Return of a Franchise

I do not consider myself a Trekkie. To me Trekkies are die hard fans that go to Star Trek conventions no matter the distance. Also, they have all kinds of collector items and seen every television show and movie. Probably watching them right now as you read this. I had seen some old shows and followed a few of the new Star Trek series. I had taken the time and money to watch the Star Trek movies. My favorite was Star Trek 4. After Star Trek 4 the quality of the movies went downhill. Don’t get me wrong. A few of the movies were decent. Most were average. For this long running franchise average does not cut it. A new Star Trek film has arrive for all to see. The brains behind the franchise decided to start over. They brought in a new cast to play the old television series characters. The movie begins with James T. Kirk being born. Also, Spock as a young boy. We get to look at how Vulcans tease each other. Very technical.

I must say my expectations were high. I wanted a good movie. I wanted something worth talking about. Give me greatness that fits the franchise. I must say the movie brought out the best of Star Trek. The characters they chose to play the roles were wonderful. The story was compelling. I was totally into the movie from beginning to end. I cared to know who died and live. Now of course the main characters must live. How can they make more movies with them? At the very least I get to see the crew as humans. Flawed, emotional, daring, brave, and chippy. In fact, the characters Sulu, McCoy, Chekov, Uhura, and Scotty are more developed. No longer Uhura was a pretty face with a few lines. No longer Sulu was just the driver. No longer Chekov was a name that non Trekkies won’t know. No longer Scotty is a famous one liner. They make the movie great. Their personalities come alive and join in Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock. You will care what happens to them just because you are learning who they are.

I must add two of the characters are dating. I won’t say who. Those that seen the movie know. Don’t spoil it for others. Its a nice twist to a great movie. How great is the movie? Besides being number one at the box office, it was considered one of the most critically acclaim movies. The great majority of people leaving the theater after seeing it, loved it. What counts as the majority? How about over 90%. That is awesome. Simply put a movie that all will love. You don’t have to be a Trekkie. You don’t have to had seen the television series. I mean all the series they had on television. Just be a regular Joe Blow and Curious Susy wanting to see a great movie. Enjoy it with some popcorn and a soda. Trust me you will like it. If you don’t, Oh well. You belong to a small percentage of people that did not like it. Congradulations for being different.

The Dragon with No Fire

Fast and the Furious brought out the summer blockbuster. Fast cars, and faster women with some things blow up is the mark of summer movie magic. Now a movie a week later can erase the movie magic. More like show the movie customers that there are a such thing as a flop. What is a flop? Basically, a movie that falls short of explosions, women, and cars. Well, at least have great action sequence and interesting characters. Dragon Ball Evolution is that flop. Perfect for movie goers to avoid, critics to hiss, and for those that seen the movie to vomit. I know exactly what those people who are vomiting saying to themselves, “Hell has no fury for such crap.”
Lets break down the movie lack of magic. Again a movie must have interesting characters, and great action sequence. Eye candy is a plus, and eye candy with little clothing is even better. Dragon Ball does have some eye candy. I must say the eye candy are beautiful. Also able to kick you face and put on their make up at the same time. That takes talent. Most media has an abundance of eye candy. In fact, you can look up the eye candy on your computer. Don’t get gross or perverted. Unless you want to, but that is your choice.
Action is the other thing a movie must have. Dragon Ball fail flat. In fact, it is more interesting listening to people talk about how ’sucky’ the movie was. I even thought about playing popcorn catch with the kids below. That would be fun. Don’t get me wrong. There were a few good fight scenes. I love the fight between the two women. It was like seeing two girls at a high school going at it. It was a no hold bars, knock down fight, hair pulling, kick them in the soft spot. Other than that the fight scenes were soft. Some of them similar to the many other fight scenes in movies. The last battle was not spectacular. It is not even worthy to be mention in the many cool fight scenes in the cartoon the movie is based on. How disappointing.
The last is interesting characters. Goku was an compeling character in the cartoon series. In the movie he is a whiney version. More like the uncool version of the vampire teen love in Twilight. The rest of the characters are not even worth mentioning. Basically, you can cut off any character from any karate movie and you have the rest of the cast. Just remember not to leave out the love interest.
Now you have it. A movie flop. There was no fire to the movie. No hard punches to excite. No interesting characters to follow. Some eye candy, but you can save ten dollars. Just browse through the magazines at the bookstore. Go online and look at the gorgeous stars.

Here Comes the Blockbusters.

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How can you make a blockbuster movie? I did not say a great movie. Nor, did I say a movie that is worth mentioning of academy awards nomination. Just a movie that will make money. Is that what it is all about? Money! Money! Money! Here is the formula for a blockbuster movie that will make money. Bring in the hot chicks and hunky guys. You got to have that eye candy. Make sure things go boom and have some awesome chase scenes. Of course make sure the ending is somewhat happy. Simple and direct. That is the formula for the summer movies.
It is only spring but lets just say that the movie “Fast and Furious” is the beginning of the summer movies. It has hot guys for the ladies. Vin Diesel is something that the ladies drool over. I don’t know why. So what he has muscles. Also, Paul Walker with his blue eyes. Hey blue eyes are overrated. In fact, anything not brown is overrated. But that is just me. Now for the guys. The women and lots of them. Dress in the scandalous outfits. Showing off those pretty legs. Of course the women are so hot they have to kiss each other. Yeah, I guess that is a bonus for the guys. Of course the movie have a lot of action from beginning to end. Since the movie involves cars, there are a lot of car chases. I would say the car chases is so awesome.
The movie is not about great acting or a awesome plot. Simply booty and some action that will draw the crowds in. Fast and Furious delivers the goods. I recommend it for all those summer movie lovers. Those that love those Oscar  or Golden Globe type movies should just avoid this movie. You will find holes in it. You will start questioning certain scenes and say things like “that would not happen in real life.” Also you will  just be annoying to the main audience.  Always sapping the fun out of basic movie watching. We the audience don’t want to think. We want to look and go ‘ooh’ and ‘aw”.

Now everyone else go see the movie. Shut down your brains, buy your popcorn, and let the good times roll.

Monster stomp Alien

For those that have not seen the movie Monster vs. Aliens you are in for a treat. Now I would strongly recommend seeing the film in 3D. The film come alive in your lap. The comedy is more in your face. The action almost pokes your eye out. I sat in the theater wearing these glasses which I just took out of a plastic wrapper. It was like they came from a happy meal. I regress. The glasses are on my face. I am like in a theater filled with a bunch of wanna be terminators. The film comes on and the laughter begins.

This is a movie that the whole family will love. I am not talking about the parents would just love to take their children to a cartoon. It is for couples, friends, single people, nerds, nerds in disguised. The audience responded to the jokes and action sequences of the film. How can you not when something is in your face.

Bring your kids, love ones, nephews, grandma, but leave the baby. Come on now. They won’t enjoy it. They won’t understand it. They will cry and ruin it for everyone else. Leave baby home. Now back to the topic. The movie is a joy to watch in 3D. A decent story line, and some interesting characters. Come and laugh and forget about the real world.

Monsters Vs Aliens

 

Today Monsters Vs Aliens was released, a story about our world under attack by an alien supervillan bent on the conquest of the element quantonium. When Susan is struck by a meteorite on the day of her wedding to her meteorologist fiancé, she begins growing at an alarming rate. The government is notified within minutes of the development and seeing her as a monster and thus a threat, imprison her in a facility where “monsters” are kept.

After numerous failed attempts from her new friends to return her to her original size Gallaxhar attacks the planet, looking for a source of Quantonium, the very same substance responsible for Susan’s sudden growth spurt.

Given the option to fight for the planet in exchange for their freedom, Susan Murphy (aka Ginormica), a freakishly tall woman; Dr. Cockroach PhD, a mad scientist with the head of a cockroach, B.O.B. a gelatinous blob that looks (and frequently acts) like sentient chewing gum; The Missing Link, a 20,000 year old fish-man, and Insectosaurus; a 350 foot tall fuzzy insect, all join forces to save Earth.

With this ingenious blend of zany characters that parody cheesy 1950’s horror movies, sci-fi movies and innuendo that only adults would understand, DreamWorks Animation and Paramount Pictures joins forces for this movie first, Real 3-D, which is that rather than converting the movie to 3-D after it is finished, it is created in 3-D first and then filmed. The process itself added nearly $15 million to the movie budget, but is well worth the financial addition. When compared to earlier forms of 3-D imaging, the effects are far superior to its predecessors.

This movie has a great cast for the voices. Reese Witherspoon (Legally Blonde) as Susan Murphy the 49ft 11in tall woman. Seth Rogen (Knocked Up) as B.O.B. the blue jelly. Hugh Laurie (House) as Dr. Cockroach PhD, the mad scientist. Will Arnett (“30 Rock”) as the Missing Link. Several others star in this movie first that is a definite must see for the whole family.

 

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