Yes, the guy who awesomely portrayed Rorschach in the live-action adaptation of “Watchmen” and the scene stealer in “Shutter Island.”  He’ll be portraying Freddie in the remake of “A Nightmare on Elm Street.”   I hope he doesn’t make the bone-headed career decision of reprising Freddie in the inevitable sequel of that remake.

Popularity: 1% [?]

I watched the highly-anticipated James Cameron movie the other day in RealD (not in IMAX 3D).  Here are the following things I just couldn’t get over with:

• It’s “Dances with Wolves” with Blue alien thingys.  That said, if you’re watching this for the story you are in for a disappointment, anyway.  It’s both preachy and condescending at the same time.
• The use of 3D effect is elegantly executed.  Most 3D films are just stupid; in Avatar, the 3D just enhances the DOF of certain scenes, which is a welcome change.  STILL headache-inducing, though.
• What is the budget of this film?  Upwards $200M, right?  WHY OH WHY did they not allot a bit more than $50 for the GADDAMN FONTS?  PAPYRUS?  IN YELLOW?  SERIOUSLY?
• There’s no denying that the movement of the blue alien thingys are just phenomenal…i cannot fault it.  Even the eyes are right.  Kudos to Cameron on this effort.  However, I still think there’s something OFF about them…I think it’s the lighting, but I need to watch the movie again to be sure.
• The controls of those Mech robots is JUST WRONG.  There is no way you can control those things with 1:1 movement without taking Physics into account.  Hey, Cameron…you know who did the controls “correctly?”  Watch “District 9.”
• It’s been apparent that a lot of directors today has surpassed Jim Cameron in storytelling and directing.  I am almost certain that Neill Blomkamp or Alfonso Cuaron would have made a better film on a far less expensive budget.

Popularity: 1% [?]

I believe that special effects is successful if a filmmaker has able to blend it so well with the rest of the movie that the audience can’t tell the difference.

IMO, the first to do it was Alfonso Cuaron in “Children of Men.”

Neill Blomkamp did it and has did it very well in “District 9.”

I am looking forward to more movies from him. I wish he created the Transformers live-action film.

Popularity: 1% [?]

I am currently watching “Primal Fear” on Hulu and this is probably the first time I have paid attention to a film’s editing. The editing of this movie is, in my opinion, brilliantly executed. I can’t help but notice the scene of the first day of trial which–in the hands of a terrible editor–would have otherwise ended up very dragging and full of b0ringness.

I looked up in IMDB the man responsible, and it’s David Rosenbloom, who has lent his talents to films like “The Insider.”

I can’t help but wonder why the man has quite a short list of films on his resume.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Mark my words: Neill Blomkamp will be the next biggest director since Christopher Nolan. He was that awesome creator of those Gatorade Rain, Adidas, and a few other awesome TV spots. He was supposed to be the director chosen by Peter Jackson to helm the ill-fated Halo movie. If you haven’t seen his POC short films based on the Halo universe, you should see them.

Popularity: 2% [?]

I finally saw this movie last weekend and I must say this has to be one of the most horrendous comic book adaptations I have seen since the movie “Ghost Rider” with Nicholas Cage.  I understand that the writers are pressed for time, but it’s no excuse to have so many plot holes in the movie.

If you’ve read the Doomsday series on comic books (I have), to say that this is a huge disappointment would be an understatement.

Popularity: 49% [?]

Dear Mr. Miller:

(I started this letter with the phrase “I’d like to be Frank…” but I thought it would confuse people.  Fact.)

I just saw the trailer for your solo directorial debut, “The Spirit.”  I thought I was looking at the much-anticipated to your ground-breaking film adaptation of “Sin City.” And OH LOOKS! The Title font is just like your *other* film adaptation, “300.”
Please don’t be a copycat jerk, Frank.  That’s all I have to say for now.

KTHANKSBAI.

Popularity: 23% [?]

I finally saw “Kite Runner” on DVD after reading the brilliant novel.

One thing’s certain: the person who wrote the screenplay should be shot.  Literally.  How anyone could screw up writing a screenplay based on this novel is just beyond me.  I have a written list of what’s wrong with the screenplay, but it’s so damn long I’m too upset to write it here (yeah, even to *cut and paste*…leave me alone).  Not even Kubrick could have saved this trainwreck.

There are only two things good about this movie: the opening credits (i liked the calligraphy-style lettering), and
Shaun Toub’s superb acting (the rest of the actors could have been replaced with wooden planks).

This movie needs to be re-done.

Popularity: 19% [?]

I was watching “Jerry Maguire” last weekend and it reminded me how Cuba Gooding, Jr. won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor that year.  Compare that with the barrage of stinkers that he’s involved with in the recent years, one would wonder how his career is thriving.

Of course, he can continue to sell out and ruin his career by doing movies that are almost considered a WMD, or decide to follow a few pointers from an idiot who name wouldn’t be involved with the silver screen even if he tries:

• Just stop for a second and look at your trainwreck of a repertoire in IMDB.  I mean–Jesus H. Christ–what were you smoking when you signed up for “Daddy Day Camp” after doing “Boat Trip?”  Quit doing “sloppy seconds” sequels.
• Fire your agent.  See #1.  Anyone who even thought about giving you those options should be burned alive.
• STOP DOING COMEDIES FOR A WHILE.  Wikipedia states that you vowed not to do another comedy again.  Since then you did the stab-my-eyes-with-a-fork “Norbit” and “Daddy Day Camp.”
• Take guest starring role in any of CSI’s or Law and Orders and play, like, a psychotic character or something.  It worked for Matthew Modine and that Cynthia Nixon.
• Stalk Cameron Crowe to the point of getting a restraining order and ask him to put you in one of his movies again.

Popularity: 12% [?]

I finally saw this movie today.  I had very low expectations at the beginning of the movie, but it turned out to be better than most people would care to admit.

The movie is often compared to a lengthy music video and/or videogame.  I think I know why: Like the other Frank Miller comic-turned-movie creation, Sin City, Snyder tried to recreate the aura/atmosphere found in the comic books.  Now I wonder, how come these same reviewers didn’t complain about Sin City–which was MORE “stylish” than 300?  The techno-rock soundtrack is a distraction…and I have the feeling this soundtrack will not age well over time.

One thing I have to mention that was done brilliantly was the fight scene sequences.  In most war/swordfight movies, cinematographers often use the “shaky cam” effect to immerse the audience into the action…which often fails (one exception is Spielberg’s first 20 minutes of “Saving Private Ryan,” but I digress).  In this movie, Snyder/Fong just pans the camera from left to right (or front to back, etc.) and does slow motion as the main character in focus decapitates the enemy.  The slow-mo was overdone on some scenes–and the rock-techno music background makes it annoying, too–but I think it was nicely done.  

I think Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator” has influenced some of the movie’s direction, but not too much that it tries to become a copycat…oh no…this still has Snyder’s signature all over it; it echoes the awesomeness that he did on the “Dawn of the Dead” remake.

It’s not Oscar material.  I don’t think the producers intended it to be.  But it is a good movie, nonetheless.

Popularity: 13% [?]