Tag Archives: Nicholas Cage

MOV093: “Comparative Exponential Religiosity”

Steven is on hiatus and in the meantime he gives us a Nicolas Cage Spectacular. We start back in time with 2006’s “Ghost Rider.” You know that sounds like a movie that’s out. Oh, yeah, there’s the “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengence” movie. Does either movie have a ghost of a chance to sway Jeff and Ray, or will they just through it back into the pits of hell where it came from? Lastly we take a look at the Futures Past with “Seeking Justice”, a Nicolas Cage movie already released in Europe. This, news featureing Sacha Baron Cohen, The Weinstiens, and Magneto, and even more super hero talk on this the 93rd Reel of COL Movies, “Comparative Exponential Religiosity”

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News:

The Past: Ghost Rider
Rotten Tomatoes: 27% Rotten , 56% Audience

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Director: Mark Steven Johnson

Starring: Nicholas Cage, Eva Mendes, Wes Bently, Peter Fonda, Sam Elliot

Trivia:

  • Jon Voight was attached to the project at one point, but dropped out.
  • Nicolas Cage had to have his Ghost Rider tattoo covered with make-up to play Johnny Blaze.
  • A large group of on-lookers converged on a bridge in Melbourne to watch scenes being filmed in a nearby location. Over four days of filming at that location, the crowds grew so large they disrupted traffic, and public transport operators reported an unusual jump in passenger traffic to the area.
  • Some scenes were filmed near Flinders St Station, Melbourne’s busiest railway station in. Parts of the station were closed for filming, and some train schedules were changed.
  • Nicolas Cage’s hairpiece required three hours to apply every day.
  • The head-on shot showing Johnny Blaze crashing his motorcycle on landing after jumping a long line of trucks is identical to the famous shot of Evel Knievel’s crash after a spectacular jump at Caesar’s Palace on December 31, 1967.
  • Continuing a trend in Marvel Comics adaptations, this film features foes imported from other series. Blackheart debuted in Daredevil; Mephisto in the Silver Surfer.
  • Nicolas Cage’s computer generated skull was made from a three dimensional x-ray taken of his actual skull.
  • One of the bridges being used in Melbourne was months away from completion, so the studio paid to add tar, lines, and lights to the highway for filming. Afterward the work was ripped up and redone to meet Australian safety standards.
  • The shotgun used in the movie is a Model 1887 Winchester lever-action shotgun.
  • Nicolas Cage wrote sections of the script.
  • When Johnny Blaze and Carter Slade ride together to San Venganza, one shot shows Blaze riding in the foreground with Slade just behind him, and slightly off to the side, so both can be clearly seen. This scene pays homage to “Ghost Rider”, a painting by the late David Mann, that has nothing to do with the Marvel character.
  • After Blackheart absorbs the souls of the damned at San Venganza, he says, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” In the Bible, a man possessed by demons says the same thing before Jesus cures him (Mark 5:9).
  • The Johnny Blaze video game in the movie is actually a game called “Crusty Demons” (2006) developed by UK games company Climax Studios. The plot is somewhat similar to the plot of Ghost Rider. A group of hard-riding extreme bikers are killed while performing an insane stunt. Satan offers to resurrect them and make them immortal if they use their motorcycle skills to do Satan’s work. Climax Studios also developed Ghost Rider.
  • The Caretaker/Carter Slade Ghost Rider character is a tribute to the original Marvel Comics Ghost Rider, now called The Phantom Rider to avoid confusion. However, the character in the comics is a regular human who wears a white costume and rides a white painted horse, both covered with phosphorous for a glowing effect.
  • Director Mark Steven Johnson actually put forward his own money to make an action sequence in which Ghost Rider battles a helicopter.
  • When Johnny and Mack are on the tour bus and Mack is watching TV, the motorcycle rider shown is Travis Pastrana.
  • Originally planned for a summer 2006 release. Director Mark Steven Johnson asked for more time to complete more action shots, including the helicopter battle scene.
  • During the shoot, Nicolas Cage was the guest of Ferrari at the Australian Grand Prix race.
  • Sent to theaters under the name “Costly Pact”.
  • To create the Ghost Rider’s voice, sound designer Dane A. Davis recorded all of Nicolas Cage’s lines as the Ghost Rider, and then filtered them through three different kinds of animal growls (played backwards, covering three separate frequencies), then played them through a mechanical volumizer, before finally giving them a fiery crackle. Director Mark Steven Johnson compared it to “a deep, demonic, mechanical lion’s roar” and said “one thing is for sure, his voice will shake the theatre!”
  • Johnny Depp was interested in playing the title role. Eric Bana was also in heavy contention for the title role.
  • Barton Blaze calls Johnny “Hot Shot” in the first sequence. The French subtitle translates this nickname as “tête brûlée” – literally “Burned Head”.
  • One of the few Marvel Comic-based movies that Stan Lee does not appear in. He had absolutely no involvement in the creation of the original Ghost Rider.
  • Nicolas Cage is an avid fan of the Marvel comic, and lobbied furiously to play the part of Ghost Rider.
  • Nicolas Cage is an avid comics fan; he took his stage surname, Cage, from character Luke Cage. His son is named “Kal-El”, Superman’s Kryptonian name. He was previously considered to play Green Gobin in Spider-Man, and Superman in Tim Burton’s aborted film project, but Ghost Rider is Cage’s first role based on a comics character.
  • As the helicopters appear at Johnny Blaze’s stunt, Richard Wagner musical score “Ride of the Valkyries” can be heard playing. This is a reference to the war film Apocalypse Now, which was directed by Nicolas Cage’s uncle Francis Ford Coppola and had a scene with helicopters flying to that music.

The trivia items below may give away important plot points.

  • At the time of filming, the world record distance for a motorcycle jump was 277.5 feet, set by Trigger Gumm in May, 2005. On Dec. 31, 2007, Robbie Madison essentially performed Johnny Blaze’s “Goalpost-to-Goalpost” motorcycle jump in Las Vegas, setting a new world record distance of 322.625 feet.
  • Near the end of the film, Johnny tells Mephistopheles that he will be a “spirit of vengeance.” The plot of the movie centers around a cursed town called San Venganza, which can loosely translate as just that: “Spirit of Vengeance” (literally, Saint Vengeance).

Talking Points:

  • Too Campy?
  • Modern Western

What We’ve Learned:

  • The west was built on legends
  • You Can’t Live in Fear

Trailer
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Recommendations:
Jeff: This was a fun comic book popcorn movie. It’s also a Nicolas Cage movie so I didn’t expect much from it. I think this is a streamer . . . if it ever gets on Netflix or Amazon Unlimited. Okay to pay the $3 rental from Amazon too, but only if you’re really intending to watch it.
Ray: This movie really inspired me to want to try to light my own head on fire..especially while watching it.

The Present:Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance
Rotten Tomatoes: 14% Rotten; 41% Audience

Director: Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor

Starring: Nicholas Cage, Violante Placiado, Ciaran Hinds, Idris Elba

Trivia:

  • Eva Mendes turned down the option to reprise her role.
  • The Ghost Rider’s skull has been redesigned for this sequel. The new skull appears to be black and charred, indicating that the skull is actually on fire as opposed to the clean fleshless skull simply cloaked in fire in the previous film.
  • Not screened in advance for critics.
  • The flashing image of the “devil” is Jerry Springer.

Talking Points:

  • The Directors.. Camera Work.. Trailer.
  • What the hell is with this series and picking the WORST looking bad guys EVER.

What We Learned:

  • There are some demons (and movies) you just can’t escape.
  • Jerry Springer is the Devil
  • Wear Your Seatbelt.
  • Twinkies are immune from any form of decay

Trailer:

Recommendations :
Jeff: Interesting . . . Okay, more reason to just go ahead and pay to rent the first one. Something to watch instead of this. I didn’t think it was god awful, just not worth my time.
Ray: To steal one of the awful one liners from the movie….. So… That Happened. Even if you LOVED the first one..and god help you if you did.. I would say avoid avoid avoid at all costs.

The Future: Seeking Justice

Release: March 16, 2012

Director: Rodger Donaldson

Starring: Nicholas Cage, January Jones, Guy Pearce

Summary:

After his wife is assaulted, a husband enlists the services of a vigilante group to help him settle the score. Then he discovers they want a ‘favor’ from him in return.

Trivia:

  • Formerly called “The Hungry Rabbit Jumps”
  • Released last year overseas.

Trailer:

Excitement:
Jeff: Hey, it’s another “deal with the devil movie” I think we have more of a theme to this reel. However, nothing in this trailer makes me want to see it.
Ray: This is not a new story, but the trailer at least looks interesting. I’m not jumping into the theater to see it but I’d definitely rent it

Final Thoughts

Coming Attractions

The Past:

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The Present:

The Future:

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MOV043: “I Liked Him After He Got Shot In The Face.”

The boys look at a wacky collection of films in this week’s episode. First, Steven Speilberg’s 1987 family-friendly alien invasion movie “*batteries not included”. Next, we wonder if even the aliens from the past movie could fix Nicholas Cage’s performance in “Drive Angry 3D”…that is, until he’s shot in the face! And lastly, we look into the future and discover “Hanna”, a film about a sweet little girl who could kick your ass and feed it to you for dinner. Scrumptious! All this and Gary Oldman talks Batman, Doom 2, and Bond in drag in movie news. You never know what you’re gonna get…and you know you love it!

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News:

The Past: *batteries not included (1987)

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Director: Matthew Robbins
Starring: Hume Cronyn, Jessica Tandy, Frank McRae, Elizabeth Peña, Michael Carmine, Dennis Boutsikaris
Rotten Tomatoes: 64% Fresh

Trivia:

  • Was originally to be a short story on TV’s “Amazing Stories” But Spielberg liked the story so much he wanted it made into a feature film
  • The building that housed Hume Cronyn’s lunch counter was a unique old building that was the only one on the block. Twenty-five years earlier it was used for the Judy Holliday musical Bells Are Ringing (1960) with the block in the same condition.
  • The opening montage shows pictures of Frank Riley in a Navy uniform circa World War 2. Later in the movie when his wife pulls out his pocket watch it has a leather fob attached with a gold anchor with a silver “USN” on it, signifying Frank achieved the rank of Chief Petty Officer during his time in the service.
  • The guy who played Carlos died of heart failure 2 years later at the age of 30.

Talking Points:

  • Did anyone think the Mom and Dad robots resembled the ships from CEOTTK?
  • The gang guys – did they come of very West Side Story to anyone else?
  • Dark?
  • Lots of plot holes/brief info

What We’ve Learned:

  • Robots can have sex.
  • Plugs from outerspace can fit in American outlets, so why can’t ours fit in European outlets?
  • Use water balloons full of gasoline to hide signs of arson – not that we condone arson

Trailer:

Recommendations:
Jeff: Sweet adorable family fun. I thought the effects held up IMHO
Ray: Great Family Film.. Effects are starting to show their age
Steve: Enjoyable. Has lots of holes in plot and not well strung together, but overall good family fun.

The Present: Drive Angry 3D

Director: Patrick Lussier

Starring: Nicholas Cage, Amber Heard, William Fichtner, Billy Burke, David Morse
Rotten Tomatoes: 46% Rotten

Trivia:

  • The name of Nicolas Cage’s character is John Milton. This is likely a reference to Paradise Lost, an epic about Satan’s expulsion from Heaven and the creation of Hell, which was written by John Milton.

Talking Points:

  • Is a “Bad” film, a “Good” Grindhouse film?
  • 3D = worth it? Did the “obvious” 3D effects help?
  • Nicolas Cage = good actor?
  • Ke$ha was really good in the movie – no it wasn’t her, just kiddin’
  • Felt very Buffy to me…the last season, that is
  • Indiscriminate killing = equality in film?

What We Learned:

  • 2 days is a decade in horny fucker years
  • It’s amazing the way that car talk can give you a hard on.
  • No one ever reaches the end and says I wish I hadn’t fucked so much
  • Never be naked before a gun fight
  • It’s completely possible to have sex, and be involved in a shootout all at the same time
  • Jesus prefers short hair
  • Fire isn’t the worst part of hell it’s the videofeed
  • Fbi = federal bureau of get the fuck Out of my way
  • Satan is actually quiet and well read, sacrificing children annoys him.

Trailer:

Recommendations:
Jeff: One badass 3D gimmicky action extravaganza. It’s awesome. I didn’t think the acting was too bad.
Ray: Blood, Bullets and Boobs! Oh MY! If I had one complaint.. it would be that there were not enough cars in this… This is a no holds barred Grindhouse flick, that knows exactly what it is, and doesn’t apologize for it… Loved it.
Steve: Went in expecting to hate it but I actually enjoyed it. Besides Cage being Cage, I liked him after he got shot in the face. It was worth it.

The Future: Hanna (4-8-2011)

Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Cate Blanchett and Eric Bana

Trivia:

  • Danny Boyle was developing Hanna with screenwriter Seth Lochhead in early 2009, but eventually left the project.
  • Alfonso Cuarón was rumored to be circling the project just weeks before Joe Wright signed on to direct.
  • The script was listed on both the 2006 and 2009 Black List, an annual list of the best unproduced screenplays of the year.
  • Seth Lochhead wrote the original story and script on spec in 2006. He returned for production work in 2010.
  • According to Joe Wright, Saoirse Ronan specifically requested that the studio bring him on-board to direct the film.

Talking Points:

  • Kick Ass meets The Bourne Identity?

Summary:
Hanna (Ronan) is a teenage girl. Uniquely, she has the strength, the stamina, and the smarts of a soldier; these come from being raised by her father (Bana), an ex-CIA man, in the wilds of Finland. Living a life unlike any other teenager, her upbringing and training have been one and the same, all geared to making her the perfect assassin. The turning point in her adolescence is a sharp one; sent into the world by her father on a mission, Hanna journeys stealthily across Europe while eluding agents dispatched after her by a ruthless intelligence operative with secrets of her own (Ms. Blanchett). As she nears her ultimate target, Hanna faces startling revelations about her existence and unexpected questions about her humanity.

Trailer:

Excitement:
Jeff: Curious, but rental to me.
Ray: Sorta Interested.. but most likely a rental for me.
Steve: I like a good kick-ass girl movie. I’m likely to see…but rental.

Coming Attractions
The Past

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The Present

The Future

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MOV032: “You’re Messing With My Zen Thing, Man.”

Jeff thinks The Nightmare Before Christmas is bland. Did the boys have to clean up after seeing Tron: Legacy? And did Fuzz have to clean up after seeing the Drive Angry Trailer. All this and the 10 must see Christmas movies.

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News:

The Past: The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

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Director: Henry Selick

Starring: Danny Elfman, Chris Sarandon, Catherine O’Hara

Trivia:

  • Patrick Stewart did the original opening for the movie, which can be heard on the soundtrack
  • Originally was going to be released under the “Walt Disney” Brand, it was released under the “Touchstone Pictures” brand because then Walt Disney CEO Michael Eisner felt the movie was “Too Dark for kids”
  • Based on an original poem written by Tim Burton, which was inspired by seeing Halloween merchandise in a store being taken down and replaced with Christmas stuff
  • Burton wanted to direct, but was too busy with “Batman Returns”
  • Vincent Price was to voice Oogie Boogie, but was recast at the last minute due to health reasons.
  • Walt Disney wanted to make a CGI sequel in 2001, but Tim Burton convinced them to drop the idea
  • Tim Burton and Danny Elfman experienced “Creative Differences” about the score.. for this reason Burton chose Howard Shore to score “Ed Wood”

Talking Points:

  • Is the movie Too Dark for kids?
  • On the creative differences of Burton and Elfman..did anyone else think this score is probably the most “Different” sounding of all the Burton/Elfman collaborations?
  • Did you see all the visual references to Beetlejuice? Or is that just a Burton thing?

What We’ve Learned:

  • Muppet Reindeer are creepy..but skeleton Reindeer are AWESOME
  • Ghost dogs have illuminated noses
  • Frogs Breath can cover up the smell of anything
  • Santa Claus (or Sandy Claws) doesn’t have any Real Claws
  • Shrunken heads as Christmas gifts are a bad thing????
  • Stick to your own holiday, you know it best.

Trailer:

Recommendations:
Jeff: Nice
Ray: Probably my favorite christmas movie (and halloween movie) and probably sparked my interest in modern musicals.
Steve: Enjoyable. I liked the attention to detail…keeps you guessing and watching.

Intermission: 10 must see Christmas movies yearly

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A Christmas Carol (whichever version)
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The Present: Tron Legacy

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Starring: Jeff Bridges, Garret Hedlund. Olivia Wilde

Trivia:

  • The film took 64 days to shoot, but the special effects took 68 weeks to complete.
  • Young sams bedroom contained a poster for “The Black Hole” a 1978 disney film…for which a remake of, will be director Joe Kosinski’s next film
  • The references to The Black Hole (1979) within this film are more than coincidental. The director of this film, Joseph Kosinski, is also directing a remake of that movie, The Black Hole (2012).
  • Steve Lisberger, director of the original Tron, and producer on Tron Legacy had a came as the bartender in the End Of Line Club
  • In order to retro-age Jeff Bridges to a 35-year-old, the actor had to wear a special helmet fitted with 4 strategically placed cameras enabling every textural nuance of his facial expressions to be recorded for precision synthesis during digital processing.
  • In addition to the soundtrack, Daft Punk are spinning the tunes in Zeus’s bar.
  • The skintight “electric” suits worn were actually fitted with embedded light strips, thus eliminating the need for any such effects modifications in post production.
  • Jeff Bridges (Kevin Flynn / Clu) and Bruce Boxleitner (Alan Bradley / Tron) are the only actors to appear in both TRON (1982) and TRON: Legacy (2010).

Talking Points:

  • So.. were we surprised by anything
  • 3D… was it effective?
  • Did we like the vehicles?
  • Anyone else expect Zuse to belt out “Sweet Transvestite”?
  • Nerdgasmic?

What We Learned:

  • The only way to win is not to play…. wait wasn’t that from War Games?
  • Thank goodness some people still carry old school pagers.
  • Sam Flynn was a mac user
  • The arcades of the 80s were soooo much better than today’s! 🙂

Trailer:

Recommendations:
Jeff: While not the greatest movie in all the world, it was enjoyable, just wish there was more.
Ray: Definitely not Shakespeare, but I enjoyed it. I wouldn’t waste my money on 3D though.
Steve: Enjoyed it. As with the others, I’m not running out to see it again, but glad I did see it.

The Future: Drive Angry (2-25-2011)

Starring: Nicholas Cage, Amber Heard, William Fincher

Trivia:

  • Filmed in Louisiana, in the cities of Minden, Plain Dealing and Shreveport.
  • The two cars in the films are a 1969 Dodge Charger and a 1971 Chevrolet Chevelle.
  • Unveiled at Comic-Con on July 23, 2010.

Talking Points:

  • So, is it Grindhouse, Machete like on purpose?

Summary: A vengeful father escapes hell and chases after the men who killed his daughter

Trailer:

Excitement:
Jeff: Nick Cage being Nick Cage. Take it how you will.
Ray: Cars, action.. grindhouse… ill go see it.
Steve: Hmmm…I didn’t like it the first time when they called it Ghostrider. Not interesting me any further by putting them in cars.

Coming Attractions:
The Past

The Present

The Future

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MOV010: “Are You in Depeche Mode?”

Fuzz, Steve, and Jeff cover Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers: The Movie, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, and the Alpha & Omega trailers.  Also new about Greenlatern, Tron Legacy’s 3D Up-conversion, Gatchaman, Conan, and more.

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News:

Feedback:

  • Steve asked: In light of some of our upcoming past picks…what is your ultimate guilty pleasure movie? You know, the one that your friends (or Podcast-mates) might laugh at you for liking… Give us your deepest-darkest secret to mention on air!
  • VIA BLOG:
  • Nick said: Hate to say it, but probably the new Twilight: Eclipse. I’d watch it just for Charlie (the dad). (Note: Nick is not gay, he’s probably saying he likes the character, not that he’s hot.)
  • Grendel_50: Xanadu
  • VIA FACEBOOK:
  • Jason said: Grease 2 or Showgirls
  • Gryphon said: OMG someone else who loves Grease 2 – so much better than the original movie. My guilty pleasure movie would have to be Electric Dreams, the synthesized music duet is incredible. I hope they NEVER EVER remake it.
  • Charles said: First Mortal Kombat movie
  • Shannon: Dirty Dancing staring Patrick Swayze & Jennifer Gray ♥
  • Mike: Rocky Horror Picture Show
  • Maria: Return of the living dead
  • Clint: Gladiator
  • VIA JEFF’S WORK
  • Albert said: It’s a toss up between knug fu panda and kung fu hustle
  • Billy said: Cave Man, Office Space, Raising Arizona

The Past: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie

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Director: Bryan Spicer

Staring: Jason David Frank, Amy Jo Johnson, David Yost, Karan Ashley, Johnny Yong Bosch, Steve Cardenas, & Paul Freeman

Trivia:

  • Each of the Power Rangers’ new movie costumes weighed 40 pounds and the actors had to film sometimes as long as ten hours a day in their Power Ranger uniforms.
  • The TV shows are known for using the action scenes from the Super Sentai series in Japan, but MMPR:The Movie was the first Power Rangers feature to use 100% new and original material.
  • In order for the purple tongue to match the purple body, Paul Freeman had drank black currant juice, held it in his mouth and spit it out before each take.
  • Mariska Hargitay (Law & Order: SVU) originally replaced Gabrielle Fitzpatrick during filming, because Fitzpatrick was diagnosed with an ovarian cyst which had to be removed immediately in an operation. Starting in November 1994, several weeks’ of Hargitay’s filming had taken place at the Chinese Gardens at Darling Harbour. When the crew thought that Hargitay didn’t seem right for the role after filming her scenes, she was fired and Fitzpatrick got the part back in January 1995 after she had recovered from her operation.
  • Originally, the crew felt that the total covering of the Power Rangers’ faces removed any ability to express emotion, so initial shooting took place using the actors in costume with no visors on the helmets. However, they realized that this was a mistake and realized that the Power Rangers in Morphed Mode are not supposed to show emotion, but rather were supposed to be a powerful fighting force. To correct the error, the action scenes were re-shot the next month with the visors added back.
  • Several of the sets, including Lord Zedd’s throne room (a.k.a. the Chamber of Command) and Dulcea’s Palace, were made up of aluminum foil over constructed wood framings.
  • In an original script, the Rangers were supposed to fight giant Rat Monsters that Ivan Ooze created. Because the suits didn’t work well enough and looked “too low budget” for the movie, the Rat Monsters were instead replaced by the Ooze Creatures that Ivan creates in the film. However, the Rat creature suits didn’t go to waste either. Instead, they would later appear in the “Return of the Green Ranger” storyline of the Power Rangers television series.
  • Johnny Yong Bosch actually did all of his own stunts in the movie, including the morphed fight scenes. His stuntman was injured at the time and couldn’t do any work for the film, so Bosch gratefully accepted their offer to replace him.
  • The original director, Steve Wang, reportedly backed out after disagreements over the production design with the various companies involved.
  • When Ivan Ooze tells Zordon of all the things he had missed when trapped inside his containment egg, the black plague and the Spanish Inquisition were scripted examples, but actor Paul Freeman ad-libbed the last line, “The Brady Bunch reunion!”
  • Instead of fighting the four stone gargoyles that protected the Ninjetti Temple, the Power Rangers were supposed to fight a second, stronger batch of Tengu Warriors and their leader, a Tengu queen. The fight between the Rangers and Tengus was set to take place on and about a long rope bridge that went over a deep crevice and lead to the monolith. The bridge set had been built and was set up in front of a green screen for filming in February of 1995, but it was never used.
  • Walter Jones, Thuy Trang, and Austin St. John (the original Black, Yellow and Red Power Rangers) were originally set to star in the movie, but ultimately weren’t included because they were let go due to their contract dispute with the TV show.

Talking Points:

  • Why was this movie and the series so popular with kids?

What We’ve Learned:

  • When running away from from Oozelings, you must do continuous backflips
  • When wearing a helmet, you must nod your head so people know you are talking.
  • Quick gestures should always make swishing sounds.
  • Thank goodness CGI technology has gotten better over the years.
  • Sometimes, a TV series needs to just be a TV series.

Trailer:

Recommendations:

Jeff: Seriously, the only way you’d like this is if you liked the TV show. I myself enjoy it, but it’s definitely not for everyone
Ray: If it smells like a toy commercial.. its probably a toy commercial.
Steve: A Mighty Morphin’ Flop. The cheesey effects work for the TV show, but I would expect much better for a full-length feature. Could have been a “very special episode” or mini-series within the TV series.

The Present: The Sorcerer’s Apprentice

Director: John Turtletaub

Staring: Nicholas Cage, Jay Baruchel, Alfred Molina, Teresa Palmer & Toby Kebbell

Trivia:

  • During filming, an accident occurred when a filming of car chase sequence went awry. The filming accident, which caused two bystanders to suffer minor injuries, occurred Monday, May 4, shortly before 1 A.M. at the Sbarro at 47th Street and Seventh Avenue Street when one of the cars used in the chase sequence suddenly careened into a pizza parlor.
  • Nicolas Cage and Alfred Molina act as hero and villain in this film. They have been hero and villain in Marvel Films, though not the same one – Cage was the hero of Ghost Rider (2007), and Molina played Doctor Octopus in Spider-Man 2 (2004).
  • The film contains homages to Fantasia (1940), where the famous “Sorcerer’s Apprentice” concerto starring Mickey Mouse featured.
  • – is dressed in red, like Apprentice Mickey
  • – he has to deal with a flood and a set of brooms, like in the concerto
  • – and at the end of the film, when Maxim renews himself Apprentice Mickey’s hat is seen next to his own.

Talking Points:

  • Alice Krige = the female Christopher Walken?
  • Anyone else think Jay Baruchel was channeling Christian Slater”?
  • What was the deal with the super powerful witch girl only being in the movie for 30 seconds?
  • Did you wait until the credits were over?

What We’ve Learned:

  • Elementary school kids are cruel to each other.
  • Magic is all related to physics. Apparently physicists are cooler than we thought!
  • Alice Krige is creepy!!

Trailer:

Recommendations:

Jeff: Actually a pretty good movie. It’s not the greatest movie in the world but definitely worth seeing in the theater.
Ray: Surprised by how good it was, was expecting worse. Actually enjoyed Cage in this one.
Steve: Better than I thought it would be. Was really surprised it wasn’t in 3-D.

The Future: Alpha & Omega

Starring: Voices of Hayden Panettiere, Christina Ricci, Justin Long, Dennis Hopper & Danny Glover

Trivia:

  • Will be in 3-D
  • Dennis Hopper’s last film
  • Key animation was done at Crest’s animation studio in India. Pre-production and post-production took place in Los Angeles

Talking Points:

  • Is this the point where animated movies are jumping the shark?
  • Would this be better if it were live action (Babe-style?)?
  • Is this a rehash of Balto? Ducks, Bears, snow…

Summary:
Kate (Hayden Panettiere), an alpha wolf, lives her life responsibly, focusing on duty and discipline. Humphrey (Justin Long), an omega, lives for fun and friends. Humphrey has a crush on Kate, but in their pack he doesn’t stand a chance. One night, they are captured by humans and taken from their home, Jasper Park, Canada, to a reserve in Idaho to repopulate the species in the United States. As their pack flounders without its leader, Kate and Humphrey set out on an adventure to get back to their home range.

Trailer:

Excitement:

Jeff: Cute, definitely want to go see it.
Ray: Surprised im not more excited to see it….
Steve: Hungry Like the Wolf by Duran Duran is used as background music. That’s my excitement. Otherwise…yawn.

Coming Attractions:

The Past: True Romance
The Present: Inception
The Future: Rango

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