I wasn’t sure what to make of this movie. Sure, the trailer was “unrated” so I knew there would be swearing, but roughly 1:12 into the video the humor really comes out.

Funny and NSFW.

Crank: High Voltage

How and why do dumb ass movies such as Crank: High Voltage ever get green-lit?  I’m dead serious on this one.  I understand there is a certain “appeal to the lowest common denominator” thing going on here but has the entertainment industry become so desperate for ideas that they have to create movies with taglines like “He was dead…But he got better”

Initially, I was worried when I saw that IMDB rates this movie as an 8.1 – especially worried seeing that Heat, a classic movie, was rated 8.2 – but that worry was alleviate when I found out the movie only pulled in 6.5M this weekend.  I now have a little more faith in the viewing public!

Rain… Rain…

The rain has been pouring all day here.  Usually, I enjoy a good rain.  Something about the sound of the water hitting the window is usually soothing…. and rather conducive to outstanding sleep.  That simply wasn’t the case today.   

I’ve actually had a rather down day today, worse than I’ve had in some time, and the rain and general mood outside hasn’t helped much either… I just with the rain would simply stop for now.

Boston Marathon

In a past life I was a runner.  I found a sense of peace in the experience.  Sure, part of me was doing the activity simply for the exercise, but running put my mind at ease at times.  About for years ago that whole thing simply changed.  One day I woke up and it simply didn’t appeal any longer.  It really didn’t do anything for me.

Well, tomorrow someone I know is running the Boston Marathon…. I wish him the best in his efforts.  I wish I had the desire or… well… ability to take on such a feat.  

I understand people have passion for subjects close to their heart. When a subject is criticized, some form of personal identification takes place with those close to the subject. This makes it seem as if the supporter of the subject is being criticized or attacked, which elicits a response on behalf of the supporter.

It’s the whole “transitive property” aspect – You criticize a topic, I believe and support said topic, ergo you criticize me.

I get it; I understand.

Roughly a week ago I raised the same question with Big Love. Some members of the Mormon community raised concerns about a sacred ceremony, saying a line had been crossed. With input from a blog reader, and with more thought on the subject, I can understand how one could, potentially, be offended.

Do I think that means the topic should be avoided? No.

What I have a problem understanding; however, is why some people get so upset with pure fiction – enter Dan Brown.

It was described as a “phantasmagorical cocktail of inventions”, a “masonic plot” and a “pot pourri of lies”. Now a nervous Vatican is braced for the sequel to The Da Vinci Code and the return of its nemesis, Dan Brown.

…

The film is to be released in Italy on May 13 and in Britain a day later, as Pope Benedict XVI finishes his tour of the Holy Land. A strong reaction is more likely because the antiDa Vinci campaign was led by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, then Archbishop of Genoa and now the Vatican’s Secretary of State – and as such the Pope’s right-hand man. Gianni Gennari, a leading theologian and a columnist for Avvenire, the newspaper of the Italian bishops, called on Catholics to boycott Angels & Demons, accusing the film-makers of “exploiting the Church to swell takings at the box office”. He said the film was part of a plot to undermine the credibility of the Church.

No, this is fiction… not an attempt to undermine the credibility of the Church. This is an expert weaving of fictional stories into a modern setting purely for the entertainment value.

Any credibility the Church had was long lost when the individuals who head the Church decided to cover up the years of child abuse by priests. If one has to spend time defending a work of fiction from another work of fiction, while ignoring the evils within his or her own belief system, I think that person’s priorities are a bit off.

But, hey, that’s just me.

Wandering Coyote wonders this same thing about The Da Vinci Code…

It’s Monday, another start to another wonderful week.  After the drain of last Thursday and Friday the weekend was a nice way to relax, but I am starting to slowly feel the stress buildup once again.  I’m not sure why, nothing is going on at this very moment…  

There were a few things I wanted to touch on…  

First, I had the opportunity to watch “Definitely, Maybe” this weekend, starring Ryan Reynolds.  After such cinematic feats like “Van Wilder” and “Waiting…” I wasn’t sure what to expect from this movie.  Mind you, I like Van Wilder for the stupid, pointless humor that it is… but I wasn’t sure Reynolds had any dramatic acting ability.  Who knew, he does!

Definitely, Maybe is a sweet movie about finding out who you are and what love means to you.   Reynolds plays a father, going through a divorce, who is telling his daughter the story of meeting her mother – and all the other loves along the way.

It’s a really sweet movie.

Is Nadya Suleman the definition of irony?

Take a read of this quote Nadya Suleman, the Octuplets mom, recently said during an interview:

“Boyfriends? I think I’d have to be extremely selfish. I cannot maintain a social life and be a mother. “

Nadya was married previously, but it didn’t work out…

“it didn’t work out – I couldn’t get pregnant. I was in the marriage for the wrong reasons. I thought I loved him but I was more in love with wanting children”.

It didn’t work about because she couldn’t get pregnant… hmm…

So, It would be extremely selfish to have a boyfriend yet she wanted “huge” family (her words), and she ended the last marriage because he couldn’t knock her up.  Isn’t that a selfish desire in and of it’s own right?

 She wanted to be a mother for the sake of being a mother, not because she wanted to continue on the human race, or to fulfill some religious belief, she SIMPLY wanted kids.

How is that not selfish?

Oh, also Suleman claims she hasn’t had sex in over 8 years.  This story just gets more and more bizarre as time goes on…  

Speaking of bizarre… 

Here is the best photo caption you will read in a long, long time.

Kinda makes you redefine what “happier times” really are, doesn’t it?

Anyone care for some Office Space and Samuel L. Jackson?

Oh, how about The Big Lebowski.  Everyone must pay respect to the dude!

The Terminator series got some good news yesterday.  Terminator 5 was “greenlit” even thought Terminator Salvation (aka #4) hasn’t even hit theaters yet.  

I was very… cautious… about Terminator Rise of the Machines.  I thought it was a ploy to make more money (well, what isn’t, really) but I actually enjoyed the movie.  How can you go wrong with Nick Stahl and Claire Danes?

Well, with Terminator 4, McG (Charlie’s Angels, We are Marshall) and Christian Bale (as in “Batman” Christian Bale) signed on for both episodes, it will be interesting to see how it plays out.  

Here is my one question – what happens if Terminator 4 isn’t a box office success?  That is an expensive bet for the studios, no?

I have “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story” on in the background as I review my daily information.  Having never watched it before I didn’t really expect anything all that groundbreaking (and, yes, I was right) but this scene is quite funny…

 

Ok, oh god… just as I was about to post this “classic” came on.

 
When one can use “beat off” and “jesus” in the same line, that is just entertainment.

Back in 2004 Baz Luhrmann, writer and director of Moulin Rogue!, got it in his head to create a modern day epic.  A film to rival other classic dramas, such as “Casablanca” or “Gone with the Wind”, and if there was ever a person to take on such a task, Luhrmann was more than qualified.  

After selling studios and investors, mainly due to his success with Moulin Rouge!, Luhrmann was ready to start production but casting changes, script rewrites, and funding issues pushed most of the principal photography back until 2007. Think about that for a second  - 2 to 3 years passed while the film pre-production was taking place.  That would explain the roughly $90 million cost attached to the actual film production.  

So, would the time and money spent provide a modern day epic, as well as a nice financial return?  I don’t know.

The film, starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, is story about “The Stolen Generation” – aboriginal children of mixed couples – as much as it is about love, personal discovery and an understanding of humanity…What Luhrmann is attempting to convey is admirable but the production of the film get in the way.  

Here are a number of things you need to realize about this movie:

• It runs roughly 2 hours and 45 minutes
• It can be viewed almost as two separate movies, both of which have bloated plots
• It is partially narrated by a young child, one you struggle to understand 
• The viewer can easily think the movie is coming to an end two or three times
• Some shots in the file provide beautiful cinematography yet others are clearly GCI and poorly edited
• Kidman and Jackman provide good performances but the rest of the cast is shaky at times, if not just plain bad
• A number of shots and lines, seemingly frame for frame, are right out of Moulin Rogue!

I loved Moulin Rogue! for two reasons: The “Behind the Red Carpet” production style Baz Luhrmann became known for and the story was simple and straightforward.  I went into Australia knowing he moved away from what afforded him success in the past, I was open to something new, but new wasn’t the problem – it was the lack of direction. 

I get it; Luhrmann was attempting to revive a film genre.  Unfortunately he ended up creating a film that provides viewers with a disjointed adventure.  While the movie is energetic and fast paced, at times, it also seems to wander aimlessly as it trying to figure out what it wants to be when it grows up. 

Maybe that is what Luhrmann is trying to figure out as well.

Update:

It looks as if the movie is not doing well at the box office either.  It is currently coming in 5th, which means the movie will not have any “legs” nor will it really put itself in the running for any major Oscars.  I guess it will be hard to make back that money at this point unless the world wide box office totals are large.