I have been quite busy with family and friends (life outside the internet… scary) and haven’t had a chance to post anything in awhile. But, despite that I have experienced some new things that are worth worth talking touching on briefly. I saw two new movies over the Christmas/New Years season, National Treasure 2 and AVPR. Both of which I can say were not spectacular in anyway, but they were good popcorn flicks. National Treasure followed the same formula of the first movie. However, in this film, Riley, the partner of Nicolas Cage’s character was even funnier than he was in the first and really provided the comic relief. AVPR was what I expected going into the movie, cheesy dialog and gore. But it delivered on what the name implies, Aliens fighting Predators, and plenty of human bystander casualties.

For Christmas my parents got me an awesome CORE-WOrKS EX-S conversion kit. The pieces are huge and the proportions looks so much better than just the plain master grade. This one I will truly try to make my masterpiece. After I finish my Hyaku-Shiki, Zeta 2.0, and CORE-WOrKS Double Zeta.

New Years Eve was a heck of a party over at Nate’s, my co-blogger on Spoylr, house. Friends, alcohol, and Rock Band were present, which in my book is the formula for a good time. The new DLC for Rock Band is pretty good, particularly Limelight by Rush. New Years day I was playing some Mario Galaxy with Nate (who is almost TOO good at collecting star bits) when I decided that my Wii needed something fresh, so we decided to go get Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles. I didn’t buy a zapper, but the game is fun without it. Using the Wiimote doesn’t quite capture the feel of a true lightgun shooter like House of the Dead, but it is pretty close. The game doesn’t really need the nunchuck, so perhaps with one of those gun attachments it would be a little better.

Overall it was good holiday season. As a New Year’s resolution I would like to blog more often. Happy New Year everyone from the writer’s of Spoylr.

I Am Legend came out this weekend, but that’s not the only exciting bit of news: Pay attention to the future film posters in the movie. I’ll go ahead and say there’s a Teen Titans poster in the video store. We know this is already in production, but does this further legitimize it?
The biggest news, however was a giant poster in Times Square of Superman logo superimposed over a Batman logo, like the one seen here. The best part: a date. If I recall it was 5.15.10, I’ll post the exact date when I get it. A Batman-Superman movie, or the new Justice League film? You decide.

Also apparently a new Legally Blonde, yawn.

UPDATED:  slashfilm has a clear screencap of the logo but apparently it’s not legit

“But don’t get too excited, producers are saying that the poster in the movie is a completely fictional creation. The sight gag was an addition to the film by screenwriter/producer Akiva Goldsman, who was originally attached to a Superman vs. Batman screenplay that never got produced. So calm down - there isn’t going to be a Batman vs. Superman movie just yet. A very cool easter egg indeed.”

Ah well, maybe next time.

Going in to see I Am Legend, I had mid to low expectations. I’m one of the few people that actually liked the bastard child of the book: The Omega Man (starring our buddy: Charlie Heston), but I do recognize that it wasn’t a top quality production. And now, even with it’s faults, I Am Pleased to say that I Am Legend is a great popcorn flick to catch in theaters. Pun intended.

I Am Legend is set in the not-too-distant future. During this time a man made virus has broken out, killing millions of the Earth’s population, or worse: turning them into nocturnal monsters. Arthur Neville (Smith) is the sole survivor, and the only one immune to the virus. Neville lives with his dog in New York, completely devoid of human contact and desperately searching for a cure. During the day he goes about his duties to survive; at night, Neville locks himself in his house hoping to remain hidden from the creatures of the night.

Neville (Smith) and Sam of I Am Legend

As the film progresses, we see what the affect of being the last known human has on Neville: his social decay, his love for his dog and his shellshock from the horrific events that unfolded. All Neville has to hold on to is finding a cure. The storytelling is very well done and the film does a great job of having the audience feel Neville’s anguish and desperation. In a large part Will Smith carries this role well. It won’t win him any awards, but his performance is worth the price of admission.

The story overall however, is good, but not great. Some things happen in a bit of a predictable manner and for the most part the coolest bits are watching Neville survive in this lonely future. Will Smith seems to have a history of fighting armies of CG villains. From robots, to aliens and now these hoards of infected. While the enemies never truly seem convincingly real they get the job done. Again, Smith and the dog (kudos to animal actors!) carry the show.

I Am Legend is the kind of film you’ll love in theaters, but that’s it. See it now and go with a group because even though it’s enjoyable, it’ll be easy to forget later on.

I saw the Golden Compass over the weekend and I don’t really have much to say about it other than I wish I knew it was a trilogy going into the movie. The ending was a let down of epic proportions, because it wasn’t an ending, it was a monologue by the main character describing what needs to be settled in the following movies. I came to realize the movie had to be in multiple parts when Daniel Craig’s character had all of five minutes of screen time. That’s not a lot of time for such a major actor. Is it just me or is anyone else sick not having any closure to their movies or video games. First it was Assassin’s Creed, then Mass Effect, and now this. It is really annoying! I feel like I am being milked for everything I have. “You like how that started didn’t you? Well you will have to pay extra for the ending later.” Oh well, they caught me hook, line, and sinker. I will have to see the sequels. The acting was good, the cg was terrific, and the setting was really great (steampunk FTW). The action sequences were also way more intense than Narnia, which I think was a snorefest.

P.S. In the movie, everyone has a soul that takes form of an animal that can speak to them. If I could have a demon of my own, it would be Wolverine. Not the giant weasel, the X-Men character. That would be bad-ass. *Snikkit*

Yes, welcome back to the world of good film making, because after Kingdom of Heaven I had wondered what had happened to you Mr. Scott. Ridley Scott (Alien, Gladiator, Black Hawk Down) brings the story of Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington), the driver for one of the prominent crime figures in Harlem who makes a power move and becomes one of the most powerful men in organized crime during the 1970’s. He is being hunted down by honest New York cop Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe). I find it much easier to trash things than to praise them, but I can’t think of a single bad thing to say about this movie. The pacing, wardrobe, and story telling was all well done. Even the violence was just at the right level to maintain the serious mood of the movie. The only thing I can say that is even slightly negative about this movie is that Denzel Washington is the same character he is in every movie. But, that might not be a bad thing, it fits the character well. Just an observation, a few hip hop artists make an appearance in the film (RZA, Common, and T.I.). Maybe Ridley Scott is a big rap fan. The movie is really about how Washington and Crowe’s characters are very similar men on separate sides of the law. Both live by a code of ethics and both have a strong sense of loyalty, but both have their flaws. Do yourself a favor and see this movie if you like The Departed or The Godfather, the tone is very similar.

Just a little FYI. the upcoming animated film “Kung Fu Panda” looks amazing. Here’s some notes…

• Jack Black is funnier in this movie than in Pick of Destiny.
• Main villain makes me gay for tigers
• His jail escape scene is surprisingly violent for a children’s movie.
• Micheal Clark Duncan as a big nosed rhino = racist?
• I can’t understand Jackie Chan in this movie.
• David Cross is comedy gold.
• A little obvious, but I still think its clever that they have the Crane fight Crane style and the Snake fight Snake style, so on and so forth.

Introducing the Predator/Alien hybrid from the up-coming Alien VS. Predator: Requiem movie. I’m not a betting man, but I am willing to bet you my paycheck that this movie will suck. Haven’t they learned from the first movie? If they don’t have Governor Arnold, Carl Weathers, Jesse “The Body” Ventura and Danny Glover duking it out against Sigourney Weaver, Ron Pearlman and Bill Paxton, this movie will not do too well.

I just realized how many known actors of today starred in these movies. Well… Pseudo-known.

The first Saw was a breath of fresh air to the horror/suspense genre, plus it had the guy from Princess Bride! Where has he been all this time?! It set a new standard for bringing original ideas into an almost dead realm. Unfortunately, that is the only nice thing I can say about Saw IV. This film is both asinine and self indulgent in every way possible.

In case you were curious, Saw IV picks up where the third movie left off. (Spoilers from 3 for the uneducated): Jigsaw is dead, he’s on a slab being autopsied. And OH LOOK! A tape in his stomach! (dun dun dun!) From here, we focus on one of the officers from the previous movies as he is goes through Jigsaw’s series of tests and puzzles, usually those that involve some creep getting horribly massacred via an infernal device.

That’s just the problem with Saw IV, it’s like playing a game of Mouse Trap designed by Leatherface. The characters follow through their tests in such a linear way that it’s almost laughable. Would this cop be stupid enough to never call for back up while going through these puzzles? Even when he DOES have access to the outside world for once? Nope! Jigsaw sure has thought of everything from beyond the grave!

“I am so going to screw this up somehow.”

If you’re not completely insulted by the lack of logic in what is supposed to be a semi-intelligent thriller, let me explain what else should set you off. The film is edited in such a way to be almost condescending to the viewer. “OH LOOK THERE’S THAT NUMBER! SEE IT!? NO? WE’LL SHOW YOU ANOTHER FIVE TIMES UNTIL YOU GET IT!” Or how about when a scene that was shown literally 5 minutes ago gets replayed, just in case you have goldfish memory! Oh, and let’s give everyone a plot twist ending where it all comes together but with little details emphasized so it will all make sense. One problem: you never see those details until the end of the film! Don’t you feel stupid?! The creators are so clever that they’re making the illusion of a smart film by treating the viewers like idiots. Plus, some of the questions this film raises aren’t even answered in this movie! Now you have to see the next one to get the full story. Looking for closure? Fool!

The folks at Twisted Pictures have been doing this for a while. Dead Silence was possibly an even bigger joke, but the fact is they’re getting away with using the same damn style of ending (and movie) every time. While the original Saw’s appeal was this great new idea, now we’re just seeing it be done over and over to the point where it’s a joke. Hopefully it will only be so long before viewers catch on and get sick of it. Maybe around Saw IX or XX. Until then, don’t expect these movies to treat you like a rationally thinking human being.

Wes Anderson’s films are some of the most unique you’ll ever see. He takes you into the lives of some of the quirkiest people even seen: a prep school student obsessed with a teacher (Rushmore), a dysfunctional family of geniuses (Royal Tenenbaums) and even a ship captain documentarian whose life is falling apart around him (The Life Aquatic). After his last effort, people criticized what direction Anderson was going towards with his work. Enter The Darjeeling Limited.

At its core, The Darjeeling Limited is a story of brotherhood. Francis (Owen Wilson), Peter (Adrian Brody), and Jack (Jason Schwartzman), are three brothers who haven’t seen each other in a year, but are reunited when Francis invites them on a train tour of India. Francis wants to bring them back together and frequently tries to do so by having Jack and Peter make promises and go to different holy places in a search for spiritual enlightenment.

This is where The Darjeeling Limited has it’s greatest concept: a search for deeper meaning in the events of life. Francis is trying to have his brothers share something great by visiting these scenic locations, but to no avail. Jack is constantly searching for the perfect romantic moment. Peter is about to enter a new phase of his life, but isn’t quite sure how to interpret it. What you find here is a strong message about reality: not everything has some deeper significance. The romanticism of real life can’t be forced, it just has to happen.

That’s what makes Darjeeling so compelling, the film may not accomplish something great or even have some deeper message, but it’s there. It’s beautiful and easily something everyone can relate to. Anderson has cast away the storybook look and feel of Royal Tenenbaums and Life Aquatic in favor of letting his settings do some of the storytelling for him. A lot of his trademark directorial moves are still present, but things feel a lot more authentic this time around. It’s a direction that fans old and new can enjoy.

Schwartzman, Brody and Wilson play off each other so well, you’d be convinced they really did grow up together. If you have ever had a sibling, you’ll immediately understand how these brothers react to the little habits that make us who we are. There are a few cameos by Anderson alumni that will please the viewer, but these three steal the show. I’ll relay it from one of my favorite lines in the film:

Jack: I wonder if the three of us would’ve been friends in real life. Not as brothers, but as people.
Francis: I don’t know, but I think we might have stood a better chance.

Most theaters that are getting this are now playing Hotel Chevalier before it, which is a short film that focuses on Schwartzman’s character and Natalie Portman as his ex-girlfriend. This might seen a bit excessive, but the flow into the film itself was all too natural and gives you a lot better understanding of Jack’s behavior.

Fans of Anderson must see this movie, but dedicated fans already have. Anyone else who is a fan of cinema should check this out, it’s simply beautiful storytelling and inspiring visuals wrapped into one film. Just remember, it’s not a comedy, but you’ll laugh at the easy to relate to awkward bits.

Before I even get started with this review, I need to tell you the two expectations that I had for this film before seeing it and which I expected to be completely fulfilled. One, that they were going to totally screw it up in a massive CG-fest and two, that I was not going to give a flying flip in space about the humans in the story. At best, I hoped for some kick-ass giant robot fights. Now having said that, I must say that from the moment the end credits began to roll in the theater I could not wait to watch Transformers again. For those of you not familiar with the story of the Transformers from the mid-80’s cartoon show and animated feature, don’t fret, as this movie is more of a re-imagining than a retelling and is a completely fresh start. All you really need to know is that giant robots come to Earth and duke it out in a surprisingly coherent and entertaining story. If you’re a big fan of the old show and somehow you still haven’t seen this movie yet, be reassured that the summer action flick starring your favorite pillow-case warriors will not let you down. Case in point: Peter Cullen gloriously reprises his vocal role as Optimus Prime. While the look of the alien robots from Cybertron has been radically altered to suit the film medium, the heart of the original story remains in a new vision that actually makes the human characters relevant. Shia LeBeouf’s performance shines unexpectedly with great screen presence and subtle humor, while the rest of the cast do a nice job of taking their roles seriously and bringing that intangible quality to the screen that can either make or break a film like this. On the CG side of things, be prepared to have your eyes totally tricked by some of the most convincing digital renderings you’ve ever seen. My one complaint is the use of a fairly important character for some brief and arguably out of place comic relief which undermines his importance.

As for the quality and content of the standard-def dvd release reviewed here, I’d give this set an A-. Watching on an HDTV and using a high-end upconvert player, video quality is usually the first thing I notice about a dvd. In this case, it is quite sharp and the level of compression very low - I’d say right up there with the Lord of The Rings dvds and Casino Royale (which looks unbelievably good for standard dvd). The only multi-channel sound option is Dolby 5.1, but it’s an excellent mix and will knock you to the edge of your seat if you’ve got the right set-up. There is only one audio commentary, with director Michael Bay, which is fine though I’d have liked to hear some of the principal actors on there as well. Even though I’m one of the few into commentary, I’m glad they stuck to just one and saved the rest of the disc space for high video quality. The extras on disc two are very nicely done in an entertaining, documentary-style format that incorporates all the usual extras you’ve come to expect (like interviews, deleted scenes, auditions, etc.) into several slick vignettes which you can navigate through some nice looking menus. There are some excellent visual effects comparisons where a single frame shows the shot with and without effects at the same time, but the most amazing thing is how much of the effects were done real-life, in-camera! Also, many controversial (for the fans) decisions about the film are explained in detail. Well worth watching. Needless to say, my initial expectations for this film were blown away like so many Michael Bay film sets. Go buy this dvd now!