Tag Archives: Ali Larter

MOV018: “There’s nothing like a good moose.”

Sequel news, Indian Summer, Resident Evil: Afterlife, and *sigh* Gulliver’s Travels.

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News:

Discussions:

The Past: Indian Summer (1993)

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Director: Mike Binder

Starring: Alan Arkin, Matt Craven, Diane Lane, Bill Paxton, Elizabeth Perkins, Kevin Pollak, Sam Raimi

Trivia:

  • Filmed at director Mike Binder’s childhood summer camp.
  • The characters of Matt and Brad are based on the two Michigan-born founders of the Canadian clothing company Roots. They attended Tamakwa, which is a real camp in Ontario’s Algonquin park.
  • Horror director Sam Raimi, who plays the character Stick Coder also attended this camp (Camp Tamakwa) as a child.
  • One of the founders of the real Camp Tamakwa is ‘Unca’ Lou Handler, whom the character in the movie is named after.
  • Matt Craven plays one of the adults returning to summer camp, where they have such fond memories. Craven also played a CIT (counselor in training) in Meatballs (1979), another film about summer camp. Both films were shot in Canada.
  • Ashley Williams, who plays Ida Heinken in the flashback scenes, is the younger sister of Kimberly Williams-Paisley, who plays Gwen.
  • There are a few scenes in which there are illustrations of Spider-Man. This is interesting considering that actor/director Sam Raimi went on to direct the original (ten years later), including its sequels.
  • During the closing credits, the Stick Coder character stares at the screen, just like the earlier characters who were staring at a moose.
  • The Shrek word was used in this film and was used as a camp gag/joke. This reference was based on the Shrek! book by William Steig. In the credits, Shrek kings are listed.

Talking Points:

  • Was the point about racism necessary or poignant to the story?

What We’ve Learned:

  • Shrek was a practical joke
  • Shrek is also a camp gag or joke (was that too mean?)
  • In the early 90s, even the 30 something men had mullets and all women had perms
  • Reunions are a good thing! Get together with some old friends and reminisce.

Trailer:
No trailer available online! 🙁

Recommendations:
Jeff: Holy crap! This is such a good movie! Definite buy for me.
Ray: Wow. I really had a hard time enjoying this film. It actually bummed me out.
Steve: Love it! Not a fan of the drug stuff, but otherwise it’s just a fun movie that reminds us to enjoy the fun times of our past.

The Present: Resident Evil: Afterlife 3D

Director: Paul W S Anderson

Starring: Milla Jovavich, Ali Larter, Kim Coates, Shawn Roberts, Wentworth Miller

Trivia:

  • The name of this movie “Afterlife” is the same working title that was used in the previous movie before it became “Extinction”.
  • This is the first live-action movie based on a video game to be in 3-D.
  • The first Resident Evil film to be released in IMAX.
  • At the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con International, Anderson and Jeremy Bolt told ShockTilYouDrop.com that a fifth Resident Evil film would be possible, saying, “We always take it one movie at a time. We put so much effort into them and it is a family affair. It is all about making the best possible movie now and then promoting well and getting it out there. Making sure it is seen in the right way. When the dust settles then you think about something else. For us, it is not a business, it is a passion. You don’t want to start talking about the next baby until you make sure this one is okay.”
  • Anderson later told IGN that if the film is a success, he will do the fifth film and would like Leon Kennedy to make an appearance.

Talking Points:

  • Did the storyline deviate too much from the source? (game)

What We Learned:

  • Bullet time is one of the coolest movie tricks ever!
  • How to use bullet time to stretch 1 hours worth of story into 1 hour and 40 minutes.
  • Don’t give yourself the t-virus.
  • Just about anyone can either land or take off in a plane on a roof top.

Feedback:
Shadowolf1970

Hey Jeff, Ray and Steve
I’ve been a casual fan of the RE films for a while. Nothing more than a brainless distraction for an hour or so. Resident Evil: Afterlife is more of the same complete with cliffhanger ending. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. I just thought this was going to be the last one.
STORY
They conveniently wrap up the last film’s story line by blowing up all the Alice clones. It was a nice action sequence but i didn’t feel sorry for the girls when they died. Plus they de-power the protagonist in the first act but she still kicks butt later in the film like a super person? Then there are characters from the game dropped in (Chris Redfield and Wesker)and one bad guy that has NO place in this film. The Axe man. Oh and there’s also NO explanation as to why some of the zombies have weird things coming out of their faces. I played the games so I know what they are but if I was just a casual moviegoer I would be clueless. Still it’s clear who is good and who is bad in the film.
SFX and 3D
The visual effects overall were pretty decent. There were no CG characters except for the dogs at the end. The digital compositing could have been better in the clone’s action scenes. The 3D seemed a bit too gimmicky for me. It was really over the top in a couple of places, but there was one instance where it really worked and that was when the Axe man’s head exploded and gore flies into your face and sticks to the lens. I had to fight the urge to whip off my glasses! Still the 3D in the Tron Legacy teaser was much better than what we got in this whole film.
AFTER THOUGHTS
As low budget sci-fi/horror/action flicks go you could do worse. At least they are managing to keep some continuity going. Not a bad distraction for an afternoon matinee.
I give 3 out of 5.

Trailer:

Recommendations:
Jeff: Enjoyed the hell out of this movie, the 3D was great, especially the subtleties see it. Warning, this is an Action movie and that’s the point.
Ray: I enjoyed it, Definite see for the game fans.. Zombie movie fans might be a bit disappointed. Didnt think it was all that “3D”
Steve: I liked the 3D a lot, albeit many of the shots were gimmicky. Was glad to see Ali Larter got in on the action, as well.

The Future: Gulliver’s Travels

Starring: Jack Black, Emily Blunt, Jason Segel, Amanda Peet

Trivia:

  • Emily Blunt backed out of Iron Man 2 (2010) to do this movie.
  • Sarah Michelle Gellar was considered to play Princess of Lilliputia.
  • Taylor Lautner was originally cast as Horatio. But was dropped after producers changed their minds and considered him too young. Jason Segel replaced him.
  • The official trailer for Gulliver’s Travels was released on June 3, 2010 and attached to Marmaduke a day after.

Talking Points:

  • Why?

Summary:
The plot, according to news, centers on Lemuel Gulliver (Jack Black), a free-spirited travel writer who, on an assignment to the Bermuda Triangle, suddenly finds himself a giant among men when he washes ashore on the hidden island of Lilliput, home to a population of industrious, yet tiny, people.

Trailer:

Excitement:
Jeff: Never want to see this for two words, Jack Black.
Ray: Would only want to see it for two words, Cathrine Tate
Steve: Don’t really have any words for this movie other than…next!

Coming Attractions

The Past: Romancing The Stone
The Present: Alpha & Omega
The Future: It’s Kind of A Funny Story

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MOV006: “Stroke The Furry Walls”

Steve, Ray and Jeff cover the gambit of Remakes, Soldier’s Girl, Get Him To The Greek, Resident Evil: Afterlife, and more.

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News:

  • Another classic getting rebooted – Fright Night
  • Is this really necessary??? Mean Girls 2
  • Steve: Finally saw Avatar and wow it was awesome! Speaking of Avatar…Sam Worthington is slated to star in the 2011 release of the Dracula origin story, Dracula Year Zero. Alex Proyas is noted as the Director, best known for Dark City.
  • First Marvel Movie to be released under the Disney moniker.. Dr. Strange

The Past: Soldier’s Girl

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Director: Frank Pierson

Staring: Troy Garity, Lee Pace, Andre Braugher, Shawn Hatosy, Philip Eddolls

Trivia:

  • The real Calpernia talks about the movie
  • Soldier’s Girl was also hailed as one of the ten best Television Programs of the Year (2003) by the American Film Institute.
  • Nominated for a ton of awards (Emmy, GLAAD, Golden Globe, Independent Spirit, among others) and won Lee Pace a Breakthrough Award during the 2003 Gotham Awards and a Peabody Award in 2004.

Talking Points:

  • Contact with Calpernia Addams
  • Pretty much a word for word story from real life. Crazy to believe, but true.
  • Don’t Ask Don’t Tell
  • COL014: In the Army
  • July 4th is the 11th Anniversary of Barry Winchell’s murder

Trailer:

Recommendations:

  • Jeff: Must see, but a Rental will be fine.
  • Ray: Very Powerful, I would recommend this to a lot of people.
  • Steve: Powerful! Must see! Just be prepared to cry and be left thinking a lot.

The Present: Get Him To The Greek

Director: Nicholas Stoller

Staring: Jonah Hill, Russell Brand, Rose Byrne, & Sean “P Diddy” Combs

Trivia:

  • Russell Brand nearly chipped a tooth while filming ‘The Clap’ performance scene at the Today show.
  • Emily Blunt was announced for the role of Jackie Q but had to pull out and Rose Byrne replaced her.
  • Russell Brand filmed scenes of him performing as rock star Aldous Snow at his sell out comedy show – “Scandalous”, at the O2 arena in London, in front of an audience of 20,000 fans. He was joined on stage by Jack Black and Jason Segel.
  • This movie is a spin-off from Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008). Jonah Hill is in both films, but as two different characters. Kristen Bell reprises her role as Sarah Marshall in a cameo.
  • A week after the release of Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Universal Studios announced a new film Get Him to the Greek, reteaming Jonah Hill and Russell Brand with writer/director Nicholas Stoller and producer Judd Apatow. Variety initially announced the project would focus on “fresh-out-of-college insurance adjuster (Hill) who is hired to accompany an out-of-control rock star (Brand) from London to a gig at L.A.’s Greek Theatre.” In July 2008, Brand mentioned that he would be reprising his Aldous Snow role from Forgetting Sarah Marshall, in a new film from Apatow in which the character was back on drugs
  • In an interview with CHUD.com, Apatow would later reveal that Get Him to the Greek was indeed a spin-off of Forgetting Sarah Marshall with Brand again playing a no-longer-sober Aldous Snow while in a different interview Nicholas Stoller said that Jonah Hill will play a different character named Aaron Green, a young music executive
  • While Russell Brand was backstage at the Paramount studio lot preparing to present the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards, he approached Christina Aguilera, Pink, and Katy Perry about filming cameos for Get Him to the Greek.
  • On April 17, 2009, Brand filmed scenes of him performing as rock star Aldous Snow at his sellout comedy show “Russell Brand: Scandalous”, at the O2 arena in London, in front of an audience of 20,000 fans. He performed the songs “Inside Of You” and “I Am Jesus”.
  • The movie has gotten relatively favorable reviews. Even Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film three out of four stars by saying that “under the cover of slapstick, cheap laughs, raunchy humor, gross-out physical comedy and sheer exploitation, Get Him to the Greek also is fundamentally a sound movie.”

Talking Points:

  • Drug references in movies today – when does it become excessive?
  • Anyone else think the movie was really choppy? Maybe poorly edited?
  • Can Russell Brand actually speak without doing so through his teeth?

What We’ve Learned:

  • Drug references and lots of puke does not make a great movie.
  • P Diddy can be funny!
  • You can shape your body hair into just about anything (Microphone = Hairyoke?)
  • If life slips you a Jeffrey, stroke the furry walls.

Trailer:

Recommendations:

  • Jeff: Good movie, worth a full price
  • Ray: Thought parts of it were funny, I wouldn’t have gone out of my way to see it, maybe a rent..for a $1…
  • Steve: Could have done without seeing this movie. Not my cup of tea.

The Future: Resident Evil: Afterlife

Starring: Milla Jovovich, Ali Larter, Wentworth Miller, & Sienna Guillory

Trivia:

  • The name of this movie “Afterlife” is the same working title that was used in the previous movie before it became “Extinction”.
  • This is the first live-action movie based on a video game to be in 3-D.
  • Will feature plot elements from Resident Evil Code: Veronica (2000) (VG) and Resident Evil 5 (2009) (VG).
  • The first Resident Evil film to be released in IMAX.
  • Anderson used James Cameron’s Fusion Camera System, the same system that was used in Avatar. He has stated the film has the largest budget in the series thus far and it will also feature new characters taken from the video games
  • Visual effects production manager Eric Roberston described the look of the film, “interesting contrasts, pure whites, which is a staggering look. It’s so clean and tight along with some real darkness too that may evoke a bit of a feel of Silent Hill. So we’ve got the extremes, but it’s definitely a unique look for this incarnation and it’s been fun to see those looks”

Talking Points:

  • 3-D
  • Wentworth Miller!! 🙂
  • Resident Evil: Overkill? Is it about time to put the series to bed?

Summary:
In a world ravaged by a virus infection, turning its victims into the Undead, Alice (Jovovich), continues on her journey to find survivors and lead them to safety. Her deadly battle with the Umbrella Corporation reaches new heights, but Alice gets some unexpected help from an old friend. A new lead that promises a safe haven from the Undead takes them to Los Angeles, but when they arrive the city is overrun by thousands of Undead – and Alice and her comrades are about to step into a deadly trap.

Trailer:

Excitement:

  • Jeff: I’m a sucker for some bad movies.
  • Ray: Hoping it doesn’t fall to the even/odd curse..so far ive liked 1,3 hated 2
  • Steve: Definitely looking forward to it!! Hoping it will be the last though. Let a good thing go before it becomes Resident Evil: Overkill

Coming Attractions:

The Past: Jeffrey
The Present: Toy Story 3
The Future: The Smurfs

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