Tag: Movies

Over Macho Grande: Remembering Leslie Nielsen

It’s a sad time for comedy fans around the world. Leslie Nielsen passed away yesterday at age 84. From Airplane! to The Naked Gun to Soul Man, Nielsen has made millions of people around the world laugh. He had a profound impact on my life, as Airplane! was one of the earliest influences on my sense of humor. Let’s celebrate Leslie Nielsen’s career by sharing our favorite quotes from his movies. Here are some of mine:

“You can’t take a guess for another two hours?”

“It’s like eating a spoonful of Drano. Sure, it’ll clean you out, but it’ll leave you hollow inside.”

“I am serious, and don’t call me Shirley.”

“Well, when I see five weirdos dressed in togas stabbing a man in the middle of the park in full view of a hundred people, I shoot the bastards. That’s my policy!”

“Oh, and one more thing…. I faked every orgasm!”

“It’s a big building with patients, but that’s not important right now.”

“Insensitive?! You think it’s easy displacing an entire tribe? You try!”

“I just want to tell you both good luck. We’re all counting on you.”

And of course:

Binary Thoughts on the Green Lantern Trailer

If you haven’t seen the trailer for the upcoming Green Lantern movie then check it out (embedded above). As a huge fan of the GL comics, I had mix thoughts on the trailer. Let’s break it down binary style.

If you haven’t seen the trailer for the upcoming Green Lantern movie then check it out (embedded above). As a huge fan of the GL comics, I had mix thoughts on the trailer. Let’s break it down binary style.

Good: I loved seeing the supporting characters. I marked out when Abin Sur, Tomar-Re, Sinestro, and Kilowog were on the screen. The aliens look frickin’ awesome and I’m already excited for a sequel with a yellow-ringed Sinestro. It’s also kind of cool that Jango Fett is playing Abin.

Bad: I never liked Hector Hammond. He looks like a nob in the comic books. He absolutely looked like a nob in the trailer. There’s no way to make this character look cool. Peter Sargaard is a fine actor, but I sincerely doubt he can make this character interesting.

Good: Ryan Reynolds looks great as Hal Jordan. When he first started ring slinging, Jordan was young, brash, and reckless. I absolutely get that feel from Reynolds. Perhaps that’s why he snagged Scarlett Johansson….

Bad: I really hate the Green Lantern costume Reynolds wears. The ridges bother me. I said this before, but it’s worth repeating: the costume looks like a green piece of salmon nigiri.

Bad: I’m not digging Blake Lively as Carol Ferris. She’s too damsel-in-distress and doesn’t seem like someone that’s in charge of a large aviation company. Perhaps I’ll change my mind if she appears in a purple bikini in the sequel as Star Sapphire.

My initial vibe is that it’ll be okay, but hardly one of the best superhero movies. As a Green Lantern mark, I’m sure I’m going to enjoy it. Please check out the trailer and let me know what you think!

President Bill Clinton in The Hangover 2

President Bill Clinton was recently in Bangkok to address clean energy issues…and do some filming for The Hangover 2. According to People:

Clinton, who’ll play himself in the comedy, shot his brief appearance on Saturday in Bangkok, where part of the production takes place. He was in the capital city to deliver a speech on clean energy.

Man, that would have been cool if Bill Clinton, Mike Tyson, and Mel Gibson were in a scene together. I’d love to hang out in Bangkok with the three of them and show them some of my old haunts. The night would have been legendary.

What do you think Clinton’s role will be? Will he bail The Hangover crew out of jam or join them for a quick adventure?

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Superman/Shazam: The Return of Black Adam Disappoints

After the outstanding Batman: Under the Red Hood and the good Superman/Batman: Apocalypse, I was really looking forward to Superman/Shazam: The Return of Black Adam. One of the most intriguing and complex anti-heroes in the DC Universe, Black Adam is one of my favorite characters. Unfortunately, this animated feature didn’t convey what makes Black Adam so interesting.

But first, let’s cover some positive features of The Return of Black Adam. For the most part, I loved the art. It’s very clean, bright, and cheery, which fits in with the nature of Captain Marvel (yes, his name is Captain Marvel, not Shazam). The characterization of Billy Batson/Captain Marvel is well done. You really get a feel for his purity and innocence. The voice acting is great all around, which is par for the course with DC animated features. That’s pretty much it for the positives.

One problem I had with the art was the fight scenes. Superman, Captain Marvel, and Black Adam are three of the most powerful characters in DC Comics. Every time one of them throws a punch, windows should shatter and tidal waves should form in the ocean. The final fight scene between Neo and Agent Smith in The Matrix Revolutions is what a battle involving these three characters should be like. Instead, it was kind of like pro-wrestling with high-wire flying. The artists and animators did not illustrate the awesome power these three characters wield.

My minor gripe with Black Adam’s portrayal was his accent. He sounded Eastern European. In the comic books he hails from the fictional North African country of Kahndaq, which is supposed to be between Egypt and Israel. I’ve met people from Egypt and Israel. None of them sounded like Russian spies, which is that the Black Adam in this feature sounded like.

My major problem with Black Adam’s portrayal was its simplification. In the comics, he has been a villain and a hero. He has been in the Injustice Society and the Justice Society. He’s a beloved god-king in Kahndaq, but viewed as a severe threat to global stability by most other nations. He has a code of honor. He has suffered tragedies that have given him a harsh view of justice. He’s not really a bad guy or a good guy, but he’s done heroic and heinous things. In The Return of Black Adam, he’s just an evil dick. He was appointed Earth’s protector by the wizard Shazam and was corrupted by power — no complexity, no layers, and no depth. It’s so sad that Black Adam is nothing more than an evil dick in this movie.

I was disappointed immediately after watching Superman/Shazam: The Return of Black Adam. After an hour or so passed, I kept thinking about one of Billy Bob Thornton’s lines in Bad Santa: “They can’t all be winners, kid.” After so many excellent and very good DC animated features, I suppose it was time for a dud. I just wish it didn’t involve one of my favorite characters in the DC Universe.

Harry Potter 7 Sneak Peak Video

I’m super psyched for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I and this sneak peak video has me even more excited. I loved the book and I’m pleased that it’s going to be two movies. As I mentioned last week, Emma Watson (Hermione) is pretty much the perfect woman…though AJ Lee is still #1 to me. Yes, that was a 12:19AM tangent. Anyway, check out the clip and let me know what you think (please)!

Emma Watson is the Perfect Woman

Emma Watson is pretty much the perfect woman. She’s beautiful. She has a sexy accent. She attends my dream school (Brown University). And it turns out she’s worth $32-million. According to Vogue UK (via People):

Watson is now said to be worth $32 million, give or take a few pounds sterling.

“By the third or fourth film, the money was starting to get serious,” she told Vogue, according to published reports in the U.K. “I had no idea. I felt sick, very emotional.”

I don’t care that she lopped off all of her hair and got a pixie cut. Watson’s combination of utter hotness is so mind boggling that my brain is on the verge of shutting down. I better stop thinking about it…. Oh yeah, here’s that lovely photo of her in a bathtub.

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Emma Stone Playing Gwen Stacy, Not Mary Jane Watson

The sexy Emma Stone was rumored to be playing Mary Jane Watson in the upcoming Spider-Man reboot. It turns out that she’s slated to play Gwen Stacy, previously portrayed by Opie’s hot daughter Bryce Dallas Howard. According to E!:

After some initial confusion, it was revealed that Emma Stone would not be playing the beloved leading lady. Instead, she’d be playing Gwen Stacy.

I always liked Gwen better anyway. Hmmm, I wonder what Emma Stone would look like with long, luxurious blonde hair….

Update: Check out Emma’s Gwen Stacy hairstyle!

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Harry Potter Linked to India’s Dwindling Owl Population

The Harry Potter books and movies have been blamed for the dwindling owl population in India. Jairam Ramesh, India’s environment minister, told BBC that along with black magic rituals, Harry Potter was to blame for owl poaching. Here’s the skinny:

He said that Harry Potter books and films featuring his feathered friend Hedwig are popular in India and had contributed towards the demise of owls.

Mr Ramesh said there had been an increase in people wanting to buy them from illegal bird traders.

Accio owl!!! So along with the death of millions of trees, JK Rowling is responsible to owl poaching. Nice going Jo!

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Mel Gibson Out of The Hangover 2, Zack Galifianakis to Blame?

Mel Gibson’s cameo in The Hangover 2 has been scrapped and the buzz is that Zack Galifianakis played the biggest role in booting the beleaguered star. Director Todd Phillips sent out the following statement via Warner Bros.:

I thought Mel would have been great in the movie, and I had the full backing of [Warner Bros president] Jeff Robinov and his team. But I realize filmmaking is a collaborative effort, and this decision ultimately did not have the full support of my entire cast and crew.

In a recent episode of the Comedy Death-Ray podcast, Galifianakis said:

But a movie you’re acting in, you don’t have a lot of control — you just show up and vomit your lines out. I’m not the boss. I’m in a deep protest right now with a movie I’m working on, up in arms about something. But I can’t get the guys to [listen] … I’m not making any leeway.

Numerous Hollywood dirt sheets have reported that Galifianakis was referring to Gibson in the podcast.

Some people think that Gibson is being treated too harshly, saying that he’s not guilty of anything other than being a racist prick that treats women poorly. These people are pointing to the fact that the original movie featured Mike Tyson, a convicted rapist. Others are applauding Galifianakis for taking a stand against a racist prick that treats women poorly. What say you?

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