Tag Archives: Jose Luis Garcia Perez

MOV058: “I Pledge Allegiance To A Lantern”

The boys continue the Pride Month moviefest with the Spanish film, “Bear Cub”. Does the bear culture translate outside of the US? *wink, wink* Get it? (it’s subtitled!) They head to the theater to check out Ryan Reynolds and his transluscent costume in “Green Lantern”. Did the studio get it right? The movie…that is 🙂 Lastly, they head to the future to find out if “Anonymous” should be identified as a movie they’d want to see. All this, movie news about Jamie Foxx, Pirates hitting the all-time top 10, a new Pixar project, and Hollywood says goodbye to a Jackass. Wait for your mind to be blown!

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News:

  • Jamie Foxx cast in quentien Tarantino’s Django Unchained
  • The writer/director’s revenge-driven “Southern” would feature Foxx as Django, a freed American slave who teams with a German bounty hunter (Christoph Waltz) to save his wife from Calvin Candie, an evil plantation owner (to be played by Leonardo DiCaprio).
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides Enters All-Time Top 10
  • Just entered the top 10 of all-time worldwide box office hits with $956.7 million earned worldwide. The film has passed up Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1’s $954.5 million and should shortly surpass Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End’s $963.4 million to move up to No. 9.
  • “On Stranger Tides” has reached this point with 76.8% of ticket sales coming from international territories. Domestically, the Rob Marshall-directed adventure has reached $221.5 million, but overseas the film has collected an impressive $735.2 million.
  • New Pixar Project gets release date set
  • Nov 27, 2013 for the yet unnamed project
  • Cars 2 is the next film releasing this friday, followed by “Brave” releasing June 22, 2012 and Monsters University (Monsters Inc 2) June 21’st 2013
  • RIP Ryan Dunn
  • Him and passenger died in a fiery car crash in the early morning hours of June 20’th
  • He had just turned 34 on June 11th

 

The Past: Bear Cub (Cachorro) (2004)
Rotten Tomatoes: 77% Fresh; 77% Audience

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Director: Miguel Albaladejo
Starring: José Luis García Pérez, David Castillo and Empar Ferrer

Trivia:

  • The Spanish title “Cachorro” literally translates as “puppy”, “pup” or “cub”.
  • Jose Luis Garcia Perez gained over 26 pounds for his role, mainly by eating cheesecake.
  • The scenes shot at the fairground were actually filmed by Jose Luis Garcia Perez.
  • This is an extension of a short film that Miguel Albaledejo made in 1996.
  • Bernardo’s emotional final scene with his grandmother was caught in the first take. Director Miguel Albaledejo asked his young actor David Castillo to do a second take because a fly was buzzing around in the background but Castillo refused as he was so emotionally drained by the scene. The fly was removed digitally.

Talking Points:

  • Is this more about the cub or the bear?
  • Which is better – Bear Cub or BearCity? (Jeff: Is this a trick question?)

What We’ve Learned:

  • When cruising out in public.. best to keep an eye out for PI’s with camera’s
  • Holy cow spanish people talk FAST!
  • There are a bunch of hot bears in Madrid

Trailer:

Recommendations:
Jeff: This is a Bear movie that should be in every Bear’s DVD collection. If you haven’t seen it before, you really should.
Ray: Finally a “Bear” movie I would not be ashamed to show my friends… at least the “Edited” version.
Steve: Definitely an interesting movie! Don’t know that it’s my favorite, but it’s a cuddly coming of age story.

Intermission:

The Present: Green Lantern (2011)
Rotten Tomatoes: 26% Rotten; 60% Audience

Director: Martin Campbell
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively and Peter Sarsgaard

Trivia:

  • Greg Berlanti signed on to co-write and direct the film in 2007, but he stepped down to instead direct This Is Where I Leave You (????) and handed direction over to Martin Campbell. However, he remained on board as a writer and producer.
  • In the comics, there have been six people who held (and still hold) the title of the Green Lantern: Alan Scott (1940), Hal Jordan (1959), Guy Gardner (1968), John Stewart (1971), Kyle Rayner (1994) and Jennifer-Lynn Hayden i(AKA “Jade,” Alan Scott’s daughter, 1983). Scott and Jade are the only ones who are different because their powers come from a magical source, and though they have been Green Lanterns in name, they are actually not part of the Green Lantern Corps, though Jade did serve in it briefly at one point.
  • Sam Worthington and Chris Pine were in consideration for the role of Hal Jordan. Bradley Cooper, Justin Timberlake and Jared Leto also screen-tested for the role before finally, Ryan Reynolds was cast as Jordan.
  • Brian Austin Green, a fan of the Green Lantern, campaigned actively to get the role of Hal Jordan.
  • The movie was originally scheduled to be shot at Fox Studios in Sydney, Australia but the rising Australian dollar forced the studio and director Martin Campbell to seek relocation, New Orleans and various parishes around the city was chosen because it was it was perfect location from the scouts, the city has perfect aura for filming almost anything, many studio’s are being built in the city now known as Hollywood south and Louisiana tax incentive that many other cities have copied but still not as successful as Louisiana have help make it easy to film big and small budget movies in the State.
  • Keri Russell, Eva Green, Jennifer Garner and Diane Kruger were all considered to play Carol Ferris.
  • Comic book writer Geoff Johns, who has worked on the “Green Lantern” comic and made it a resounding success, was signed on as a creative consultant on the film.
  • At one point Clark Kent/Superman was in the script (he had a cameo as one of the candidates considered to receive a power ring), but he was cut out because the filmmakers didn’t want to depend on another superhero for a success.
  • The scriptwriters drew inspiration from the Green Lantern comics ‘Emerald Dawn’ (which told the story of Hal Jordan’s induction into the Green Lantern Corps and how he became its greatest member) and ‘Secret Origin’ (a modern retelling of Hal Jordan’s early days as a Green Lantern), as well as the work of Denny O’NeilNeal Adams and Dave Gibbons‘ work on the “Green Lantern” comic.
  • Around June 2006, Robert Smigel had completed a script of the film, which was a comedy-adventure and was to star Jack Black in the lead role. However, the studio dropped the script idea due to EXTREME negative feedback from fans.
  • In early 1997, Warner Bros. approached cult filmmaker/comic book writer Kevin Smith to script the film. Smith turned down the offer, believing there were other suitable candidates to make a Green Lantern movie.
  • When Greg Berlanti was in charge, he hired comic book writers Michael Green and Marc Guggenheim to work on the script. Share this
  • Zack Snyder was approached to direct the film, but he turned down the offer due to his commitment on Watchmen (2009). He would later accept the offer to direct the reboot of Superman.
  • Not counting the “The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure” or the “Superfriends” shows that were produced by Filmation and Hanna-Barbara, this is only the second D.C. feature where Hal Jordan has a major role. Previously, he only appeared in Green Lantern: First Flight (2009) (V), and beyond that: – in a “Superman” (1996) episode he was only mentioned by name – in “Justice League” (2001) and “Duck Dodgers” (2003) he made cameo appearances in one episode each – and in Justice League: The New Frontier (2008) (V) he played a supporting role.
  • This is the second D.C. feature where John Stewart appears. However, it is only in a minor role: he had previously had a major role in “Justice League” (2001).
  • The Green Lantern uniform is portrayed in computer-generated imagery; this was a creative move by the filmmakers, who wanted the uniform not to be a real cloth outfit but a light construct generated by the Lantern power ring. Notably the comics originally started with Hal Jordan wearing an actual uniform, but later changed it to where his and the other Green Lanterns uniforms were constructs created by their rings. The humanoid actors (Ryan Reynolds, Temuera Morrison and Mark Strong) wore motion-capture suits, over which the uniforms were rendered.
  • Peter Sarsgaard had a prosthetic applied on his head to portray Hector Hammond in the initial stages of his mutation (a swollen brain). For scenes where Hammond’s head actually enlarges it will be done in CGI.
  • It took 4-5 hours to apply the prosthetic make-up to Temuera Morrison to make him resemble Abin Sur.
  • This is editor Stuart Baird‘s third superhero film, having previously worked on Superman (1978) and Superman II (2006) (V) (the Zorro films are debatable).
  • Geoff Johns tried to get the film produced in 2000, but the first question he was asked was whether the film could be made without the ring. This discouraged him so badly that he didn’t make another attempt until The Dark Knight (2008) released.
  • A mannequin of Abin Sur was constructed for Amanda Waller’s autopsy.
  • The comics vary on why the Green Lantern Abin Sur travelled in a spaceship when his ring could sustain him in space. The early comics say it was to prevent unnecessarily using the power on his ring; later versions presented him with a prophecy that his ring would fail him (which ironically came true at the moment his ship malfunctioned).
  • Martin Campbell‘s favorite Green Lantern is Bzzd. He has also said that if he could become a Green Lantern, he would be Kilowog.
  • To prepare for Carol Ferris’s action scenes, Blake Lively underwent training on the The Matrix (1999)‘s aerial stunt rigs, assisted by acrobats from the “Cirque du Soleil” and supervised by noted stunt coordinator Gary Powell. She described it as a great experience: “I’m 40 feet in the air, spiralling around. That’s the best workout you can ever do because it’s all core… You do that for ten minutes and you should see your body the next day! It’s so exhilarating, so thrilling – and nauseating.”
  • Taika Waititi got the role of Thomas “Pieface” Kalmaku due to his Maori-Jewish heritage: “There was an opening in the film for someone who was not-white or not-black.”
  • Peter Sarsgaard described Hector Hammond as an expression of what he keeps inside: “He’s the kid that licked a battery, or went on the roof during a thunderstorm with a coat hanger.”
  • Peter Sarsgaard loved his look as Hector Hammond so much he declared himself the “king of the prostheses!”
  • In the comics, Carol Ferris became the Star Sapphire, an anti-hero with abilities similar to the Green Lantern; she later became a soldier (and currently queen) of the Star Sapphire Corps, a all-female force parallel to the Green Lantern Corps. In the film, Jordan’s nickname for Carol is Sapphire; the Star Sapphire logo can also be seen on Carol’s helmet as she flies her jet.
  • The filmmakers considered making this film about Alan Scott, the original Green Lantern, whose powers were magical rather than cosmic. They decided to go with Hal Jordan as he was the most popular Lantern and the one on whom (most of) the GL universe was constructed around.
  • There will be about 133 VFX shots in the film.
  • Quentin Tarantino was considered to direct this film.
  • Carol Ferris says Hal has the ability to overcome great fear. In the comics this was an amendment of the Green Lantern Corps: one originally had to be without fear in order to be a Lantern, but this was later changed to being able to overcome their fears.
  • The films first teaser trailer borrowed the trailer score from The Last Airbender (2010), which is “Lonely Dusk” performed by Methodic Doubt
  • Hugo Weaving, Jackie Earle Haley and Geoffrey Rush were considered to for the role of Sinestro. Rush went on to voice the Green Lantern Tomar-Re.
  • The “Green Lantern” comic has been greatly inspired by many cinematic figures across history (including the main cast of this film): – Hal Jordan and Carol Ferris (1959) were based on Paul Newman and Elizabeth Taylor – Thaal Sinestro (1961) was based on David Niven – and Hector Hammond (1961) was based on Burl Ives.
  • The primary antagonist in the film was originally going to be the Legion, an alien robot possessing the collective minds of an alien insectoid race. This would have been in keeping with the original comics, where Abin Sur was mortally wounded in a battle with the Legion. However, the Legion was rejected in favour of the fear entity Parallax.
  • An early draft of the script contained a cameo by Alan Scott, the first Green Lantern (Jordan’s predecessor, whose powers were magical rather than cosmic). Scott was going to be the United States President, and near the end would reveal his own past as a Green Lantern to Jordan, and give him his blessing. He was later revised to become an agent of the Checkmate agency (the Checkmate membership stayed true to the comics), who would approach and offer Jordan membership. Later drafts finally wrote him out of the film, and replaced him with Amanda Waller.
  • Kevin Kline was considered for the role of Senator Hammond.
  • In 2007, actor-writer Corey Reynolds sent Warner Bros. a treatment, “Green Lantern: Birth of a Hero”, with him writing and starring as John Stewart (his favourite superhero). Reynolds intended the film to be the first in a trilogy, and was going to introduce Hal Jordan, the Green Lantern Corps and the Justice League in the consecutive sequels. While his pitch was favourably received by the studio, it was abandoned in favour of a story about Hal Jordan.
  • To prepare for his role as Hector Hammond, Peter Sarsgaard spent time with a biologist from Tulane University, who he described as “the most eccentric guy I could find.” They both worked on preparing the lecture Hammond gives in the film.
  • Geoffrey Rush was initially unsure about voicing the alien Tomar-Re, but he had previously voiced avian roles (he had played an owl in Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole (2010) and a pelican in Finding Nemo (2003)), and so when he saw an image of the birdlike Tomar-Re, he accepted the role. He had also noted that he had played various mentor roles before, so felt he would be more than comfortable with the role.
  • The dialogue between Jordan and Sinestro about power batteries was taken verbatim from the “Green Lantern” comic ‘Secret Origin’.
  • A Central City sign can be seen in the film. Central City was the home of Green Lantern’s superhuman ally and close friend, the Flash. Michael Clarke Duncan, who voices Kilowog, is a big fan of the character.
  • The filmmakers increased the budget by $9 million for additional VFX work.

Talking Points:

  • Plot holes?
  • This film got some pretty harsh reviews on opening day.. justified?
  • Opening night surprise…
  • 3D or not to 3D?
  • Which would you prefer – a green ring (will) or a yellow ring (fear)?

What We Learned:

  • If you’re going to bury a super villain in the middle of a planet… it might be smart to put up warning signs
  • Fanboys can really be annoying in the theater – especially when reciting the oath out loud!
  • Blake Lively looks better as a brunette
  • Where can I get me one of those rings?

Trailer:

Recommendations:
Jeff: I really liked it. Sure it wasn’t the greatest superhero movie of all time but it was very enjoyable. Check it out.
Ray: I don’t think it lived up to the hype, but it was entertaining. I think this is one of those where people who are not fans will be more entertained then people who are fans.
Steve: I enjoyed it. I’m really surprised it’s not doing so hot in the box office. Effects were awesome!

The Future: Anonymous (2011)

Director: Roland Emmerich
Starring: Rhys Ifans, Vanessa Redgrave and David Thewlis

Trivia:

Talking Points:

  • Roland Emmerich directs a film that’s not about the end of the world???
  • Does this trailer interest you in the movie or is it more about the topic?

Summary:

Set in the political snake-pit of Elizabethan England, “Anonymous” speculates on an issue that has for centuries intrigued academics and brilliant minds such as Mark Twain, Charles Dickens, and Sigmund Freud, namely: who actually created the body of work credited to William Shakespeare? Experts have debated, books have been written, and scholars have devoted their lives to protecting or debunking theories surrounding the authorship of the most renowned works in English literature. “Anonymous” poses one possible answer, focusing on a time when scandalous political intrigue, illicit romances in the Royal Court, and the schemes of greedy nobles lusting for the power of the throne were brought to light in the most unlikely of places: the London stage.

Trailer:

Excitement:
Jeff: This trailer doesn’t do much for me. The plot does. Still iffy on seeing in the theater verses on DVD.
Ray: While I am interested in the subject matter, this is not a must see in the theatre more for me at all.
Steve: Not my kind of movie. Blech…

Coming Attractions

The Past
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The Present

The Future

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MOV054: “I Support The Missionary’s Position.”

The boys head briefly back in time to resurrect Ryan Reynolds’ performance in 2010’s “Buried”, then head off to the high seas with Johnny Depp and Penelope Cruz to find out if “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” lives up to the hype.  They wind up the show with a review of “Warrior”, a September release starring – the dreamy – Tom Hardy.  All of this, along with more news about Akira, Star Trek, and more.  There’s no need to start a mutiny…this 54th Reel of COL Movies is gonna entertain the heck out of you.

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News:

  • More woes for Akira, Director leaves – no replacement as of yet
  • Albert Hughes no longer directing – no replacement so far
  • Split was friendly – Warner brothers deciding how to proceed
  • Impatiently waiting for more Star Trek? Be prepared to wait some more
  • recent interview in which Bob Orci revealed franchise mastermind J.J. Abrams had not yet approved the 70-page outline Orci co-wrote
  • Bruce Greenwood indicated last July that the plan was to start shooting in January 2011, which made perfect sense given the June 2012 release date. February 2011 came and went without any “Trek” casting news
  • World War Z to start its worldwide shooting schedule in June
  • directed by Marc Forster (Quantum of Solace), is gearing up for a June production start.
  • shooting will begin in Malta. Production will then relocate to the UK and, later, Hungary. Principal photography will last well into the fall.
  • Brad Pitt is still set to star as a UN researcher gathering stories of the great zombie war. The actor is also producing.
  • J. Michael Straczynski and Matthew Michael Carnahan penned the script.
  • Tom Hardy’s Bane

The Past: Buried (2010)
Rotten Tomatoes: 86% Fresh; 63% Audience

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Director: Rodrigo Cortés

Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Robert Paterson, Jose Luis Garcia Perez, Stephen Tobolowsky, Samantha Mathis

Trivia:

  • Samantha Mathis, who plays Paul Conroy’s wife, previously starred in a film where she is buried alive, called 83 Hours ‘Til Dawn (1990) (TV).
  • Shot in 17 days in a Barcelona studio.
  • Seven coffins were used in the movie.
  • The phone number of the Chicago FBI field office mentioned in the movie is the number of the office in real life.:
  • Ryan Reynolds states that he suffered from claustrophobia towards the end of filming (much like the character he is playing). This was mainly due to the fact the coffin he was in was gradually filled with more and more sand as filming went on. He describes the last day of shooting as “unlike anything I experienced in my life, and I never ever want to experience that again.”
  • When Paul Conroy (Ryan Reynolds) opens up the note his kidnapper wants him to read on video, the first line says “The date is 23 October.” This is Ryan Reynolds’ actual birthday.
  • Ryan Reynolds is the only person we see in the flesh. All of the other performances are either voiceovers or recorded on his cell phone. The whole film is shot from the interior of the coffin. We never see the outside world. The film never repeats a single shot. These all make Buried (2010) one of the most minimalist films ever made.
  • Ryan Reynolds was the first and only choice to play Paul Conroy.
  • Shot in sequence.
  • Alfred Hitchcock films Rope (1948) and Lifeboat (1944) were an inspiration on Rodrigo Cortés when making Buried (2010).

Talking Points:

  • If anything makes me more excited to see Green Lantern.. its this.
  • Movie magic.

What We’ve Learned:

  • Don’t drive a truck in Iraq
  • If you do drive a truck in Iraq, keep your cell phone charged as much as possible
  • Remember your safety number
  • HR Departments SUCK

Trailer:

Recommendations:
Jeff: It was alright. Did keep my attention.
Ray: I thought it was a little slow going at first, but it kept my attention and the ending ROCKED.
Steve: I really liked it. I was surprised by Ryan Reynolds’ dramatic chops, as well as how few people were actually in the movie. Good movie magic, too.

The Present: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)

Rotten Tomatoes: 32% Rotten; 68% Audience

Director: Rob Marshall

Starring: Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Geoffrey Rush, Ian McShane, Kevin McNally, Sam Claflin

Trivia:

  • Nothing new since the trailer.

Talking Points:

  • What was the average age of your audience, mine was about 60 (Ray)
  • I felt this film was very lazy, and just a setup up for more films.
  • Film length.
  • The mermaids (or harpie/vampire/siren/mermaids)

What We Learned:

  • Don’t lay your sword on the table while chasing a known criminal
  • A gentleman allows a lady to maintain her fiction
  • You can tell how long you have been at sea by the smell of your crew
  • Mermaids like singing
  • Tears of Joy are more potent than tears of sorrow.
  • Flags don’t shield you from musket balls

Trailer:

Recommendations:
Jeff: So fun. Was it a great movie? No, but fun. Skip the 3D though.
Ray: If your a fan of the series, I would say go for it. 3D is probably unnecessary. I could go my whole life without seeing another PotC movie.
Steve: Did not find the 3D necessary at all, but overall enjoyed it. Drug along in some places, but walked away feeling like it was the best since number 1.

The Future: Warrior

Director: Gavin O’Connor

Starring: Tom Hardy, Jennifer Morrison, Joel Edgerton, Nick Nolte, Noah Emmerich

Trivia:

  • Filming took place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
  • Mogul Minds Studios, located in Pittsburgh, was used during the filming, as well as the University of Pittsburgh’s Petersen Events Center and the Twin Hi-Way Drive-In. North Hills High School was also used for some interior scenes.
  • Hardy went through a demanding training routine for gaining muscle during the film’s pre-production, gaining around 28 pounds of muscle and raising his overall weight to 205 pounds.
  • Additional filming was shot at the former West Virginia State Penitentiary, located in Moundsville, West Virginia.
  • Additional scenes were shot around the historic Pitt Hotel and Restaurant in McDonald, Pennsylvania.

Talking Points:

  • Seems like The Fighter + MMA + Iraq

Summary:

An ex-Marine haunted by a tragic past, Tommy Riordan returns to his hometown of Pittsburgh and enlists his father, a recovered alcoholic and his former coach, to train him for a mixed martial arts tournament awarding the biggest purse in the history of the sport. As Tommy blazes a violent path towards the title prize, his brother, Brendan, a former MMA fighter unable to make ends meet as a public school teacher, returns to the amateur ring to provide for his family. Even though years have passed, recriminations and past betrayals keep Brendan bitterly estranged from both Tommy and his father. But when Brendan’s unlikely rise as an underdog sets him on a collision course with Tommy, the two brothers must finally confront the forces that tore them apart, all the while waging the most intense, winner-takes-all battle of their lives

Trailer:

Excitement:
Jeff: Looks like a Fighter imitator. Unless I hear otherwise, not interested.
Ray: The Fighter part two?
Steve: The Fighter with some more up-to-date issues. Tom Hardy looks awesome, though!

Coming Attractions

The Past
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The Present

The Future

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