New Movies

[Dj]

Ok...so, 2008 has some fairly decent looking movies.

The Harry Potter trailer has already been release:

Then there's IronMan:
I'm a little concerned with this one because I'm having trouble seeing Robert Downey Jr as Tony Stark; however, Samuel L Jackson as Nick Fury is a good fit (much better than SciFi's David Hasselhoff).

Also, another Batman movie, entitled Dark Knight will be released in July.

A good looking kids flick is The Spiderwick Chronicles: http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0416236/, as well as the next Narnia movie will be released, http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1523017/20060202/story.jhtml

Of course, next week the Dungeon Siege Movie comes out staring Jason Statham: In The Name Of The King

Another Incredible Hulk attempt will be made, starting Ed Norton as David Banner.

Some interesting but questionable ones are: "John Rambo" and "Get Smart" - but these might have merit.

Another one that will be uncanny or unworthy is a film called "Tonight, He Comes" - the bizarre story of a hard-drinking, depressed, alienated demigod (Will Smith). It co-stars Charlize Theron and Jason Bateman.

But let's not forget the movie that stopped a session for Lew's inquiry of it. The mystery movie with the unnamed title from the Transformers movie previews is called Cloverfield, and it comes out in 3 weeks.

Another one that looks like it has promise is 10,000 BC and also Jumper looks interesting (if only from a teleportation-world perspective).

Alright...that's my list and insight - what else is out there?

[Cope]

Wow. That is a good list.

[Dj]

Ok, a few more that deserve mentioning...which just weren't on my personal radar.

Inkheart
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
The Happening
The New X-Files Movie
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
Babylon A.D.
Valkyrie

[Cope]

Babylon A.D.
Release Date: August 29th, 2008
Director: Mathieu Kassovitz (Gothika)
Starring: Vin Diesel, Gérard Depardieu, Michelle Yeoh
Synopsis: Veteran-turned-mercenary Thoorop (Diesel) takes the high-risk job of escorting a woman from Russia to China. Little does he know that she is host to an organism that a cult wants to harvest in order to produce a genetically modified Messiah.
The Hype: It looks like Vin Diesel is returning to his Pitch Black sci-fi roots and delivering a grungy, action-packed sci-fi film with some French finesse.

Burn After Reading
Release Date: Late 2008
Director: Joel Coen & Ethan Coen (O Brother, Where Art Thou?, The Ladykillers, No Country for Old Men)
Starring: George Clooney, John Malkovich, Brad Pitt, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton
Synopsis: A disk containing the memoirs of a CIA agent ends up in the hands of two unscrupulous gym employees who attempt to sell it.
The Hype: After directing one of 2007's most critically acclaimed movies, No Country for Old Men, the Coen's are already back finishing up Burn After Reading, and it seems like it could be another brilliant film.

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
Release Date: May 16th, 2008
Director: Andrew Adamson (Shrek, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe)
Starring: Georgie Henley, William Moseley, Anna Popplewell, Ben Barnes, Warwick Davis
Synopsis: The Pevensie siblings return to Narnia, where they are enlisted to once again help ward off an evil king and restore the rightful heir to the land's throne, Prince Caspian.
The Hype: Although I'm not a huge fan of the first Chronicles of Narnia from 2004, the trailer for this sequel makes it look a lot darker, grungier, and intense and it's certainly captured my attention.

The Day the Earth Stood Still
Release Date: December 12th, 2008
Director: Scott Derrickson (The Exorcism of Emily Rose)
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Connelly, Kathy Bates
Synopsis: A remake of the 1951 classic sci-fi film about an alien visitor and his giant robot counterpart who visit Earth.
The Hype: Although the response is quite negative at the moment, this could turn out pretty good if all the right elements fall into place, and that includes Keanu Reeves' performance and Scott Derrickson's directing.

The Happening
Release Date: June 13th, 2008
Director: M. Night Shyamalan (The Sixth Sense, Signs, The Village)
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Zooey Deschanel, John Leguizamo, Spencer Breslin
Synopsis: A paranoid thriller about a family on the run from a natural crisis that presents a large-scale threat to humanity.
The Hype: Although not everyone is a fan (anymore), I always look forward to M. Night's movies and the early buzz is that The Happening is the most R-rated intense film he's made to date.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Release Date: November 21st, 2008
Director: David Yates (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix)
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Helena Bonham Carter, Jim Broadbent, Robbie Coltrane, Warwick Davis
Synopsis: As Harry Potter begins his 6th year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, he discovers an old book marked mysteriously "This book is the property of the Half-Blood Prince" and begins to learn more about Lord Voldemort's dark past.
The Hype: As the series works its way to the seventh and final book, it continues to ramp up the energy and improve in various ways, as not only have the actors gained experience, but so have the directors.

Hellboy 2: The Golden Army
Release Date: July 11th, 2008
Director: Guillermo del Toro (Blade II, Hellboy, Pan's Labyrinth)
Starring: Ron Perlman, Selma Blair, Doug Jones, Luke Goss, Thomas Kretschmann
Synopsis: The mythical world starts a rebellion against humanity in order to rule the Earth, so Hellboy and his team must save the world from the rebellious creatures.
The Hype: Guillermo, Perlman, Blair, and Jones are all much more experienced as we return to the Hellboy universe again since the first film in 2004. And del Toro, now a more well known director, is putting more energy, effort, and excellence into this sequel.

The Incredible Hulk
Release Date: June 13th, 2008
Director: Louis Leterrier (The Transporter, Unleashed)
Starring: Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth, William Hurt, Tim Blake Nelson
Synopsis: The Incredible Hulk tells the story of Dr Bruce Banner, who seeks a cure to his unique condition, which causes him to turn into a giant green monster under emotional stress. Whilst on the run from military which seeks his capture, Banner comes close to a cure. But all is lost when a new creature emerges - The Abomination.
The Hype: Seeing Edward Norton take on the role of the Hulk is the best thing that could ever happen to this comic book adaptation, and the passion he is bringing combined with Louis Leterrier directing will result in the Hulk movie we've always wanted.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Release Date: May 22nd, 2008
Director: Steven Spielberg (Jurassic Park, Saving Private Ryan, Munich)
Starring: Harrison Ford, Shia LaBeouf, Cate Blanchett, Karen Allen, Ray Winstone, Jim Broadbent
Synopsis: The latest installment of Indiana Jones is set at the height of the Cold War in 1957.
The Hype: This needs no introduction. Dr Jones returns to the big screen 18 years after The Last Crusade and 19 years older with Shia LaBeouf as his new sidekick.

Speed Racer
Release Date: May 9th, 2008
Director: Larry Wachowski & Andy Wachowski (The Matrix Trilogy)
Starring: Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci, John Goodman, Susan Sarandon, Matthew Fox
Synopsis: Based on the classic 1960's Japanese animated series chronicling the aspirations of a young race car driver as he attempts to obtain glory, with the help of his family and the Mach 5, the advanced car created by his father.
The Hype: The Wachowski's are back directing for the first time since Matrix Revolutions are are creatively adapting the Japanese cartoon into something we've never seen before yet looks visually stunning.

Star Trek XI
Release Date: December 25th, 2008
Director: J.J. Abrams ("Lost", "Alias", Mission: Impossible III)
Starring: Zachary Quinto, Chris Pine, Eric Bana, Karl Urban, Simon Pegg, Anton Yelchin, Zoe Saldana
Synopsis: A chronicle of the early days of James T. Kirk and his fellow USS Enterprise crew members.
The Hype: Probably the most talked about geek phenomenon ever, J.J. Abrams is revamping this epic franchise back into full action and turning it into a mainstream fascination.

[Dj]

Yeah - I was reading a little more on the new Star Trek movie. The writer/director Tyler Perry has a role, playing some kind of Starfleet overseer in the courtroom where young Kirk is facing expulsion from Starfleet. It turns out that Starfleet didn't look too favorably on Cadet Kirk for "cheating" on one of his critical tests, you know - the Kobayashi Maru.

As it turns out, Kirk (played by Chris Pine) gives one of his classic grandiose speeches by where he demands to know his accuser. That is when Spock stands up. Yup, he's the one that ratted on Kirk reprogramming the Kobayashi Maru test and he's the reason why Kirk is about to be expelled from Starfleet.

So, anyway...not sure how great this one will be, but they've picked an interesting point of history to develop some more character of the two central leaders of the Star Trek universe. It will also be interesting to watch Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead's star Simon Pegg play Scotty. And of course, I'm not a big fan of Winona Ryder who plays Amanda Grayson. And lastly, watching Pathfinder turn into Bones will be weird, but McCoy was always a very aggressive type for a doctor. "Damn it, Spock; I'm doctor not a ghost warrior!"

[Head]

Hmmm.. some interesting movies coming down the pike.  I watched the latest Pirates of the Caribbean last night with the Maelstrom for the first time.  Decent I thought.  I still need to watch the last Harry Potter movie.. it's still in the shrink wrap from Christmas... never saw either of these movies in the theater.

I'm rather behind in my movie watching which is somewhat surprising given the amount of time I wasn't working in '07.  Should go see the latest National Treasure movie before it escapes the theater...

[Lew]

If you have any interest in lots of distruction in a fast paced movie that doesn't bother to explain anything go see Cloverfield.  It was very very good and a lot would be lost on a small screen.  Go . . Now!


Seriously, It starts a little slow, but they're just getting character introductions out of the way.  They don't slow down later.  Very cool monster, and no pansies.  Surprisingly, no cussing that I remember and unfortunately no boobs.  The violence isn't really graphic either.  I still wouldn't take a kid, but it's not any worse than network TV really.  The realism might Fudge with them.  The movie does a great job of sticking with the main characters and a so so job of making you sympathize with them.  Actually, it probably does a great job, I think I was just on monster movie mode and found a lot of stuff funny that really wasn't.  Now, go! 

[Dj]

While Lew went to the movies, I watch a special on the History channel called "Life After People" - I highly recommend it. It is a great tool for viewing things from "Age" to "Age" on Pelicar. It's on again on Wednesday, and I plan on recording it this time.

[Lew]

That's why I couldn't find it.  I thought this show was on the D-science channel.  I read the book that inspired the show.  Very interesting stuff.

[Head]

Thanks DJ, I need to find that and set my DVR to record it.. 

[Dj]

I just watched Cloverfield. I really enjoyed it; however, I do understand why the mass public was not as receptive as Lew's strong review. I typically hate the "shaky camera" style, but at least there was a viable explanation for it in this movie. Anyway, I think this one will be a keeper for my collection.