. sequels can be good when done well.  Thanks for fucking up a classic comedy Hollywood.... now lets focus on trying to get more original comedies like the original Hangover made in the future!!!    

Mike D's Top Ten Most Anticipated Movies Of Summer 2013

So... it seems to have been that time of the year again. The summer movie season is set to open this year with Iron Man 3 on May 3rd. A per usual, there are an obscene amount of tentpole flicks (The Lone Ranger, World War Z, etc), sequels (Iron Man 3, Kick Ass 2, The Hangover 3,etc) and animated fare (Despicable Me 2, Monsters U, Turbo, etc). So once again I know I will be really busy at the theater for the next four months. But I decided to highlight ten movies that I really am anticipating... all original works, all first cracks at a movie lover like myself. Sure, I will be there for Iron Man, Hangover, etc.... but these are the ones that I am really looking forward to. Lets see how it all plays out in September... check out my list after the jump...



Here is my list in order of my interest:

10) The Conjuring - July 19th

This is a paranormal research story that is based on true accounts. It is directed by James Wan (Saw & Insidious) and it stars Vera Farmiga & Patrick Wilson. Wilson was great in Insidious, so I can't wait to see him work with Wan. Farmiga has done awesome in The Bates Motel, so i am looking forward to seeing her in a feature length horror role. This one looks spooky as shit...

9) The Bling Ring - June 14th

This one comes ripped straight from the headlines and is directed by Sofia Coppola (love her). It tells the story of four wild L.A. teens and the theft rampage that they went on, robbing celebrity houses. The real story involved thefts at Rachel Bilson, Paris Hilton, and many others... Plus this one gives us a grown up Hermoine (Emma Watson) in the lead, so I am in right away.

8) The To Do List - August 16th

You now how teenage comedies about losing virginity always revolve around boys? Yeah... not anymore. Aubrey Plaza is a valedictorian of her High School, and she is desperate to figure out the A,B,C's of sex. so she decides to take a methodical approach that has worked so well for her in her studies: she makes a to do list and checks them off as she completes them. The list is filled with sexual acts (think about things like a Dirty Sanchez & Hooking The Marlin) and will probably lead to hilarity. Plus Plaza can get it...

7) After Earth - June 7th

I am being optimistic about this one, and part of that is because of the director M. Night Shayamalan. no, not because of his track record. i loved his earlier films, but I truly believe that The Happening is the single worst movie ever made. Ever. But since he has been on a down swing in his career, he needs this one... bad. Plus the studio is keeping his name off of the adverts and credits during teh trailers for the film, instead allowing the lush scenery and potential of the Smith boys (father Will & son Jayden) carrying the audience's interest in the film. The action looks great, and Night is due for a hit... we shall see.

6) Maniac - June 21st

Elijah Wood is in this remake of the 80's classic horror film. I know I said that this list would consist of no sequels or remakes, but this one is a must see for me as the original is a huge part of my childhood. plus Wood was super fucking creepy as Kevin in Sin City, so this is right up his alley. Love me some non mainstream horror paying homage to classics....

5) R.I.P.D. - July 19th

Ryan Reynolds. Jeff Bridges. Mary Louise Parker. Based on a beloved indy comic. Yeah, I will be first in line to see this. When a cop is killed in the line of duty, they are given a choice. They can go to heaven/hell (whichever they are destined for) or they can join the Rest In Peace Department for 100 years of service, keeping rouge criminal spirits & ghosts in line. Recently killed cop Reynolds decides to join, and is partnered with grizzled veteran Bridges (who is in the last year of his 100 years of service, so is an Old West lawman.) Madness ensues. Think Men in Black with a sprinkle of Ghostbusters.    

4) The Purge - May 31st

America is nearly perfect in this movie. Crime is non existent. Unemployment is down under 1%. everyone is prospering. How you ask? Well, one night a year all crime is legal. It is called The Purge, and it allows all people to take out any frustrations they have. They can take those feelings out in the worst ways possible... and boy is it helpful! But when a family locks in for the night and one of their teenagers decides to lend a hand to a guy being chased by a group of murders, Ethan Hawke's family becomes part of the murder plot due to their harboring of the target. This is a great concept and I hope it is pulled off...

3) The World's End - August 23rd

Simon Pegg. Nick Frost. Martin Freeman.  All starring in a movie from Edgar Wright. 5 buddies reunite to complete an epic 12 bar Pub Crawl that they started years earlier but never completed. Now that they are older, wiser and drink much more they are planning to get it done. But there might be one problem with that... Aliens? Monsters? Movie critics? The secret of the movies villain has not been revealed, but i for one will be right there to see it all play out...

2) This Is The End - June 12th

Real life friends James Franco, Jay Burcel, Seth Rogan, Danny McBride, Jonah hill, and Craig Robertson all star in this film as themselves. They are rich, young, and the toasts of Hollywood. They are all super successful. And when they get together for a party at Franco's house, it is just another party night for the crew. Or is it? Aliens invade, the end of the world is at hand... and these pampered idiots now must survive the post apocalyptic world that is left. With tons of guest stars, this meta comedy is almost my most anticipated film of the summer. The distinction goes to...

1) Pacific Rim - July 12th

Holy shit i can't wait to see this movie. Guillermo Del Torro always has my attention, but when you make up a movie about giant robots fighting huge kaiju monsters. Sprinkle in Charlie Hunan (Sons of Anarchy) and Idris Elba (The Wire & Luther), some unbelievable realistic looking robots, and the best looking giant monsters I have ever seen and you got summer hit written all over it! If there was ever a reason to see a movie in IMAX 3-D, this is it. I'm in....

Honorable Mention: You're Next & All the Boys Love Mandy Lane -

I chose these two movies because they are finally getting released after laying in release date hell. All the Boys was filmed back in 2006 and you're Next back in 2010... but the companies that made them went bankrupt. So they bounced around and now have the proper backers, and both are finally coming out. Good to see these films actually getting a proper release...    

The 2013 Oscars: A Quick Recap & Small Rant by Mike CCD

I watched the Oscars again the day after (I had work last night, so I DVR'ed it even though I had it on at the bar last night, albeit on silent) and I must say I am pleasantly surprised! I am not one of those award show haters who criticizes the show based on who wins and who loses. That is just stupid. The show itself and the winners/losers are two separate entities, and should be viewed as such. The host, the songs, performances, and the presenters make up one aspect of the show, and then the awards themselves make up part number 2.  The actual awards part will always be debated after the fact and snubs will cause people to be mad at the results but, that can't be avoided when there is always only one winner. The first part, however, the REST of the show... that can be awesome and save the day all together for anyone mad about their favorites not winning. When Seth McFarlane was picked to host the show, I immediately began looking forward to it. How would he execute the hosting duties? Would he be as raunchy as we expect from his work? Would he use Ted & Stewie in the fucking Oscar broadcast?! Would he bash the celebs unmercifully the way Ricky Gervais did a few years back on the Golden Globes... or would he go even further? All of these things had me excited for the show for the first time in years, and sort of gave me hope after last years straight-forward Billy Crystal mop-up job of the previous year's Anne Hathaway/James Franco shit-show. So how did I think it went? Check after the jump....



So there were lots of things I liked, some unreal stuff that I LOVED, and a few moments I kinda hated. I'm not going to comment on the awards themselves too much. More about the production of the award show, itself, and added bonuses. Lets get to it, shall we...

The Bad:
There wasn't much I disliked about the show, not much at all. As a matter a fact, this must have been the FIRST Oscars that I have watched since I was 15 or so (when I started paying attention to things like production value and historical significance of events) that I had very little to complain about. So I'll start with the bad since there wasn't much....

1. I didn't really like the Musical singing number. I get it, Les Mis was a big deal this year. But why trot out Catherine Zeta Jones to rehash a boring 'Chicago' number and get another Jennifer Hudson performance of her 'Dreamgirls' hit all alone on stage, and then completely fast forward to the awesome performance of Les Mis's full cast? The two old performances were boring, pedestrian, and weak in effect ...and then they get blasted off the stage by a killer ensemble piece like the Les Mis cast performance. The Les Mis piece disparages the shit out of the first two glimpses back into Oscar history, and  serves as a kind of gloating moment as to what a real musical could be.
2. Why the fuck did every male celebrity (well not all, but at least 90% of them) have some crazy-ass beards? I rock a beard, and I love me some facial hair... but when this many usually clean shaven celebs are rocking something, then you know it is not by choice and because they were told to do so. I fucking hate when something I do, regularly, all of the sudden becomes a big trend. then people start looking at me like I'm the one who is trying to fit in when, all the while, I have had a beard for the last 10 years!!!! GRRRRR....
3. How about putting a banister on one side of the steps leading up to the stage? Would a fucking handrail really kill the aesthetics of the stage that much? I was so happy for Jennifer Lawrence when she won Best Actress. A moment that may prove to be the only one in her career in which she wins such a prestigious award in her field (I think she will win plenty more, but nothings a lock). So imagine how embarrassed and mad I was for her when she fell UP THE FUCKING STAIRS while going to accept her statuette. WTF set decorators!? Do you SEE some of dresses these chicks are wearing? Make a handrail happen you pricks....
4. Seth McFarlane... why didn't we get more of you? I wanted to see him dropping more one-liners, abusing celebs, and doing things I never knew the talented guy could do (this dudes singing voice is epic!)... and I guess that is selfish of me. I know he got the gig, but ABC was probably treading on the side of caution with such a wildcard as McFarlane. I hope he becomes the next decades Billy Crystal or Whoppi Goldberg, hosting the show multiple times to give us much more of what was a great thing!

And now for the things I loved. There were a lot of loves in this 4 hour telecast, but I will try to narrow it down to my favorite moments:

1. Seth Mcfarlane's opening was fantastic! Time travel, William Shatner, the three song and dance numbers from the future featuring real celebs (Charlize Theron killed that dance... she looked so gorgeous). Plus he absconded with the 'Flying Nun' in the 'Smokey and the Bandit' car!!! He was so awesome, and I thought it was a pretty solid opening. I thought he was good throughout the show, but the 20 minute opening was, by far, McFarlane's shining moment... and one that will go down in history as one of the funniest I can remember!
2. The Bond tribute was fantastic. 50 years of Bond, summed up through a crazy montage from all the films and the rendition of 'Goldfinger' by Shirley Bassey. Than Adele wins for best song and absolutely kills the live performance. Great tribute from one of my favorite film franchises ever.
3. The 'In Memoriam' tribute was amazing this year, especially since it included people like Ralph McQuarrie, Adam Yauch, and Herbert Lom... people who may not have been the biggest starts to die this year but were very important to me in my life as a film fan. especially Lom, who starred opposite Peter Sellers in my favorite films ever, the 'Pink Panther' movies. I am forever grateful to those who pass on, and the tribute is always a highlight for me. And to then bring out Babs for a little sing-a-long... yeah that was cool. 
4. I really liked the laid back atmosphere of the awards this year.  Previous years were a bit stuffy, but this year everyone involved seemed laid back, no one looked angry (even Tommy Lee Jones smiled!!!!), and they looked like they were having fun... and that has to have started with my main man Seth leading the charge. It made for good TV....
5. I also liked Seth McFarlane's intro of all the presenters. His comment that he was bringing out the cast of 'Chicago' as presenters because he felt the show wasn't "gay" enough yet, brought out Daniel Radcliffe and Kristen Stewart as a "boy wizard" and a "girl vampire" and said that they are "everything the Christian Right hates about Hollywood", or quipping that his next presenter (Sandra Bullock) "starred as a raging alcoholic in 28 Days... a role that (he) would be executing in an hour and a half"!!! Wow, all of them were pretty funny and well aimed barbs, but none really crossed the line.... well, maybe a little bit!
6. The Les Mis performance was amazing. I haven't seen the film yet, but the performance of that cast and knowing that they all sang their own parts in the movie makes me want to see it even more. Great live rendition, with the killer surprise performance of the night having to have come from Russell Crowe. This guy can sing, huh? Wow....
7. Quentin Tarantino's acceptance speech for Best original screenplay for 'Django Unchained'. No real reason for this making my favorite moments list other than the fact that I am glad he won and anytime I can hear the off-the-cuff comments of QT at such a prestigious event, it reminds me just how far he has come from the anti-establishment director he was known for to being accepted into the inner circle of filmmakers ...even though he didn't change at all. It is nice to see Old Hollywood accepting the inevitable. Plus he ended it with "Peace Out".. so great!!!!
8. The gorgeous women of the Oscars. The ladies looked great last night, with my top picks going to Anne Hathaway, Jennifer Lawrence, Kerry Washington, Salma Hayek, Sandra Bullock, Stacy Keibler, and Halle Berry. Adele looked great too! Charlize Theron was, by far, the most stunning of the night to me. Good lawd she looked great!!!! She is just getting hotter and hotter the older she gets... and her and Hathaway pulled off the bob perfectly, joining perennial short hair wearer Halle Berry as a trio of gorgeous women without an updoo.
9. Quenzhane Wallis. Wow. 9 years old, probably 7 when she filmed the movie. She is a tour de force. Can't wait to see what she does in the future. She killed in 'Beasts of the Southern Wild'. I loved whenever the camera showed her, and she flexed her muscles and smiled. great to see that kid enjoying herself. 
10.  It was really good to see Michael Douglas looking healthy. He is one of my all time faves, and he was looking very close to death a few years ago, thanks to cancer. He looked fantastic last night, and I hope he churns out many more movies for me and others to enjoy!!!! 

So that's it. I hope you enjoy my critiques and criticisms. Looking forward to next year with baited breath... now lock McFarlane up as host ASAP!!!!  

   

Beautiful Creatures: How Can A Film Be So Good Yet Get The Story Adaption So Wrong? A Rant by Mike CCD

Last night was Valentines Day, and my fiance and I do not like to get caught up in all the schmoes that go out to dinner on that night. Everyplace is packed and uncomfortable, and we hate it. So we decided to take a short drive into New Jersey to attend a movie at an AMC Dine IN Theater. This is a movie theater with super comfy leather recliners, a full on dinner menu, and alcoholic beverages... basically it is heaven on earth. We decided to see Beautiful Creatures, the book adaption that is set to be the next franchise type event series. It is based on a book series by Kami Garcia & Margret Stohl. There are four books in the series, and since Tara and I like these types of books we decided to grab the set about a month ago in preparation for the upcoming movie. The book revolves around two teenagers, a boy that is native to South Carolina named Ethan and the new girl who just moved into town named Lena. In this small town things don't change often, so when Lena shows up as the relative to the town outcasts she starts a stir. But things are a bit complicated because Ethan knows her... well, actually he has been dreaming of her for the past few months. There is something about this girl... and after they begin to connect Ethan finds out that Lena is a Caster (a sort of witch) who comes from a long line of casters. Not only is he dating a teenage witch, but there are many other things that are not quite right in Gatling, South Carolina. Lets just say things get a bit strange... in a good way. As they couple speeds towards Lena's 16th birthday (the day which she is claimed for The Light or The Dark), things get quite hectic. Tara and I flew threw the first book, and we were super hyped to see how it converted to the screen. We got that chance on Thursday, but the results weren't quite what we had hoped for. But they weren't exactly bad results either. Check out the rest after the jump....

Now like any book adaption, there are going to be differences when it gets adapted to the TV/Movie format. There are some huge differences in adaptions like what occurred when Stanley Kubrick adapted Stephen King's The Shining or when the original Wizard of Oz was adapted from the L. Frank Baum novel.  Sometimes the book to film conversion is spot on, like the Harry Potter books and season 1 of Game of Thrones. There are some differences in HP & GOT, but they are very small. Usually when there are major differences in an adaption the conversion tends to be subpar and disappoints fans of the original work. Especially a series that has as many readers as Beautiful Creatures does. But in the case of BC there are tons of changes that have been made for the film... and changes that don't make a whole lot of sense. This would normally piss me off immensely, but to be honest with you the movie was quite good. How? Why? I am not sure. With the changes that they made, it should have come up way short. But it didn't. How the fuck is this possible?

****Slight Spoilers For The Book & Movie Ahead*****

Lets start with the changes. In a broad stroke, there are massive differences. I mean massive. The timeline of the book is shortened from 7 months to 4 months. There is a major subplot of the story (sort of time traveling) that is completely underplayed in the film. No less than 7 MAJOR characters from the book were completely excised from the film. SEVEN... at a minimum, including the fantastic dog character of Boo Radley (How teh fuck could you leave out this awesome dog???). No less than 10 major plot lines were either abandoned or severely altered, mostly because of the characters that were eliminated for the film. And the whole final problem of the book was completely altered. With all of that and more being changed (I am sure I have forgot a ton of stuff that I didn't catch as changed on first viewing) how could it still end up going well?

Well, first of all, the cast is fantastic. Jeremy Irons is fantastic as recluse Macon Ravenswood, Viola Davis is fantastic as Amma, and Emma Thompson was very good (as per usual) in the role as the evil Sarafine. Emmy Rossum is also FANTASTIC as Lena's dark caster cousin Ridley.

In the book she is a Siren caster, which means she uses her sexuality to persuade people to do stuff. In the book she is hot as shit and dripping sexuality... and Rossum is PERFECT. Cause she is perfect. But I digress. Even with all these great cast members, the real stars of the show are the proverbial stars of the show. Newcomers Alden Ehrenreich and Alice Englert shine as Ethan and Lena. Shine. Like perfect representations of their book counterparts. With all the chemistry and teen angst that the book characters had. This is quite impressive for two newcomers with relatively no experience. And this cast overcomes most of the things that are left out of the book. Most... not all.

I'm not going to bring up all the plot changes or character subtractions because the movie literally JUST came out last night and I don't want to confuse anybody. But I will say this: The books are freaking fantastic. Read these four books (I am only on book 2, but it is great). They are great. But if you are going to do both (read the book and watch the movie), i would do it in reverse order and watch the film first. That way you are not thrown off by all the various changes. I do expect the film will do well, and I do expect a sequel. So will they turn the franchise back towards the road to reconciling with the books plot lines, or will they keep striking down this alternate path established with the movie adaption? I am not sure. But I know one thing... I can't wait to see more Cousin Ridley (Rossum) & Lena (Englert) with their sexy selves....  

 

So JJ Is Doing 'The Wars' Huh? A Short CCD Rant by Mike CCD

So, LucasFilms and Disney have announced that JJ Abrams, of 'Lost' & the new 'Star Trek' franchise fame, will be the director of the seventh full length 'Star Wars' movie. It is set to take place somewhere in the future after the events of the 'Return of the Jedi', may feature some of the familiar characters we love (albeit much older and in a supporting roles) and will sure to be the movie event of 2015 alongside 'Avengers 2'. While I love me some JJ and am actually really excited for another set of Star Wars movies, I can't help but have some trepidation. So here is a little bit of a rant on why I think it could be good, but also 3 reasons why this could be disastrous. Lets delve in, shall we...



Lets look at the positives:

 1) Disney is in charge now, and George has moved on to greener pastures. I was never someone who hated on Lucas... they are HIS movies after all. But he may have dropped the ball, a bit, on the prequels (depending on your feelings) and now the Mouse House is in charge. Disney is not in the business of losing money (usually). With Marvel killing all types of cinema box office records, the pressure is on. Which brings me to my next point...

2) JJ is no slouch. The guy has a track record....a huge one. 'Lost', 'Alias'...kid can do TV! 'Mission Impossible III' & 'Star Trek'... kid can save franchises! 'Super 8'? The kid can do original. So he ain't no slouch that can be bossed around... nah, JJ is as big as you can get in the current climate of Hollywood. I think this is great, because whether it turns out good or not, at least we will get HIS movie... HIS vision. Now I don't know exactly how it's all gonna shake out, but at least we're getting a masters take, right now, while he is in his prime! And finally...

3) The guy always has killer casts. Just look at his track record: Made a star out of Keri Russell on 'Felicity'; discovered a little actress named Jennifer Garner and made her a bonafide star on 'Alias'; picked out one of the greatest ensemble casts of all time and made them all stars in their own right, forever, on 'Lost'. Also, he made a star out of Chris Pine, Karl Urban & Zachary Quinto on the big screen in Trek. All those kids from 'Super 8' are gonna be stars... watch! Especially, that little Fanning girl...she is a star in the making. And let's not forget how he cast Phillip Seymour Hoffman as one of the best, most unsuspected villains of all time in 'Mission Impossible 3'... before PSH was the mega-serious acting star he is today. If I gotta put together what amounts to one of the most important casts in the history of cinema, I want THIS guy!

So the proof is in the pudding. If anyone is up to making this film, it is JJ. Steven Spielberg is too old and might not have the heart for this undertaking. Same with a guy like Sam Raimi. Kevin Smith seems like a good choice, but might be too snarky and smart with his dialogue for his own good. Matthew Vaughn, Duncan Jones, Rian Johnson or Matt Reeves? Good choices but, probably not seasoned enough yet. Joss Whedon is a bit busy killing the Marvel Comics Universe. My only other logical choice would have been Jon Favreau. Guy is a great director, can do big budget, and has a killer relationship with the studio but, can he do full-on Sci Fi? not sure. JJ really is the logical choice.

...but, there are a downsides to this as well. And to be honest, you don't have to make that far of a stretch see them. Like all things, this situation has two sides. Here is my take on why this may not work so great...

My main man Sean Hartter's take on JJ doing The Wars & Trek

1) If JJ takes on 'Star Wars' and all it is going to entail over the next 10 years, he's probably leaving 'Star Trek'...and that sucks, 'cause he made Trek watchable. He made it great. And he did it as the complete overseer.. directing the movie which, contrary to popular belief, is not a role he occupies often. He is more often associated with projects as a producer but, when he actually directs, the guy is gold. So will he stay on as a Trek producer into the future? Probably but, being in the chair is probably over. And that stinks for Trek fans... which brings us to point #2.

2) 'Star Trek' & 'Star Wars' are completely different and the fans all kinda hate each other. It's the oldest rivalry in the world of Sci fi. Trekkies hate the Wars. Star Wars fanboys hate Trek. it is one of the written rules of geekdom. Watch this clip from Fanboys to prove my point:




Now, Am I crazy to think that this new pairing of, 'Star Trek' legend, JJ with 'Star Wars' can cause the geek universe to fold in on itself and implode? No... there will be blood in the streets of sci-fi conventions everywhere! Phasers will not be set to stun, light sabers will be extra charged, and people are going to die when this fight finally takes place. Romulans vs. Wookies, Klingons vs. Bounty Hunters, Green Bitches as slaves in Jabba's dungeons... it is gonna be fucking crazy!!!! Trek fans will hate JJ for leaving their franchise and bringing glory to 'Star Wars'. If 'Star Wars Episode VII' turns out to be shit, Star wars fanboys will say it is because we trusted a shit-loving Trekkie with our franchise. It could be awful no matter how it turns out. And finally...

3) JJ is directing from a script. Not HIS script.... not a script from one of his collaborators or someone he is working side-by-side with. He is going to have to work from someone else's blueprint.  I'm not sure how I feel about that. I guess we will have to see which direction they want to take it. Will they go down a similar path of the Timothy Zahn Extended Universe Star Wars books that have been released throughout the years? Will they completely break that canon and move in another direction? Will it relate to Jedi and the original trilogy at all, or will it be set so far in the future that it will only echo those movies in spirit and unsaid connections? No one knows for sure. And this could be a major hang up.

So there it is. My three reasons why it could be great and 3 reasons why it could turn out badly. I, for one, will be there to see it no matter what... but, would love to hear your opinion on the whole situation. please leave some comments on the page and tell me what you think about JJ helming the Wars!!!!    

Mike D's Favorite 11 Movies of 2012: A CCD Rant

The year is over and I was one happy camper when it came to movies released in 2012. I am a huge movie fanatic and this was an amazing year for films to me. Big blockbusters, small indy movies... we got good stuff from across the board of genres and film types. We also must celebrate the year of the geek, lead by Mr. Joss Whedon. Comic book movies reached an all time high, Sci Fi made a huge comeback, and smaller companies like Magnet Releasing  helped make it easier for us to see lesser known works. Thanks to streaming services like Hulu Plus, Video on Demand, Amazon Prime and my beloved Netflix Instant films were easier to access as ever and were right at our fingertips on all the electronic devices we love so much. So here is my top 11 fims of 2012. Not the best films, not the definitive list... just my favorite 11 films that I HAVE SEEN THIS YEAR. And I know it's 11, that is what makes my list better then those stupid ass Top ten lists out there!!!! Enjoy my rant after the jump...


Editor's Note: Even though Django Unchained was released on December 25th and I am sure I am going to fucking love it, I did not see it yet and therefore can't possibly include it on this list. I will be seeing it tomorrow, and my thoughts are sure to come soon. But this is a list of movies I saw, so there.... Also possibly missing for lack of me seeing them: Argo, Trouble With The Curve, Lincoln, Looper, Skyfall, Les Mis, Wreck It Ralph  Hotel Transylvania, etc...

#11 - Haywire
Director: Stephen Soderbergh
Starring: Gina Carano, Ewan McGregor, Channing Tatum, Michael Fassbender

Holy shit. What a great old timey spy thriller, starring a refreshingly new to the screen Gina Carano doing her best secret agent. It is a big leap for her to come out of the Mixed Martial Art ring and be a real actor, but leave it to Soderbergh to get a killer performance out of her. He did turn anal porn queen Sasha Grey into an actress in The Girlfriend Experience, so why is anybody surprised? This was the spy movie that I wish they will make with Daniel Craig as James Bond. I haven't seen Skyfall yet (that's why I reserve judgement), but after his first two 007 films I would take Haywire any day. Plus it is available on Netflix Instant for free streaming. Enjoy it...

#10 - Pitch Perfect
Director:James Moore
Cast: Anna Kendricks, Brittany Snow, Anna Camp, Rebel Wilson

Hahahahaha... I can hear the laughter from my fellow geeks & movie fans already. Pitch Perfect? The glee club comedy? That is on your 2012 Best film list? Really? Get the fuck outta here!!! Well, you are wrong if you think I wouldn't put this film on this list, cause it is boss. It is hysterically funny, the movie is briskly paced and short (two things I love in a comedy that have gone by the wayside. No one needs a 2 hour plus comedy), and is studded with a ton of sexy ass ladies. Also, the closer in the deal is Rebel Wilson, who is this years Mellissa McCarthy (the it girl plus size female actress). She steals the show as Fat Amy, and if you give this one a chance I think it will make you smile much more than it should. Honestly, this was one of the best films I was ever dragged to see by my fiance. This is what happens when chick flick date movies get it right.

#9 - The Hobbit
Director: Peter Jackson
Cast: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellan, Andy Serksis, Elijah Wood, Michael Armitage

A late year entry to the list, as I saw this one with only three days left in 2012. But boy am I glad  I did. I was sick as a dog (as was my son Mikey) but we had vowed to go see the movie the Thursday after Christmas and no cold would keep us out of the theater. I have never sat through a 3 hour movie that felt like it moved so fast... and that comes from the amount of sheer action that takes place in the film. My biggest knock on the first film in the Lord of The Rings trilogy is that it lacks action and consists mostly of set up for the 2nd and 3rd films. That is not something that will happen with Jackson's second trilogy about Middle Earth. I didn't like the final escape scene from the goblin horde cause it looked to CGI-ed for my tastes, but it was still pretty cool... and if that is all I can complain about then so be it. The monsters look great, the story is epic, and this is only Chapter 1. Can't wait till next year!!!!!

#8 - Chronicle
Director: Josh Trank
Cast: Michael B Jordan, Dane DeHaan, Alex Russell

Found footage has recahed it's pinnacle for me, and it is Chronicle. A great story of three teens who attain superhero like powers from a meteor they investigate, director Josh Trank & writer Max Landis (yup, John Landis's son) make magic with what seems like a paint by numbers type story. The green screen action in this film is also really impressive, considering the micro budget and inexperience of everyone involved. And to be honest, I have not liked a character as much as I liked Michael B Jordan's Steve in a very long time. I enjoy every minute the newcomer was on the screen and I can't wait to see what he does next. As for Trank, looks like it is going to be a reboot of the Fantastic Four. I know alot of people didn't like the two Tim Story FF films (I did... fuck you guys!) but Trank is sure to bring the gritty to the cookie cutter seminal Marvel franchise that fans were missing. I believe this one is on Netflix Instant as well...

#7 - 21 Jump Street

Director: Phil Lord, Chris Miller
Cast: Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Ice Cube, Brie Larson, Dave Franco

The funniest movie on my list, and I did not see that coming. I should have,considering Jonah Hill's involvement in it. I can't remember many projects of his that aren't absolutely hysterical, especially The Sitter (so fantastic). But the coolest part of this movie has to be that Channing Tatum steals the show on the comedic front, and when paired with Jonah I did not expect that at all. Tatum is on the list twice (he is very great in Haywire), and that is a testament to how  versatile this supposed 'good looking guy who can't act' can be. This remake  hit the mark, and that is why I do not like all that 'please no more remakes' talk right out the window. This was a lot of fun.

#6- Prometheus

Director: Ridley Scott
Cast: Chalize Theron, Michael Fassbender, Idris Elba, Noomi Rapace

The most controversial movie on this list for me, and for so many reasons. Jeff, Joe Fletch & I saw this movie and I loved it... loved it. But what maddens me about the film is that it doesn't know what it wants to be. Is it a prequel (You know it is Jeff... YOU KNOW IT!!!!)? It was at one point, but took a turn for the different in the re-write process. Is it going to lead to more films (aka a set up picture) in the future? Who knows... But one thing is for sure, and that this is a great sci fi flick. And the cast is fucking spot on. Theron as the walking she bitch Captain of the ship. Elba as the boss ass pilot, and Fassbender as the greatest android in history. And the Engineers... yup, they looked and acted bad ass. I can't wait to see where this film goes. Let's just hope it stays in this vein for the future...

#5 - The Man With The Iron Fists

Director: Rza
Cast: Rza, Lucy Liu, Russell Crow, Jaimie Chung, David Bautista

A kung-fu movie from the king of kung-fu rap? Yes please! Rza is having an excellent second act in the movie industry and he is making all the right friends (Tarantino,Eli Roth, Russell Crowe, etc) in his endeavors. Now he strikes out on his own and has a lot of fun with his directorial debut. Is this Casablanca? Hell no. But it is fun,. and sometimes that's all movies need to be. Lots of fighting action, a cool story, and a great cast. Yup, this is why I go to the movies. Enjoy this one for a 2 hour vacation from reality.

#4 - Cloud Atlas

Director: Tom Twyker, The Wachowski Brothers
Cast: Halle Berry, Tom Hanks, Keith David, Hugo Weaving,  Ben Whishaw, jim Broadbent, Hugh Grant, Susan Sarandon

This one is probably will end up my favorite movie on this list sometime in the future, but for now it must occupy the #4 spot. I need to see this film again. Such a momentousness achievement for everyone involved, the Wachowski's & Twyker killed this adaption and crafted 6 amazing tales to complete this film.  And they get the best out of this all star cast, with Hanks & Berry doing career defining work and supporting players like Hugh Grant & Susan Sarandon helping things along just fine. A very good movie, and this one deserves better than what it got from half the critics who bashed it. Is it long. Hell yeah, I felt every minute of the three hours go by slow as shit. But was it worth it? Absolutely! Sometimes three hours just need to feel like three hours. Thanks to my main man Jeff for making me see this one...

#3 - The Dark Knight Rises
Director: Christopher Nolan
Cast: Christian Bale, Tom Hardy, Morgan Freeman, Anne Hathaway, Joseph Gordon Levitt, Marion Coitillard, Gary Oldman

Chapter 3 in the Batman story that Chris Nolan has masterly told. The first two are fantastic. This one got bashed for the silliest things. Heath Ledger set the bar really high in The Dark Knight, but in my opinion Hardy kills it. Bane was boss, and that is a great thing for a Batman fan like me. And lets take a second to honor the sexiness that is Anne Hathaway's Catwoman. God damn... she is FINE!!!! Super sexy in that black cat suit & what seems like 10 inch high heeled boots. The scene of her getting off the Bat Cycle alone would get this movie to #8 on this list, so all the other good stuff makes it even cooler (and obviously higher rated!). I loved everything about this movie, but just not as much as...

#2 - The Avengers
Director: Joss Whedon
Cast: Robert downey Jr, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johannson, Chris Hemsworth, Jeremy Renner, Tom Hiddleson, Sam Jackson, Colby Smulder, Mark Ruffalo

The best superhero movie I have ever seen. Ever. EVER! Holy shit, how can you perfect perfection? Ask Joss Whedon I guess. He manages 6 superhero stories seemlessly into a killer team movie that not only features one killer bad guy but also sets up Phase 2 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It narrowly nudges past The Dark Knight Rises in my eyes, but honestly this movie is a great movie, not just a great superhero movie. Downey is key to pulling it all together, but new additions Renner & Ruffalo shine bright. I can't wait to see what comes next in Iron Man 3, Cap 2, Thor 2, Guardians of the Galaxy,  and Avengers 2. Keep em coming Joss...

And finally....

#1 - Cabin In The Woods
Director: Joss Whedon & Drew Goodard
Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Jesse Williams, Kristen Connely, Richard Jenkins, Bradley Whitford

This is the most refreshing horror movie that has been made in the past 20 years. So great. Of course it would come at the hands of Joss 'Super Geek' Whedon and his trusty compatriot Drew Goddard. These guys whipped up a hell of a original tall tale, made it funny and scary at the same time, and managed to smash in a bit of the ole Lovecraftian Older Gods into the story at the end. In my opinion, can you get a better movie made? No way. And that freaking scene at the elevators? Yup, one of the most batshit insane ones I have ever seen. I love this movie so much, and I plan on watching it so much on Blu Ray I am going to break my player. Hope they can make another film like this in the future, because I know they can't make a sequel... but god I hope Goddard & Whedon collaborate.

Honorable Mention: Safe House (I had fun with this one), Contraband (good cable viewing movie),  The Grey (modern exploitation at its best), Project X (an pretty good SuperBad knock off), Get The Gringo (Mel Gibson was great in this), The Dictator (a short, funny comedy from Sasha Baron Cohen), John Carter & Battleship (two underrated genre movies that are far from great but boast wonderful special effects and are quite fun).

So there it is... my list! Hope you enjoy my suggestions, and I would love to hear your responses in the comment section below! Hit me up people....

A CCD Rant - Cloud Atlas: What Did Mike D Think?

Last night Jeff Bond and I decided that we needed to make a trip to the local cinema and catch Cloud Atlas on the big screen before it leaves theaters. The film has been in theaters since October 26th and is much debated on the merit of its three hour runtime. This is a full on fucking movie, one that does not take any shorts from what the filmmakers (the Wachowski Brothers & Tom Tykwer) wanted to get up on the screen. It is adapted from a very famous British book of the same name by David Mitchell and has been pretty much a nightmare to get an actual release. It features a star studded cast with the likes of Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugh Grant, Jim Broadbent, Susan Sarandon, Keith David, Hugo Weaving and Jim Sturgess... all who appear in various roles throughout the films six segments. The film has been praised by some critics like Roger Ebert as visionary and extremely fun, and panned by reputable publications like Time Magazine as one of the worst movies of the year. It can't possibly be both, right? So here is my little rant on what I think of Cloud Atlas. Here is a bit of a hint: I tend to think Ebert is right in this one...

Click after the jump for more...

The Wachowski Brothers (well brother & sister now... snip snip) and Tykwer

Let me start off by saying that I absolutely love the Wachowski Brothers as film makers. But I am not a Wachowski fanboy who will automatically defend everything they do, even if it sucks. The reason why I hold them in such high regard is because they have taken the success & credibility they had with the first Matrix film and then used that cred to make the films THEY wanted to make. Their way. the wachowski vision. You may not like the two Matrix sequels or think that Speed Racer was anything more then CGI drivel. You may agree with Alan Moore when he calls V for Vendetta a travesty. And you may think Time has Cloud Atlas pegged spot on. But their is one thing you have to agree, and that is the fact that the Wachowski's don't give a flying fuck about what you think when it comes to their creative process. And they will make the films they want to make, when they want to make them, how they want to make them. You gotta love them for that.

Great, now that we got that out of the way, lets talk about Cloud Atlas. This fucking movie is huge... and I mean huge. 3 hours long? Check. 6 alternating story lines that span hundreds of years? Check. An epic assemble cast that would make the producers of New Years Eve cry in shame for not being able to secure such a talented cast? Yup... it's all here. Not to mention the fact that we get a little bit of every genre of film mixed into this flick  from period seafaring adventure movies to Matrix styled science fiction. Huge is the only way to describe it. And it is epic. And I kinda loved every second of it. All 2 hours and 52 minutes of those seconds. My number one reason for this has to be because, for every moment of the film's running time you can see that whether you like the film or not, the Wachowski's made the film they wanted to make. It is an uncompromising vision... and that makes it fantastic. Fucking fantastic... and that originality and clarity in seeking out their vision is what makes this film so important. Cause that type of film does not get made very often in Hollywood... not now, not ever for that matter.

Tom Hanks as British Ex Con Critic Killer... so funny!

As far as the story lines themselves, I have to admit that I liked them all for various reasons. My favorite was probably 'The Ghastly Ordeal of Timothy Cavendish' and 'Half Lives: The First Luisa Rey Mystery'. I think I like these two segments the best because they contrast each other so well.  The first one is the funniest of the bunch and is set in modern times. Jim Broadbent is fantastic as a hapless publisher with no luck and Tom Hanks as a ex con writer who tests out the theory of gravity on one of his harshest critics. I loved this segment across the board, and that is what makes the Luisa Rey segment so cool as well.

Bill Smoke, assassin!

 Halle Berry takes the lead role in this segment which is set in 1973 and uses the nuclear power craze as a backdrop for the mystery. It plays like a hard boiled 70s exploitation detective story (like the French connection or Cleopatra Jones) with some of the best characters of the movie. Hugo Weaving stands out as assassin Bill Smoke, and Keith David proves once again that he is the motherfucking man. These two story lines play so opposite each other that they make for great favorite segments and provide me with enough reasons to like the movie themselves.

The bridge... best scene in the future, by far!

My least favorite segment had to be the Neo Seoul segment, which was the one set in the future and had the most sci fi elements to it. You would think that this would be the Wachowski's strong suit since they seem to love the sci fi genre so much, but it is pretty much a rip off of all the classic sci fi movies I saw from the 70s and the 80s. Replicant humans like Blade Runner, government control like 1984, blind consumerism like Soylent Green, an innocent hero/heroine on the run like The Running Man, and an impromtu hero/heroine that needs a little push to see the realities thate xist in their world and become the leader for change like in Star Wars... it's all there, right by the numbers. some of the tech was cool and some of the visuals were fantastic, but it mostly lacked originality and left me pretty board. But other than this segment I really didn't have too much to complain about.

Broadbent is awesome... I Know, I know!!!!

In the interest of not ruining the movie by talking about key points of the film I will say that the reason I liked the film so much is because of how original it is and what that takes for a filmmaker to undertake. It is so rare to get a film maker to take chances on material they love and make the film adaption that they envision, and the Wachoswski's & Tykwer do just that. They make an uncompromising version of what they want to make... and like it or not, in this day and age of paint by numbers movies you just do not see that much anymore. It reminds me of Kubrick changing around The Shining and basically telling a young Stephen King to go fuck himself when the writer question some of these changes on the set of the film. The writer may know the vision of the novel best, but translating that to the big screen is totally different. That is up to a director, and when anybody takes on something as large and dense as a book like Cloud Atlas then you need a true visionary to get the job done. Or maybe three visionaries.

Either way, I think you will enjoy Cloud Atlas for this reason alone. But what the fuck do I know? Films like Alvin and the Chimpmunks & Jack and Jill make hundreds of millions of dollars yet original movies like Cloud Atlas get blasted as too complicated and unique. It is the sad state of affairs in Hollywood these days, but as long as the Wachowski's keep getting projects financed then at least we will get to see some creativity and conviction in a few films. Get out there and see it before it is out of theaters, because this is the type of film you definitely want to see in the cinema. Please leave your own comments and thoughts on the movie below... I would love to hear what you guys have to say!!!!