Category Archives: Podcast

Podcast

MOV014: “I’m just a little bi-furious!”

Evangelion 1.11: You Are (Not) Alone, Scott Pilgrim Vs The World, RED, and much discussion on Star Wars coming to Blu-Ray

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News:

The Past: Evangelion 1.11: You Are (Not) Alone

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Director: Hideake Anno (supervising)

Staring: Megumi Ogata/ Spike Spencer (Shinji), Megumi Hayashibara/Brina Palencia (Rei), Kotono Mitsuishi / Allison Keith(Misato)

Trivia:

  • Based of the Series Neon Genesis Evangelion – Which ran in Japan for 26 episodes from 1995 to 1996 in Japan – and has grossed over 150 billion yen.
  • As an April Fools joke for 2009, USA and Canada distributor FUNimation Entertainment released a bogus but well known cast list for the main characters, in the vein of the success of the Hollywood cast in Afro Samurai: Resurrection (2009). It included Shia LaBeouf as Shinji Ikari, Lindsay Lohan as Rei Ayanami, Miley Cyrus as Asuka Langley Sohryu, Angelina Jolie as Misato Katsuragi, Samuel L. Jackson as Gendou Ikari, and Sean Penn as Pen Pen.
  • In the Japanese version – The Character Shinji Icari is played by a girl and the Voice Actress who plays Rei Ayinami refuses to voice any other characters in Japanese anime other than Rei and Pikachu
  • Studio basically stopped paying its taxes to have the money to fund this and the second movie of the planned Tetraology – has since gotten the ok from the studio for and “Unlimited” budget and “Unlimited” Timeframe to work on the remaining two films.
  • The DVD Release featured over 266 shots that received minor enhancements from the theatrical release.
  • A real version of the cellphone used by Misato was released by Sharp – The limited edition phone sold for $900 US and easily goes for over $1000 on ebay, all 20,000k phones available for pre-order sold out in 5 minutes.

Talking Points:

  • English or Japanese – How did you watch it?
  • The Differences between American and Japanese perceptions of Animation (for kids / for adults)
  • Live action Evangelion Movie “In Development Hell” would it work?
  • There is much debate as to if this movie is a re-telling of the original series, or a sequel to the series – How does this movie stand up to viewing if you have never seen the original series

What We’ve Learned:

  • In Japan – Everything Explodes!
  • Japanese Cities are amazingly resistant to everything that explodes!
  • Extremely complicated artificial beings are amazingly easy to operate with very little training
  • Whiny insecure emotionally neurotic children make the best mecha pilots
  • Warm Water Penguins can read the newspaper
  • You Mustn’t run away.
  • Misato Did Indeed Change the Carpet (inside joke to EVA fans)

Trailer:

Recommendations:
Jeff: Amazing! Anime fan, buy it. Not an Anime fan, rent it.
Ray: Check it out, If you dig it, check out the series and two original movies then come back and watch this movie again.
Steve: Great story, visually appealing. As a fan of Robotech, I approve as an upgrade.

The Present: Scott Pilgrim Vs The World

Director: Edgar Wright

Staring: Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kieran Culkin, Ellen Wong, Anna Kendrick, Alison Pill, Mark Webber & Johnny Simmons

Trivia:

  • In 2009 Edgar Wright started a year long photo blog where he would take at least one picture every day and post it on his website. Much of the cast and crew appeared in this daily photo blog while they were shooting, most of the time with no direct credit given and their faces partially obscured in some way.
  • One of the evil exes that Scott (Michael Cera) must defeat is Roxy Richter (Mae Whitman) who previously played Cera’s character’s girlfriend in “Arrested Development” (2003).
  • During the editing process, Edgar Wright showed filmmakers Quentin Tarantino, Jason Reitman, and Kevin Smith a rough cut of the film, to which they responded positively.
  • Edgar Wright thought of casting Michael Cera as the titular character after watching episodes of Arrested Development (2003) during the writing of Hot Fuzz (2007).
  • The stunt doubles of Lucas Lee are actually the stunt doubles for Chris Evans. Only a quarter of the doubles resemble Evans.
  • Edgar Wright obtained permission to use the famous theme song from the NES title, The Legend of Zelda (1986), by writing a letter to Nintendo, saying that it is considered to be “the nursery rhyme of this generation”. He was also allowed to use the “Seinfeld” (1990) theme song for a sitcom-style sequence.
  • The wide open eyes of Knives Chau was not created with any practical or CGI effects. Ellen Wong, who plays Chau, did it herself.
  • Although Anna Kendrick (cast as Stacey Pilgrim, age 18) plays the younger sister to Michael Cera’s character (Scott Pilgrim, age 22), in real life Kendrick is nearly 3 years older than Cera.

Talking Points:

  • Did you have any sort of emotional connection with the main characters?
  • This movie didn’t do so hot its opening weekend, why? surprised?
  • Some of the best Fight Choreography Ive seen, Very little use of the ADHD Handheld shakey cam editing technique! Thank god!

What We’ve Learned:

  • Everyone has Baggage.. some peoples baggage can be fatal
  • It snows a lot in April In toronto
  • Orgasms can be fatal

Trailer:

Recommendations:

Jeff: AMAZING!
Ray: Highly Entertaining, visually Striking, Story is a little hollow.
Steve: Very entertaining, kept my attention, big fan of the quips that make you think

The Future: RED

Starring: Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren, John Malkovich, Mary Louise Parker

Trivia:

  • Based on The Graphic Novel from DC comics
  • John C. Reilly was set to be in the movie but dropped out and was replaced by John Malkovich.
  • While filming in Toronto, the police received several phone calls reporting machine gun fire after local residents mistook the movie’s gunshot effects for the real thing.

Talking Points:
This looks like a whole lot of fun! story looks a little played out (retired spy/secret agent forced back into service)

Summary:
Frank (Bruce Willis), Joe (Morgan Freeman), Marvin (John Malkovich) and Victoria (Helen Mirren) used to be the CIAs top agents but the secrets they know just made them the Agencys top targets. Now framed for assassination, they must use all of their collective cunning, experience and teamwork to stay one step ahead of their deadly pursuers and stay alive. To stop the operation, the team embarks on an impossible, cross-country mission to break into the top-secret CIA headquarters, where they will uncover one of the biggest conspiracies and cover-ups in government history.

Trailer:

Excitement:
Jeff: Very excited despite the fact that John Malkovich is in it.
Ray: Ill see this Just for Helen Mirren
Steve: Helen Mirren as a contract killer/CIA agent? I’m in!

Coming Attractions

The Past: The Craft
The Present: The Expendables
The Future: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

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MOV013: “We Are All Monkeys”

James Cameron talks about the Avatar re-release, sequels and the future of 3D, Kevin Smith is working on a new movie, some cool promo stuff comes out for Scott Pilgrim, 12 Monkeys, Cats & Dogs, Looney Tunes return, and Howl

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News:

Feedback:

  • iTunes Shout Out – Vizshuns

This is one of the few movie podcasts that gives you great reviews, news, and film trivia all in one package! They do their research and it shows. Stop readying this and go listen already!

The Past: 12 Monkeys

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Director: Terry Gilliam

Staring: Bruce Willis, Madeleine Stowe, Brad Pitt

Trivia:

  • Director Terry Gilliam first met Bruce Willis while casting his film The Fisher King (1991). He was impressed by the sensitivity shown by Willis in the scene from Die Hard (1988) where McClane (Willis) talks about his wife while pulling glass from his feet. Talking to Willis, Gilliam discovered that this part was ad-libbed by Willis. Gilliam remembered this, and was convinced to cast him in this film
  • Bruce did the movie for free. It was only after the movie was released that he was paid
  • Terry Gilliam’s first choice for the lead role was Jeff Bridges, whom he had enjoyed working with on The Fisher King (1991), but the studio wanted a bigger star, so he cast Bruce Willis. Ironically, Willis had originally auditioned for “The Fisher King”, but lost out to Bridges.
  • A tagline originally suggested for this film was; “The future is in the hands of a man who has none.” This was considered to be a confusing tagline, as it made it sound as though he had no hands, as opposed to having no future.
  • Brad Pitt was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, but lost to Kevin Spacey in The Usual Suspects.
  • In the beginning of the movie, James is brought into the interrogation room and told to sit in a chair which is attached to a vertical rail on the wall. A sphere supported by a metal armature is suspended directly in front of him, probing for weaknesses as the inquisitors interrogate him.Architect Lebbeus Woods filed a lawsuit against Universal Pictures in February 1996, claiming that his work “Neomechanical Tower (Upper) Chamber” was used without permission. Woods won his lawsuit, earning over $1 million from Universal, and allowed the studio to continue distribution of the movie.

Talking Points:

  • Brad Pitt plays good crazy…and the addition of the funky eye was good

What We’ve Learned:

  • Were all monkeys
  • The People on the outside are just as crazy as the ones on the inside
  • Monkeys Make very good sandwich delivery systems.
  • Foot tapping in the airport bathroom always gets you into trouble
  • Airport security was a Joke in 1996

Trailer:

Recommendations:

Jeff: Definite buy. Although you might want to rent it first.
Ray: Love it, proof that an inception like movie doesnt have to be over complex
Steve: I’m still confused, but I think I enjoyed it.

The Present: Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore

Director: Brad Peyton

Staring: James Marsden, Nick Nolte, Christina Applegate, Katt Williams, Bette Midler, Neil Patrick Harris, Sean Hayes, Roger Moore, Wallace Shawn, Joe Pantoliano, Michael Clarke Duncan, Chris O’Donnell

Trivia:

  • Coincidentally, Chris O’Donnell (Shane) and Sean Hayes (Mr. Tinkles) were both born on June 26, 1970.
  • Former James Bond star Roger Moore plays a character named “Lazenby”. George Lazenby played James Bond before Moore took over the role.

Talking Points:

  • Looney Tunes short.
  • Odd looking 3-D at times (or poorly done CGI?)

What We’ve Learned:

  • its been 12 years…the hamster dance is still not funny.
  • Wile E Coyote and Roadrunner cartoons are still Hilarious after all these years.
  • Those naked cats are creepy looking

Trailer:

Recommendations:

Jeff: Worth seeing for rental at least but even better in the theater just to see “Coyote Falls” before the show in 3D!
Ray: Skip it.
Steve: I should have brought my nieces and nephew just to watch their reactions. It is tolerable.

The Future: Howl

Starring: James Franco, Mary-Louis Parker, Jon Hamm, Jeff Daniels

Trivia:

  • Principal photography of the film took place in New York City
  • The film consists of three interwoven aspects: the early life of Ginsberg (James Franco) in New York City and his evolution as a writer and poet; an animated re-imagining of the poem “Howl”;[4] and the obscenity trial San Francisco poet and City Lights Bookstore co-founder, Lawrence Ferlinghetti (Andrew Rogers) faced after publishing the titular poem, in which Ginsberg made references to drug use and homosexuality (the latter of which in the 1950s was still considered taboo).

Talking Points:

Summary:

The story of how poet Allen Ginsberg’s seminal work broke down societal barriers in the face of an infamous public obscenity trial. In his famously confessional style, Ginsberg – poet, counter-culture icon, and chronicler of the Beat Generation – recounts the road trips, love affairs, and search for personal liberation that led to HOWL, the most timeless work of his career. HOWL interweaves three stories: the unfolding of the landmark 1957 obscenity trial; an imaginative animated ride through the prophetic masterpiece; and a unique portrait of a man who found new ways to express himself, and in doing so, changed his own life and galvanized a generation.

Trailer:

Excitement:

Jeff: I’m interested, we’ll see what happens when it releases.
Ray: Ginsburg seemed like an interesting guy, id probably check this out
Steve: So not my kind of movie. Not something I’d see on my own.

Coming Attractions

The Past: Evangelion 1.11: You Are Not Alone

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The Present: Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World

The Future: RED

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MOV012: “Keep Pumpin’, Blowin'”

The Pirate Movie, Salt, Paranormal Activity 2, and a slow news week.

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News:

The Past: The Pirate Movie

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Director: Ken Annakin

Staring: Kristy McNichol, Christopher Atkins, Ted Hamilton, Bill Kerr

Trivia:

  • This movie is one of few filmed adaptations of Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Pirates Of Penzance musical not to be known by that title, The Pirates Of Penzance. Others include The Parson’s Pirates (2004) and Die Piraten (1968).
  • This musical combines songs from the original stage production with new original songs written specially for this movie
  • This picture is one of two big movie adaptations of Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Pirates Of Penzance that were released in 1982/1983. This movie was first theatrically released in the USA only about six months before The Pirates of Penzance (1983).
  • This picture was filmed in Australia. After this movie, Christopher Atkins returned to Australia to appear in Exchange Lifeguards (aka Wet and Wild Summer! (1992) and Signal One (1994).
  • The movie’s main movie poster shows Christopher Atkins and Kristy McNichol wrapped-up together in a large black sack marked with the traditional pirates skull and crossbones emblem. Atkins is clearly not wearing a top and there is a suggestion that McNichol is completely topless behind the black sack, this imagery evoking the nudity and scant clothing of The Blue Lagoon (1980), Atkins’ earlier box-office hit movie he appeared in with Brooke Shields.
  • According to TV Guide, “The producers shot the film in a hurry in an attempt to beat the film version of Joseph Papp’s hit Broadway staging of the operetta to the screen.” They were successful, this movie was released in the USA about six months before The Pirates of Penzance (1983).
  • Reportedly, after this movie was released, Kristy McNichol and Christopher Atkins were approached by record companies regarding individual recording contracts.
  • The production required special permission for the filming of scenes approaching the cliff as this location was situated on sacred Aboriginal lands.
  • Christopher Atkins’ hair was permed for this movie. His hair is naturally straight.
  • Members of the cast extensively trained on a rope course for this movie.
  • The sword fighting scenes took several months of training and rehearsals.
  • Garry McDonald plays two characters in this movie, the Sergeant of Police and the Inspector. The Sergeant character is from the The Pirates Of Penzance stage musical by Gilbert and Sullivan; his Inspector character was not so much a spoof or parody of Inspector Clouseau but virtually a mimic of Peter Sellers’ characterization of Clouseau.

Talking Points:

  • Early 80s gay reference – to gay marriage!

What We’ve Learned:

  • Cod pieces must be adorned with sparkle.
  • Being born on February 29th on a leap year sucks.
  • I’m the very model of a modern Major General.

Trailer:

The Pirate Movie – When I Grow Up Video

Recommendations:

Jeff: /cry I enjoyed this movie. Why? Oh why? Kill me!
Ray: Giggle inducing, but ultimately a pretty bad movie i probably would have loved it in 1982.
Steve: Just good ole campy fun. Don’t take things seriously and enjoy it!

The Present: Salt

Director: Phillip Noyce

Staring: Angelina Jolie, Liev Schreiber, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Daniel Olbrychski

Trivia:

  • The movie was originally scripted with a male lead and Tom Cruise was approached to play the title character. Ultimately, he backed out and the script was rewritten with a female lead and Angelina Jolie took the role.
  • On a budget of $130 million ($110 million after tax credits), principal photography took place mostly on location in New York and Washington, DC from March to June 2009, while re-shoots were done in December 2009.
  • Filming for a car chase sequence took place in Albany on Water Street near the Interstate 787 ramp between April and May.
  • Reportedly, Angelina Jolie did most of her own stunts.
  • On May 29, 2009, filming was temporarily halted after Jolie suffered a minor head injury during filming an action scene. She was taken to hospital as a “precautionary measure”; she was released on the same day with no serious injuries and filming was resumed.
  • It’s never stated explicitly beyond “present day,” but the main action in this film takes place “in the near future” after the movie’s release (summer of 2010). Evidence: In a scene shortly before the vice president’s funeral, a long shot of a TV newscast shows his date of death as 2011.
  • Shipped to theaters under the name “Cover-up”.
  • Terry George, Michael Mann and Peter Berg all came close to directing at one point or another.

Talking Points:

  • Interesting to think this was written for a male lead, but eventually went to a female lead. What does this say about Hollywood these days?
  • Suprised that they identified her as a spy so early in the movie.
  • Movie length – did it seem really short?

What We’ve Learned:

  • Am I a Russian spy?
  • You learn alot of things when you’re the wife to an arachnologist
  • Those Russians are crafty people.

Trailer:

Recommendations:

Jeff: This movie is a little cludgy in story telling but a worth see, might be fine of DVD but you won’t be wasting money seeing it in the theaters.
Ray: I found it enjoyable, but easy to figure out.
Steve: I loved it! Just sat back and went with it. Enjoyed the ride!

The Future: Paranormal Activity 2

Starring: Katie Featherston & Gabriel Liotta

Trivia:

  • On the official site for the film, after the trailer finishes playing, an image of the nursery room appears, and in the mirror, letters written in what seems to blood spell a message. After flipping the picture horizontally, the message says, “What is happening to Hunter?”
  • This film was announced shortly after Paranormal Activity (2007) was released into theaters.

Talking Points:

  • Is there room for a Paranormal Activity 2 after the first one?

Summary:
Plot details are hard to come by. Very limited information is available on what the movie is actually about to this point.

Trailer:

Excitement:

Jeff: Was this trailer suppose to interest me in the movie? It’s just not my cup of tea, I don’t think.
Ray: Never saw the first one, probably wont see this one
Steve: I liked the first one, so I’ll see it for sure! I just hope I don’t have Blair Witch 2 regret.

Coming Attractions

The Past: 12 Monkeys
The Present: Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore
The Future: Howl

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MOV011: “You Musn’t Be Afraid To Dream A Little Bigger, Darling!”

Tron reveals too much, Comic-con in review, Beauty and The Beast in 3D, Is “The Kid’s All Right” All Right, Quentin Tarantino shows us True Romance, We find out if it’s all just a dream, and Jeff yawns at Johnny Depp’s lizard.

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News:

The Past: True Romance (1993)

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Director: Tony Scott (Written By Quintin Tarantino)

Staring: Christian Slater, Patricia Arquette, Michael Rappaport, Bronson Pinchot, Saul Rubinek, Dennis Hopper, James Gandolfini, Gary Oldman, Christopher Walken, Chris Penn, Tom Sizemore, Brad Pitt, Val Kilmer, Samuel L. Jackson

Trivia:

  • Bronson Pinchot Ad-Libbed the scene when he was caught with the cocaine
  • The screenplay of True Romance (1993) was originally part of a very long screenplay written by Quentin Tarantino and Roger Avary. The other half of it was used for the film Natural Born Killers (1994). In both films Tom Sizemore plays a cop.
  • The word “fuck” and its derivatives are said 225 times
  • There are 21 on-screen deaths, all male, all from death by gunshot
  • Dennis Hopper was concerned about being “shot” by Christoper Walken in the eggplant scene with the gun so close to his head and the possibility of being burned, Director Tony Scott had the propmaster use the same gun to fire it against his own head. Apon Firing the gun barrel extended about a third of an inch, and scott ended up on the floor with blood pouring from the wound.
  • Michael Rappaport has a fear of roller coasters, and suffers from accute motion sickness.. the scene was filmed over 2 days, and if you look closely you can tell which scenes were shot on the first day (he looks apprehensive and nauseous) and the second day (he looks calm and oblivious to his surroundings) due to the crew giving him “something” to calm his nerves
  • Tarantino’s original ending had Clarence dying in the gun battle, leaving Alabama a widow. Tarantino said that he intended Alabama to turn to crime and join with Mr. White, a character from Reservoir Dogs (1992) (which he wrote and directed). In a flashback scene in Reservoir Dogs (1992), Mr. White is asked about “Alabama”
  • Director Tony Scott is brother to other famous Director Ridley Scott

Talking Points:

  • Lots of cameos/actors before they were big.
  • Impressive how Alabama gets beat up and survives a fire fight, yet has perfect teeth!
  • Had some “Heathers-ish” vibes to it (gun toating Christian Slater, righting wrongs, music)

What We’ve Learned:

  • It aint white boy day.
  • If your going to accidentally steal cocaine from the mob, its best not to leave your drivers license in the hand of your wife’s dead pimp.
  • Theres a difference between a Whore and a Call-Girl
  • Its better to have a gun and not need it, then to need a gun and not have it.
  • If you’re going to have an imaginary friend, it may as well be Elvis!

Trailer:

Recommendations:

Jeff: Meh, good enough Rental.
Ray: Love it, I can watch this movie over and over and over again.
Steve: Enjoyed it! Had no idea this movie existed, but liked it a lot.

The Present: Inception

Director: Christopher Nolan

Staring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page, Tom Hardy, Ken Watanabe, Cillian Murphey, Tom Berenger, Michael Cain, Marion Cotillard

Trivia:

Talking Points:

  • Basically we saw all the special effects set pieces in the trailer.. was anyone surprised by anything in the movie?
  • Was this movie overly complicated?
  • This movie had a unrelenting pace.. did you find it hard to keep up with it?
  • Did anyone else feel some of the music sounded like Mortal Kombat?
  • Would 3-D have enhanced this movie?

What We’ve Learned:

  • Don’t trust reality…it could all just be a dream.

Trailer:

Recommendations:

Jeff: Avatar-ish in that it’s just another heist movie but done differently in a very good way.
Ray: While I enjoyed it, I found the whole thing rather cold and uninspired.
Steve: Enjoyed it, especially Tom Hardy! (who by the way is the new Mad Max) 🙂

The Future: Rango

Starring: Voices of Johnny Depp, Timothy Olyphant, Ned Beatty, Ray Winstone, Stephen Root, Harry Dean Stanton, Bill Nighy

Trivia:

  • Director Gore Verbinski was the creator of the Budweiser Frogs
  • This is Industrial Light and Magic’s first full length animated film.

Talking Points:

  • Anyone see the original teaser trailer? Bizzare.
  • Supposedly this is using motion capture tech to capture Johnny’s performance, does it look mo-capped to you?
  • At 1:47 in the trailer, is it just me or does the guy driving the car look very much like Johnny Depp’s version of Hunter S. Thompson from Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas?

Trailer:

Excitement:

Jeff: Another animated movie to roll my eyes at.
Ray: I think it looks fun, I’m interested to see what Johnny Does in an animated movie not directed by Tim Burton.
Steve: Next… 🙂

Coming Attractions: Steve

The Past: The Pirate Movie
The Present: Salt
The Future: Paranormal Activity 2

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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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