It's been awhile so I should be good for a few here. If you are one of those people who like to catch all the oscar contenders before the big night, make sure you save time for this one which would be worthy of a nomination even if they hadn't expanded to 10 nominees. Mark Wahlberg is solid, but Christian Bale is the main draw here giving another outstanding performance. You don't need to be a boxing fan to appreciate this but knowing a bit of the background beforehand will enhance your appriciation.

Labels: Christian Bale, Mark Wahlberg, Mickey Ward, Oscars

Want the quick and dirty on the Star Trek relaunch. Much like Batman begins it was a solid start, lots of action but suffers somewhat from a lack of imagination. Since this one is to establish the characters, lets talk about that:

Best-
Simon Pegg immediately puts his stamp on Scotty
Zoe Saldana- gives Uhura a depth that she previously lacked
Leonard Nimoy- much more than a cameo and always always Spock

Good-
John "Harold" Cho- plays Sulu with Restrained intensity
Chris Pine makes an interesting Kirk
Bruce Greenwood is solid as Christopher Pike
Zackery Quinto does a decent job of filling some big ears

average-
Eric Bana is utterly interchangable as the Romulan bad guy

Blah
Anton Yelchin is mildly ridiculous as Chechov
I really wanted to like Karl Urban as Bones but it just didn't work out

Kirk's Mother's Name is Winona??? Really??

Latest Bond is out and doing it's normal strong performance at the US Box Office and Gangbuster overseas performance. This one has not been a critcial darling with many critics. The consensus amoungst those who were not fans is that the Daniel Craig era has been characterized by a transition from brain to brawn and that the new Bond is bears too great a resembelance to Matt Damon's Jason Bourne. This of course presumes that what most Bond fan's want are clever quips and cleverer gadgets.

I can hardly speak for Bond fan's here as I am really not much of a fan of the series, but I can remember thinking that what Bond really needed to stay alive as a franchise was a turn to a more gritty focus and away from all the bells and whistles.

Daniel Craig does a solid job of deflating Bond from jetsetting playboy spy to a gritty, physical and pragmatic operative. This is coming out on DVD soon and I strongly recommend picking up both Qauntum and Casino Royale as the latter film picks up just after the former ends and the plots intertwine.

Labels: Bond, Daniel Craig

Did you enjoy No Country for Old Men but wish is was more main stream. The Road, which is widely felt to be Cormac McCarthy's most accessible novel hits theaters in November. Look here for a sneek peak:

http://www.slashfilm.com/2008/08/07/first-look-the-road/

No thats not Kris Kristoferson it Vigo Mortensen. Also stars Robert Duval, Guy Pearce and Charlize Theron. I will watch it but I would watch a movie made from McCarthy's druken napkin scribblings.

Also check out this early Joker concept art for TDK:

http://www.slashfilm.com/2008/08/07/the-dark-knight-early-joker-concept-art/

Labels: Joker, McCarty, The Road

One of the best Sci Fi fantasy movies with a hooker in it. Definitely worth picking up if you haven't seen it. William Hurt, Jennifer Connely, Keifer Sutherland and staring Rufus Sewell. Directed by Egyptian born Alex Proyas who also directed cult hit The Crow and who is in talks to direct The Silver Surfer for Marvel. Features the best creepy little bald kid in a bowler hat ever. Check out the trailer:

Labels: Hurt, Proyas, Sci Fi, Sewell, Sutherland